Availability and use of technology for e-learning: to what extent do these impact Bangladeshi university students? A cross-sectional study.

Background: E-learning is making education globally and conveniently attainable with the deliverance of advanced technology. However, this mode of academia is still not commonly practiced locally. Thus, the study aimed to investigate technological availability, usability, and association to university students' perceived stress due to e-learning curriculum. Methods: A cross-sectional study commenced among Bangladeshi university students enrolled in the e-learning curriculum. A total of 1162 university students were included. The main explanatory variables were related to the availability of technology and the use of technology. The outcome variable was perceived e-learning stress. In statistical analysis, p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant with a 95% confidence interval. Results: In this study, lack of technological availability and usability were associated with higher level of perceived e-learning stress. Being female, living in rural areas, and outside of Dhaka division were found the associated factors in the lack of technological availability and usability. Conclusions: A significant association between the availability and usability of technology with perceived e-learning stress was observed. Thus, measures should be taken to initialize e-learning adaptivity by increasing technological growth across the nation, considering educational preparedness for future catastrophes.

Mobile phone support to sustain exclusive breastfeeding in the community after hospital delivery and counseling: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Rapid increases in hospital and cesarean deliveries threaten an already falling exclusive breastfeeding rate (EBR) in Bangladesh. There is neither a sustained Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) nor any community support for breastfeeding mothers. Our aim was to find out whether breastfeeding support after hospital delivery and subsequently by mobile phone at home is effective in improving EBR in infants under six-months of age. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was carried out in 2010 at the Centre for Woman and Child Health (CWCH), Savar, Bangladesh. A total of 129 mothers delivered at CWCH were recruited in pre-intervention phase and their infants followed up between 0 and 5 months of age in the community for exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), anthropometry and illness. An intervention package was then implemented with postpartum support for first hour breastfeeding initiation, correction of position and attachment and face-to-face counseling in hospital followed by mobile phone support by two trained Research Assistants once every 15 days after discharge up to six months of age. During the intervention phase, 164 pregnant women delivered at CWCH were recruited and followed up as in the pre-intervention phase. RESULTS: In the pre-intervention phase among 114 infants, 66 (58%) were found to be exclusively breastfed. In the intervention phase among 151 infants, 118 (78%) were exclusively breastfed (p = 0.000). In the pre-intervention phase EBR at less than one month and five months were 85 and 42% as in the intervention phase these EBR were 89 and 71% respectively. Wasting (weight-for-height Z-score < - 2.00), stunting (height-for-age Z-score < - 2.00), and underweight (weight-for-age Z-score < - 2.00) was 17 (15%), 7 (6%), and 14 (13%) respectively in the pre-intervention phase. In the intervention phase wasting, stunting, and underweight was 16 (11%), 16 (11%), and 15 (10%) respectively. Therefore, there was no statistically significant differences in nutritional status of the infants in the two phases. There was also no significant differences in child morbidity (pneumonia and diarrhea) between the two phases. CONCLUSION: A combination of hospital support and mobile phone counseling in the community sustained higher rates of EBF in the community after hospital delivery.

Effects of Attitude, Motivation, and Eagerness for Physical Activity among Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Background: Although physical activity (PA) is a noninvasive and cost-effective method of improving the quality of health, global statistics show that only a few middle-aged and older adults engage in the recommended PAs. This is due to a lack of motivation and companionship. Objective: This study analyses the attitudes and self-determined motivation of Chinese middle-aged and older adults for PAs and their eagerness to participate in PAs such as sports, exercise, and recreational and cultural activities (RCAs), from attitudinal, eagerness, and motivational objectives of PAs perspective. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 840 middle-aged (35-54 years) and older adults (55+ years). To determine their attitude, eagerness, and self-determined motivation for PA, we used attitudinal, Eagerness for Physical Activity Scale (EPAS), and Situational Motivational Scale (SIMS). The data were analyzed with SPSS 23.0. Results: The results show that 39.1% of the participants were not satisfied with PAs. Compared with females, males reported a less positive attitude towards PAs. Moreover, a positive attitude decreases with age. Participants' motivation and eagerness in activities such as RCAs, exercise, and sports are decreasing. Regarding self-determined motivation, there are gender differences in RCAs, but there is none for exercise and sports participation. Conclusion: The findings show the importance of RCAs and the support of family and friends enhancing the eagerness, attitude, and motivation to participate in PAs. Furthermore, the findings can help to create more effective PA programs for middle-aged and older adults. By engaging in RCAs, participants can reap the benefits of PAs. Participating in RCAs can lead to social equity in health.

Understanding Levels and Motivation of Physical Activity for Health Promotion among Chinese Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Investigation.

Objective: Middle-aged and older Chinese adults (35 to 75) failed to meet the recommendations of physical activity guidelines for health promotion, because of a lack of understanding of their perspective on physical activity. This study considers the physical activity levels and motivation among middle-aged and older Chinese adults partitioned into three different participation groups (sports, exercise, and recreational and cultural activities). Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed on 633 participants, based on two different levels of physical activity levels. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Exercise Motivation Inventory (EMI-2) with 14 subscales were used to measure the participant's physical activity levels and physical activity motivation for the three different group activities. Results: Results indicate those participants' physical activity levels and motivation varied significantly among the different groups. The participants who engage in recreational and cultural activities have a higher motivation for physical activity, as compared with those whose primary form of physical activity is sports and exercise, and a higher probability to fulfill the global recommendations concerning physical activity. Participants who used recreational and cultural activities as their major type of physical activities were more motivated by "intrinsic" aspects. In contrast, those who participate in sports and exercise as their main type of physical activity are more motivated by "extrinsic" aspects. Conclusion: Close friends and family members of one's home and community have potential influence in physical activity and recreational and cultural activity participants are highly motivated and luckier than others to fulfill the goal of physical activity levels.