JORMA International Journal of Health and Social Sciences (JORMA IJHSS)
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The impact of COVID-19 on black students in higher education: A systematic review of engagement and achievements
No full textCOVID-19 has disproportionately impacted black students in higher education (Arday & Jones, 2022; Kiebler & Stewart, 2022; Garcia et al., 2021; Moore et al., 2022). COVID-19 pandemic brought world-wide transformations that were accompanied by several forms of precarities and mental health problems (Arday & Jones, 2022; Rogers, 2021; Li & Wang, 2020). Thus, the current systematic review examines the impact of COVID-19 on black students in higher education. In doing so, it applies the critical race theory to provide insights on reducing racial disparities and to improve outcomes for black students in higher education. This literature review followed the protocol framework of the Cochrane Collaboration and the PRISMA guidelines. The results revealed that Covid-19 was linked with racism towards Black students, poorer mental health and wellbeing of Black students, several precarities in Black students, loneliness and isolation, and poorer access to academic-related support in Black students. These factors influenced lower academic achievements of Black students in higher education. It is recommended that higher education institutions, local communities, and policy makers should provide means of supporting Black and other minority ethnic students by addressing inequalities and access to resources
The psychological impact of COVID‐19 on students and academics at a Higher Education Institution in the United Kingdom
No full textThis study investigates the psychological impact of COVID‐19 on students and academics at a Higher Education Institution in the UK. We used critical reflective writing, in which ten students and ten lecturers wrote a short reflection (approximately 200 words) on their experience of the lockdown prior to the study. Secondly, transcriptions were gathered for analysis. Inductive Thematic Analysis was selected as the preferred method of investigation to identify, analyse, and report themes from the dataset. The specific study aims were: (a) to present an empirical investigation into the psychological impact of COVID‐19, (b) to explore the interplay between social isolation and mental health, and (c) to examine how the affected individuals understand their experiences. The health impact of COVID-19 included physiological and mental health aspects and reflected the importance of teacher and student psychological wellbeing for teaching and learning. The paper highlights that there is a need for psycho-social crisis prevention and intervention models tailored to support students\u27 and academics\u27 psychological wellbeing, arguing that considerations should be made to adjust expectations from students in relation to progression, and staff, in relation to workload
Since the Beginning of the World: Decolonial Knowledge and Healing Practices among Pitaguary Elders in Brazil
No full textThis paper presents a decolonial trajectory of Participatory Action Research (PAR) conducted with the Pitaguary Indigenous people of Ceará, Brazil. The research emerged in response to a collective demand to strengthen the psychosocial care network for Pitaguary elders, the guardians of ancestral knowledge and traditional healing practices. Through community-based actions including workshops, storytelling, and artistic production, the project co-constructed a space for the revitalisation of Indigenous knowledge. Drawing on oral histories and field diaries, the paper explores Pitaguary\u27s understanding of health as deeply interconnected with territory, ancestry, spirituality, and art. Traditional practices such as ceramic and straw weaving are highlighted as both therapeutic and acts of resistance. By privileging indigenous epistemologies, the paper affirms health as a collective, relational, and aesthetic process, challenging Western paradigms and contributing to epistemic justice and the defence of cultural sovereignty
Diagnostic clarity: Re-evaluating a clinical case for social anxiety disorder diagnosis in comorbid presentations
No full textDiagnostic clarity plays a vital role in the effective treatment and recovery of individuals with anxiety disorders. Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) frequently co-occur, yet SAD often remains undiagnosed in individuals who are primarily identified with GAD. This oversight can exacerbate the symptoms of both disorders, thus complicating treatment and hindering recovery. This paper explores the impact of missed comorbid diagnoses through a case study of "Rex", an individual initially diagnosed with GAD. Using a qualitative method, this paper draws on personal narratives to examine Rex’s experiences. Findings reveal that Rex’s symptoms align closely with the diagnostic criteria for SAD as outlined in the DSM-5-TR, despite the absence of a formal SAD diagnosis. The analysis highlights how the unrecognised presence of SAD contributed to persistent social avoidance, and the heightening of the symptoms of both disorders, causing functional impairment and poorer treatment outcomes. This paper highlights the importance of comprehensive diagnostic assessments in anxiety disorders, particularly when symptoms of GAD and SAD overlap. It advocates for the implementation of treatment strategies that target social fears in SAD. Furthermore, it was recommended that periodical reassessments become an integral part of care plans to be sure that no evolving or missed symptoms are left uncaptured. By emphasising the significance of diagnostic precision and personalised care, this paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of anxiety comorbidity and its implications for mental health practice
