Average Household Research Articles

A Comparative Analysis of Household Food Insecurity Status among Rice Farmers in Savanna and the Rainforest Agro-ecological Zones in Southwest States, Nigeria

The study presents findings on comparative analysis of household food insecurity status among rice farmers in the Savanna and the Rainforest agro-ecological zones in Southwest States, Nigeria. Primary data were used and obtained through the administration of a well structured questionnaire. A multistage random sampling was used to select 577 rice farmers in the study area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, household food insecurity access (HFIA) scale, household food insecurity access prevalence (HFIAP) scale, likert scale and linear regression model. The results revealed that majority of the rice farmer’s fall within 31-50 years of age bracket, with household size of 5-8 persons, married, with farming experiences and have small farm size. The findings from average household food insecurity access scale scores in the Savanna and the Rainforest agro-ecological zones were 4.0 (mildly food insecure) and 5.2 (moderately food insecure) respectively. The results of HFIAP indicator revealed that about 39.1% and 33.5% of respondents were classified as food secure, 8% and 13.9% were mildly food insecure, 15.1% and 22.2% were moderately food insecure and 37.8% and 30.4% were severely food insecure in the Savanna and the Rainforest agro-ecological zones respectively. The major coping strategies adopted by the respondents against food insecurity include reduce the quantity of food consumed and eating but not satisfied. The linear regression model revealed that age, sex, years in school, farm size, household size, farming experience, rice farming experience and tenure system significantly affect household’s food insecurity status. To transport from food insecure to food secure, age, sex, years in school, farm size, household size, farming experience, rice farming experience and tenure system alleviation policies are imperative.

Political trust and legitimacy crisis in the age of COVID-19: an assessment of the EndSARS protest in Nigeria

The article examined the manifestations of political trust deficits associated with people's response to policy choices of Nigeria's government during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many other states, the African states and particularly the Nigerian government adopted WHO-recommended containment measures to limit the spread of the virus and the associated catastrophe. These measures included lockdowns, shutdowns, social distancing, and personal hygiene among other preventive procedures. Even though the pandemic was relatively less endemic in Africa, as per official statistics, African states swiftly implemented the WHO containment measures, which impacted negatively on the livelihood of the average household, who depends on daily incomes for survival. The worsening living condition caused by the containment measures expectedly deepened resentment against governments in Africa with already poor records of public service delivery, accountability, transparency, and human rights. Nigeria was one of the African countries that experienced citizens' backlash and violent outrage against government policy choices during the COVID-19. Under the guise fighting police brutality, youths staged mass anti-government protests that transformed into large scale violence, particularly in the southern parts of the country otherwise known as the “EndSARS Protests.” The protests were conceived against police brutality in the enforcement of COVID-19 measures. This article examined the outbreak of EndSARS protests as a transformation of the deepening of political trust deficits in age of COVID-19. It adopted qualitative approach using documentary evidence such as newspaper reports and official documents as instruments of data collection. The Institutional Performance Theory guided the article. The theory assumes that the actual performance of government determines citizens' level of trust and confidence in public institutions. The article found that perennial government inefficiency, limited accountability and transparency as well as poor human rights records of the government and its agencies, particularly the police exacerbated an already existing political trust deficits amongst the people in Nigeria. This was manifested in the outburst of a large-scale violent outrage by the youths as protest to the government containment measures and widespread dysfunctional governmental institutions and particularly police brutality. The article concluded that building trust is particularly important for governments, as this can be achieved through output sense, the provision of public goods, or social support.

TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY OF VEGETABLE PRODUCTION AMONG WETLAND VEGETABLE FARMERS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

This study employed Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Frontier Production function to measure technical efficiency and its determinants among dry season vegetable farmers in selected wetland catchments in Southwest Nigeria. A multistage random sampling procedure was adopted to select 450 wetlands vegetable farmers across Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States and data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire in 2020. Technical efficiency (TE) estimates indicated that wetlands vegetable farmers operated below the production frontier with the mean technical efficiency value of 0.74. Increased farm size, family labour, quantity of seed planted, and quantity of agrochemical significantly (p<0.01) improved the farmers’ technical efficiency level. The study found that extension contact, access to credit, farming experience, and membership of an association negatively and significantly related to technical inefficiency at 1 and 5%. Weighted average price and household size were significantly and positively related to technical inefficiency. It was recommended that attention should be given to improvement in the visitation by extension agent, the provision of improved seeds and affordable financial support. Key words: Efficiency, Stochastic frontier, Vegetable, Wetland,

Systematic disparities in reporting on community firearm violence on local television news in Philadelphia, PA, USA

ObjectiveTo better understand how community firearm violence (CFV) is communicated to the public, we aimed to identify systematic differences between the characteristics of shooting victims and events covered on television news and all shootings in Philadelphia, PA, a city with escalating CFV incidence. MethodsWe compiled a stratified sample of local television news clips covering shootings that occurred in Philadelphia aired on two randomly selected days per month from January-June 2021 (n = 154 clips). We coded the clips to determine demographic and geographic information about the shooting victims and events and then matched coded shootings with corresponding shootings in the Philadelphia police database. We compared characteristics of shooting victims and shooting event locations depicted in television clips (n = 62) with overall characteristics of shootings in Philadelphia during the study period (n = 1082). ResultsCompared to all individuals shot, victims whose shootings were covered on local television news more likely to be children and more likely to be shot in a mass shooting. The average median household income of shooting locations featured on television was significantly higher than the median household income across all shooting locations ($60,302 for television shootings vs. $41,233 for all shootings; p = 0.002). Shootings featured on television occurred in areas with lower rates of income inequality and racialized economic segregation compared to all shooting locations. ConclusionsTelevision news outlets in Philadelphia systematically over-reported shootings of children, mass shootings, and shootings that occurred in neighborhoods with higher median household income, less socioeconomic inequality, and lower rates of racialized economic segregation.

Assessment of causal association between the socio-economic status and osteoporosis and fractures: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study in European population.

The correlation between socio-economic status (SES) and bone-related diseases garners increasing attention, prompting a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis in this study. Genetic data on SES indicators (average total household income before tax, years of schooling completed, and Townsend Deprivation Index at recruitment), femoral neck bone mineral density (FN-BMD), heel bone mineral density (eBMD), osteoporosis, and five different sites of fractures (spine, femur, lower leg-ankle, foot, and wrist-hand fractures) were derived from genome-wide association summary statistics of European ancestry. The inverse variance weighted method was employed to obtain the causal estimates, complemented by alternative MR techniques, including MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO). Furthermore, sensitivity analyses and multivariable MR were performed to enhance the robustness of our findings. Higher educational attainment exhibited associations with increased eBMD (β: .06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01-0.10, P = 7.24 × 10-3), and reduced risks of osteoporosis (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.65-0.94, P = 8.49 × 10-3), spine fracture (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.66-0.88, P = 2.94 × 10-4), femur fracture (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.67-0.91, P = 1.33 × 10-3), lower leg-ankle fracture (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.70-0.88, P = 2.05 × 10-5), foot fracture (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.66-0.93, P = 5.92 × 10-3), and wrist-hand fracture (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.73-0.95, P = 7.15 × 10-3). Material deprivation appeared to increase the risk of spine fracture (OR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.43-4.85, P = 1.91 × 10-3). A higher FN-BMD level positively affected increased household income (β: .03, 95% CI: 0.01-0.04, P = 6.78 × 10-3). All these estimates were adjusted for body mass index, type 2 diabetes, smoking initiation, and frequency of alcohol intake. The MR analyses show that higher educational levels is associated with higher eBMD, reduced risk of osteoporosis and fractures, while material deprivation is positively related to spine fracture. Enhanced FN-BMD correlates with increased household income. These findings provide valuable insights for health guideline formulation and policy development.

