Collection Of Socioeconomic Data Research Articles

Quantitative assessment of landscape transformation using earth observation datasets in Shirui Hill of Manipur, India

Shirui hill is situated at the north-eastern part of Manipur, India. This hill is not only the habitat of world famous endemic flower; Lilium mackliniae, but also home to many vulnerable and endangered floral and faunal species.. The aim of work was to assess the ecosystem diversity and landscape transformation Landsat satellite images of year 1988, 2001 and 2013 have been used to study the land use/land cover change and landscape fragmentation using FRAGSTATS. Several statistics such as principal component analysis (PCA) and spatial metrics are used to understand the results. The PCA was performed on the landscape metrics explained 93.0% of the total variance and justified three PCs; of these, both RMSR and AGFI fit very well (0.02 and 0.99, respectively), while PC1 accounted for 42% of the variance and was correlated with CA, TCA, NDCA and AREA_CV, PC2 explained 34% and was correlated with TE, SHAPE_MN, and PC3 explained 19% and was correlated with NP. The phyto-sociological study was carried out to assess the vegetation status. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) method was adopted for socio-economic data collection. The finding of work suggests a rising pressure of human activities on the land and sizable portion of it have been converted into either shifting agriculture or wet paddy land.

Tree and palm diversity in homegardens in the Central Amazon

In the recent decades, many studies have shown the important role of agroforestry, and particularly homegardens, in food supply, but few studies conducted in the Amazon include regional coverage and/or a large number of samples. This makes a more thorough assessment of the importance of these agroecosystems in agrobiodiversity conservation difficult. The objective of the present study is to assess the factors that determine the floristic composition and tree and palm diversity of homegardens at different spatial scales in the Central Amazon. 334 homegardens were sampled in rural and urban areas of 14 municipalities in the state of Para. Owners were interviewed for the collection of socioeconomic data. A total of 16,049 individual tree and palm were recorded, distributed in 108 species. Most species were fruit bearing. The correlations between socioeconomic and environmental factors and the floristic gradient established in each ordination were significant only at the local scale. Species richness was influenced by factors related to family income, homegarden size, and topographic environment. The criteria for selecting the species comprised in these homegardens are aimed at the food security of the families that own the homegardens. Thus, the floristic composition of homegardens in the Central Amazon is more strongly influenced by owners’ decisions at a local level than by socioeconomic and environmental factors at broader scales. The importance of homegardens to food security and the autonomy of Amazon families indicate that public policies should be designed to stimulate more diverse production systems as a strategy to strengthen family agriculture and agrobiodiversity conservation in the Central Amazon.

Land use/cover change patterns in highland ecosystems of Lake Bunyonyi Catchment in western Uganda

Land use and cover changes influence the livelihood and degradation of fragile ecosystems. The extents of these changes in pattern were investigated in Lake Bunyonyi Catchment which lies in the South Western Highlands of Uganda. The dynamics and magnitude of land use and cover changes were assessed using Landsat (TM/ETM+) satellite images and collection of socio-economic data through interviews. The images were processed and analysed using the mean-shift image segmentation algorithm to cluster and quantify the land use and cover features. The study noted that in the assessment period 1987-2014, the small-scale farmlands, open water and grasslands remained quasi constant; while the woodlots followed a quadratic trend, with the lowest acreage experienced in 2000. The tropical high forests and wetlands cover types experienced significant decline over the years (P<0.05). Patches of small-scale farmlands, woodlots, and wetland interchangeably lost or gained more land dependant on climate variability. Even though the tropical high forest lost more than it gained, it only gained and lost to small scale farmland and woodlots; while grassland mainly lost to small scale farmland and woodlots.Keywords: Land degradation, landsat images, land-use/cover dynamics, South-western Uganda

Operationalizing the Measurement of Socioeconomic Position in Our Urogynecology Study Populations: An Illustrative Review.

The purpose of this illustrative review is to provide guidance for the measurement of socioeconomic position when conducting health disparities research in urogynecology study populations. Deidentified data were extracted from existing investigational review board-approved research databases for illustrative purposes. Attributes collected included the study participant's marital status, level of educational attainment (in number of years of school completed) and occupation as well as the study participant's last/only spouses' level of education and occupation. Average household and female socioeconomic position scores were calculated using two established composite indices: (1) Hollingshead Four Factor Index of Social Position, (2) Green's Socioeconomic Status scores, and 2 single-item indices: (1) Hauser-Warren Socioeconomic Index of Occupation, (2) level of educational attainment. The Hollingshead Four Factor Index of Social Position more than the Hauser-Warren Socioeconomic Index of Occupation provides researchers with a continuous score that is normally distributed with the least skew from the dataset. Their greater standard deviations and low kurtotic values increase the probability that statistically significant differences in health outcomes predicted by socioeconomic position will be detected compared with Green's socioeconomic status scores. Collection of socioeconomic data is an important first step in gaining a better understanding of health disparities through elimination of confounding bias, and for the development of behavioral, educational, and legislative strategies to eliminate them. We favor average household socioeconomic position scores over female socioeconomic position scores because average household socioeconomic position scores are more reflective of overall resources and opportunities available to each family member.

