Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research

Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research (MJAAR)

The Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research (MJAAR) is a peer-reviewed online journal published monthly. The ISSN for the MJAAR Digital Library is ISSN: 3006-6417 (Online). MJAAR is a highly selective journal that covers a wide range of topics, catering to a broad audience interested in academic and applied research across various fields. MJAAR offers numerous advantages designed to enhance research skills and advance academic careers. Publishing in scholarly journals plays a critical role in career progression within academia. Author Benefits Specific to MJAAR Publications: Fast and Efficient Paper Publishing Process: Authors can expect a smooth and timely publication process. Indexing in Prominent Databases: MJAAR is listed in notable platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Scirus, get CITED, and others. Expert Peer Review Panel: We are honoured to have a highly respected team of academic reviewers from leading universities around the world. Open Access Journal: This ensures wide visibility and promotion of your published work. MJAAR is managed by a distinguished Board of Editors and is supported by an international review board comprised of prominent academics and professionals from renowned universities, colleges, and institutions across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. To ensure the highest quality standards, all manuscripts submitted to MJAAR undergo a stringent review process, which includes blind reviews by one or more members of the international editorial review board, followed by an in-depth evaluation by MJAAR editors. We are committed to supporting our authors in excelling across all areas of academic and applied research.

Latest Articles

Browse the latest peer-reviewed publications from Metropolitan International University Journals.

Bridening the Focus: Moving Beyond Pregnancy Prevention to Comprehensive Sexual Health Skills for University Women in Uganda

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara2

Published on 01 Jan 1970

University women in Uganda continue to face multiple sexual and reproductive health challenges despite ongoing efforts primarily focused on pregnancy prevention. This study aimed to broaden the understanding of sexual health among university women by examining the extent to which comprehensive sexual health skills—beyond pregnancy prevention—are addressed, understood, and practiced. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study collected quantitative data through structured questionnaires and qualitative insights through interviews and focus group discussions among female university students.

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Beyond the "Mixture for Disaster": A Public Health Analysis of Lifestyle Choices among University-Going Women in Uganda

Authors: Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara1 , Ahumuza Audrey2

Published on 01 Jan 1970

Background: University-going women in Uganda face multiple lifestyle-related health risks that emerge from complex interactions between socioeconomic constraints, campus environments, cultural influences, and individual factors, yet comprehensive data on these patterns and their determinants remain limited. This study examined the prevalence, determinants, and health implications of lifestyle behaviors among female university students in Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 842 randomly selected female undergraduate students aged 18-30 years from five universities (two public, three private) across different regions of Uganda.

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Reconciling Nature and Equality: A Platonic Examination of Social Justice through the Lens of Justice Tuburya

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Ahumuza Audrey2

Published on 01 Jan 1970

This mixed-methods study examined whether Platonic conceptions of natural difference and functional specialization could be reconciled with contemporary social justice commitments to equality through the critical interpretive framework of Justice Tuburya. The research addressed a fundamental tension in justice discourse: how to acknowledge meaningful human differences without legitimating hierarchical arrangements that perpetuate domination and inequality. Employing hermeneutic-critical analysis of primary philosophical texts alongside quantitative empirical investigation, the study surveyed 385 philosophy scholars, social justice practitioners, and legal theorists regarding their perceptions of compatibility between classical hierarchical frameworks and egalitarian principles.

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The Incarceration Generation: Analyzing the Overrepresentation of Youth in Ugandan Prisons and Proposing a Multisectoral Way Forward

Authors: Musiimenta Nancy1 , Ahumuza Audrey2

Published on 01 Jan 1970

Background: Uganda faces a critical crisis of youth overrepresentation in its prison system, with individuals aged 18-30 accounting for over 60% of the incarcerated population despite comprising a smaller proportion of those statistically expected to engage in serious crime. This overrepresentation reflects systemic failures across education, employment, social welfare, and justice administration sectors, with severe consequences for individual development, family stability, community cohesion, and national productivity. Objective: This study analyzed the factors contributing to youth overrepresentation in Ugandan prisons, assessed the effectiveness of existing interventions, and developed evidence-based recommendations for a multisectoral approach to reducing youth incarceration through prevention, rehabilitation, and successful reintegration.

