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Catch-up Growth of Low Birth Weight Infants: A Study Among the Infants Born in the Backward Areas of Howrah
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
206-213
Received:
8 March 2019
Accepted:
5 July 2019
Published:
10 September 2019
Abstract: Background: Babies having low birth weight are comparatively more susceptible to infection and are unable to grow to their full potential of physical and mental development. This often lead to high infant morbidity and mortality. Hence, it becomes important to identify the low birth weight infants and offer them adequate care. This study was carried in the District of Howrah. This study was conductedmong 732 LBW survivors and 314 NBW controls from birth to nine months of age. Their growth trends (weight, length, head and chest circumferences) were followed and compared. Objectives: The physical growth pattern of low birth weight and normal birth weight babies under study were compared, relative influence of certain variables on the catch up growth of LBW infants were to be determined and the catch up growth in terms of increments in Height, Length, Weight, Head and Chest Circumferences were analyzed. Results: The catch-up growth among the LBW infants in almost all the anthropometric measurements were of lower values as compared to their NBW counterparts. However the increments in growth were seen to be higher in different months of age for different measurements. The catch-up growth was contributed by gestational age, birth weight, birth length, birth head and chest circumferences. Regarding catch-up growth, length, head circumference and chest circumference were the parameters to start up early as in the 1st month in case of chest circumference followed by length and head circumference in the 2nd month of age. Weight was quite late as much as 4th month. LBW babies were much closer to their NBW counterparts in the 6th month in all the parameters under this study.
Abstract: Background: Babies having low birth weight are comparatively more susceptible to infection and are unable to grow to their full potential of physical and mental development. This often lead to high infant morbidity and mortality. Hence, it becomes important to identify the low birth weight infants and offer them adequate care. This study was carrie...
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Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River
Shimellis Hailu Dessie,
Sebsib Hadis Woldie,
Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome,
Yimer Ali Mohammed
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
214-225
Received:
6 July 2019
Accepted:
24 July 2019
Published:
10 September 2019
Abstract: Water governance is the range of political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place to develop and manage water resources and delivery of water services at different level of society. This research assessed the trends and actors of Borkena river water governance. Borkena is major tributary of Awash River that originated from South Wollo, Kutaber Woreda. The research use qualitative research approach and data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. Based on the data, the research found the households and institutions around the river contributed for the depletion of the river water. There is clear policy and practice gap where weak institutional linkages exacerbate the river pollution from bad to worst. The research found that Borkena River serves for the social and economic need of large number of households in the basin. However, the river is found ownerless where no specifically identified government offices are responsible for the river governance at local level. Thus, the river suffers from disposals of industries, companies and households wastes. The river pollution is the result of the absence of planed and systematic solid and liquid wastes management mechanisms from the upper to the lower basin. Based upon the finding, the researchers suggest three areas of intervention using government bureaucracy and other civic organizations. These are: (1) revising the policy documents and establishing specific river governing body at local levels; (2) Expanding good experiences of riverside basin protection in the area; and (3) Intensive awareness creation about waste management and preserving river water needs to be implemented to improve the surrounding communities’ socioeconomic wellbeing that enable Borkena river clean and viable for future.
Abstract: Water governance is the range of political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place to develop and manage water resources and delivery of water services at different level of society. This research assessed the trends and actors of Borkena river water governance. Borkena is major tributary of Awash River that originated from S...
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River Pollution in Ethiopia: An Exploratory Assessment of the Causes and Effects on Environmental Sustainability
Sebsib Hadis,
Mulugeta Tesfaye,
Shimelis Hailu
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
226-233
Received:
14 July 2019
Accepted:
14 August 2019
Published:
10 September 2019
Abstract: Ethiopia has been reflecting the environmental sustainability interests. However, questions have been raised regarding its effectiveness. Thus, this paper addresses one of the environmental sustainability issues specifically Borkena river pollution. Furthermore, it addresses the causes and effects of Borkena river pollution on environmental sustainability. By employing an exploratory approach, formative analysis and conclusions are made. As a result, Borkena River is found highly depleted due to wastes from households, institutions and industries. Mountainous farming, lack of environmental protection measures, alien weed, informal settlement, poor waste management system and inappropriate utilization of river resources are the major causes of Borkena River pollution. As a result, the river pollution affects the environmental sustainability in the area of natural resources, biodiversity and human ecology at large. Thus, the research outlines the following directions to be implemented for protecting Borkena River from pollution and maintaining environmental sustainability. Among these, (1) revisiting the rivers depletion and the extent of environmental pollution on a broader scale, (2) policy revision should be considered in responding river pollution and environmental sustainability measures, (3) expanding best environmental protection practices in Borkena river side, and (4) reconsidering river rehabilitation through realizing its economic benefits for the local community.