English

Street food vending has been benefiting both consumers, who are the in low socio economic status, as well as vendors, by creating job opportunities. However, street foods are perceived to be a major public health risk due to contamination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality and safety of street-vended foods in Jimma town in Ethiopia. The study involved collection of socio-economic data using structured questionnaire and laboratory analysis for microbial quality and safety. A total of 160 ready-to-eat street foods (40 each of firfir (mixture of majority of cabbage, watt, macaroni and injera), bread, injera (Ethiopian traditional food) and sambussa) samples were collected from Merkato, Kochi and Agip vending sites in Jimma. Result of the study shows that 85.5% of vendors were women, 54.5% had primary education, 90.9% did not use special apparel for their job as street food vendors, 80.9% handled food with bare hands, 49.1% used well water for cleaning of utensils, and 40% wore no hair covering. The mean microbial counts (CFUg-1) of food samples were dominated by aerobic mesophilic bacteria (5.0 ± 0.5), aerobic bacterial spore (4.0 ±0.4), lactic acid bacteria (4.0 ±0.4), Enterobacteriaceae (3.9 ± 0.6), staphylococci (3.7 ± 0.6), coliform (2.6 ± 0.4), yeasts (3.8 ± 0.5) and moulds (2.6 ± 0.4). Of the total 1697 isolates characterized, the most predominant were Bacillus spp. (41.96%) followed by Staphylococcus spp. (24.28%). Out of the food samples, 29.38% were positive for S. aureus and 13.13% samples were positive for Salmonella. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were resistant to maximum of six antibiotics (8.51%) but Salmonella had showed resistance to four antibiotics (14.29%). Generally, the microbial quality of street-vended food in Jimma town was poor and calls for special attention.            Key words: Foodborne Pathogens, Street-vended Foods, Vendors.

Environmental and health impacts of effluents from textile industries in Ethiopia: the case of Gelan and Dukem, Oromia Regional State.

This study focuses on four textile industries (DH-GEDA, NOYA, ALMHADI, and ALSAR) established between 2005 and 2008 in the peri-urban areas of Dukem and Gelan. The objectives of the study were to generate baseline information regarding the concentration levels of selected pollutants and to analyze their effects on biophysical environments. This study also attempts to explore the level of exposure that humans and livestock have to polluted effluents and the effects thereof. The findings of this study are based on data empirically collected from two sources: laboratory analysis of sample effluents from the four selected textile plants and quantitative as well as qualitative socioeconomic data collection. As part of the latter, a household survey and focus group discussions (FGDs) with elderly and other focal persons were employed in the towns of Dukem and Gelan. The results of the study show that large concentrations of biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and pH were found in all the observed textile industries, at levels beyond the permissible discharge limit set by the national Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Furthermore, sulfide (S2), R-phosphate (R-PO43), and Zn were found in large concentrations in DH-GEDA and ALMHADI, while high concentrations were also identified in samples taken from ALSAR and ALMHADI. In spite of the clear-cut legal tools, this study shows that the local environment, people, and their livestock are exposed to highly contaminated effluents. We therefore recommend that the respective federal and regional government bodies should reexamine the compliance to and actual implementation of the existing legal procedures and regulations and respond appropriately.

A participatory GIS approach to spatial modeling for slum upgrading: The case of Epworth ward 4, Zimbabwe

The most prominent problem of rapid urbanism in Harare is the development of slums and Epworth is a notable example. The quality of planning and decision making in the participatory slum upgrading initiative can be sustainably improved by well managed processes of spatial and socio-economic data collection. More so, existing approaches for slum upgrading are built on the basis of collaborative planning and thus community participation. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools and support systems should explicitly consider the needs of professional and non-professional stakeholders in slum upgrading process. This study aimed to develop a customized “GIS based slum upgrading that would empower the community to participate in the planning and decision making processes involved in slum upgrading. The study involved developing tools that could be used by lay people, to achieve the same results an expert would. To achieve this, a PostgreSQL/Postgis spatial database integrating the spatial and enumeration data component was developed as the backend with a front end developed using VB.Net. A Map Control tool was imported from Map window 4.7 for displaying and interacting with spatial data. Techniques such as buffering were incorporated in the system to allow users to check for structures within a given distance of a feature. The system also provided a tool that allowed users to select an area and calculate the number of stands that can be obtained after inputting parameters like stand size and type of road. The system provided for tools that calculate statistical values e.g. determining the population as well as the number of households in a selected area. Users could also query for socio-economic data by selecting spatial features. This provided flexibility in terms of the interaction of the users with the data. The system proved that with user oriented GIS system it is possible to develop tools that can be used by lay people especially those in slums to formalize their areas and obtain security of tenure. Keywords: Slum upgrading, Participatory GIS, Security of tenure

