PLOS ONE: [sortOrder=DATE_NEWEST_FIRST, sort=Date, newest first, q=subject:"Anthropology"]PLOShttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/webmaster@plos.orgaccelerating the publication of peer-reviewed sciencehttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/search/feed/atom?sortOrder=DATE_NEWEST_FIRST&sort=Date,+newest+first&unformattedQuery=subject:%22Anthropology%22All PLOS articles are Open Access.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/resource/img/favicon.icohttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/resource/img/favicon.ico2024-03-28T16:05:14ZPowerful tool or too powerful? Early public discourse about ChatGPT across 4 million tweetsReuben NgTing Yu Joanne Chow10.1371/journal.pone.02968822024-03-27T14:00:00Z2024-03-27T14:00:00Z<p>by Reuben Ng, Ting Yu Joanne Chow</p>
Background <p>This paper investigates initial exuberance and emotions surrounding ChatGPT’s first three months of launch (1 December 2022–1 March 2023). The impetus for studying active discussions surrounding its implications, fears, and opinions is motivated by its nascent popularity and potential to disrupt existing professions; compounded by its significance as a crucial inflexion point in history. Capturing the public zeitgeist on new innovations—much like the advent of the printing press, radio, newspapers, or the internet—provides a retrospective overview of public sentiments, common themes, and issues.</p> Objectives <p>Since launch, few big data studies delved into initial public discourse surrounding the chatbot. This report firstly identifies highest-engagement issues and themes that generated the most interaction; secondly, identifies the highest-engaged keywords on both sides of the sentiment valence scale (positive and negative) associated with ChatGPT.</p> Methods <p>We interrogate a large twitter corpus (n = 4,251,662) of all publicly available English-language tweets containing the ChatGPT keyword. Our first research aim utilizes a prominent peaks model (upper-quartile significance threshold of prominence>20,000). Our second research aim utilized sentiment analysis to identify, week-on-week, highest-frequency negative, and positive keywords and emojis.</p> Results <p>Six prominent peaks were identified with the following themes: ‘hype and hesitance’, ‘utility and misuse in professional and academic settings’, ‘demographic bias’, ‘philosophical thought experiments on morality’ and ‘artificial intelligence as a mirror of human knowledge’. Of high-frequency valence, negativity included credibility concerns, implicit bias, environmental ethics, employment rights of data annotators and programmers, the ethicality of neural network datasets. Positivity included excitement over application, especially in coding, as a creative tool, education, and personal productivity.</p> Conclusions <p>Overall, sentiments and themes were double-edged, expressing excitement over this powerful new tool and wariness toward its potential for misuse.</p>It’s not you (well, it is a bit you), it’s me: Self- versus social image in warm-glow givingPhilip J. GrossmanJonathan Levy10.1371/journal.pone.03008682024-03-25T14:00:00Z2024-03-25T14:00:00Z<p>by Philip J. Grossman, Jonathan Levy</p>
Attempts by charities to motivate giving tend to focus on potential donors’ altruistic tendencies. However, prior research suggests that approximately 50% of individuals are to some extent motivated by warm glow, the satisfaction received from the act of giving. The satisfaction derives from looking good to themselves (self-image) and/or to others (social image). We conduct an online experiment on MTurk participants (<i>n</i> = 960) with a more realistic simulation of being watched to determine the importance of self- and social image to warm-glow giving. We find evidence that suggests that social image concerns do not increase the likelihood that someone will give but they do increase the amount given; average giving is significantly higher in the treatments when feelings of being watched are stimulated. Our results suggest that charities looking to increase their donor bases might effectively do so by focusing on self-image concerns. Charities wishing to increase the amount donated might effectively do so by focusing on the social image concerns of the donor.‘Forgetting’ or ‘Precipitation’: Literary inquisition in Qing Dynasty and modern enterprise risk preferenceWeizhou WangWeihua YuJinfei Niu10.1371/journal.pone.03006392024-03-22T14:00:00Z2024-03-22T14:00:00Z<p>by Weizhou Wang, Weihua Yu, Jinfei Niu</p>
