JORMA International Journal of Health and Social Sciences (JORMA IJHSS)
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Predicting COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions Among UK Parents Using Protection Motivation Theory
No full textParents’ intentions to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 remain a critical factor in achieving sufficient immunization coverage. Understanding the psychological and social factors that influence vaccination decisions is essential for developing effective public health strategies. This study applied Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to examine predictors of COVID-19 vaccination intention among parents of young children in the UK. Key constructs of PMT, threat appraisal, and coping appraisal were evaluated alongside sociodemographic variables to identify the strongest determinants of parental vaccine acceptance. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 774 parents and guardians of children aged 0–6 years in the UK. Participants responded to a validated PMT questionnaire measuring intention, perceived severity, susceptibility, self-efficacy, response efficacy, response costs, intrapersonal characteristics, and past experience. Sociodemographic data were also collected. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relative importance of these factors. The results showed that disease severity, intrapersonal characteristics, past experience, response efficacy, and response costs were the most influential predictors of COVID-19 vaccination intention. While sociodemographic factors such as age and gender had some predictive value, the PMT constructs, particularly severity and efficacy-related measures, provided more robust insights into parental decision-making processes. The final regression model explained 35.5% of the variance in vaccination intention. This study highlights the importance of PMT constructs in understanding parental COVID-19 vaccination intentions. Interventions should focus on increasing awareness of disease severity, enhancing confidence in vaccine efficacy, and addressing perceived response costs. Public health campaigns tailored to these psychological factors, coupled with transparent communication from trusted healthcare providers, are likely to be more effective in reducing vaccine hesitancy among parents in the UK
Bacteriological Examination of Water from Different Sources in a Tertiary Institution in Nigeria
No full textWater, composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, is the only naturally occurring inorganic liquid and remains the most abundant, essential, and indispensable resource on Earth. This study aimed to conduct a bacteriological assessment of water from four distinct sources within Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State. The sources investigated were: the AAU Dam, hostel water tanks, sachet water, and bottled water. Results indicated that the AAU Dam water exhibited the highest total bacterial count at 8.0 × 10⁴ cfu/mL, followed by hostel tank water (6.4 × 10⁴ cfu/mL), bottled water (5.6 × 10⁴ cfu/mL), and sachet water, which had the lowest count at 3.2 × 10⁴ cfu/mL. The most probable number (MPN) of coliforms per 100 mL ranged from 24 to 92, with the AAU Dam showing the highest value. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that Ciprofloxacin, Augmentin, Pefloxacin, Tarivid, and Sparfloxacin exhibited 100% effectiveness against all bacterial isolates, while Amoxicillin showed intermediate activity. Notably, Staphylococcus aureus displayed resistance to four antibiotics. The presence of pathogenic bacteria in these water sources underscores a significant public health concern. It is recommended that all water sources—including tap, borehole, sachet, and bottled water—be adequately treated before consumption. Regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC should enforce strict compliance with water safety standards, particularly in the production and distribution of packaged sachet water. Achieving this objective requires a coordinated effort among manufacturers, consumers, and the government to safeguard public health
The mediating role of self-compassion and forgiveness in the effect of negative metacognitive beliefs on repetitive negative thinking in those with PTSD symptoms.
