Modern contraceptive use among adolescent girls and young women in Benin: a mixed-methods study

ObjectivesThe study aimed to assess the determinants of modern contraceptive method use among young women in Benin.DesignA mixed-methods design.Setting and participantsWe used the Benin 2017–2018 Demographic and Health Survey datasets for quantitative analysis. Data collection was conducted using multiple-cluster sampling method and through household survey. Qualitative part was conducted in the city of Allada, one of the Fon cultural capitals in Benin. The participants were purposively selected.OutcomesContraceptive prevalence rate, unmet need for modern method and percentage of demand satisfied by a modern method for currently married and sexually active unmarried women were measured in the quantitative part. Access barriers and utilisation of modern methods were assessed in the qualitative part.ResultsOverall, 8.5% (95% CI 7.7% to 9.5%) among young women ages 15–24 were using modern contraceptives and 13% (12.1% to 14.0%) among women ages 25 or more. Women 15–24 had a higher unmet need, and a lower demand satisfied by modern contraceptive methods compared with women ages 25 or more. 60.8% (56.9% to 64.7%) of all unmarried young women had unmet need for modern contraceptives. Young women were more likely to use male condoms which they obtain mainly from for-profit outlets, pharmacies and relatives. The factors associated with demand satisfied by a modern method were literacy, being unmarried, knowing a greater number of modern contraceptive methods and experiencing barriers in access to health services. On the other hand, the qualitative study found that barriers to using modern methods include community norms about pre-marital sexual intercourse, perceptions about young women’s fertility, spousal consent and the use of non-modern contraceptives.ConclusionContraceptive use is low among young women in Benin. The use of modern contraceptives is influenced by sociodemographic factors and social norms. Appropriate interventions might promote comprehensive sexuality education, increase community engagement, provide youth-friendly services and address gender inequalities.

The Economic Burden and Determinant Factors of Parents/Caregivers of Children with Cerebral Palsy in Malaysia: A Mixed Methods Study

The economic burden is a major concern for parents/caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study used the sequential explanatory mixed-method approach to explorethe economic burden on parents/caregivers with a CP child in Malaysia and the factors associated with the economic burden. The study period spanned April 2020 and December 2020. A total of 106 questionnaire respondents were selected for the quantitative part, and 15 were interviewed to obtain qualitative input. A retrospective costing analysis was conducted based on the cost data obtained from the questionnaire. The majority of the children were GrossMotor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level 5 (71%), quadriplegic (63%), and aged >4 years (90%). The estimated annual median total economic burden on the parents/caregivers per child in 2020 was RM52,540.00 (~USD12,515.03), with indirect cost being the greatest cost (RM28,800.00, ~USD6860.16), followed by developmental cost (RM16,200.00, ~USD3858.84), direct healthcare cost (RM4540.00, ~USD1081.43) and direct non-healthcare cost (RM3000.00, ~USD714.60). The annual household income was identified as a significant determinant factor (p=0.019, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.40) of the economic burden. The participants’ responses during the in-depth interview in the qualitative part of the study supported the premise that socioeconomic factors play a substantial role in determining the total economic burden. Our findings may aid local policymakers when planning the greater provision of support to the affected families in the future, especially for the parents/caregivers of children with CP, who are facing socioeconomic challenges.

Collocation ranking: frequency vs semantics

Collocations play a very important role in language description, especially in identifying meanings of words. Modern lexicography’s inevitable part of meaning deduction are lists of collocates ranked by some statistical measurement. In the paper, we present a comparison between two approaches to the ranking of collocates: (a) the logDice method, which is dominantly used and frequency-based, and (b) the fastText word embeddings method, which is new and semantic-based. The comparison was made on two Slovene datasets, one representing general language headwords and their collocates, and the other representing headwords and their collocates extracted from a language for special purposes corpus. In the experiment, two methods were used: for the quantitative part of the evaluation, we used supervised machine learning with the area-under-the-curve (AUC) ROC score and support-vector machines (SVMs) algorithm, and in the qualitative part the ranking results of the two methods were evaluated by lexicographers. The results were somewhat inconsistent; while the quantitative evaluation confirmed that the machine-learning-based approach produced better collocate ranking results than the frequency-based one, lexicographers in most cases considered the listings of collocates of both methods very similar.

