Digital Commons Network^™

Re-Entry Policy Implementation In Uganda: A Case Study Of Two Public Secondary Schools In Vurra County, Arua District., Mane Flavia Eriku

Master of Education

The Education Re-entry Policy aims to provide a second chance for teen mothers to pursue their education after experiencing pregnancy-related interruptions. This study explored Re-entry Policy implementation in two secondary schools in Vurra County, Arua District with the aim of identifying the Re-entry Policy implementation practices, examining the challenges, and investigating the strategies for addressing these encounters in the implementation process. A qualitative approach with case study design was employed where data was collected through interviews with 2 Heads of schools, 2 class teachers, 3 parents, 2 Guidance and counselling teachers, 4 teen mothers who had re-entered school and 4 …

Integrating Technology In Mathematics Teaching And Learning To Enhance Learning Outcomes At A Selected Private Secondary School In Tanzania, Regina Fumbuka

Master of Education

Effective learning outcomes can be achieved if teaching Mathematics is assisted with technology. However, in Tanzania, technology integration into Mathematics teaching remains an indefinable goal for many schools because of the inadequacy of Mathematics teachers' knowledge and competencies in integrating technology within their classrooms apart from other factors. Therefore, this participatory action research study explored how to support a Mathematics teacher to integrate technology in teaching Mathematics to enhance learning outcomes among Form One students. The study comprised three phases: reconnaissance, two cycles for intervention and post-intervention. The philosophical underpinning of this study was constructivism. The school was selected purposively …

A Looming Crisis: Exploring How Human-Wildlife Conflict Affects Provision Of Quality Education In Kenya., Raphael Mugho Maghanga

Master of Education

This research aimed to investigate the impact of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) on the provision of quality education in Kenya, with a particular focus on schools in Taita-Taveta County near Tsavo National Park. To achieve this objective, a mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing questionnaires, interviews, focus group discussions, observation, and document analysis. The quantitative data collected were analyzed using SPSS, while the qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed several significant outcomes. First and foremost, HWC resulted in high levels of learner absenteeism, primarily due to parents' inability to pay school fees as a result of the …

Ai In Education: Investigating The Potential Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) To Support Biology Teachers In Improving Their Pedagogical Practices To Teaching Topics Perceived As Difficult., Silas Otiende Ouma

Master of Education

Ensuring learner engagement is crucial for achieving conceptual understanding, especially in biology classes. In Kenya, a noticeable decline in average biology scores, and insights from studies indicate that there is a dominant use of teacher-centered teaching methods which rarely engage learners to enable them to comprehend some of the biology topics that are marred with complexity. This research aimed to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support biology teachers in improving their pedagogical practices in teaching topics perceived as difficult. The study began by exploring the perceived difficult topics in biology, the current pedagogical approaches used to teach …

Exploring Teachers’ Use Of Oral Questioning In Enhancing Oral Communication Skills. The Case Of One Secondary School In Sumbawanga Municipality, Tanzania, Michael Joachim Nyandwi

Master of Education

This study investigated the teachers' use of oral questioning practices, and challenges in developing oral communication skills (OCS) among secondary school students in Sumbawanga Municipality. A qualitative approach was used to explore the use of oral questioning practices in enhancing OCS.  A case study design was employed to focus on one secondary school. A purposive sampling technique was used to obtain one experienced English teacher, and nine students from one class as they had been using Kiswahili in primary school as a medium of instruction, and when the study was conducted, they were in their first year of secondary education …

Teachers’ Perception On The Use Of Play To Develop Children's Literacy In Pre-Primary Education In Tanzania., Kessia Kiwia

Master of Education

This study delves into challenges and opportunities in integrating play-based learning in Temeke, Tanzania's pre-primary classrooms. Despite national policies endorsing play-based early childhood education, translating these policies into effective practices encounters substantial barriers.

Semi-structured interviews with six Temeke public school pre-primary teachers unveil the complex landscape they navigate. Barriers include limited resources, inadequate training, time constraints, academic pressures, cultural dismissal of play, and overcrowded classrooms. These hinder play-based learning's effective implementation, impacting its developmental benefits for young learners.

