If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The aim of this paper is to analyse support measures in the USA, Canada and Sweden aimed at encouraging women to start their own business and/or promote growth in women-owned businesses, and in particular the role of women's business centres. It examines whether existing initiatives of this kind have proven successful in their stated and unstated aims; and if elements of practice are transferable to other countries and contexts. The paper also contributes to the gender mainstreaming debate. Design/methodology/approach -Through in-depth interviews across four countries with managers of such centres and other business support personnel, policy-makers and practitioners, the paper constructs a view of how women's business centres fit into the overall policy context, and how they have aided the development of women's enterprise. Findings -The use of international comparisons permits the identification of common approaches to enterprise policy for women. Policy-makers and practitioners will appreciate the nuanced view of the elements that make up several lauded initiatives aimed at supporting women's entrepreneurship, how (and to what degree) these elements work together and how these elements may be used elsewhere.Research limitations/implications -The paper suggests the need for more nuanced understanding of client needs, whether male or female, and the role this might play in the delivery of business support. Practical implications -Policymakers should be clear regarding the objectives of women's centres, as between support principally directed at unemployed/low income groups and increasing the business start-up rate per se among women (leading to economic growth), and even whether support should be differentiated by gender. Social implications -Women's centres are working mainly for the more disadvantaged women, rather than those with real potential as entrepreneurs. Such centres may also reinforce stereotypes of "women's businesses". Originality/value -The key contribution of this paper is that, compared to previous work, it provides a more critical perspective on the specifics of women's business centre initiatives, exploring both the processes and outcomes that lie be...

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Objective: The increased prevalence of leftover medicines in the community is currently a global concern due to the detrimental effects on the environment and health. However, several developing countries have failed to give sufficient consideration to the issue. The primary purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of leftover medicines, disposal practices, and the factors affecting those in households in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among households in Bere Edigetber and Nech Sar of Arba Minch town, from June 25 to August 27, 2022. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews with revalidated structured questionnaires. A multistage sampling technique was utilized to select each household. Results: Three hundred forty-eight households agreed to participate in a study, resulting in a 94.8% response rate. Of the study participant, 172 (49.4%) of the households had leftover medicines, with antibiotics being the most common (64% of 172). Subsidy of symptoms and saving for later use were two frequently cited reasons for the presence of leftover medicines in the house. Throwing leftover medicines in household garbage was the preferred method of disposal (>60%). Only 0.1% of respondents considered returning leftover medicines to healthcare facilities or professionals. A binary regression analysis identified four predictors for having leftover medicines. Medicines obtained without prescription were the strongest predictor (odds ratio = 3.7; p < 0.001), followed by higher family monthly income (odds ratio = 2.5; p = 0.005), those waived paying for medicine (odds ratio = 0.294; p = 0.049), and those used medications for acute diseases ( p = 0.048; odds ratio = 0.450). Respondents who had prior information on safe medicine disposal were 2.3 ( p = 0.04) more likely to dispose of possessed leftover medicines rather than keep them for future use. Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence of leftover medicines and their improper disposal in Arba Minch town. The preferred methods of leftover medicine disposal in this study deviate from conventional standards. Significant factor variables that predict having leftover medicines are attributed to purchasing medicine without a prescription, higher family monthly income, those waived paying for medicine, and those who used medications for acute diseases. Prior knowledge of proper disposal practices predicated the decision to dispose of on-hand leftover medicines or keep them for future use. These findings would be critical in developing strategies to reduce leftover medicines and promote proper disposal practices.