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Dec 2025
Background Fast food consumption is the major cause of obesity and overweight in worldwide affecting more than 2 billion people, especially developing countries and low income countries. It can lead to hyperinsulinemia and development of insulin resistance, high energy density, high glycemic index, and fatty acid composition of fast foods may increase the prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors Objectives The main aim of this study was, to assess fast food consumption and its association with overweight /obesity among undergraduate students of University Hargeisa, Somaliland, 2023. Methods The study was carried out from May 01 to July 20, 2023 at University of Hargeisa using an institutional based cross-sectional study design to among 260 students. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was prepared based on review literatures and dig out from related studies. The anthropometric data was taken by data collectors to measure weight and height using a stadiometer. Data was entered and checked for errors using EPI-info version 7.1.5.0 and then, data were exported to statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software version 21 and STATA software version 14 for data processing and analysis. Descriptive statistics such as; frequencies, means and proportion was used for present the findings. A variable with P-values of less than 0.25 in the binary logistic regression analysis was entered into a multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify the independent predictors of stunting. Finally, variable at P-value less than 0.05 in multivariable logistic regression analysis was considered as a statistically significant variable. Results In this study, the majority 235 (90.4%, CI: 86.5- 93.8) of the study participants were fast food consumers. The study revealed that, from the total study participants 46(17.7%),127(48.8%),84(32.3%), 3(1.2%) were underweight, normal, overweight and obese respectively. A chi-square test revealed that there was a significant (p-value=0.058) associations between BMI and fast food consumption among students of University of Hargeisa. On multi-variable logistic regression model educational level of the students (AOR = 12.45 (95% CI: 1.7, 14.6)) and frequency of fruit (AOR = 0.76, 95% CI (0.7, 0.8)) and vegetable consumptions (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI (0.47, 0.575)) were found to be significantly associated with fast food consumptions (p < 0.05). Conclusion In this study, of the total 90.4% number of fast food consumers. A chi-square test revealed that there was a significant (p-value=0.058) associations between BMI and fast food consumption among students of University of Hargeisa. Educational level of the students and frequency of fruit and vegetable consumptions were found to be significantly associated with fast food consumptions. Effort should be made to increase access to fast food-related information and counseling.
Apr 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-5257.ijgp-24-5041
Introduction Globally, 36.7 million individuals live with HIV/AIDS, with 2.5 million new cases annually. Youth (14-25 years) account for 45% of these new infections. Those aged 15-24 years are less likely to be aware of their HIV status and engage in HIV care compared to older adults. This study explores the use of HIV self-testing to improve access to HIV care among Kenyatta University undergraduates. Objective To identify barriers and facilitators to HIV self-testing in this group. Methodology Employing multistage cluster sampling, 398 students were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. Results Of the participants (median age 21 years, 1:1.03 male-to-female ratio), 91.7% understood HIV's seriousness, with sexual intercourse as the primary transmission mode. Self-testing usage was 28.8%. Key barriers included fear of partner reaction, stigma, and lack of confidence. Significant facilitators were being female, knowledgeable about HIV, and sexually active. Conclusion Only 24% had prior HIV testing experience. The study highlights the importance of addressing fears and misconceptions while leveraging knowledge and sexual activity awareness to promote HIV self-testing.
Jan 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-13-180
Perception of Human Immunodeficiency Virus has been topical due to its central place in determining attitudes and care for people living with HIV/AIDS and having implications for the containment of the epidemic. People living with HIV/AIDS face social stigmatization due partly to misconception in the perception of the disease and people living with it and students are not left out in this stigmatization and discrimination. This study aimed at exploring the perception of HIV/AIDS by the students of Obafemi Awolowo University. The study utilized quantitative methodology –questionnaires to elicit information from 160 students on their perception of the disease. The sampling technique was quota sampling technique in which 40 students were randomly selected from each hostel out of the 4 selected hostels. The findings were that majority of the respondents view the disease and people living with it negatively (53.9) and dangerous (30.9) and 66.4 percent of the respondents did not see themselves being vualnerable to contracting the virus. The result further showed a significant association between knowledge and perception of the disease. It was also revealed that there was no significant relationship between perception of the disease and socio-economic status of students. This negative perception has serious implications for students living with HIV/AIDS in the University. In conclusion, the negative students’ perception of the disease and people living with it has serious implications for the containment of the epidemic in that people living with HIV/AIDS would hide their sero-positive status to avoid stigma and would in turn infect others. There is therefore need for intervention to change student perception to positive in the university.