Value conflicts and information security – a mixed-methods study in high-risk industry

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of work-related value conflicts on information security in two organisations in nuclear power production and related industry. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-methods design was applied. Individual interviews were conducted with 24 employees of two organisations in Sweden and questionnaire data on information security climate were collected from 667 employees (62%) in the same two organisations. Findings The qualitative part of the study identified five different types of value conflicts influencing information security behaviour. The quantitative part of the study found that value conflicts relating to information security had a negative relationship with rule-compliant behaviour. The opposite was found for participative security behaviour where there was a positive relationship with value conflicts. A high climate of information security was positively related to both rule-compliant and participative information security behaviour. It also moderated the effect of value conflicts on compliant information security behaviour. Originality/value This paper highlights organisational contextual conditions that influence employees’ motivation and ability to manage value conflicts relating to information security in a high-risk industry. It also enables a better understanding of the influence of the information security climate on information security in the presence of value conflicts in this type of industry.

Methodology

This study applied a comprehensive methodological framework consisting of different epistemological approaches (Mixed Methods). The correlational (quantitative) part established the interrelations between the investigated variables, while the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) further inferred causal relations for 65 countries in Europe and the Americas. The qualitative part used Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine four case studies (Switzerland, Uruguay, Cuba, and Colombia).The regression analysis of this study quantitatively explores the relations among factors/variables (macro). QCA adds causality considerations and bridges quantitative relations and qualitative analysis (meso). The four case studies are purely qualitative (micro).

A closer look at Moroccan EFL learners’ use of language learning strategies from a qualitative perspective

This paper explores from a qualitative perspective the use of language learning strategies by Moroccan university EFL science students. Actually, it is part of a larger mixed method design research; however, the focus in this paper is just on the qualitative part so that a deep analysis of the informants’ introspections on their language learning process is provided. The aim of this study is to delve deeply in students’ use of language learning strategies and their motivation for learning English and how it relates to their strategy use. To collect data, 60 university students randomly drawn from six science-oriented majors participated in a semi-structured interview which focused on their motivation and their use of language learning strategies to learn English. Then, the interviews were first categorized in themes to have a clear picture of the informants’ use of the different language learning strategies and the different types of their motivation to learn English, and second these themes were analyzed using the content analysis method. The results demonstrate that students use a variety of language learning strategies in different degrees and they exhibit different types of motivation to learn English. This study yields a number of implications both for pedagogical purposes and for further research.

Teachers’ perception and experience on outcomes-based education implementation in Isabela State University

<span>The existing typology established by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the introduction of outcomes-based education (OBE) has created numerous demands and challenges for higher education in the Philippines. Hence, this study analyzed the scope of expertise and experience of Isabela State University-College of Computing Studies, Information and Communication Technology faculty members in the 2nd semester of study year 2018-2019 to identify OBE implementation. In this study, a mixed-method approach was used for data and information collection. Weighted mean was used to interpret the extent of knowledge and actual practice of the faculty members and on the qualitative part, data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of this study indicate a great deal of expertise and experience on the implementation of OBE among the faculty members of the College of Computing and Information Communication Technology at Isabela State University Cauayan Campus. The faculty members are well versed in the application and practice of OBE and will continue to contribute to the realization of the goals of OBE by practice.</span>

Differences in medication reconciliation interventions between six hospitals: a mixed method study

Background Although medication reconciliation (MedRec) is mandated and effective in decreasing preventable medication errors during transition of care, hospitals implement MedRec differently. Objective Quantitatively compare the number and type of MedRec interventions between hospitals upon admission and discharge, followed by a qualitative analysis on potential reasons for these differences. Methods This explanatory retrospective mixed method study consisted of a quantitative and a qualitative part. Patients from six hospitals and various wards were included if MedRec was performed both on hospital admission and discharge. Information on pharmacy interventions to resolve unintended discrepancies and medication optimizations were collected. Based on these quantitative results, interviews and a focus group was performed to give insight in MedRec processes. Descriptive analysis was used for the quantitative-, content analysis for the qualitative part. Results On admission, patients with at least one discrepancy varied from 36-95% (mean per patient 2.2 (SD +/- 2.4) Upon discharge, these numbers ranged from 5-28% while optimizations reached 2% (admission) to 95% (discharge).The main themes explaining differences in numbers of interventions were patient-mix, healthcare professionals involved, location and moment of the interview plus embedding and extent of medication optimization. Conclusions Hospitals differed greatly in the number of interventions performed during MedRec. A combination of patient-mix, healthcare professionals involved, location and timing of the interview plus embedding and extent of medication optimization resulted in the highest yield of MedRec interventions on unintended medication discrepancies and optimizations. This study supports to give direction to optimize MedRec processes in hospitals.