IMPACT OF CASHLESS POLICY ENFORCEMENT AND NAIRA REDESIGN ON FRESH CATFISH MARKETING IN MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the impact of Cashless Policy Enforcement and Naira Redesign on Fresh Catfish Production and Marketing in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 100 respondents for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and farm budgeting techniques. The result revealed that fresh catfish producers were in their productive age with mean age of 34years. Majority (76%) of the fresh catfish producers were males and 84% married. The average household size and farming experience were 5 persons and 6 years, respectively. The results of the profitability analysis of catfish marketing in the study area before and during the cashless policy enforcement and Naira redesign revealed that before the policy, the catfish producers’ total variable costs and total fixed costs were N1701379 and N665689.22, respectively, making a total cost of N2367068.22. The results further revealed that total revenue of N2659284.66 and a net farm income of N292216.440 were realised. The profitability ratio shows that for every one naira invested, the catfish producers made about 89 kobo. However, the result revealed that, amid the cashless policy enforcement and Naira redesign, the total variable cost and total fixed cost were N827791.66 and N712688.47, respectively, making a total cost of N1540475.13. The results revealed total revenue of N1650800 and a net farm income of N110384.87. The profitability ratio shows that for every one naira invested, the catfish producers made about 92 kobo. The result of the impact of catfish marketing on the income level of the marketers in the study area before and during the cashless policy enforcement and Naira redesign revealed that before the policy, 30%t of the catfish marketers had an income of over N300, 000. However, during the policy, only 26% of the catfish farmer marketers had an income of over N300, 000 and 15% had an income of less than N50, 000. The result of the constraints to catfish marketing before and during the cashless policy enforcement and Naira redesign revealed that before the policy, the most constraints to catfish marketing were high electric charges (12.3%) and lack of credit facilities (9.1%). However, during the policy, the most constraints to catfish marketing were inadequate capital (8.3%), seasonality of commodity (7.8%), high cost of feed (7.4%), high cost of production (7.3%), high cost of labour (7.3%) and low demand of product (7.0%). The study concluded that Catfish production and marketing in the study area was more profitable before the cashless policy enforcement and Naira redesign. The study recommended that provisions for agricultural incentives such as short and long-term loans, with a single digit interest rate for the marketers in order to solve the problem of lack of credit facility. Also, Marketers should form marketing cooperatives to increase their access to credit from financial institutions and hence alleviate the problem of inadequate capital.

RURAL WOMEN FARMERS PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN BAUCHI AND TAFAWA BALEWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF BAUCHI STATE

The Study analyzed rural women farmers’ participation in agricultural cooperative societies in Bauchi and Tafawa Balewa local government areas of Bauchi State. A Multi-Stage Sampling Technique was used to select 195 women farmers. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that the average age of women farmers was 36.5 years and majority (55.4%) were married with an average household size of 13 persons. While most (81.0%) had crop farming as primary occupation and (29.1%) of the farmers had attained secondary education. The results showed that women farmers had average farming experience of 13 years with an average farm size of 6.6 hectares. The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.723 implying that 72.3% of the variation participation in cooperative societies in the study accounted by the factors included in the model. Education, household size, membership duration, extension visit and access to credit were significant at p<0.001 in the level of participation while, primary occupation, amount of loan obtained and adult education were significant at p<0.05. Constraints affecting agricultural activities were; high cost of inputs (66.4%), inadequate capital (82.8%), and high cost of labour (91.1%). The study concluded that, It was discovered from the study that the majority of the women farmers were not too aged, meaning they are still active and productive, they were mainly married and were literate at least up to primary education level. However, their participation is limited by pressure from household head in the study. The study recommended that, cooperative principles like continuous education and training should be arranged in order to improve women’s participation in cooperative activities. More female extension workers should be trained to help female farmers.

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES ON MAIZE PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY IN OTUKPO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

