This study investigated the use of interactive qualitative analysis (IQA), as a research methodology, to develop an understanding of students’ experiences of learning statistics in a threshold concepts-enriched tutorial programme. Interactive qualitative analysis methodology offered a systematic, rigorous and accountable approach to conducting qualitative research. The participants constructed their own meaning of reality from their experiences of interacting with the phenomenon in context and, in its refutation of traditional qualitative norms of enquiry that casts the role of the researcher as the expert, IQA stands out – entrusting participants with data generation, analysis and interpretation. Participants’ reflections of their experiences of the phenomenon under study are classified according to variously identified emergent themes called ‘affinities’. Relationships between these affinities are extricated and characterised in a visual representation of the phenomenon called a systems influence diagram. Thus, the researcher’s role was purely facilitative, greatly limiting the potential for skewed power relations and bias which is often hazardous in qualitative research. The paramount value of this article was that it offered a practical methodological approach to using IQA in qualitative statistics education research, in particular, and mathematical sciences education research, in general. A summarised account of the main findings of the broader study was also presented.

Credit risk management is critical in developing economies where high default rates threaten financial stability. This study compares traditional logistic regression (TLR) and Bayesian logistic regression (BLR) for predicting loan default using anonymized National Credit Regulator (NCR) data from 5000 South African loan borrowers (2018–2022). The NCR data included both bank and non-bank lenders. The findings indicate that the BLR model outperformed TLR, achieving an average precision of 0.94. Loan terms, inflation rates, and income bands of R5000–R10,000 and R20,000–R50,000 were associated with higher default risk, whereas higher credit scores and personal loan products were associated with lower default risk. Model performance improved when focusing on these predictors rather than all variables. Using a 0.5 probability threshold, BLR classified 94.5% of borrowers as high risk. Findings highlight the practical value of BLR for identifying key predictors and improving borrower risk classification. These insights can inform targeted strategies such as enhanced screening for long-term loans, monitoring during inflationary periods, and tailored repayment plans for vulnerable income groups, supporting responsible lending and portfolio stability.

Cervical cancer continues to be a major global public health problem, with 661,021 estimated new cases and 348,189 deaths reported in 2022. Approximately 53% of women in Jordan reported not being screened for CC in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the determinants associated with not being screened for CC amongst Jordanian women of child-bearing age. This was a cross-sectional study derived from the 2023 Jordanian Demographic Health Survey (JDHS) with 12,580 women aged 15–49 years. The study employed a non-informative Bayesian binary logistic regression approach to identify the factors that are associated with not being screened for CC. Results showed that the prevalence of not being screened for CC was 83.8% (95% CI: 83.3–84.3). The determinants identified in this study were women’s age group (OR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.34–0.62), education level (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.34–0.91), smoking status (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.63–0.91), women’s nationality (OR = 4.30; 95% CI: 1.03–27.74), breastfeeding status (OR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.31–2.07), wealth index (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.53–0.71), self-reported health status (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.64–0.87), marital status (OR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.08–1.96), and HIV testing status (OR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.40–0.75). The prevalence of not being screened for CC amongst Jordanian women of child-bearing age was found to be very high: a red flag for attention. There is a need for interventions such as community awareness campaigns and education programmes focusing on women younger than 25 years, especially women living in rural and underserved areas. Additionally, incorporating policy interventions into public health facilities and having easy accessibility to tools or screening tests may improve rates of CC screening, and thus reduce the prevalence of CC.

Background: Traditional Male Circumcision (TMC) has been practiced in many parts of the world. However, the impact thereof on reducing HIV transmission is still unclear. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and determinants of TMC and the associated risk of HIV transmission in Lesotho. Method: Using data from the 2023–24 Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey, the analysis included a weighted sample of 3202 men aged 15–59 years. Missing data was addressed through multiple imputations, and multilevel logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with TMC, incorporating intra-class correlation to evaluate cluster-level variation. Results: The findings revealed that 51.0% (95% CI: 49.3–52.7) of men in Lesotho had undergone TMC. Older men, particularly those aged 35 years and above, were more likely to be circumcised compared to younger men aged 15–24 years (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.46–1.86). Other individual-level factors positively associated with TMC included smoking, being married to one partner, previous sexual experience, and rural residence. Conversely, men with formal education, unknown or undisclosed HIV status, residing in the Berea or Maseru districts, and those from middle- or high-income households were less likely to undergo TMC. Conclusion: The study highlights significant variation in TMC practices across communities and identifies both individual and contextual factors influencing its uptake. These insights underscore the need for culturally sensitive, voluntary, and medically safe circumcision programs. Public health initiatives should consider these determinants when designing interventions to ensure a safer and more effective implementation of TMC in Lesotho.

Native starch is known to possess mechanical properties and is readily available; however, it exhibits limitations, such as low dimensional stability and poor gel content. In this study, starch from Vigna subterranea genotypes (B3 and B4) and potato starch were modified through chemical and enzymatic processes using hydrogen peroxide and α‐amylase, respectively. Samples were characterized using SEM, DSC, and FTIR, and functional properties were assessed, including amylose content, water‐binding capacity (WBC), syneresis, swelling power (SP), and the water solubility index (WSI). Textural tests were conducted on the formed gels to determine viscosity and hardness. Electron microscopy analysis showed both chemical and enzymatic modifications affecting the morphology of starch granules, and FTIR spectra identified oxidation via the C═O stretch, with varying degrees of enzymatic hydrolysis indicated by band intensities at 1020, 1156, and 1080 cm ⁻¹ . Mechanical properties indicated that native starch produced significantly harder gels than modified samples. Enzymatically modified (EM) potato starch gel achieved the highest SP, while hydrogen peroxide modification resulted in a higher WSI, and enzymatic modification yielded higher values than native starches for WBC. Findings from this study show the potential of enzymatic modification as the preferred method for developing hydrogels, owing to its softer gel formation, enhanced WBC, and controlled action.