Objective: The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of SUA students about the use of plastics containing endocrine disruptors were investigated in this study. Methodology: A study with 150 participants was conducted to assess individuals' knowledge about endocrine disruptors, attitudes, and plastic use practices. Results: The findings indicate that the participants possessed an average degree of knowledge 50.2 ± 3.85 with the main emphasis of awareness being generic concepts rather than specific substances. Regarding the potential health impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals present in plastics, respondents' attitudes ranged from fair to positive, with a mean score of 3.5 ±0.09 indicating a fair attitude overall. Conclusion: It is important to practice polite behavior and increase public awareness of safe plastic disposal methods. Surprising only 38.0% of the participants mentioned that they refrain from heating their food in plastic containers to reduce their exposure to plastics. Students' practices revealed a notable dependence on plastic products despite their awareness of the concerns surrounding endocrine disruptors, as most of them reported using plastic water bottles, plastic cups, and plastic bags almost always. Additionally, only 20.7% of the respondents consistently implemented strategies to prevent exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Recommendation: The study recommended increasing the use of cleaner plastic substitutes and improving educational programs to convert information into practical actions. Policies that encourage environmentally friendly behavior and raise public awareness of safe plastic disposal techniques should be put into practice.

Stigma surrounding drug addiction remains a critical barrier to effective treatment, significantly influencing healthcare access, patient engagement, and recovery outcomes. This study explores the multifaceted impact of stigma on individuals seeking help for substance use disorders (SUDs), with a focus on healthcare-related discrimination, internalized stigma, and structural barriers. Research indicates that negative perceptions among healthcare providers contribute to delayed treatment-seeking behaviors, reduced adherence to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and increased relapse rates. Additionally, patients internalizing these societal judgments experience heightened psychological distress, social isolation, and decreased self-efficacy, further hindering their recovery process. To address these challenges, evidence-based strategies such as addiction medicine education, trauma-informed care, harm reduction approaches, and peer support models have been shown to effectively reduce stigma and improve treatment outcomes. Hospital administrators and nursing leaders play a critical role in fostering a culture of empathy, advocating for the reframing of addiction as a neuro-psycho-biological disease rather than a moral failing. Future research should explore digital mental health interventions, motivational interviewing techniques, and interdisciplinary collaboration to further dismantle stigma and enhance the effectiveness of addiction treatment programs. This study highlights the urgent need for systemic policy changes, targeted educational programs, and a shift in clinical attitudes to create a more inclusive and stigma-free healthcare environment. Through implementing these approaches, healthcare providers can ensure equitable access to treatment and improve long-term health outcomes for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and other substance-related conditions.

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is increasingly prevalent among youth and young adults, particularly college and university students. This is a population for whom e-cigarette use is not recommended due to potential health risks, including nicotine addiction and long-term respiratory effects. Social networks play a crucial role in shaping attitudes toward e-cigarettes and influencing use behaviors. However, the relative influence of different social ties—parents, siblings, and friends—on e-cigarette attitudes and use remains unclear. Objective: This study utilizes data from the SMOKES study to compare the influence of e-cigarette use within different social network sections—parents, friends, and siblings—on personal e-cigarette attitudes and use among college and university students. Methods: Using a cross-sectional survey of college and university students, we examined the associations between e-cigarette use within different social networks and individual e-cigarette attitudes and use. Multivariate regression models assessed the strength of these associations, adjusting for key demographic and behavioral covariates. Results: Findings indicate that among college and university students, the strongest influence on both e-cigarette attitudes and use comes from friends who use e-cigarettes. In contrast, parental and sibling e-cigarette use showed weak or non-significant effects. These results suggest that peer influence, rather than family influence, plays a dominant role in shaping e-cigarette-related behaviors and perceptions in young adults. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of peer influence in e-cigarette uptake and attitudes among college and university students. Public health interventions aimed at reducing e-cigarette use in this population should consider targeting peer networks rather than focusing solely on family-based influences.

