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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 15 December 2020

Felix Bongomin, Andrew P. Kyazze, Sandra Ninsiima, Ronald Olum, Gloria Nattabi, Winnie Nabakka, Rebecca Kukunda, Charles Batte, Phillip Ssekamatte, Joseph Baruch Baluku, Davis Kibirige, Stephen Cose and Irene Andia-Biraro

Background: Hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP) is a common medical complication during pregnancy and is associated with several short and long-term maternal-fetal consequences. We…

Abstract

Background: Hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP) is a common medical complication during pregnancy and is associated with several short and long-term maternal-fetal consequences. We aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with HIP among Ugandan women.

Methods: We consecutively enrolled eligible pregnant women attending antenatal care at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda in September 2020. Mothers known to be living with diabetes mellitus or haemoglobinopathies and those with anemia (hemoglobin <11g/dl) were excluded. Random blood sugar (RBS) and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were measured on peripheral venous blood samples. HIP was defined as an HbA1c ≥5.7% with its subsets of diabetes in pregnancy (DIP) and prediabetes defined as HbA1c1c of ≥6.5% and 5.7–6.4% respectively. ROC curve analysis was performed to determine the optimum cutoff of RBS to screen for HIP.

Results: A total of 224 mothers with a mean (±SD) age 26±5 years were enrolled, most of whom were in the 2nd or 3rd trimester (94.6%, n=212) with a mean gestation age of 26.6±7.3 weeks. Prevalence of HIP was 11.2% (n=25) (95% CI: 7.7–16.0). Among the mothers with HIP, 2.2% (n=5) had DIP and 8.9% (n=20) prediabetes. Patients with HIP were older (28 years vs. 26 years, p=0.027), had previous tuberculosis (TB) contact (24% vs. 6.5%, p=0.003) and had a bigger hip circumference (107.8 (±10.4) vs. 103.3 (±9.7) cm, p=0.032). However only previous TB contact was predictive of HIP (odds ratio: 4.4, 95% CI: 1.2–14.0; p=0.022). Using HbA1c as a reference variable, we derived an optimum RBS cutoff of 4.75 mmol/L as predictive of HIP with a sensitivity and specificity of 90.7% and 56.4% (area under the curve=0.75 (95% CI: 0.70–0.80, p<0.001)), respectively.

Conclusions: HIP is common among young Ugandan women, the majority of whom are without identifiable risk factors.

Details

Emerald Open Research, vol. 1 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2631-3952

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 August 2021

Nimmi P. M, George Joseph and William E. Donald

Well-being and employability are considered important indicators of a sustainable career that must be incorporated into the system at the beginning of a job. Hence, it is…

Abstract

Purpose

Well-being and employability are considered important indicators of a sustainable career that must be incorporated into the system at the beginning of a job. Hence, it is essential to explore the role of positive personal resources to improve young managers' well-being. The unending ambivalence in the academic environment and the job market is detrimental to management graduates' well-being. The study aims to look into the possible intervening methods to enhance the well-being of management students during difficult times.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 212 management students from Kerala, India. Multi-stage random sampling was used to collect data. Structural equation modelling using IBM-AMOS was done to gain insights into the proposed relationships.

Findings

The results indicated that psychological capital had a significant impact on the well-being of management students. Both perceived employability and psychological capital are positively related to life well-being. And, perceived employability mediated the relationship between psychological capital and life well-being.

Research limitations/implications

The theoretical contribution comes from the application of the broaden-and-build theory and resource caravans from the conservation of resource theory as a theoretical framework to understand the positive impact of developing psychological capital among university students. The practical contribution comes from identifying a need for universities to make their campus climate more supportive of the non-academic needs of students by supporting them to become more self-reliant and enhance their positive psychological resources. Developing psychological resources of perceived employability and psychological capital is quintessential to enhance life well-being and career sustainability of early careers talent.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first attempts to discern how psychological capital leads to an accumulation of psychological resources and life well-being in university students and graduates offering opportunities for career sustainability.

Details

Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, vol. 12 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-3896

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 July 2024

Hui Zhan, Kin Meng Cheng, Lianna Wijaya and Songcun Zhang

Utilizing the Social Cognitive Theory framework, this research aims to illuminate how self-efficacy acts as a mediating factor, enhancing employability among working university…

Abstract

Purpose

Utilizing the Social Cognitive Theory framework, this research aims to illuminate how self-efficacy acts as a mediating factor, enhancing employability among working university students by fostering essential capabilities in digital leadership and intercultural competence.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative study with 206 working undergraduates from an Indonesian university. Questionnaires and structural equation modeling (SEM) with SPSS and SmartPLS were used.

Findings

Findings showed that working undergraduate students possess a high level of digital leadership capability and intercultural competence and tend to display increased confidence in their ability to perform challenging tasks and attain anticipated outcomes, thereby enhancing their employability. The integration of these skills, coupled with a solid self-efficacy belief, emerges as a powerful combination in the modern employment landscape in the digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence age.

Research limitations/implications

This research is conducted in one university in Indonesia, potentially limiting its generalizability. Future studies could expand its regions to multiple universities across different countries for a more comprehensive implication.

Practical implications

This research answered the call for strategies from the university level on enhancing the development of essential competencies for working undergraduate students’ employability. It further highlights the necessity for shaping the curriculum to prioritize digital leadership capability, intercultural competence, and the cultivation of self-efficacy among working students.

Social implications

This insight of the research has profound social implications, indicating that educational institutions must adapt their curricula to prioritize these competencies. By doing so, universities can better prepare students to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace, thereby contributing to a workforce that is not only technologically proficient but also culturally adept and resilient in the face of challenges. This adaptation is essential for fostering a generation of graduates who are well-equipped to contribute positively to a diverse and rapidly evolving labor market, ultimately benefiting both the individuals and the wider society by promoting economic development and cultural understanding.

Originality/value

Adopting a quantitative approach, this research offers a data-driven lens of employability determinants, deepening the understanding of how intertwined competencies shape employment outcomes in the AI age.

Details

Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning, vol. 14 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-3896

Keywords

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