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Nurturing Purposeful Entrepreneurs: A Dual-Curriculum Model for Guiding Ugandan Teens Beyond Academic and Societal Pressures

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara2

Published on 01 Jan 1970

Background: Uganda's youth face mounting pressures from examination-focused education systems and societal expectations that prioritize traditional career paths while undervaluing entrepreneurship, resulting in graduates who lack purpose, practical skills, and confidence to pursue meaningful ventures despite a critical need for job creation through enterprise development. Objective: This study developed and evaluated a dual-curriculum model integrating purpose discovery and entrepreneurship education with conventional academic learning to nurture purposeful entrepreneurs among Ugandan teenagers. Methods: A mixed-methods quasi-experimental design was employed across six secondary schools in central Uganda from January to December 2024, involving 480 students aged 14-17 years (240 intervention, 240 control) selected through stratified random sampling.

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Survival Sex and its Cost to Education: An Analysis of Secondary Schoolgirls' Transactional Sex for Basic Needs in Soroti City, Uganda

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Ahumuza Audrey2

Published on 01 Jan 1970

Background: In Soroti City, Uganda, secondary schoolgirls increasingly engage in transactional sex as a survival mechanism to meet basic needs and educational expenses, yet the prevalence, drivers, and educational consequences of this phenomenon remain inadequately documented. Objective: This study analyzed survival sex among secondary schoolgirls in Soroti City and examined its impact on educational participation, performance, and completion. Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed across ten purposively selected secondary schools in Soroti City.

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The Price of Prestige: Effort Justification, The Extravagance Effect, and the Socio-Economic Implications of Costly Weddings in Uganda

Authors: Ahumuza Audrey1 , Musiimenta Nancy2

Published on 01 Jan 1970

This study examined the psychological mechanisms of effort justification and the extravagance effect in driving costly wedding expenditures and analyzed their socio-economic implications for individuals, families, and communities in Uganda. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research collected data from 450 participants in Kampala and Wakiso districts through structured questionnaires and 30 semi-structured interviews with recently married couples, parents, and wedding vendors. Quantitative analysis included univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations and chi-square tests, and structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized theoretical framework.

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The IMRaD Anachronism: Reimagining Scholarly Communication for the Age of AI and Information Velocity

Authors: Ahumuza Audrey1 , Musiimenta Nancy2

Published on 01 Jan 1970

Background: The IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) format has dominated scholarly communication for decades, yet the integration of artificial intelligence into research workflows and the evolution of computational methodologies have raised questions about its continued suitability for contemporary knowledge production and dissemination. Objective: This study critically evaluated the alignment between the traditional IMRaD structure and AI-integrated research practices, examining factors associated with researcher satisfaction and preferences for alternative communication frameworks. Methods: A mixed-methods convergent parallel design was employed with 847 researchers from 15 countries across five disciplinary domains (computational sciences, life sciences, social sciences, interdisciplinary research, and digital humanities) between March and September 2024.

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The Mbitian Paradox: Religious Notoriety as Both Sustenance and Stagnation in Contemporary Africa

Authors: Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara1 , Musiimenta Nancy2

Published on 01 Jan 1970

Background: Contemporary Africa exhibits exceptional religious participation rates exceeding 80% in most countries, with religious institutions commanding substantial household resources and social influence, yet the continent continues facing persistent development challenges including poverty, limited innovation, and capital scarcity. Objective: This study examined the "Mbitian Paradox"—the phenomenon whereby religious notoriety simultaneously functions as community sustenance and potential socioeconomic stagnation in contemporary African contexts. Methods: A mixed-methods design was employed across five African countries (Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Senegal) involving 2,850 household respondents recruited through multistage stratified random sampling, alongside 75 key informant interviews and 30 focus group discussions conducted between March and September 2024.

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The Double-Edged Sword of Memory: Integrating Recollection with Present-Moment Awareness for Psychological Well-Being

Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius1 , Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara2

Published on 01 Jan 1970

Background: Memory recollection and present-moment awareness represent fundamental yet seemingly contradictory temporal orientations that influence psychological well-being. While extensive research has documented the detrimental effects of maladaptive memory patterns such as rumination and the benefits of mindfulness-based approaches, the field lacks integrative understanding of how these processes interact to determine mental health outcomes. Objective: This study investigated the dynamic relationship between memory recollection processes and presentmoment awareness practices, examining their independent and interactive contributions to psychological well-being across clinical and non-clinical populations.

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