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and vaping tobacco have increased rapidly worldwide, raising concerns about their health effects, social acceptability, and regulatory challenges. In many countries, e-cigarettes are more commonly used by individuals from higher socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds, who, in theory, should have greater knowledge about e-cigarettes and their associated risks. However, it remains unclear why a group with more knowledge about e-cigarette risks would also hold more positive attitudes toward vaping and exhibit higher usage rates — a phenomenon that may represent a knowledge-behavior paradox. Understanding this paradox, along with the complex relationships between e-cigarette knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors, is critical for informing effective public health interventions, campaigns, social media messaging, and regulatory policies. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the complex relationship between SES, e-cigarette knowledge, pro-vaping attitudes, and e-cigarette use. Methods: The SMOKES Study (Study of Measurement of Knowledge and Examination of Support for Tobacco Control Policies) used a multi-center, cross-sectional design, collecting data from 2,403 college and university students across 15 provinces in Iran (covering nearly half of the country's provinces). The survey measured family income, age, sex, ethnicity, e-cigarette use, knowledge, and attitudes. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the interrelations between SES, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior, while adjusting for age, sex, and ethnic minority status. Results: SEM analysis confirmed the hypothesized paradox. Although greater knowledge about e-cigarettes was linked to less favorable attitudes toward vaping and lower use, pro-vaping attitudes emerged as the strongest predictor of vaping behavior, while knowledge played a weaker protective role. Notably, individuals with higher SES simultaneously showed higher knowledge and, paradoxically, more pro-e-cigarette attitudes and greater usage. Female students and ethnic minority students reported higher correct knowledge and lower pro-vaping attitudes and use. Although age and higher family income were associated with more favorable attitudes, they did not directly predict vaping behavior. These results suggest that for higher SES individuals, poor knowledge is not the main driver of e-cigarette use; rather, their pro-e-cigarette attitudes, which seem to outweigh the influence of knowledge, play a key role. Conclusions: Although individuals from higher SES backgrounds report greater correct knowledge about e-cigarettes, this knowledge does not necessarily translate into reduced positive attitudes or lower usage. This study highlights the complexity of these paradoxical effects and suggests that public health strategies need to go beyond simple education and knowledge-based interventions. Targeted approaches should address industry messaging, challenge misconceptions, and strengthen regulatory efforts to reduce e-cigarette use among young adults, including those from higher SES backgrounds.

Background: Tobacco control policies are implemented globally to reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that individual tobacco use may influence the level of support for these policies. However, the extent to which personal use affects policy endorsement remains underexplored, particularly among young adults in academic settings. Aims: This study aimed to examine whether college students who use tobacco exhibit lower support for tobacco control policies compared to their non-user counterparts. Methods: We conducted a multi-center, cross-sectional study involving 2403 college students from various provinces in Iran. Tobacco use was ascertained based on self-reported consumption of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and hookah. Attitudes toward tobacco control policies were evaluated using a structured survey instrument, and comparative analyses were performed to assess differences in policy support between tobacco users and non-users. Results: The analysis revealed that tobacco users demonstrated significantly lower support for tobacco control policies compared to non-users. This association was consistently observed across users of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and hookah, suggesting a systematic pattern irrespective of the type of tobacco product used. Conclusion: These findings indicated a clear association between tobacco use and reduced endorsement of tobacco control policies among Iranian college students. These results have potential implications for public health policy, emphasizing the importance of addressing individual tobacco use behaviors in the development and implementation of tobacco control strategies. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this relationship.

