Empowering Financial and Digital Literacy to Build Resilience of MSMEs: Proposed Implementation in Bandung City

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This study investigates the factors that influence financial and digital literacy among MSMEs in Bandung. Through semi-structured interviews with 5 key stakeholders, including banks, the MSMEs Agency, entrepreneurs, business incubators, and Financial Services Authority (OJK), the research revealed significant gaps in financial literacy, particularly in financial management and reporting, which hinder MSMEs’ access to credit and growth. Many entrepreneurs rely on simple calculations and struggle to create accurate financial reports. Digital literacy challenges, such as limited adoption of digital technology and uneven internet access, also hinder MSMEs participation in the digital economy. Key barriers include difficulty changing financial habits, limited mentorship, and limited budgets to support the program. The study emphasises the importance of financial education, noting that businesses with large lines of credit often lack comprehensive financial literacy. Based on these findings, targeted interventions are proposed, including comprehensive financial education program and digital skills training. The study emphasised the need for collaboration between the government and financial institutions to improve financial inclusion and literacy. The study proposes a Digital Creative Academy that aims to improve the digital marketing capabilities of MSMEs, particularly in video content creation and live streaming on e-commerce platforms. The program targets 750 micro-entrepreneurs in 30 sub-districts, addressing the need for digital skills in a growing market. This research contributes to understanding the challenges of MSMEs development in Indonesia and offers practical recommendations for policymakers and educators to strengthen MSMEs resilience in the digital age.

Negative Effects of Business-Driven Influence and Sequences in Vocational Education

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 Under the plausible pretext that vocational education should serve local businesses, certain negative effects are observed over time, especially where business has an extremely powerful influence on it. Problems detected are often defined as “brood parasitism” with mechanisms of hijacking the curriculum and pseudo technical and pseudo practical training, designed to serve employers’ needs. Thus, the VET lacks a significant amount of flexibility or transferability curriculum, dominated by concrete specific over the broad branch(sector) training, lacking broader theoretical vocational knowledge to enable participants transferable skills, than just knowing only a particular profession well-presented on the market. The combination of employer-centered curricula and students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, the system of VET acts as a mechanism for the reproduction of social inequality with subsequent socio-economic imbalances, and even to some extent to spiritual degenerate tendencies with ambivalent manifestations.

Design and Application of Augmented Reality in Science Education to Develop Students’ Critical Thinking Skills

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The goal of this project is to create instructional materials based on augmented reality (AR) that will enhance students’ critical thinking abilities. There were 25 pupils enrolled in the public junior high school where the study was done. The ADDIE approach is being used in this development research study. The resulting product is AR-based media equipped with learning devices consisting of a Learning Implementation Plan, Student Worksheets, test instruments. Data collection was carried out using validation sheets, learning implementation sheets, student activity sheets, critical thinking tests and student response questionnaires. The percentage of each score attained was calculated in order to analyse the data. The findings indicated that the student worksheet’s validity scored 85.3 in the very valid category, the learning implementation plan’s validity scored 87.3 in the same area, and the learning outcome test’s average validity score was 90 very valid. With an average of 93.6%, learning implementation indicated very good outcomes; student activities in learning showed very good results with an average of 94.3%; and 88% of student responses fell into the very good category. The critical thinking test’s findings indicated that the critical thinking indicators of interpretation, analysis, and explanation had the biggest increases, and the conclusion indicator saw the lowest. The study’s conclusion is that teachers can use the augmented reality-based learning tool to teach the Life Organization System’s content since it is valid, practical, and effective.

