Household Characteristics Research Articles

Impact of HIV exposure without infection on hospital course and mortality among young children in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-site cohort study

BackgroundAlthough mortality risk associated with HIV is well described, HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) young children are also at increased risk of hospitalization and death as compared to HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) children. The drivers of poor outcomes among HEU children remain unknown, limiting the development of interventions to support this vulnerable population.MethodsWe performed a secondary analysis of data from a large multi-country prospective cohort [Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition (CHAIN) Network] study. Data from 5 sites in Uganda, Kenya, and Malawi were included. Hospitalized children aged 2–23 months were followed from an index admission for 6 months after discharge to determine acute and long-term outcomes. Using perinatal HIV exposure (HEU and HUU) as the primary exposure and adjusting for child, caregiver, and household characteristics, we compared inpatient and 30-day survival outcomes, nutritional status, hospital length of stay, illness severity, and utilization of inpatient resources.ResultsWe included 1486 children: 217 HEU and 1269 HUU. HEU children had an increased risk of mortality both during hospitalization [adjusted OR 1.96, 95% CI (1.14–3.37)] and in the 30 days following hospital admission [adjusted hazard ratio 2.20, 95% CI (1.10–4.42)]. Wasting and stunting were more frequent in HEU than HUU children, with adjusted OR 1.41, 95% CI (1.03–1.95) and adjusted OR 1.91, 95% CI (1.34–2.70), respectively. HEU children were also more likely to have a prolonged hospital stay compared to HUU children [adjusted OR 1.58, 95% CI (1.08–2.29)], although admission diagnoses, illness severity at admission, and use of inpatient resources (supplemental oxygen, nasogastric tube, and second-line antibiotics) did not differ significantly between groups.ConclusionsHEU children are more likely to die during hospitalization and within 30 days of admission, to be wasted and stunted upon hospital admission, and to require a prolonged hospital stay, as compared to HUU children. Hospitals in settings with a high prevalence of women-living-with-HIV should ensure that maternal HIV status is established among children requiring admission and build capacity to provide additional hospital monitoring and early post-discharge support for HEU children.

Disaster Induced Agricultural Productivity in Coastal Regions of Bangladesh: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis Approach

The production and technical efficiency of the rice sector in Bangladesh’s coastal areas are vulnerable to a wide range of natural disasters and climate change issues. These regions face recurring threats from climatic events such as salinity intrusion, inundation, rising sea levels, and cyclones, which can significantly disrupt agricultural activities. In this paper, we conduct a comparative analysis of the rice producers’ technical efficiency based on their exposure to disaster-induced impacts over the past five years. Using the Stochastic Frontier Analysis, we examine factors influencing household-level productive efficiency in three coastal districts—Patuakhali, Cox’s Bazar, and Khulna. Our findings reveal that rice-producing households affected by natural disasters between 2014 and 2018 exhibited, on average, an 8.29 percentage point higher productive efficiency compared to unaffected households. When controlling for other confounding variables, such as household characteristics and external conditions, the efficiency gain rises to 19.8%. This suggests that households exposed to adverse climatic events may have adapted their farming practices to become more resilient, thus improving their productive efficiency in the long term. Moreover, our results indicate that a larger household size enhances efficiency by 6.7%. Households where rice farming is the primary occupation also tend to be more efficient, likely because of greater specialization and focus on improving agricultural practices. Finally, the age of the producer is positively associated with efficiency, reflecting the accumulation of farming experience and knowledge over time.

Livelihood adaptation strategies of farming households to land acquisition: A case study in Vietnam

The livelihoods of households affected by land acquisition in rural Vietnam are crucial for sustainable development and community resilience. This study employs the sustainable livelihoods approach, which recognises the interconnectedness between various factors shaping livelihood outcomes, to investigate factors behind livelihood changes among 474 farm households affected by land acquisition in rural Vietnam. By applying Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression, this paper delves into how personal and household characteristics influence the transition from farming to non-farming activities in agrarian settings. Our findings reveal the diverse and multifaceted impacts of various factors such as gender, age, educational level, household size, household labour force, and the extent of land loss on livelihood strategy choices. This study offers nuanced insights that can guide policymakers and practitioners to design effective interventions that promote sustainable livelihoods and enhance community resilience amidst the challenges posed by land acquisition and rural transformation.

