Search Results (53)

Background/Objectives: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social, communication, and behavioral challenges. complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used by parents worldwide, yet research exploring parents’ experiences, particularly in Arab countries, is limited. This study explored mothers’ perceptions and experiences of CAM use for children with ASD, information-seeking behaviors and challenges encountered. Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted among twenty mothers at Autism Academy of Jordan in 2024. Inclusion criteria were mothers with children diagnosed with ASD for at least six months and those who had used at least one CAM therapy. Interviews were conducted via Skype, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 12 with inductive thematic analysis. Results: Three major themes emerged in this qualitative study: (1) mothers’ experiences with CAM and perceptions of benefit; (2) sources of information and decision-making processes; and (3) main challenges in selecting and implementing CAM. Mothers reported using therapies such as honey, black seed, camel milk, Hujama, olive oil, supplements, and region-specific programs like Andalosiah. Faith, cultural beliefs, and the desire for natural, safe interventions strongly influenced CAM selection. Internet searches and social media groups were primary information sources. Challenges included financial, logistical, emotional burdens, and lack of trustworthy, Arabic-language information sources. Conclusions: Mothers in Arab countries navigate CAM use for their children with ASD through culturally and religiously informed practices. Interventions should focus on developing evidence-based guidance, culturally sensitive counseling, and accessible information to support families in safe, informed CAM use. Full article

Background/Objectives: Thirst is a common and distressing symptom experienced by individuals undergoing hemodialysis. It can affect patients’ comfort, adherence to fluid restrictions, and overall quality of life. Understanding how patients perceive and cope with thirst is essential for developing evidence-based nursing interventions that enhance patient comfort and support adherence to care recommendations. Aim: To investigate the perceptions, experiences, and perceived factors related to thirst among hemodialysis patients using a mixed-methods design. Methods: This study adopted a convergent parallel mixed-method design. Quantitative data were obtained from 72 hemodialysis patients using the Thirst Discomfort Scale and a structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 22 patients. Data were analysed using SPSS 23.0 for the quantitative phase and descriptive phenomenological analysis (Colaizzi’s method) for the qualitative phase to explore underlying perceptions and experiences. Results: Quantitative findings indicated substantial thirst discomfort, reflected by elevated Thirst Discomfort Scale and VAS scores. Qualitative findings highlighted persistent dry mouth, emotional distress, perceived loss of control, and coping strategies such as limiting fluids, distraction, oral rinsing, consuming cold items, and faith-based coping. On integration, qualitative narratives aligned with the high burden captured by quantitative scores, underscoring the multidimensional nature of thirst in hemodialysis. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that thirst in hemodialysis patients is a multidimensional experience encompassing physiological, psychological, and behavioural components. The findings highlight the need for individualised, holistic nursing approaches that extend beyond fluid restriction alone. Relevance to clinical practice: Nurses should adopt holistic approaches addressing emotional and spiritual dimensions of thirst management, providing individualised education and psychosocial support. Full article

This study presents a sociotechnical framework for mitigating ethnic violent conflicts by integrating information and communication technologies (ICTs) with community-based social capital. Drawing on longitudinal case studies from three conflict-prone regions in Kenya, Mt. Elgon, Muhoroni, and the Turkana–West Pokot borderlands, the research examines how ICT-enabled peace networks, particularly the Early Warning and Early Response System (EWERS), mobilize bonding, bridging, and linking social capital to reduce violence. The study employs a multi-phase qualitative design, combining retrospective analysis, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, action participation, and thematic coding of EWERS data collected between 2009 and 2021. This approach enabled the reconstruction of system evolution, stakeholder dynamics, and community responses across diverse socio-political contexts. Findings demonstrate that embedding ICTs within trusted social structures fosters inter-ethnic collaboration, inclusive decision-making, and trust-building. EWERS facilitated confidential reporting, timely alerts, and coordinated interventions, leading to reductions in livestock theft, improved leadership accountability, emergence of inter-ethnic business networks, and enhanced visibility and response to gender-based violence. The system’s effectiveness was amplified by faith-based legitimacy, local governance integration, and adaptive training strategies. The study argues that ICTs can become effective enablers of peace when sensitively contextualized within local norms, relationships, and community trust. Operationalizing social capital through digital infrastructure strengthens community resilience and supports inclusive, sustainale peacebuilding. These insights offer a scalable model for ICT-integrated violence mitigation in low- and middle-income countries. This is among the first studies to operationalize bonding, bridging, and linking social capital within ICT-enabled peace networks in rural African contexts. By embedding digital infrastructure into trusted community relationships, the framework offers an analytical approach that can inform inclusive violence mitigation strategies across low- and middle-income settings. While the framework demonstrates potential for scalability, its outcomes depend on contextual adaptation and cannot be assumed to replicate uniformly across all environments. Full article