Non-Binary Trajectories as Epistemic Insurgency: On Decolonial Disobedience in Developmental Psychology
No full textTaking gender dissidence as a form of epistemic disobedience, this article engages critically with dominant paradigms in developmental psychology by interrogating the normative frameworks that regulate intelligibility, pathologised differences, and delimit what counts as “normal” development. Bridging the Cultural Psychology of semiotic dynamics and Decolonial Studies, it examines interview narratives of non-binary individuals, considering how they generate meaning in relation to themselves, alterities, and sociocultural realities. Meaning-making occurs through ambivalent processes that both negotiate with and disrupt modern-colonial logics embedded in psychological knowledge. Four self-defined non-binary adults (aged 26–30) living in Brasília, Brazil participated in this qualitative study, which employed semi-structured interviews, the go-along method, and a reflection group; each functioning as "dispositifs" for the co-construction of narratives. These materials were analysed in an integrated design encompassing all three moments. The analysis unfolds through four interwoven thematic axes: (1) resistance as a constitutive force in meaning-making; (2) the polyphonic character of non-binarity and its entanglements with racialisation; (3) dealing with classificatory regimes such as “gender dysphoria”; and (4) institutional violence in psychotherapy. Therefore, dissident ways of living emerge as a site of insurgent knowledge, destabilising binary logics and activating new ways of knowing, theorising, and existing within and beyond the discipline. By bringing to the centre embodied lives historically erased or pathologised by psychology, the article advocates for an epistemic reorientation grounded in political accountability, situated onto-epistemologies, and commitment to reimagining psychological science in response to the complexities of the present and plural forms of life
Evaluating the use of prone positioning for young children with acute respiratory distress syndrome
No full textAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) refers to a severe condition in which the lungs fail to provide enough oxygen to vital organs of the body (NHS, 2020), and it is usually linked with multiple organ failure (Matthay, Ware, & Zimmerman, 2012). Aim: To evaluate the use of prone positioning for young children with acute respiratory distress syndrome. This review follows the Cochrane Collaboration protocol framework and uses a comprehensive search strategy across databases, including CINAHL Plus, Medline via PubMed, and Cochrane Library. Despite conflicting evidence, most studies indicate that prone positioning enhances oxygen levels and reduces mortality in severe ARDS cases
Exploration of Vice Chancellors’ Perceptions on Institutional Barriers to Undergraduate Access in Nigeria’s Private Universities: A Mixed Methods Case Study
No full textThis mixed methods case study explored vice chancellors’ perceptions on institutional barriers to undergraduate access in Nigeria’s private universities. Three research questions were developed through a reflexive approach, guided by the framework. Using purposive sampling, 6 vice chancellors out of 29 were selected from across the six geopolitical zones, representing a 21% response rate. The study employed a convergent parallel research design, conducting one-on-one semi-structured interviews for qualitative data, which was thematically analysed. Quantitative measures extracted archival secondary data from policy documents produced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) between 2015 and 2023 on annual key figures, including candidates’ applications, the number of candidates examined, enrolment figures across all universities, and quota allocations. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to identify trends and disparities in enrolment, particularly in private universities. Analyses of findings and results suggest that institutional barriers are significant obstacles created by regulatory institutions and internal university policies, collectively limiting the accessibility and attractiveness of private universities in Nigeria. The centralised system of JAMB continues to create challenges for students, universities, and the broader educational landscape, ultimately contributing to low enrolment in private universities. Significant annual disparities also exist between registered candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), examination takers, and enrolees in private universities. The government\u27s comprehensive policy approach continues to restrict universities’ autonomy, limiting their ability to adapt curricula to local needs. The study made recommendations for policy and practice, based on the findings