This paper takes the risk preference of modern listed companies as the research object, uses the financial data of Chinese listed companies combined with the literary inquisition file in Qing Dynasty to conduct an empirical study, and examines the influence of literary inquisition on the risk preference of modern corporate CEOs in Qing Dynasty. The study found that the literary inquisition incident in Qing Dynasty significantly affected and reduced the risk preference of modern enterprises. The competitive hypothesis of the influence of Confucian culture and China City Commercial Credit Environment Index (CEI) on CEOs’ risk preference is excluded. In addition, through the study of heterogeneity, this paper also verifies that the influence of literary inquisition is more significant in areas with a higher degree of marketization, indicating that the influence of informal institutions depends on the establishment of formal institutions. Finally, in the mechanism study, this paper points out that the rulers’ suppression of ideas will change long-term social capital and lead to the decrease of general trust in society, which will make the enterprise managers born in the region tend to be conservative in their risk preference.“And this is the life jacket, the lifeline they’ve been wanting”: Participant perspectives on navigating challenges and successes of prescribed safer supplyNancy HendersonJohn MarrisKirsten Woodend10.1371/journal.pone.02998012024-03-22T14:00:00Z2024-03-22T14:00:00Z<p>by Nancy Henderson, John Marris, Kirsten Woodend</p>
Background <p>In 2021, 43% of drug toxicity deaths in Ontario were reported by public health units serving medium-sized urban and rural communities. Safer supply programs (SSPs) have been primarily established in large urban centres. Given this, the current study is based on an evaluation of a SSP based in a medium-sized urban centre with a large catchment area that includes rural and Indigenous communities. The aim of this research paper is to understand the challenges and successes of the nurse practitioner-led SSP from the perspective of program participants.</p> Methods <p>Interpretive description was used to understand the experiences of 14 participants accessing a SSP. Each participant was interviewed using a semi-structured approach, and 13 of the interviewees also completed surveys accessed through Qualtrics. An iterative process using NVivo software was used to code interviews, and a constant comparative data analysis approach was used to refine and categorize codes to themes.</p> Findings <p>Three overarching themes were the result of this analysis: feeling better, renewed hope, and safety. These three themes capture the experiences of participants in the SSP, including both the challenges and successes they faced.</p> Conclusion <p>The findings and subsequent discussion focus on both the key best practices of the program, and areas for future development and improvement. Despite barriers to services, prescribed SSPs are improving the lives of people who use drugs, and the current outcomes align with reports and evaluations from other SSPs across Canada.</p>Dance for the dead: The role of top-down beliefs for social cohesion and anxiety management in naturally occurring collective ritualsBriar IrvingChristopher KavanaghRonald FischerMasaki Yuki10.1371/journal.pone.02916552024-03-21T14:00:00Z2024-03-21T14:00:00Z<p>by Briar Irving, Christopher Kavanagh, Ronald Fischer, Masaki Yuki</p>
Collective rituals, particularly those characterized by synchrony and pain, have been shown to yield positive social and emotional outcomes. The question arises as to whether these findings extend to low-arousal, family-centered rituals and how spiritual beliefs factor into these communal practices. This study set out to examine the interplay between belief, ritual participation, and their effects on anxiety, social cohesion, and prosocial behavior during a low-arousal collective ritual in Mikasa, Japan. Drawing upon a sample of 183 festival participants, we measured belief in ancestors using a novel scale, identifying significant and consistent associations between these beliefs and measures of social cohesion across multiple targets. Moreover, active participation as a festival dancer displayed a positive relationship with feelings of social cohesion, particularly towards other festival attendees and at the national level. On measures of prosocial behavior, ancestral beliefs were positively associated with generosity shown within the festival setting, whereas observers were less generous towards community members than a non-attending control group. Anxiety outcomes displayed a negative relationship with ancestral beliefs and ritual observation but not participation as seen in previous research, suggesting a complex interplay between rituals, emotions, and individual states. These findings provide novel insights into the importance of belief systems and active participation in shaping social bonds and behaviors in the context of collective rituals.Association between smoking and lack of HIV virological suppression in a cross-sectional study of persons with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in UgandaAdah TumwegamireRobin FatchNneka I. EmenyonuSara LodiWinnie R. MuyindikeAllen KekibiinaJulian AdongChristine NgabiranoBrian BeesigaKara MarsonNakisa GolabiMoses KamyaGabriel ChamieJudith A. Hahn10.1371/journal.pone.03005082024-03-20T14:00:00Z2024-03-20T14:00:00Z<p>by Adah Tumwegamire, Robin Fatch, Nneka I. Emenyonu, Sara Lodi, Winnie R. Muyindike, Allen Kekibiina, Julian Adong, Christine Ngabirano, Brian Beesiga, Kara Marson, Nakisa Golabi, Moses Kamya, Gabriel Chamie, Judith A. Hahn</p>
