Volume 13, Issue 7, July 2025 Edition - GSJ Journal Publication

[1]  [2]  [3]  [4]

Customary Marriage Practices and the Reinforcement of Patriarchy: Gendered Subordination in Northern Ghana []


Marriage in Northern Ghana is deeply embedded within complex customary frameworks, which often reflect and reinforce patriarchal societal structures. These frameworks dictate gender roles, define familial relationships, and allocate resources, significantly shaping the lives of women (J. Adams & Takim Otu, 2020). The cultural values prevalent in many Ghanaian communities, similar to those found in other parts of Nigeria, typically assign women a subordinate position within the household and broader society (Induka-Ozo & Igba, 2017). This inferior status often limits women's autonomy and access to fundamental rights (J. Adams & Takim Otu, 2020). Understanding the specific mechanisms through which customary marriage practices perpetuate women's subordination requires a detailed examination of historical norms and contemporary social dynamics.

Human Capital Development, Institutional Quality and Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa []


Abstract This study investigated the effects of human capital development and institutional quality on poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. Specifically, the study examined the effect of human capital development on poverty as well as the moderating role institutional quality on the effect of human capital development on poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study used panel data for 29 Sub-Saharan African countries from the year 1996 to 2022 sourced from World Bank Poverty Platform (WBPP); World Development Indicators (WDI) World Governance Indicators (WGI) and World Income Inequality Database (WIID) using Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS), the Driscoll and Kraay regression, the study found that human capital and institutional quality (governance indicators) significantly influences poverty. On poverty, the results showed that Secondary School Enrolment significantly reduces poverty in the SSA region. Secondly, Out of Pocket expenditures for health as a percentage of total health expenditure has a U-shaped effect on poverty in the region. Similarly, overall governance as well as all indicators of governance used in the estimations including control of corruption, rule of law, regulatory quality, government effectiveness, voice and accountability, and political stability and absence of violence all significant had negative effects on poverty. On the basis of the findings, the study recommends that policy makers should focus on initiatives that enhance access to and quality of secondary education, addressing barriers that may impede enrollment, particularly for marginalized groups.

De la couverture forestière dans le département du Nyong et So'o :une zone fortement anthropisée ? []


We have noticed changes in he forest zones in Cameroon. Multitudes of factors accounts for these changes such as urban extension, wildfires, legal and illegal forest exploitations and agricultural activities. The objective of this article is to analyze and interpret the dynamism of green vegetation or plant cover base on diachronic land use mapping from 1987 to 2023. The methodology used is based on diachronic land use land use mapping of images of landsat 5 of 1987, landsat 7 of 2001 and landsat 8 of 2023, as well as the estimation of deforestation rate based on the formula of Puyravaud, (2003). Following the results, it is observed that vegetation has gone from 80% to 39%. Meanwhile crop cultivation has gone from 15% to 41%. Deforestation rate is then estimated at 1,6% which confirms the forests regression in these districts. Keywords: agricultural activities, cartography, forest zones, deforestation

Promoting the Knowledge-Based Economy (KBE) in Support of Morocco's Economic Development []


The growing importance of the knowledge economy - also known as the knowledge-based economy (KBE) - in the growth and development process of countries is well established. Three central objectives are highlighted in our paper and which shed light on the impact of the KBE for economic emergence. The main results of our article highlight the need to implement measures to foster and promote KBE in Morocco

Geospatial effect of urbanization on farmland in Rwamagana and bugesera districts of eastern province, Rwanda []


