Average Income Research Articles

Household Food Security Status and Diet Diversity Predictors of Mother Child-Dyads from Rural Smallholders in Three Agroecological Zones of Malawi

ABSTRACT Data from mother-child dyads (n = 375) living in rural smallholder farming households in Malawi was utilized. Households with an average income of >$4.2 US dollars per member had 60% lower odds (OR: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.19–0.82) of food insecurity. Household food insecurity was a predictor of Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) (OR: 0.43, 95%CI: 0.21–0.89). Children whose female caregivers met MDD-W had 37 times higher odds (OR: 37.6, 95%CI: 13.9–117) of meeting the recommended dietary diversity score. To address food and nutrition security in this population, an approach that encompasses women’s empowerment and income diversification is required.

Undernutrition and its predictors among tuberculosis patients in Southwest Ethiopia

BackgroundAdult tuberculosis (TB) patients experience significant undernutrition globally, especially in developing countries. While some studies have explored the prevalence and factors influencing undernutrition in this group, comprehensive large-scale investigations covering diverse health facilities and populations are lacking. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of undernutrition and its associated factors among adult TB patients in public hospitals in southwest Ethiopia.MethodAn institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 01 to April 15, 2023, in public hospitals in the southwest region, of Ethiopia. A total of 239 adult TB patients who were directly observed in TB treatment were selected via systematic sampling. A structured questionnaire was adapted from a review of different literature. Data were cleaned and entered into EPI info version 7, then analyzed with SPSS Version 22. A bivariable analysis was done to evaluate associations at (p < 0.25), and then multiple logistic regression models were computed to identify independent predictors of undernutrition among TB patients at (p < 0.05).ResultsA total of 239 respondents participated with a response rate of 100%. The prevalence of undernutrition among adult TB patients was 43.93%. Of the 239 TB patients, the majority (91.6%) were new TB cases. Family size >5 (AOR 3.23 [1.16–9.01]), household average income <2,000 birr (AOR 5.64 [2.12–14.99]), type of TB (AOR 2.8 [1.25–6.51]), and positive HIV status of the study participant (AOR 3.23 [1.16–9.01]) were the independent predictors of undernutrition among adult TB patients.Conclusion and recommendationsUndernutrition among adult tuberculosis (TB) patients is notably high compared to other settings. Key predictors include a family size greater than five, a monthly income below 2,000 birr, HIV status, and pulmonary TB. Early screening and diagnosis of undernutrition, along with nutritional interventions, should be integrated into the routine care for all adult TB patients.

Potential for Cattle Business Development in the Buffer Zone of Mount Leuser National Park, Bahorok District, Indonesia

Local communities in Bahorok District are highly dependent on the agricultural and livestock sectors as their main livelihoods. The environment and abundant natural resources cause a profitable for the community to raise livestock.This study aims to to examine potential development of cattle farming (financial and economic aspects) in the buffer zone of Gunung Leuser National Park, Bahorok District.The type of data used in this study is primary data obtained through observation and interviews and secondary data through literature and the North Sumatra Central Statistics Agency. Determination of the sample by Purposive Sampling with 100 cattle breeders. Data analysis was carried out by calculating income, financial analysis of Net Present Value (NPV), Net Benefit-Cost (B/C), Payback Period (PP), and economic analysis. The results of this study indicate that the average income of cattle breeders in the Buffer Zone of Gunung Leuser National Park, Bahorok District is IDR 24,551,421 for semi-intensive and IDR 8,235,155 for extensive per year. The income of breeders can cover production costs so that income is positive or profitable. The cattle farming business shows that by using an interest rate of 8%, the NPV is obtained >0 or has a positive value, the Gross B/C value is obtained 1.97 and the Net B/C value is 1.25, meaning BCR>1 means a positive value, the PP value is 3.1 and 4.2 years, and the economic analysis shows that the cattle farming business has an important role in the economy in Bahorok District

Employment in the performance of pre-paid educational and scientific works: social and economic aspects