Background <p>Smoking and alcohol use frequently co-occur and are the leading causes of preventable death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and are common among people living with HIV (PLWH). While alcohol use has been shown to be associated with reduced adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART), which may affect HIV viral suppression, the independent effect of smoking on HIV outcomes in SSA is unknown. We aimed to 1) describe the prevalence of current smoking and correlates of smoking; 2) assess the association of smoking with viral suppression, adjusting for level of alcohol use; 3) explore the relationship between smoking and CD4 cell count <350 cells/mm<sup>3</sup>, among participants who are virally suppressed.</p> Methods <p>We analyzed data from the Drinkers Intervention to Prevent Tuberculosis (DIPT) and the Alcohol Drinkers’ Exposure to Preventive Therapy for TB (ADEPTT) studies conducted in Southwest Uganda. The studies enrolled PLWH who were on ART for at least 6 months and co-infected with latent tuberculosis and dominated with participants who had unhealthy alcohol use. Current smoking (prior 3 months) was assessed by self-report. Alcohol use was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C, modified for prior 3 months) and phosphatidylethanol (PEth), an alcohol biomarker. We used logistic regression to estimate the cross-sectional association between smoking and lack of virological suppression (≥40 copies/ml), adjusting for level of alcohol use and other covariates, and to examine the association between smoking and CD4 cell counts among PLWH with viral suppression.</p> Results <p>Of the 955 participants enrolled from 2017 to 2021 who had viral load (VL) results, 63% were men, median age was 40 years (interquartile range [IQR] 32–47), 63% engaged in high/very high-risk alcohol use (AUDIT-C≥6 or PEth≥200 ng/mL), and 22% reported smoking in the prior 3 months. Among 865 participants (91%) with viral suppression and available CD4 count, 11% had a CD4 cell count <350 cells/mm<sup>3</sup>. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, there was no evidence of an association between smoking and lack of virological suppression nor between smoking and CD4 count among those with viral suppression.</p> Conclusions <p>The prevalence of smoking was high among a study sample of PLWH in HIV care with latent TB in Southwest Uganda in which the majority of persons engaged in alcohol use. Although there was no evidence of an association between smoking and lack of virological suppression, the co-occurrence of smoking among PLWH who use alcohol underscores the need for targeted and integrated approaches to reduce their co-existence and improve health.</p>The first Neolithic boats in the Mediterranean: The settlement of La Marmotta (Anguillara Sabazia, Lazio, Italy)Juan F. GibajaMario MineoFrancisco Javier SantosBerta MorellLaura Caruso-FerméGerard RemolinsAlba MasclansNiccolò Mazzucco10.1371/journal.pone.02997652024-03-20T14:00:00Z2024-03-20T14:00:00Z<p>by Juan F. Gibaja, Mario Mineo, Francisco Javier Santos, Berta Morell, Laura Caruso-Fermé, Gerard Remolins, Alba Masclans, Niccolò Mazzucco</p>
Navigation in the Mediterranean in the Neolithic is studied here through the boats that were used, the degree of technical specialisation in their construction and, above all, their chronology. After a brief explanation of the exceptional site of La Marmotta, the characteristics and chronology of the five canoes found at the settlement and one of the nautical objects linked to Canoe 1 are discussed. This will allow a reflection on the capability of Neolithic societies for navigation owing to their high technological level. This technology was an essential part in the success of their expansion, bearing in mind that in a few millennia they occupied the whole Mediterranean from Cyprus to the Atlantic seaboard of the Iberian Peninsula.Climate change, biodiversity loss, and Indigenous Peoples’ health and wellbeing: A systematic umbrella reviewLaura Jane BrubacherLaura PeachTara Tai-Wen ChenSheri LongboatWarren DoddSusan J. ElliottKaitlyn PattersonHannah Neufeld10.1371/journal.pgph.00029952024-03-20T14:00:00Z2024-03-20T14:00:00Z<p>by Laura Jane Brubacher, Laura Peach, Tara Tai-Wen Chen, Sheri Longboat, Warren Dodd, Susan J. Elliott, Kaitlyn Patterson, Hannah Neufeld</p>
