Infant and child mortality in Afghanistan: a scoping review

Background and aims: since 1990, global child and infant mortality rates have typically stabilized or decreased due to improved healthcare, vaccination rollouts, and international funding. However, Afghanistan continues to face the highest child and infant mortality rates globally, with 43 deaths per 1000 live births. This study aims to examine the factors contributing to this high mortality rate and propose interventions to address the issue.Methods: a comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed, focusing on articles published in English within the last 10 years (2013–2023). The search terms included “Child mortality,” “Infant mortality,” “SIDS,” “COVID-19,” and “Afghanistan.” Original studies, systematic reviews, case studies, and reports meeting the inclusion criteria were selected for analysis. Additional sources from organizations such as UNICEF, the World Bank Group, WHO, and EMRO were also reviewed.Results: the study findings reveal significant challenges contributing to Afghanistan's high infant and child mortality rates. These challenges include birth defects, preterm birth, malnutrition, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), traumatic injuries, fatal infections, infanticide, and abuse. The ongoing conflict, insecurity, and humanitarian crises further exacerbate the situation, leading to increased child casualties. Despite efforts by international agencies like UNICEF to provide vaccines and maternal education, the infant mortality rate remains high.Conclusion: in conclusion, Afghanistan's child and infant mortality rates are of significant concern, and it is imperative that action be taken to reduce the incidence of child and infant mortality rates

INVESTIGATING ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION AMONG THE YOUTH OF KARACHI: EVIDENCE FROM PARTIAL LEAST SQUARE-STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING : Salman Ahmed Khatani, Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, Dr. Shams Hamid, Ariba Javed Iqbal

In this interconnected and interdependent world, entrepreneurship is an important driving factor for a person's success and the sustainable socioeconomic growth of any country's economy. The purpose of this research paper is to investigate and identify the perspective and behavior of youth towards entrepreneurial intention with the help of the Smart PLS_SEM Model technique to explore the main factors that impact entrepreneurial intention. The data sample size of 300 respondents has been collected from different university students studying, doing a job, and doing business. The study’s independent variables are attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, pro-activeness, risk-taking, and innovativeness, which are being focused on for PLS-SEM Based modeling to obtain insight into the youth’s intentions Karachi. All the variables show statistically significant results on entrepreneurial intention. Attitude towards entrepreneurship, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, pro-activeness, risk-taking and innovativeness are the significant predictors of youth entrepreneurial intention