Relevance. Currently, the market for custom-made educational and scientific work is a large segment of the shadow economy characterized by significant volumes. In the structure of this market, we may observe the formation of special types of social and economic agents and their interaction practices. However nowadays both the essential social and economic characteristics of such employment and its cultural value aspects, which form the social subjectivity of the performers of the work, have not fully become the object of scientific reflection.The purpose is to study the social and economic aspects of employment in the field of contract work.Objectives: to reveal the theoretical and methodological foundations of actualization of employment for the performance of commissioned educational and scientific works in the general structure of freelancing; to specify the content of the main social and economic characteristics of the performance of commissioned works; to implement a typology of motivation of authors of commissioned works; to determine the current directions of further scientific research on the stated problem.Methodology. The article uses sociological concepts of post-industrial society and sociological theories of postmodernity. Special attention is paid to the provision of a number of basic general scientific methods, as well as modeling and generalization methods. The empirical basis of the study was the results of the author's sociological study conducted by the method of an expert online survey (N=50).Results. The employment volume in the sphere of contract work in the general structure of freelancing was considered in the article. The content of socio-economic characteristics of employment in the performance of commissioned works (at the personal and subjective levels) is revealed as well as the typology of value and motivational orientations of the authors of commissioned works was carried out.Conclusions. Pre-paid educational and scientific works tends to professionalize, though this sphere is hindered by the low average income from this customers. It is financial motivation that is predominant in the structure of work factors for the authors of commissioned works.

30. SURVEY ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF HYPERTENSION ACCORDING TO TRADITIONAL MEDICINE COMBINED WITH MODERN MEDICINE AMONG THE POPULATION OF THUAN AN CITY, BINH DUONG PROVINCE

Objective: To assess the knowledge of the population in Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province, regarding hypertension according to Traditional Medicine combined with Modern Medicine. Subjects and research methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to survey the knowledge of 384 residents aged 18 and older living in Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province, who agreed to participate in the study. Results: 82.1% of the total participants had a knowledge level of average or higher about hypertension according to Traditional Medicine combined with Modern Medicine, with 24% having a good knowledge level. Analysis of correlations identified several factors associated with the population’s knowledge of hypertension according to Traditional Medicine combined with Modern Medicine, including occupation and income. Specifically, the group engaged in intellectual labor had 2.52 times lower odds of having poor knowledge compared to other occupations (students, unemployed, retirees, etc.), and those with an average monthly income above 10 million VND had 2.66 times lower odds of having poor knowledge compared to those with a monthly income below 5 million VND. Conclusion: The knowledge of the population in Thuan An City, Binh Duong Province, about hypertension according to Traditional Medicine combined with Modern Medicine is at an average level.

Beyond the Binary: Investigating the Differential Effects of Microcredit on Poor and Near-Poor Households

This study employs difference-in-differences methodology to examine the impact of formal microcredit on income levels of poor and near-poor households in Vietnam using panel data from 2016-2018. Findings reveal microcredit participation leads to a 0.021% increase in average income over time, with loan size, purpose, and household characteristics significantly influencing outcomes. The research contributes a nuanced analysis of microcredit's differential effects across income groups, incorporating credit use as a key variable. Results have implications for designing targeted interventions maximizing microcredit's poverty alleviation potential. Policymakers should promote productive credit use and support services tailored to borrowers' needs.

Analysis of Income Disparity Fishermen in Papua Barat Daya Regency

This study analyses income disparity between fishermen and mangrove crab fishermen in Papua Barat Daya Village, Papua Barat Regency. Quantita-tive methods were used with descriptive analysis and statistical tests, in-cluding the Gini Index and two-sample independent t-test. Data were col-lected from 50 fishermen and 50 mangrove crab fishermen through ques-tionnaires related to their monthly income. The results showed that the av-erage income of fishermen was IDR 6.13 million higher than the average in-come of mangrove crab fishermen of IDR 5.26 million. The Gini Index anal-ysis showed a value of 0.32 for fishermen and 0.45 for mangrove crab fish-ermen, indicating greater income inequality among mangrove crab fishermen. The two-sample independent t-test showed that the difference in in-come between the two groups of fishermen was statistically significant (p < 0.05). This study concludes that there is significant inequality in income between fishermen and mangrove crab fishermen, with higher inequality oc-curring in mangrove crab fishermen. Policy recommendations to reduce this inequality include improving market access, cultivation technology, and government intervention to support the welfare of fishermen in the man-grove crab sector.

