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Tangy and fruity or sweet and milky? The combinations are endless! Google’s interactive game Doodle today celebrates bubble tea, also known as boba tea and pearl milk tea.Today’s interactive Doodle,features Taiwan’s indigenous Formosan Mountain Dog as well as a crew of familiar Doodle characters! Satisfy your craving and make a yummy cup of bubble tea, says Doodle.For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Bubble Tea gained such popularity globally that it was officially announced as a new emoji on this day in 2020.Honeydew, matcha, raspberry, mocha – no matter the flavor, don’t forget to mix in some bubbly balls made with fruit jelly or tapioca.The Taiwanese drink started as a local treat and has exploded in popularity over the last few decades.Bubble tea has its roots in traditional Taiwanese tea culture which dates back as early as the 17th century. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the bubble tea as we know today was invented.As waves of Taiwanese immigrants over the past few decades brought this drink overseas, innovation on the original bubble tea continues.Shops around the world are still experimenting with new flavors, additions, and mixtures.Traditional tearooms across Asia have also joined in on the boba craze, and the trend has reached countries like Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and more!
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Credit: https://english.alarabiya.net/life-style/2023/01/29/Google-celebrates-global-popularity-of-Bubble-Tea-with-interactive-Doodle
PETALING JAYA: Employing senior citizens is more sustainable than hiring foreign labour, and may lessen poverty among the elderly in the country, said Cheah Tuck Wing, founding president of Third Age Media Association, an NGO representing the interests of senior citizens.
Last month, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar said there were 1.3 million foreign workers in Malaysia and as of Sept 26 last year, his ministry had approved the employment of another 541,315 of them to address the labour shortage, which is still plaguing local industries, with employers hoping to fill vacancies at optimum level.
“Giving work to senior citizens may help elevate their household income as a short-term solution, but will not uplift them from the clutches of poverty. The government needs to relook employment, wages and the whole system holistically,” Cheah said.
“Many local and foreign workers are exploited and short-changed as there are no unions to defend them, unlike in some countries.
“If an accident or a major health issue affects the breadwinner, the whole family will be in jeopardy. They have no insurance to fall back on and no collateral to take out a loan. This predicament is being experienced by many from B40 families and senior citizens.”
Cheah said a universal basic pension must be considered by the government, especially for the B40 and the needy.
“Employing senior citizens as an option has many benefits. The government should provide tax incentives and other motivations for employers to hire them.
“It is proven that seniors who continue to work are healthier both physically and mentally.”
He said with such a move, the government would spend less on healthcare and other related costs as seniors, whose population is fast growing, become healthier and less dependent on the government.
“Seniors have accumulated vast experience, knowledge and skills, which they can contribute to employers, the economy and society. Their expertise and virtues are sought after by most organisations.
“In white-collar jobs, they are more reliable and consistent as they tend to stay on the job for longer periods compared with younger employees. Organisations understand that senior citizens, especially those at management level, have strong leadership, good language and organisational skills,” Cheah told theSun.
He said many senior citizens also possess good governance, that has been learned over decades of working, and this can help propel their younger teams forward.
“Their established track record in managing changes, uncertainties and conflict is in great demand. Their talents and skills should not be wasted.”
A World Bank report released in 2020 found that 7% of Malaysians were aged 65 and above, which classified the country as an “ageing society”.
The report also said the rate of ageing would increase in the coming years, with those aged 65 and above projected to double to 14% by 2044 and 20% by 2056, resulting in the Malaysian society becoming “super-aged”.
Economist and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff Kassim said Singapore is employing its senior citizens to keep them active and not be too dependent on foreign labour.
“This is a way for senior citizens to keep themselves healthy and active. There will be some limitations on what they can do, such as hard physical work, but their experience in corporations as managers and senior executives is something that can be passed down to the younger generation, so we can have skill sets that are a mix of old and new.”
Sheriff said this will help poor families to have additional earners who can increase the total household income and enable them to get out of poverty.
“This is a solution for the poor and needy and the government to address the shortage of workers nationwide.”
Credit: https://www.thesundaily.my/local/hire-senior-citizens-to-help-address-labour-shortage-raise-household-income-JC10566780
Google, on January 29, unveiled an interactive game on its homepage today which challenges users to make the perfect cup of bubble tea, as requested by “a crew of familiar Doodle characters.” Also known as boba tea or pearl milk tea, the drink from Taiwan has grown in popularity beyond its country of origin, to even find inroads in the local cafes of Thiruvananthapuram.
Bubble tea is a sweetened tea-based drink made using natural flavours, syrups that are water or cream based, black tea and tapioca pearls. The large-sized dark brown tapioca pearls are boiled, drained and sweetened, and later added to the tea. As you sip the drink through a wide straw, the tapioca pearls come up too, giving you the opportunity to ‘eat your drink’.
However, as most unique food items, the creation of bubble tea was a delicious accident. In 2018, The Hindu had traced the drink’s origin back to 1987, when the founder of Chun Shui Tang Teahouse, Liu Han Chieh, wanted to introduce cold tea to the menu. His product development manager, Lin Hsiu Hui, dropped tapioca balls into her iced tea, for fun, and bubble tea was invented. Today, it is served in most teahouses in Taiwan.
Through its interactive game today, which features Taiwan’s indigenous Formosan Mountain Dog, Google commemorates the announcement of Bubble Tea as a new emoji on this day in 2020.
Google’s blog gives further information on this delicacy saying that the tea has its roots in traditional Taiwanese tea culture which dates back as early as the 17th century.
“As waves of Taiwanese immigrants over the past few decades brought this drink overseas, innovation on the original bubble tea continues. Shops around the world are still experimenting with new flavors, additions, and mixtures. Traditional tearooms across Asia have also joined in on the boba craze, and the trend has reached countries like Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and more,” it says.
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Credit: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet/google-doodle-celebrates-bubble-tea-with-an-interactive-game/article66446158.ece
Canadians across the country and people around the world kicked off the first day of Lunar New Year celebrations Sunday and welcomed the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit.
What is the Lunar New Year?
The Lunar New Year is the most important annual holiday in China and is also celebrated in other countries such as Vietnam, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. Some traditions are shared among these nations and their descendants, but celebrations are largely unique to each country’s cultural identity.
This Lunar new Year begins Jan. 22 and spans over 15 days from the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ending on the first full moon.
Why is it the Year of the Rabbit?
The Year of the Tiger has now come to a close as the lunar calendar moves on to its fourth year in the Chinese zodiac cycle — the Year of the Rabbit.
Each year is named after one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac in a repeating cycle. The Chinese zodiac is made up of 12 animals, starting with the rat and running through the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The zodiac is seen as crucial to understanding people and their health, wealth and love.
Those born in the Year of the Rabbit — including 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987 and every 12-year cycle before that — are associated with qualities like calm, empathy, patience and ingenuity. According to Chinese culture, the Year of the Rabbit symbolizes longevity, peace and prosperity, and the new year is predicted to be one of hope.
While communities across Asia are welcoming the Year of the Rabbit, the Vietnamese are instead celebrating the Year of the Cat. There’s no official answer to explain the difference, but one theory suggests cats are popular because they often help Vietnamese rice farmers to chase away rats.
How is the festival celebrated?
For the past three years, Lunar New Year celebrations were muted in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many celebrate the first day of the Lunar New Year at home with family, but parades and other public celebrations are popular options this year.
Some communities are celebrating through events including street festivals, performances, zodiac fortune telling, mahjong competitions and more.
Specific festivities can vary among different cultures but the holiday is largely associated with spending time with family. Many Chinese families will gather to make large traditional dinners, while shopping and light fireworks are also traditions for some.
What are lion dances?
Lion dances are a form of traditional dance in China and other Asian countries — often performed at Lunar New Year celebrations — in which performers in a lion costume mimic the animal’s movements. They are often performed to large crowds outside shopping malls and businesses and are thought to bring good luck, according to Chinese tradition.
