Dynamic linkages and spillover effects of biodiversity risk in socially responsible investment and commodity markets.

This study employs a novel biodiversity risk measure, developed through textual analysis, to examine how biodiversity risk affects socially responsible investment (SRI) and commodity markets. Biodiversity-related financial risks, arising from ecosystem degradation, represent an emerging and underexplored dimension of market risk, particularly for investors seeking sustainability-aligned portfolios. Our analysis reveals that both SRI equity and commodity indices consistently exhibit negative time-varying correlations with biodiversity risk, with correlations as low as -0.

mHealth knowledge and usage in maternal healthcare delivery: perspectives and experiences of healthcare practitioners in Ghana.

Objectives: This study explored the knowledge and experiences of health practitioners regarding the use of mobile health (mHealth) for maternal healthcare delivery.

Design: Underpinned by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, this study was an exploratory qualitative design involving in-depth interviews. Data collection occurred between July 2023 and January 2024.

What Do Mothers Know About Nutrition? Impacts on Childhood Nutrition Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Introduction: Globally, the prevalence of undernutrition is highest in the sub-Saharan African region with over a third of the world's stunted children residing in this region. Many studies have explored child nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, but they often overlook the intricate nuances of maternal knowledge. We examined the association between maternal nutritional knowledge and childhood nutritional outcomes.

Artificial intelligence and sexual reproductive health and rights: a technological leap towards achieving sustainable development goal target 3.7.

Target 3.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aims for universal access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services by 2030, including family planning services, information, education, and integration into national strategies. In contemporary times, reproductive medicine is progressively incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance sperm cell prediction and selection, in vitro fertilisation models, infertility and pregnancy screening.

Wealth-related inequalities in the utilisation of modern contraceptives in Papua New Guinea: evidence from the 2016-2018 Demographic and Health Survey data.

Objective: To examine the wealth-related disparities in modern contraceptives use among women in Papua New Guinea.

Design: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the 2016-2018 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey data. We included 11 618 women of reproductive age in our final analysis.

Exploring the role of canopy cover and environmental factors in shaping carbon storage in Desa'a forest, Ethiopia.

Background: Dry Afromontane forests play a vital role in mitigating climate change by sequestering and storing carbon, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite previous research highlighting the importance of carbon stocks in these ecosystems, the influence of canopy cover and environmental factors on carbon storage in dry Afromontane forests has been barely assessed. This study addresses this knowledge gap by investigating the effects of environmental factors and vegetation cover on carbon stocks in Desa'a forest, a unique and threatened Afromontane dry forest ecosystem in northern Ethiopia.

Interplay of sociocultural factors, health literacy and well-being among African asylum seekers and refugees in Asia: A systematic review.

Background: There are many African asylum seekers and refugees (AAR) in Asia. However, little research has been conducted on their well-being within the sociocultural milieu. This systematic review explores the characteristics of AAR's psychological and mental well-being and how their acculturation practices, social networks and support (i.

Is sexual autonomy a protective factor against intimate partner violence? Evidence from 27 sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Though women in sub-Saharan Africa have increased risk of intimate sexual violence, research on the association between sexual autonomy and intimate partner violence among this population has not received the requisite attention. Consequently, we investigated if sexual autonomy is a protective factor against intimate partner violence among women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted based on the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHSs) of 27 sub-Saharan African countries from 2008 to 2021.

Social determinants of child abuse: Evidence from seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Child abuse is a dominant public health concern that permeates race, varied social contexts and culture. Child abuse comprises any act of omission or commission perpetrated by a child's parent, caregiver, or other adult leading to harm, potential for, or any threat of harm to a child (below age 18), either intentional or unintentional. This subject has usually been explored by focusing on men.

Effectiveness of mHealth Apps for Maternal Health Care Delivery: Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews.

Background: Globally, the use of mobile health (mHealth) apps or interventions has increased. Robust synthesis of existing systematic reviews on mHealth apps may offer useful insights to guide maternal health clinicians and policy makers.

Objective: This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness or impact of mHealth apps on maternal health care delivery globally.

Quality of antenatal care in 13 sub-Saharan African countries in the SDG era: evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys.

Background: Maternal and neonatal mortality remains high in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with women having 1 in 36 lifetime risk. The WHO launched the new comprehensive recommendations/guidelines on antenatal care (ANC) in 2016, which stresses the essence of quality antenatal care. Consequently, the objective of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the quality of ANC in 13 SSA countries.

A method for managing scientific research project resource conflicts and predicting risks using BP neural networks.

This study begins by considering the resource-sharing characteristics of scientific research projects to address the issues of resource misalignment and conflict in scientific research project management. It comprehensively evaluates the tangible and intangible resources required during project execution and establishes a resource conflict risk index system. Subsequently, a resource conflict risk management model for scientific research projects is developed using Back Propagation (BP) neural networks.

Assessing geographical variation in ovulatory cycle knowledge among women of reproductive age in Sierra Leone: Analysis of the 2019 Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: Sierra Leone has poor indicators of reproductive health and a high prevalence of unintended pregnancies. To date, no study has explored determinants of ovulatory cycle knowledge in Sierra Leone. We investigated geographic region to determine where the needs for improved ovulatory cycle knowledge are greatest in Sierra Leone.

A case study on the relationship between risk assessment of scientific research projects and related factors under the Naive Bayesian algorithm.

This paper delves into the nuanced dynamics influencing the outcomes of risk assessment (RA) in scientific research projects (SRPs), employing the Naive Bayes algorithm. The methodology involves the selection of diverse SRPs cases, gathering data encompassing project scale, budget investment, team experience, and other pertinent factors. The paper advances the application of the Naive Bayes algorithm by introducing enhancements, specifically integrating the Tree-augmented Naive Bayes (TANB) model.

Health literacy and household financial loss on malaria treatment for children under five in Ghana: a patients' perspective.

Background: Inadequate health literacy increases medical costs and leads to poor health outcomes. However, there is a paucity of empirical evidence of such associations in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates how the household cost of malaria in children under five in Ghana varies based on different levels of health literacy.

Antibiotic prescription sources and use among under-5 children with fever/cough in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Childhood febrile illness is among the leading causes of hospital admission for children <5 y of age in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Antibiotics have played a pivotal role in enhancing health outcomes, especially for children <5 y of age. Antibiotics prescription pattern evidence exists for SSA, however, prescription sources (either from qualified or unqualified sources) and use among children with fever or cough have not been explored.

Female genital mutilation/cutting among girls aged 0-14: evidence from the 2018 Mali Demographic and Health Survey data.

Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is considered a social norm in many African societies, with varying prevalence among countries. Mali is one of the eight countries with very high prevalence of FGM/C in Africa. This study assessed the individual and contextual factors associated with female FGM/C among girls aged 0-14 years in Mali.

Influence of type of violence on women's help-seeking behaviour: Evidence from 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern that mostly impacts women's health and social well-being. This study explored how the various types of IPV (physical, sexual, and emotional) including women's experience of childhood violence influence their help-seeking behavior in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: We analyzed data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), carried out between 2018 and 2021.

The role of social support in antiretroviral therapy uptake and retention among pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV in the Greater Accra region of Ghana.

Introduction: The role of social support in antiretroviral therapy (ART) uptake and retention among pregnant and postpartum women in Ghana's capital, Accra, has received limited attention in the literature. This cross-sectional study extends existing knowledge by investigating the role of social support in ART adherence and retention among pregnant and postpartum women in Accra.

Methods: We implemented a cross-sectional study in eleven (11) public health facilities.