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This study systematically reviews the role of decentralized finance (DeFi) in enhancing the quality, affordability, access and usage of financial services, specifically targeting underserved populations. The aim is to investigate DeFi’s potential in addressing financial exclusion and promoting global financial inclusion.

A systematic literature review was conducted, analyzing 67 peer-reviewed articles. The review focused on extracting actionable insights and recommendations regarding DeFi’s impact on financial inclusion.

The study reveals that DeFi, through the utilization of blockchain technology, can significantly improve accessibility, affordability and usability of financial services. By eliminating intermediaries and reducing entry barriers, DeFi platforms democratize finance and support financial inclusion on a global scale. The research identifies specific mechanisms through which DeFi can enhance financial services for marginalized communities, including decentralized lending, digital wallets and blockchain-based remittances.

The study is constrained by the current literature and data availability on DeFi’s impact on financial inclusion. Future research should explore the scalability, sustainability and long-term effects of DeFi solutions in diverse contexts.

This research uniquely contributes to the literature by examining the intersection of DeFi and financial inclusion, providing innovative approaches to overcoming financial exclusion. The study highlights DeFi’s potential to transform financial services and empower underserved populations economically.

Cultural competence has been recognized as an essential process in reducing racial and ethnic health-care disparities and improving equity in health care. Recent immigrants to Canada encounter a different and unfamiliar health-care system. This study aims to focus on examining the role of cultural competence in improving communication between immigrant patients and their health-care providers.

Using an exploratory approach, four focus group discussions with a sample of recent immigrants were conducted to gain insights from immigrant patients’ perspectives with regard to communicating with their health-care providers. The focus group discussions were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Campinha-Bacote’s Cultural Competence Model was used for this study as its theoretical framework.

The focus group findings revealed that the lack of cultural competence among health-care providers and language barriers are major issues that impact the health-care experiences of immigrant patients. Health-care organizations may use these findings to better inform their decision-making with regard to effective patient–provider communication.

This study advances the line of research that examines patient–provider communication by adding diverse immigrant patients’ perspectives. The findings can inform the design of cultural competence strategies for health-care organizations.

The goal of this research is to look at how urban microfinance affects livelihood transformation in terms of poverty reduction, living standards, social well-being, empowerment and entrepreneurship.

This paper analyses the role of urban microfinance towards livelihood with special reference to Western Uttar Pradesh. Primary data were collected from 321 respondents who are users of a microfinance programme using a standardised questionnaire. The data were collected using a stratified random sampling technique, and the data were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Urban microfinance has a considerable impact on poverty reduction, the standard of living, social well-being, empowerment and entrepreneurship in the urban poor, according to the findings.

The fact that the majority of the borrowers were uneducated was the most significant barrier to them filling out the questionnaire. Their anxiety was the most significant psychological obstacle to successfully answering the questions, and it took time. As a result, it is urged that proper counselling be conducted before the poor borrowers fill out the questionnaire.

The current study highlights the factors that lead to the utilisation of microfinance services. This research will aid MFIs in selecting the appropriate products and services for the urban poor. The results of this study will aid them in understanding and meeting the expectations of microfinance CEOs.

This is a first study conducted in Northern zone of India measuring the roles urban microfinance institutions (MFIs) in uplifting the livelihood of urban poor.

Immigrant youth face both unique and disproportionate barriers to sexual health. Targeted sexual health education to redress these disparities requires creative and inclusive approaches that consider personal and community challenges and strengths. This study piloted a novel intervention: SExT: Sex Education by Theatre, a theatre-based, culturally-relevant, participatory action research programme delivered in an immigration destination neighbourhood in Toronto, Canada.

Nineteen youth were trained as peer educators. They participated in theatre-based workshops on sexual health topics which culminated in a performance for local peers. Mixed methods evaluation included surveys which investigated changes in personal and social development over three time-points (pre, post, 4-month follow-up). The impact of the intervention on peer educators was explored in greater depth using qualitative peer interviews and focus groups.