Youth violence in Zimbabwe’s high-density suburbs has evolved into a severe public-health emergency, entrenching trauma, fuelling substance abuse, and amplifying structural inequities. Christian churches remain the most pervasive civic institutions in these settings, commanding high moral authority, psychosocial reach, and convening power. However, the mechanisms by which churches mitigate violence, and the constraints they face, continue to be under-researched. Grounded in socio-economic model lens and faith-based social capital theory, this study interrogates the intersections between youth violence and church responses in Zimbabwe’s urban centres. The study adopts a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with church leaders. Twenty (20) church leaders from mainline, Pentecostal, and Apostolic traditions were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling to capture denominational diversity and varying levels of programme engagement. Interviews probed leaders’ perceptions of youth-violence drivers, theological framings of non-violence, practical interventions (e.g., trauma-healing liturgies, anti-drug ministries, peer-mentorship schemes), and institutional constraints such as resource scarcity and political pressures. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings indicate three interconnected mechanisms through which churches mitigate the cycle of violence. Nevertheless, gendered participation gaps, theological ambivalence toward activism, and limited alignment with municipal safety strategies continue to pose challenges to these efforts. By positioning churches within Zimbabwe’s broader violence-prevention ecology, the study offers an empirically grounded blueprint for integrating faith actors into city-level public-health strategies and contributes towards evidence-based, structural solutions to urban youth violence. Full article

(1) Background: Comprehensive conceptual models can result in complex artifacts, consisting of many concepts that interact through multiple mechanisms. This complexity can be acceptable and even expected when generating rich models, for instance to support ensuing analyses that find central concepts or decompose models into parts that can be managed by different actors. However, complexity can become a barrier when the conceptual model is used directly by individuals. A ‘transparent’ model can support learning among stakeholders (e.g., in group model building) and it can motivate the adoption of specific interventions (i.e., using a model as evidence base). Although advances in graph-to-text generation with Large Language Models (LLMs) have made it possible to transform conceptual models into textual reports consisting of coherent and faithful paragraphs, turning a large conceptual model into a very lengthy report would only displace the challenge. (2) Methods: We experimentally examine the implications of two possible approaches: asking the text generator to simplify the model, either via abstractive (LLMs) or extractive summarization, or simplifying the model through graph algorithms and then generating the complete text. (3) Results: We find that the two approaches have similar scores on text-based evaluation metrics including readability and overlap scores (ROUGE, BLEU, Meteor), but faithfulness can be lower when the text generator decides on what is an interesting fact and is tasked with creating a story. These automated metrics capture textual properties, but they do not assess actual user comprehension, which would require an experimental study with human readers. (4) Conclusions: Our results suggest that graph algorithms may be preferable to support modelers in scientific translations from models to text while minimizing hallucinations. Full article

This study examines how theological orientation and institutional culture shape the viability of two historically Black churches in Detroit: Historic King Solomon Baptist Church and Greater King Solomon Baptist Church. Against the backdrop of accelerating church closures in underserved Black communities, the research investigates the factors that contribute to a congregation’s continued relevance and vitality. In doing so, it also provides insight into which churches are best positioned to sustain and scale health and interventions, support community development, and offer enduring spiritual leadership. Using a comparative case study approach grounded in W.E.B. Du Bois’s framework of the Black church as a site of “refuge and protest” and Max Weber’s theory of religious institutionalization, the research combines qualitative interviews with pastors, members, and community residents, alongside sermon content analysis from Easter and Christmas services in 2023 and 2024. Findings reveal stark differences: Historic King Solomon exemplifies an outward-facing, justice-centered model rooted in social memory and public service; Greater King Solomon reflects a more inward-facing, survivalist ethic shaped by individual piety and institutional maintenance. These distinctions impact each church’s resilience, as well as its readiness for public health partnerships and social investment. The study concludes that Black churches that are outwardly facing are likely to survive socioeconomic environmental challenges. Concurrently, both churches portray the Black church as two distinct entities culturally and theologically, which suggests an enhanced selection rubric for identifying congregations best positioned to advance social and health community outcomes. Full article