What rural ecological governance goals do local residents prefer? Evidence from Hainan, China

Rural ecosystems restoration requires the joint participation of rural residents and government in governance. This study aims to analyze whether rural ecological governance goals are consistent with rural residents' preferences and how they affect rural residents' utility levels, which are key to rural residents' ecological governance participation behavior. Using survey data from 653 rural residents in Hainan Island, China, this paper applies a choice experiment method and a random parameter logit model to identify differences in rural residents' preferences for different rural ecological governance policy goals and their governance participation behaviors. The results show that increasing the coverage rate of sewage treatment facilities, reducing fertilizer and pesticide application, and increasing rural biodiversity can significantly enhance rural residents' ecological governance participation utility, thereby promoting their choice of ecological governance options. Rural residents' participation behavior in rural ecological governance is also influenced by individual and household characteristics such as ethnicity, labor size, net farm income, ICT usage, and ecological knowledge level. Based on these findings, policymakers should strengthen communication of governance policies and objectives, respect rural residents' policy goal preferences, prioritize the implementation of rural ecological governance models that increase the coverage of wastewater treatment facilities, reduce fertilizer and pesticide application, and increase rural biodiversity, and rely on ICT devices to popularize ecological knowledge among rural residents.

Navigating the divide: inequalities in household experiences of healthcare disruption in Latin American and the Caribbean countries amidst COVID-19

BackgroundLatin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is among the most unequal regions in the world in terms of wealth and household income. Such inequalities have been shown to influence different outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the disruption of routine health services. The aim of this paper is to examine socioeconomic inequalities in household experiences of healthcare disruption in LAC countries from mid-2020 to late 2021.MethodsWe used household-level data from the COVID-19 High Frequency Phone Surveys (HFPS), conducted in 14 LAC countries in one round in 2020 and 24 countries in two rounds in 2021. Ordinary least square and Logit multivariate regressions were conducted to examine the correlation between reported healthcare disruptions with household characteristics for 2020 and 2021. Since household income levels were not directly collected in the HPFS, we created an index of inequality and estimated the relative index of inequality.ResultsWhen analyzing 2020–2021 together, reported healthcare disruptions were lower if the respondent was employed or did not report lack of food in the last month; if the household had more people aged 65 or older or more rooms to sleep in. When analyzed separately in 2020 and 2021, having more people aged 65 or older or not experiencing food insecurity remained stable factors for lower odds of disruption in both years. In addition, being employed was associated with lower odds of disruption in 2020, while being male or having more rooms to sleep in were associated with lower odds of disruption in 2021. Regarding wealth differences in 2021 (it was not possible to compute it for 2020), households with the lowest wealth were 27.3% more likely to report a care disruption than households with the highest wealth.ConclusionsThe socioeconomic status of households in LAC was a relevant factor in explaining the disruption of healthcare during the COVID19 pandemic, with a clear social gradient where the wealthier a household, the less likely it was to experience disruption of care. Food security, employment, and gender policies should be integral to preparing for and responding to future shocks such as pandemics. Prioritizing the most affected populations, like the elderly during COVID-19, can enhance the health system effectiveness.

Stakeholder perspectives on ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes: A case study in the North China Plain