Indigenous Peoples worldwide are experiencing a cascade of impacts on their health and wellbeing as a result of climate change and biodiversity loss. Existing literature at the interface of climate change, biodiversity loss, and Indigenous health tells us that Indigenous Peoples are among those most disproportionately and acutely affected by these impacts. Yet, a gap exists with respect to comprehensively and critically synthesizing the impacts reported across this literature and identifying Indigenous-led responses. Guided by an Indigenous advisory group, we employed a systematic umbrella review methodology, following PRISMA guidelines, to characterize the global secondary literature (PROSPERO registration #: CRD42023417060). In so doing, we identified the proximal, intermediate, distal, and gendered impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss on Indigenous health and wellbeing as well as Indigenous-led responses. Five databases were searched for published reviews, along with a grey literature search that focused on underrepresented geographic regions in the academic literature. Two independent reviewers conducted two-stage screening, data extraction, and quality assessment of retrieved records. Basic descriptive statistics were calculated. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically, using a constant comparative approach. A total of 38 review articles met the eligibility criteria and 37 grey literature records were retrieved and included in the review. Reviews were published between 2010–2023 and geographically clustered in the Circumpolar North. Intersecting proximal, intermediate, and distal impacts were characterized as place-based and specific, and linked to colonialism as an antecedent to and driver of these impacts. Gendered impacts were underexplored within reviews. Reviewed literature underscored the value of engaging diverse knowledge systems; platforming localized, community-led adaptation to climate change and biodiversity loss, while addressing sociopolitical constraints to these efforts; and applying a broader conceptualization of health that aligns with Indigenous frameworks. Going forward, we must foreground equity- and rights-based considerations within integrated responses to climate and biodiversity crises.Perceived self-efficacy to teach comprehensive abortion care among nursing and midwifery faculty in higher learning institutions in Rwanda: A mixed method studyAimable NkurunzizaMichael HabtuMadeleine MukeshimanaTamrat EndaleYvonne Delphine Nsaba UweraReverien RutayisireJustine BagirisanoJean Bosco Henri HitayezuMarie Laetitia Bazakare IshimweJean De Dieu Uwimana10.1371/journal.pone.03005422024-03-18T14:00:00Z2024-03-18T14:00:00Z<p>by Aimable Nkurunziza, Michael Habtu, Madeleine Mukeshimana, Tamrat Endale, Yvonne Delphine Nsaba Uwera, Reverien Rutayisire, Justine Bagirisano, Jean Bosco Henri Hitayezu, Marie Laetitia Bazakare Ishimwe, Jean De Dieu Uwimana</p>
Introduction <p>Comprehensive abortion care is an emerging intervention being integrated into nursing and midwifery curricula. Yet, no studies have been conducted in Rwanda to determine whether faculty perceive themselves as capable of teaching comprehensive abortion care. This study aims to evaluate the perceived self-efficacy to teach comprehensive abortion care among nursing and midwifery faculty in higher learning institutions in Rwanda.</p> Materials and methods <p>The University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences Institutional Review Board approved this study (UR-CMHS-IRB No 335/CMHSIRB/2022). In quantitative, a self-administered questionnaire was administered to 98 study participants. Data were entered into Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 and analyzed using Chi-square test with a p-value of 0.05 set as the significance level. In the qualitative part, an interview guide was developed based on quantitative data to understand comprehensive abortion care teaching fully. Data were collected from four focus group discussions with eight participants in each group, entered in Dedoose, and analyzed thematically.</p> Results <p>Among the 98 study participants who were invited to participate in this study, only 85 filled out the questionnaires. This translates into 86.7% of the response rate. More than half 58.8% had adequate self-efficacy in teaching comprehensive abortion care. A Chi-square test has revealed that being a male, being a midwife, and having more years of working experience in nursing education were significantly associated with self-efficacy in teaching comprehensive abortion care (p value <0.05). In the qualitative phase, 32 study participants participated in four focus group discussions and four themes were identified: a) variability in confidence levels to teach comprehensive abortion care; b) readiness about teaching comprehensive abortion care; c) facilitators of teaching comprehensive abortion care; and d) contextual challenges to teach comprehensive abortion care.</p> Conclusions <p>The findings revealed that faculty’s self-efficacy in teaching comprehensive abortion care was not adequate. Personal and religious beliefs and institutional barriers were also reported to hinder self-efficacy in teaching comprehensive abortion care. Therefore, intensive comprehensive abortion care training for nursing and midwifery faculty in higher learning institutions should be provided, including values clarification and attitude transformation training for attitudes and beliefs. It is also critical for higher learning institutions to develop strategies for overcoming the challenges faculty face when teaching comprehensive abortion care.</p>Exploring drivers of unsafe disposal of child stool in India using hierarchical regression modelMargubur RahamanAvijit RoyPradip ChouhanMd. Juel Rana10.1371/journal.pone.02957882024-03-18T14:00:00Z2024-03-18T14:00:00Z<p>by Margubur Rahaman, Avijit Roy, Pradip Chouhan, Md. Juel Rana</p>