Insufficient resources limit access to conducive play-based education materials and spaces. Teachers need enhanced play pedagogy training. Time constraints and academic pressures …

Harnessing The Power Of Social Media: Opportunities For Learning And Professional Development Among Educational Leaders, George Nyaboga Nyarieko, Wachira Nicholas

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

This study investigates the benefits of integrating the social media platform specifically WhatsApp into an educational leadership development program in Kenya. Focusing on a cohort of participants in the blended-learning Diploma in Educational Leadership Management (DELM) program, which combines face-to-face, Zoom-enabled online classes, self-paced modules and Moodle assessments, the research explores the value that WhatsApp can add to facilitate peer collaboration and resource approach, sharing. including A the mixed-methods Design-Based Implementation Research (DBIR) design, was employed to comprehensively understand the factors influencing educational leaders' engagement within the platform. The study first assessed participants' current level of digital skills through pre-intervention …

Manual Qualitative Data Coding Using Ms Word For Students And Early Career Researchers In Resource-Constrained Settings, Kahabi Isangula, Susan Kelly, Joyce Wamoyi

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

In recent years, the field of qualitative data collection, management, and analysis has undergone significant evolution, with researchers worldwide increasingly leveraging technological advancements to streamline and simplify their practices. Despite the advantages of using qualitative data coding software, several challenges persist, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Issues such as the high cost of software licenses, the time required to learn and use these tools, and the complexity of advanced features often hinder researchers, especially students and early career researchers in low-income contexts, and contribute to the generation of poor-quality research evidence. This paper aims to provide a simplified, step-by-step guide to …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Nurses’ And Midwives’ Experiences In Designated Covid-19 Healthcare Facilities In Rural And Urban Tanzania, Kahabi Isangula, Lucy Kisaka, Loveluck Mwasha

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background:

Frontline healthcare providers, particularly nurses and midwives, are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection due to frequent patient contact. However, studies examining their experiences, particularly in low-income countries like Tanzania, are limited.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore the experiences of nurses and midwives providing care in COVID-19-designated healthcare facilities in selected regions of Tanzania.

Methods:

A qualitative descriptive approach was used to investigate the experiences of nurses and midwives in COVID-19 care. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 purposefully selected participants from Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Pwani regions. Data were coded with NVivo 12 software and analyzed …

Hpv Vaccination In Africa In The Covid-19 Era: A Cross-Sectional Survey Of Healthcare Providers' Knowledge, Training, And Recommendation Practices, Joel Fokom Domgue, Issimouha Dille, Sharon Kapambwe, Robert Yu, Freddy Gnangnon, Lameck Chinula, Gad Murenzi, Nomonde Mbatani, Mala Pande, Fatoumata Sidibe, Joseph Kamgno, Bangaly Traore, Hicham El Fazazi, Mamadou Diop, Pierre-Marie Tebeu, Mohenou Isidore Diomande, Fabrice Lecuru, Isaac Adewole, Marie Plante, Partha Basu, Jean-Marie Dangou, Sanjay Shete

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Although the burden of cervical cancer in Africa is highest, HPV vaccination coverage remains alarmingly low in this region. Providers' knowledge and recommendation are key drivers of HPV vaccination uptake. Yet, evidence about providers' knowledge and recommendation practices about the HPV vaccine against a backdrop of emerging vaccine hesitancy fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic is lacking in Africa.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021-2022 among healthcare providers involved in cervical cancer prevention activities in Africa. They were invited to report prior training, the availability of the HPV vaccine in their practice, whether they recommended the HPV vaccine, …

Aku Libraries Annual Report - 2024, Office Of The University Librarian

Office of the University Librarian Reports

- Message by Peter Gatiti Associate Vice Provost & University Librarian

- Celebrating AKU Scholars

- AKU Author’s Day – 2024

- ISMC – London UK Writing People's Histories

- Author’s Day – Other events in Karachi

- Psychoanalytic Sociology: A New Theory of the Social Bond

- Secret Santa Book Exchange!