No full textoai:ojs2.jormajournals.com:article/1The experience of traumatic events such as extreme violence, sexual abuse, war, or natural disasters can cause heightened anxiety and the development of a variety of mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study aimed to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion and forgiveness in the effect of negative metacognitive beliefs on repetitive negative thinking in those with PTSD symptoms. There was a total of 74 participants consisting of males (n = 43), females (n = 28), and gender neutral (n = 3) aged 18 and over (Age; males, M = 30.63, SD = 7.027, females, M = 30.14, SD = 9.671, and gender neutral, M = 46.00, SD = 0.000) who were clinical patients receiving treatments for posttraumatic stress disorders. Participants completed a short demographic questionnaire, the self-compassion scale - Short Form (SCS-SF), Metacognitive Questionnaire (MCQ-30), Bolton Forgiveness Scale (BFS), and Repetitive Thinking Questionnaire-10 (RTQ-10). The results revealed that negative metacognitive beliefs predicted RNT with a positive correlation (p<.001), forgiveness predicted RNT with an inverse relationship (p<.001), and self-compassion was a negative correlate of RNT (p<.001). Furthermore, forgiveness mediated the effect of negative metacognitive beliefs on RNT (p<.001). This study has provided insight that becoming more forgiving may weaken the impact of negative metacognitive beliefs on RNT in individuals with PTSD or posttraumatic stress symptoms, and self-compassion may well have a reductive effect on RNT
The Paradox of Diversity Initiatives: Structural Disadvantages for Global South Scholars in Academia
No full textThe implementation of diversity initiatives at Western universities serves as proof of institutional dedication to equity programs. These diversity initiatives represent mechanisms that perpetuate colonial power dynamics despite being presented as reform efforts from a critical psychological viewpoint. The article argues that diversity policies convert fundamental epistemic violence into individual problems that divert attention from implementing complete structural changes. The analysis employs decolonial theory, critical psychology, and postcolonial studies to show how diversity programs silence decolonisation movements while maintaining Eurocentric epistemologies and current hiring practices. The inclusion offered through these initiatives centres "Whiteness" and neoliberal logic instead of eliminating coloniality, so they fail to dismantle power structures. The article ends by supporting actual decolonisation processes instead of diversity paradigms, which would acknowledge multiple epistemologies while distributing power in academic institutions
Preventive and Pharmacological Interventions for Stroke: A Narrative Review of Evidence, Challenges, and Future Directions
No full textStroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability worldwide, exerting a significant burden on individuals, healthcare systems, and economies. Preventive strategies are critical in reducing the incidence and recurrence of stroke, especially among populations at high risk due to modifiable and non-modifiable factors. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions aimed at stroke prevention. It begins by examining key modifiable risk factors, such as hypertension, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity. Hypertension, in particular, is highlighted as the most impactful risk factor, with studies showing that even modest reductions in blood pressure can significantly decrease stroke risk. Similarly, smoking cessation and regular physical activity are strongly associated with a reduced likelihood of stroke events. The review also explores pharmacological measures, including antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies. Aspirin remains a widely used antiplatelet agent, especially in secondary prevention, although its efficacy must be balanced against potential bleeding risks. Alternatives like clopidogrel and combinations such as dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) are examined considering recent clinical trial evidence. In patients with atrial fibrillation, anticoagulants such as warfarin and newer direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) like apixaban have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing stroke risk with varying safety profiles. This review identifies ongoing challenges, including patient adherence, personalized therapy decisions, and the need for broader public health implementation of preventive strategies. It concludes by highlighting the importance of integrating lifestyle interventions with individualized pharmacological treatments to optimise stroke prevention. Further research is recommended to refine these strategies and address existing gaps in knowledge, particularly in low-resource settings where the stroke burden continues to rise
Decolonising Antiracism: A Collective Intervention in Race, Resistance, & Identity
