Introduction: The heterogeneity of occupational morbidity by gender in those suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been little studied in the Latin American context. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of CTS of occupational origin in the Ecuadorian salaried population according to gender, In addition, the differences in risk between women and men are compared. Methods: We use the only administrative registers of CTS qualified as occupational diseases in the country between the years 2017 and 2019. Period incidence rates were estimated to compare the risk in women versus men (RR, CI 95%) by age group and economic activity. Results: CTS is the second most common occupational disease in Ecuador. Women workers are more likely tosuffer from CTS and showed twice the risk compared to men [RR = 2.10 (95%CI: 1.94–2.11); p = 0.000]. This risk increases with age and for the vast majority of economic activities. The occupations of agriculture and warehousing stand out for their importance. Conclusions: The results shown in this study raise the fundamental need to improve epidemiological surveillance systems and occupational health policies by considering gender differences in order to adequately address risks and promote safe and healthy working environments for all.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals and their families faced various risk factors, which in some cases resulted in divorce. Adolescents in such families had to grapple with COVID-19 across the world, the risk factors faced by adolescents have largely been under-risk factors associated with COVID-19 and divorce. Despite the rise of divorce during studied, especially among adolescents in South Africa. This study aimed to explore the risk factors experienced by adolescents from divorced households during the COVID-19 pandemic and make recommendations for policy and development. This study employed a phenomenological research design in alignment with qualitative research. Purposive sampling was used to recruit five female adolescents in Johannesburg. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Data was analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six steps of data analysis. The findings revealed that conflict at home, mental illness, physical and social isolation, a lack of paternal support, and diminished educational performance emerged as risk factors faced by the participants. These findings underscore the need for psychological interventions to help address the risk factors faced by adolescents whose parents divorced during the pandemic and those who face similar circumstances during future crises.

This study investigates the impacts of converting agricultural land into agrotourism areas on environmental, socio-cultural, and economic perspectives within Batukliang District, Central Lombok Regency, Indonesia. With a case study approach, this qualitative descriptive research employed interviews with three target groups: local farmers, residents, and tourism actors. The findings revealed seven key points identified as influences affecting the socio-cultural aspects of land change, including community impact, cultural preservation, cultural identity loss, community dynamics change, local cultural commercialization, cultural heritage loss, and traditional livelihoods. The results also unveiled nine financial impacts, 8 of which were associated with economic implications such as economic challenges, risk management, brand building, costs and investments, market access, increased revenue, and income diversity, which contribute positively to local economic development. The study concluded that integrating community involvement empowerment strategies, income diversification, sustainable farming promotion, and land-use regulation is crucial for developing a successful sustainable agrotourism destination.

This research explores the role of social media in the political construction of identity, analyzing how these platforms mediate the expression and formation of individual and group political identities. The focus is on how social media changes the dynamics of communication and social interaction, facilitating the formation of “echo chambers” and increasing political polarization. Additionally, this study highlights challenges such as disinformation and the implications of social media for the health of democracy. As a researcher, I aim to highlight the broader implications of using social media in identity politics. By analyzing the impact of social media on political dynamics in Indonesia, this study reveals how social media influences public perception and political decisions. This study identifies how social media can be used as a tool to mobilize political support, but also how these platforms can spread disinformation and reinforce political polarization. Based on these concerns, researchers have not yet found research results that examine how social media specifically impacts the construction of political identity. This research aims to highlight how social media not only acts as a communication tool but also as a medium that influences the way individuals view and express their political identity. Through a qualitative approach, this study provides new insights into the impact of social media in contemporary political dynamics and the importance of digital literacy in addressing issues of identity politics in the digital era.

Orientation: Rewards are integral to keeping employees happy, efficient and engaged in their work. Thus, the engagement of academic staff within higher education institutions has become a top priority for organisational productivity and competitiveness. Research purpose: This study investigated the impact of total rewards on work engagement among the academic staff at a South African higher education institution. Motivation for the study: Engagement of academic staff is vital as higher education institutions are influential in the country’s development. Literature, however, has shown that most studies on total rewards and work engagement focus on sectors such as financial institutions, the mining industry and others. However, few reports have been on total rewards and work engagement in higher education. Research design, approach and method: This study employed a cross-sectional survey design, following a quantitative approach. From a population of 100 academic staff, 74 respondents responded to a self-administered questionnaire. Main findings: The results show a positive relationship between two dimensions of total rewards (work-home integration and quality work environment) and work engagement. However, no relationship was found between base pay, benefits, performance and career management, and work engagement. From the five dimensions of total rewards, a quality work environment was the only significant predictor of work engagement. Contribution: The study provides theoretical contributions through new literature and possible recommendations. The study may guide management in developing a rewards strategy that can promote staff work engagement.

The COVID-19 pandemic occasioned significant changes in many aspects of human life. The education system is one of the most impacted sectors during the pandemic. With the contagious nature of the disease, governments around the world encouraged social distancing between individuals to prevent the spread of the virus. This led to the shutdown of many academic institutions, to avoid mass gatherings and overcrowded places. Developed and developing countries either postponed their academic activities or used digital technologies to reach learners remotely. The study examined the benefits of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants for the study consist of 5 lecturers and 30 students from the ML Sultan Campus of the Durban University of Technology, South Africa. Data was collected using open-ended interviews. Content analysis was applied to analyze the data collected. Data was collected until it was saturated. Different ways were implemented to make online learning and teaching successful. The findings identified that the benefits of online learning were that it promotes independent learning, flexible learning adaptability and others.