Urbanization-induced land transformation presents a critical challenge to geospatial landscape integrity, particularly in agrarian ecosystems where anthropogenic encroachment disrupts land-use equilibrium. This study employs a multi-temporal geospatial analytic framework to dissect the complex interplays between urban expansion, farmland conversion, and ecological degradation in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, focusing on Rwamagana and Bugesera from 2010 to 2024. Through an integrated approach combining multi-source remote sensing data assimilation, GIS-based spatial econometrics, topological landscape dynamics, and machine learning-driven predictive modelling, we quantify spatiotemporal land-cover transitions and their cascading environmental effects. Empirical findings unveil a multi-phase land-use transition dynamic, wherein agricultural land initially exhibited an expansionary trajectory (+21.90% from 2010–2015) before experiencing attrition (-9.49% from 2020–2024), yielding a net increase of 11.91%. Conversely, built-up areas surged by 36.79%, exhibiting high correlation coefficients with declining bare land (-68.14%), forests (-30.02%), and wetlands (-15.22%), indicative of intensified urban-driven biophysical perturbations. Spatiotemporal fragmentation analysis utilizing patch-based landscape connectivity metrics, fractal dimension modelling, and anisotropic diffusion mapping reveals pronounced disaggregation of agricultural mosaics, with elevated edge contrast indices and reduced spatial contiguity findings underscore the exigency for integrated geospatial policy interventions, leveraging adaptive geostatistical simulations and ensemble learning-based land-change modelling to construct robust spatiotemporal land-use optimization frameworks. The study advocates for multi-criteria spatial decision support systems (MC-SDSS), facilitating informed urban planning paradigms that harmonize anthropogenic expansion pressures with agricultural sustainability and ecological resilience.

AN OPTIMIZATION STUDY OF INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AT HASKE MODERN BAKERY, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. []


This study focuses on optimizing inventory management at Haske Modern Bakery in Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria. The objective is to improve raw material allocation, minimize inventory costs, and maximize profitability through the application of quantitative techniques. A mathematical model incorporating the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) approach was developed to determine optimal order quantities for key ingredients: flour, sugar, butter, milk, and yeast. The results indicate optimal order quantities of approximately 59 bags of flour, 22 bags of sugar, 11 cartons of butter, 12 bags of milk, and 56 cartons of yeast. Corresponding total ordering costs were calculated as ₦19,349, ₦11,171, ₦5,586, ₦6,119, and ₦27,928, respectively. Reorder points were also established—20 bags of flour, 4 bags of sugar, 2 cartons of butter, 2 bags of milk, and 30 cartons of yeast—based on a constant lead time of seven days. The findings demonstrate that the EOQ model is an effective tool for enhancing inventory efficiency and operational performance in small-scale bakery operations.

Enhancing Reliability and Safety in Fault Diagnosis and Maintenance of Mechanical Machines: A Review. []


diagnosis in mechanical engineering is a procedure used to determine the root cause of machine failure. When complex machinery fails, replacing the component involved might not be enough, because this may not address the underlying reason for the problem. Instead, a full machine fault diagnosis provides information about precisely what happened and how to address it, preventing similar failures in the future. In the past, equipment maintenance mainly involved fixing broken equipment and conducting basic routine maintenance at set time intervals. Maintenance professionals were limited in their ability to be proactive because they lacked the necessary data collection, storage, and analysis capabilities. However, recent advancements in microprocessor-based controls, automation, real-time data acquisition, and systems like Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) have transformed the way equipment maintenance is performed. The findings of this study demonstrate that using the following methods (data fusion, pattern recognition and classification, data preprocessing, model development, real-time monitoring, and revalidation) for fault diagnosis in mechanical engineering helps to reduce maintenance costs while improving the reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety (RAMS) of the equipment.

LINEAR PROGRAMMING OPTIMIZATION AT HASKE MODERN BAKERY IN BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. []


This study investigates the application of linear programming optimization, complemented by primal and dual linear programming, to improve raw material allocation and maximize profitability for the Haske Modern Bakery in Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria. A mathematical model was developed to optimize raw material usage, increase production efficiency, and enhance company returns. Linear programming was employed to identify the most profitable production strategy. The results showed that the optimal production strategy involved producing 319.8294 units of small-medium loaf (x_5 ) and 533.0490 units of another product (y_3 ), with all other products (x_1, x_2, x_3, ..., x_13 and y_1, y_2, y_3, ..., y_9) being zeros units. This strategy is projected to yield a maximum profit of N15991.47. This study underscores the significance of utilizing linear programming to enhance operational efficiency and profitability in the bakery industry.