Abstract: Ethiopia has been reflecting the environmental sustainability interests. However, questions have been raised regarding its effectiveness. Thus, this paper addresses one of the environmental sustainability issues specifically Borkena river pollution. Furthermore, it addresses the causes and effects of Borkena river pollution on environmental sustain...
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One Election, Two Victories: Ghana’s 2016 General Elections Revisited
Awaisu Imurana Braimah,
Alhassan Salifu Bawah
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
234-244
Received:
12 August 2019
Accepted:
5 September 2019
Published:
19 September 2019
Abstract: This article examines election-related violence that characterizes some electoral processes across Africa. The study thematically focussed on two dominant political parties in Ghana, thus the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in respect of the December 2016 Presidential election. These two political parties have alternated executive power in Ghana since the birth of the Fourth Republic in January 1993, with Ghana having failed to maintain the status quo immediately after independence from British colonial rule. The claims and counterclaims of victory immediately after polls closed in the December, 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, brought Ghana to the brink of election violence. Both parties’ counter-claimed victory, purportedly based on ‘results’ obtained from their polling agents posted across the various polling stations in all the 275 constituencies. The Electoral Commission (EC), which supervised the general election was surprisingly mute in declaring the winner of the 2016 Presidential election in the midst of these controversies. This paper argues that the vacuum created by the EC per its delay in the declaration of certified Presidential election results after polls had closed, was a blot on Ghana’s status as the beacon of democracy and peace in Africa.
Abstract: This article examines election-related violence that characterizes some electoral processes across Africa. The study thematically focussed on two dominant political parties in Ghana, thus the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in respect of the December 2016 Presidential election. These two political parties have a...
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Impact of Disaster Risks on Regional Economic Resilience in China: A Case Study of Wenchuan Earthquake
Dan Zhou,
An Chen,
Jianfei Wang
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
245-254
Received:
22 August 2019
Accepted:
28 August 2019
Published:
20 September 2019
Abstract: The occurrence of disasters has a great impact on the sustainable development of cities and regions. This makes the ability of urban economic system to deal with disaster risk and its ability to recover development after being disturbed by disasters become two important indicators to measure the economic resilience. Unlike the study of economic shocks, we identify sectors of the economy that are sensitive to disaster disturbances in urban systems. It is of great significance to explore the structure of economic activity which is related to improve the stability and driving force of urban economy resilience. This paper establishes the premise hypothesis according to the Urban Economy Basic Theory. The object is the structure of urban Basic and Non-Basic economic activities. Taking the Location Quotient as the observation index, the economic resilience level of disaster risk area was explored through the empirical study of Wenchuan earthquake. The results show that the Investment, Finance, Government Finance, Transportation and Social Welfare sectors are the endogenous drivers of the post-disaster economy, which can quickly stimulate economic recovery in the short term but lack of sustainability. Besides, the development of Industry, Retail Trade, Construction, Education and Health Care need to be driven by external support. In the short term, the growth rate is not significant, but it is the main driving force of long-term economic development after the disaster. On the other hand, Government Finance, Social Finance Investment, Construction, Transportation and Social Welfare departments have undergone reverse changes between Basic and Non-basic economic activities after the earthquake, indicating that the earthquake disaster has a subversive effect on the turbulence of regional economic structure. Therefore, on the basis of extending the perspective of economic resilience researches, this paper discusses the method for assessing urban economic resilience, and puts forward some suggestions on how to improve resilience in the disaster risk areas.
Abstract: The occurrence of disasters has a great impact on the sustainable development of cities and regions. This makes the ability of urban economic system to deal with disaster risk and its ability to recover development after being disturbed by disasters become two important indicators to measure the economic resilience. Unlike the study of economic sho...
