scholarly journals Awareness of the causes, impact and solutions to global warming among undergraduate students from different schools in the University of The Gambia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matty Kah ◽  
Alpha Kargbo ◽  
Pierre A. Mendy ◽  
Edrisa Jawo ◽  
Edward Mendy

Climate Change is unequivocal and occurring at an alarming pace. Increasing greenhouse gas emissions, their concentration in the atmosphere and increased energy absorption have resulted in in changes in climate. This study was a cross sectional study conducted from April 12th to May 12th, 2021. The survey was conducted online using Google form that was circulated via "WhatsApp" groups and emails received from the University admissions office. This study comprises of students in their; first year 26.5%, second year 22.8%, third year 17.9% and fourth-year students 32.8%. Students from the school of Medicine and allied health science showed a satisfactory knowledge of 67% towards the causes of global warming. Students from the school of Engineering also demonstrated a satisfactory knowledge towards the impact of global warming 61% and its solution 69%. In conclusion, students at the University of The Gambia demonstrated a satisfactory understanding of the causes of global warming (63%) and a fair awareness of the consequences (52%) and remedies to global warming (54%). We recommend that, climate change awareness course should be incorporated into the curriculum of the University of The Gambia and should be made mandatory for every student.

2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (spe) ◽  
pp. 63-67
Author(s):  
Joy Harrison ◽  
Laura Simich ◽  
Carol Strike ◽  
Bruna Brands ◽  
Norman Giesbrecht ◽  
...  

This study is part of a multicentric research project involving seven universities in five Latin American countries and one Caribbean island (Jamaica). This cross-sectional study examines the profile of a sample of first and second year undergraduate students in the Medical/Health Science Department of one university in Kingston, Jamaica. The sample size was 295 students. Our results revealed that this pattern of drug use is occurring in this specific university. Alcohol was the most frequently reported substance 27.5%, followed by cannabis 6.1% and tobacco 4.7%. Report of polydrug consumption was low for all categories studied. Our findings may inform interventions at the university level.


Author(s):  
Sebastián Videla ◽  
Aurema Otero ◽  
Sara Martí ◽  
M. Ángeles Domínguez ◽  
Nuria Fabrellas ◽  
...  

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic started in December 2019 and still is a major global health challenge. Lockdown measures and social distancing sparked a global shift towards online learning, which deeply impacted universities’ daily life, and the University of Barcelona (UB) was not an exception. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at the UB. To that end, we performed a cross-sectional study on a sample of 2784 UB members (n = 52,529). Participants answered a brief, ad hoc, online epidemiological questionnaire and provided a nasal swab for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) SARS-CoV-2 analysis and a venous blood sample for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay. Total prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive RT-PCR or positive IgG) was 14.9% (95%CI 13.3 to 17.0%). Forty-four participants (1.6%, 95%CI: 1.2–2.1%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. IgG against SARS-CoV-2 was observed in 12.8% (95%CI: 11.6–14.1%) of participants. Overall, while waiting for population vaccination and/or increased herd immunity, we should concentrate on identifying and isolating new cases and their contacts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hope ◽  
David Kluth ◽  
Matthew Homer ◽  
Avril Dewar ◽  
Richard Fuller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Due to differing assessment systems across UK medical schools, making meaningful cross-school comparisons on undergraduate students’ performance in knowledge tests is difficult. Ahead of the introduction of a national licensing assessment in the UK, we evaluate schools’ performances on a shared pool of “common content” knowledge test items to compare candidates at different schools and evaluate whether they would pass under different standard setting regimes. Such information can then help develop a cross-school consensus on standard setting shared content. Methods We undertook a cross-sectional study in the academic sessions 2016-17 and 2017-18. Sixty “best of five” multiple choice ‘common content’ items were delivered each year, with five used in both years. In 2016-17 30 (of 31 eligible) medical schools undertook a mean of 52.6 items with 7,177 participants. In 2017-18 the same 30 medical schools undertook a mean of 52.8 items with 7,165 participants, creating a full sample of 14,342 medical students sitting common content prior to graduation. Using mean scores, we compared performance across items and carried out a “like-for-like” comparison of schools who used the same set of items then modelled the impact of different passing standards on these schools. Results Schools varied substantially on candidate total score. Schools differed in their performance with large (Cohen’s d around 1) effects. A passing standard that would see 5 % of candidates at high scoring schools fail left low-scoring schools with fail rates of up to 40 %, whereas a passing standard that would see 5 % of candidates at low scoring schools fail would see virtually no candidates from high scoring schools fail. Conclusions Candidates at different schools exhibited significant differences in scores in two separate sittings. Performance varied by enough that standards that produce realistic fail rates in one medical school may produce substantially different pass rates in other medical schools – despite identical content and the candidates being governed by the same regulator. Regardless of which hypothetical standards are “correct” as judged by experts, large institutional differences in pass rates must be explored and understood by medical educators before shared standards are applied. The study results can assist cross-school groups in developing a consensus on standard setting future licensing assessment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Lemes de Aquino ◽  
Douglas Ataniel Alves Xavier ◽  
Meirielen Danubia Marra ◽  
Nubia Fernandes Fernandes Teixeira ◽  
Lorena Silva Vargas ◽  
...  

RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar a qualidade de vida de acadêmicos regularmente ativos em uma universidade; verificar se existe associação entre qualidade de vida e sintomas depressivos. Método: trata-se de estudo quantitativo, tipo transversal, aplicar-se-ão três questionários estruturados, autoaplicáveis para mensurar o nível da qualidade de vida e índice de depressão entre acadêmicos. Far-se-á a análise estatística descritiva, empregar-se-á o teste Liliefors e usar-se-ão o teste t de Student. Apresentar-se-ão os resultados em forma de figuras. Resultados esperados: realizar-se-á a correlação entre a qualidade de vida dos estudantes dos cursos de graduação da universidade e a incidência de fatores depressivos com o início da vida acadêmica. Descritores: Depressão; Vida Acadêmica; Qualidade de Vida; Universidade; Estudantes; Educação Superior.ABSTRACT Objectives: to evaluate the quality of life of academically active students in a university; to verify if there is an association between quality of life and depressive symptoms. Method: this is a quantitative cross-sectional study. Three structured, self-administered questionnaires will be applied to measure the level of quality of life and depression index among academics. The descriptive statistical analysis will be done, the Liliefors test will be used and the Student's t-test will be used. The results will be presented in the form of figures. Expected results: the correlation between the quality of life of undergraduate students of the university and the incidence of depressive factors with the beginning of academic life will be realized. Descriptors: Depression; Academic life; Quality of Life; Universities; Students; Education, Higher.RESUMEN Objetivos: evaluar la calidad de vida de los académicos regularmente activos en una universidad; comprobar si existe asociación entre calidad de vida y síntomas depresivos. Método: se trata de estudio cuantitativo, tipo transversal, se aplicarán tres cuestionarios estructurados, autoaplicables para medir el nivel de la calidad de vida e índice de depresión entre académicos. Se hará el análisis estadístico descriptivo, se empleará la prueba Liliefors y se utilizarán la prueba t de Student. Se presentarán los resultados en forma de figuras. Resultados esperados: se realizará la correlación entre la calidad de vida de los estudiantes de los cursos de grado de la universidad y la incidencia de factores depresivos con el inicio de la vida académica. Descriptores: Depresión; Vida académica; Calidad de Vida; Universidades; Estudiantes; Educación Superior.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyew Agenagnew Gebeyaw ◽  
Desalew Tilahun ◽  
Yonas Tesfaye