The study examined the effects of climate change adaption strategies on maize production efficiency in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select 100 respondents for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). The results revealed that maize farmers were in their productive age with mean age of 31years. Majority (55%) of the maize farmers were married. The average household size, farm size and years of farming experience were 6 persons, 2.5 hectares and 8 years of experience in farming, respectively. The result on the climate change adaptation strategies used by the maize farming households revealed that most of the farmers adopted adjustment Improved/multiple varieties (17.6%), multiple planting dates (18%) and fertilizer application (20.6%) as climate change adaptation strategies in the study area. The result of predicted Stochastic Frontier model showed that the minimum and maximum technical efficiencies (TE) of the maize farmers were 0.11 and 0.98, respectively, with the mean efficiency of 0.88. This showed that if the efficiency of resources usage is increased by 12.0 percent, the maize farmers would operate on the production frontier given the existing technology. The result on the influence of climate change adaptation strategies used by maize farmers in the study area further revealed that the coefficient of farm size, fertilizer and agrochemicals had positive relationship with the value of maize output at P≤0.05, P≤0.10 and P≤0.01 levels, respectively. The result of the inefficiency model revealed that improved/multiple varieties and fertilizer application increased inefficiency of maize production at P≤0.05 and P≤0.10 levels, respectively, while alternative tillage practices decreased inefficiency of maize production at P≤0.01 level. The study concluded that maize production in the study area was not optimally efficient. The study recommended that farmers should be provided with credit facilities to help improve their capacity to adapt to climate change. Also, development partners should focus on awareness creation of farmers on better production techniques and climate change adaptation strategies through mass media and agricultural extension.

Predictors of fuel poverty and the equity of local fuel poverty support: secondary analysis of data from Bradford, England.

Addressing fuel poverty is a critical public health issue given its recent rise in prevalence across Europe. Although previous research identifies national risk markers of fuel poverty, evidence is lacking on whether these are consistent across local geographies, and the equity of local interventions. In the UK's current economic climate, it is more crucial than ever that services benefit households in greatest need. This study aimed to determine significant predictors of fuel poverty among households in Bradford, England, comparing them to national-level predictors, and evaluate if households possessing significant fuel poverty predictors were equitably referred to a local fuel poverty service (Warm Homes Healthy People, WHHP). A multivariate logistic regression model determined significant fuel poverty predictors in Bradford using household-level data from the Energy Saving Trust and the Low Income High Costs fuel poverty definition. Statistical testing highlighted significant differences in predictors of fuel poverty between households referred to WHHP and all Bradford households. Significant (p < .05) predictors of fuel poverty included: living in an area with lower average household incomes and higher proportion of ethnic minority individuals, and living in a property with a lower energy efficiency rating. Households living in a detached or older property, and homeowners were more likely to be fuel poor. Differences in the direction of the relationship with fuel poverty were identified between some national and local predictors. Most predictors were significantly (p < .05) overrepresented among WHHP households, suggesting equitable service reach. Ethnic minorities, younger people, and multiperson households were underrepresented. Local fuel poverty predictors were similar to many national-level predictors, but identified differences in the direction of the relationship between some national and local predictors reaffirm the value of locally focused research. WHHP successfully targeted households possessing key predictors, but should ensure that ethnic minorities, younger people, and multiperson households are equitably referred.

The impact of family socioeconomic status on depression in Chinese adolescents: A comparison of life course models

BackgroundLow socioeconomic status (SES) is a well-recognized risk factor for depression. However, the relationship between the timing of exposure to disadvantaged SES in childhood and depression in adolescence remains to be explored. We examined the differential influence of SES in early childhood, late childhood and adolescence on adolescent depression by modeling life course models. MethodsWe used longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Studies (N = 2245). SES was measured using average household income (objective SES) and maternal subjective SES and grouped into three time points: 5–8 years, 9–12 years, and 13–16 years of age. The main outcome was depression at 13–16 years of age. Structured linear regression analysis was used to predict depression by low SES over the three time periods. A partial F test was used to compare the nested life course models to the saturated model. ResultsAmong objective SES permutations, approximately 24.63 % of the adolescents had low SES in all periods, and 73.63 % had low SES in at least one period. Among subjective SES permutations, approximately 5.48 % of the adolescents had low SES in all periods, and 54.65 % had low SES in at least one period. Regardless of objective SES or subjective SES, the accumulation of risk (relaxed) model was the best-fit model. In this model, chronic low SES exposure in late childhood was the best predictor. ConclusionWe suggest that interventions targeting the late childhood period may have a practical effect on reducing depression in adolescents.

"Black Women Should Not Die Giving Life": The lived experiences of Black women diagnosed with severe maternal morbidity in the United States.