Influence of Social and Cultural Factors on Adoption of Community-Led Total Sanitation in Laisamis Sub-County, Marsabit County, Kenya

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Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) is a behavior change approach that aims at promoting access to safe sanitation and hygiene. The approach empower communities to take collective action to eliminate open defecation practices, thus promoting a healthy population. Despite CLTS implementation in Kenya, open defecation is still rampant, in low-income communities particularly in pastoral areas. This study’s study was to examine the influence of social and cultural factors on adoption of Community-Led Total Sanitation in pastoral areas. The study was conducted in Laisamis Sub-County, Marsabit County, Kenya using a descriptive design with a mixed methods approach. The sample size was 393 household heads who were randomly selected from the five Wards in the Sub-County, which were treated as clusters. The data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed in descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was collected from a focus group and analyzed in themes. Findings showed that despite CLTS activities to impart communities with knowledge on toilet use, 63.3% of participants opined that open defecation practice was still rampant. The most cases of open defecation were reported among herdsmen whose livelihood was based in herding in grazelands where there were no toilets. Results also revealed that taboos and beliefs that surrounded toilet sharing between children and adults affected toilet utilization (OR 0.67 95% CI: 0.345-4.567, P=0.002). The impact of CLTS was thought to be minimal for a community that often interacted with animal faeces, which made over 90% of the participants believe that human faecal matter was not dangerous just like animal faecal matter. The role of women in household sanitation matters was appreciated as they were left in households to construct toilets while men went to look after cattle. However, herdsmen’s concerns regarding the essence of investing in improved latrines were minimal as most of their time was spent in the fields, and convincing them on the need for better toilets could have been impossible for the women. The study concluded that CLTS was an effective strategy in triggering behaviour change among communities if its execution was to be context-specific. Involvement of both women and men in CLTS triggering exercises is essential in reinforcing the importance of ending open defecation whether in bushes or at home.

Navigating Consumer Behavior in the Niche Market of Artisan Tea Blends: Insight from Indonesia’s E-Commerce Sector

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This research explores the factors that influence consumer behavior when purchasing artisan tea blends through e-commerce platforms. It investigates how aspects such as personal characteristics, cultural perceptions, trust endorsements, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and online shopping preferences affect purchase intentions, using quantitative methods. The findings from Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) indicate that cultural perceptions, personal traits, and trust endorsements significantly influence purchase intentions, while perceived usefulness and online shopping preferences have less impact. These results suggest that for niche products like artisan tea blends, online marketing strategies should focus on cultural relevance, building trust, and understanding consumer characteristics to drive engagement and purchases.

Analysis of Factors Affecting Profitability With CSR as a Moderating Variable in Non-Cyclical Companies Listed on The Indonesia Stock Exchange in the 2021-2023 Period

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Study This aiming For test and prove in a way empirical influence variable independent that is liquidity, capital structure, turnover receivables, and growth sale to variable dependent that is profitability with CSR as variable moderation. Method research used​ is study quantitative with using data from report finances sourced from from www.idx.co.id . Retrieval technique sample in study. This is purposive sampling with amount sample as many as 98 non- cyclical company data listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange for the 2021-2023 period. Method data analysis used is multiple linear regression with use SPSS 25 application. Research results show that in a way simultaneous variable Liquidity capital structure, and sales growth influential to profitability, but receivable turnover no influential to profitability. And corporate social responsibility is only capable to moderate connection sales growth against profitability.

Alternatives Methods for Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis, Alzheimer’s disease and Hypertension

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In Thailand, there are a variety types of Thai herbs. After gathering the information of the extraction methods and properties of herbs, it can be seen that some herbs can be used in treating and inhibiting diseases that have high incidence rate in Thailand such as allergies, Alzheimer’s diseases and hypertension. The extraction of herbs including ginger, fingerroot, red galingale, spinach, garlic and hibiscus have abilities to treat and inhibit diseases that include high incidence rate in Thailand. The article provides information about chronic diseases and medications for treatment, including data on prices, types and their mechanisms of action. Additionally, it outlines details on herbal extracts, highlighting the effects of extraction on patient’s’ symptoms. Finally, the article offers recommendations for patients to select the best treatment method by presenting the advantages and disadvantages of both medications and herbal extracts. Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of choosing the best treatment option for the    well-being of the patients’ body system.