The dances date back thousands of years and are usually performed in colourful costumes, with a front dancer controlling a giant lion mask while another at the back controls the body and legs. The performances often feature loud drums and cymbals.
What about red packets?
Another popular Lunar New Year tradition is when parents, married couples and older family members hand out red envelopes containing crisp money and treats to unmarried youth and younger children. The act is thought to help get rid of bad spirits and wish the youth good fortune for the upcoming year.
The envelopes are red because the colour brings prosperity in Chinese culture, while money symbolizes the hope for wealth and abundance. Throughout the festive season many will also wear red or hang up red-and-gold decorations, which also signify good fortune and prosperity.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2023.
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Credit: https://everythinggp.com/2023/01/22/five-things-to-know-about-lunar-new-year-and-the-year-of-the-rabbit/
Also, New Zealand’s next leader and a Lunar New Year travel surge in China.
The sheriff of Los Angeles County said yesterday that the authorities were looking for an Asian man between 30 and 50 years old. He opened fire at a dance hall, and witnesses said he seemed to shoot indiscriminately. At least 10 others were injured. The authorities offered no motive for the attack.
The mass shooting is the latest tragedy to strike Asian Americans, who have faced rising violence throughout the pandemic. Monterey Park is about 65 percent Asian American, and has been called “the first suburban Chinatown.” It is perhaps best known as the first city in the continental U.S. where a majority of inhabitants have ethnically Asian ancestry.
A pattern: This mass shooting is the deadliest in the U.S. since the Uvalde massacre last May, when a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in Texas. There have been 33 mass shootings in the U.S. so far in 2023, according to a nonprofit research group.
Chris Hipkins, who oversaw the country’s unique pandemic approach, is set to become New Zealand’s new prime minister next month.
Hipkins, 44, was a clear front-runner to become the leader of the Labour Party after Jacinda Ardern’s surprise resignation last week. As the health minister, and then the minister for New Zealand’s Covid-19 response, he was the face of the country’s stringent, but widely applauded, response to the pandemic.
The incoming leader faces a number of major challenges. Voters are looking for respite from inflation, a continuing housing crisis and other entrenched social problems such as crime and child poverty. He could struggle to get beyond his association with pandemic policy, which tainted Ardern’s leadership.
Up ahead: In a national election in October, Hipkins will face Christopher Luxon, the leader of the center-right National Party.
For many Chinese people traveling for Lunar New Year, the joy of finally seeing loved ones for the holiday without the risk of a lockdown is laced with anxiety. Many are traveling from cities to rural areas, where health care services are woefully underdeveloped. They fear spreading the virus to older relatives.
They’re also on the move just weeks after the government lifted its “zero Covid” restrictions. One official said it was “the most challenging spring festival in recent years,” as outbreaks continue to spread. “It’s precisely because we’ve opened up that I feel so tense,” one villager said.
But after years of muted celebrations, hundreds of millions of people are aching for reunions. In one sign of national relief, some people on social media are celebrating congestion at travel hubs as a sign of a return to normal — or at least to a new normal.
Details: Before the pandemic, the travel rush was the world’s largest annual migration. This year, China expects traffic to nearly double compared with 2022, exceeding two billion passenger trips over the holiday period.
Zero Covid fallout: Some Chinese entrepreneurs have left the country, my colleague Li Yuan writes in an analysis. They moved to Singapore, and took their wealth with them.
Americans in Paris think “Emily in Paris” is giving them a bad name.
India’s film industry puts about 1,500 stories on the screen annually. But every day, audiences in Mumbai line up for “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge,” a movie still on the screen after 27 years.
The film, known as “D.D.L.J.,” is a boy-meets-girl story set in India in the 1990s, a moment of unbridled optimism when the economy had just opened up. In many ways, the India of today is similar to the one reflected in the movie. The economy is still on the rise. Women are still seeking more freedom. Modernity and conservatism remain in tension.
But some of the sense of unlimited possibility has waned since the movie’s 1995 premiere. As the early rewards of liberalization peaked and economic inequities deepened, aspirations of mobility have diminished. Some on Mumbai’s margins buy a ticket to escape into a rosier past, while others still seek inspiration.
These black sesame shortbread cookies are snappy, crumbly and not too sweet.
“After Love,” an intelligent portrait of grief, follows a British woman who discovers her husband has been leading a double life.
Here’s how to see a green-hued comet pass by Earth for the first time since the Stone Age.
Four wedding ceremonies. Three continents. One Indian-Ghanian-American marriage.
Play the Mini Crossword, and a clue: Hairstyling goop (three letters).
Here are the Wordle and the Spelling Bee.
You can find all our puzzles here.
P.S.: A.G. Sulzberger, The Times’s publisher, discussed the problem of disinformation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Here’s Friday’s edition of “The Daily,” on migrants trying to come to the U.S.
We’d like your feedback! Please email thoughts and suggestions to [email protected]
Credit: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/22/briefing/mass-shooting-lunar-california.html
What are people born in the Year of the Rabbit associated with, and how is the day celebrated?
Canadians across the country and people around the world kicked off the first day of Lunar New Year celebrations Sunday and welcomed the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit.
What is the Lunar New Year?
The Lunar New Year is the most important annual holiday in China and is also celebrated in other countries such as Vietnam, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. Some traditions are shared among these nations and their descendants, but celebrations are largely unique to each country’s cultural identity.
The Lunar New Year marks the start of the lunar calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon and falls on a different day each year depending on the moon cycle.
This Lunar new Year begins Jan. 22 and spans over 15 days from the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ending on the first full moon.
Why is it the Year of the Rabbit?
The Year of the Tiger has now come to a close as the lunar calendar moves on to its fourth year in the Chinese zodiac cycle — the Year of the Rabbit.
Each year is named after one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac in a repeating cycle. The Chinese zodiac is made up of 12 animals, starting with the rat and running through the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The zodiac is seen as crucial to understanding people and their health, wealth and love.
Those born in the Year of the Rabbit — including 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987 and every 12-year cycle before that — are associated with qualities like calm, empathy, patience and ingenuity. According to Chinese culture, the Year of the Rabbit symbolizes longevity, peace and prosperity, and the new year is predicted to be one of hope.
While communities across Asia are welcoming the Year of the Rabbit, the Vietnamese are instead celebrating the Year of the Cat. There’s no official answer to explain the difference, but one theory suggests cats are popular because they often help Vietnamese rice farmers to chase away rats.
How is the festival celebrated?
For the past three years, Lunar New Year celebrations were muted in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many celebrate the first day of the Lunar New Year at home with family, but parades and other public celebrations are popular options this year.
Some communities are celebrating through events including street festivals, performances, zodiac fortune telling, mahjong competitions and more.
Specific festivities can vary among different cultures but the holiday is largely associated with spending time with family. Many Chinese families will gather to make large traditional dinners, while shopping and light fireworks are also traditions for some.
What are lion dances?
Lion dances are a form of traditional dance in China and other Asian countries — often performed at Lunar New Year celebrations — in which performers in a lion costume mimic the animal’s movements. They are often performed to large crowds outside shopping malls and businesses and are thought to bring good luck, according to Chinese tradition.
The dances date back thousands of years and are usually performed in colourful costumes, with a front dancer controlling a giant lion mask while another at the back controls the body and legs. The performances often feature loud drums and cymbals.
What about red packets?
Another popular Lunar New Year tradition is when parents, married couples and older family members hand out red envelopes containing crisp money and treats to unmarried youth and younger children. The act is thought to help get rid of bad spirits and wish the youth good fortune for the upcoming year.
The envelopes are red because the colour brings prosperity in Chinese culture, while money symbolizes the hope for wealth and abundance. Throughout the festive season many will also wear red or hang up red-and-gold decorations, which also signify good fortune and prosperity.
This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Welcome to the Year of the Rabbit (or cat, depending on which calendar you follow)!
