The Role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Enhancing Service Sector Productivity in Palestine

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rabeh Morrar ◽  
Islam Abdeljawad ◽  
Samer Jabr ◽  
Adnan Kisa ◽  
Mustafa Z. Younis
Keyword(s):  
Labor Productivity ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
West Bank ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Geographical Differences ◽  
The West ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Lower Productivity ◽  
The Impact

This article discusses the productivity of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector using cross-sectional data from 793 service firms in Palestine. The authors have examined the impact of ICT growth on service sector productivity in Palestine using a set of indicators for ICT including internet usage, e-commerce, networks, websites, and use of “smart” phones. They find that using ICT (mainly Internet) in commerce (e-commerce) is one of the most important levers of labor productivity among service firms. Service firms that are less ICT-intensive are less productive than more ICT-intensive firms; moreover, the use of mobile phones for services other than send-and-receive calls, highly improves the labor productivity of service firms. Conversely, using a website and computer network does not positively affect the labor productivity. Regarding geographical differences in labor productivity, the analysis shows that firms in Jerusalem are characterized by higher productivity than firms in the West Bank, while firms in Gaza have a lower productivity compared to firms in the West Bank.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Status of Palestinian Adults in the West Bank, Palestine; A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 227-237
Author(s):  
Imad T. Asmar ◽  
Hani Naseef ◽  
Nimeh Al-Shami ◽  
Maram K. Jaghama ◽  
Abdallah D. Abukhalil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
West Bank ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
The West ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapid manifestation and spread have disrupted world norms and affected people's daily activities and life. Many ministries chose mass lockdown protocol as a way to control the virus spread. Though this protocol has shown to be effective in limiting the Virus transmission, it might have a negative impact on the population's psychological status, such as boredom, confusion, psychological stress, anxiety, depression, and physical effects. Objective: This study aimed to find the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Palestinian adults' psychological status by assessing the participant's practices, reports of anxiety and depression during the pandemics Methods: An observational descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among Palestinian adults in the West Bank, at the occupied Palestinian territories, between July and September 2020. The questionnaire was structured into two domains: the first domain includes nine questions about sociodemographic data. The second consisted of 33 (yes and no) questions evaluating the participant's psychological status. Results: 739 participants with a mean age of 31.76, filled the online questionnaire. Around one-third of respondents revealed having many signs of anxiety, and around 42% of respondents expressed having many signs of depression. Females were significantly more likely to have signs of depression, whereas front-line COVID-19 health care workers were significantly the least likely to have signs of depression and no signs of depression were found among participants with high incomes. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has a negative effect on mental status; most participants have signs of anxiety and depression.

scholarly journals Micronutrient Status of Palestinian School Children Following Salt and Flour Fortification: A cross-sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salwa George Massad ◽  
Mehari Gebre-Medhin ◽  
Omar Dary ◽  
Marwah Abdalla ◽  
Steve Holleran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Wheat Flour ◽  
West Bank ◽  
Lead Toxicity ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
The West ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Micronutrient Status ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: In 1996 and in 2006, Palestine initiated salt iodization and multiple micronutrient fortification of wheat flour, respectively as a strategy to prevent deficiencies of these nutrients. In 2009, we assessed the impact of these interventions on the health and nutritional status of schoolchildren residing in the West Bank. Methods: We surveyed a sample of 22 schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Government. We randomly selected students from the first (mean age 6.7 years [SD 0.5]), sixth (11.8 years [0.6]), and ninth grades (14.8 years [0.6]). Data were obtained from 1484 (99%) of 1500 students planned for enrollment. Results: Our results suggest that iodine intake appears adequate; there was essentially no iodine deficiency. As to the status of other micronutrients, the main nutritional micronutrient risks for schoolchildren in the West Bank continue to be low serum levels of iron, zinc and vitamin B-12; folate levels were seemingly high. The overall prevalence of anemia was 9.6%, but there were pockets of anemia in certain districts. Almost 42% of the anemia in our sample was explained by iron deficiency. There were significant differences in iron deficiency between girls and boys; 29.5% vs. 15.7%, respectively (p=0.0001). There were no cases of lead toxicity in the studied sample.Conclusions: Wheat flour and salt fortification has had a major influence on improving the micronutrient status of Palestinian children, for some but not all micronutrients. The recommended key blood and biochemical parameters to be incorporated in the surveillance system are iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.

scholarly journals Depression among end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis: a cross-sectional study from Palestine

