Exploring Community of Practice in Uganda’s Public Sector: Environmental Impact Assessment Case Study

The utilisation of typological concepts of participation-based research on the community of practice (CoP) examines Uganda’s public sector in relation to environmental impact assessment (EIA) of national projects. The re-assessment of participatory knowledge is analysed and incorporated into EIA project planning, design and implementation. A case study within the five divisions of the Kampala District used 250 semi-structured and open-ended survey questionnaires and 20 key informants by way of piecewise random sampling. The findings suggest that the majority of respondents were non-informed, on components of CoP, within the selected EIA projects. The CoP revealed concerns regarding Uganda’s security and corruption which intertwined on how the CoP was conducted. We provide original data on the CoP in relation to EIA projects with the intention of facilitating public sector entities a suitable level of knowledge in aiding affected communities

Prevalence and predictive factors of birth traumas in neonates presenting to the children emergency center of a tertiary center in Southwest, Nigeria

Background: Although the majority of birth injuries are minor and often unreported, occasionally birth injuries may be so severe as to be fatal or leave the child with a permanent disability or even death.Objective: This study aimed to document the patterns and predictive factors of birth injuries in neonates presenting at the emergency center of a tertiary hospital in South west, Nigeria. Patients And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of neonates who presented at the Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Children Emergency Center of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital between October and December 2016. All neonates admitted for treatment at the center for any clinical condition were included in the study after initial review or resuscitation/treatment for their primary complaint, and consent was obtained from their caregivers. The babies were examined by at least a senior resident and any abnormality documented. Any underlining medical conditions such as asphyxia and neonatal sepsis were properly investigated and treated. Statistical analyses were performed by chi-square, student's t-test, using SPSS version 20.0. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 134 neonates were reviewed during the study period with majority, 84 (62.7%), being males. The mean age at presentation was 65.2 ± 89.2 h (median 24 h). Caput succedaneum (22.2%) and subconjunctival hemorrhage (22.2%) were the most frequent injuries observed, while cranial nerve injury the least. One patient had multiple injuries (cranial nerve injury with fractures humerus). Conclusions: Overall prevalence and pattern of birth injuries in neonates presenting at our emergency center was consistent with various studies from other centers. Parity of the mother, significant maternal medical history, duration of labor, mode of delivery, and skill of attending personnel at delivery were significant factors associated with birth injurie

A comprehensive review on exposure to toxins and health risks from plastic waste: Challenges, mitigation measures, and policy interventions

The rapid accumulation of plastic waste in the environment poses a significant global challenge, exacerbating ecosystem pollution and public health risks. Annually, approximately 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans, contributing to ecosystem degradation and human exposure to toxic substances. Toxins such as phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), dioxins, furans, and heavy metal residues released from plastic degradation cause severe health risks, including endocrine disruption, carcinogenesis, and respiratory diseases. This study reviews exposure pathways and bioaccumulation mechanisms of plastic-derived toxins, their health risks, mitigation strategies, and policy interventions. The findings reveal that BPA concentrations in rivers can exceed 12 µg/L, and dioxins in soil surpass 1000 ng Toxic Equivalency Quotient (TEQ)/kg in areas with open burning, exceeding WHO thresholds. In Poland, landfill leachate shows phthalate levels over 303 µg/L, while heavy metals in fish tissue reached over 2.26 ng/g wet weight in Sweden. Vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, face heightened risk exposure, with 39–45 % of urban waste being formally managed. Despite recycling efforts, only 9 % of plastic waste is recycled globally, while open burning and inadequate incineration release hazardous pollutants like dioxins and furans. Advanced solutions, such as chemical recycling, with recovery rates up to 97 % for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and enzymatic degradation, achieving 90 % plastic breakdown in 10 h, show promise but face scalability challenges. Case studies from Germany, Japan, and Rwanda demonstrate effective strategies, including extended producer responsibility schemes and bans on single-use plastics, achieving recycling rates exceeding 41 % and reducing waste by 90 %. However, challenges persist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with inadequate waste management infrastructure. This study concludes by recommending stricter regulations, investment in advanced recycling technologies, development of bioplastics, and international collaborations to mitigate health risks and environmental contamination from plastic waste