The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is a celebration of the new year that begins Sunday, Jan. 22, and ends on Sunday, Feb. 5. It is celebrated around the globe, particularly in China, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Tibet.
Referred to by many as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year lasts up to 16 days. In China, the first seven days are considered a public holiday.
The Lunar New Year also marks the change of signs on the Chinese zodiac calendar. In 2022, it was the year of the Tiger, and now in 2023, it's the year of the Rabbit.
In Vietnam, there are multiple explanations for why the Vietnamese Zodiac has a cat. Some say the word for rabbit in Chinese, which is pronounced “mao,” was misinterpreted as it sounds like “mèo” in Vietnamese. While others reference a myth of a feast held by either Buddha or the Jade Emperor in which a race among animals determined the zodiac order. Some legends say the cat finishes in fourth place, while in others, the cat is disqualified or was pushed into the river by the rat.
South Koreans celebrate Seollal, or Korean Near Year, which is considered one of the major traditional holidays. Seollal starts either around January or February, depending on the year, and lasts around three years.
This year, Seollal lands on January 22 and families will start gathering the day before. Traditionally, families can enjoy Tteokguk, or Korean Rice Cake Soup, which is a beef broth soup topped with seaweed, eggs and rice cakes. The dish is believed to bring good luck.
Children bow or kneel on the ground to their elders to show respect and wish them luck for the new year. in response, the elders gift the children sebetdon-money usually inside an envelope.
Similarly, Hóng bāo, or red envelopes, are given in Chinese culture during the Lunar New Year. Hóng bāo are called lai see in Cantonese and ang pow in Hokkien. The color red of the envelope is used to represent prosperity.
Inside these decorated envelopes are various amounts of cash. They are given to children and the elderly to represent best wishes. In Chinese tradition, elders and, in some parts, married couples give the envelopes to children, unmarried family members and friends.
The Lunar New Year is a chance for a fresh start; the annual festival includes cleaning, cleansing, hanging banners, food preparation and eating with loved ones. People typically travel home from wherever they are to see loved ones for a few days up to a few weeks.
SD Lunar New Year Festival (Jan. 20-22)Where: Jeremy Henwood Park; Cost: FreeCelebrate the new year with folk and traditional performances, art, cultural exhibitions, costume contests, photo ops, kids activities, and much more.
Chinese New Year Festival (Jan. 20-22)Where: International Cottages at Balboa Park; Cost: FreeBalboa Park's House of China will celebrate Chinese New Year at Balboa Park starting at 11 a.m. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of food, live entertainment and fun for the whole family.
San Diego Tet Festival (Jan. 27-29)Where: Mira Mesa Community Park; Cost: FreeSan Diego's annual Tet Festival celebrates the Lunar New Year with live entertainment, giveaways, performances from A-list Vietnamese artists, and much more.
Annual San Diego Chinese New Year Food and Cultural Fair (Feb. 4-5)Where: Downtown San Diego; Cost: FreeJoin the San Diego Chinese New Year Fair for a free event with musical performances, acrobatics and other live entertainment, handicrafts, and more.
Credit: https://www.10news.com/lifestyle/exploring-san-diego/lunar-new-year-2023-year-of-the-rabbit
If ever there was a changing of the guard in the El Clasico rivalry, it felt like today was that day as Barcelona’s youthful midfield ran circles around Real Madrid’s aging veterans in a resounding 3-1 win to secure the Supercopa de Espana title.
18-year-old Gavi was the star of the show, with a goal and two assists to secure his first silverware and bury a dagger into Real Madrid hearts. 20-year-old Pedri added a goal himself as the two young Spaniards controlled the dynamic throughout with their pressing and passing alike.
On the other end, aging midfield duo Toni Kroos and Luka Madrid were nowhere to be found, as Kroos especially was entirely off the pace. Both were yanked midway through the second half but it was far too late at that point to change the run of play.
The win for Barcelona breaks a four-match duck for the Blaugrana in this rivalry, in a big moment to secure the Supercopa crown. Real Madrid, defeated in this final and sitting three points back of Barcelona in the La Liga table, have lots of questions to answer as they return to Spain and look ahead to producing a title challenge as well as a Champions League defense.
The Sporting News will be following the match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona final score| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Real Madrid | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Barcelona | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Goals:
34th min — BAR — Gavi
45th min — BAR — Robert Lewandowski
69th min — BAR — Pedri
90+3 min — RMA — Karim Benzema
Confirmed lineups:
Real Madrid (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Courtois (GK) — 2. Carvajal (N. Fernandez, 72'), 3. Militao, 22. Rudiger, 23. Mendy — 8. Kroos (Asensio, 72'), 12. Camavinga (Rodrygo, 46'), 10. Modric (Ceballos, 65') — 15. Valverde, 9. Benzema, 20. Vinicius Jr.
Barcelona (3-4-2-1, right to left): 1. Ter Stegen (GK) — 4. Araujo (Garcia, 87'), 23. Kounde, 15. Christensen — 28. Balde, 21. De Jong (Kessie, 87'), 5. Busquets, 7. Dembele (Raphinha, 78') — 8. Pedri (Fati, 90'), 30. Gavi (Roberto, 90') — 9. Lewandowski.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona live updates, highlights, commentary FULLTIME: Real Madrid 1-3 BarcelonaA completely dominant performance from Barcelona, especially the midfield, and the Catalan side wins the Supercopa de Espana! It's a resounding 90 minutes that will shape this rivalry for the foreseeable future, with the young guns showing the aging veterans how its done.
Barcelona have a number of promising players who were exceptional in this match, including midfielders Gavi and Pedri, plus young wing-back Alex Balde. Add in 25-year-old Frenkie de Jong and Ousmane Dembele, and this Barcelona side seems set up well for both now and the future.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, have lots of reflecting to do. Aging veterans were not up to snuff, while a few young players did not have the same cutting edge as their opponents. Carlo Ancelotti's finals streak comes to an end, and Madrid are now forced to refocus on the league where they also face a disadvantage.
First #ElClásico goal for DJ Gavi! pic.twitter.com/kyGlrNUsLm
— FC Barcelona January 15, 2023 Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Second Half90+3 min: GOAL! REAL MADRID! It's nothing more than a consolation for Karim Benzema, but the Frenchman marks his day with a late goal. It's a goal thats in all honesty representative of the evening, as Benzema received the cross from the left and fired on frame, but his initial effort was stopped by Marc-Andre ter Stegen's outstretched foot. It rebounded straight back to him, however, and he was able to finish the second chance. There is no celebration, as it's nothing more than a footnote on an otherwise disappointing day.
87th min: A pair of changes for Barcelona as Eric Garcia and Franck Kessie come on. Ronald Araujo, who has had injury problems of late, limps off, a concerning sight for Barcelona fans. Frenkie de Jong also comes off. Moments later Pedri and Gavi are off for Sergi Roberto and Ansu Fati.
On the restart, Lewandowski goes for rubbing salt in the wound, trying to catch Thibaut Courtois off his line from midfield, but it's miles off target.
84th min: This game is ending as a snoozefest, as neither team has any desire to press the issue further. It's understandable, as Barcelona have clearly stamped their dominance on this match and have no need to add any more. Real Madrid, for their part, are nowhere near the ball, with little desire to risk injury amongst a crowded fixture schedule for a pipe dream comeback.
76th min: Real Madrid look well beaten. They're jogging around with no desire to win the ball off Barcelona in midfield. The Blaugrana, for their part, just start knocking it about, begging Real Madrid to come get the ball off them. The crowd gets more and more anxious. I'm sure the Spanish press will take this well and definitely not overreact.
Awaiting El Chiringuito content after Real Madrid losses like a kid on Christmas
— Roberto Rojas January 15, 2023Ousmane Dembele comes off, replaced by Raphinha who could use a good showing here to get back in form.
71st min: Carlo Ancelotti will bring on a duo of changes down 3-0, including a defensive one, which tells you everything you need to know about how he feels this game has gone. It's Toni Kroos coming off, and it has to be said, the German midfielder has been one of the worst performers. Marco Asension replaces Kroos, while Dani Carvajal also comes off as Nacho Fernandez replaces him.