Background: Tobacco use remains a major global health concern, and understanding the factors that influence tobacco-related knowledge and support for tobacco control policies is critical for effective development of tobacco control policies that are accepted by the public. Objectives: This study introduces the rationale, design, methodology, and participants of the SMOKES Study (Study of Measurement of Knowledge and Examination of Support for tobacco control policies), which is conducted to evaluate tobacco use, tobacco-related knowledge and attitude, as well as support for tobacco control policies among college and university students. Methods: The SMOKES Study was designed to address significant gaps in literature by focusing on college and university students in a non-Western context. A multi-center, cross-sectional design was employed to collect data from a diverse sample of college and university students across different geographical provinces in Iran. The survey instrument incorporated a range of measures covering socio-demographic characteristics, university-related variables, family tobacco use status, personal tobacco consumption behaviors (including detailed assessments of cigarette, hookah, and electronic cigarette use), and attitudinal as well as knowledge-based assessments related to vaping. Support for tobacco control policies is also measured. Data were collected using an online survey that included self-administered questionnaires, enabling access to a large diverse sample. This study may be used to determine the prevalence of ever and current use of cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and hookah, as well as examining the correlates of single, dual, and poly-tobacco use. The study also aims to assess the role of social determinants, attitudes, and ethnic/geographic differences in shaping these outcomes. Results: The study sample consisted of 2403 college and university students, including undergraduates enrolled in different academic programs from all faculties and disciplines. Participants were drawn from universities across 15 provinces, and 11 ethnic groups, ensuring a heterogeneous sample with respect to socio-demographic background, ethnicity, and institutional affiliation. This diversity enhances the generalizability of the findings and allows for the exploration of subgroup differences in tobacco use patterns and policy support. Conclusions: The SMOKES Study offers a framework for examining tobacco-related knowledge and the acceptability of tobacco control policies among a key part of the population, being college and university students. By providing detailed insights into the prevalence and correlates of tobacco knowledge, attitude, use, as well as the tobacco control policy support, the study lays the groundwork for tailored public health interventions and more effective tobacco regulation strategies particularly for college campuses in a non-Western setting.

This study investigated the use of digital design as a tool for assessing attitudes among male sex offenders by exploring how artistic expression can reveal complex emotional landscapes related to their crimes. The study utilized digital paintings, a type of digital design that involves creating artwork using digital tools and software. Digital painting tools allowed the researcher to simulate traditional painting techniques, while benefiting from the flexibility and versatility of digital media. It is essential to comprehend and address offenders’ attitudes towards sexual crimes to create prevention and rehabilitation plans that work. The effectiveness of digital paintings that illustrate the consequences of sexual crimes on offender, victim and the offender’s family was examined in this study. The study examined whether exposure to these visual representations could result in a quantifiable decrease in supporting attitudes toward sexual crimes by comparing participants' pre-test and post-test attitudes using the Crime Pics II tool. There is little research on how visual cues can change offenders' attitudes and perceptions, despite the urgent need for creative evaluation techniques in this delicate field. This study adds to the continuing conversation on crime prevention and offender rehabilitation by demonstrating how well digital design can change perceptions of sexual crimes. A total of 61 male convicts of defilement and rape were purposively sampled for the study. The study utilized an art exhibition and Rapid Serial Visual Presentation format to repeatedly display digital paintings to participants aged 18-45. The artwork produced in both monochrome and polychrome schemes and in realist and surrealist styles was designed to elicit immediate emotional and cognitive responses. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the participants' responses and reflections provided important insights into their attitudes, including sentiments of regret and guilt as well as a sophisticated awareness of the wider effects of their behaviour. Monochrome paintings tended to portray darker emotions, whereas polychrome paintings showed a wider range of emotions, including hope and recognition of the harm done. The findings demonstrate that digital design can effectively support offenders' emotional processing and self-reflection, demonstrating its potential as a helpful tool in rehabilitative and assessment contexts.