Kelayakan Usahatani dan Pola Saluran Pemasaran Komoditi Bawang Merah di Wilayah Timur dan Barat Kabupaten Sumbawa

This research aims to determine the feasibility of farming and the pattern of shallot marketing channels in the eastern and western regions of Sumbawa Regency. The research area was determined using a purposive sampling technique, starting from the district to the village level which is the center of shallot production. The research was carried out in May-July 2024. The number of samples or farmers in this research was determined by 30 shallot farmers. The analysis method uses descriptive methods, income approach, RC Ratio, and BEP. The research results show that the average income from shallot farming in the western zone is higher, namely: Rp. 77,947,742,- per farm/farmer/season compared to the average income of shallot farming in the eastern zone, which is Rp. 28,058,875,-. per farm/farmer/season. The R/C ratio value of shallot farming in the western zone is greater, namely R/C = 3 compared to the R/C ratio value of the eastern zone, namely R/C = 2. This shows that the efficiency of farming in the western zone is more efficient than with shallot farming in the eastern area of Sumbawa Regency. The BEP price value for the eastern zone is IDR. 10,100 per kilogram, and the BEP price for the west zone is IDR. 8,500,- per kilogram. There are 2 (two) market channel patterns in the western zone of Sumbawa Regency, namely: (1) farmers - retailers at the sub-district market - consumers, (2) farmers - village level collectors - retailers at the sub-district market. Meanwhile, there is only 1 (one) market channel pattern in the eastern zone, namely: farmers - collectors outside the sub-district - wholesalers outside Sumbawa Regency.

Interstate Migrant Workers and Access to Social Security Benefits: A Critical Study

According to the latest data, the construction sector is one of the second largest employment generation sectors with 71 million workers’ force and Indian construction workers are listed under the unorganized sector. The Ministry of Labor and Employment launched the e-sharam portal for unorganized sector workers which helps them to get awareness about the social security schemes. It is the first database in India that covers migrant workers, gig workers, construction workers, and migrant workers. However, it is crucial to study the status of social security among migrant construction workers. The main intention of this paper is to understand the status of social security among migrant construction workers in India. The present paper focuses on the latest literature related to social security especially related to migrant workers. The methodology adopted by the researcher is the secondary data. The finding of the study reveals that workers will only know information about social security through the welfare boards, workers who work on sites, and eighty percent of workers are not conscious about social security privileges. Meanwhile, the socioeconomic condition of workers was poor and factors like education level, and monthly income were very poor, the average monthly income was less than five thousand rupees per month. A few prominent studies were conducted on comparative studies comparing their economic status before and after their migration and it was found that the economic condition has improved when they have migrated from their place to some other place for livelihood. Keywords- Social security, Migrant construction workers, Unorganised sector, Socio-economic conditions.

Socioeconomic, health status and hospitalization aspects of adult patients referred to the social service of a tertiary hospital

ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to record and analyze socioeconomic, demographic and health profiles of adult patients referred to the Social Service of a tertiary Hospital, as well as to present additional hospitalization conditions.MethodsA retrospective hospital archive study containing all patients referred to the Social Service during a four-year period was conducted.ResultsThe study consisted of 350 patients (168 males) with mean age 70.1 years. Most of the patients were of Greek origin and singles or divorced. 184 patients (52.6%) were retired. The participants’ average income ranged between 500 and 1000 euro/month. Most of the patients were insured by the Government (public health insurance) and were hospitalized in Pathology and Covid Clinics, with a mean hospitalization level of 17.6 days. The main reasons for referral were admission to an Aged Care Unit and the need to investigate network support. The most frequently recorded diagnosis was Covid-19, while 103 (29.4%) patients had a mental illness problem. The analysis of associations between demographic characteristics with health dimensions showed significant differences.ConclusionsChanges in socioeconomic conditions have an impact on outpatient and inpatient care as well as on Greek social work practice and pose enormous challenges to social work professionals.

Rent control and neighborhood income. Evidence from Vienna, Austria.: Rent control and neighborhood income.

Rent control is a highly controversial housing policy. For Vienna, Austria, we show how rent control impacts block-group income distributions as the share of residents with rental contracts subject to a cap increase. Using regression with spatial fixed effects, we find that a 1%-point increase in residents with rental contracts subject to a cap reduces the average net income of the block-group by 52.70 Euro/year. For the typical block-group containing 861 residents, this implies a reduction in total block-group income of 45,375 Euro/year. This suggests increasing numbers of lower income residents are locating in block-groups with rental caps. We further show the effect of capped rents on average income is heterogeneous across and within block-groups, with greater reductions in higher income block-groups compared to lower income block-groups. Our results demonstrate that the rent control policy in Vienna impacts residents’ location choice and the resulting spatial income distribution despite the lack of means testing.