An Artificial Neural Network-Based Approach for Predicting Obesity Risk []


Obesity can be defined as a medical condition associated with the excess accumulation of fat, and it has been reported to be a major cause of mortality & morbidity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Early detection of obesity is of utmost importance to mitigate the long-term health challenges associated with this disease, necessitating the development of accurate and reliable diagnostic models. This study's primary focus is to develop a neural network model with the capacity of predicting patients’ obesity status with high precision and accuracy. The study used a public dataset sourced from the Kaggle database; it comprises 2,111 patient records with 16 input features. The dataset was preprocessed and analyzed using various statistical techniques, which include exploratory analysis and correlation analysis. The exploratory analysis reviews the high prevalence of obesity risk associated with age and weight. The correlation analysis shows that the majority of features had a significant statistical relationship (p-value < 0.05). Physical activity of patients (FAF), SCC, Usage of technology (TUE), CAEC, and NCP all showed a weak negative and significant relationship with the obesity status of patients. A cost-sensitive weighing strategy was employed in this study to mitigate issues of class balancing of the target variable; this method enables higher weights to be assigned to minority classes. The proposed artificial neural network used in this study is made up of two hidden layers, and it was trained using the Adam optimizer over six distinct learning rates. The training results review that the ANN attained its optimal accuracy of 96.2% using a learning rate of 0.01, and it outperforms previous Machine learning algorithms used by previous studies in predicting obesity risk in patients. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of ANNs in detecting obesity status and underscores their importance as decision-support tools for clinicians to enable early intervention and personalized treatment. Future research should consider incorporating broader socio-economic and lifestyle factors and larger real-world datasets to further enhance model generalizability and applicability in diverse healthcare settings.

Déterminants du séjour prolongé post-césarienne à l'hôpital général de référence Mwangeji à Kolwezi RDC 2019-2020 []


Résumé Le séjour post-césarienne prolongé représente une problématique cruciale en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), tant pour la santé du couple mère-enfant que le système de santé. Cette étude, réalisée à l’Hôpital Général de Référence Mwangeji, à Kolwezi, vise à identifier les facteurs déterminants associés à une hospitalisation supérieure à 9 jours après césarienne. Il s’agit d’une étude transversale analytique menée auprès de 425 femmes césarisées de janvier 2019 à décembre 2020. Les données ont été extraites des dossiers médicaux, des registres de maternité au moyen d’une fiche d’extraction puis analysées au moyen des logiciels SPSS et R. L’association entre le séjour prolongé et les variables sociodémographiques, médico-chirurgicales et fœto-maternelles ont été explorées par la régression logistique. Le taux de césariennes était de 25,1% (425/1694). 40,9% ont eu un séjour prolongé. Les déterminants majeurs identifiés sont (i) le type de bassin (limite : ORa=3,73; rétréci : ORa=7,44), (ii) les antécédents obstétricaux ; l’utérus unicicatriciel (ORa=2,87), (iii) la présence de complications infectieuses (ORa=4,69) (iv) la voie d’abord LMSSO (ORa=2,48) et (v) l’issue néonatale défavorable (ORa=1,76). Des facteurs protecteurs tels que l’absence de réanimation du nouveau-né (ORa=0,46) et la voie Joël Cohen/Misgav (ORa=0,6) ont également été identifiés. La prévention des complications et l’utilisation privilégiée de techniques chirurgicales réputées de contribuer à réduire le risque de survenue des complications doivent être au cœur de la politique d’amélioration de la santé maternelle et néonatale dans le contexte local. Mots-clés : césarienne, durée du séjour, hospitalisation prolongée, déterminants

Role of Technology in Human Subjugation: An Analysis of Machinehood by S.B. Divya []