Sep 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2694-2275.jzr-24-5256
Stimulating precocious metamorphosis in anuran larvae is an important pedagogical tool for understanding vertebrate development. However, historically, artificially provoking metamorphosis by immersing tadpoles in exogenous inducing agents (e.g., thyroxine, and iodine) compromises the longevity of the experimental animals, resulting in up to 100% mortality within a week. In our undergraduate teaching lab, we house our experimental tadpoles in circular glass dishes having a surface area of 182 cm2. Over the past four academic years this lab was performed, we observed 100% mortality of experimental animals within 10, 12, or 15 days when treated with 10-5 M, 10-6 M, or 10-7 M thyroxine, respectively. Here, we investigated whether increasing the surface area to 413 cm2 using square glass dishes would reduce the mortality of the treated animals. Omnibus Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrates a statistically significant decrease in mortality in tadpoles reared in the larger square dishes compared to those housed in the smaller round dishes (P < 0.05). However, increasing the surface area of our reaction vessels could not rescue survivability of those tadpoles immersed in thyroxine, but did increase survivability of control tadpoles maintained in pond water (P < 0.01), tadpoles subjected to iodine (P < 0.05) or treated with actinomycin D (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that increasing available reaction vessel surface area reduces overall tadpole mortality during chemically modified metamorphosis in an undergraduate teaching lab setting.
Jul 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2577-2279.ijha-24-5150
The instructional techniques in neuroanatomy laboratories continue to evolve to incorporate online interactive resources to improve student experience and outcomes. This study aims to design an “all in one”Virtual Interactive Brain Atlas (VIBA) that provides students with an educational resource that will improve their knowledge of neuroanatomy while in the brain lab and provide them with lab resources they can self-study and self-test. Coronal, midsagittal, whole brain, and horizontal brain slices were used to create detailed descriptions, interactive features, and quiz assessments to create VIBA. Upper level undergraduate and optometry students taking a neuroanatomy one-semester course were provided with VIBA for use during the semester. A paper survey was distributed after completing the course to determine student perception. No significant difference was indicated between the student groups regarding their self-reported understanding prior to the brain lab (p= 0.194) and after the brain lab (p= 0.308). There was a significant difference between the student populations when stating that they strongly agreed that the online brain atlas improved their understanding of neuroanatomy (p= 0.032) and that the VIBA tool was easy to navigate (p=0.048). There was a significant difference between the two student groups that strongly agreed that the online brain atlas quality was sufficient (p= 0.015). This online interactive brain atlas was created in a time-efficient manner from readily available models and was well received by experienced neuroanatomy faculty and students.
May 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2998-4122.jlr-24-4985
Despite a large number of studies examining syntactic features that are predictive of second language (L2) writing quality, assessed by human raters at the university level, few have systematically investigated this link using a large set of indices in the foreign language learning (EFL) classroom context. The current study sought to determine the extent to which a variety of syntactic complexity and sophistication indices are associated with and may predict writing quality by analyzing 30 argumentative essays written by undergraduate EFL students in an Ethiopian university classroom setting. To represent syntactic complexity as a multidimensional construct, we used conventional absolute measures, fine-grained clausal and phrasal indices, and newly proposed sophistication indices related to the use of verb argument constructions (VACs) indexed by TAASSC (Tool for the Automatic Analysis of Syntactic Sophistication and Complexity; 17. Essays were graded, and five separate predicted models of writing quality were created utilizing each complex feature index and all of the measures. Robust predictors of writing quality were identified at both syntactic complexity and sophistication dimensions. Regression analyses showed that the combined model including both fine-grained clausal complexity and VAC-based indices could account for 53.6% of the variance (the largest amount of variance in the study) in writing scores. The finding indicates that the inclusion of diversified adverbial modifiers and nonfinite clauses such as modal auxiliaries controlled by less frequent verbs were predictive of higher-quality writing. These findings shed light on some characteristics of L2 learners' writing growth and enable us to draw pedagogical implications for teaching and assessing writing in the Ethiopian EFL context.