CONTEXTIntensive agriculture is under pressure from changing demands from society, prompting the need to redesign agricultural landscapes to provide multiple ecosystem services (ESs). However, implementation of changed practices requires positive engagement from stakeholders. Therefore, their perspective on ecosystem services needs to be known. OBJECTIVEThis study investigates stakeholders' perspectives on multiple ESs in Quzhou County, an area in the North China Plain used for intensified cereal production. We aim to elucidate perspectives within and across diverse stakeholder groups (farmers, companies, citizens, academics, village and township heads, and county government staff). METHODSEmploying the Q methodology, we identified differences in perspectives within stakeholder groups and we compared the similarities and differences of those perspectives across stakeholder groups. We also investigated how farmers' personal and household characteristics were related to the perspectives they held. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSSignificant differences in preference emerged among stakeholder groups. Academics assigned higher importance to regulating and supporting services than other stakeholder groups and companies assigned less importance to cultural services. We identified 18 distinct perspectives across seven stakeholder groups. These perspectives showed a combination of preferences for at least two different ES categories. Most of the perspectives prioritize provisioning services whereas only few perspectives prioritize supporting services. SIGNIFICANCEThis study exemplifies a bottom-up approach for systematically analyzing stakeholder perspectives on the relative importance of ESs derived from agricultural landscapes. The revealed differences and complexity of stakeholder perspectives can inform decision-making on the redesign of agricultural landscapes with stakeholder engagement. Recognizing areas of consensus and conflict can guide efforts to promote agroecologically sound practices and policies.

Are boys more vulnerable to stunting? Examining risk factors, differential sensitivity, and measurement issues in Zambian infants and young children

BackgroundStunting remains a considerable public health problem globally, and sex differences in prevalence have been documented. While many risk factors for stunting have been identified, few studies examine how these factors may contribute to sex differences. We test whether: (1) boys and girls are differentially exposed to stunting risk factors, (2) boys and girls respond differently to similar exposures, and (3) these associations are sensitive to the growth measures used.MethodsData comes from 7486 Zambian infants, aged 0–23 months, participating in the SUN (Scaling Up Nutrition) 2.0 Program baseline survey. Surveys and dietary recalls were collected from primary caregivers, and anthropometry was collected for caregivers and children. Stunting was defined as height-for-age z-score (HAZ) <-2. Descriptive statistics and adjusted multilevel logistic regression models controlling for age and province were used to identify sex differences in exposures and risk factors for stunting, respectively. Interaction terms between exposure and infant sex were added to test for sex differences in response. Sensitivity testing with alternate measures of infant size, including height-for-age difference (HAD), was conducted.ResultsBoys were more likely to be stunted than girls (34.5% vs. 25.7%, respectively). Numerous maternal, care giving, diet, and household characteristics were associated with the risk of stunting, but few sex differences were seen in exposure to these factors. Only one risk factor—maternal marital status—showed evidence of moderation by sex at the p < 0.05 level, while a limited number of risk factors did so at the p < 0.10 level. At all ages, boys were longer than girls, and there were no sex-specific differences in the patterns of HAZ or HAD with age. Results were robust to alternate specifications.ConclusionsOur results show that Zambian boys have lower mean HAZ scores than girls and a greater prevalence of stunting throughout the first two years We do not find strong evidence that infant feeding practices, environmental exposures, or care giving differ consistently between boys and girls or that boys and girls respond differently to these exposures. Our results instead indicate that further investigation of prenatal factors and/or measurement issues is needed.

Occupational classes and inequality in educational expenditures: Reproduction of social hierarchy through school education

We examine the role of educational expenditure in reproducing social hierarchy by focusing on occupational segmentation in India. Studies show quality of schools vary by medium of instruction (English/vernacular) and type of management (private/government) in terms of skills they impart to students. While these skills improve the prospects for students’ future upward mobility, educational expenditures vary across school types, with ‘better’ quality schools being more expensive. Educational expenditure is an important channel that shapes the pattern of school participation, which, in turn, may affect patterns of future mobility for children belonging to households located in a hierarchical occupational structure. Using data on school education and household occupational structure for 2007-08 and 2017-18, we classify schools based on their medium-of-instruction and type-of-management, and rank household types in terms of their primary occupation. Given the high economic growth and expansion of schooling opportunities during this period, an improvement in participation of low-ranked household types in ‘better’ schools may be expected, which may improve their future mobility prospects. Using a logistic regression framework, we, however, find that the correspondence between hierarchies of school-types and occupations have largely sustained, crucially mediated by educational expenditures incurred by households. Further investigation shows inequality in educational expenditures between household types has strengthened over this period. A decomposition of educational expenditures across household types shows that while some of the difference in expenditures is explained by the household characteristics in terms of their caste, religion, and educational status, the major part is attributed to differential returns to these characteristics that households reap due to their social positions. Given the structural nature of some of these characteristics, the inequality is likely to continue, thereby sustaining the correspondence between school and occupation types, which, in turn, is likely to reproduce the pattern of occupational and social hierarchy in India.JELI21, I24, I25, Z13