This integrative literature review aims to explore the pivotal role of dignity and respect in maternity care, focusing on their profound impact on the experiences of pregnant individuals. Emphasis is placed on cultural competence as a crucial factor in fostering understanding and respect for diverse backgrounds, promoting inclusive approaches to maternal care. The overarching goal is to underscore the significance of dignified and respectful care in enhancing maternal satisfaction, postpartum outcomes, and overall well-being. Methods: The review synthesizes existing literature (n=22) on maternity care, dignity, and respect, drawing insights from diverse sources to comprehensively analyze the multifaceted nature of this critical healthcare aspect. Cultural competence is explored as a key theme in understanding and appreciating the varied backgrounds of pregnant individuals. The analysis encompasses factors such as effective communication, healthcare provider attitudes, cultural competence, informed consent, and systemic considerations, shedding light on their collective influence on dignity and respect in maternity care. Principal Findings: The literature review reveals that providing dignified and respectful care significantly contributes to improving maternal satisfaction and postpartum outcomes. Cultural competence emerges as a crucial element, ensuring that care approaches are inclusive and tailored to diverse cultural backgrounds. Effective communication, positive healthcare provider attitudes, and considerations for systemic factors are identified as key determinants of the dignity and respect experienced by pregnant individuals. The findings underscore the interconnectedness of these factors in shaping the overall quality of maternity care. Practical Applications: Recommendations stemming from the literature review include interventions aimed at enhancing healthcare providers' communication skills, cultural competence training, and the promotion of patient-centered care models. Acknowledging the systemic factors influencing maternity care, the review calls for collaborative efforts among healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers to create an environment that upholds pregnant individuals' autonomy and values. The practical applications emphasize the need for comprehensive and culturally sensitive approaches to ensure that all pregnant individuals receive dignified and respectful care. In summary, this integrative literature review provides a comprehensive understanding of the critical role of dignity and respect in maternity care, offering insights into effective strategies for improvement and emphasizing the importance of cultural competence and collaborative efforts in shaping the future of maternal healthcare.

This study aimed to assess the proximate composition, microbial quality, and sensory acceptability of canned Bambara beans in Ghana to determine their nutritional value and consumer perceptions. The research was conducted in Tamale in the northern region of Ghana, focusing on sensory evaluation, nutritional analysis, and consumer preferences for canned Bambara beans. The study utilized canned Bambara bean varieties sourced from local markets in Ghana. It involved sensory panels, proximate analysis, and microbial testing to evaluate the quality and safety of the canned products. Data analysis included sensory scoring, proximate composition determination, and microbial count assessments. The findings indicated positive consumer attitudes towards canned Bambara beans, emphasising their convenience, nutritional richness, and sensory appeal. Nutritional analysis revealed the nutrient content of the canned beans, highlighting their potential as a nutritious food source. Conclusions emphasised the importance of sensory attributes in consumer acceptance and women's role in producing and promoting Bambara beans. It is recommended that Increase awareness among consumers, especially women and homemakers, about the nutritional benefits and culinary versatility of canned Bambara beans. Educational campaigns highlighting canned Bambara beans' health advantages and convenience can encourage their inclusion in household diets. It is also recommended that women involved in the production and processing of Bambara beans should be supported and empowered through training, capacity building, and access to resources. Recognising the pivotal role of women in the Bambara bean value chain is essential for sustainable production practices and economic empowerment.

This study aimed to evaluate the Social Studies Curriculum for Senior High Schools in Ghana to determine whether the subject has attained its goal(s) or not, using Stake’s Countenance Evaluation Model. The study took place in the Asante Akim North District. The population for study were all Social Studies teachers and students in the district. The multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for the study and the sample size was 120, made up of 100 students and 20 teachers. The concurrent mixed method approach was adopted. The main instruments used for collecting data were questionnaires, interviews (focus group and unstructured interview), observation and documentary analysis. Quantitative data were tabulated, organised, analysed and interpreted to draw sound conclusions and generalisations. The data were presented in the form of tables and percentages. Words were used to interpret the tables and percentages for easy understanding. The qualitative data responses were described and explained in the form of themes. Sometimes responses were quoted verbatim to authenticate claims made. The study looked at the congruence between what was intended to occur and what was observed before and during the implementation of the curriculum in the Asante Akim North District. On the transactions, it was revealed that teachers in the district communicate the problem the topic seeks to address and the specific objectives to the learners during instruction. Also, teachers varied their teaching methods, techniques and strategies. However, teachers failed to take students out on field trips. Also, they failed to use video documentaries to deliver their lessons inhibiting students’ creativity as they are denied the opportunity to explore and get first-hand information to build up knowledge and develop the needed attitudes and values. From the findings, it is therefore recommended that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment should increase the time allotted to the teaching of Social Studies at the SHS level from 3-periods of 40 minutes a week to 5-periods of 40 minutes a week to give teachers and learners ample time to discuss, debate, digest and solve problems during instructional hours to enable the goal of the subject attained.