One of the worst performances from Toni Kroos you'll ever see today. Eaten alive today by the Barcelona midfield, which is half his age. Yikes.
— Kyle Bonn January 15, 202369th min: GOAL! BARCELONA! A third for the La Liga leaders, and this one's all but over! Gavi with yet another goal contribution, as he first wins the ball back in midfield before producing a cross that, with the help of a deflection, falls to Pedri at the far post for a tap-in. This is an onslaught, and Real Madrid have surely deserved it, they've been so poor.
Watch in the USA:
BARCELONA ARE ON FIRE
Pedri makes it 3-0 over Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/mBPpKDWzR8
— ESPN FC January 15, 2023Watch in the UK:
Lewandowski Gavi Pedri... GOAL!
It's a third! Pedri gets in on the act as Barcelona are running rampant against Real Madrid...#ElClásico | #SuperSupercopa pic.twitter.com/S95EIYJ4KC
— Football on BT Sport January 15, 202363rd min: Barcelona simply look like the side with more energy, more desire, and more urgency in this match. Real Madrid are so nonchalant on the ball, and they seem to almost be expecting to fall short in various moves. Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr very nearly produced a brilliant chance down the left, passing between defenders with ease, but it reaches the feet of Benzema needing a final bit of magic which he fails to produce, and the Barcelona defenders pick the ball off him.
Luka Modric makes way for Dani Ceballos as Carlo Ancelotti continues to search for answers.
59th min: The game has fallen to sleep a bit, with Real Madrid showing some impetus but failing to produce any real chances. Barcelona largely holding firm and winning free-kicks to relieve pressure. Ancelotti, who is not often an animated figure, is showing some serious frustration on the touchline.
51st min: Chance, Barcelona! Another massive save from Thibaut Courtois! Barcelona surge forward at blistering speed, first through Alex Balde who races past Dani Carvajal with his afterburners down the left, and his cross bypasses Robert Lewandowski in the middle, finding Ousmane Dembele who's one-on-one with the Real Madrid goalkeeper at the far post. Courtois makes a spectacular kick save to keep the game within reach.
Great run by Balde and phenomenal pass - all while ignoring Lewandowski calling for it, which takes character
— Rik Sharma January 15, 202349th min: Andreas Christensen is the first Barcelona player and second overall in this match to enter the referee's book, with a full bear hug around Rodrygo on the touchline, dragging him off the ball. The official also has a chat with Rodrygo who went sprinting towards the referee brandishing a pretend card. Officials are always put off by that.
Good stuff from Rodrygo in the first 5 mins
— Managing Madrid January 15, 202347th min: Real Madrid make it longer into the second half without conceding than they did against Valencia in the semifinal, when they coughed up a goal 22 seconds after the second-half whistle. It's Madrid into the attack here, with Vinicius Jr trying to make something happen down the left but he's walled off.
Kickoff: The players are out for the second half, and it looks like Rodrygo will enter the fray for Real Madrid. It's hard to say there were any truly glaring tactical weaknesses for Los Blancos in that first half that could be changed with a substitution, the players just simply need to play better.
Still, there's an attacking injection for Carlo Ancelotti as Madrid look to push for a comeback, with the final frame of regulation now under way.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona: HalftimeIt has to be said, Barcelona were clearly the better side in that first half and absolutely deserve their two-goal lead. Real Madrid were incredibly poor, both on and off the ball.
Barcelona's press directly led to the first goal just past the half-hour mark, while one simple pass through midfield sprung the second. It's just been far too simple for Barcelona as they look comfortable absorbing token pressure, were pinpoint in their pressing, and ruthless in front of goal.
Lewandowski to Gavi for the first, Gavi to Lewandowski for the second. If not for a stellar Thibaut Courtois save, it could have been even worse. Real Madrid have plenty of changes to make!
Gavi’s first half by numbers vs. Real Madrid:
100% crosses completed
92% pass accuracy
33 touches
3/5 ground duels won
3 key passes
2/2 tackles won
2/2 aerial duels won
1 big chance created
1 goal
1 assist
Insane contribution. pic.twitter.com/CeQwyDe1Ya
— Statman Dave January 15, 2023 Real Madrid vs Barcelona: First half45th min: GOAL! BARCELONA! Another calamity from Real Madrid in midfield, and it results in another goal for Barcelona, finished off by Robert Lewandowski! Sergio Busquets starts it with an outstanding pass that gets right past both Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, and then Gavi down the left edge of the penalty area cuts to Lewandowski at pace at the top of the six-yard box. Free on goal, Lewandowski would never miss from there, and Barcelona go 2-0 up. Too easy!
Watch in the USA:
LEWANDOWSKI MAKES IT 2-0 FOR BARCELONA pic.twitter.com/51gUuGUuky
— ESPN FC January 15, 2023Watch in the UK:
LEWANDOWSKI MAKES IT TWO
Real Madrid are caught out as Gavi puts it on a plate for Robert Lewandowski to double Barcelona's advantage before half-time!#ElClásico | #SuperSupercopa pic.twitter.com/kxmnjclzSg
— Football on BT Sport January 15, 202343rd min: Vinicius Jr has a great chance to run at the Barcelona defense, but he takes a heavy first touch and the chance evaporates. He's then whistled for a clear foul on Jules Kounde after losing out to the Barcelona defender at the top of the penalty area. The Brazilian is in quite poor form since returning from the World Cup.
39th min: Real Madrid holding significant possession again since the goal, but again not much to show for it. A poor corner delivery is cleared easily by the first man, and then another deep cross into the area is headed away by Ronald Araujo. Eder Militao makes a mistake in possession on the touchline and it goes out of play. Los Blancos are shell-shocked at the moment.
33rd min: GOAL! BARCELONA! Real Madrid so sloppy trying to play out of the back, and 18-year-old Gavi makes them pay! A turnover generated by an excellent Eduardo Camavinga tackle springs the chance, and the ball filters to Robert Lewandowski at the top of the penalty area. He slots it laterally to Gavi, and the reigining Golden Boy finishes with a cool left-footed effort.
Watch in the USA:
GAVI GIVES BARCELONA THE LEAD IN THE SUPERCOPA FINAL pic.twitter.com/AZPLjBSaA7
— ESPN FC January 15, 2023Watch in the UK:
Gavi puts Barcelona ahead in the Super Cup Clásico
Barcelona's high press pays off as Gavi bags his first career goal against Real Madrid!#ElClásico | #SuperSupercopa pic.twitter.com/gNJkonGPNv
— Football on BT Sport January 15, 202332nd min: First yellow card of the match comes to Ferland Mendy for yanking back Ousmane Dembele by the shoulder with both arms as the French winger hoped to cut across his defender on the ball. This is a dangerous free-kick chance for Barcelona from the right edge of the penalty area.
The delivery is an excellent one, right to the goal mouth, but it's punched away by Marc-Andre ter Stegen and then the official stops play with Antonio Rudiger down. Looks like Rudiger took the brunt of the punch to the head from his German countrymate. He's after a quick check he's fine, and gets up to run it off.
28th min: It seemed that Barcelona had formluated out how to suffocate the Real Madrid buildup, but Los Blancos have finally figured out how to pass their way through. It's still a very slow progression from Madrid, but there's more space as Barcelona back off some to conserve energy.
There's a worry that Robert Lewandowski has come off the pitch and is receiving medical treatment. It's not quite clear why or for what, but play continues for now.
26th min: Great goalkeeping from Marc-Andre ter Stegen who comes off his line to dispossess Karim Benzema after it seemed he'd rounded the German goalkeeper. The flag goes up late and nullifies any potential profit from that move.
18th min: Chance, Real Madrid! Finally Real Madrid get into the Barcelona attacking third, and Karim Benzema puts a header wide! The cross from Ferland Mendy was exceptional, right on a platter, and you'd expect the Frenchman to do better with that. He was aiming for the top corner and missed.