- IED’s Baatein Kitab Ki – In conversation with Senator (r) Javed Jabbar

- Conversation with Dr. Iftikhar Salahuddin

- Recent Best Practices in Publishing

- Library news from around our Campuses

- RFID Technology in AKU Libraries

- Information Literacy

- Conferences & Workshops

- Book Launches …

Institute For Global Health And Development : Annual 2024, Institute For Global Health And Development

IGHD Newsletters

• Message From The Director
• Workshops & Conferences
• Climate Change, Agriculture, Human Nutrition & Development in Pakistan
• What Works Climate Solutions Summit, Berlin
• IGNIT3 Consultative Workshop on Nutrition for Health Professionals
• Climate Change and Health Symposium
• Collaborating For Change
• IGHD Hosts Workshop on Research Concepts & Basic Methodology
• SDSN Pakistan Leadership Council Meeting – 2024
• AKDN Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting 2024
• Projects In the Spotlight
• Shining Light On Achievement
• Education And Capacity Building
• Team Building Activities
• Research Insights

The Kidney In Heart Failure: The Role Of Venous Congestion, Oluwaseun Adebayo Bamodu, Chen-Chih Chung, Thomas R Pisanic, Alexander T H Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have emerged as pivotal players in tumorigenesis, disease progression, and resistance to therapies.

OBJECTIVE: This comprehensive review delves into the intricate relationship between CSCs and the cell-of-origin in diverse cancer types.

DESIGN: Comprehensive review of thematically-relevant literature.

METHODS: We explore the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive the conversion of normal cells into CSCs and the impact of the cell-of-origin on CSC properties, tumor initiation, and therapeutic responses. Moreover, we discuss potential therapeutic interventions targeting CSCs based on their distinct cell-of-origin characteristics.

RESULTS: Accruing evidence suggest that the cell-of-origin, the cell type from which the tumor …

The Killing Of Ayman Al-Zawahiri: On Its Legality And Why The U.N. Should Clarify The "Unable Or Unwilling" Doctrine, Nicholas Abraksia

Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

Research Nexus : Volume 9 - 2024, Office Of Research And Graduate Studies

Office of Research and Graduate Studies

• Insight into Research at AKU by the Global Office of Research and Graduate Studies
• Researcher Spotlight: Dr Mariam Noorani, Paediatrics & Child Health
• Capacity Building Initiatives: FHS Pakistan Faculty Sharpen Grant Writing Skills in NIH-Funded Workshop
• Grant Management Workshop Focuses on AKU's Collaborative Research Landscape
• Team Feature: Celebrating Recipients of AKU Long Service Awards
• Bidding Farewell to Research Office Staff

Impact Of Traffic Congestion On Transportation System: Challenges And Remediations - A Review, Hamdy B. Faheem, Amira M. El Shorbagy, Mohamed Elsayed Gabr

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Traffic congestion is a growing problem in urban transportation networks around the world, having major consequences for the economy and the environment. As metropolitan populations rise and more people rely on autos for mobility, traffic congestion is becoming more common and severe. This review paper presents an overview of the economic and environmental issues caused by traffic congestion in urban areas, as well as proposed ways to reduce its negative effects. It discusses potential traditional transportation solutions such as traffic management infrastructure development, improving public transportation, and intelligent transportation solutions to address traffic congestion problems such as smart parking systems, …

Etiology Of Hospital Mortality In Children Living In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Teresa B Kortz, Rishi P Mediratta, Audrey M Smith, Katie R Nielsen, Asya Agulnik, Stephanie Gordon Rivera, Hailey Reeves, Nicole F O'Brien, Jan Hau Lee, Qalab Abbas, Jonah E Attebery, Tigist Bacha, Emaan G Bhutta, Carter J Biewen, Jhon Camacho-Cruz, Alvaro Coronado Muñoz, Mary L Dealmeida, Larko Domeryo Owusu, Yudy Fonseca, Shubhada Hooli, Hunter Wynkoop, Mara Leimanis-Laurens, Deogratius Nicholaus Mally, Amanda M Mccarthy, Andrew Mutekanga, Carol Pineda, Kenneth E Remy, Sara C Sanders, Erica Tabor, Adriana Teixeira Rodrigues, Justin Qi Yuee Wang, Niranjan Kissoon, Yemisi Takwoingi, Matthew O Wiens, Adnan Bhutta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In 2019, 80% of the 7.4 million global child deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Global and regional estimates of cause of hospital death and admission in LMIC children are needed to guide global and local priority setting and resource allocation but are currently lacking. The study objective was to estimate global and regional prevalence for common causes of pediatric hospital mortality and admission in LMICs. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify LMIC observational studies published January 1, 2005-February 26, 2021. Eligible studies included: a general pediatric admission population, a cause of admission or death, …