The elderly population’s social networks and HIV perceptions: Evidence from China

ABSTRACT Background: Previous studies have found that people with low participation in social activities and living alone were prone to have risky sexual behaviors, while people with high participation in social activities were less prone to have risky sexual behaviors. Based on the above assumptions, we conducted an analysis on elderly population’s social networks and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risky behaviors in China. In the survey study, considering the sensitivity of sexual behavior, HIV risk behavior of the elderly population is more difficult to measure, so the intermediate variable of HIV perceptions was used instead of the sexual behavioral variable. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in July to September 2023 among the elderly aged ≥ 50 years in China to measure the social networks with the Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS) and to measure the HIV perceptions of the elderly with the degree of knowledge of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention and treatment and the degree of discrimination of HIV/AIDS patients, and the data were statistically analyzed with SPSS 27.0 software. Statistical analysis methods included descriptive analyses such as frequency, percentage, mean ± standard deviation, and median, two independent samples t-test analysis, and multivariate logistic regression model analysis. Results: Among the 1022 elderly people surveyed, the proportion of those with weak and strong levels of social support was 46.9% and 53.1%, respectively; the proportion of those with low, medium, and high levels of HIV knowledge perceptions was 4.8%, 5.9%, and 89.3%, respectively; and the proportion of those with low, medium, and high levels of attitudinal perceptions was 24.7%, 35.0%, and 40.3%, respectively. Based on the Goodman–Kruskal Gamma test, it was found that there was a positive correlation between social support and HIV knowledge perceptions in the elderly population, and there was a negative correlation between social support and HIV attitudinal perceptions in the elderly population. Ethnicity, current occupation or pre-retirement occupation, personal average after-tax monthly income, attitudinal perceptions, and social support were the influencing factors for the knowledge perceptions in the elderly population (P < 0.05); literacy, number of children, mode of residence, personal average monthly income after tax, knowledge perceptions, and social support were the influencing factors of attitudinal perceptions in the elderly population (P < 0.05). Conclusions: There is a correlation between social networks and HIV perceptions in China’s elderly population, which is positively correlated with HIV knowledge perceptions and negatively correlated with HIV attitudinal perceptions, and it is important to improve the HIV prevention and knowledge of the elderly population and reduce their HIV-related discrimination.

The importance of ZIP code-related average household income on the severity of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants

The importance of ZIP code-related average household income on the severity of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants

Knowledge and Attitude Towards Lifestyle Modification Among Hypertensive Patients: A Cross-sectional Study In Ghana.

Introduction: Hypertension stands as a silent yet pervasive health challenge affecting millions worldwide. Appropriate lifestyle modification which are often overlooked are the linchpin for the prevention and control of hypertension. This study aimed at assessing the knowledge and attitude towards lifestyle modification among hypertensive patients at Methodist Hospital, Wenchi, Ghana. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted employing a quantitative approach. A structured questionnaire was administered to hypertensive patients and data collected through an interview. A multivariate logistic regression model was set up to determine independent predictors of knowledge and attitude towards lifestyle modification among hypertensive patients. Results: The study revealed that 36% of respondents had good knowledge and 59% had favourable attitude towards lifestyle modification recommended for hypertension management. Educational status (AOR: 4.32, 95% CI: 1.25 – 14.55), marital status (AOR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.02 – 4.40), employment status (AOR: 1.73, 95% CI: 0.26 – 3.58) and average monthly income (AOR: 2.13, 95% CI: 0.33 – 5.62) were factors significantly associated with good knowledge of lifestyle modification. Knowledge level was significantly associated with attitude towards lifestyle modification (AOR: 3.19, 95% CI: 1.10 – 9.27). Conclusion: In this study, knowledge on lifestyle modification was poor but attitude was favourable. Concerted strategies are required to increase knowledge and attitude towards lifestyle modification.

The Impact of Earthquake and Liquefaction on The Socio-Economic Aspects of Farmers in Sigi District

The study aims to find out the impact of the earthquake and on the social and economic aspects and to know and analyzes the income after the earthquake and the cap. Like farmers in the Village of Jono Oge, Sidera and Sidondo 1 Sigi District Central Sulawesi Province. The Impact of a very all aspects except the social aspect except the social aspect The economy the loca community.This of research is descrivtive and quantitative. Research Descrivtive is resecearch that expalains the impact of social economic aspect, post-earth, liquefaction, and quantitative research is research that analyzes the data of observation results questionnaires and direct interview and documentation of tecniques using sampling proposive methods, with the number of respondent 148 people. The result of the study showed that the impact of earthquake dan developed on the Sociol economi aspect, namely: 1) The change in farmers activities due to the loss of propertyof shalter, thus encouraging some farmers to switch professions to meet their daily needs; 2) The amount of revenue of farmers before the earthquake in the Village of Jono Oge, Sidera and Sidondo 1, Sigi district City, with an average land area of 0.74 ha with an average revenue of IDR IDR 11.523.648,65 with an average total cost of IDR 4.474.400,34. So that the average income of IDR 7.049.248,31 For one time growing season; 3) The amount of revenue of farmers after the earthquake in the Village of Jono Oge, Sidera and Sidondo 1, Sigi district City, with an average land area of 0.68 ha with an average revenue of IDR IDR 11.796.875,00 with an average total cost of IDR 7.548.819,71 So that the average income of IDR 4.248.055,29 For one time growing season.