Background: Mental distress is a group of mental problems manifested by symptoms of insomnia, fatigue, irritability, forgetfulness, difficulty in concentrating, and somatic complaints. University students have more severe mental health problems than the general population. Objectives: Therefore, this study attempted to assess the magnitude of mental distress and its determinants among medical and health science regular undergraduate students at Jimma University. Methods: A descriptive institutional-based with cross-sectional study design was conducted at Jimma University from March to April 2017 on regular undergraduate medical and health science students of the Faculty of Health Science. Study participants were selected from each batch using simple random sampling techniques and from the department by lottery method. Mental distress was assessed by using Self-Reporting questionnaire-20. Participants with score of eight and above on the Self-Reporting questionnaire-20 were considered as having mental distress. Chi-square and descriptive statistics were done using SPSS-20. Results: From a total of 369 study participants, about 354 gave the response rate of (95.9%). The magnitude of mental distress among medical and health science students was 35.03 %. Most of the respondents were males by sex and the mean age of the respondents was 23 years with SD ± 6. Age, sex, year of study, the practice of religion, presence of family history of mental illness, department choice, and ever use of substance (chat chewing and alcohol) were predictor variables and significantly associated with mental distress at P < 0.05. Conclusions: The magnitude of mental distress in our study was 35.03% and it needs intervention and addressing the mentioned factors significantly associated with mental distress.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yigrem Ali Chekole

Abstract Introduction Compared to other deadly communicable diseases, Psychoactive Substance use is among the leading cause of death. Repeated use linked to addiction, dependence and predisposition for criminal and antisocial behaviors. Even though drug use in Africa relatively is short; however the abuse of drug in Africa is escalating rapidly. Substances use is also one of the most burning and growing public health problems in Ethiopia, as in many developing countries; alcohol is the most frequently used substance. Objective To Assess the Prevalence of alcohol Use and Associated factors among Dilla University undergraduate students in Southern Ethiopia. 2018. Methods An Institution based cross -sectional study was conducted at Dilla University among undergraduate regular students from January-February. Systematic random sampling technique was used to get a total of 803 samples of students from each year and department of the university. The collected data was coded, entered in to EPI-INFO version7.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Crude and adjusted OR were analyzed using logistic regression and the level of significance of association was determined at P- value <0.05. Result A total of 803 participants were interviewed with a response rate of 91.7%. Among the Participants, alcohol use was found to be 67.6%. (41.8%; n=336). Being 4 th year students (AOR =2.66, 95% CI: 1.64, 4.31), having friends who use substance (AOR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.1), being Khat user (AOR= 1.48, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.09) and being Cigarette smoker (AOR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.84) were found to be significantly associated with alcohol use. Conclusion Half of the participants found to have alcohol use. Therefore, early prevention, detection and alleviating of alcohol use should be implemented among students in the university.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Begotti ◽  
Daniela Acquadro Maran

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare victims of one type of cyberstalking (OneType) with victims of more than one type of cyberstalking (MoreType) regarding (1) the impact of cyberstalking and (2) attitudes related to telling someone about the experience of cyberstalking and the coping strategies used by victims. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to over 250 students at the University of Torino. Results: About half of the participants experienced at least one incident of cyberstalking. Among them, more than half experienced more than one type of cyberstalking. Victims suffered from depression more than those who had never experienced cyberstalking. No statistically significant difference emerged for anxiety. The coping strategies used by MoreType were more varied than those used by OneType victims of cyberstalking. Moreover, MoreType victims told someone about their victimization more than OneType victims. Conclusion: The work presented suggests implications for health care professionals, police officers, and government. For example, our suggestion is to pay attention to cyberstalking victims and provide flyers in schools, universities, and cafeterias that explain the risk of certain online behaviors and their consequences in physical and emotional spheres.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2SP) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Deasy Andesbrenta Sadikin

