Welcome to AfricArXiv
This initiative showcases UbuntuNet's commitment to fostering knowledge sharing, collaboration, and accessibility within the African research community. With AfricArxiv, researchers across the continent have a dedicated platform to disseminate their findings, making them accessible to a global audience. By facilitating open access to scholarly work, UbuntuNet Alliance plays a pivotal role in advancing the principles of open science, enhancing research visibility, and driving innovation across Africa.
Communities in AfricArxiv
Select a community to browse its collections.
- The general repository is open for individual submissions by researchers, librarians and research administrators.
- Showcase of project activities, presentations, and scholarly contributions curated by the AfricArXiv initiative.
- A Rapid Grant Fund to address research questions and implement science engagement activities associated with COVID-19
- An initiative to support the development of a harmonised quality assurance and accreditation system at institutional, national, regional and Pan-African continental level.
- Facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration among institutions, researchers, and educators within the Ubuntunet Alliance network.
Recent Submissions
Effectiveness of Road Safety Education in Reducing Teenage Traffic Accidents: A Systematic Review
(2024-12-18) Francis Walugembe; Cua Ngoc Le; Hien Thi Nguyen; Sanhawat Chaiwong
Background: This systematic review examined the impact of road safety education (RSE) on reducing teenage traffic accidents and injuries in Southeast Asia on the basis of the literature. We evaluated the effectiveness of road safety education programs, contextual and cultural adaptations, the integration of practical training, implementation challenges, and the long-term impacts on teenage behavior.
Materials and Methods: The study followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). This involved counting the number of studies showing a positive, negative, or no effect. A search of the articles in the electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted. The effectiveness of RSE was assessed by vote counting, tallying the number of studies showing positive, neutral, or negative impacts on teenage driving behaviour among those aged 13–19 years. A total of seventeen studies were selected for inclusion on the basis of predefined criteria.
Results: When a systematic review was conducted, 17 key studies were identified for inclusion, reflecting diverse methodologies and focus areas. Research has shown that teenagers benefit significantly from receiving both theoretical knowledge and practical training. This comprehensive approach enhances their confidence and skills in adhering to traffic safety laws. Moreover, the involvement of parents and communities emerges as a vital factor for the success of educational initiatives.
Conclusion: This study emphasizes the paramount importance of prioritizing long-term behavioural change and sustainability in road safety initiatives, particularly in teenagers. It advocates for a comprehensive approach involving community and parental engagement alongside educational programs. The findings emphasize the necessity for policymakers in Southeast Asia to allocate funding to culturally sensitive and standardized RSE programs, integrating practical training and long-term reinforcement strategies.
Factors Influencing Voluntary Enrollment in National Health Insurance Funds among Market Vendors: A Case of Mwanza, Tanzania
(2024-12-18) Mushi Laurell; Saronga Happiness; Temesgen Anjulo Ageru; Hien Thi Nguyen; Sanhawat Chaiwong; Francis Walugembe
The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) recently developed new affordable packages aimed at attracting enrolment of new clients into the health insurance scheme, however, NHIF still faces low enrollment of clients primarily from the informal sector. This study aims to understand the factors affecting the uptake of voluntary NHIF in the informal sector, focusing on how demographic factors, socioeconomic status, level of awareness, and perceived quality of health care affect the uptake of voluntary NHIF in the informal sector. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine factors influencing voluntary uptake of NHIF among market vendors in Mwanza.
Method: The study design was cross-sectional descriptive to establish factors associated with the uptake of NHIF in the informal sector. The factors explored were socio-demographic, economic, NHIF awareness and perception of health care quality. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. The respondents were from two municipal city markets in Mwanza. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26.0 software. Descriptive analysis was performed for the background characteristics of respondents, awareness, and perception. Chi-square was used to determine factors associated with NHIF uptake.
Results Data were collected from 323 market vendors from two municipal markets of Mwanza. Main source of income, perception, and awareness were positively associated with NHIF enrollment. The odds of enrolling in NHIF among respondents with low NHIF awareness were 92% lower than among respondents with high NHIF awareness. The odds of enrolling in NHIF among respondents with negative perceptions on the quality of health care services was 83% lower than among respondents with positive perceptions.
Conclusion: NHIF uptake among market vendors in Mwanza City was still low. The study reports that source of income, poor awareness of the fund by the respondents, and negative perceptions with regard to quality of health care negatively affect enrollment in NHIF. The study recommends using information, education, and communication strategies to raise awareness of NHIF and create demand for insurance in the informal sector. Moreover, a review of the affordability of NHIF packages in relation to the income earned by the majority in the informal sector is important to attract enrollment.
Building a Modern Arabic School Dictionary: Leveraging Existing Resources to Fulfill Educational Objectives
(المؤتمر الدولي العاشر للغة العربية، دبي, 2024-10-11) Bouhadjera, Abdelmalek
الملخص:
في العصر الرقمي، شَهِدَ تطوّر الموارد اللغوية تقدّمًا كبيرًا، لا سيما في مجال صناعة المعاجم. ومع انتشار التكنولوجيا، هنالك طلب متزايد على الحلول المُبتكَرة لتلبية الاحتياجات اللغوية المتنوعة. أحد هذه المساعي هو إنشاء قواميس مُصَمَّمة خصّيصًا للمبتدئين، تهدف إلى تعزيز مهاراتهم اللغوية وتسهيل التعلُّم بطريقة جذّابة. في هذا المقال، نستكشف عملية بناء قاموس مدرسي إلكتروني باستخدام وسائل تكنلوجية متطوِّرة ومعايير حديثة. لقد تمّ تسليط الضوء على المشاكل التي تعاني منها القواميس الإلكترونية العربية الحالية وتم اقتراح حلول للكثير من التحديات التي تواجه اللغة العربية، مع تقديم طريقة لكيفية ترتيب المداخل وتصميم الواجهة الرئيسية للمعجم الإلكتروني.
