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Research Article
Recursive Feature Elimination with Naive Bayes Classification of Modern Contraception in Reproductive-Aged Women in Kenya
Levi Kiplang’at Bor*,
Anthony Wanjoya,
Samuel Mwalili,
Dennis Kirui
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, April 2024
Pages:
1-8
Received:
30 September 2023
Accepted:
10 October 2023
Published:
8 January 2024
Abstract: Family planning gives the population a license to have control over its reproductive health and ultimately family size. A better understanding, therefore, of its determinants to its uptake is a necessity. The project embarked on determining these factors. It was observed that parity, marital status, age, residence, general health of an individual, education level, wealth status, and family planning awareness are significant factors that determine modern contraception. The number of children one has or is planning to have greatly impacted the use of the different modes of contraception. This research’s main objective was to formulate and implement a cross-validated RFE-NB classifier on modern contraceptive data and compare its performance to that of RFE-SVM. A recursive feature elimination technique trained on the data and important features responsible for modern contraception identified. The naive Bayes classifier was then used for classification. The data was also used to train an RBF kernel SVM classifier. A comparative analysis was then done on the two models. Considering the findings, we conclude that the RFE-NB model has a relatively high accuracy of 81%, which, however, is lower when compared to that of RFE-SVM. The high Kappa value further underscores its reliability in distinguishing between different classes. The RFE-NB exhibits strong accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, making it a valuable tool for accurate prediction and classification tasks.
Abstract: Family planning gives the population a license to have control over its reproductive health and ultimately family size. A better understanding, therefore, of its determinants to its uptake is a necessity. The project embarked on determining these factors. It was observed that parity, marital status, age, residence, general health of an individual, ...
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Research Article
Determinants of Workload and Stress among New Nurse Educators in Ghana: A Qualitative Study
Timothy Tienbia Laari*,
Felix Apiribu,
Joseph Kuufaakang Kuunibe,
Gideon Awenabisa Atanuriba,
Rumana Saeed Mohammed
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, April 2024
Pages:
9-16
Received:
1 December 2023
Accepted:
23 December 2023
Published:
8 January 2024
Abstract: Excessive workload and stress is a complex phenomenon experienced by many nurse educators and may aggravate their desire to leave the profession. This also has a grave implication for the nursing profession with direct dire consequences on student learning outcomes. Albeit excessive workload and stress is a source of career dissatisfaction among new nurse educators, its determinants have not been thoroughly investigated in the Ghanaian context. This study explored the determinants of workload and stress among new nurse educators in Ghana. This descriptive qualitative study was conducted from June to August 2020. Twelve new nurse educators were purposively sampled from three nursing and midwifery training colleges in the Upper East Region. Audio recorded individual in-depth interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed manually using Braun and Clarke’s approach. Four main theme emerged from the analysis of the data and constituted the determinants of the workload and stress of nurse educators. These were (a) teaching multiple classes and courses, (b) teaching large class sizes, (c) working for lengthy hours, and (d) working outside the classroom. It is imperative that policymakers consider these determinants when designing interventions and policies to mitigate the workload and stress among new nurse educators. It is important for NMTCs to ensure new nurse educators are assigned fewer courses and classes, ensure ideal class sizes, acceptable working hours, and moderate work outside the classroom.
Abstract: Excessive workload and stress is a complex phenomenon experienced by many nurse educators and may aggravate their desire to leave the profession. This also has a grave implication for the nursing profession with direct dire consequences on student learning outcomes. Albeit excessive workload and stress is a source of career dissatisfaction among ne...
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Research Article
Knowledge and Practice of Exercise During Pregnancy Among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care in Selected Public Health Facilities in Lusaka, Zambia
Margaret Phiri,
Rosemary Ndonyo Likwa,
Margaret Mutale Mweshi,
Loveness Anila Nkhata*
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, April 2024
Pages:
17-22
Received:
26 December 2023
Accepted:
5 January 2024
Published:
18 January 2024
Abstract: Exercise during pregnancy improves women's psychological well-being, reduces caesarean section rates, risk of being overweight during pregnancy, lower back pain, and length of labor and recovery time. However, physical inactivity during pregnancy is a major problem in most low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa and often this contributes to the risk of adverse pregnancies and birth outcomes that creates significant maternal care costs such as, increased caesarean section rates, increased health care utilization, and increased length of hospital stay. We determined the level of knowledge and practice of exercise during pregnancy among pregnant women who were receiving antenatal care in selected public health facilities in Lusaka, Zambia. We also assessed factors associated with knowledge and practice of physical exercise among participants. A descriptive study was conducted among 250 pregnant women and data was collected using the modified knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) questionnaire. Descriptive analysis of data was conducted in Stata version 20.0 for windows and the multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate the relationships between the study variables at 0.05 statistical level of significance. Most of the participants (78%) had sufficient knowledge about exercise and engaged in some form of exercise activities regularly during pregnancy of which walking was the commonest (49%) mode of physical exercise. Further, majority of them (75%) indicated medical personnel as their main source of knowledge. Skilled health workers have a vital role to play in the provision of information on physical activity among pregnant women during ANC. Their activity including that of exercise experts must be encouraged to improve participation and effective practice of exercise during pregnancy. The outcomes on exercise activities such as walking are very practical for LMICs settings and must be promoted because they are easily accessible, can be performed at home and requires minimal equipment.
