Social Cognitive Skills and Delinquent Behavior Modification among Students in Secondary Schools in Kenya

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The study investigated the relationship between social cognitive skills and delinquent behavior modification among students in secondary schools in Kenya. The Correlational Research design within the Positivist paradigm was adopted.  The accessible population comprised of 3,740 students who had undergone counselling in 26 secondary schools in Rongo sub-county of Kenya. A sample size of 374 counselled students was obtained using both stratified and simple random sampling techniques. The Brief Self-Control Scale, Behavioral Inhibition Scale, Vicarious Experience Scale, Challenging Behaviour Attributions Scale and Behavior Modification Scale were used to collect data. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to investigate the internal consistency of the questionnaires all the sub-scales had internal consistency of 0.701 and 0.759. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient and regression analysis were used to analyze data. The model was statistically significant [F (4, 339) =16.928, Adjusted R2=.157, sig. <.05], implying it was adequate enough to predict the dependent variable. However, this finding indicates that only 15.7% of the variability in behaviour modification among the secondary school students is explained by social cognitive skills. The school counsellors should use person centered counselling techniques to enhance social cognitive skills among students.

Development of RBL-STEM Learning Tools to Improve Students’ Computational Thinking Skills Solving Rainbow Antimagic Coloring Problems and Their Application to Traffic Flow Problems with Spatial Temporal Graph Neural Network

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Computational thinking is thinking process that is needed in formulating problems and solutions, so that these solutions can be effective information processing agents in solving problems. Indicators of computational thinking consist of problem decomposition, algorithmic thinking, pattern recognition, abstraction and generalization. To improve higher-order thinking skills, we apply RBL learning integrated with STEM approach. To improve students’ thinking skills, it is necessary to develop tools that support the success of learning activities. The learning tools that have been developed meet the criteria of valid, practical, and effective. The validity scores obtained by each device are 3.5 for the face-to-face plan, 3.41 for the student worksheet, and 3.56 for the learning outcomes test. The observation result of the learning implementation score was 3.8 with a percentage of 95%. There were 23 students who completed or around 88,46%, percentage of average score of student activities was 94.17%, and as many as 94.47% of students gave a positive response.

 

Participatory Project Implementation and Sustainability of Government Funded Projects a Case study of Parish Development Model in Kabale District, Uganda

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A case study of Parish Development Model in Kabale District was used in the study to explore the impact of participatory project implementation on the sustainability of government-funded projects in Uganda. Sustainability of government funded project was a dependent variable while participatory project implementation was independent variable. A cross-sectional survey was conducted before the research began. We gathered information from 75 respondents, and combined quantitative and qualitative analysis. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate methodologies were all used in the analysis, which was carried out on three different levels. Frequency tables were utilized to display the data because the descriptive analysis called for the presentation of just one variable and its characteristics. The bivariate correlations between the dependent variable and the predictor components were examined using a Pearson correlation matrix. The dependent variable was regressed against the revised predictor factors at the multivariate level (sustainability of government project). An analysis of the data was done using a linear regression model. According to the findings of a regression study, participatory project implementation has a favorable impact on the effectiveness of parish development models in Kabale District (coef = -0.890, p-value = 0.000). The fundamental conclusion of this study is that the success of a parish development model project is significantly influenced by the implementation of participatory projects. The study suggests that in order to ensure the sustainability of the parish development model, more emphasis should be placed on adopting participatory project implementation through defining the project implementation team, customer satisfaction, project outputs realization, and project expansion and scale-up.

 

The Effect of Human Resource Competency and Government Internal Control System on The Quality of Local Government Financial Report with Information Technology as a Moderation Variable in Aceh Government

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This study aims to examine the effect of human resource competency and government internal control system on the quality of local goverment financial report with information technology as a moderation variable in Aceh government. The population in this study is the Aceh Civil Service Unit which consists of 46 SKPA. The sampling technique uses non probability sampling with census method. The respondents who became the object of this research who would later answer the questionnaires for each SKPA were Budget Users (PA), Financial Administration Officers (PPK) and Spending Treasurers for each SKPA. The data used is primary data. Data collection techniques were carried out by distributing questionnaires to 138 respondents. Data analysis method used is Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA) with SPSS 25. The result of this research showed that collectively and partially the human resource competency and the government internal control system affect the quality of local government financial report in Aceh Government. Furthermore, information technology moderates the relationship between human resource competency and government internal control system on the quality of regional financial report in Aceh Government.

The Analysis of Psychological Assessment and Escalating Moral Decay to the Tanzania Students

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This study mainly focused on understanding the importance of psychological assessment as well to analyse and point out the moral decay to the students. Currently, in our country we hear from the radio, televisions, newspaper and media concerning the morals issues regarding students, such as bad behaviour, improper use of technology, family issues, and quarrelling. Few months ago, our president of the united republic of Tanzania Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan made remarks to the religious leaders to speak out the issue of morality in their teaching. The president said that the country is undergoing a massive moral decay and parents, leaders and guardians should join together in order to identify the root causes and where the society went wrong. She insisted that the society can be successful only if that they instruct, teach and direct children to understand the moral value. In order to make that happen, that the government should provide all necessary support needed for the change to take place. Therefore, we need a psychological assessment to help our students, teachers, school administrators as well as parents identify their moral positions.