The cultural adaption and validation of the Self-Regulated Learning Perception Scale (SRLPS) and the development of its short version in Chinese medical students

BackgroundSelf-regulated learning (SRL) is a pivotal skill in the digital era, closely correlating to academic performance and professional development, particularly within medicine, where rapid advancements in knowledge and technology demand continuous learning. The Self-Regulated Learning Perception Scale (SRLPS), validated for reliability and validity, is a critical tool for assessing SRL among medical students. However, its application in Chinese medical education remains largely unexplored. This study aims to adapt the SRLPS for Chinese medical students and to develop a concise version to reduce participant burden and enhance the scale’s practicality and generalizability.MethodsTwo stages of surveys were conducted. In Stage 1, SRLPS was translated into Chinese through forward translation, back translation, and review and then was administered to 339 medical students. To assess the internal reliability and construct validity of the Chinese version of SRLPS, we calculated Cronbach’s α values and conducted Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), respectively. According to psychometric performance, some items were removed to create a short version of SRLPS (SRLPS-S). In Stage 2, the SRLPS-S was administered to 736 medical students to verify its reliability and construct validity using Cronbach’s α and CFA. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to examine the associations between self-regulated learning perceptions and personal and household characteristics, including gender, maternal education level, and annual household income.ResultsThe Chinese SRLPS demonstrated acceptable internal consistency reliability and construct validity, although the elevated Cronbach’s α indicated possible item redundancy. The SRLPS-S exhibited satisfactory internal consistency reliability and construct validity, confirming the four-domain structure of the original SRLPS. Wilcoxon Rank-sum test showed students’ self-regulated learning positively linked to higher maternal education levels, higher annual household income, and male gender.ConclusionThe Chinese SRLPS and its short version are reliable and valid for assessing self-regulated learning. These scales can assist educators in identifying students who might require additional support in their learning strategies and can also be used for personal development. The short version is recommended for its enhanced psychometric properties and greater cost-efficiency.

The Dual Nature of Trust in Participatory Sciences: An Investigation into Data Quality and Household Privacy Preferences

There is a duality of trust in participatory science (citizen science) projects in which the data produced by volunteers must be trusted by the scientific community and participants must trust the scientists who lead projects. Facilitator organizations are third-party organizations that engage their members in participatory science to enrich their members’ experience at their organization. In Crowd the Tap, we engaged participants through facilitator organizations including high schools, faith communities, universities, and a corporate volunteer program. We used Kruskal Wallis tests and chi-square tests with Bonferroni post hoc tests to assess how data quality and privacy preferences differed across facilitator groups and amongst those who participated in the project independently (unfacilitated). Faith communities provided higher data quality while students provided lower data quality. Data quality in education settings differed based on the level of investment of the project in terms of both time and money as well as student age. We also found that demographic and household characteristics seemed more important in predicting privacy preferences than facilitation. Our results suggest that project leaders can support diverse participation by extending protection of participant privacy and investing in needed resources to support facilitators. They also suggest that education-oriented facilitators may need to prioritize data quality to ensure authentic learning opportunities. Ultimately our results reveal several tradeoffs that project leaders can weigh when deciding to work with facilitators.

