BackgroundNotwithstanding disability being a critical public health and social issue in Somalia, available evidence on its magnitude and associated factors remains scarce. Therefore, this study seeks to assess the prevalence of disability and identify its determinants among the adult population aged 18 years and above in Somalia.MethodA cross-sectional study approach was employed to measure the prevalence of disability and evaluate associated factors. The analysis utilised data from the Somali Integrated Household Budget Survey 2022, with a total sample of 19,832 adult population. A multivariable logit model was applied to evaluate factors influencing disability status. Associations were quantified using adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), and statistical significance was determined at a p-value threshold of < 0.05.FindingsThis study found that the overall prevalence of the adult population in Somalia was 11.95% [0.114–0.126]. Women’s disability was marginally higher at 13.29% compared to men’s at 10.36%. Disability was significantly associated with age, sex, education, household size, working status, smoking, residence, and region (p < 0.05). Odds increased with age, reaching a peak among older adults at ≥61 years (AOR = 10.700, 95% CI [7.700, 14.860]). Females had higher odds (AOR = 1.440, 95% CI [1.180, 1.750]). Education was protective, higher education (AOR = 0.450, 95% CI [0.330, 0.630]). Non-smokers (AOR = 0.300, 95% CI [0.220, 0.400]) and rural residents (AOR = 0.680, 95% CI [0.550, 0.850]) had lower odds, with notable regional disparities.ConclusionDisabilities related to seeing and walking or climbing were the most prevalent in the population. In this regard, efforts should focus on strengthening disability legal frameworks, expanding community screening and mobile health services, implementing gender-responsive and inclusive education programmes, providing targeted social assistance to vulnerable households, and promoting integrated disability care and advancing evidence through multi-survey and comparative research.
This study examines the impact of corruption control and natural resource rents on environmental sustainability in East African countries while accounting for the influences of renewable energy, economic growth, and urbanisation. The study utilises panel data spanning 1996-2022 and various econometric methods, such as Pedroni and Kao cointegration methods, pooled mean group (PMG), panel dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS). The empirical results revealed that natural resources, corruption control, renewable energy, urbanisation, and economic growth are cointegrated with environmental pollution in the long run. Furthermore, natural resource rent hinders environmental sustainability, while corruption control enhances it in the long run. Renewable energy enhances environmental sustainability in East Africa in the long run. On the contrary, economic growth and urbanisation impede it in the long run. Nevertheless, the study recommends strengthening governance, promoting transparency, and implementing restricted environmental regulations to enhance environmental quality.
Introduction:sensitive disease surveillance is essential for global health security, yet fragile, conflict-affected settings like Somalia face critical human resource and capacity challenges. District and regional surveillance officers are frontline personnel whose competencies in epidemiology, outbreak investigation, and data analysis directly influence early detection, rapid response, and containment of public health threats. Methods:a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st to 30th April 2025 among all 90 active surveillance officers (72 District Surveillance Officers, 18 Regional Surveillance Officers) across Somalia's Federal Member States. A structured, self-administered questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics, training history (IDSR, FETP, outbreak investigation, rapid response, scientific reporting), and self-reported competencies in core surveillance domains. Results:of 90 invited officers, 68 completed the survey (response rate 75.6%). Participants were predominantly male (86.8%) and aged 20-39 years (95.6%), with 95.6% holding bachelor's or master's degrees. IDSR training coverage was high (96.6%), yet only 10.3% of district officers participated in FETP. Outbreak investigation experience was highest for cholera (54.4%) and measles (47.1%), but low (<20%) for AFP, malaria, diphtheria, and respiratory infections. Technical skills in Excel were widespread (≥75%), whereas GIS (25%) and Power BI (<5%) proficiency were limited. Geographic distribution was uneven, with 27.9% of officers based in Banadir and underrepresentation in peripheral regions. Conclusion:critical gaps in advanced epidemiological skills, specialized outbreak experience, and workforce equity among Somali surveillance officers undermine national disease detection and response. Prioritizing surveillance officers on FETP, targeted refresher training, technical upskilling in GIS and data visualization, and motivation are recommended.
Environmental issues have become a global concern due to their wide-ranging impacts on human health, ecosystems, and economic stability. Recent environmental assessments often rely on conventional indicators such as CO₂ emissions, greenhouse gases (GHGs), and more recently, the ecological footprint. Although these indicators provide valuable insights, they are largely focused on demand-centric and do not fully capture the supply-side dynamics. As a result, contrary to the previous attempts, this study focuses on Somalia and employs the load capacity factor (LCF) as a gauge of environmental sustainability to quantify how renewable energy, financial globalization, economic growth, and institutional quality affect it. We utilize annual time series data spanning 1990–2021 and an ARDL bound test. The empirical results revealed that renewable energy and financial globalization undermine LCF, whereas institutional quality enhances it. Economic growth reduces LCF, whereas squared growth (GDP2) improves it, hence confirming the U-shaped trajectory that directly supports the LCC hypothesis. Various cointegration methods have robustly verified the long-run results. Nevertheless, the study underlines the importance of investments in cleaner, low-impact renewable technologies, such as solar and wind power, and establishes regulatory frameworks that guarantee that renewable projects comply with environmental standards. The study also suggests enhancing good governance, mitigating corruption, and strengthening institutional capacity that will facilitate the adoption of cleaner energy and foster a more conducive atmosphere for sustainable growth. A solid policy framework focused on clean energy innovation, institutional reforms, and sustainable finance is crucial for enhancing Somalia’s environmental sustainability and long-term resilience.
Poverty is a severe deprivation of essential needs and opportunities, affecting more than 70% of Somalia’s population due to prolonged conflict, political instability and recurrent climate shocks. Hence, this study investigates the impact of foreign aid, agricultural output, economic growth, and population growth on poverty in Somalia using annual time-series data from 1991 to 2022. The study employs the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The results indicate that food aid, humanitarian aid and economic growth statistically significantly reduce poverty. While agricultural output exhibits an insignificant impact. In contrast, population significantly increases poverty, emphasizing its role in worsening living conditions. The Granger causality tests reveal a unidirectional causality from poverty to food aid, a bidirectional relationship between agricultural output and poverty, and a two-way causality between population growth and poverty. Policymakers should enhance aid targeting, support agriculture, strengthen productive sectors and manage population growth effectively.
