Annually, approximately 74 million women worldwide face unintended pregnancies, which are particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), notably Africa. Effective contraception is crucial for mitigating the substantial risks to maternal and child health posed by unintended pregnancies. Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) play a pivotal role in addressing these risks by facilitating pregnancy spacing and reducing maternal mortality rates. However, challenges persist in their global adoption, particularly in regions such as Uganda, where inadequate male partner support contributes to low usage rates, thereby exacerbating the associated health risks. The objective of this study was to examine how women's use of LARCs affects relationship stability and fears of infidelity among rural Ugandan men in Nyamweru subcounty, Rubanda District, to develop strategies for increasing LARC use. This qualitative study focused on understanding the perspectives of indigenous Bakiga men in the Nyamweru subcounty, Rubanda, Uganda, regarding LARCs. Fifteen participants were purposefully selected from areas characterized by low LARC usage, high fertility rates, and elevated maternal mortality. In-depth focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with men aged 20 – 49 aimed to explore their perceptions of and beliefs about LARCs. Data saturation guided sample size determination to ensure comprehensive exploration of the perceptions. Analysis revealed prevalent misconceptions among indigenous Bakiga men regarding LARCs, including beliefs that their use makes women more attractive to other men and increases the likelihood of extramarital affairs and relationship breakups. These misconceptions reflect men's insecurities about their partners' contraceptive choices. Dispelling misconceptions and addressing insecurities surrounding LARCs among indigenous men are essential for improving the support and acceptability of LARCs by women. Tailored interventions, such as behavior change communication, proper health education, and counseling on LARCs, are crucial for fostering acceptance among men and advancing reproductive health outcomes.

High heel use in professional environments is a common occupational norm for women, particularly in the hospitality, retail, and fashion industries. However, extended and repetitive use may increase the risk of ankle injuries. The objective of this exploratory study was to examine the factors associated with a history of ankle sprain among women wearing high heels at work. A total of 203 participants were recruited from selected workplaces in Lahore, Pakistan, via a nonprobability convenience sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic information, footwear usage patterns, pain symptoms, occupational standing duration, and ankle sprain history. Chi-square analysis revealed significant associations between ankle sprains and heel height, duration of heel wear, type of heel, workplace footwear requirements, and the presence of pain during high heel use (p < 0.05). Women wearing heels ≥ 10 cm and those wearing stilettos were more likely to report a history of ankle sprain. Logistic regression analysis revealed that standing more than 4 hours per day (OR = 3.803), footwear requirements at work (OR = 3.534), and pain during heel use (OR = 9.893) significantly increased the odds of experiencing an ankle sprain, whereas increasing age (OR = 0.789) and being married (OR = 0.304) were associated with lower risk (p < 0.05). Ankle sprains led to productivity loss in more than 75% of the participants, with the majority missing 1–5 workdays. These findings highlight the occupational health risks of high heel use, with prolonged standing, footwear mandates, and early pain symptoms identified as key predictors of injury. Implementing preventive workplace measures—such as ergonomic footwear policies, scheduled standing breaks, and employee education—may help reduce ankle injury risk among women in professions requiring high heels.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) remain a critical and preventable challenge in hospital care, especially in resource-constrained settings. Despite formal training, early-career nurses often experience gaps in applying evidence-based PU prevention practices. This study identified the behavioral and contextual predictors of evidence-based PU prevention behaviors among recently graduated nurses in tertiary care hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan, by assessing their level of knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy, as well as the impact of clinical exposure, internship training, and perceived barriers to preventive practices. An exploratory design involving 135 BSN graduates who had completed their clinical internships within the past six months were recruited for the study using a purposive sampling method. Data were collected via a structured, self-administered questionnaire composed of validated tools, including the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool 2.0, the Attitude toward Pressure Ulcer Prevention (APuP) scale, and constructs derived from the Theory of Planned Behavior framework. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, and multiple linear regression were used for analysis. While participants showed moderately positive attitudes and self-efficacy, only knowledge of PU prevention emerged as a statistically significant predictor of evidence-based behavior (p = 0.003). Other factors, such as attitudes, perceived barriers, and clinical decision-making ability, did not significantly influence behavior. Despite high exposure to PU cases, most participants reported limited workshop participation and demonstrated low decision-making accuracy. This study highlights that factual knowledge, rather than attitudinal or perceptual factors, plays a pivotal role in shaping evidence-based PU prevention behavior among newly graduated nurses. This finding emphasizes the need for knowledge-intensive interventions and scenario-based training in early clinical practice. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to evaluate the impact of mentorship and institutional support on sustained preventive behaviors.

Agricultural productivity plays a vital role in ensuring food security, rural livelihoods, and environmental sustainability, particularly in regions facing ecological stress and institutional variation. This study offers a comparative analysis of South Asian and Southern European countries from 2000–2022, investigating how environmental quality, economic investment, and governance influence agricultural output. Using secondary panel data and the Driscoll–Kraay (DSK) estimator, the analysis addresses the challenges of cross-sectional dependence (CSD), heteroskedasticity, and autocorrelation. The findings show that in South Asia, gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) (β = 0.577, p < 0.01) and fertilizer use (β = 0.113, p < 0.01) are significant drivers of productivity. Crop residue burning (CRB), despite its environmental drawbacks, also has a positive association with productivity (β = 0.227, p < 0.01). However, stricter air quality regulations appear to constrain productivity (β = –0.228, p < 0.01), likely due to disruptions in conventional farming practices. Governance and surface air temperature (SAT) were not statistically significant in this region. In Southern Europe, productivity is positively linked with GFCF (β = 0.362, p < 0.01), fertilizer use (β = 0.203, p < 0.10), and SAT (β = 0.238, p < 0.05), suggesting a potential benefit from moderate warming. No significant effects were observed for governance, air quality performance (AQP), or crop burning, likely reflecting stronger institutions and regulatory stability. The model explains a greater proportion of the productivity variation in South Asia (R² = 0.8744) than in Southern Europe (R² = 0.1456). These results highlight the importance of region-specific strategies. South Asia requires policies that reconcile environmental regulation with agricultural output, whereas Southern Europe should prioritize climate adaptation and ecological safeguards. Aligning agricultural policy with public health, governance, and sustainability goals is essential for resilient food systems.

Effective pain management is a cornerstone of quality nursing care, yet knowledge gaps and systemic barriers often hinder optimal practice, particularly in low-resource settings. This study aimed to assess nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management, evaluate their self-reported pain practices, and explore the role of perceived organizational support in shaping pain management competence among nurses in a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. An exploratory survey was conducted with 120 registered nurses using the Knowledge and Attitudes Survey Regarding Pain (KASRP), a perceived organizational support scale, and a self-reported practice checklist. Descriptive statistics revealed that only 22.5% of the nurses reported good knowledge, whereas 45% reported moderate knowledge, and 32.5% reported poor knowledge. Perceived organizational support was moderate on average, and although self-reported practice scores were relatively high, they did not significantly correlate with knowledge levels. The Mann–Whitney U test revealed no significant differences in knowledge or practice scores by sex. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between organizational support and knowledge scores. Multiple linear regression identified organizational support as the only significant predictor of knowledge scores (p = 0.003). These findings highlight the critical role of organizational factors in fostering clinical competence and suggest the need for system-level interventions—such as regular training, managerial support, and access to protocols—to improve pain management outcomes in nursing practice.