Development of Sustainable Tourism Potential in Belitung

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Belitung Island is a district that has unique tourism potential. Currently it has been designated as Belitong UNESCO Global Geopark which has Spectacular Granite Views in Southeast Asia’s Tin Belt. “Belitong” is the traditional name of Belitung Island, a tin-rich island with fascinating history, spectacular geology, and beautiful landscape. The formulation of a strategy to improve the quality of Belitung tourist destinations is prepared by conducting a mix method. The strategy to improve quality is prepared based on the results of the SWOT analysis. Belitung has the potential for marine tourism which has high competitiveness with the main strength of its uniqueness and diversity of marine tourism attractions. The priority strategy is to improve quality by carrying out an aggressive strategy, namely utilizing strengths to take advantage of existing opportunities by supporting aggressive growth policies based on sustainable tourism.

Factors Related To Public Behavior towards Patients with Mental Disorders in Buton Utara District

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Background: People with mental disorders often get greater stigma and discrimination from the surrounding community than individuals who suffer from other medical illnesses. This treatment is due to ignorance or misunderstanding of family or community members regarding mental disorders. This study aims to determine the determinants of community behavior towards people with mental disorders.

Method: This type of research is an observational analytic using a cross-sectional design which was carried out in North Buton Regency in October 2022 involving 86 respondents who were selected randomly.

Results: The results showed that the behavior of the majority was good as many as 47 respondents (54.7%), followed by poor behavior as many as 39 respondents (45.3%). Community behavior towards people with mental disorders in North Buton Regency is related to income (p-value 0.043), knowledge (p-value 0.000), attitude (p-value 0.014) and is not related to education level (p-value 0.489). Knowledge is the factor most related to people’s behavior towards people with mental disorders in North Buton Regency.

Conclusion: The conclusion of the study is that people’s behavior towards people with mental disorders is related to good knowledge, good attitudes, and income.

Validity and Reliability of the Health Belief Questionnaire Model for Mental Health Behavior COVID-19 Survivor

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Background: Research using the Health Belief Model (HBM) is expected to be able to determine a determinant model of mental health behavior for Covid-19 survivors. The focus of HBM is Health Promotion at the individual level by looking at the protective and risk factors that are responsible for a person’s behavioral resistance. Until now there is no instrument that measures individual attitudes and beliefs based on the HBM for the mental health behavior of Covid-19 Survivors.

Method: To assess the validity and reliability of the Health Belief Model Questionnaire for Mental Health Behavior for COVID-19 Survivors. This study is an observational study with a cross sectional approach that presents the results of the validity and reliability of the Health Belief Model Questionnaire instrument for Mental Health Behavior for COVID-19 Survivors. The questionnaire was compiled as many as 16 statement items based on a literature review. The questionnaire consists of Perceptions of Seriousness, Perceptions of Vulnerability, Perceptions of Benefits, Perceptions of Barriers with 4 question items each. The sample size is 64 people. The validity test uses the Pearson Product Moment Correlation formula with a coefficient value of 0.3, while the reliability test uses internal consistency with Cronbach’s Alpha with a coefficient value of 0.7.

Results: The results of the descriptive analysis showed that the average age of Covid survivors was 18-40 years (78.1%), female (79.7%), undergraduate education level (75%), affected in wave II (54.7%) ). The results of the validity test of the 16 items contained 1 invalid item (perception of barriers), while the reliability test showed that of the 15 valid items the results were all reliable.

Conclusion: Overall, the HBM questionnaire is valid and reliable to measure mental health behavior in COVID-19 survivors.

Cytomorphometric Changes of Buccal Exfoliated Pap Stained Smears among COVID-19 Recovered Patients; Sudan 2022

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Introduction: COVID-19 is known to cause various changes in oral mucosa which can be detected by exfoliative cytology. The present study aimed to determine the cytomorphometric change of oral mucosa exfoliated Pap-stained smears for COVID-19 recovered patients at Khartoum state 2022.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparative, community-based study conducted at Khartoum State. Eighty (80) participants who recovered from COVID-19 enrolled in the study as cases and twenty (20) healthy participants as the control group.

Results: In the present study the ages of the participants ranged between 19-75 years. Mean was significantly different in cytoplasm diameter (CD), nucleus diameter (ND), and nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio (N/CR) between the patients who recovered from COVID-19 versus the healthy group (69.71μm versus 37.45μm, P. value= 0.001; 10.02μm versus 6.05μm, P. value= 001; and 28.9 μm versus 18.0μm, P. value= 0.016) respectively.

Conclusion: The marked changes in cytomorphometric parameters caused by infection with COVID-19 prove that infection with the virus causes changes in the buccal mucosa.

These findings will help in the screening and diagnosis of the disease.

Hibiscus Sabdariffa as Nuclear Stain for Cytological Buccal and Cervical Smear

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Introduction: Sudan is one of the biggest countries that produces and exports hibiscus Sabdariffa in Africa. The possibility of HS staining cytological specimens is not well explored. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the staining quality of Hibiscus Sabdariffa on cytological buccal and cervical smear as a cheap viable nuclear stain alternative to hematoxylin.

Methods: This study was an experimental descriptive study conducted at Alfajr College for Science and Technology from (June to September 2022). A total of 30 smears, 15 buccal smears collected from students and 15 cervical smears were retrieved from Alfajr’s histopathology lab.

Results: All (30) slides showed good staining quality with 20% concentration Hibiscus Sabdariffa water extract when mordanted with Iron, and acidified with acetic acid.

Conclusion: Hibiscus Sabdariffa is good as nuclear staining for a buccal and cervical pap smear and can replace hematoxylin by adjustment of concentration, time and pH.