The primary role of indigenous moral education is to inculcate positive attitudes, moral norms, ideals and virtues such as honesty, kindness, compassion, respect for others, and a sense of a common good. In a Ghanaian traditional society’s perspective, the morality of a person is judged according to his or her character. This position paper discusses the relevance of indigenous moral education and its relevance in contemporary Akwamu Traditional society in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The sources of indigenous moral education among the people of Akwamu society are proverbs, taboos, naming, puberty and marriage rites. The indigenous moral education provides moral values such as respect for authority, truthfulness, loyalty, obedience, tolerance, chastity and godliness to members of the Akwamu community. Besides the foregoing, the indigenous moral education systems, such as proverbs and puberty rites have outlived their usefulness in recent times among the Akwamus as a result of modernity which has introduced an alternative means of initiating young girls into adulthood. It is also important to note that even though some of the indigenous moral education systems have outlived their usefulness in contemporary times, the surviving ones should be incorporated into the modern moral education system so that the cultural identity of the people is preserved.

The growing unconcern and poor attitude of some Ghanaians towards environmental protection and sanitation practices has become very endemic in Ghanaian Societies. Littering especially is considered a major environmental problem within the setting of this study. This study employed the mixed-method approach in integrating qualitative and quantitative research data. The study adopted a convergent parallel research design. The population for this study consisted of all teaching staff and students of Sefwi Wiawso Senior High Technical School and St. Joseph Catholic Senior High School in Sefwi Wiawso municipality in the Western North Region of Ghana. Purposive, simple random, and convenient sampling techniques were used to select the schools, teachers and students for the study. A sample size of one hundred and ninety-eight (198) consisting of one hundred eighty-eight (188) students and ten (10) teachers were selected for the study. The two main instruments used for data collection were questionnaires and interview guides. The quantitative data obtained from the questionnaire were coded with numerical values and keyed into the data view of the SPSS version 23. The qualitative data was analysed through content analysis and was further transcribed into themes for analysis with a side-by-side comparison with the quantitative data. The qualitative data gathered and presented, were organised and analysed manually using emerging themes. The study revealed that littering is currently caused by irresponsible behaviour among some staff and students coupled with other factors such as lazy attitudes among people, inadequate waste bins on campus, and more seriously, less sensitization of people on littering in the various senior high schools. The study also indicated that provisions of adequate waste bins at vantage points in the various campuses, awarding prizes to individual students and groups with good waste management practices on campus, implementing rules and regulations on littering, as well as educating, and sensitizing students and staff on littering on campuses formed the possibilities on how schools can shape up staff and student’s attitudes towards healthy environment by avoid littering. It is recommended that Students with good waste management practices should be rewarded to encourage others in Senior High Schools. It is also recommended that sustainable waste management practices (collection, transportation, and treatment) should be employed in all the Senior High Schools across the country.