This paper explores the conflict between humanity and technology in S.B.Divyas novel Machinehood.By Comparing Divyas portrayal with various technological theories by writers like Sherry Turkle,Ray Kurzweil,Nick Bostrom and Latour highlights how technology challenges human identity,labor and ethical frameworks.The paper argues that Divyas narrative serves the both cautionary tale and a redefinition of co- existence between machines and humans.The novel Machinehood, emerges not only a thought provoking work of fiction.It is also a meaningful intervention in different debates surrounding artificial intelligence, ethics,automation and the advancement of human labor.It also encourages the readers to clash with pressing questions.About what initiate humanity and that definition should be shared with our growing independent inventions.This paper offers that Machinehood questions the boundaries between humans and machines.It highlights how technology affects human identity,labor and ethics.The novel encourages rethinking what is means to be human in a technology driven world.

Integrating Smart Technology for Culturally Relevant Heritage Education in Zimbabwe []


This research investigates the integration of smart technology into a heritage-based curriculum within the Zimbabwean educational context, focusing on the potential to enhance learning outcomes and ensure cultural relevance. The heritage-based curriculum emphasizes the importance of local resources, cultural practices, and indigenous languages, thereby promoting a sense of identity and belonging among students. However, the current educational framework predominantly uses English as the medium of instruction, which poses significant challenges for effective communication and comprehension, particularly in the realms of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The study begins by examining the fundamental principles of a heritage-based curriculum, which seeks to incorporate local knowledge, traditions, and languages into the learning process. This approach not only enriches the educational experience but also fosters a deeper connection to the students' cultural heritage. By leveraging local resources, the curriculum aims to create a more relevant and engaging learning environment that resonates with students' lived experiences. Despite these advantages, the integration of smart technology into this curriculum presents unique challenges. The research highlights the absence of repositories for local languages, which limits the development of educational materials and resources that can effectively utilize smart technologies. This gap in resources underscores the need for innovative strategies that can bridge the divide between modern technological advancements and traditional educational practices. The research methodologies employed in this study include qualitative interviews with educators, curriculum developers, and technology experts, as well as case studies of schools that have successfully integrated smart technologies into their heritage-based curricula. By analysing these case studies, the research aims to identify best practices and effective models that can be replicated across other educational institutions. One of the key findings indicates that successful integration of smart technology necessitates a collaborative approach involving educators, community stakeholders, and technology providers. This collaboration can lead to the co-creation of culturally relevant digital content that reflects local languages and traditions, making learning more accessible and meaningful for students. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the importance of professional development for teachers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge required to effectively incorporate smart technologies into their teaching practices. Additionally, the study explores various smart technologies, such as mobile applications, interactive platforms, and digital storytelling tools, that can be utilized to enhance the heritage-based curriculum. These technologies not only facilitate interactive learning but also provide opportunities for students to engage with their cultural heritage in innovative ways. For instance, digital storytelling can enable students to share their cultural narratives, thereby reinforcing their identity and enhancing their communication skills. The research also addresses potential barriers to integration, including limited access to technological resources, inadequate training for educators, and resistance to change within traditional educational structures. To overcome these challenges, the study proposes a framework for integrating smart technology into the heritage-based curriculum, which includes strategies for resource allocation, teacher training, and community engagement. In conclusion, this research underscores the significance of integrating smart technology into a heritage-based curriculum as a pathway to enhanced learning and cultural relevance in Zimbabwean education. By embracing local resources and cultural practices while leveraging modern technological advancements, educators can create a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that prepares students for the digital age. This integration not only enriches the educational experience but also fosters a sense of pride and ownership in students' cultural heritage, ultimately contributing to a more holistic and relevant education system. Through this study, it is hoped that insights and recommendations will guide future curriculum development and educational practices, paving the way for a more culturally responsive and technology-enhanced learning landscape in Zimbabwe.