Find out more about why Karim Benzema wears a bandage on his hand in all matches.
La respuesta de Benzema ha sido ese cabezazo rozando la escuadra pic.twitter.com/IE0oWs2iTp
— Manu Heredia January 15, 202317th min: A significant amount of this opening 20 minutes has been played in the Real Madrid half. Los Blancos are struggling to get out of their area, despite holding significant possession. Barcelona press has been spectacular.
13th min: Chance, Barcelona! The Blaugrana are coming close, and Courtois makes an INCREDIBLE save!!! Robert Lewandowski takes aim from the top of the penalty area, and Courtois goes full stretch to push the ball off the post! SO CLOSE for Barcelona! Alex Balde has the follow up chance with Courtois on the ground but he lashes at it and rifles it way off target.
We need to start counting Courtois' saves as goals
— Guillermo Rai January 15, 2023Watch in the UK:
Thibaut Courtois denies Robert Lewandowski
The first big chance of the game falls to Barcelona as Courtois pushes Lewandowski's effort onto the post... While Alejandro Balde blazes over!#ElClásico | #SuperSupercopa pic.twitter.com/roURYkuOyc
— Football on BT Sport January 15, 202311th min: Chance, Barcelona! Robert Lewandowski heads over! Another vertical looped ball over the top finds the head of Lewandowski at the near post this time, and his flick is over the crossbar with his back to goal. A very high degree of difficulty chance. There was also a hint of possible offside had it gone in, but it was very, very tight.
9th min: Vinicius Jr, who has been fouled the most of any player in La Liga, gets chopped down by a sliding Ronald Araujo challenge. The tackle comes outside the field of play over the touchline but it still counts, and gives a free-kick to Real Madrid in the middle third.
6th min: Chance, Barcelona! On a free-kick, Ronald Araujo somehow sneaks clear on the far post, and the ball from deep very nearly finds him as he slides towards the goal mouth, but it evades his stretch by inches. Very close, nobody marked the Uruguayan defender!
La tuvo Araujo, pero no logró impactar el esférico#SuperSupercopa pic.twitter.com/ps4URkXDAm
— BeSoccer January 15, 20233rd min: Jules Kounde marshals the ball out of play with strength against Vinicius Jr who is pushing hard to win it back. Expect Kounde and Araujo to get plenty of Vini all match.
Ronald Araújo ocupando la posición de lateral derecho para tratar de neutralizar a Vinicius.
— Manuel Alejandro Ramírez January 15, 20232nd min: Real Madrid possess the ball early but Barcelona generate a turnover in the attacking half, although little comes from it. Barcelona pressing quite high early on, but that likely won't last terribly long.
Kickoff: The match between two heated rivals is under way from Saudi Arabia! It looks like Barcelona are indeed in a 3-4-2-1 with Ronald Araujo deployed as the right centre-back to defend Vinicius Jr.
¡Que ruede! #SuperSupercopa pic.twitter.com/nplg8WO38J
— Real Madrid C.F. January 15, 2023#ElClásico | #SupercopaBarça pic.twitter.com/d9BCKWPOlE
— FC Barcelona January 15, 2023 Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Pre-match commentary, analysis13 mins to kick: Real Madrid are in good shape, but it must hurt to see talent abroad excelling for other teams, particularly in the Premier League. They still have to replace the likes of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric at some point too. Martin Odegaard would be quite useful for Los Blancos in that regard, but he is now at Arsenal, who are on their way to a Premier League title.
Casemiro doing it for Manchester United, Odegaard doing it for Arsenal.
Real Madrid is now your source of breakthrough. Appreciate the greatest team ever.
— Damilola Alagbe January 15, 202336 mins to kick: Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets will make his 45th appearance in El Clasico, equaling the record of Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos. He may get a chance to break that mark later this season. What a career!
45 - Sergio Busquets will make his 45th appearance in #ElClásico in all competitions, equalling Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos as the players with the most appearances in the games between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Legends.#SuperSuperCup pic.twitter.com/VwKTlvmZ6V
— OptaJose January 15, 202362 mins to kick: There are questions about how Barcelona will be structured in this match. There are reports that Ronald Araujo will line up on the flank and mark Vinicius Jr, while others believe this is a three-CB formation. Vinicius has been in poor form of late, and needs a big match to break out of his funk. Araujo has struggled with injuries of late but has performed well when asked to play out wide. Barcelona did occasionally show a three-CB formation in the semifinal, which does lend us to believe that's how they will play.
Le même 11 que contre l’Atleti avec Balde à la place de Alba, Lewy à la place de Fati et Araujo à droite pour gérer Vinicius pic.twitter.com/rfzNUePnuY
— Masian January 15, 202375 mins to kick: The Barcelona lineup is now out, and the speculation that Xavi might switch to a 3-4-2-1 proved accurate. Both Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong are deployed as a midfield pivot, while the struggling Raphinha drops to the bench.
90 mins to kick: Incredibly, Carlo Ancelotti contests yet another final hoping to keep his streak alive, not having lost a final since 2014. He is fresh off winning the IFFHS 2022 Club Coach of the Year award just a few days ago, which is handed out by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, the statistical overlords of FIFA. See more on the trophies Carlo Ancelotti has won here.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has been chosen as the #IFFHS Club Coach of the Year for 2022.
The Italian wins the award for the third time.
Pep Guardiola was second and Walid Regragui came third after winning the African Champions League with Wydad Casablanca.
— EWN Sport January 10, 2023105 mins to kick: Real Madrid, for whatever reason, has already announced their starting lineup for the match, even though it doesn't start for quite some time. There's just one minor surprise, as Rodrygo drops to the bench in favor of Luka Modric, who returns to the starting lineup and bumps Federico Valverde up to the wing.
Camavinga starts, Valverde on the RW and Rodrygo on the bench against Barcelona.
— Lucas Navarrete January 15, 2023120 mins to kick: Before things get serious and these two teams play for a title, here's a little fun from the Barcelona social team, as Pedri and Ansu Fati play a game of 7-Second Challenge with each other, where they try to answer questions quickly. Always good to see a bit of the players' personality!
𝟕 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄 | 𝑃𝐸𝐷𝑅𝐼 𝑣𝑠 𝐴𝑁𝑆𝑈 𝐹𝐴𝑇𝐼
Nos joueurs relèvent le défi ! Qui l'emportera ?#ElClasico #SupercopaBarça pic.twitter.com/kIPM50T9xQ
— FC Barcelona January 15, 2023 Real Madrid vs Barcelona lineups & team newsA Real Madrid team already missing the injured Aurelien Tchouameni and David Alaba saw three more players pick up injuries in Wednesday's semifinal. But only right-back Lucas Vazquez (right ankle) won't recover in time for the final, forcing Dani Carvajal to start the match.
Luka Modric was rested against Valencia in the semifinal, and he returns as expected to start the final. It was thought that Eduardo Camavinga, who's reportedly not 100 percent, would drop to the bench, but instead it's Rodrygo who falls out, as Federico Valverde moves up into the attack. Ferland Mendy also returning to the XI after Nacho Fernandez served as the starter against Valencia.
Real Madrid confirmed starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy — Kroos, Camavinga, Modric — Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
Real Madrid subs (12): Lopez (GK), Lunin (GK), N. Fernandez, Vallejo, Odorizola, Martin, Ceballos, Asensio, Hazard, Rodrygo, Diaz.
Our starting 𝗫𝗜 for the final!
#SuperSupercopa pic.twitter.com/4QpFadXBIH
After starting the semifinal on the bench, veteran midfielder Sergio Busquets was expected to return to the XI, and he does, slotting into the middle. Sports daily AS posited a scenario in which coach Xavi Hernandez opts to play with four midfielders, in which Frenkie de Jong would come in for Raphinha, and that ultimately came true.