Qualitatively, the study focused constructivist research paradigm. A case study research design was adopted for the study. The study population comprised all six (6) Social Studies teachers, the headmaster and the School Improvement Support Officer (SISO). Purposive and convenient sampling techniques were used to select the participants for the study. The main instrument for data collection was a semi-structured interview guide and observation protocol. The data were analysed using the interpretative technique based on the themes arrived at during the data collection from the semi-structured interview. The study revealed that multimedia usage is a quality enhancer in educational settings for teaching Social Studies concepts. It also indicated that teachers perceived their incompetence when using technology as they feel less in control of their classes and are unlikely to explore new possibilities that utilise technology when planning their lessons. They learn the theoretical aspect and practice and perceive the teacher’s role in the classroom changes from an instructor to a facilitator, which changes the teaching method to student-centred (constructive methodology) which aids content absorption by the learner through learning by doing. The study also indicated that teachers perceived their incompetence when using technology as they felt less in control of their classes and were unlikely to explore new possibilities that utilised technology when planning their lessons. It is recommended that the Ministry of Education and National Teaching Council collaborate with Ghana Education Service to set up Social Studies training centres in all the district capitals equipped with competent staff to periodically organise in-service training for teachers to build their capacity on how to pedagogically incorporate multimedia resources in their instructions to improve students learning outcomes.

English language has become a global language due to first, the results of British colonial expansion and, global commercial interests. It has become a lingua franca in many countries, including Ghana. Qualitatively, the study adopted case study research design. The purpose of the study was to find out the perception and the attitude of Ghanaian English teachers towards the Native Speakers’ accents. The population of study consists of all ten (10) tutors in the Department of Languages, Offinso College of Education. Purposive and convenient sampling techniques were used to select the college and the tutors for the study. The main tool used for the collection of data was the semi-structured interview. Most of the participants revealed positive attitudes towards their own English accents which were different from that of the native speaker. Ghanaians are often faced with the challenge of which accent to use when communicating with each other and with outsiders. Most of the tutors from Offinso College of Education who participated in this study expressed positive responses to their non-native speaker’s accents. Not only did the idea of having a native speaker’s accent hold no attraction for them but they also found it strange because it would not represent their L1 identity. The majority of participants in this study preferred to use their non-native accents to attempt to adopt those of the native speaker. To them, there is only one distinction between English accents -you are either a native or non-native.

The purpose of the study was to examine Colleges of Education students’ attitudes toward the teaching and learning of Social Studies in the Ashanti region. Quantitatively, descriptive survey research design was employed for the study to examine the attitudes of Colleges of Education students toward the teaching and learning of Social Studies in the Ashanti region. The population for the study comprised all the second year (form 2) Social Studies students from the four (4) selected Colleges of Education in the Ashanti Region. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select four (4) Colleges of Education (St. Louis, Wesley, St. Monica's and Offinso Colleges of Education), and two-hundred seventy-seven (277) second year Social Studies students for the study. The main instrument used for data collection was questionnaire. The quantitative data obtained was coded into Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS) (version 26.0) and analyzed using descriptive statistics involving tables, frequencies and percentages for each item. “Strongly Agree”, “Agree”, “Strongly Disagree”, “Disagree” were all used in the analysis for easy presentation and understanding. The study revealed that students were able to dedicate much time to studying the subject in order to acquire relevant knowledge, positive attitudes and skills as well as solve societal problems stems from their ability to have good perception of the subject. The study also concludes that varying techniques of teaching is a key factor in enabling students to develop keen interest in Social Studies. It arouses and sustain students’ interest in the subject, they must not neglect employing methods that are student-centered. It is recommended that teachers should vary their methods of teaching to focus more on the use of child-centered techniques of teaching. It is also recommended that, teaching universities and colleges of education should collaboration with Ministry of Education, T-TEL and other Non-governmental educational organizations to organise workshops, and seminars to help Social Studies teachers on the use of vary teaching techniques in evaluating students learning.