We sought to understand the lived experiences of Black women diagnosed with severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in communities with high maternal mortality to inform practices that reduce obstetric racism and improve patient outcomes. From August 2022 through December 2022, we conducted a phenomenological, qualitative study among Black women who experienced SMM. Participants were recruited via social media and met inclusion criteria if they self-identified as Black cisgender women, were 18-40 years old, had SMM diagnosed, and lived within zip codes in the United States that have the top-five highest maternal mortality rates. Family members participated on behalf of women who were deceased but otherwise met all other criteria. We conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs), and transcripts were analyzed using inductive and deductive methods to explore birth story experiences. Overall, 12 participants completed IDIs; 10 were women who experienced SMM and 2 were mothers of women who died due to SMM. The mean age for women who experienced SMM was 31 years (range 26-36 years) at the time of the IDI or death. Most participants had graduate-level education, and the average annual household income was 123,750 USD. Women were especially interested in study participation because of their high-income status as they did not fit the stereotypical profile of Black women who experience racial discrimination. The average time since SMM diagnosis was 2 years. Participants highlighted concrete examples of communication failures, stereotyping by providers, differential treatment, and medical errors which patients experienced as manifestations of racism. Medical personnel dismissing and ignoring concerns during emergent situations, even when raised through strong self-advocacy, was a key factor in racism experienced during childbirth. Future interventions to reduce racism and improve maternal health outcomes should center on the experiences of Black women and focus on improving patient-provider communication, as well as the quality and effectiveness of responses during emergent situations. Précis statement: This study underscores the need to center Black women's experiences, enhance patient-provider communication, and address emergent concerns to mitigate obstetric racism and enhance maternal health outcomes.

Adverse shocks, vulnerability, and coping by rural households in Vietnam

AbstractMotivationVulnerability to poverty derives from adverse shocks and adaptive capacity. To alleviate poverty, policy‐makers must understand sources of vulnerability, household coping strategies, and the effectiveness of current insurance. Vietnam is an important case due to the many hazards that rural households face and the inadequacy of social safety nets.PurposeThis article investigates the role of adverse shocks on vulnerability, coping strategies, and recovery of households in rural Vietnam.Approach and methodsUsing a unique panel data set from Vietnam Access to Resources Household Surveys (VARHSs) during 2008–2016, I first estimate and deconstruct sources of vulnerability. To examine household behaviour when coping with adverse shocks, I use a multivariate probit model; to investigate whether coping strategies help households recover from shocks, I use a multinominal probit model. Finally, I evaluate the effectiveness of existing risk‐management mechanisms.FindingsThe average rural household in Vietnam experiences a 72% decrease in utility due to shocks. Idiosyncratic shocks contribute 32% of the loss. Rural households are highly dependent on informal coping, such as reducing food consumption, withdrawing savings, taking children out of school or selling capital assets. Household savings allow the wealthiest households to recover; but for low‐income households, consumption has to be cut, which depletes human capital development and prevents recovery.Policy implicationsRural Vietnamese need more public support to cope with and recover from shocks. Because idiosyncratic shocks hit households hard, public support should focus on alleviating their impacts. Expanding health insurance to all rural households should be a priority.Households suffer less in areas with higher levels of economic development, so economic growth is a defence against shocks. More roads and links to towns and more irrigation would help.

Unraveling the threads of corruption perception: effects of age and cohort

ABSTRACT This study aimed to empirically analyze the individual effects of age effect and cohort effect on corruption perception. Given the importance of comprehending the process of corruption perception formation, this study treated age groups as an independent variable impacting corruption perception, and sex, education level, and average monthly household income as control variables. The analysis aimed to understand if corruption perception varied among age groups and whether disparities were due to cohort effect or age effect. Results showed that age had a negative impact on corruption perception. When comparing two generations across different years, age effect was found to have a greater influence than cohort effect. Despite certain limitations, this study highlighted the significant role of age in shaping corruption perception and emphasized the policy implications of formulating corruption prevention strategies that accommodate shifts in corruption perception across the life cycle.

Place Matters: A Study on the Influence of Birthplace and the Place of Development on Soccer Academy Players' Careers.