Trends in gestational diabetes in Manitoba from 1981 - 2019: A descriptive study with geospatial mapping

BackgroundThere is little information describing trends in gestational diabetes incidence within sub-groups that often experience health inequities. MethodsWe leveraged provincial administrative health data to describe trends in gestational diabetes incidence between 1981-2019, stratified by sub-populations based on age, urbanicity, and neighbourhood-level average household income. We calculated yearly incidence across sub-groups and annual percent change in incidence to assess trends over time. Geospatial mapping was used to visualize changes by neighbourhood cluster. ResultsGestational diabetes incidence increased from 1.3% to 8.6% between 1981 and 2019, with an upward inflection occurring around 2010. The annual percent change (APC) between 1981-2009, prior to the inflection point, was 1.9% (95% CI: 1.4-2.5%) and was 11.7% (95% CI: 8.9-14.7%) post inflection – from 2010-2019. After 2010, gestational diabetes incidence increased most among urban residents (APC= 18.1%; 95%CI: 13.9-22.5), among those >35 years (APC = 12.0%; 95% CI: 8.4-15.7%), and among individuals in the highest SES group (APC = 14.8%; 95% CI: 9.4-20.4%).Geospatial mapping showed that incidence increased more in neighbourhoods with the highest proportion of recent immigrants to Canada. ConclusionIncidence of gestational diabetes increased six-fold in Manitoba over the last 20 years, particularly among those with high SES and higher age. Further research is required to clarify the role of screening practices in the trends observed here.

Socio-economic and environmental factors are related to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease incidence in Thailand.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a significant global health issue, leading to high rates of sickness and death worldwide. In Thailand, there are over 3 million patients with the COPD, with more than a million patients admitted to hospitals due to symptoms of the disease. This study investigated factors influencing the incidence of acute exacerbations among COPD patients in Thailand, including the spatial autocorrelation between socioeconomic and environmental factors. We conducted a spatial analysis using Moran's I, Local Indicators Of Spatial Association (LISA), and spatial regression models, specifically the Spatial Lag Model (SLM) and the Spatial Error Model (SEM), to explore the relationships between the variables. The univariate Moran's I scatter plots showed a significant positive spatial autocorrelation of 0.606 in the incidence rate of COPD among individuals aged 15 years and older across all 77 provinces in Thailand. High-High (HH) clusters for the COPD were observed in the northern and southern regions, while Low-Low (LL) clusters were observed in the northern and north-eastern regions. Bivariate Moran's I indicated a spatial autocorrelation between various factors and acute exacerbation of COPD in Thailand. LISA analysis revealed 4 HH clusters and 5 LL clusters related to average income, 12 HH and 8 LL clusters in areas where many people smoke, 5 HH and 8 LL clusters in areas with industrial factory activities, 11 HH and 9 LL clusters associated with forested areas, and 6 LL clusters associated with the average rice field. Based on the Akaike information criterion (AIC). The SLM outperformed the SEM but only slightly so, with an AIC value of 1014.29 compared to 1019.56 and a Lagrange multiplier value of p<0.001. However, it did explain approximately 63.9% of the incidence of acute exacerbations of COPD, with a coefficient of determination (R² = 0.6394) along with a Rho (ρ) of 0.4164. The results revealed that several factors, including income, smoking, industrial surroundings, forested areas and rice fields are associated with increased levels of acute COPD exacerbations.