Reports also indicated that Ronald Araujo, who trained separately from the team on the eve of the match, would be tabbed to return. That also comes true, with Andreas Christensen entering at centre-back to partner with Jules Kounde and Araujo in a three-at-the-back system. Ousmane Dembele will play wing-back opposite Alex Balde.
Barcelona projected starting lineup (3-4-2-1, right to left): Ter Stegen (GK) — Araujo, Kounde, Christensen — Balde, Busquets, De Jong, Dembele — Pedri, Gavi — Lewandowski.
Barcelona subs (11): Pena (GK), Tenas (GK), Roberto, Alonso, Garcia, Alba, Kessie, Raphinha, Torres, Fati, Depay.
BARÇA XI #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/StRqk5PXgZ
— FC Barcelona January 15, 2023 How to watch Real Madrid vs BarcelonaSelect broadcasters in countries around the world have carried the Spanish Supercopa matches, including in the UK and USA.
For other regions that don't have a local broadcast or stream, fans can access the matches on streaming platform Shahid VIP, as indicated by LiveSoccerTV.
| — | Shahid |
| — | Shahid |
| — | Shahid |
| — | Shahid |
| — | Shahid |
| — | Shahid |
| — | Shahid |
| BT Sport 1 | BT Sport site/app |
| ABC, ESPN Deportes | fuboTV, ESPN+ |
UK: The Supercopa will be carried in the UK on BT Sport's TV and streaming platforms.
USA: The match will be televised on ABC (English) and ESPN Deportes (Spanish) with both those televised matches streaming on fuboTV. ESPN's streaming service ESPN+ will also carry streams in English and Spanish for subscribers.
MORE: Everything to know about the Spanish Supercopa 2023
Real Madrid vs Barcelona betting odds & linesOdds via BetMGM (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), SkyBet (UK), and Neds (Australia).
Barcelona have the slight edge according to the betting markets, with goals also expected in the match.
Although not listed in the table below, the betting numbers say that Robert Lewandowski has the better likelihood to score at nearly even money odds, with Karim Benzema at nearly the same price.
| Real Madrid win (90 mins) | +180 | 2.64 | 7/4 | 2.65 |
| Draw (90 mins) | +245 | 3.39 | 13/5 | 3.25 |
| Barcelona win (90 mins) | +150 | 2.49 | 11/8 | 2.30 |
| Both teams to score (Y / N) |
-160 / +125 | 1.52 / 2.21 | 1/2, 6/4 | 1.53 / 2.35 |
| Over / Under 2.5 total goals |
-135 / +105 | 1.68 / 2.10 | 8/13, 6/5 | 1.67 / 2.10 |
| Real Madrid +0.5 | -190 | 1.52 | — | — |
| Barcelona -0.5 | +155 | 2.43 | — | — |
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Back to Journals » Open Access Journal of Contraception » Volume 14
Authors Dejene Wolde Y, Ali M , Gebremeskel F , Ukke GG, Gebreselassie R, Demelash M, Kebede A, Hailu M
Received 24 September 2022
Accepted for publication 31 December 2022
Published 12 January 2023 Volume 2023:14 Pages 1—13
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/OAJC.S387836
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 3
Editor who approved publication: Professor Igal Wolman
Yesuneh Dejene Wolde,1 Momina Ali,2 Feleke Gebremeskel,3 Gebresilasea Gendisha Ukke,4 Rediet Gebreselassie,1 Minychil Demelash,1 Abebaw Kebede,5 Michiale Hailu2
1Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia; 2Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dire Dawa University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia; 3School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia; 4Department of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia; 5Department of midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bule Hora University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Correspondence: Yesuneh Dejene Wolde, Email [email protected]
Background: Vasectomy is a safe and effective permanent contraceptive method. In Ethiopia, this method underutilized since the focus has been on contraceptive methods available for women rather than men. Few studies have examined this method in Ethiopia so far, so it is important to note that there is a lack of data about the method in the study area regarding married men’s knowledge and attitudes toward vasectomy.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study conducted from May 2 to June 2, 2021, at Arba Minch town. A simple random sampling technique used to select 624 study participants. Data collected via the face-to-face interview technique using a semi-structured and pretested questionnaire. Data entered in EpiData 3.1, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 25.0. Descriptive statistics and bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% CI and a p-value Results: From the total of 624 study subjects, 600 had completed the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 96.2%. From those who heard about vasectomy (36.8%), only 60.6% of men had good knowledge, and 48.4% had a positive attitude towards vasectomy. Men’s knowledge of vasectomy was significantly associated with college or university attendance (AOR = 4.05, 95% CI: 1.720– 9.521), age 31– 40 years (AOR = 2.308, 95% CI: 1.081– 4.929), and age ≥ 41 years (AOR = 2.671, 95% CI: 1.159– 6.156). Age ≥ 41 years (AOR=4.735 95% CI 2.015– 11.129), age of last child (AOR=3.868 CI 1.554– 9.632) and discussing family planning with wife (AOR=2.821 95% CI 1.559– 5.105) were significantly associated with attitude of men towards vasectomy.
Conclusion: In this study area, six out of ten and half of the married men had good knowledge and a positive attitude towards vasectomy, respectively.
Keywords: vasectomy, knowledge, Arba Minch
A vasectomy (male sterilization) is a surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a man’s sperm to prevent pregnancy permanently. It’s usually carried out under local anesthesia and takes about 15 minutes.1 There are numerous and plausible reasons to involve males in family planning activities and services. Males are breadwinners in most families, decision-makers at all levels, remain fertile for a longer period of life, are more involved in polygamous relationships, and are more mobile and risk-takers. However, the burden of FP is on females, including Ethiopia.2–4
In Africa, short-term and reversible contraceptive methods are more common than long-acting and permanent methods (LAPM), like vasectomy family planning.5 In another study, a low level of knowledge is cited as a cause of the low level of acceptance in Nigeria.6 In Nigeria, only 13.2% had high knowledge about vasectomy, and most of them showed a negative attitude towards vasectomy and assumed that vasectomy should not be done by men and that females should be responsible for family planning but the decision on the method to use should be demanded from them as the head of the family.7
According to the 2016 EDHS, the utilization of long-acting and permanent methods is extremely low, including vasectomy. The most significant increase has been in injectables use, which has increased from 3% of women in 2000 to 23% in 2016, followed by implant use, which has increased from less than 1% of women in 2000 to 8% in 2016.8
In Ethiopia, according to the EDHS 2016, only 23.5% of married men heard about vasectomy.8 Knowledge about vasectomy was high among married men in Dangila Town and Debre Tabor, where 44.8% and 38.5% of men were knowledgeable about vasectomy, respectively.9,10 In Gondar, more than two-thirds (70.2%) of the respondents were not aware of vasectomy as a form of male family planning method.11
The studies carried out previously in other regions of Ethiopia did not evaluate some potential risk factors, so in this study, having children, the age of the last children, and having more than one wife will be assessed for their association with knowledge about vasectomy and attitude. To our best knowledge, there is no information regarding men’s knowledge of and attitudes toward vasectomy in Arba Minch town. Therefore, the findings of this study will serve to identify the impacts of socio-demographic factors and reproductive health factors that increase the knowledge of males about vasectomy and their attitudes towards vasectomy in Arba Minch town.
The study was conducted from May 2 to June 2, 2021. Arba Minch town is located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s regional state of Ethiopia. Arba Minch has a total population of 118,040, out of which 58,784 are male and 59,256 are female. According to the information obtained from the Arba Minch town health office, there are two hospitals, two health centers, and 11 health posts that provide health services for the community. Arba Minch has a total population of 118,040, out of which 58,784 are male and 59,256 are female. According to the information obtained from the Arba Minch town health office, there are two hospitals, two health centers, and 11 health posts that provide health services for the community.12
A community based cross-sectional study designed was used.
All married men who live in Arba Minch town.
Married men in the selected household during the data collection period in Arba Minch town.
Married men who had lived in Arba Minch for more than six months were included.