Quantitative study findings indicated that peer educators experienced significant improvements in personal growth, social inclusion and social engagement after participating in SExT and these improvements were maintained at follow-up. Thematic qualitative analysis further indicates that meaningful involvement in a sex education theatre intervention may protect against adverse outcomes and promote self-actualization, connection and active citizenship.

This research stands out for its innovative approach to addressing sexual health disparities among immigrant youth in Toronto using culturally relevant theatre-based peer education. SExT may serve as a model for sexual health interventions for newcomer youth and other priority groups in diverse contexts.

A significant amount of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons is emitted during the production of building materials. With the world population expected to increase by 21.3% from 2030 to 2050, the demand for construction materials is set to rise, necessitating a shift toward eco-friendly options to preserve the ecosystem. Bamboo emerges as a promising solution to meet sustainable construction goals. This study aims to investigate bamboo’s potential as a sustainable construction material, evaluating its impact on construction productivity and safety.

A systematic literature review was conducted, using relevant keywords to retrieve journal articles from the Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. Articles were screened, and only those meeting the inclusion criteria were reviewed.

Bamboo offers numerous advantages as a construction material, including cost-effectiveness, abundance and strength, making it a viable alternative to traditional building materials with a reduced environmental impact. However, its widespread acceptance encounters significant challenges. The use of bamboo in construction can both positively and negatively affect productivity and safety in construction organizations.

This study proposes a framework for improvement that construction stakeholders can adopt to enhance bamboo’s utilization in construction while maintaining high productivity and safety standards.

While previous studies have advocated for increased bamboo utilization in construction, this study goes further to explore the implications for productivity and safety in construction.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was growing concern about the health status of vulnerable groups living in camps. This study aims to investigate differences in the perception and concerns of pregnant women about the pandemic between two populations, i.e. internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees. In fact, although the two categories are often conflated, the analysis of their respective profiles requires more careful attention. Particularly in Iraqi Kurdistan, these groups of migrants have specific characteristics that this study aims to highlight.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 4,736 pregnant women living in camps in Iraqi Kurdistan. Participants were asked questions about the pandemic and self-perceived disadvantages of COVID-19.

IDP women were more concerned about COVID-19 infection [odds ratio (OR) = 2.59; CI: 2.29–2.92] and more afraid to visit health centers (OR = 3.79; CI: 3.36–4.28), with a reduction of health visits (OR = 0.76; CI: 0.68–0.86). The main self-perceived disadvantages were psychological pressure and concerns about changes in the services available in the camps. On the contrary, refugee women reported the lockdown as one of the most negative effects, together with their economic situation and unemployment.

Studies investigating the health status of vulnerable groups living in camps are generally underrepresented in global research. This study shows that the needs of IDPs and refugees are different, specific and contextual, even when the two groups appear to have similar backgrounds. Tailored interventions, according to the type of migrants hosted in camps, are needed, especially during a pandemic. Community volunteers can play a paramount role in supporting the continuity of health care for these vulnerable populations.

The metaverse offers great potential for creating a new educational environment with unique experiences. Currently, it has been integrated into many stages of education, including classroom study aids, clinical skill interaction and image training simulators, thanks to a new generation of Internet applications. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive systematic review using bibliometric analysis on the metaverse in health education and analyze the trends and patterns of research output within the field.

The paper conducts bibliometric analysis and follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to ensure a rigorous and transparent review process. Specifically, this article identifies research questions, develops a data-collection strategy and establishes a screening approach that includes determining relevant keywords and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria.

A bibliometric analysis is conducted comprising 231 studies from 145 scientific journals to assess the trends, patterns and collaboration networks in research on the use of metaverse technology in health education. This paper provides insights into the research themes, publication trends and countries leading in this field, which can guide future research in this field.

The use of metaverse technology in health education has gained momentum in recent years. Despite this interest, comprehensive studies to review and analyze the existing literature on this topic systematically are lacking. In response, this paper provides a systematic review that explores the potential role of the metaverse in health education. By considering the current research, key trends, research hotspots and opportunities for future investigations are identified. The findings not only shed light on the current state of research but also offer guidance for advancing this exciting field.