Exploring availability, utilisation and quality of school health services among primary schools in Jega zonal education area, Kebbi state []


ABSTRACT School health services (SHS) refer to the health care delivery system that is operational within a school or college. The aim of SHS is to promote and maintain the health of learners and staff so as to enhance learning. Studies have revealed poor implementation of SHS in Nigeria. There is dearth of information on the state of SHS in Kebbi state. This study was carried out to explore availability, quality and utilization of SHS in Jega zonal education area, Kebbi state. A mixed method of quantitative and qualitative research design was employed using concurrent triangulation. Muti-staged sampling technique was used to select one hundred and fourty-nine (149) primary schools. Three validated research instruments, that includes a questionnaire, an observation check-list and an in-depth interview guide were used to collect data. Descriptive data was analysed using frequency and percentage. while inferential statistics were done using chi-square and regression at p-value of 0.05 Results were presented as tables and figures. Distribution of participants by gender revealed that majority (94.6%) were males and few (5.4%) were females while the educational qualification showed that majority (81.2%) had Nigeria Certificate in Education. Study also showed that more than half (78.5%) schools were owned by government and less than half (21.5%) belongs to private organization or individual. More than half (69.1%) schools have first-aid boxes and 37 (24.8%) did not have. Nearly half (49.5%) of the available first-aid boxes were virtually empty with no basic instruments and emergency drugs. Very few (3.4%) have licensed school nurses, while majority of the schools (83.9%) have their health services handled by school teachers. Others- 19 (12.8%) do not have any form of school health service provider. Few (20.1%) always carry out pre-entry health screening and over one-third (37.6%) did not. Furthermore, only few (32.2%) of the schools have provision for keeping health records and most schools, 101(67.8%) do not have any provision for that. Most of the schools (80.5%) have no block of classroom that has walkway/slope that can be used for a child that is physically challenged. Results also showed that in, 129 (86.6%) schools only few of teachers were trained on first aid and emergency care. Over one-third of the schools (37.6%) have no collaboration with any health agency and few schools (26.2%) reported that they were visited by health personnel only for polio immunization. Findings from the study revealed that there is no statistically significant difference in availability and utilization of SHS between public and private schools (α=0.001) at 0.05 level of significance. It was concluded that there is poor implementation of SHS in the study setting, with poor quality and inadequate utilization. It is therefore recommended that policy framework to guide SHS provision, especially provision of well-equipped first-aid box for each primary school and periodic organization of training on basic first-aid and emergency care for all primary school teachers. Keywords: School health services, primary schools, availability, quality, utilization, Kebbi state. Number of Words:474

Leveraging AI-Driven HR Analytics for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Predicting and Closing the Opportunity Gap in Multigenerational Workforces []


In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Human Resources (HR) holds transformative potential—especially in advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within multigenerational workforces. This paper examines how AI-driven HR analytics can predict and close opportunity gaps, providing actionable insights to foster fairer, more inclusive environments across generational cohorts. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research explores current applications, ethical challenges, and best practices for deploying AI-driven DEI strategies. The findings underscore that while AI empowers data-driven decision-making that can mitigate biases and improve representation, responsible implementation with active human oversight remains critical to avoid perpetuating systemic inequalities.

Effect of Risk Mitigation Strategies on Performance of Sustainable Agricultural Productivity in Rwanda, A Case of Sustainable Agriculture Productivity and Market Linkage Project in Gisagara District, Rwanda []