Before reaching the finish line: incompletion of the tenth grade of schooling in Nepal

ObjectiveIncompletion of the basic levels of education is known to adversely affect the social and economic well-being of individuals, as well as a nation’s prosperity. This paper analyzes the correlates of selected characteristics associated with the incompletion of 10th grade among students in Nepal.Data and methodsData on 2,812 youth in ages 18–24, extracted from the 2016 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, are used to analyze the proportion of youth who did not complete the 10th grade. The variations by contextual, household, and individual characteristics are analyzed through descriptive and multivariate logistic regression.ResultsAmong the age group of 18–24, the majority – 64% of males and 69% of females – did not complete secondary school. Household wealth showed a consistent and strong effect on incompletion. Overall, the household wealth variable accounted for much of the variation in the incompletion of the 10th grade across the country’s provinces. Additionally, being married is associated with a higher likelihood of incompletion of secondary school, net of the influence of other factors.ConclusionIn Nepal, a significant number of students do not complete the 10th grade of schooling. Sustained efforts, through targeted policies and interventions, are needed to ensure that students who begin secondary school do not leave before completing their education.

Investment Decisions of Individual Households in Tanzania

ABSTRACT The goal of this study is to examine the factors influencing individual household investment decisions in Tanzania. Data is collected from a total of one thousand six hundred individual households. Descriptive analysis is used to summarize the results with logistic regression applied to model the investment decision. The individual households’ investment decisions are observed to be less influenced by the factors of return and risk. However, household characteristics such as house ownership, household size, age, gender, level of income and education significantly influence the investment decision. The role played by households’ characteristics in investment decisions offers a suggestive direction that ought to be taken in implementing transformative policies.

Associations of linear growth and weight gain in the first 2 years with bone mass at 4 years of age in children in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Growth faltering is widespread in many low- and middle-income countries, but its effects on childhood bone mass accrual are unknown. The objective of this study was to estimate associations between length (conditional length-for-age z-scores, cLAZ) and weight (conditional weight-for-age z-scores, cWAZ) gain in 3 age intervals (ages 0-6, 6-12, 12-24 months) with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)-derived measures of bone mass (total-body-less-head (TBLH) bone mineral content (BMC), areal bone mineral density (aBMD), and bone area) at 4 years of age. Associations between interval-specific growth parameters (cLAZ and cWAZ) and bone outcomes were estimated using linear regression models, adjusted for maternal, child, and household characteristics. Data collection occurred in Dhaka, Bangladesh. 599 healthy children enrolled in the BONe and mUScle Health in Kids Study. cLAZ in each age interval was positively associated with TBLH BMC, aBMD, and bone area at 4 years; however, associations attenuated towards null upon adjustment for concurrent height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) at age 4 years and confounders. cWAZ from 0-6 and 6-12 months was not associated with bone mass, but every SD increase in cWAZ between 12-24 months was associated with greater BMC (7.6g; 95%CI:3.2, 12.0) and aBMD (0.008g/cm2; 95%CI:0.003, 0.014) after adjusting for concurrent WAZ, HAZ, and confounders. Associations of linear growth (birth to 2 years) with bone mass at age 4 years were explained by concurrent HAZ. Weight gain in the second year of life may increase bone mass independently of linear growth in settings where growth faltering is common.

Binary Logistic Regression Modeling on Household Poverty Status in Bengkulu Province

Binary logistic regression is a statistical method used to analyze the relationship between one or more predictor variables and a binary or dichotomous response variable. Poverty is an issue in every province in Indonesia. One of the provinces with a relatively high poverty rate is Bengkulu Province, ranking seventh in Indonesia with a poverty rate of 14.62%. The Central Bureau of Statistics of Bengkulu Province (2023) explains that efforts to reduce poverty must involve all levels of society. Various government programs and policies in various fields such as health, social, and other areas are continuously being implemented to reduce the number of households classified as poor. Identifying the characteristics of households in Bengkulu Province by poverty status is important to study, as it serves as a reference to ensure that government programs are implemented according to the target. One method that can be used to identify household characteristics is binary logistic regression. This study aims to model the poverty status of households in Bengkulu Province using binary logistic regression and to identify the factors that influence it. The data used are social and economic household data from March 2022. The response variable used is household poverty status (poor and not poor), while the predictor variables include the ownership of toilet facilities, the source of lighting, floor area, family size, and per capita calorie consumption. Modeling is done using binary logistic regression with simultaneous and partial parameter significance tests, as well as model fit tests. The analysis results show that the factors significantly influencing household poverty status in Bengkulu Province are the ownership of toilet facilities, the source of household lighting, floor area, family size, and per capita calorie consumption. The formed binary logistic regression model has a classification accuracy of 89.98% with a sensitivity of 18.34% and a specificity of 98.61%.