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The Contributions of Community Radios in Fostering Social Services in Tanzania: An Evaluation of “Maendeleo vijijini” Program by Radio SAUT FM in Misungwi District
Mwidima Peter Charles,
Fortunatus Manenosabini
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
255-260
Received:
15 August 2019
Accepted:
16 September 2019
Published:
26 September 2019
Abstract: Being one among the peripheral countries in the world, the provision and access of social services in the rural areas in Tanzania is still one of the major stumbling blocks facing the country. Access to clean water and health services in the rural Tanzania areas are one of the major challenges facing residents in those areas. Likewise, about 85% of the roads in the rural Tanzania areas are either rough roads or mad roads. In Misungwi, access to clean drinking water and the provision of health services are still problematic. The roads are also very poor to allow a free movement of people and goods. The focus of this study was to evaluate the contributions made by community radio stations in fostering the improvements of social services in Tanzania. Specifically, the study evaluated the maendeleo vijijini program aired by radio SAUT FM and its contributions in the improvement of roads, safe drinking water, and health services in Misungwi rural area. This was a qualitative research whereby the data collection method used was interviews. A purposive sampling technique was used to select respondents for this study whereby a total of 33 respondents were interviewed. They included; three (3) head of units from Misungwi district, 20 members of the development committee, and 10 local leaders. The finding show that community radios through maendeleo vijijini program had played significant contribution towards the promotion and improvements of social services in the rural areas of Misungwi district. Nearly over 60% of the interviewees confirmed that the program had played grate contributions in promoting and education residences and government officials about the importance of good roads, safe drinking water, and improved health services. In conclusion, these findings have confirmed that community radios have not played any noticeable contributions in Tanzania. The findings also suggest that running a community radio in Tanzania need to be well prepared in terms of financial and human capital. Because of untrained staff to run the program and financial shortages, community radios will continue suffering because of poor coverage, frequent power cut-offs, poor program preparations, just a few to mention.
Abstract: Being one among the peripheral countries in the world, the provision and access of social services in the rural areas in Tanzania is still one of the major stumbling blocks facing the country. Access to clean water and health services in the rural Tanzania areas are one of the major challenges facing residents in those areas. Likewise, about 85% of...
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The Rise of Divorce in Bangladesh: A Review in the Change of Marriage Dynamics
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
261-269
Received:
4 September 2019
Accepted:
27 September 2019
Published:
10 October 2019
Abstract: The world is going through massive globalization. The ideas, trends, practices diffuse much faster than past. The family is not an undeviating institution anymore. In recent decades, the earth has experienced downfall in marriage rates, increase in divorce rates, and change in the defining attributes of marriage dynamics. The western countries have gone to that phase where divorce is natural. But in a restricted society like Bangladesh, divorce is still treated as a taboo. Although divorce is not a desirable act in any society of the world however with the recent surge in divorce rates, Bangladesh is going to feel the necessity of policy interventions regarding single parent family or divorced male and female very shortly. In order to understand the marriage dynamics in lens of divorce this paper examines the concept of divorce, review the divorce pattern and the existing divorce law. This paper analyzes socio-psychological approach to explain how and why divorce rates are proliferating. It also discusses the causes and consequences of divorce which will help the policy planners to revise the divorce act and to design interventions for reducing the stigmatization and discrimination towards people seeking marital termination and will help the children of divorced family.
Abstract: The world is going through massive globalization. The ideas, trends, practices diffuse much faster than past. The family is not an undeviating institution anymore. In recent decades, the earth has experienced downfall in marriage rates, increase in divorce rates, and change in the defining attributes of marriage dynamics. The western countries have...
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Chinese Community Correction System and “De-labeling” - On the Jurisprudential Basis of Community Correction System from the Perspective of Label Theory
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
270-274
Received:
10 September 2019
Accepted:
27 September 2019
Published:
12 October 2019
Abstract: The community correction system is relatively mature in Western countries such as the UK and the USA. In recent years, it has gradually emerged in China and has been pushed from the pilot to the whole country. It has had an important impact on the transformation of the executi of punishment in China. And its development can not be separated from the strong support of label theory in criminology. The label theory cuts into the causes of crime from the interaction between the individual and the society, explains the causal relationship between the primary deviant behavior and the secondary deviant behavior, and holds that the penalty is a “label” for the perpetrator of the crime within the maximum scope of society. As a non-custodial punishment, the community correction system reflects the change of the execution mode of the penalty. Its implementation is based on the label theory. Compared with the traditional prison sentence, it has the effect of diluting the "label" and the implementation of community correction. It is the process of “de-labeling” from the community residents and the community correction objects themselves. The negative reaction of other people in the society to the deviant behavior and the change of the self-image of the perpetrator are two key links in the process of criminal label formation. Therefore, the community correction system should mainly aim at removing the prejudice of the community residents against the community correction offenders and improving the community correction offenders’ recognition of self-worth. And the community correction system should give full play to the influence of lightening the label.
Abstract: The community correction system is relatively mature in Western countries such as the UK and the USA. In recent years, it has gradually emerged in China and has been pushed from the pilot to the whole country. It has had an important impact on the transformation of the executi of punishment in China. And its development can not be separated from th...