The effect of birthplace (the place where a player is born and grows up) is one of the key variables associated with soccer player development and achievement. However, recent studies have questioned the influence of contextual variables on selection and promotion processes related to birthplace. The main purposes of this study were: (1) establish whether there is a difference between the birthplace and sporting growth according to the stages of entry into the academy, (2) to evaluate the influence of geographical and contextual variables on sporting development, and (3) assess the chances of making a professional team debut. Applied logistic regression was used in order to analyse the birthplace and growth of 1411 male soccer players, of which 40.1% are incorporated in the U-12 category from a Spanish First division club, and the results showed a statistically significant association between a change from one's birthplace to the place of sporting growth and later success (79%). Key contextual variables such as number of inhabitants, population density, proximity to sports facilities, average household income and presence of sports clubs have been considered. The analysis of the contextual variables revealed that there was a positive relationship between certain variables, like a higher population, and being selected for the academy (p < 0.01; r = 0.28). Finally, the findings showed that players who experienced a geographical transition were 38% more likely to make a professional debut. The importance of considering the place of sporting growth when analysing the "birthplace effect" has therefore been demonstrated.

일-가정 병행 여성의 ‘괜찮은 일’ 및 ‘의미 있는 일’ 경험의 잠재프로파일 분석: 일의 심리학 이론을 중심으로

The study examines the patterns in the experiences of decent work and mean-ingful work of working women with children as well as the psychological processes pre-dicting these patterns based on the Psychology of Working Theory. The survey was com-pleted by 791 working women with children. The latent profile analysis identified three subtypes: highly meaningless work, which was characterized by the low level of all factors below the mean of the whole group and the particular lower level of meaningful work fac-tors; adequate work, where all factors were close to the mean of the whole group; and a fulfilling work, where both decent and meaningful work experiences were at a high level. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine psychological processes that predicted the probability to belong to these groups, and found that work volition, ca-reer adaptability, critical behavior, problem-focused coping, and cognitive reappraisal were significant predictors, after controlling for average household income per month. The findings imply that decent work may be prerequisites for meaningful work and psycho-logical processes can facilitate more positive work experiences and suggest interventions based on the levels of work experience.

On intra-urban differences in the destinations of emigrants from the Municipality of Malaga (Spain): An approximation based on the municipal register of inhabitants

Emigrants who left the Municipality of Malaga in the 2017–2021 period went to multiple destinations, mostly municipalities located in the province of Malaga itself, more specifically in its metropolitan area. Average housing prices in these metropolitan municipalities are highly variable, and, in this context, it is reasonable to assume that there will be a relationship between the income levels of emigrants and their destination. Based on a special processing of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants of the Municipality of Malaga, we show how a relationship can effectively be found between the average household income (AHI) of the census tract of origin of the emigrants and the average price of housing in the destination municipality, both for the whole group of emigrants and for selected age groups – children and young adults. A relationship that points to an overrepresentation of municipalities with high housing prices in the sections with the highest income, and vice versa.

Sharing Is Caring: Exploring Distributed Solar Photovoltaics and Local Electricity Consumption through a Renewable Energy Community

Renewable Energy Communities (REC) can play a crucial role in enhancing citizen participation in the energy transition. Current European Union legislation enshrines energy communities and mandates Member States to encourage these organizations, promoting adequate conditions for their establishment. Nevertheless, uptake has been slow, and more research is needed to optimize the associated energy sharing. Using a Portuguese case study (REC Telheiras, Lisbon), this research aims to match local generation through four photovoltaic systems (totalizing 156.5 kWp of installed capacity) with household electricity consumption while cross evaluating the Portuguese legislation for energy sharing. The latter aim compares two scenarios: (a) current legislation (generated energy must be locally self-consumed before shared) and (b) equal share for members with a fixed coefficient. The evaluation is performed according to two indexes of self-consumption (SCI) and self-sufficiency (SSI), related to the simulation of four photovoltaic systems in public buildings, their associated consumption profiles, and an average household consumption profile of community members. The results show that, while maximizing self-consumption for the same values of generation and consumption, the number of participants is considerably lower for Scenario A (SCI = 100% is achieved with at least 491 residential members in Scenario A and 583 in Scenario B), implying that legislative changes enabling energy communities to better tailor sharing schemes may be necessary for them to become more attractive. The methods and results of this research can also be applied to other types of facilities, e.g., industrial and commercial consumers, if they are members of a REC and have smart meters in their installations.