Background: Nutrition literacy is the ability to obtain, process, understand, and use nutritional and dietary information, as well as access to the services needed to make good nutritional decisions. Low nutritional literacy can have an impact on a poor diet and lead to the incidence of non-communicable diseases related to nutrition, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. College students are prone to develop poor eating habits if not supported by good nutrition literacy.Objectives: This study measured the difference in the proportion of nutritional literacy in regular active undergraduate students at the University of Indonesia based on the cluster of science, gender, paternal and maternal education level, pocket money, and media use.Methods: The study design used is a cross-sectional design with quota sampling method to get 130 samples of students from Health Science Cluster and 130 samples of students from Non-Health Science Cluster.Results: The results of this study showed that the majority of the University of Indonesia students in 2021 has an adequate level of nutrition literacy (62.7%). The results of the bivariate analysis also showed a significant difference in proportion to the level of total nutrition literacy based on cluster of science (OR = 6.7, p-value < 0.01), gender (OR = 2.25, p-value < 0.01), and media use (OR = 4.36, p-value < 0.01). In addition to these factors, there was also a difference in proportion between the level of interactive nutrition literacy based on maternal education level (p-value < 0.05)Conclusions: Students from non-health science cluster are at risk of having a lower level of nutrition literacy compared to students from health science cluster. There are differences in the proportion of nutritional literacy levels based on cluster of science, gender, maternal education level, and media use.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-94
Author(s):  
Priyadarshini Ramamurthy ◽  
Bennete Fernandes ◽  
Avita Rath

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and patterns of tobacco use among health sciences undergraduate students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 students in four health sciences faculties at a private university in Kota Damansara, Selangor Malaysia. Data was collected through a self-administrated validated questionnaire, adopted and modified from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey. The survey  was administered online  using a Google Form for the participants to fill. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics was used to express results in percentage. Chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression was used to test the association of smoking status and demographic variables. p value of <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results showed that more than 90% of the respondents were aware of the harmful effects of tobacco and effects of passive smoking. About one fifth of the participants had used tobacco (19%) in our study. Out of the tobacco users, 95% had used tobacco in more than one form. The most important reasons for smoking were peer pressure (36%) and stress (35%). No significant differences were found between age,  faculty, year of study, or nationality, with the use of tobacco. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed significant gender differences in smoking with more smokers among males than females. In conclusion, about one fifth of the health science undergraduate students had  used tobacco products in our study reflecting a seemingly inappropriate portrait as compared to their future careers as health professionals. Therefore, there is an urgent need for reinforcement of education and assistance on quitting tobacco usage among the undergraduates of health science faculties.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steward Mudenda ◽  
Moses Mukosha ◽  
Chiluba Mwila ◽  
Zikria Saleem ◽  
Aubrey Chichoni Kalungia ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundThe novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a serious global health problem that has negatively impacted the mental health of students.MethodsWe conducted an online descriptive cross-sectional study among 273 undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Zambia. A partial proportional odds regression model was used to determine the predictors of anxiety. All statistical tests were set at 95% confidence level (p<0.05).ResultsA response rate of 70% was obtained with the majority of the students being female 51.6%. Of the 273 respondents, 23.8% did not experience anxiety, 34.4% experienced mild anxiety, 24.9% experienced moderate anxiety while 16.9% experienced severe anxiety about COVID-19. It was also found that 61.2% of students reported that their attention to mental health increased during the COVID-19 pandemic whereas 44.3% reported an increased resting time with a significant reduction in relaxation 51.3% and physical activity 45.4% time. Factors that affected mental health included; reduced family care (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.09-4.74), not changing attention to mental health (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.18-0.62), being in the final year of study (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13-0.84), reduced time of resting (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.26-3.50) and feeling helpless (OR: 0.42; 95% CI:0.23-0.75).ConclusionCOVID-19 negatively impacted the mental health and physical activity of pharmacy students at the University of Zambia. This can have negative health and academic outcomes for students going forward. Higher learning institutions and key stakeholders should implement measures to aid students to recover from the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and physical activity.


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