Determinants of Under-Five Child Mortality in Arab Countries. Are the Effects Homogeneous Across Birth Order and Among Countries?

Under-five-child mortality remains a major challenge for governments in the Arab world to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Thus, further studies are needed to analyze the determinants of child mortality. The Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys (MICS) datasets of six Arab countries (Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Mauritania, Sudan, and Tunisia) have been used, which are consisting of 249.000 children nested within 54.644 mothers. The study was designed in a women-parity-covered one to six birth order. Binary multivariable logistic models were used to estimate the risk ratios of death by adjusting for child sex, birth outcome (twin vs. singleton), mother’s education level, maternal age, previous birth interval, place of residence (rural vs. urban), and the family wealth index. The findings revealed that the under-five child mortality rates were 87, 70,66,35,36, and 21 per 1000 live births in Sudan, Mauritania, Egypt, Iraq, Algeria, and Tunisia, respectively). First-born infants in these six countries have a higher risk of mortality during their five years of life. Second, third-and fourth-born infants were at a decreased risk of death compared to first-born infants in all countries; in contrast, fifth-and-sixth-born infants were at an increased risk in all countries except Sudan and Mauritania. Twin children have a higher risk of death than singletons in all countries and across all birth orders. Children of mothers with higher educational levels living in urban areas are at lower risk of death than their peers across all birth orders. Regarding policy implications, decision-makers can target three main axes: first, enhancing women’s educational levels; second, increasing birth intervals (birth spacing policies); and third, improving living standards and healthcare strategies, especially in rural areas to improve child and mother health.

The Impact of the Principal Leadership Style on Teacher Job Satisfaction among Arab Teachers in Israel: A Qualitative Analysis

This study examines the impact of the management and leadership style of a school principal on teachers’ satisfaction in the Arab sector in Israel. The article presents central concepts of the research and the influence of each of the leadership and management styles of principals on teachers’ satisfaction within an Arab school in Israel. Teachers’ satisfaction (the dependent variable) refers to various variables related to teachers’ well-being at school, such as organizational commitment and motivation in the workplace, that are also linked to the teacher satisfaction (Arar & Masri-Herzallah, 2016). Accordingly, these variables are presented with reference to their definition, their impact, and the way they are affected by the management and leadership styles. The research is based on the qualitative methodology, in which we conducted observations in these Arab schools in Israel in and around the Arab city of Nazareth. In these observations, we visited the schools and observed how teachers and principals communicate and whether teachers were satisfied from their interaction with the principal.

Compensatory Health Beliefs, Locus of Control, Social Support and Quality of Life in Oil Spills-Prone Environment

The role of compensatory health beliefs, locus of control and social support on quality of life in oil-spills prone environment in developing countries, especially Nigeria has not been explicated. This study examined the role of compensatory health beliefs, locus of control and social support on quality of life among 453 (age 21-50 years; M= 36.02; SD = 12.04) residents in Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Area (LGA’s) in Ondo State of Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was adopted in selecting participants. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire that measured socio-demographics, compensatory health beliefs, locus of control, social support and quality of life. Results revealed that compensatory health beliefs predict quality of life in the study area. Also, social support contributes to quality of life. We suggest that a comprehensive psychosocial intervention program should be carried out to improve quality of life in oil spill-prone communities.

Roma People, Where to? Tradition and Change in Roma Communities

Roma community in Romania is one of the largest ethnic communities in this country. Romani people integration and reducing disparities between the Roma community and the majority one is a priority for both the Romanian state and the Roma civil society. The integration of the Roma on the labor market is an important step in the integration process. This article proposes qualitative research through the interview method. The research question investigates whether traditional occupations practiced by Roma do not provide Roma access to the labor market today. The general objective of this study aims to identify and analyze qualitatively non-traditional socio-economic practices in the Roma communities in Timișoara and Cluj-Napoca. This objective has been operationalized in several specific objectives related to the identification of traditional economic practices in the occupations of members of the Roma communities in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca, depending on membership in the subgroup / ethnic group, the identification of non-traditional economic practices in the occupations of members of the Roma communities in Timișoara and Cluj-Napoca, analysis of the role of traditional economic practices in preserving the lifestyle specific to the Roma ethnic group, as essential elements of culture in the communities of Timișoara and Cluj-Napoca. The last two objectives propose the analysis of non-traditional economic practices taken over in the occupations of the members of the Roma communities from Timișoara and Cluj-Napoca following the process of internal and external migration, respectively following the intervention of European funded programs. The participants of this research are 10 Roma people from Cluj-Napoca and 10 Roma people from Timișoara. The research results show that with industrialization, traditional occupations tend to limit their activity and integrated Roma people no longer practice the traditional occupations practiced by their parents or grandparents.