FARMERS' WIFE INCOME SOURCES AND IT’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE HOUSEHOLD: AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

The wife's contribution to the family is unavoidable. In addition to preparing the husband's needs before and after he comes home from work, as well as taking care of all household needs, the wife's responsibility is working to help the husband in meeting the needs of his household. The purpose of this study was to determine the income of farmer households, the source of income of farmer wives, and their contribution to the household. This study was carried out in Manongkoki Village, North Polongbangkeng District, Takalar Regency, in May and June 2023. In this study, 125 farmer's wives who worked outside the home were included. The sample used was 25% of the population so that the number of samples used in this study was 31 people. The sampling technique used is simple random sampling. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. The data collection techniques used were observation and interviews using questionnaires. The data analysis techniques used were income analysis and income contribution analyses. The findings revealed that (1) the average household income was IDR 2,090,412 per month, (2) the sources of income for farmers' wives were farm laborers, traditional cake sellers, and grocery traders, and (3) farmers' wives contributed 34% of home income with a low category. Farming families appreciate this revenue contribution since it allows them to cove.

Estimating preferences and willingness to pay for pharmacogenetic testing in populations who are medically underserved: a discrete choice experiment.

Background: The implementation of pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing may contribute to health disparities if access to testing is inequitable, as medically underserved patients are prescribed higher rates of drugs with PGx guidelines and often experience the benefits of emerging health technologies last. Limited research has evaluated potential implementation of PGx testing in populations who are medically underserved and none have evaluated their preferences regarding PGx test characteristics and cost. Our study endeavored to assess the willingness to pay for PGx testing and key PGx test preferences in a nationwide cohort of medically underserved respondents. Methods: A survey was developed to assess willingness to pay and preferences for PGx testing through a discrete choice experiment (DCE). Five attributes of PGx tests were included in the DCE: doctor recommendation, wait time, number of actionable results, benefit of the test (avoid a side effect or address a health problem), and out-of-pocket cost. A convenience sample of U.S. adults with an average yearly household income of $42,000 or less was collected utilizing an online survey fielded by Qualtrics Research Services (Provo, UT). For the DCE analysis, conditional logit and mixed-logit regression models were utilized to determine relative utility of attributes and levels, conditional relative importance for each attribute, and marginal willingness to pay. Results: Respondents completed the survey with an 83.1% response completion rate. Following quality control procedures, 1,060 respondents were included in the final nationwide cohort. Approximately, 82% of respondents were willing to pay less than $100 for PGx testing, and a strong price ceiling was identified at $200. Out-of-pocket cost was the attribute identified as having the greatest relative importance on choice, while wait time had the lowest importance. Greater utility was observed if the PGx test was doctor recommended, had a higher number of actionable results, and resolved major or minor health problems compared with avoiding side effects. Conclusion: This first-of-its-kind study provides important insights into the willingness to pay for PGx testing and PGx test preferences of a large medically underserved population. Applying these findings can potentially lead to improvements in the successful implementation of PGx testing in this population.

A rising tide lifts all homes? Housing consumption trends for low-income households since the 1980s

This study analyzes patterns of housing consumption and expenditures among low-income households since 1985. For households in the bottom income quintile, real monthly housing expenditures have risen from $605 to $1,045. However, these increased expenditures partially reflect housing quantity improvements, including more square footage, more rooms, and larger lot sizes. The data also show a marked improvement in housing quality, such as fewer sagging roofs, broken appliances, rodents, and peeling paint. The housing quality for low-income households improved across all 35 indicators we can measure. These quality improvements equate to between a 34 to 43 percent increase in housing consumption and suggest that a typical low-income household in 2021 experiences housing quality equivalent to the average national household in 1985. Though relative housing consumption has remained similar, this “rising tide” of housing may have additional benefits for the well-being of families and children living in better housing.