High blood pressure, or hypertension, remains a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, contributing significantly to global morbidity and mortality, particularly in Caribbean island nations like Curaçao. This pilot study assessed the impact of a health fair led by Community Health Workers (CHWs) or Promotornan di Salú and organized in collaboration with local faith-based organizations to increase hypertension awareness and promote preventive behaviors. The study utilized a cross-sectional design, and data were gathered from attendees at a health fair held on 29 June 2024, at the Iglesia House of Worship in Willemstad, Curaçao. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographics, event satisfaction, health behavior intentions, and qualitative feedback data from participants aged 12 years and older. Of the 145 participants, 78.6% rated the event as excellent, 83.4% expressed plans to change their health behaviors, 80.6% intended to share information with family and friends, and 59.7% intended to follow up with a general practitioner (GP)/doctor. These findings highlight the effectiveness of culturally tailored, community-based initiatives to raise hypertension awareness, improve health literacy, and promote preventive health behaviors. The success of this intervention emphasizes the potential of CHW-led health fairs as valuable public health strategies and practical training opportunities for reducing the burden of chronic conditions like hypertension. Full article

Consumers are increasingly concerned about the flavor quality of poultry meat, yet the relationship between inosine monophosphate (IMP), intramuscular fat (IMF), and the gut microbiota remains largely unclear. This study aimed to characterize the cecal microbiota associated with IMP/IMF deposition in Daheng broilers selectively bred for high-IMP/IMF levels (High group) and low levels (Control group). A two-stage microbiome analysis strategy was applied. Initially, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted to assess microbial diversity and composition. Significant differences were observed between groups in alpha diversity indices (Chao1 and Faith_PD) and beta diversity (p < 0.05). LEfSe analysis identified 55 differentially abundant taxa (LDA > 3, p < 0.05), primarily within the Phylum bacteroidota. To achieve species-level and functional insights, whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing was performed. Taxonomic profiling of 62,443 microbial species revealed significant beta diversity differences (p < 0.05), with 120 dominant species differentially enriched (LDA > 3, p < 0.05), including 77 species in the High group such as Merdivivens faecigallinarum. Enriched functional genes were mainly involved in methane metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and the nucleoside phosphate metabolic process. A total of 882 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed and integrated with 19,628 publicly available chicken MAGs, resulting in 2609 non-redundant genomes, including 52 novel ones. These findings suggest that cecal microbial composition and function are associated with IMP/IMF levels in broilers, providing candidate bacterial species and functional pathways for further validation through gavage-based intervention and multi-omics analysis. Full article

Introduction: Racial and ethnic disparities in end-of-life (EOL) cancer care persist, leading to lower rates of advance care planning (ACP), reduced access to palliative care, and poorer patient outcomes for minority populations. While previous research has documented these inequities, less is known about the specific interventions developed to address them, necessitating a comprehensive review of existing strategies aimed at improving EOL care for racial and ethnic populations. The objective of this scoping review is to examine the extent and characteristics of interventions and their outcomes designed to address racial and ethnic disparities in EOL cancer care in the United States. Methods: A comprehensive search of EOL cancer care interventions for minority populations was conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL with Full Text (EBSCOhost), and Scopus (Elsevier) in September 2024. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full texts following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, with inclusion limited to studies conducted in the US and published in English. Results: Of 3104 screened studies, 10 met the inclusion criteria. Participants enrolled were only from Latino (n = 6 studies) or Black (n = 4 studies) populations. We identified four types of interventions, including communication skills for patients, caregivers, researchers, and clinicians (n = 2), education programs for patients (n = 1), navigation and support programs for patients and caregivers (n = 3), and training programs for health workers and community leaders (n = 4). The most effective interventions were those that addressed linguistic barriers, integrated cultural values, and involved trusted community figures. Faith-based models were particularly successful among African American patients, while bilingual navigation and family-centered ACP interventions had the greatest impact in Latino populations. Conclusions: This review highlights (1) the importance of culturally tailored interventions for specific minority populations and (2) the limited number of such interventions, which primarily target only the largest minority groups. Full article

This article explores the rise of organized crime and violence within the Palestinian community in Israel, focusing on the past two decades. It examines the internal fragmentation of the community, Israeli policies that exacerbated these divisions, and the impact of these factors on the surge in criminal activity. The article further analyzes community responses, highlighting faith-based initiatives like the Committee for Spreading Peace (CSP), led by Sheikh Raed Salah. This initiative, although limited in resources, seeks to address the cycle of violence through prevention, mediation, and collaboration with local authorities in Israel. However, the CSP faces significant challenges, including distrust in Israeli government efforts and the deep-rooted involvement of criminal organizations in local politics. The article concludes that while initiatives like CSP offer hope, a more comprehensive and collaborative approach is needed to effectively combat organized crime and restore community cohesion. Such approaches will also have implications for the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and possible future community-based initiatives. Full article