A respondent who was unable to give a response due to serious illness at the time of data collection was excluded.
The sample size was determined using a single population proportion formula, with the following assumptions: p-value 38.5%10 and 15.9%11 men knowledge and attitude respectively, 95% confidence level, 4% margin of error, and 10% non-response rate. The largest sample size from objectives one and two was 568 with a 10% non-response rate the total sample size becomes 624.
A simple random sampling technique was applied to select 624 married men for the study. Samples were allocated proportionally to each kebele based on their total household. The number of households with married men in each kebele was found in the kebele registration book. The registration book from each kebele was used as a sample frame. The first household was selected in each kebele by using the lottery method.
It refers to the understanding and awareness of married men regarding vasectomy. Knowledge about vasectomy was determined using ten questions. Each correct question is worth 1 point, so there are a total of 10 points for the ten questions. Respondents were considered to have good knowledge if they scored 60% or above (a respondent who answered six or more of the knowledge questions was considered to have good knowledge). They are considered to have poor knowledge if they score less than 6 out of 10.11
A predisposition or a tendency to respond positively or negatively towards vasectomy It refers to the opinions and feelings of married men regarding vasectomy. Their attitudes were measured using 12 items rated on a three-point Likert scale as agreeing, neutral, or disagreeing. Men who scored above the mean on the attitude items were perceived to have a positive attitude, while those who scored below the mean were perceived to have a negative attitude.10
Knowledge about vasectomy and attitude towards vasectomy.
Socio-demographic factors and reproductive health factors.
A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data by interviewing technique which was developed from relevant literature5,6,8–11,13,14 and modified to the local context in such a way that all the variables to be assessed were included. The questionnaire consists of 4 sections with a total of 46 quantitative items. Section I was designed to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, Section II was designed to collect questions about reproductive health, Section III was designed to collect information about knowledge of vasectomy, and values of 1 and 0 were given for each correct and incorrect answer, respectively, and Section IV was designed to collect information about attitude toward vasectomy using a likert categorization method (agree, neutral, disagree). Questionnaires were first prepared in the English language, then translated into Amharic by an individual who had a good ability in both languages, then retranslated back to English by other individuals to check for any inconsistencies.
Four BSc midwife data collectors who spoke Amharic and Gamogna, as well as one MSc maternity student supervisor, were recruited and took part in the data collection.
Data were entered into a computer using Epi data 3.1, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS for windows version 25.0. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Bivariate analysis was performed to identify the association between each independent variable with the dependent variable. On bivariate analysis P-value < 0.20,10 variables was considered for multivariable analysis. The adjusted odds ratio along with 95% CI was used to identify the factors associated with knowledge and attitude towards vasectomy multivariable logistic regression analysis. All tests were two-sided and the level of statistical significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05.
Multi-colinearity was checked to see the linear correlation among the independent variables. The fitness of the model was tested by Hosmer-Lemeshow’s goodness-of-fit test model. Data presentation was done using frequency, percentage, and mean, and tables, graphs, and texts were used for data presentation.
The questionnaire was prepared first in English by the investigator and then translated to Amharic by other individuals who are native to the Amharic language. The questionnaire was translated back to English by another individual to maintain its consistency. The data were collected by trained data collectors. A pre-test of the survey questionnaire was done before the actual data collection period among 5% of the study subjects in Merab Abaya town.
The trained supervisor was supervising the data collector on a daily basis to ensure that the questionnaires were complete and consistent. Data was entered using Epidata 3.1 and then exported to SPSS version 25.0 for analysis. During analysis, the data was cleaned carefully.
Ethical clearance was obtained from the AMU College of Medicine and Health Sciences’ institutional research ethics board with the reference number of RB/1073/21. A formal letter from the research ethics board was submitted to the Arba Minch health office and concerned bodies to obtain their cooperation. Then a letter of permission and support was written to each respective kebele. Study subjects were informed about the study’s purpose. At the time of data collection, written consent is taken from the participants to confirm whether they are willing to participate. Those unwilling to participate were given the opportunity to do so. The confidentiality of responses was also ensured throughout the research process. The study performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the Helsinki Declaration.
From the total of 624 study subjects, 600 had completed the questionnaire, giving a response rate of 96.2%. More than half (336, or 56%) were between the ages of 31 and 40, with a mean age and standard deviation of 35.98 (SD 6.73) years (Table 1).
Table 1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Study Participants Arba Minch Town, South Ethiopia 2021 (n=600)
Among participants, five hundred forty-eight (91.3%) have children; of those, 306 (54.8%) have one to two children, and 461 (84.1%) have children less than three years old. 534 (89%) of participants did not achieve their desired family size; 309 (57.9%) had a desired number of children aged four and older for their future lives. Three hundred twenty-three (53.8%) couples lived with their wives for 5–10 years; five hundred ninety-seven (99.5%) participants were monogamous. The majority of participants in the study (363, or 74.2%) had not discussed family planning with their wives (Table 2).
Table 2 Reproductive Characteristics of the Study Participants Arba Minch Town, South Ethiopia 2021(n=600)
Accordingly, four hundred eighty-nine (81.5%) of the participants were aware of methods of contraception. Regarding method specifics, there are 468 (95.7%) about injectable (Depo-Provera), 445 (91%) about oral contraceptive pills, 210 (42.9%) about implants, 440 (90%) about condoms, 71 (32.77%) about IUCD, 218 (44.6%) about tubectomy, 221 (36.2%) about vasectomy, and 56 (11.5%) about others (calendar methods, Lactational amenorrhea methods). The prevalence of contraceptive utilization by the participant or their wife was 386 (78.9%). The injectable contraceptive method (171) (44.3%) was the most commonly used modern contraceptive method, followed by pills (114 (29.5%) (Figure 1).
Figure 1 Current contraceptive methods used by respondents or their wife in Arba Minch town, south Ethiopia 2021.
About 221 (36.8%) of married men reported that they had ever heard about vasectomy. Of those who had ever heard about vasectomy 102 (43.03%) heard from mass media (TV 29.5%, Internet 54.9%, and Radio 23.6%), 49 (20.8%) heard from wife, 58 (24.5%) heard from a health care provider and 28 (11.8%) heard from friends was the source of information (Figures 2 and 3).
Figure 2 Respondent who had heard about vasectomy in Arba Minch town, south Ethiopia 2021.
Figure 3 Knowledge of married men among those who heard about vasectomy Arba Minch town, south Ethiopia 2021.
The vast majority of respondents (89.6%) were aware that vasectomy was a permanent procedure. A few, 56 (25.3%), knew that sexual function remained normal after vasectomy. 24 (10.9%) of the respondents reported that after vasectomy, a man still has the ability to impregnate his partner, while 160 (72.4% of them) did not agree to this. Sexually transmitted infection cannot be avoided after vasectomy, according to 122 (55.2%) of respondents. 13.6% of participants are aware that vasectomy is free of charge in Ethiopia (Table 3).
Table 3 Knowledge Question Responses About Vasectomy by Study Participants; Arba Minch Town, South Ethiopia, 2021(n=221)
In this study, for those who heard about vasectomy, the mean score of answers to questions used to assess the attitude of married men towards vasectomy was 21.72 (SD 4.213) out of 36, and about 107 (48.4%) of the respondents had a positive attitude towards vasectomy (Figure 4). The proportion of men who respond to the attitude question, more than one hundred thirty nine (62.9%) of the respondents disagreed on the involvement of men in family planning. The majority of respondents believed that vasectomy would increase promiscuity among men, is not an effective method of family planning and they disapprove the use of vasectomy (Table 4).
Table 4 Attitude Question Responses Towards Vasectomy by Study Participants; Arba Minch Town, South Ethiopia, 2021(n=221)
Figure 4 Attitude towards vasectomy among the study participants those who had heard about vasectomy in Arba Minch town, south Ethiopia 2021.
