ABSTRACT
Despite the growing involvement of grandparents in the care and religious upbringing of grandchildren in Matutu Station, Nyamira SDA Conference, their role in moral and spiritual formation remains largely unsupported and under-researched. Informed by this, the study endeavored to investigate church-based support systems for grandparents giving religious formation and care to grandchildren in Matutu Station. The study was guided by Westerhoff’s Faith Development Theory (FDT) to examine church-based support systems for grandparents caring for grandchildren in Matutu Station, Nyamira SDA Conference. Employing a descriptive research design, the study explored the challenges and barriers grandparents face in fulfilling this role. The target population consisted of 1,066 respondents, from which a sample size of 396 was determined using Glenn’s (1992) formula. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions, and analyzed using Likert scale techniques and verbatim thematic analysis. The study found that while some church initiatives offer limited support, 71.1% of respondents affirmed home visits by the Family Life Ministry and 68.1% reported that Sabbath School programs provide biblical instruction and spiritual nurture. Critical gaps exist, with 88.1% reporting no targeted pastoral counseling, 77.8% noting the absence of mentorship programs, 62.2% indicating no fellowship support groups, 76.3% reporting a lack of referral services, 94.8% citing no financial or material assistance, and 58.0% highlighting the absence of religious education materials for grandparents, underscoring the need for structured, intentional, and role-specific support mechanisms in Matutu Station.

ABSTRACT
The policy on the use of National Health Insurance (JKN) capitation funds is a crucial instrument in supporting the provision of health services at primary health care facilities, particularly community health centers (Puskesmas). Although the program has been implemented, it still faces several obstacles that affect budget optimization. This study aims to examine the implementation of regulations on the use of JKN capitation funds at the Karangan Community Health Center in East Kutai, in accordance with the provisions of Minister of Health Regulation Number 21 of 2016, and to explore the factors that strengthen and hinder its implementation. This study adopted a qualitative design based on analytical exposition. Information was obtained through intensive dialogue, direct observation, and searches of archives and official records. The research informants included the Head of the Karangan Community Health Center, the treasurer responsible for managing the JKN capitation funds, and health workers. Data analysis was conducted through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The analytical framework used is the Marilee S. Grindle Policy Implementation Model, which emphasizes the content of policy and the context of implementation. The results of the study indicate that, from a content-of-policy perspective, the utilization of JKN capitation funds at the Karangan Community Health Center has provided benefits in supporting the operation of health services, improving service quality, and providing services to health workers. However, the degree of expected change has not been fully optimized due to limited resources, especially human resources, and limited budget flexibility. From an implementation perspective, compliance with regulations is relatively reasonable and supported by monitoring and audit mechanisms. However, bureaucratic processes and rigid administrative procedures still affect the community health center's responsiveness in me

ABSTRACT
Background: Long-distance commuting has become increasingly prevalent in urban environments and may negatively influence occupational balance and psychological well-being among employees. Objective: To explore the impact of frequent long-distance travel on occupational balance and psychological well-being among employees. Methodology: A cross-sectional observational survey was conducted among 50 employees aged 30–60 years who travelled ≥1 hour daily, 5 days per week. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. The Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ-11) and WHO-5 Well-Being Index were administered. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation. Results: The mean travel duration was 107.70 ± 26.65 minutes. The mean OBQ-11 score was 19.86 ± 2.66, and the mean WHO-5 score was 16.70 ± 3.27. A moderate positive correlation was observed between OBQ-11 and WHO-5 scores (r = 0.539, p < 0.01). Travel duration demonstrated a moderate negative correlation with OBQ-11 scores (r = –0.408, p < 0.01) and a strong negative correlation with WHO-5 scores (r = –0.801, p <0.01). Conclusion: Increased commuting duration is significantly associated with reduced occupational balance and psychological well-being among employees.

ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of this article is to analyze cultural perceptions, care, and treatment of prostate diseases in the Bapa cultural universe. Methodology: Qualitative methods were used to collect data through individual interviews, focus groups, and photographs taken in the village of Bapa, located in the Bangou district of the Hauts-Plateaux department in western Cameroon. Results: The data collected was analyzed using content analysis techniques, yielding several findings, namely that traditional Bapa therapists specialize in treating prostate diseases and that, among the Bapa people, prostate diseases have traditional, mystical, or natural causes. These causes determine the different treatment paths for patients and their families. Traditional therapies for prostatitis depend on the cause and are based on divination diagnoses and specific rituals. Conclusion: Prostate diseases are known and understood by traditional healers in the Bapa sociocultural group. Their knowledge can be used to reduce the prevalence of these diseases as a public health issue.

ABSTRACT
The research on Community Participation in Village Development in Ngegedhawe Village is motivated by the declining level of community participation. The researcher wants to analyze the factors causing the level of community participation in Ngegedhawe Village in development based on Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning villages. The strong dominance of community leaders in the village, which often hinders development, is greatly influenced by political, economic, social, and cultural factors that often cannot distinguish between space and time in their implementation. As in the decision-making process through deliberation for development, which can affect economic levels and the lives of village communities, representatives of community leaders who are present sometimes do not accommodate the aspirations of the village community. The purpose of this study is to evaluate community participation based on Law No. 6 of 2014 in the development of Ngegedhawe Village. Describe and analyze factors that influence community participation in development in Ngegedhawe Village. This study uses William Dunn's theory with indicators of effectiveness, efficiency, responsiveness, accuracy, adequacy, and equity. This study uses a qualitative descriptive research method with 50 selected informants. The results of this study indicate that community participation policies have been proven to increase citizen involvement in development planning and implementation. Community participation contributes to more optimal resource utilization. However, efficiency is sometimes hampered by lengthy coordination processes and complex bureaucracy. Involved communities can directly express their aspirations, making policies more responsive to local needs. However, there are differences in responsiveness across community groups, particularly among those who are less informed or less active in participation forums. Community participation helps distribute resources and development roles more equitably. Howe

ABSTRACT
Western scholarship and media have often emphasized the negative aspects of African culture, frequently employing terms such as “barbaric” or “outdated.” These portrayals, whether deliberate or uninformed, neglect the imperfections of Western societies and perpetuate a biased understanding of global cultural realities. This review article challenges such imbalances by examining the symbolic meanings and cultural significance of pottery in African traditions through the lens of hegemonic theory. Focusing on selected regions in Western, Northern and Eastern Nigeria, the study explores the types of clay pots used by worshippers, the processes of molding and design, and the individual and communal taboos that govern their creation and use. It further highlights emerging trends in pottery that mirror traditional religious clay pots, situating them within the dynamics of contemporary Nigerian society. By assessing the adaptability of these cultural artifacts in an era of rapid technological advancement, the article underscores the resilience of African traditions and their capacity to evolve while retaining symbolic depth and cultural relevance.

ABSTRACT
This study examines the implementation of the policy on the procurement of Government Employee Teachers with Work Agreements (PPPK) at the elementary and junior high school levels in East Flores Regency, in accordance with PermenPANRB Number 14 of 2023. This policy aims to meet the need for teachers in a sustainable manner through a selection mechanism that is transparent, accountable, and in accordance with national standards. The research uses a descriptive, qualitative approach, drawing on the Van Meter and Van Horn policy implementation model. Data were obtained through interviews, observations, and document analysis. The results show that the policy implementation has followed national procedures, but its effectiveness is not yet optimal. Supporting factors include regulatory clarity, local government support, and increased participation of honorary teachers. The main obstacles identified were limited positions, insufficient digital infrastructure readiness, suboptimal inter-agency coordination, applicants' limited understanding of computer use and assessment mechanisms, and the islands' geographical factors, which hindered access to information and the timely submission of documents. This study concludes that the implementation of the PPPK teacher recruitment policy in East Flores Regency is progressing well. However, improvements are needed, especially in coordination, technical capacity, the provision of positions based on real needs, and the strengthening of policy communication. These recommendations are expected to improve the effectiveness of PPPK recruitment in the next recruitment period.