Impact of Awareness Campaign on the Knowledge of Risk Factors of HIV & AIDS among Students of University of Gujrat, Pakistan

Background: Individuals of age 15-25 years are at highest risk of HIV/AIDS due to presence of high risk behavior. Public health professionals are of the view that educational intervention are more successful in improving knowledge attitudes and preventive practices among the young rather than abstinence only intervention. The aim of this study was to access the knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS of students of University of Gujrat, Gujrat and to find the effect of imparting education on these parameters. Methodology: pre-post quasi experimental study design conducted at University of Gujrat, Pakistan in the year 2015-2016. A sample size of 370 students was taken. A pre-structured self-administered questionnaire was used as a study tool, privacy and anonymity of the respondents were maintained. A comprehensive lecture and educational session was carried out that delivered information regarding HIV/AIDS disease nature, modes of transmission, myths associated with HIV/AIDS, and other disease facts. After an interval of three weeks the same questionnaire again got filled from the same students. The pre-intervention knowledge was compared to the post educational intervention one. Obtained data were evaluated by using SPSS version 20. Results were considered significant at p value of less than 0.05. Results: The student of UOG had fairly moderate knowledge of HIV/AIDS that was significantly modified (p≤0.01) after educational conditioning. And there was clear presence of will to disseminate HIV information, so that not only themselves but also their family member can be protected from this deadly infection. Conclusion: Educational intervention statistically significantly conditioned students knowledge of HIV/AIDS

Corporate Governance and Board Compensation: A Case of listed Non-Financial Firms in Pakistan

The study addresses the impact of corporate governance (CG) on board compensation for the listed non-financial firms on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for the period 2005-2015. We incorporated female directors, board size, ownership concentration, board independence, and adoption of CCG (code of corporate governance) as channels of CG. Board compensation was measured by the natural log of the total baord compensation. The study has controlled for firm size, firm performance, leverage, and cash flow from operation. By using ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis technique together with robust standard error, we find significant relationship between CG characteristics and board compensation.Findings suggest that CG characteristics and ownership structure plays a significant role in the board compensation determination. Board size and board independence exhibits significant positive relationship with board compensation. Additionally, consistent with literature, we find negative relationship between gender diversity and board compensation. Ownership concentration shows positive relationship with board compensation. Implementation of code of CG exhibits positive and significant relationship with board compensation. Finally we find positive relationship between CG index developed via Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and board compensation.Key Words: Corporate Governance; Board Compensation; Ownership Concentration; Gender Diversity; Corporate Governance Inde

Corporate Governance and Board Compensation: A Case of listed Non-Financial Firms in Pakistan

The study addresses the impact of corporate governance (CG) on board compensation for the listed non-financial firms on Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) for the period 2005-2015. We incorporated female directors, board size, ownership concentration, board independence, and adoption of CCG (code of corporate governance) as channels of CG. Board compensation was measured by the natural log of the total baord compensation. The study has controlled for firm size, firm performance, leverage, and cash flow from operation. By using ordinary least square (OLS) regression analysis technique together with robust standard error, we find significant relationship between CG characteristics and board compensation.Findings suggest that CG characteristics and ownership structure plays a significant role in the board compensation determination. Board size and board independence exhibits significant positive relationship with board compensation. Additionally, consistent with literature, we find negative relationship between gender diversity and board compensation. Ownership concentration shows positive relationship with board compensation. Implementation of code of CG exhibits positive and significant relationship with board compensation. Finally we find positive relationship between CG index developed via Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and board compensation.Key Words: Corporate Governance; Board Compensation; Ownership Concentration; Gender Diversity; Corporate Governance Inde

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE, AUDIT QUALITY & FIRM INNOVATION: EVIDENCE FORM PAKISTAN

Ownership structure is a key element of directing the firm and taking strategic decisions. Separation of ownership and control brings principal- agent conflicts in organizations. Ownership structure is considered as the most powerful remedy to agency problems in firms. R&D investment being the critical and risky decision, gained the attention of researchers. The objective of this study is to determine the association between ownership structure and R&D investment. All non-financial firms listed in Pakistan stock exchange covering data from 2005 to 2018 is the sample of research. Fixed effect model is used based on husman’s test result for analysis. In addition to the ownership structure, the audit quality is taken a moderator in the relationship of ownership structure and R&D. The results of the study suggest that concentrated ownership has a significant positive, restricted ownership has a negative impact on R&D impact. While the relationship between institutional ownership and R&D could not be established. Furthermore, the audit quality had no significant moderating effect in the relationship

DRIVERS OF CUSTOMER’S SATISFACTION: EVIDENCE FROM ISLAMIC BANKS IN PAKISTAN

The purpose of this study is to investigate the critical drivers of Islamic Banking customer satisfaction in in the Malakand division. Quantitative techniques with survey method of data collection on five-points Likert scale is used. Self-administered questionnaires consist of 18 important questions about customer satisfaction are used to collect data. To ascertain the critical factors/ contributors to customer satisfaction, exploratory factor analysis is applied. The results indicate that the primary determinants of customer satisfaction could be condensed to five factors. Each question is assigned to a component based on its related factor component score