Background <p>Disposal of children’s stools is often neglected in Indian sanitation programs, putting them at higher risk of diseases transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Therefore, the current study aims to identify the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with the unsafe disposal of child stool in India and to estimate the geographical variation in unsafe disposal.</p> Methods <p>The study used 78,074 births under two years from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (2019–21). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis with the chi-square test, and a four-level hierarchical logistic regression model were applied to accomplish the study objectives.</p> Results <p>Findings revealed a 61.3% prevalence of unsafe stool disposal nationwide, significantly varying between rural (45%) and urban (67%) areas. Multilevel logistic regression highlighted that mother’s education, wealth quintile, and sanitation facility were significant predictors of unsafe disposal of child stools. Random intercept statistics revealed a substantial geographical unit-level variance in unsafe stool practice in India.</p> Conclusion <p>The study emphasizes the widespread unsafe disposal of child stool among Indian mothers with young children below two years, and the study underscores a range of contributing factors, including education, media exposure, prosperity, water availability, and sanitation. It also accentuates the significance of the geographical variance in the unsafe disposal of child stool in India, particularly at the household level, followed by the community level. Hence, the findings underscore the importance of focused interventions, including targeted household-level poverty alleviation programs, initiatives to enhance sanitation and water facilities, and community-level public health awareness programs.</p>Correlates of post-traumatic growth among persons bereaved from cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysisN. V. Sri Lakshmi K.Eslavath RajkumarAswathy GopiP. V. HareeshJohn RomateR. LakshmiJohn Abraham10.1371/journal.pone.03002912024-03-15T14:00:00Z2024-03-15T14:00:00Z<p>by N. V. Sri Lakshmi K., Eslavath Rajkumar, Aswathy Gopi, P. V. Hareesh, John Romate, R. Lakshmi, John Abraham</p>
Background <p>Recent research identified that cancer bereavement can lead to post-traumatic growth (PTG). Although PTG and its correlates are well explored in cancer patients and survivors, persons bereaved from cancer have received scant attention. Therefore, the present review attempts to identify the correlates of PTG among persons bereaved from cancer.</p> Methods <p>A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, APA PsycNet, Science Direct, Scopus, and Wiley was conducted to identify quantitative studies published in English, resulting in 12 eligible reports being included in the final analysis. JBI critical checklists were employed to appraise the risk of bias.</p> Results <p>The review identified 17 correlates, which were classified into four categories: demographic factors (age, gender, religious status, level of education), loss-related factors (time since death, quality of death, prolonged grief symptoms), interpersonal factors (relationship to the deceased, social support, attachment style, bereavement behaviours) and intrapersonal factors (resilience, coping, rumination, benevolence, meaningfulness, self-worth). Random effects meta-analyses on six correlates revealed correlation coefficients of age = -0.02 (95% CI: -0.35–0.31), gender = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.08–0.45), time since death = 0.09 (95% CI: -0.02–0.20), quality of death = 0.29 (95% CI: -0.01–0.54), prolonged grief symptoms = 0.22 (95% CI: 0.08–0.35) and relationship to the deceased = 0.13 (95% CI: -0.03–0.29). Fixed effects meta-analysis was performed for social support (r = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.04–0.21). However, PTG was found to be significantly associated with gender, prolonged grief symptoms, and social support.</p> Conclusions <p>Very few studies examined PTG among persons bereaved from cancer, highlighting the need for increased attention, understanding, and conceptualisation of PTG in the population.</p>Democracy’s limited impact on innovation: Panel data evidence from developing countriesMasood AhmedMuhammad Atif KhanAnam AttiqueMuhammad Asif KhanHossam HaddadNidal Mahmoud Al-Ramahi10.1371/journal.pone.02979152024-03-15T14:00:00Z2024-03-15T14:00:00Z<p>by Masood Ahmed, Muhammad Atif Khan, Anam Attique, Muhammad Asif Khan, Hossam Haddad, Nidal Mahmoud Al-Ramahi</p>