الكلمات المفتاحية: قاموس مدرسي، صناعة معجمية، سكاتش إنجن، معيار LMF، لسانيات حاسوبية، لغة عربية
Abstract
In the digital age, there has been great progress in the development of linguistic resources, especially in the field of lexicography. With the spread of technology, there is an increasing demand for innovative solutions to meet diverse language needs. One such endeavor is to create dictionaries specifically designed for beginners, aiming to enhance their language skills and facilitate learning in an engaging way. In this article, we explore the process of building an electronic school dictionary using advanced technologies and modern standards. The problems facing current Arabic electronic dictionaries have been highlighted, and solutions have been proposed for many of the challenges facing the Arabic language, while presenting a method for arranging the entries and designing the main interface of the electronic dictionary.
Keywords: School Dictionary, Lexicography, Sketch Engine, LMF Standard, Computational linguistics, Arabic Language
Coverage and Predictors of Enrollment in the State-Supported Health Insurance Schemes in Nigeria: A Quantitative Multi-Site Study
(2024-12-10) Effiong Fortune Benjamin; Dine Roseline Dzekem; Hassan Ibrahim Adebayo; Olawuyi Dimeji Abdulsobur; Isong Idongesit Kokoabasi; Adewole David Ayobami
Background:
In efforts to advance universal healthcare coverage (UHC) in Nigeria, the federal government empowered sub-national entities such as states to develop and implement their respective state-supported health insurance schemes (SSHIS). This study assessed the coverage and predictors of enrollment in the SSHIS in six Nigerian states.
Methods:
This study used a quantitative cross-sectional design. Respondents were recruited across six Nigerian states with operational SSHIS, corresponding to the country's six geopolitical zones. These include the Cross River, Enugu, Oyo, Kwara, Sokoto, and Taraba states, representing the South-South, South-East, South-West, North-Central, North-West, and North-East zones respectively. Data were collected from community members in congregate settings such as markets, churches/mosques, schools, bus stations/parks, and healthcare facilities. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25.
Results:
The number of study respondents was 3732. The greater majority of the respondents were self-employed 1855(49.7%) and were living with an average monthly income of <10,000 naira 1175(31.5%). Coverage of the state health insurance was highest in the North-Central Kwara State 326(37.3%), but lowest in the South-Eastern Enugu State 6(1%). Among beneficiaries, overall satisfaction with the scheme was highest in Oyo State 73(77.7%), but lowest in Cross River State 16(32.7%). After adjusting for confounders, several covariates were identified as decreasing the odds of enrolling into the schemes; however, lack of awareness about the scheme was most significant across all the six states.
Conclusion:
Low coverage due to poor awareness, financial barriers, and enrollee dissatisfaction currently affect the SSHIS in Nigeria. To improve enrollment and sustainability, nationwide educational campaigns and consolidation of health insurance schemes are recommended.
Administrative Perspectives on the Implementation and Sustainability of State-Supported Health Insurance Schemes in Nigeria: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
(2024-12-10) Effiong Fortune Benjamin; Hassan Ibrahim Adebayo; Dine Roseline Dzekem; Olawuyi Dimeji Abdulsobur; Adewole David Ayobami
Background:
Since the state-supported health insurance schemes (SSHIS) began in Nigeria, perspectives of implementers and other administrative actors have been under-documented in the program evaluations. Bridging this information gap is crucial to addressing the challenges impeding the scheme's impact. Therefore, this study investigated the administrative stakeholders' perspective on the implementation and sustainability of the SSHIS in Nigeria.
Methods:
This study adopted a descriptive qualitative design. Participants were state actors, public and private healthcare providers, and ward committee members purposely selected from six states with a functional SSHIS, representing Nigeria's six geo-political zones. The states included Cross River (South-South), Enugu (South-East), Oyo (Southwest), Kwara (North-Central), Sokoto (Northwest) and Taraba (Northeast) states. 30 key informant interviews (KII) were conducted among these stakeholders exploring the design, successes, challenges, and personal recommendations relating to the SSHIS operation in their states. Data analysis was performed using NVIVO version 11.
Results:
Across the states, the SSHIS design was adaptive covering formal, informal, and low-income vulnerable groups. Reported impact of the scheme related to improved state health indices, infrastructure, access equity, and funding systems. Challenges threatening the coverage and sustainability of the SSHIS included low public awareness and buy-in and other governmental (processes and payments), economic (funding and costs), manpower, and environmental (insecurity and facility inaccessibility) factors to which possible corrective measures were suggested.
Conclusion:
Administrators offer critical policy action points to enhance SSHIS impact in Nigeria towards universal health coverage. Future studies may investigate the key challenges and the effectiveness of the suggested solutions.