Abstract: Exercise during pregnancy improves women's psychological well-being, reduces caesarean section rates, risk of being overweight during pregnancy, lower back pain, and length of labor and recovery time. However, physical inactivity during pregnancy is a major problem in most low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Africa and often this contributes...
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Research Article
The Role of Folk Outdoor Games in Improving of the Motor Abilities of School Childrens
Taylanov Nizom Abdurazzakovich*,
Yuldashev Urush Yuldasevich,
Tilavova Turdixol Baratovna,
Mamarasulova Xanifa Dilshod Qizi,
Eshto'xtarova Orzigul Shonazarovna
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, April 2024
Pages:
23-37
Received:
2 October 2023
Accepted:
24 October 2023
Published:
23 January 2024
Abstract: The paper discusses the role of the effectiveness of folk outdoor games of various types, which make it possible to improve such qualities of school children’s as dexterity, speed, strength, coordination, etc. The use of outdoor games involves not only the use of any specific means, but can be carried out by including the methodological features of the game in any physical exercise. Motor activity, the satisfied need of the body for movement, is the most important condition for the normal development of a child and a necessary form of vital activity of a growing organism. The need for movement cannot be considered as an age-related function caused by corresponding changes in the body. It varies greatly depending on the characteristics of physical education, levels of motor readiness and living conditions of children. The development of motor skills, physical qualities, state of health, working capacity, successful assimilation of material in various subjects, and finally, the mood and longevity of a person largely depend on motor activity. The level of development of motor qualities is currently at a low level, which cannot be satisfied with modern requirements for physical education in a preschool institution. Therefore, the problem of education of motor qualities is very relevant and requires its further improvement.
Abstract: The paper discusses the role of the effectiveness of folk outdoor games of various types, which make it possible to improve such qualities of school children’s as dexterity, speed, strength, coordination, etc. The use of outdoor games involves not only the use of any specific means, but can be carried out by including the methodological features of...
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Research Article
The Physical Activity Prevalence and Contributing Factors among Women Receiving Antenatal Care in Low-Income Communities in Lusaka, Zambia
Margaret Phiri,
Rosemary Ndonyo Likwa,
Margaret Mutale Mweshi,
Loveness Anila Nkhata*
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2024
Pages:
38-45
Received:
28 January 2024
Accepted:
8 February 2024
Published:
27 February 2024
Abstract: If there are no medical or obstetrical complications, pregnant women should continue and maintain moderate intensity exercise during pregnancy under the supervision of their healthcare provider. In this study, we considered the prevalence and participants’ perception of factors affecting physical activity among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in low-income communities in Lusaka, Zambia. We used a mixed method design to collect both quantitative and qualitative data elements. The study population (N=250) comprised of all pregnant women aged 15-49 years who were receiving prenatal care at study sites regardless of their gestational age. For quantitative data, descriptive statistics were analyzed using Stata version 20-0 for Windows while, in qualitative data, a textual analysis was conducted to establish verifiable themes and categories. The participant’s physical activity prevalence was 82% and the level of exercise classification was moderate. Factors that influenced physical activity during pregnancy include physical body changes and symptoms of discomfort, influence of family and friends, housing's physical and social surroundings and absence of nurturing environment. These findings may be of use to public health practitioners, policy-makers and health professionals as they may help inform context-specific interventions that focus on increasing antenatal physical activity at the health facilities. These findings are important because health care providers should encourage increased physical activity during pregnancy, but treatment should be tailored to the unique needs of each patient.
Abstract: If there are no medical or obstetrical complications, pregnant women should continue and maintain moderate intensity exercise during pregnancy under the supervision of their healthcare provider. In this study, we considered the prevalence and participants’ perception of factors affecting physical activity among pregnant women receiving antenatal ca...
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