This study investigates the relationship between democracy and innovation across 61 developing countries from 2013 to 2020, utilizing data from Global Innovation Index. Employing the Freedom House Index and Polity2 indicators as proxies for democracy, research employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Fixed Effects and SystemGMM techniques to analyze their impact on innovation. The findings of the study reveal no statistically significant relationships between democracy and innovation in developing nations within specified timeframe. Through empirical analysis, including various econometric approaches, it is observed that the level of democracy as measured by these indicators, does not appear to exert a discernable impact on the innovation landscape of these countries. These results carry important implications for public policy. While the promotion of democracy remains a crucial goal, especially for societal development and political stability, this study suggests that solely focusing on enhancing democratic institutions might not necessarily yield immediate direct improvements in the innovation capacities of developing nations. Policymakers and stakeholders involved in fostering innovation ecosystems in these regions may need to consider a more nuanced approach, encompassing factors beyond the scope of democratic governance to effectively spur innovation. Understanding the nuanced relationship between democracy and innovation in developing countries has significant implications for designing targeted policies aimed at enhancing innovation capacities, economic growth and overall societal development in these regions.Testing a faith-placed education intervention for bowel cancer screening in Muslim communities using a two-group non-randomised mixed-methods approach: Feasibility study protocolMarimba CarrClaire ThompsonTara Berger-GillamJoanne FreedmanNigel SmeetonSalman WaqarDaksha Trivedi10.1371/journal.pone.02933392024-03-15T14:00:00Z2024-03-15T14:00:00Z<p>by Marimba Carr, Claire Thompson, Tara Berger-Gillam, Joanne Freedman, Nigel Smeeton, Salman Waqar, Daksha Trivedi</p>
Background <p>Inequalities exist in uptake of bowel cancer screening in England with low uptake in areas with high deprivation and amongst certain ethnic and religious groups. Individuals from these groups are more likely to receive a late diagnosis of bowel cancer. Uptake in Muslim communities, for example, has been shown to be lower than in the general population. Culturally adapted interventions are needed to address these inequalities. This feasibility study aims to assess the acceptability and accessibility of an educational faith-placed bowel cancer screening intervention in the East of England, alongside its impact on bowel screening uptake. It was developed by the British Islamic Medical Association in partnership with community stakeholders and professionals.</p> Methods <p>Ethical approval was granted on the 27 October 2021, REC reference number 21/EE/0231. A two-group non-randomised feasibility mixed methods study will be conducted, using surveys, focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Participants eligible for bowel screening will be recruited through local mosques and community venues. We aim to recruit 100 participants to the intervention group and 150 to the comparison group (not receiving the intervention). Intervention group participants will complete a survey at baseline, post-intervention and at six-month follow up. Comparison group participants will complete a survey at baseline and at six-month follow up. Outcomes will include: intention to take up screening; actual screening uptake; knowledge, attitudes, barriers and facilitators towards screening. Regional screening hub records will be used to ascertain actual screening uptake at six-month follow-up. Quantitative survey data will be summarised using descriptive statistics (e.g., proportion), and exploratory univariate analysis will be undertaken (e.g., chi-squared test). Two focus group interviews will be conducted with intervention group participants (with up to 16 participants). Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with 10 clinicians delivering the intervention to explore the acceptability of the intervention, training, and delivery. All qualitative data will be subject to a general inductive analysis.</p> Discussion <p>The findings will inform how faith-placed interventions can be implemented to increase uptake of bowel cancer screening, and potentially other health promotion programmes, to address health inequalities in ethnically diverse communities in England.</p>Prevalence, regional patterns and socio-demographic factors associated with poly-tobacco use in India: A secondary data analysisPriyanka BantwalMuralidhar M. KulkarniVeena G. KamathAshwath K. NaikAndrew W. FogartyMurali DharAnand S. Ahankari10.1371/journal.pgph.00029992024-03-15T14:00:00Z2024-03-15T14:00:00Z<p>by Priyanka Bantwal, Muralidhar M. Kulkarni, Veena G. Kamath, Ashwath K. Naik, Andrew W. Fogarty, Murali Dhar, Anand S. Ahankari</p>