Background: Compared to omnivorous diets, vegetarian diets are generally linked to improved body weight, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and glycemic control. Despite having the highest global prevalence of vegetarianism, South Asians in Canada exhibit disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. This study examines the usual dietary intake and CVD risk factors among South Asian vegetarians and omnivores at risk of diabetes in British Columbia, Canada. Methods: Of a community sample of 100 South Asian adults at high risk of diabetes and recruited from 12 faith-based centers across the Metro Vancouver area, 96 completed the culturally adapted 163-item SHARE Food Frequency Questionnaire to determine their dietary status. CVD risk factors such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were also assessed. The usual dietary intake metrics, including the total energy, macronutrient, and micronutrient consumption, were compared between vegetarians and omnivores. The associations between diet type, BMI, and WC were analyzed. Results: Of the 96 participants, 50 identified as vegetarians and 46 as omnivores. The mean age was similar between groups: 64.9 (±9.0) years for vegetarians and 65.6 (±10.5) years for omnivores. Females comprised a higher proportion of vegetarians (54.0% vs. 34.8%). Vegetarians reported a greater intake of carbohydrates and foods with a higher glycemic index and glycemic load. The fat intake was comparable between groups. Omnivores had a significantly higher intake of niacin, vitamin B-12, potassium, and zinc. Both groups exceeded the recommended sodium intake. Overall, 90.6% of the participants were classified as overweight or obese, with no significant association between vegetarianism and reduced adiposity. Conclusions: Both dietary groups exhibited an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity and had nutritional profiles that may be associated with elevated cardiometabolic risk. Factors such as dietary acculturation and a suboptimal diet quality may underlie these findings. Culturally tailored nutritional interventions are warranted to address the specific needs of South Asian Canadian communities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Personalized nutrition programs enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools hold promising potential for the development of healthy and sustainable diets and for disease prevention. This study aimed to explore the impact of an AI-based personalized nutrition program on the gut microbiome of healthy individuals. Methods: An intervention using an AI-based mobile application for personalized nutrition was applied for six weeks. Fecal and blood samples from 29 healthy participants (females 52%, mean age 35 years) were collected at baseline and at six weeks. Gut microbiome through 16s ribosomal RNA (rRNA) amplicon sequencing, anthropometric and biochemical data were analyzed at both timepoints. Dietary assessment was performed using food frequency questionnaires. Results: A significant increase in richness (Chao1, 220.4 ± 58.5 vs. 241.5 ± 60.2, p = 0.024) and diversity (Faith’s phylogenetic diversity, 15.5 ± 3.3 vs. 17.3 ± 2.8, p = 0.0001) was found from pre- to post-intervention. Following the intervention, the relative abundance of genera associated with the reduction in cholesterol and heart disease risk (e.g., Eubacterium coprostanoligenes group and Oscillobacter) was significantly increased, while the abundance of inflammation-associated genera (e.g., Eubacterium ruminantium group and Gastranaerophilales) was decreased. Alterations in the abundance of several butyrate-producing genera were also found (e.g., increase in Faecalibacterium, decrease in Bifidobacterium). Further, a decrease in carbohydrate (272.2 ± 97.7 vs. 222.9 ± 80.5, p = 0.003) and protein (113.6 ± 38.8 vs. 98.6 ± 32.4, p = 0.011) intake, as well as a reduction in waist circumference (78.4 ± 12.1 vs. 77.2 ± 11.2, p = 0.023), was also seen. Changes in the abundance of Oscillospiraceae_UCG_002 and Lachnospiraceae_UCG_004 were positively associated with changes in olive oil intake (Rho = 0.57, p = 0.001) and levels of triglycerides (Rho = 0.56, p = 0.001). Conclusions: This study highlights the potential for an AI-based personalized nutrition program to influence the gut microbiome. More research is now needed to establish the use of gut microbiome-informed strategies for personalized nutrition. Full article