This study assessed the effect of risk mitigation strategies on the performance of the Sustainable Agricultural Productivity Project (SAPP) in Gisagara District, Rwanda. The research aimed to evaluate how risk retention, prevention, control, and transfer influenced project effectiveness. Data were collected from 343 respondents using questionnaires and interviews, with the target population including project team members, SPIU staff, and beneficiaries from the Nyiramageneri marshland. The findings revealed that risk prevention emerged as the most significant factor influencing project performance, with proactive measures such as training, awareness programs, and process improvements playing a crucial role in reducing potential disruptions. Risk prevention showed a strong positive effect, with a mean of 4.66 (SD = 0.663) and a standardized beta of 0.487 (p-value = 0.000), indicating that it was the most influential strategy in minimizing risks and ensuring smoother project implementation. Risk transfer, particularly through insurance policies, also had a positive impact on project performance, with a mean of 4.67 (SD = 0.47) for the statement regarding insurance policies providing security. The standardized beta of 0.143 (p-value = 0.000), highlighting its crucial role in maintaining financial stability and supporting project participants during risk events. Risk control, including strategies such as regular monitoring and incident management, showed a moderate positive effect, with a mean of 4.64 (SD = 0.617) and a standardized beta of 0.193 (p-value = 0.000), ensuring smooth operations and prompt response to risks. However, risk retention, such as emergency funds and insurance, showed a weaker contribution to project success, with a mean of 4.00 (SD = 0.425) for emergency funds, but mixed responses for insurance effectiveness (mean = 4.15, SD = 1.028). and standardized beta = 0.263 (p-value = 0.000), indicating a weaker but still positive relationship with project performance. The study recommends investing in regular risk assessments, staff training, and process improvements to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks. Key words: Risk Mitigation Strategies, project Performance, Agricultural Productivity Sustainable

CITIZEN EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES AND PERFORMANCE OF LIVESTOCK FARMING PROJECTS IN BURERA DISTRICT, RWANDA: A CASE OF SPARK PROJECT []


Effective livestock farming projects not only enhance food security and economic stability but also contribute to sustainable rural development. However, despite the growing importance of livestock farming, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the impact of citizen empowerment initiatives on the success of these projects in Burera District. In light of these concerns, the purpose of this study was to establish the effect of citizen empowerment initiatives on the performance of livestock farming projects in Burera District, Rwanda. The specific objectives were to assess the effect of financial input on performance, examine the effect of capacity building on performance, establish the effect of technical expertise on performance, and determine the effect of material input on performance. The study was grounded in the Empowerment Theory and the Resource-Based View (RBV) Theory, providing a framework for understanding how resources and empowerment impact project outcomes. The study consisted of a census of 91 respondents including 3 SPARK Project Coordinators, 12 Extension Officers, and 76 livestock farmers enrolled in the SPARK Project in Burera District. Data collection was conducted through questionnaires, interviews, and document review. A pilot test was conducted with 18 respondents to determine the instrument's ability to produce consistent results over time. Validity and Reliability testing of the research instrument yielded 0.77 and a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.775 from pilot results, confirming the instrument's validity and reliability respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including regression and correlation analysis, were conducted at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS version 28. The obtained results revealed that the null hypothesis (H01) that financial input has no significant effect on the performance of livestock farming projects in Burera District was rejected since P=0.003<0.05, confirming that financial input significantly enhances project performance. Second, the null hypothesis (H02) stating that capacity building has no significant effect on project performance was also rejected since P=0.000<0.05, indicating that capacity building plays a significant role in improving livestock farming outcomes. Third, the null hypothesis (H03) that technical expertise has no significant impact on the performance of livestock farming projects was rejected since P=0.000<0.05, suggesting that technical expertise is a critical factor for improving project success. Finally, the null hypothesis (H04) that material input has no significant impact on project performance was rejected since P=0.000<0.05, emphasizing the significant contribution of material inputs to the success of livestock farming projects. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the significant positive impact of financial input, capacity building, technical expertise, and material input on the success of livestock farming projects in Burera District, Rwanda. It is recommended that financial support, capacity-building initiatives, technical guidance, and material input distribution be enhanced, while future studies could explore Future research should explore the impact of integrating technology in livestock farming and investigate the role of gender and socioeconomic status in access to resources and the success of these projects

Impact of language of immediate environment on performance in mathematics among Lower Basic Pupils in North-West Zone Nigeria []