Differential Impacts of Anticipated Success on Employment Outcomes Among Adults Who Stutter.

Stuttering is associated with disparities in labor market outcomes among young adults, but little is known about how labor market outcomes associated with stuttering change over time. Therefore, this study characterized longitudinal associations between stuttering and early life expectations, job satisfaction, receipt of employer-provided insurance benefits, and income. The analysis used data from three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, which contained 16,653 individuals aged 18-43 years interviewed over 18 years. First, regression models evaluated the likelihood of employment between people who stutter (PWS) and people who do not stutter (PWNS). Second, conditional on employment, two-stage likelihood models quantified differences in their job satisfaction, receipt of employer-provided insurance benefits, and earned income, controlling for age, sex, race, and household characteristics. Finally, the relationship between their reported education and income expectations and these employment outcomes was evaluated. Although stuttering was not related to the likelihood of working or receiving employer-provided benefits, PWS were 20%-22% (SE = 0.06-0.07) less likely to be satisfied with their jobs than PWNS, and dissatisfaction increased with age. Additionally, the odds of earning a higher income were significantly lower for PWS than for PWNS. PWS who anticipated attending college and earning a middle-class income were more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and earn a higher income. However, PWS were less likely to expect that they would earn a middle-class income (PWNS: 46.4%, PWS: 36.3%) or graduate from college (PWNS: 70.9%, PWS: 58.4%) compared to PWNS. Labor market inequities associated with stuttering persist and increase with age. PWS have significantly lower expectations for their likelihood of future success, and these expectations predict their future occupational outcomes.

Typologies and determinants of coping responses to forage and water scarcity among livestock farmers in south-western Uganda: Does gender matter?

Context specific evidence, including understanding of gender–differentiated responses to shocks and stresses, could bolster adaptation and resilience building amongst agricultural communities, amidst a changing climate. However, information derived from such a perspective is currently deficient in livestock production literature. In this study, we use a gendered lens to assess responses of male– and female-headed livestock dependent households to drought–induced water and forage shortages in south-western Uganda. The study specifically addresses four questions: (i) What are the gender differentiated characteristics, and typologies of households involved in livestock production? (ii) How do the gender disaggregated household characteristics influence the perceived extent of effects of water and forage shortage? (iii) How do gender disaggregated household characteristics influence coping strategies to water and forage shortages? (iv) What are the gender–based roles in coping with water and forage shortages? Data were collected from livestock-dependent households using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analysed and presented using various techniques including descriptive and inferential statistics (e.g., principal components and cluster analyses, and ordered probit modelling). Results show that livestock production is persistently male-dominated, with female-headed households poorer and more likely to earn less (p < 0.05) from livestock farming than their male-headed counterparts. Female heads of households were about 10 years older than their male-head counterparts, but they are more likely to be widows or single (p < 0.05). Marital status and number of male employees were the most important factors for divergent views on the extent of water and forage shortage. Yet, household size and income were most important for coping with water and forage shortages. Coping with drought effects exhibited a gendered trend, and traditional gender roles in livestock management are changing. Our findings provide a basis for gender–responsive policy and practice interventions – in the changing contexts – for enhanced involvement of women in livestock production-based livelihoods.

Understanding the dynamics of household enterprises in Egypt: Birth, death, growth and transformation

Despite the importance of household enterprises in employment in developing economies, little is known about their creation, survival and growth. This article examines the dynamics of household enterprises, using panel data for the period 1998–2018 in Egypt. The analysis explores the individual, household and enterprise characteristics that contribute to these dynamics. The findings show that high rates of enterprise creation and closure in the household enterprise sector drive employment, more so than dynamics of growth in existing enterprises. Household enterprises may be a fallback or survival strategy for less educated and less privileged workers, but may also provide an opportunity for accumulating wealth.