Exploring the role of religious leaders in promoting positive sexual practices to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS amongst young adults in Aba, Nigeria: a qualitative study
No full textDespite attempts to control the HIV epidemic in Nigeria, especially amongst young adults, prevalence is increasing. The aim of this study was to provide insights to strengthen the positive impact of religious leaders in preventing HIV/AIDS amongst young adults. Qualitative descriptive research was carried out. Purposive sampling was used to identify religious leaders (Christian or Muslim) and young adults (aged 20–24) who are active in their faith communities in Aba, Nigeria, chosen due to its high prevalence of HIV amongst young people. Religious leaders were recruited through publicly available contact details. Young adult participants were recruited through religious youth groups on Facebook. Online, semi-structured interviews were carried out. Findings were analysed thematically. Seven religious leaders (six male, one female) and seven young adults (five male, two female), all Christian, participated. Results found that young people may lack appropriate knowledge on HIV prevention, and that this topic is not often discussed in church. Religious leaders were seen as influential, with different platforms to engage youth. They could have a positive or negative impact on HIV prevention practices, for instance, by reinforcing stigmatising rhetoric around HIV and discouraging condom use. Capacitating religious leaders with adequate knowledge on HIV and supporting the adoption of a more liberal and pragmatic approach to HIV/AIDS prevention may enable positive impact
A Deep Learning-Based Skin Cancer Detection with ResNet50V2
No full textSkin cancer is a prevalent global health concern, with melanoma being particularly dangerous due to its potential to metastasise. Researchers have harnessed deep learning techniques, specifically transfer learning, to create an automated classification system for skin lesions. This system can be especially valuable in areas with limited medical resources. The study leverages pre-trained convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transfer learning. Using Google Collab and a dataset attached via Google Drive, skin lesion images were analysed. The dataset from the International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC) was divided into eight classes, with “Melanocytic Nevus” being the most common (51% of data). Augmentation was applied to address overfitting. Comparing the sequential CNN and pre-trained ResNet50V2 models, both achieved over 60% accuracy. While ResNet50V2 had slightly better accuracy, the sequential model exhibited greater stability in validation results. Notably, segmentation techniques were not employed due to image-specific challenges. This research contributes to improving skin cancer diagnosis and underscores the potential of AI in healthcare. Doctors can benefit from this system, enhancing patient care and treatment decisions.
The Epistemology and Ontology of School Counselling in a Colonial Ethnocentric Education System
No full textThis paper critiques the politics of Israeli school counselling and the values underlying this profession in a settler-colonial context. It addresses the research question: How do economic, sociocultural, and political forces shape Israeli school counselling? Deploying post-structural frameworks of power/knowledge, as well as postcolonial and decolonial thoughts, we conduct a discourse analysis of the Israeli school counselling profession, unpacking its ideologies and functions in a settler-colonial region. Using Foucauldian genealogy as a methodology, we analyse ninety-four interdisciplinary archival documents, historical incidents, and policies to uncover the political-economic values and morality embedded in school counselling. Our findings reveal that settler-colonial practices and Zionist political-economic interests have shaped the profession, turning school counsellors into subsidiary authorities that perpetuate Zionist ideology and justify colonisation through mental health interventions. In conclusion, this research illuminates that Israeli school counselling is not a culturally neutral or universally beneficent profession but, instead, a paradigmatic case of how mental health professions can be instrumentalised by the state to further colonial and ethnonationalist agendas. Additionally, this study highlights the importance of critiquing the political-economic agendas that influence professional institutions, educational and mental health leadership roles, and their broader societal implications