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Numérisation et mise et libre accès des productions scientifiques des chercheurs des universités du Burundi
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Socio-Ecological Factors Associated with Preventive Behavior
No full textUnderstanding factors influencing the adoption of preventive behaviors is crucial in pandemic prevention and control. This study employs the social-ecological model to examine the determinants of preventive actions against COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data from a household survey were analyzed using a linear regression model. The findings indicate a moderate level of preventive behavior adoption among residents. Interpersonal behavior, community norms, and organizational-level factors are identified as significant predictors, while personal and demographic factors have little influence. These results highlight the need for context-specific health interventions, addressing social and structural aspects, to effectively combat COVID-19 in Addis Ababa and similar low- and middle-income settings
Generative Artificial Intelligence and Distributed Learning: A Short Survey
No full textGenerative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Distributed Learning have gained significant attention in recent years, driven by their vast applica tions across various domains. This survey provides an overview of recent
advancements in GenAI applications, particularly focusing on the integra tion of GenAI with distributed learning paradigms. We discuss the latest trends, challenges, and future directions, highlighting key contributions from
recent literature. Our survey aims to provide researchers and practitioners with insights into the current state of GenAI and distributed learning, offer ing a comprehensive understanding of their potential to drive innovation in
various fields
Transboundary COVID-19 response on health communication in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe
No full textA global COVID-19 pandemic caused untold community disruptions, a huge toll on lives and placed major burdens on the economies of developing countries. It spread worldwide within a short period of time before nations could mobilise evidence for the best responses. Communities in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe were heavily disrupted. This article focuses on exploring the transboundary differences in COVID-19 responses, plus the implications for improving the health communication strategies in a pandemic age. Health practitioners and governments were ill-prepared to inform the general public about the pandemic and enforced complete shutdowns of economic and social activities. With the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging communities, there was a dearth of focused health communication on COVID-19’s end. New tools of communication and dissemination of information were embraced in the southern Africa country-specific cases. For example, content on precautionary lifestyles, individual or personal responsibility and utilisation of community health workers in the pandemic era was prioritised to prevent or minimise infections and avoid recurrence of the disease. New communication methods were important for addressing uncertainty and can be applied for any future pandemic. This health communication topic addresses the neglected, but important gap on the efficacy of processes towards better health communication strategies. The transdisciplinary methods include improved health communication strategies informed by the experiences of three Southern African Development Community countries. While such measures to arrest COVID-19 proved plausible, these countries’ projections for the future are a concern, suggesting an urgent need to enhance and strengthen health communication in southern Africa.
Transdisciplinary contribution: This is a transdisciplinary exploration of health communication and its implications for COVID-19 and future pandemic responses in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe
Enhancing Research Visibility in Africa: Leveraging DOAJ for Open Access Publishing
Full text linkThis webinar session featured Ina Smith, the Planning Manager, Scholarly Publishing Unit, Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), South Africa & DOAJ Ambassador Southern Africa.
She spoke on the topic: Enhancing Research Visibility in Africa: Leveraging DOAJ for Open Access Publishing.
Attendees learned how African researchers and journals can increase their visibility and impact through DOAJ.
Key points highlighted:
– How to get your research and journals listed in DOAJ
– The benefits of open-access publishing for African scholars
– Strategies for overcoming common challenges in open access
This webinar series is co-organized by: UbuntuNet Alliance and Access 2 Perspectives as part of the ORCID Global Participation Program: https://info.orcid.org/global-participation-program/Enhancing Research Visibility in Africa: Leveraging DOAJ for Open Access Publishing - AfricArXiv Open Science Webinar Series 202
The macroeconomic determinants of renewable energy consumption in Madagascar: Evidence from an Autoregressive Distributed Lag modeling approach
Full text linkWe investigate the macroeconomic determinants of renewable energy consumption in Madagascar, using annual data from 1990 to 2021 and the ARDL bounds testing approach. Our results reveal that, in the long run, domestic investment, financial development, trade openness and foreign direct investment have a significant and positive impact on renewable energy consumption. Conversely, increased economic growth, industrial development, income distribution, and carbon emissions lead to a reduction in renewable energy consumption. Therefore, to achieve its ambitious goal of generating 85% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, the government must carefully monitor and continually analyze these interconnected macroeconomic factors. This will enable effective tailoring of policies and interventions, paving the way for a successful transition to clean and renewable energy
Primary Healthcare System Strengthening in Nigeria: A means to achieve Universal Health Coverage
Full text linkAccording to the WHO, more than 1 billion individuals globally risk becoming impoverished because their household's out-of-pocket medical expenses account for 10% or more of their income. A shift in health systems towards primary health care (PHC) as a means to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in low- and middle-income nations is important in preventing 60 million deaths and adding 3.7 years to the average life expectancy. Nigeria, ranked 187th among 191 countries in the WHO health system performance ranking, faces challenges with PHC owing to inadequate health infrastructure, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and weak health systems, impeding its progress toward achieving UHC. In achieving UHC, the country started prioritizing the revitalization of PHC through collaboration, making great strides in improving PHC, with hundreds of facilities being renovated and more healthcare professionals being hired and trained. Recently, almost 10 million children have received diphtheria and tetanus vaccines in Nigeria, and 4.95 million girls aged 9 to 14 in 15 states have received HPV vaccinations to protect them from cervical cancer. To better achieve UHC, Nigeria need to seek for more collaboration from the private sector and also, the brain drain of healthcare workers should be addressed by providing a sustainable working environment.
Data availability statement: Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study
Enabling global reach and discoverability of African research data
Full text linkEnabling global reach and discoverability of African research data - AfricArXiv Open Science Webinar Series 202
On the Preservation of Africa's Cultural Heritage in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
No full textIn this paper we delve into the historical evolution of data as a fundamental element in communication and knowledge transmission. The paper traces the stages of knowledge dissemination from oral traditions to the digital era, highlighting the significance of languages and cultural diversity in this progression. It also explores the impact of digital technologies on memory, communication, and cultural preservation, emphasizing the need for promoting a culture of the digital (rather than a digital culture) in Africa and beyond. Additionally, it discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by data biases in AI development, underscoring the importance of creating diverse datasets for equitable representation. We advocate for investing in data as a crucial raw material for fostering digital literacy, economic development, and, above all, cultural preservation in the digital age