Hesitancy Prevalence and Sociocognitive Barriers to Coronavirus Vaccinations in Nigeria

This study examined the prevalence, socioeconomic and cognitive barriers of coronavirus vaccinations in Nigeria. The study used an ex-post facto design. 526-participants were sampled using snowball sampling technique. A questionnaire pack containing socio-demographics and a 13-item adapted scale of SYKES was used. Findings revealed the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy (61.7%). Adolescents (83.8%) recorded more hesitancy than participants in early-adulthood (62.7%), middle-adulthood (53.1%), and late-adulthood (53%). Males (83.8%) showed hesitancy than the females (33.3%). More so, the primary (62.5%) and secondary school certificate holders (41.4%) scored more on hesitancy than tertiary certificate holders (36.0%). The identified perceived barriers to vaccinations are: safety (91%); government distrust (75.5%) and coerciveness (65.7%), vaccines efficacy (62.5%), complacency (65.7%), and constraints to vaccination center (55.5%). Conclusively, vaccination hesitancy was found more among males and younger respondents. Safety and efficacy of the vaccines, government distrust, coercive approach, and complacency were found as major barriers.

The Relationship between Classroom type (Single-Sex or Mixed-Sex) and the Academic Achievements in Mathematics among Students belonging to the National-Religious Society in Israel

Many studies have indicated that single-sex classrooms promote female students’ self-confidence and achievement in various professions, including professions where their rate of employment is low, such as mathematics and other exact sciences. The purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between single-sex classrooms and math achievements among both female and male students. The study population included 608 students learning in the fifth-ninth grades, who attended state-religious schools in the southern region of Israel and came from families who had similar socioeconomic status. The students answered a short demographic questionnaire and their math teacher filled out each student’s score achieved in the regional math summative assessment. The findings showed no relationship between classroom type and boys’ achievement in mathematics, while a significant relationship was found between learning in single-sex classroom and higher math achievements among girls in elementary school. In middle school, however, no significant difference was found.

The Fear of COVID-19, Demographic Factors, and Substance use in a Multinational Sample Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

The global pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had mental health consequences such as fear. Scholars have argued that when people are fearful, they may use substances to escape from fear, and demographic variables can have implications on how to target interventions to people. To date, little is known about how the fear of COVID-19 and demographic factors may contribute to substance use amid the COVID-19 pandemic. From 3 June to 10 June 2020, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 202 residents (Mean age = 41.77 ± 11.85; age range = 18-70 years) in 14 countries. A standardized questionnaire was utilized for data collection, SPSS (version 22.0) was utilized for data analysis, and p < .05 implied statistical significance. Descriptive statistics revealed that residents in Canada scored the highest mean score in the fear of COVID-19 scale, while residents in Australia scored highest in the substance use scale. Further, fear of COVID-19 had a negative nonsignificant relationship with substance use (r = −.07; df = 200; p > .05). Males (Mean = 18.21) scored significantly higher than females (Mean = 14.06) in substance use [t (200) = 1.9; p < .05]. The younger age group (18-28 years) scored the highest mean score in substance use compared to older age groups (29-39 years, 40-50 years, 51-61 years, and 62-72 years); however, it was not significant [F (4, 197) = 2.04; p > .05]. These data contribute to informing future studies that add more questions regarding how different variables may contribute to substance use during subsequent waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Five Possible impacts of Digitalisation in Romania

The rapid swift towards digital transformations in a globalized modern economy is transforming the skills needed by Europe’s workers to maintain their jobs and remain actively integrated on the labour market. As the environment diversifies through the emergence of modern technologies, the working population advances the education for upskilling in a digital era. In this context, understanding the impact of digitalization and finding the appropriate responses is critical. Our paper explores several effects of digitalisation, connected to the Romanian socio-economic specificities.

Gen Z Perceptions and Expectations upon Entering the Workforce

This article focuses on examining Gen Z-ers’ opinions and expectations regarding their present or future jobs, as well as their views on their future careers. The exploratory study performed on members of this cohort revealed, among others, that Gen Z-ers appreciate a secure job, financial stability, and prefer working for big companies. They choose jobs which reflect their passions and look for informal and relaxed environments, where they can have their own well defined office space. This cohort wishes to be mentored at work and is brutally aware that success must come with career-long learning. Despite being said to be digital natives, they feel the need to bond with colleagues and to freely speak their mind.

Squatter Settlement: Costs and Contributing Factors in Jimma Town, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Urbanization and urban growth are considered as a modern way of life which manifests economic growth and development in many countries. On the other hand, it yields a number of evils, especially unplanned (squatter) settlement. The study conducted on the area of squatter settlement in Jimma town is aimed to explore the socioeconomic factors contributing for squatter settlement and its effect on social, economic and institutional conditions of settler and development of the town. The study was guided by qualitative research approach and employed cross-sectional and phenomenological design in which primary data required for the analysis was collected through key informant interview, focus group discussion, non-participant observation as well as secondary data from document and analyzed by thematic analysis. The findings of this study revealed that, the root cause identified for squatter settlement is shortage of residential house and its consequential high price of house rent, the need of holding large plot of land and inefficient land administration system. Other findings indicated that squatter settlement incur costs on both the government and the squatter. Squatter settlement creates fear and dearth of confidence on the land they hold illegally, poor infrastructure due to lack of government interventions and low social service delivery, and social distress within the community. The study also found out that squatting displaces the host ex-farmers from their farmland and leads to consequent poverty and livelihood disasters. It is recommended that, political will in accessing residential land and financial commitment of the government is required. Active participation of the public and abiding legal procedures in accessing residential land is vital.