The purpose of the study was to assess teachers’ use of field trips in evaluating Social Studies lessons in Winneba Senior High School in Effutu Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. Qualitatively, a case study research design was employed for the study. The population of this study comprised all the four (4) Social Studies teachers and Social Studies Association president in Winneba Senior High School. Convenient and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the municipality, Winneba Senior High School and Social Studies teachers and Social Studies Association president for the study. The main instrument for data collection was semi-structured interview guide. The data was analysed through the use of the interpretative method on the themes identified during the data collection. The study indicated that the use of field trips in the teaching and learning of Social Studies has the potential to influence the understanding levels of students and teachers. Therefore, field trips have the potential to help students and teachers to gain new knowledge that may not have been obtained through theoretical learning in the classroom. The study also revealed that organisation of field a trip has some challenges, such as, time as the main factor, financial problems, inadequate support from School Management, Parents and some teachers, nature of the curriculum, the behaviour of students outdoor were related to the research questions and interpreted on the number of issues raised by respondents. It is recommended that procedures for seeking permission be outlined by the Ghana Education Service to facilitate easy permission processes and to reduce the stress associated with seeking permission for organizing field trips for teachers and students in Senior High Schools. It is also recommended that students should be educated more and more by their Social Studies teachers on the importance of embarking on field trips to eliminate the lukewarm attitudes of some of the students. It is recommended that the Regional and District directors of education should ensure constant and effective supervision of teachers to encourage the use of field trips as a teaching strategy for the evaluate Social Studies lessons.

Knowledge of the content alone is no guarantee for effective teaching and learning, there is the need for teachers to demonstrate high level of technological and pedagogical power. The study examined the technological pedagogical content knowledge of Social Studies teachers’ in Junior High Schools in Aowin municipality in the Western North Region of Ghana. The descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population for the study included all Social Studies teachers in the public Junior High Schools in the Aowin Municipality. Simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the Seventy-four (74) Junior High Schools and Seventy-four (74) the Social Studies teachers for the study. The main instrument for data collection was questionnaire. The study revealed that, teachers have adequate content knowledge to teach Social Studies but there are doubts as to whether their knowledge is current. The study also concluded that, teachers were not confident about their technological, pedagogical and content knowledge in Social Studies and this resulted in their negative attitude towards the integration of technology in classroom activities. It is recommended that, the Ghana Education Service should organize In-Service Training and refresher courses for teachers to keep them current and up-to-date their content knowledge in Social Studies. It is also recommended that, teachers should adopt positive attitudes towards learning and using technology in their day-to-day activities.

It is known that seasonal influenza virus vaccination is important to be taken every year among healthcare workers (HCWs) to avoid transmission of influenza virus and its complications inside the workplace. The reason behind the importance of vaccination is that HCWs are at high risk to be infected with influenza virus. Among the studies addressing the rates of influenza vaccine status among HCWs, a study was conducted in three Middle East countries where the vaccination rates were 24.7%, 67.2%, and 46.4% in United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Oman, respectively. Now, after the pandemic of COVID-19 there are beliefs that vaccination with influenza virus could decrease the deaths from COVID-19. A recent retrospective cohort study to detect the effect of seasonal influenza vaccine on the deaths among COVID-19 patients showed that the individuals who didn’t take the influenza vaccine in the last year before being infected with COVID-19 had a higher risk of being hospitalized when compared with patients who took the vaccine. In conclusion, seasonal influenza vaccine could have an important role in the prevention of COVID-19. Seasonal influenza vaccine coverage should be improved among HCWs. New tailored health education programs to improve the attitudes and beliefs of HCWs towards seasonal influenza vaccine during the era of COVID-19 are strongly and urgently needed.