Nov 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-9273.jbtm-18-2348
The transition to university can be a stressful time in a student’s life. Recent evidence demonstrates declining mental and physical health in college and university students compared to the general public. A prospective cohort study investigating mental and physical wellness over the course of a semester in a sample of first-year undergraduate students (N=74; 65%F) from nine faculties was completed at a large university in Canada. Sixty-eight (92%) students with a mean (SD, ±) age 18.2 ± 1.1 yrs., weight 67.9 ± 15.5 kg, height, 168.5 ± 11.6 cm and waist circumference 81.3 ± 9.8 cm completed the SF-36V2 quality of life questionnaire at the beginning and end of the semester in Fall 2014. A decrease in vitality (p=0.003), social functioning (p=0.004), emotional state (p=0.014), and mental health (p=0.019) outcomes as measured by the SF-36v2 occurred during the semester. In addition, aggregate mental health significantly declined from the beginning to the end of the semester (p <0.001), while physical health did not change (p=0.242). The importance of promoting and increasing awareness of campus wide mental health strategies should be considered a priority for first year undergrad students. Particularly, because students in their first year may take longer than one semester to adjust to the increased work load and although difficult to speculate it is possible that both mental and physical health would decline over the next (second) semester. Future research should aim for longer study duration.
Oct 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-18-2331
This study reviews the agricultural development perspective in the light of a rapid space technology development. In other words, precision agriculture as part of geoinformatics. The aim is to quantify whether the adopted technology can improve the efficiency of agricultural fields management and production to attain food security. Therefore, views of targeted groups from different States of Sudan were investigated, using stratified sampling method. Where quantitative statistics (descriptive/inductive techniques) was applied. About 800 questionnaires were distributed. The outcomes of data analysis reflected that the majority of interviewed groups 357 (82.1%) do not know the principles and application of integrated technology in the field of agricultural management. 85.3% of respondents know nothing about computer program related to precision agriculture. The majority of the respondents (84.6 %), did not get courses on precision agriculture during the under graduate study. The result also revealed that only 11.8% of the respondents use modern techniques in land preparation, 16.1 % in soil analysis, 12.5 % in the field of seed technology, and 11.4% in crop harvesting. However, 53.9% of the respondents reported that their Departments did not care about training on agricultural precision. Nevertheless, 24.3 % of the respondents got trained on precision agriculture through personal efforts, while about 19% got trained by their respective Departments. In regard to education, 16% of the respondents got trained on precision agriculture at undergraduate and only 9% after graduation. The study concludes that despite the rapid technological development, agriculture in Sudan remained lagging, and the productivity is below the expectation. It recommends that the Ministries of Agriculture in different States in Sudan should take the issue of introduction of new technology seriously to boost the agricultural development to attain food security.
Jul 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2640-690X.jfm-18-2180
In this work, it is analysed how the medical practice is imbued with Cartesian rational thought as well as empiricist thought and it is stated that medicine is an art and is science. It is proposed that the object of knowledge of the medical practice is not the concept of disease but health. It is from the concept of health and normality that medical taxonomy labels individuals as sick. This taxonomy is frequently re-evaluated and reorganized by scientific societies. This sometimes occurs according to new knowledge, but this categorization may also be questioned due to direct intervention or indirect pressure related to interests, especially economic, that are sometimes not clearly visible. Accordingly, an ongoing discussion is needed to keep the medical practice neutral against struggles of interest derived from the health industry. These topics must be considered and debated in medical schools including undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Jul 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-612X.ijpr-17-1543
Our own long term experiences as clinical teachers among undergraduate medical students have generated the interest to investigate the plausible connection between students’ study orientation and their learning experiences in small groups.The objective of the study was to assess the hypothesis whether learning in small groups may contribute to study motivation. Participants were 52 undergraduate medical students (10-12 in each group) in the primary health care course between 1st and 5th year during the spring term 2012. The questionnaires used were the Inventory of General studies (IGSO) for study orientation and IQ questionnaire for group learning. The data were analyzed by Bayesian network modeling. In this study, the application used was the Bayminer (www.BayMiner.com) non-linear visualization modeling software. Positive atmosphere in a small group increases study motivation and commitment and predicts mutual trust and gives space to new ideas, where contradictive views can raise interesting discussions. Based on Bayesian modeling it seems that the experience of motivational problems in the present studies may be an indicator of study alienation and connected with the perception of small group dysfunctionality.
Jul 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2572-5424.jgm-16-1066
Lactic acidosis is a condition commonly encountered in the hospital setting particularly in critically ill patients and is very often used as a diagnostic adjunct when encountering cases of ischaemia or other hypoperfusion states. Despite its use many clinicians have long forgotten the biochemical mechanisms that give rise to hyperlactataemia. One reason for this is because the basic science regarding lactate metabolism is taught in the early years of the medical undergraduate course, and unless one specialises in metabolic medicine, is unlikely to encounter it again. In this article we aim to elucidate the basic mechanisms of lactate metabolism and the accompanying acidosis, and illustrate various clinical settings that give rise to this biochemical abnormality.