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samah W. Al-Jabi ◽  
Ansam Sous ◽  
Fatimah Jorf ◽  
Mahmoud Taqatqa ◽  
Mahdi Allan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Disease ◽  
Low Income ◽  
End Stage Renal Disease ◽  
West Bank ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
The West ◽  
Depression Prevalence ◽  
Stage Renal Disease ◽  
End Stage ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The impact of end-stage renal disease on the patient’s psychological status necessitates the value of increasing depression awareness. The current study aimed to assess the depression prevalence among Palestinian hemodialyzed patients and its association with patients’ characteristics. Methods A convenience clustered sampling technique was followed. Sample was collected from ten hemodialysis centers in the West Bank, Palestine, during 3 months in 2015. We used the Beck Depression Inventory-II scale (BDI-II) to evaluate depression among participants. All data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16.0. Results Two hundred and eighty-six hemodialyzed patients were interviewed. The mean age (± standard deviation) of the patients was 52.0 ± 14.3 years, and most participants were males 172 (60.1%). Regarding the dialysis characteristics, the median of years of dialysis was 2 years (1–4). The prevalence of depression was 73.1%. Elderly patients (p = 0.001), female (p = 0.036), living in rural areas or camp (p = 0.032), low income (p = 0.041), unemployment (p = 0.001), not doing regular exercise (p = 0.001), and having multi comorbidities (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with more depression scores. The results of binary logistic regression showed that only patients who were living in camps, patients who were previously employed, and patients who were not practicing exercise remained significantly associated with a higher depression score. Conclusions This study is the first one confirmed about depression and its prevalence among hemodialyzed patients in the West Bank, Palestine. Compared to other communities, the study found a higher depression prevalence rate. There is a need to offer psychological interviews and non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions.

Foundational competencies for enhancing work engagement in SMEs Malaysia

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliyu Yelwa Haruna ◽  
Govindan Marthandan
Keyword(s):  
Work Engagement ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Additional Support ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of foundational competencies on work engagement in the context of the Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) service sector. Design/methodology/approach This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Malaysia, and data were gathered via a survey on 312 employees representing SMEs service sectors. Partial least squares techniques were used in testing the hypothesized linkages. Findings The findings indicated that foundational competencies have a significant positive effect on work engagement. Research limitations/implications Considering the research approach, generalizing the findings of this study must be done with caution. Longitudinal data are recommended, as these could provide additional support to the results. Further studies can as well extend the framework by testing whether job resources play a positive role in enhancing the relationship between foundational competencies and work engagement in Malaysia. Practical implications The findings suggest that foundational competencies positively relate to work engagement. Therefore, training and coaching sessions could be organized by managers/policy makers to enhance these competencies, which will strengthen work engagement and career development of the employee; it may specifically be very helpful for fresh graduates whose careers would have just started. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to examine the effect of American Society of Training and Development foundational competencies on work engagement in SMEs in Malaysia.

scholarly journals Effective coverage of essential antenatal care interventions: A cross-sectional study of public primary healthcare clinics in the West Bank

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. e0212635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahima Venkateswaran ◽  
Binyam Bogale ◽  
Khadija Abu Khader ◽  
Tamara Awwad ◽  
Ingrid K. Friberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
West Bank ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
The West ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Effective Coverage ◽  
Primary Healthcare Clinics

A RESOURCE-BASED VIEW OF NEW FIRM SURVIVAL: NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THE ROLE OF INDUSTRY AND EXIT ROUTE

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (01) ◽  
pp. 1350002 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUSAN COLEMAN ◽  
CARMEN COTEI ◽  
JOSEPH FARHAT
Keyword(s):  
Service Sector ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Firm Survival ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
New Firms ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Exit Route ◽  
New Firm ◽  
The Impact

This article explores factors affecting the survival and exit routes of new firms created in 2004 using data from the Kauffman Firm Survey. We draw upon the Resource-Based View to test several hypotheses regarding the impact of both tangible and intangible resources on new firm survival in both service and non-service firms. We also distinguish between two types of exit: closures (permanently stopped operations) and mergers or acquisitions. Our results reveal that, although service and non-service firms may differ in terms of industry structure, the fundamental resources that contribute to their survival are the same: education, work and life experience and adequate levels of startup financial capital. In spite of these similarities, our results did reveal industry differences in terms of exit. We found serial entrepreneurs in the service sector were more likely to exit through merger or acquisition. Conversely, intellectual property decreased the likelihood of exit through merger or acquisition for non-service firms. Thus, our findings revealed a link between human capital, industry and exit route for this sample of new firms.

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