Gastroenteritis: A Comprehensive Review

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Gastroenteritis, commonly referred to as stomach flu, is an acute inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, marked by symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and fever. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of gastroenteritis, addressing its etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention strategies. The condition is caused by a variety of infectious agents such as viruses (noroviruses, rotaviruses), bacteria (Campylobacter, Salmonella), and parasites (Giardia lamblia), with transmission typically occurring through contaminated food, water, or person-to-person contact. Globally, gastroenteritis remains a significant public health issue, with high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in children under five in developing countries. Diagnosis often relies on clinical evaluation and laboratory tests, while management focuses on rehydration therapy and symptomatic relief. Preventive measures include personal hygiene, food safety practices, environmental sanitation, and vaccination, with rotavirus vaccines significantly reducing severe cases in children. Emerging trends in gastroenteritis research aim at developing rapid diagnostic tools, novel therapeutic approaches, and new vaccines, highlighting the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to mitigate the global impact of this disease.

Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with Malaria Infection Among Adult Populations in Selected Internally Displaced Camps in Goma, North Kivu Province, Dr. Congo

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Malaria remains a significant public health concern in many parts of the world, particularly in Africa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the countries most heavily affected by malaria, with millions of cases reported annually. In the Eastern region of the DRC, ongoing conflict has resulted in large numbers of people living in precarious conditions within IDP camps, where the risk of malaria transmission is heightened due to unsuitable housing conditions, lack of bed net, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with limited access to essential healthcare services. This study aims to assess the risk factors associated with malaria infection among adult populations in the Kashaka and Shabindu IDP camps in Goma, North Kivu Province. The study employed a cross-sectional design using a mixed-method approach. Data were collected from 371 households through interviews and medical record reviews. Chi-square tests were performed for bivariate analysis, and then logistic regression to evaluate the impact of multiple variables simultaneously. All participants pointed to mosquitoes as the causal agent. Around 97.8% confirmed that fever is the main symptom followed by chills (75.2%), headache (54.5%), and sweating (10.2%). Bed net was identified as a preventive measure at (100%), mosquito repellents (71.7%), and Indoor residual spraying (68;2%). Approximately 43.9% of households had at least one case of malaria with an increasing incidence in April (26.7%) and October (35.9%). The most significant factors affecting the spread of malaria were gender (OR: 1.73; p-value < 0.001), lack of bed net (OR: 5.231; p-value < 0.001), outdoor activities at night (OR: 0.661; p-value = 0.0364), and being close to sanitation facilities (OR: 2.458; p-value = 0.0013). These underscore the critical need for targeted malaria prevention measures, including increased bed net availability and usage, enhanced sanitation infrastructure, and heightened awareness about the dangers of outdoor nighttime activities.

A Critical Appraisal of the Law Protecting Persons with Mental Health Conditions in Zambia

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Mental health is widely recognised as an important part of the proper functioning of an individual and contributes to the overall well-being of a person. A human rights based approach states that all members of society should be catered for in the eyes of the law and have equal access to justice. However, there is not much importance placed on mental health in the Republic of Zambia and there is a lot of discrimination against persons with mental conditions. The aim of this research is to critically appraise the Mental Health Act of 2019 and hereafter educate the public on mental health. Inaddition, the research seeks to investigate how Zambia has dealt with mental health, analyse the improvements made in the Mental Health Act, 2019, and make proposals for solutions to the shortcomings identified in how the provisions of the law are carried out.

This research was essentially desktop based and reviewed statutes. The desk review involved the qualitative analysis of the provisions of the Mental Health Act in determining its significance. Analysis of books, articles, and other various online sources was also used to collect the information contained in this research.

The findings revealed that the legislation on mental health in Zambia is progressive but lacks practicality. There are no workable guidelines, either legislative or judicial, which accommodate persons living with varying degrees of mental challenges. Arising out of this analysis it is recommended that the Mental Health Act should be amended to include in-depth definitions of the major conditions that could affect members of the public and incorporate mental health services in existing health establishments to increase access to these facilities by people with mental health difficulties.