The management of laicity in Mexico, legally and politically, is a federal issue that involves regulating the activities of Churches and religious communities in the public space, in their practices, rituals, and relations with the organs of the state. However, in recent years, the growing presence and activity of Churches at the local level has called into question the need to observe how laicity is managed by subnational governments, both state and municipal. Are there mechanisms at the local level to regulate the presence of religion in the public space? How are religious traditions presented as culturally managed? What are the demands of Churches on local authorities and what is their political relationship with them? How is the demand for religious freedom resolved locally without violating citizens’ other freedoms, such as the freedom of conscience in issues such as education, health, traffic, and freedom of expression? All this has put into perspective whether laicity and the secular state should continue to be a national dimension or whether it is necessary to rethink legal and political forms at the local level, building new frameworks of governance and governability. This text reviews the public management of laicity in eight entities of the country, which in turn is representative of the rest of the entities with their local variations. However, they generally move in the constant dimensions of religious diversity, interreligious councils, offices, or those in charge of religious affairs, and levels of municipal participation. The construction of a new laicity is then proposed, which does not exclude religion from the public agenda but rather a new secular perspective on the participation of religious communities in public affairs. From a Latin American perspective, Mexico is seen as an effective government regime that separates religion from politics, restricting the participation of religious organizations in the public agenda. However, at the local level, this regime is changing with the inclusion of faith-based organizations in politics. This will undoubtedly lead to a change in the historical concept, a reference point in the region. The term management of laicity refers to the regulation and administration of governments (services, legal support, spaces, and dialogues) with religious communities. Management (control, regulation, permits, sanctions, and recognition) is defined by law and in public policy towards religion from the federal government, but not in local governments that lack clear regulatory frameworks, intervention guidelines, and support, hence the emphasis on the term. Full article

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, migrant populations remained under-immunized due to limited access to health care, language barriers, and vaccine hesitancy. The USAID-funded MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity project supported the government in collaborating with various local health and non-health partners to identify and vaccinate migrants. This case study examines the roles of project partners and the strategies each entity implemented to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake among migrants, as well as the perceptions regarding the effectiveness of these strategies. Methods: We designed a qualitative explanatory case study guided by the Behavioral and Social Drivers framework and RE-AIM implementation science frameworks. We conducted 31 focus group discussions and 50 in-depth interviews with migrants, project partners, community leaders, and government stakeholders in Tamil Nadu and Punjab. Results: In both states, partnerships with health departments, private employers, and community-based organizations were essential for identifying and vaccinating un- and under-vaccinated migrant groups. In Tamil Nadu, collaboration with the Department of Labor and mobile medical units facilitated vaccination camps at construction sites. In Punjab, religious institutions organized sessions at places of worship, and the Border Security Force enabled health workers to reach migrants living near the border. In both states, key strategies—involving influencers to discuss the importance of vaccine safety and value, bringing vaccination services to migrants’ workplaces and homes at flexible times and mandating workplace vaccination to encourage vaccination—shifted perceptions towards vaccination and increased vaccine uptake among migrants. Conclusions: The strategies and partnerships identified in this study highlight the broader implications for future public health interventions, demonstrating that collaboration with the private sector and faith-based organizations can enhance routine immunization efforts, particularly when localized to organizations that understand community needs and can address specific barriers and motivators. Full article

Aim: Malaria in pregnancy is a global health problem because it causes anemia in the mother and may result in abortion, stillbirth, uterine growth retardation, and low birth weight in the newborn. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of HEI on knowledge and adherence to intermittent preventive treatment of malaria among pregnant women at secondary health facilities in Benue State, Nigeria. Methods: This quasi-experimental study included pre-, intervention, and post-intervention. The study recruited 871 pregnant women (436 study and 435 control) using multistage sampling. The study used a semi-structured questionnaire (pre- and post-test), follow-up checklist, and health education module. Participants self-administered the semi-structured questionnaire with 57 open-ended and closed-ended questions. Results: About 41% had high malaria awareness, but 93.9% did throughout pregnancy and intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) after health education intervention (HEI). The majority (93.8%) understood malaria transmission methods after HEI. 95.3% understood malaria symptoms after HEI. The HEI shows 95.6% of participants knew a lot about malaria during pregnancy. Post-HEI, 95% knew malaria prophylaxis. After HEI, 95.4% knew malaria-prevention drugs. Intermittent Preventive treatment (IPT) pregnancy dosages were known by 94.3% of respondents post-HEI. Post-HEI, 95.4% of responders knew the interval between IPT dosages, compared to 59.2% pre-HEI. After HEI, 95% of respondents were aware of IPT adverse effects, up from 29.2% pre-HEI. Pre-HEI showed. Conclusions: Results demonstrate HEI promotes malaria IPT adherence during pregnancy. A health education proves a veritable interventional strategy in influencing a mother’s understanding of malaria IPT, level of adherence to IPT, and drug adherence to directly observed therapy of IP while pregnant. Thus, nurses and midwives should increase IPT health education during antenatal clinic visits to increase its uptake and adherence among pregnant women and reduce malaria burden and death. Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (SP) for malaria in pregnancy (MiP) IPT must be distributed by the state health ministry to all health facilities—tertiary, secondary, primary, faith-based, and private. Full article