Geographies Of Storage, Sayd Randle

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Resource storage has long played a key role in the production of socio-ecological arrangements and economic relations. Even so, storage as a concept has remained somewhat marginal within geographical scholarship, often obscured by an analytical focus on the dynamics of movement. Reviewing recent works from geography, science and technology studies, and anthropology that center sites and practices of storage, this essay elaborates the diverse ways in which storage arrangements mediate resource circulation and the production of space. This literature demonstrates that thinking systematically with storage can illuminate a range of novel temporal, material, and value entanglements in-the-making, pointing to potentially …

Factors Related To Attitude-Associated Stigma Among Caregivers Of Mentally Ill Patients In Tanzania., Clavery Lyela, Ezekiel H. Mbao, Stephen Kibusi, Tumbwene Mwansisya, Phillipo L. Chalya

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background:

Attitude-associated stigmas towards patients with mental illness affect most patients. However, the factors related to attitude-associated stigma among caregivers remain unknown. This might lead to the disruption of family relationships, low self-esteem, lack of socialization and other adverse effects. Therefore, the current study aimed to determine the associated stigma among caregivers of a patient with a mental illness

Methods:

A quantitative approach, with a cross-sectional study design, was used, involving two standardized questionnaires: Community Attitudes Towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI) Scale and Modified Consumer Experiences of Stigma Questionnaire (MCESQ), which were used to measure attitudes associated with …

Access And Utilisation Of Open Educational Resources By Academics And Students Among Tertiary Institutions In Tanzania, Pamela Patrick Bulugu, Jaffar Msafiri Ponera Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigated the use of open educational resources (OER) among academics and students at the Local Government Training Institute in Tanzania (LGTI). The study was premised on the pragmatism paradigm and deployed a mixed-methods research approach. An explanatory sequential design was used. The sample size comprised 55 respondents from LGTI who filled out questionnaires. Five library staff and two ICT staff were purposefully selected for interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS version 16, while qualitative data was thematically analysed based on the themes that emerged from the interview. The findings from the questionnaires and interviews established that academics …

A Method For Investigation Of Small-Scale Morphologic Change Around Low Crested Oyster-Based Structures, Makaya S. Malila

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, a novel method for shoreline stabilization, Pervious Oyster Shell Habitat (POSH) units, comprised of recycled eastern oyster shells, has been developed. These mound-shaped structures have been deployed along several shoreline sites in Northeast Florida. This case study sought to develop and implement a method for investigation of small-scale morphologic change in the vicinity of these structures using smartphone LiDAR technology, surveying instruments, and 2D/3D mapping software. Results suggest that the POSH units are helping to mitigate erosion by trapping sediments around them. Moving forward, it may be possible to adapt the methodology used here to assess morphologic …

Practical Actions To Strengthen Capacity For Deep-Water Research In Africa, Kirsty A Mcquaid, Kerry Howell, Agnes W.N. Muthumbi, Olusola Adeoye, Isa Elegbede, Luther Adams, Blessing Charuka, Ana Hilário, Hendrina Kadila, Sophia Laarissa, Randa Mejri, Sidi Mohamed, Damaris Mutia, Angela Nyangwe, Angus Paterson, Sinothando Shibe, Kerry Sink, Sheena Talma, Urias Taylor, Arthur Tuda

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

While Africa's deep marine biodiversity offers economic prospects it also supports crucial ecosystem services and sustainable development is dependent on knowledge of these systems. Building understanding of deep-water ecosystems is key, but there are substantial discrepancies in countries' abilities to achieve this. Coinciding with the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference, the Challenger 150 African Network of Deep-water Researchers is pleased to release a report on “Practical Actions to Strengthen Capacity for Deep-water Research in Africa”. Through a series of online workshops, the ANDR brought together 98 individuals from 19 African nations to discuss challenges for deep-water research in Africa, identify solutions …