Background <p>Tobacco use is associated with early, intermediate and long-term complications throughout the life course. With an influx of newer products containing nicotine, poly-tobacco use is slowly emerging as a public health concern, that is defined as existing tobacco users currently using two or more tobacco or nicotine products. While many studies have investigated single use tobacco, there is a paucity of research on regional patterns and socio-demographic factors associated with poly-tobacco use in India.</p> Objectives <p>To assess prevalence of poly-tobacco use and determine the socio-demographic factors associated with poly-tobacco use in India.</p> Methods <p>Data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2 (GATS, 2016–17) was analysed, which included information on tobacco use among people aged >15 years. The pattern of current tobacco status was described using descriptive statistics. Multiple logistic regression models were estimated to determine factors associated with poly-tobacco use.</p> Results <p>The prevalence of poly-tobacco use in India was found to be 9.8%. Among the current tobacco users, the prevalence was 33%. Significant socio-demographic factors associated with poly-tobacco use included younger age, male gender, religion and backward caste. North-eastern region reported highest prevalence of poly-tobacco use in the country, followed by the central region.</p> Conclusion <p>The number of poly-tobacco users in India is considerably high and a matter of concern, more so in north east and central regions of the country. There is a need to create awareness about dangerous effects of all types of tobacco products and strengthen implementation of tobacco control policies with special focus on regions with high burden.</p>Antenatal care service utilization disparities between urban and rural communities in Ethiopia: A negative binomial Poisson regression of 2019 Ethiopian Demography Health SurveyFitsum EndaleBelay NegassaTizita TeshomeAddisu ShewayeBeyadiglign MengeshaEndale LibenSenahara Korsa Wake10.1371/journal.pone.03002572024-03-14T14:00:00Z2024-03-14T14:00:00Z<p>by Fitsum Endale, Belay Negassa, Tizita Teshome, Addisu Shewaye, Beyadiglign Mengesha, Endale Liben, Senahara Korsa Wake</p>
Background <p>Although there have been consistent improvements in maternal mortality, it remains high in developing countries due to unequal access to healthcare services during pregnancy and childbirth. Thus, this study aimed to further analyze the variations in the number of antenatal care utilizations and associated factors among pregnant women in urban and rural Ethiopia.</p> Methods <p>A total of 3962 pregnant women were included in the analysis of 2019 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data. A negative binomial Poisson regression statistical model was used to analyze the data using STATA version 14.0. An incident rate ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to show the significantly associated variables.</p> Results <p>Of the 3962 (weighted 3916.67) pregnant women, about 155 (15.21%) lived in urban and 848 (29.29%) rural residences and did not use antenatal care services in 2019. Women age group 20–24 (IRR = 1.30, 95%CI:1.05–1.61), 25–29 (IRR = 1.56, 95%CI:1.27–1.92), 30–34 (IRR = 1.65, 95%CI:1.33–2.05), and 35–39 years old (IRR = 1.55, 95%CI:1.18–2.03), attending primary, secondary, and higher education (IRR = 1.18, 95%CI:1.07–1.30), (IRR = 1.26, 95%CI:1.13–1.42) and (IRR = 1.25, 95%CI:1.11–1.41) respectively, reside in middle household wealth (IRR = 1.31, 95%CI:1.13–1.52), richer (IRR = 1.45, 95%CI:1.26–1.66) and richest (IRR = 1.68, 95%CI:1.46–1.93) increases the number of antenatal care utilization among urban residences.While attending primary (IRR = 1.34, 95%CI:1.24–1.45), secondary (IRR = 1.54, 95%CI:1.34–1.76) and higher education (IRR = 1.58, 95%CI:1.28–1.95), following Protestant (IRR = 0.76, 95%CI:0.69–0.83), Muslim (IRR = 0.79, 95%CI:0.73–0.85) and Others (IRR = 0.56, 95%CI:0.43–0.71) religions, reside in poorer, middle, richer, and richest household wealth (IRR = 1.51, 95%CI:1.37–1.67), (IRR = 1.66, 95%CI:1.50–1.83), (IRR = 1.71, 95%CI:1.55–1.91) and (IRR = 1.89, 95%CI:1.72–2.09) respectively, being married and widowed/separated (IRR = 1.85, 95%CI:1.19–2.86), and (IRR = 1.95, 95%CI:1.24–3.07) respectively were significantly associated with the number of antenatal care utilization among rural residences.</p> Conclusion <p>The utilization of antenatal care is low among rural residents than among urban residents. To increase the frequency of antenatal care utilization, health extension workers and supporting actors should give special attention to pregnant women with low socioeconomic and educational levels through a safety-net lens.</p>