Design and validation of Quranic model, Validity of hope therapy with integrated monotheistic treatment approach

Introduction: In the Holy Quran, hope and hope for the future have been spoken about many times and in different ways. In general, the study of the concept of hope shows that hope in any case, means waiting to achieve the goal, is accompanied by effort. In recent years, to achieve such a goal, especially in Iran, they use integrated monotheistic therapy. The aim of this study was to design and validate the Quranic-narrative model of hope therapy with an integrated monotheistic treatment approach. Methods: This study is a combined method (qualitative and quantitative) of exploratory type. Statistical sample in qualitative section 48 people were selected by purposive sampling method and in quantitative section 313 people were selected by relative stratified sampling method. The research tool was a semi-structured checklist and interview in the qualitative part and a researcher-made questionnaire in the quantitative part. In the process of research, the literature of hope in the Qur'an and narrations and psychological sources were studied and the indicators of hope and hope therapy were extracted from this literature. Finally, the appropriateness of the indicators with the structures and the structures with the stages of the existing models were measured. Free coding was used to analyze the qualitative part of the information and confirmatory factor analysis was used in the quantitative part of the exploratory factor analysis. Results: The findings indicate the extraction of the Quranic-narrative model of hope therapy in 4 stages, 8 steps, 15 components and 75 items. Stages and components of the model: Step 1) Understanding the meaning and destination of monotheistic hope (expecting something beloved from God / benevolence from God / peace before God / desire for truth - hereafter hope / worldly hope), step 2) Determining the paths of monotheistic hope ( Positive attitude to solving problems / understanding needs and desires / creating monotheistic behavior), stage 3) giving meaning to monotheistic hope (strengthening faith and belief / performing rituals and worship / hope to attract divine mercy and gifts / hope for piety and divine guidance) and Step 4) Integration of monotheistic beliefs and behavior (integration of beliefs and behavior). Conclusion: Considering the appropriateness of hope therapy models and the model presented in this study, it can be said that the current model is effective for the treatment of despair.

Acceptance and Benefits of Two Different Strategies to Timely Integrate Specialist Palliative Care into Routine Cancer Care – a Randomized Pilot Study

Background / Aims: To investigate the acceptance and benefits of two different strategies to timely integrate specialist palliative care (SPC) in routine cancer care: commonly recommended early SPC counselling versus an informational brochure plus SPC counselling upon patients’ request. Methods: Patients diagnosed with incurable cancer within the last 6-12 weeks were sequentially randomized. Endpoints were acceptance of the two strategies after 3 months as well as use of SPC counselling and psychosocial support, presence of advance directives, palliative care outcome (IPOS), psychosocial distress (DT) and after 3 and 6 months. In a qualitative part, SPC consultations were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Overall, 43 patients received SPC counselling and 37 a brochure with SPC counselling on demand. In the brochure group, only one patient later registered for SPC counselling from own initiative. SPC timing was appropriate in 70% of patients (75% counselling / 61% brochure, n.s.). Sufficiency, helpfulness and relevance of information, provision of security and help with finding contacts for specific support were perceived adequate in both groups. No significant differences were found regarding potential effects of the interventions on IPOS or DT after 3 and 6 months. Use of psychosocial support was comparable between the groups and 4 patients had new advance directives (3 counselling / 1 brochure). Five key themes of SPC consultations were identified: symptoms, rapport, coping, illness understanding, and advance care planning. Conclusions: Both SPC integration strategies were well accepted. However, patients seem not to benefit from a brochure in terms of initiating SPC counselling timely after a palliative cancer diagnosis.