The present study raises the problem of empathy of caregivers vis-à-vis patients in a covid/post-covid context. It is based on the observation that health workers are increasingly invaded by excessive fear and persistence of COVID-19 contamination. This induces avoidance, a certain suspicion, persecution and indifference/coldness towards patients, and plunges them into a strong insidious emotional deficiency. These attitudes, which are significantly close to paranoid and phobic access, seem to gradually dominate therapeutic interactions within hospitals. Freudian and Rogerian psychoanalysis advocates empathetic/benevolent listening, positive consideration and unconditional acceptance of the patient as ethical and deontological indispensable principles for any therapeutic evolution. Thus, it is predicted that within hospitals, the current non empathetic attitudes of care towards patients have their origin in a generalized covid-phobic atmosphere that develops a quasi-dominant paranoia in caregivers. Using a subscale of caregiver's Covid-phobic quasi-paranoia, and the one of caregiver's empathy in a covid/post-covid context, the data were collected from 126 participants including 55 nursing assistants, 61 state-certified nurses and 10 doctors, chosen at random from the staff of three (03) health facilities in the city of Bafoussam, MIFI department, West Cameroon region, including one (01) public district medical center (CMA) and two (02) private hospitals (clinics). After analysis, the results obtained sufficiently demonstrate that within the health institutions of West Cameroon, the higher the professional level of the caregiver, the more the severity of his quasi-paranoid covid-phobic accesses is significant, and the less he expresses an authentic empathy towards the patients who arrive at the hospital. This implies that in this period of health crisis, caregivers must reinvest in a real function of providers of affectivity and relay of empathy at the bedside of the patient both in hospital and outpatient. Thus, a real systematical vaccination operation may insure their total immunity and better reduce their quasi-paranoid empathy in this generalized Covid-phobic context.

In modern times, a lot of light has been thrown on Information literacy by empirical studies due to its significant role in facilitating access to information and use as well as lifetime learning. It is one of the main factors responsible for the information explosion and a key determining factor for students’ success in academics. The study gauged students’ attitudes on the IL programmes of the University for Development Studies (UDS) using both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study discovered that students did not consider the library as a source of academic knowledge and information since their frequency of visiting was low. The study also showed that 43.1% of the respondents go to the library at least once a week while the majority (56.9%) of the respondents either visited the library once a month or not at all. Early Childhood and Basic Education, Development Education, Social Change Communication and Renewable Natural Resources, are the courses pursued by those who utilized the library every day. Alternatively, no student pursuing B. Ed Business Studies made use of the library daily and 48.6% of them did not enter the library at all. The majority (58%) of the respondents had not been oriented on the use of the library. It was realized that 49.8% were knowledgeable of the fact that electronic resources are available in the library. The remaining (50.2%) did not have any knowledge of electronic resources in the library and were unlikely to make use of them. The utilization of electronic resources also varied according to programmes of study. Students who had comparatively higher access to such resources were pursuing Early Childhood and Basic Education. The study also realized that students’ interest in participating in Information Literacy programmes in the university increased and this increased the quality of their information literacy skills. With their awareness and know-how in information literacy, they can use the internet to retrieve the necessary information for academic work. The study makes some recommendations, Principals and Deans should coordinate to organize more Information Literacy Programmes, increased staff participation in the teaching of the IL Programmes and lastly, implementation of Academic Board pronouncements on the IL Programme. This will go a long way to improve access and enhance the use of information in the university.

The average electricity consumption in Iranian households is higher than the world average. This can be due to price factors (such as cheap electricity in the country) and non-price factors (such as socio-demographic variables and psychological factors). In this study, non-price factors such as socio-demographic variables and psychological factors in the electricity consumption of urban households in Tehran were investigated. In this regard, using the theoretical foundations of behavioral economics and the psychology of planned behavior, this issue was analyzed. This study collected information on household electricity consumption behavior through a questionnaire and fieldwork from 2560 Tehran households. Results Using econometric techniques, linear regression was estimated, the dependent variable of which was electricity consumption (45 days in winter 2019) and its independent variables including socio-demographic variables (age, sex, number of household members, income) and The variables of the theory of planned behavior (attitude, mental norms and perceived behavioral control) showed that income and the number of household members have a significant and positive effect on electricity consumption, but gender has no significant effect. Of the psychological variables, only perceived behavioral control has a significant effect on electricity consumption. These results show that the consumer does not have a positive attitude towards saving, and mental and social norms do not encourage him to reduce electricity consumption, and they are not effective in consumption control. Finally, the study results were analyzed using behavioral biases that may cause attitudes and beliefs not to lead to action.