This study investigated the Impact of Language of Immediate Environment (LIE) on Performance in Mathematics among Lower Basic Pupils in North- West Zone, Nigeria. The study was conducted based two (2) specific objectives. Two (2) research questions were constructed and two (2) null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A pre-test, post-test and post-posttest quasi experimental design was adopted. From the target Population of seven million six hundred and seventy-four thousand and ninety- eight (7,674,098) Pupils from the North Western states of Nigeria. A multi stage purposive simple random sampling technique was used to select the states, local governments and the schools of the pupils. Three hundred and eighty-four (384) pupils were selected for the study in accordance with Krejci’s and Morgan’s method of estimating a sample size from a large population. The Mathematics Performance Test (MPT) was used to collect data on the performance of the lower basic pupils in both the experimental and the control group. The instrument was validated and the reliability coefficients of MPT was established at r=0.87. The data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and t-test Analysis at 0.05 level of significance using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). Result of the study indicated that lower basic primary school pupils taught using Language of Immediate Environment (LIE) performed better in learning mathematics than those taught using English language. The study established that using Language of Immediate Environment (LIE) to teach Mathematics concepts was highly effective in enhancing the performance of lower basic primary school pupils. The study revealed among others that Language of Immediate Environment was gender friendly. The study recommended among others that mathematics teachers should endeavor to use Language of Immediate Environment in teaching lower basic pupils in the North West zone, Nigeria. The results of the findings of the study suggests for further studies in different location of the country and in different subjects or by using other dependent variable such as self-efficacy. Mathematics students should use their language of immediate environment to help them understand mathematical concepts by practicing mathematics in their mother tongue and ask for language support from teachers, if they struggle with the language of instruction. The findings of the study would also benefit the mathematics educators, curriculum planners, government and non-governmental organizations among others.

Viral Suppression and Its Correlates among Pregnant Women Living With HIV and Linked to Health Facilities in Zombo District – West Nile, Northern Uganda: A Cross-sectional Study []


Background: Twenty million women are living with HIV, and 1.3 million of them become pregnant each year. If not adequately suppressed, the number of pregnant women has the potential to lead to 1.3 million new HIV infections annually through vertical transmission. With high access to effective antiretroviral therapy, children infected vertically can grow into adolescents, who are currently among the least suppressed groups and can therefore further spread HIV. Besides the risk of new infections, non-suppressed pregnant women also face a higher risk of severe illness, perinatal mortality, and maternal mortality, yet suppression rates during pregnan-cy are reported to range from 70 to 90%. That proportion was not known in Uganda or Zombo district specifi-cally, even though 5500 new HIV cases are registered among children each year in Uganda. This study was con-ducted to assess viral suppression and its associated factors among pregnant women living with HIV and linked to health facilities in Zombo district. Method: A cross-sectional study design was used to study 234 mothers living with HIV who had been enrolled in the eMTCT program during their most recent pregnancy, in Zombo district. A census of all available health centers that provide HIV care and treatment in Zombo was made, and at each, consecutive sampling was used to sample the pregnant women, who were then engaged in structured interviews, along with medical record abstraction. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26, using frequency distributions and a log-binomial model. Results: More than three-quarters of the mothers were virally suppressed during their most recent pregnancy (202/234)86%. Pregnant women who had given birth to two children (aPR = 0.896[95% CI = 0.812 - 0.989], P = 0.029), who had disclosed HIV status to their partners (aPR = 0.896[95% CI = 0.815 - 0.985], P = 0.024), who reported that they had skipped a day without taking antiretroviral medication (aPR = 0.800 [95% CI = 0.684 - 0.936], P = 0.005), missed any medical appointment during the previous pregnancy (aPR = 0.840 [95% CI = 0.717 - 0.983], P = 0.030) and those who took multivitamin supplements (aPR = 0.808 [95% CI = 0.707 - 0.923], P = 0.002), exhibited less prevalence of viral suppression. Conclusion: Although fairly high, virological suppression during pregnancy among women in Zombo district is still 9 percentage points lower than the 2025 target for viral suppression, and 14 percentage points away from universality. Viral suppression among those women in the district is determined almost in equal measure by only their intrapersonal characteristics, all of which are negatively correlated with suppression