No full textThis article argues that any antiracist initiative that continues to rely on upholding the colonial fiction and practices of human “races” merely repackages Eurocolonial domination. Drawing on decolonial theory, epistemic-justice scholarship, African and Africana philosophies of relation, and the togetherness Wayfinder framework, the HARMONY model, and Justice AI GPT, we demonstrate how contemporary antiracism frequently reproduces the very hierarchies it seeks to dismantle while presenting alternative pathways toward a future without racism. We synthesise perspectives from Sheena Michele Mason, Shayla Sima Dube, and Christian Ortiz to outline a paradigm that lends itself to the abolition of the belief in and practice of race, and thereby racism itself, without erasing culture, lineage, or collective struggle. Our contribution is fourfold: (1) a brief genealogy of “racelessness” in African and Africana thought, (2) a critique of epistemicide and “white-comfort engineering” that co-opts liberation discourses, (3) an exposition of “racelessness” as the logical endpoint of antiracism, and (4) a practical roadmap for reclaiming identity and creating a future without antiblack racism through land, language, and lineage
Xenobiotic Distribution: A Comprehensive Review and Toxicological Implications
No full textXenobiotics is derived from the Greek words ‘Xenos’, meaning foreign and strange, and ‘bios’, which means life. Concerning the environment, xenobiotics can be defined as chemically synthesized compounds that do not occur in nature and thus are ‘foreign’ to the biosphere. Relating to the organisms, a xenobiotic is any substance foreign to life/living organism. Thus, a xenobiotic is a foreign chemical substance found within an organism that is not naturally produced by or expected to be present within the organism. The definition of xenobiotics as compounds ‘foreign to life’ exhibiting unnatural structural features does not necessarily mean that they are toxic compounds, but many are indeed harmful to living organisms. Specifically, drugs such as antibiotics are xenobiotics are xenobiotics because the human body does not produce them itself, nor are they part of a normal food. Natural compounds can also become xenobiotics if another organism takes them up. The body removes xenobiotics by xenobiotic metabolism, which consists of their deactivation and excretion, which happens mostly in the liver. Enzymes are involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics. Excretion routes are urine, feces, breath, and sweat. Xenobiotics may be grouped as carcinogens, drugs, environmental pollutants, food additives, hydrocarbons, and pesticides
Exploring Ubuntu Values through Appreciative Inquiry: A Workshop-based Engagement with Health Care Professionals at a South African Higher Education Institution
No full textThe Ubuntu philosophy, rooted in the values of community, care, respect, hospitality, and human interconnectedness, has increasingly been acknowledged as a vital framework for transforming education, particularly within the African context. Originating from Southern Africa, Ubuntu has influenced global discourses, resonating with similar philosophies in Asia and Europe, and championed by influential figures such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. This study explores how Ubuntu values can enhance teaching, learning, and practice in higher education through a workshop-based engagement with healthcare professionals at a South African Higher Education Institution in Limpopo Province. Using a qualitative approach grounded in Appreciative Inquiry (AI), the study aimed to uncover the potential of Ubuntu in rehumanising education and patient care amid prevailing neoliberal and colonial education systems. A one-day workshop involving thirty-two participants (26 health educators and six facilitators) was conducted, focusing on Ubuntu values in patient care through scenario-based discussions. Participants were purposively sampled from the Faculty of Health Sciences, representing disciplines such as Nursing, Pharmacy, Dietetics, and Optometry. Data were collected through focus group discussions and were analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six-step framework in ATLAS.ti. Four major themes emerged, corresponding to the AI phases: Discovery (important values in healthcare), Dream (collaboration and teamwork), Design (overlooked Ubuntu values), and Destiny (values not specific to healthcare). The findings highlight the relevance of Ubuntu in enhancing humanised care and call for the integration of indigenous philosophies into academic curricula. The study advocates for systemic efforts to train educators in Ubuntu values to foster inclusive and culturally grounded higher education
Epistemic Violence in Psychological Research: Unveiling Bias in Methodology, Methods, and the Peer Review Process
No full textThe concept of epistemic violence, which defines the oppression of knowledge systems and knowers, has become more significant when applied to psychological research. The article interrogates epistemic violence through the examination of research design, as well as methodological paradigms and methods, and the peer review process. This paper examines how mainstream psychological science creates epistemic exclusion by favouring Western positivist approaches over indigenous experiential and non-normative ways of knowing through the lens of postcolonial theory, feminist epistemology, and critical psychology. The methodological gatekeeping together with disciplinary conventions and reviewer biases operate as mechanisms that lead to epistemic marginalisation of research produced by scholars from historically excluded communities. The article suggests strategies for improving research inclusivity and epistemic justice in academic culture, including methodological pluralism, reflexive research approaches, and changes to peer review procedures. The analysis aims to advance existing efforts for psychological knowledge decolonisation and academic publishing equity enhancement