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The Formation Path of Moral Authority of Village Leaders
Ang Liu,
Lu Kexin,
Yi Yang
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
275-281
Received:
20 September 2019
Accepted:
30 September 2019
Published:
12 October 2019
Abstract: General Secretary Jinping Xi put forward the ‘Implementation Strategy for Rural Revitalization’ at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. This is the first time that the Party Central Committee has raised the rural issue into a strategic issue. It proposed rural revitalization along with regional coordinated development and healthy China as a strategy for national development. Talents are the key to rural revitalization. As the ‘key minority’ of villages, village leaders have a crucial influence on rural development. This paper adheres to the basic standpoint of historical materialism and grasps the ethical relationship and moral life changes between village leaders and villages from the production and lifestyle of Chinese rural society. In the specific research process, the article uses the methods of text analysis, empirical research, and interdisciplinary method to conduct an ethical analysis of the village leaders' governance of the village during the transition process. The article pointed out that in the process of social transformation, some village leaders have gone astray into the evil path of ‘village hegemony’, ‘profit-sharing’ and ‘lazy politics’ by pursuing excessive personal gains. The reconstruction of moral authority by village leaders in the new era needs to start from the three dimensions of bottom line ethics, responsibility ethics and virtue ethics, stick to the interests of villagers, promote the development of villages, and consciously give back to the villages.
Abstract: General Secretary Jinping Xi put forward the ‘Implementation Strategy for Rural Revitalization’ at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. This is the first time that the Party Central Committee has raised the rural issue into a strategic issue. It proposed rural revitalization along with regional coordinated development and hea...
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Influence of the Internet on Health Seeking Behaviors of Youths in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Adeosun Foluke Odunayo,
Folayan Opeoluwa Florence
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
282-288
Received:
11 June 2019
Accepted:
8 July 2019
Published:
15 October 2019
Abstract: The use of online resources to locate health-related information is known to be increasing among Nigeria youths; sadly, not enough studies that investigates the influence of the internet on health seeking behaviors of Nigeria youths have been done. This study therefore investigates the influence of the internet on health seeking behaviors of youths in Ekiti-state, Nigeria, examines the extent to which the internet provides answers to health related questions among the youths, determines the perception of Nigeria youths on internet’s influence on health seeking among them, and ultimately, this study finds out whether the use of internet increases or decreases self-medication among Nigerian youths. A standardized nine-question survey on Internet use and health seeking behavior was given to 300 youths. A review of the literature is also included. It was discovered that out of 300 responses received, 203 youths (67.7%) reported ever consulting the internet to find health information. 194 (64.6%) youths consult the internet for answers to health problems before thinking of consulting a doctor or a caregiver. A large number of the youths (93.1%) follow the online physician advice more closely by practicing self-medication. A total of 191 (94%) youths submitted that the internet influences their behavior of health seeking. Conclusively, the tests of hypothesis show a significant relationship between the use of internet and health seeking behaviors of youths also between the use of internet and self-medication among youths in Ekiti- State, Nigeria.
Abstract: The use of online resources to locate health-related information is known to be increasing among Nigeria youths; sadly, not enough studies that investigates the influence of the internet on health seeking behaviors of Nigeria youths have been done. This study therefore investigates the influence of the internet on health seeking behaviors of youths...
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The Path to Enhance the Identification of Socialist Core Values
Issue:
Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2019
Pages:
289-298
Received:
22 August 2019
Published:
23 October 2019
Abstract: With the advancement of economic globalization, the deepening of exchanges between different countries has grown, among which the trend of mutual influence, mutual agitation and even mutual competition among different countries and nations in the world have gradually become prominent. To adhere to the core values of the country in the complicated conflicts of values, to unite the social forces and guide the development of the country has become an important issue facing the countries in the world in the new century. In response to the impact and influence of extraterritorial ethos and values on China, China put forward Socialist Core Values in the report of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012. Strengthening the identification of Socialist Core Values is the inherent requirement of building Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese power in the new era, and is also the critical step of enhancing cultural soft power and realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation under the background of globalization. However, how to enhance the identification of Socialist Core Values is an urgent problem that needs to be solved. This paper attempts to propose six specific ways to enhance the identification of Socialist Core Values from a different perspective, namely, education guidance, public opinion propaganda, cultural edification, practice cultivation, system guarantee and international communication aiming at enhancing people’s identification of Socialist Core Values and ultimately building firm self-confidence of Socialist Core Values.
Abstract: With the advancement of economic globalization, the deepening of exchanges between different countries has grown, among which the trend of mutual influence, mutual agitation and even mutual competition among different countries and nations in the world have gradually become prominent. To adhere to the core values of the country in the complicated c...
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