Household, sociodemographic, building and land cover factors affecting residential summer electricity consumption: A systematic statistical study in Phoenix, AZ

Understanding determinants of residential electricity consumption is crucial for urban sustainability efforts for planners and policy makers to develop targeted strategies to lower energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to increase community resilience. This study presents a systematic approach to build an interpretable multivariate linear model, addressing challenges like outlier detection, multicollinearity, non-normality, and heteroscedasticity. Using 2019 summer residential electricity data for 426 census tracts in Phoenix and 30 variables, the approach involves (1) addressing multicollinearity and regression outliers through Variance Inflation Factor and studentized residual analysis, (2) comparing an automatic variable selection method with Ridge, Lasso, and Elastic Net regression, (3) evaluating the final model, and (4) interpreting variable effects. Critical findings reveal multicollinearity in land cover and racial variables, while 21 census tracts on the urban periphery exhibit outliers with unique features. Variable selection demonstrates the significance of household and building information in influencing residential electricity consumption. Household variables alone account for 84 % of electricity usage variation. Incorporating building information and land cover variables reduces errors by 35 % and 26 % respectively, emphasizing the significance of including household characteristics as predictors or control variables when modeling electricity consumption. A final model with 93 % explanatory power enables precise predictions.

Historical Insights into CO2 Emission Dynamics in Urban Daily Mobility: A Case Study of Lyon’s Agglomeration

CO2 emissions from urban daily mobility play a major role in both environmental degradation, rising economic costs, and sustainability. Reducing these emissions not only advances environmental sustainability but also fosters economic development by enhancing public health, lowering energy consumption, and alleviating the financial strain caused by climate change. Understanding the dynamics of CO2 emissions from urban daily mobility provides valuable historical insights into environmental impacts and economic costs tied to urban development. This study takes a historical perspective, examining changes in CO2 emissions associated with daily mobility in the Lyon agglomeration across two decades, drawing on data from the 1995 and 2006 household travel surveys. Our findings reveal that individual factors such as gender, age, employment status, and income significantly influence CO2 emissions, with males and full-time workers exhibiting higher emissions. Furthermore, household characteristics, including size and vehicle ownership, are critical in shaping emission levels, while urban form variables such as population density and mixed land use demonstrate a negative correlation with emissions, highlighting the importance of urban planning in mitigating CO2 output. The analysis emphasizes that greater accessibility and proximity to essential services are vital in reducing individual emissions. Based on these insights, we discuss the implications for policy design, suggesting targeted strategies to enhance urban mobility, improve public transport accessibility, and promote sustainable urban development. Finally, we outline directions for future research to further explore the intricate relationship between urban characteristics and emissions, ultimately aiming to contribute to the development of effective climate policies.

Crop-raiding by wildlife and cropland abandonment as feedback from nature-based solutions: lessons from case studies in China and Nepal

Abstract Conservation efforts under the nature-based solutions (NbS) framework aim at better management of ecosystems and improvement of human well-being. Policies targeting forest-based livelihoods align well with the NbS principles, but their social-ecological outcomes are often confounded by complex human-environment interactions. In this study, we identify one major feedback effect of the ecosystem dynamic on people’s livelihoods based on datasets collected from two study areas in China and Nepal. Our methodology integrates satellite remote sensing, household surveys, and statistical models to investigate households’ cropland abandonment decisions under the influence of crop-raiding by wildlife. Results show that cropland parcels that have experienced crop-raiding are more likely to be abandoned in the following years. The more damage the crops have suffered on a given parcel, the more likely it is that the parcel will be abandoned. Parcels in proximity to natural forests, farther away from the house location, and with poorer access to paved roads bear a higher risk of being abandoned. These effects are robust and consistent after controlling for multiple parcel features and household characteristics at different levels and using the dataset from each study area separately. We conclude that policymakers need to consider this undesirable feedback of the ecological system to the livelihoods of local people to better achieve co-benefits for ecosystems and human society.