A comprehensive review of waste management practices in Liberia: Challenges, policy gaps, health implications, and strategic solutions for sustainable development

Waste management in Liberia faces significant challenges, particularly in urban areas, due to inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, and low public awareness, leading to environmental degradation and public health risks. The present review aims to assess Liberia's current waste management system, identify key challenges in infrastructure and public participation, and propose sustainable strategies for improvement. The analysis employs a comprehensive methodology that combines report evaluation, stakeholder surveys, and community input. It examines successful international case studies to identify best practices for Liberia, incorporating findings from public and private sector reports to propose targeted improvements for waste management practices in Greater Monrovia. The findings reveal inefficiencies in the current system, with only 40 % of urban waste collected regularly, contributing to a 25 % increase in illegal dumping over the past five years. The Whein Town landfill, which receives over 582 tons of waste daily, operates near capacity without proper leachate and gas management, causing environmental contamination. Infectious waste generation across 15 healthcare facilities averaged 0.137 kg/bed/day, with a projected 15 % annual increase. Furthermore, the absence of specific waste management laws, inadequate funding, and weak enforcement exacerbate these challenges at the Whein Town landfill and other areas in Greater Monrovia. The proposed waste management system includes centralized transfer stations, improved waste tracking, and expanded recycling and composting efforts. Whereas, expected outcomes are a 30 % increase in waste collection coverage and a 20 % reduction in landfill waste within three years. International donors and public-private partnerships could bridge the financial and technological gaps, potentially improving waste management efficiency by 35 % and facilitating the development of waste-to-energy projects. Effective waste management in Liberia requires policy development, infrastructure investment, and public engagement. Implementation of these measures could significantly enhance the efficiency of waste management processes, reduce environmental and health impacts, and promote sustainable practices nationwide

Social Predictors of Female Academics’ Career Growth and Leadership Position in South-West Nigerian Universities

This study examined the efficacy of social predictors of female academics’ career growth and leadership position in Nigerian universities. Results show that the composite effect of the social predictors are significant ( F = 37.888; p .05), academic men collegial support (β = .419; p < .05), parental influence (β = .368; p < .05), and spousal support (β = .250; p < .05) contributed to leadership position. Parental influence ( B = −.12; t = −4.89; p < .05) and spousal support ( B = .13; t = 4.26; p < .05) predicted career growth, while academic men attitude toward women ( B = .947; t = 3.755; p < .05), academic men collegial support ( B = −1.080; t = −3.648; p < .05), parental influence ( B = −.220; t = −9.050; p < .05), and spousal support ( B = .191; t = 6.343; p < .05) predicted leadership position. The implications are that parental influence and spousal supports are essential for career growth, while all four factors are crucial for female academics’ leadership attainment

Are laws the appropriate solution: The need to adopt non-policy measures in aid of the implementation of sex discrimination laws in Nigeria

Gender inequality is a social problem facing women all over the world and is a barrier to human development. The United Nations commits to achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls and have adopted the Sustainable Development Goals to achieve gender equality by 2030. Nigeria, a Member State of the United Nations has ratified international and regional instruments which advocate for the protection and promotion of the rights of women and girls. Though some progress has been made to reduce inequality, discrimination remains a problem to women and is exacerbated by factors such as culture, religion, social practices and discriminatory laws. This study seeks to add to the discourse on gender inequality in Nigeria and examine the effectiveness of available domestic and international provisions against sex discrimination when considered against ingrained cultural attitudes, beliefs and discriminatory laws. The study found that amongst other determinants, culture and religion were constant features in the different forms of discrimination Nigerian women face and they were the primary reasons the proposals to pass gender equality laws were opposed and failed. The study proposes the need to adopt non-policy measures such as education and awareness-raising as additional measures to eliminating discrimination and promoting equalit