Factors associated with smoking quit attempts among tobacco smokers

Despite more than one-third of tobacco users attempting to quit tobacco each year, only 4–6 % of them succeed to remains abstinent after one year. The aim: This study aims to estimate the proportion of smokers who attempt to quit tobacco smoking and determine factors associated with quitting behaviour. Methods: This community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 720 smokers aged 18 years and above residing in a rural area of Haryana state of India. A chi-square test determined the association between various variables under study and quitting attempts among study subjects. Factors found to be statistically significant using a chi-square test were entered into a binary logistic regression analysis to obtain determinants of smoking quitting attempts among the respondents. Results: 28.5 % of the respondents had attempted to quit smoking during the past 1 year. The majority of them, i.e., 73.7 %, had attempted once, whereas 21.0 % and 5.4 % of respondents had made 2 and 3 attempts, respectively, to quit smoking during the last 1 year. Factors independently associated with quitting behaviour were educational level (AOR=1.851, p=0.028), age of initiation (AOR=0.620, p=0.026), reasons for smoking (AOR=1.681, p=0.016), money spent on smoking (AOR=1.700, p=0.003), family pressure to quit smoking (AOR=1.725, p=0.006) and advice from health professionals to quit smoking (AOR=2.104, p<0.001). Conclusion: Around one-third of smokers have attempted to quit tobacco smoking in the past year. Hence there is a need to formulate policies towards a targeted intervention for smokers who have not attempted to quit smoking in the past 1 year for effective tobacco contro

OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE, AUDIT QUALITY & FIRM INNOVATION: EVIDENCE FORM PAKISTAN

Ownership structure is a key element of directing the firm and taking strategic decisions. Separation of ownership and control brings principal- agent conflicts in organizations. Ownership structure is considered as the most powerful remedy to agency problems in firms. R&D investment being the critical and risky decision, gained the attention of researchers. The objective of this study is to determine the association between ownership structure and R&D investment. All non-financial firms listed in Pakistan stock exchange covering data from 2005 to 2018 is the sample of research. Fixed effect model is used based on husman’s test result for analysis. In addition to the ownership structure, the audit quality is taken a moderator in the relationship of ownership structure and R&D. The results of the study suggest that concentrated ownership has a significant positive, restricted ownership has a negative impact on R&D impact. While the relationship between institutional ownership and R&D could not be established. Furthermore, the audit quality had no significant moderating effect in the relationship

FACTORS DETERMINING CUSTOMERS’ ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION TOWARDS ISLAMIC BANKING PRACTICES IN MALAKAND DIVISION

Islamic banking, being an integral component of Islamic financial system, gained an exceptional popularity over the last three decades. The higher rate of growth of Islamic banking has proved it as a best alternative to Riba based banking. Like the other industries; in Islamic banking industry, customers are the most integral part of the organization strategies. Various authors endured to examine the perception and attitude of customers from one aspect or another. It is evident form the literature that the determining factors of attitude and perceptions are varying from country to country. Keeping in view the phenomenon under question, the basic objective of this study is to examine the factors determining customers’ attitude and perception towards Islamic banking practices in Malakand division. Previous studies focused on the urban areas and big cities of Pakistan, Malakand division is selected as study region as majority of the population lives in rural areas of the country. Three districts of Dir (lower), Malakand and Swat are selected as sample for data collection. Data is collected through survey questionnaires from 300 customers of Islamic banking branches operating in the study region. Questionnaire is adapted from previous studies. Correlation, and Regression are used for analysis the data.Results of the study show that all five variables have significant positive relationship with customers’ attitude. However, awareness and Shariah compliance show a negative relationship with perceptions of customers. Furthermore, Religiosity is the most dominant determinant of the customers’ attitude and perception, followed by bank image & reputation and social Influence. Customers give lesser importance to Shariah compliance and awareness as determinant of their attitude and perception towards Islamic banking practices.The results of the study are expected to benefit the banking industry in general and bankers in specific. The bankers would be able to attract more and more customers by focusing on the key determinants. The results assist the policy makers in designing, revision and implementation of the policies to satisfy the needs of the customers of the region.  The study is also beneficial to the society at large, as more and easy investment and financing facilities would be available to them. Furthermore, due to awareness and information to the bankers and customers; more and more job or business opportunities would be available to the local community and thus unemployment would be eliminated

FACTORS DETERMINING CUSTOMERS’ ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION TOWARDS ISLAMIC BANKING PRACTICES IN MALAKAND DIVISION

Islamic banking, being an integral component of Islamic financial system, gained an exceptional popularity over the last three decades. The higher rate of growth of Islamic banking has proved it as a best alternative to Riba based banking. Like the other industries; in Islamic banking industry, customers are the most integral part of the organization strategies. Various authors endured to examine the perception and attitude of customers from one aspect or another. It is evident form the literature that the determining factors of attitude and perceptions are varying from country to country. Keeping in view the phenomenon under question, the basic objective of this study is to examine the factors determining customers’ attitude and perception towards Islamic banking practices in Malakand division. Previous studies focused on the urban areas and big cities of Pakistan, Malakand division is selected as study region as majority of the population lives in rural areas of the country. Three districts of Dir (lower), Malakand and Swat are selected as sample for data collection. Data is collected through survey questionnaires from 300 customers of Islamic banking branches operating in the study region. Questionnaire is adapted from previous studies. Correlation, and Regression are used for analysis the data.Results of the study show that all five variables have significant positive relationship with customers’ attitude. However, awareness and Shariah compliance show a negative relationship with perceptions of customers. Furthermore, Religiosity is the most dominant determinant of the customers’ attitude and perception, followed by bank image & reputation and social Influence. Customers give lesser importance to Shariah compliance and awareness as determinant of their attitude and perception towards Islamic banking practices.The results of the study are expected to benefit the banking industry in general and bankers in specific. The bankers would be able to attract more and more customers by focusing on the key determinants. The results assist the policy makers in designing, revision and implementation of the policies to satisfy the needs of the customers of the region.  The study is also beneficial to the society at large, as more and easy investment and financing facilities would be available to them. Furthermore, due to awareness and information to the bankers and customers; more and more job or business opportunities would be available to the local community and thus unemployment would be eliminated