Exploring socio-economic inequalities in access to the 15-minute city across 200 Swedish built-up areas

In recent years, the 15-minute city has gained prominence as a vision for urban development, aiming to create attractive and vibrant neighborhoods where essential services are within a 15-minute walk. However, its implementation raises concerns about socio-spatial segregation, as the potential increase in desirability of these neighborhoods—combined with various underlying factors—can lead to increased housing prices, potentially excluding economically vulnerable groups. Despite its popularity, few studies have thoroughly explored how access to the 15-minute city varies among different socio-economic groups and across different cities and towns, highlighting a significant research gap. This study aims to explore potential socio-economic inequalities in 15-minute city access across the 200 largest built-up areas in Sweden. Specifically, our study compares average incomes among residents living in neighborhoods that either meet or do not meet various 15-minute city criteria within each built-up area. These criteria are designed to operationalize the proximity dimension of the 15-minute city by capturing which residents that have access to different sets of non-work urban social functions (e.g., healthcare, restaurants, retail) within 1 km from their homes. Two research questions guide the study: Are there differences in access to the 15-minute city, in terms of proximity to non-work urban social functions, across different income groups in Swedish built-up areas? How do variations in the types of functions included in the 15-minute city model, as well as differences in built-up areas characterized by population size, density, land use mix, and the proportion of older buildings, affect these outcomes? Findings reveal significant impact from both the definition of the 15-minute city and across different types of built-up areas. When the 15-minute city only encompasses basic functions such as a grocery store, school, restaurant, etc., average incomes are lower, irrespective of population size. However, mean incomes are notably higher for residents who can locally access many different urban social functions, indicative of larger cities with a higher population density and jobs-to-worker ratio. This highlights a cautionary aspect for cities and planners implementing the 15-minute city vision, as the city characteristics strongly correlated with effective adherence to the 15-minute city may also contribute to excluding lower-income groups.

Application of the Contingent Valuation Method to Abidjan’s Banco National Park

Banco National Park, a protected area, is the subject of incessant attacks through anthropogenic actions. This study aims to determine the willingness to pay (WTP) of visitors to safeguard the Banco national park. To achieve this, we used the contingent valuation method. The estimation of the simple tobit econometric model revealed the factors that significantly influence WTP. Thus, preferentially for young people, adults and seniors are willing to provide more resources to contribute to the protection of the Banco park. Concerning marital status, the results reveal that compared to singles, relevant visitors of other marital statuses other than married express low WTP. Income positively increases the WTP expressed by visitors. The comparative study of the average WTP of visitors according to origins and income reveals that visitors from C&amp;ocirc;te d&amp;#39;Ivoire have an average income of 876 772 FCFA and those from other developing countries with an average income of 898 207 FCFA demonstrate non-significantly different average WTP. The same goes for visitors from Europe and other developed countries in North America and Japan with average incomes of 1&amp;nbsp;824 479 FCFA and 2&amp;nbsp;490 000 FCFA respectively. On the other hand, there is a significant difference between the means of visitors from developing countries including C&amp;ocirc;te d&amp;#39;Ivoire and those from developed countries. In view of these results, we recommend that entrance fees to the park be discriminated based on the origins of visitors. Thus, those from developing countries must pay lower park entrance fees than those from developed countries.

The COVID-19 experience among international migrant workers in the Republic of Korea: knowledge and awareness of treatment and immigration policies

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has exposed various health risks and inequities experienced by international migrant workers. The number of migrant workers in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is rapidly growing and is expected to continue growing. Health related research on migrant workers in ROK is limited, especially among undocumented migrant workers who were more vulnerable to the pandemic. This study aims to examine the experiences of migrant workers and their knowledge and awareness of treatment and immigration policies during the pandemic.MethodsWe used data from the International Migrant Workers’ COVID-19 Health Literacy and Access to Medical Care project, a cross-sectional survey conducted with international migrant workers residing in ROK in 2021 (n = 537). Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression models were employed to understand different demographic, occupational, and immigration factors affecting migrant workers’ knowledge and awareness of treatment and immigration policies.ResultsUndocumented migrant workers had a longer length of residence in ROK and earned less compared to workers with work visa status. None of the undocumented migrant workers had access to health insurance since they were ineligible to enroll in the national health insurance scheme. In the early days of the pandemic, most undocumented migrant workers experienced a decrease in their average income. After adjusting for demographic differences and language proficiency, undocumented migrant workers (AOR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.21, 0.78) were less likely to be aware of the policy allowing foreigners, including undocumented individuals, to access COVID-19 testing and treatment without the risk of deportation. Workers with a longer length of residence (AOR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.53) were more likely to be aware of this policy.ConclusionUndocumented migrant workers were often less informed about COVID-19 policies. While most of the survey respondents were knowledgeable about governmental policies regarding COVID-19 treatment and immigration, our results reveal multiple occupational and health insurance vulnerabilities of undocumented migrant workers living in ROK. More attention is needed to understand healthcare service barriers and how to provide adequate resources for this vulnerable population.