In bivariate logistic regression, respondent age, religion, and Educational status of the respondent, wife’s education, occupation, income, Having children, number of children, desire to have more children, Age of last child, duration of marriage, There was a discussion with the wife about FP, spouse support, having more than one wife, and total family size. Age, educational status, and completed family size were found to have a significant relationship with knowledge of vasectomy among married men in Arba Minch town. In multivariable logistic regression, both age from 31 to 40 years (AOR = 2.308, 95% CI: 1.081–4.929), age ≥ 41 years (AOR = 2.671, 95% CI: 1.159–6.156), and educational status (AOR = 4.047, 95% CI: 1.720–9.521) were statistically significant (Table 5).
Table 5 Factors Associated with Knowledge of Married Men About Vasectomy in Arba Minch Town, South Ethiopia 2021 (n=221)
In bivariate logistic regression age of the respondent, religion, Educational status of the respondent, wife’s education, occupation, income, Having children, number of children, Desire to have more children, age of last child, duration of marriage, Discussions with the wife about FP, spouse support, having more than one wife, and family size were interred. There was a significant relationship between those ages, age of last child, marriage duration, and discussing FP with wife and attitude toward vasectomy among married men in Arba Minch town. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, three of them are statistically significant: age ≥41 years (AOR = 4.735 95% CI 2.015–11.129), age of last child (AOR = 3.868 CI 1.554–9.632), and discussing family planning with the wife (AOR = 2.821 95% CI 1.559–5.105) (Table 6).
Table 6 Factors Associated with Attitude Towards Vasectomy Among Married Men in Arba Minch Town, South Ethiopia 2021 (n=221)
In this study, 36.8% (95% CI: 32.8–40.8%) of men reported that they had ever heard about vasectomy. This finding was higher than the study done in Dashen Brewery and EDHS 2016, where only 17.1% and 23.5% heard about vasectomy, respectively.8,15 This could be because of the time change since 2013, but the research in Dashen Brewery was done 8 years ago, and the participants were factory workers. The EDHS study includes rural areas and was done six years ago. It also reflects the increased effort of governmental and non-governmental organizations to increase acceptance of long-acting and permanent family planning methods. The other reason may be due to the sociocultural differences in the population.
Among those who had ever heard about vasectomy, 60.6% (95% CI 56.6–64.6%) of the married men had good knowledge about vasectomy; this finding is higher than studies conducted in Edo state, Nigeria, Gonder, Dangila, Western Nepal, and Debre Tabor.9–11,18 This may be due to differences in study participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, year of study, and sample size.
In this study, 48.4% (95% CI 44.4–52.4%) of married men who had ever heard about vasectomy had a positive attitude towards vasectomy, which was higher than the studies conducted in Nigeria, Addis Ababa, and Gonder (18%, 23.2%, and 15.9%, respectively).7,11,18 In Iran, only 21.2% had good attitudes toward vasectomy, and about 44% had weak attitudes toward vasectomy.16 The reason may be due to the study year and area. However, respondents were less positive than in studies conducted in Western Nepal, where the percentage was 60%, and Malaysia’s private medical college, where the percentage was 60.9%.17,19 This might be due to the difference in study participants; the current study was among married men, whereas the previous study was done on any adult men (married or unmarried), and medical students might have a better view and attitude towards vasectomy.
In this study, the age of married men was significantly associated with their level of knowledge. A married man between the ages of 31 and 40 is 2.3 times more likely to have good knowledge than a man between the ages of 21 and 30. ars. Adults aged 41 and up are 2.67 times more likely to have good knowledge than those aged 21 to 30. In western Nepal, a study also revealed that an interesting improvement in knowledge score is an increase among the 41–49 year olds, followed by the 36–40 year.17 The possible explanation for this finding might be that married men in this age category (41 years and older) might have easy access to information and be educated by the younger ones, and as their educational status increases, their knowledge might also scale up in the same fashion.
This study identified that educational status is significantly associated with knowledge about vasectomy. When compared to those who did not attend formal education, married men who were college or university graduates or higher were 4.1 times more likely to have good knowledge about vasectomy.The study done in Gonder revealed that those who were college/university and above educated were 7.37 times more likely to have good knowledge than those who did not attend formal education, and in another study, married men who completed college/university and above education were 5.73 times more likely to be knowledgeable about vasectomy compared to those who did not attend formal education.9,11 It could be that educated men are more likely to be exposed to reproductive health information, and they are also more likely to comprehend the information they obtain.
The result of this study showed t found that there was a positive relationship between attitudes towards and vasectomy and age of the married men. Married me41 yearsere 4olders and above were 4.7 times more likely to have a positive attitude towards vasectomy compared to those who were and between 21–30 years old. The study done in Western Nepal, among the age group of 41–49 years, there were positive attitudes towards vasectomy.17 It might be due to the increase in awareness and information with age. The other reason might be that men in the age category of 41 years and older may have a greater number of living children and a more stable family life than younger ones.
In this study, men who discussed FP with their wives were 2.8 times more likely to be positive about vasectomy than those who did not. But this was not significant in the studies done in Gonder town and Debre Tabor.10,11 This indicates that discussion will improve the likelihood of sharing and interpreting information.
The result of the study shows that the age of the last child is significantly associated with attitude. Those whose last child age is less than 3 years are 3.9 times more likely to have a positive attitude than those whose last child age is 3 years and above. This is consistent with the study done in Nepal.17 This could be due to their commitment to providing adequate resources for their child’s upbringing by maintaining their economy or the cost of raising a child.
In this study area, six out of ten and half of the married men had good knowledge and a positive attitude towards vasectomy, respectively. Variables like educational status and age were associated with knowledge about vasectomy. Age, discussion about family planning with the wife, and the ages of the last child, on the other hand, were all predictors of men’s positive attitude toward vasectomy. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are forwarded:
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
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LONDON/HONG KONG/NEW YORK, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs (GS.N) began laying off staff on Wednesday in a sweeping cost-cutting drive, with around a third of those affected coming from the investment banking and global markets division, a source familiar with the matter said.
The long-expected jobs cull at the Wall Street titan, expected to represent the biggest contraction in headcount since the financial crisis, is likely to affect most of the bank's major divisions, with its investment banking arm facing the deepest cuts, a source told Reuters this month.
Just over 3,000 employees will be let go, the source, who could not be named, said on Jan. 9. A separate source confirmed on Wednesday that cuts had started.
The layoffs began in Asia on Wednesday, where Goldman completed cutting back its private wealth management business and let go of 16 private banking staff across its Hong Kong, Singapore and China offices, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
About eight staff were also laid off in Goldman's research department in Hong Kong, the source added, with layoffs ongoing in the investment banking and other divisions.
At Goldman's central London hub, rainfall lessened the prospect of staff huddles. Several security personnel actively patrolled the building’s entrance, but few people were entering or leaving the property. A glimpse into the bank’s recreational area just beyond its lobby showed a handful of staffers in deep conversation but few signs of drama. Wine bars and eateries local to the office were also short of post-lunch trade, in stark contrast to large-scale layoffs of the past when unlucky staffers would typically gather to console one another and plan their next career moves.
In New York, employees were seen streaming into headquarters during the morning rush.
Goldman's redundancy plans will be followed by a broader spending review of corporate travel and expenses, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, as the U.S. bank counts the costs of a massive slowdown in corporate dealmaking and a slump in capital markets activity since the war in Ukraine.
Goldman Sachs declined to comment.
Goldman had 49,100 employees at the end of the third quarter, after adding significant numbers of staff during the coronavirus pandemic.
The company is also cutting its annual bonus payments this year to reflect depressed market conditions, with payouts expected to fall about 40%.
Global investment banking fees nearly halved in 2022, to $77 billion earned by the banks, down from $132.3 billion a year earlier, Dealogic data showed.
Banks struck $517 billion worth of equity capital markets (ECM) transactions by late December 2022, the lowest level since the early 2000s and a 66% drop from 2021's bonanza, based on Dealogic data.
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