Qualidade de Vida e Indicativos de Depressão em Idosas das Academias da Terceira Idade

O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a qualidade de vida e os indicativos de depressão em idosas praticantes de exercícios físicos em academias da terceira idade (ATIs). O estudo foi realizado com 41 idosas praticantes de exercícios físicos em ATIs. Para avaliação da qualidade de vida foram utilizados os instrumentos WHOQOL-Bref e WHOQOL-Old, e para avaliação dos indicativos de depressão, a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que as idosas avaliadas obtiveram escore de 80,6 no WHOQOL-Bref e 72,6 no WHOQOL-Old, valores considerados bons. Quando avaliados os domínios e facetas dos questionários WHOQOL, o domínio que apresentou maior qualidade de vida foi o de auto avaliação da qualidade de vida (16,6±2,6), já o menor foi o de meio ambiente (15,8±2,0). Em relação às facetas, a que apresentou maior qualidade de vida foi a de participação social (76,0) e a menor a de Autonomia (62,6). A média da escala de indicativos de depressão geriátrica foi de 2,2±1,6, valor considerado baixo e positivo. Ao avaliar a escala de indicativos de depressão geriátrica, verifiou associação significativa de que as idosas sem indicativos de depressão tem uma qualidade de vida no domínio físico superior a idosa com estes indicativos (p=0,033093), assim como entre indicativos de depressão e tempo de prática de exercício físico (p=0,00416). Conclui-se que idosas que praticam exercícios físicos nas ATIs possuem boa qualidade de vida geral, assim como nos domínios e facetas avaliadas, além de baixos índices de indicativos de depressão.

Willingness to pay for ovulation induction treatment in case of WHO II anovulation: a study using the contingent valuation method.

ObjectiveTo measure the willingness to pay (WTP) of women aged 18–45 years to receive drug treatment for ovulation induction (ie, the social value of normal cycles of ovulation for a woman of childbearing age) in order to feed the debate about the funding of fertility cares.SettingAn anonymous questionnaire was used over the general population of Quebec.ParticipantsA total of 136 subjects were recruited in three medical clinics, and 191 subjects through an online questionnaire.MethodThe questionnaire consisted of three parts: introduction to the problematic, socioeconomic data collection to determine factors influencing the formation of WTP, and a WTP question using the simple bid price dichotomous choice elicitation technique. The econometric estimation method is based on the “random utility theory.” Each subject responding to our questionnaire could express her uncertainty about the answer to our WTP question by choosing the answer “I do not know.”Outcome measureThe WTP in Canadian dollars of women aged 18–45 years to receive drug treatment for ovulation induction.ResultsResults are positive and indicate an average WTP exceeding 4,800 CAD, which is much more than the drug treatment cost. There is no evidence of sample frame bias or avidity bias across the two survey modes that cannot be controlled in econometric estimates.ConclusionMedical treatment for ovulation induction is highly socially desirable in Quebec.

Socio-geographic analysis of the causes of the 2006’s wildfires in Galicia (Spain)

Aim of study: To propose a methodology to establish motivations underlying wildland fire episodes by analyzing both the socioeconomics of the affected territory and the geographical distribution of the wildfire.Area of study: The wildfires occurred during 2006 in Galicia, in the NW of Spain, were analyzed and compared regard to the previous years.Material and methods: The proposed methodology in this study is divided into four steps: (a) definition of the forest context, (b) fire episode and socioeconomic data collection, (c) geospatial representation through map production, and (d) joint analysis and data interpretation. A combined analysis of the spatial and temporal coincidence of wildfire and the socioeconomic activities is performed.Main results: A combined analysis of the spatial and temporal coincidence of wildfire dynamics and the socioeconomic activitiesallow us to assess and to interpret wildfire causes and motivations of socioeconomic groups. In our area study, a broad analysis indicates that wildfire recurrence within this region is related to an accelerated rural flight process which exacerbates the conflict between rural and urban models.Research highlights: The socio-geographical analysis of a territory’s wildfire dynamics enables us to establish possible causes and motivations of their origins. Providing the specific contextual and socioeconomic information, this methodology has potential applicability across varied study locations.Key words: forest; wildfires’ causes; geographical distribution; socioeconomic analysisAbbreviations: FAA (Forest Affected Area); IFN (Inventario Forestal Nacional); GIS (Geographical Information Systems); IGE (Instituto Galego de Estadística); IGN (Instituto Nacional de Estadística); MVMC (Montes Vecinales en Mano Común)

Scales of Vulnerability: Resettlement and Exposure to Multiple Stressors and Shocks in Zimbabwe

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which agricultural land resettlement provided its beneficiaries with opportunities for coping better with stresses and shocks. The study was carried out in Mufurudzi resettlement scheme in Zimbabwe, and involved the collection of socio-economic data through a questionnaire survey, interviews and focus group discussions that were conducted on five randomly selected former commercial farms. The existence of three distinct categories of land reform beneficiaries was revealed: the better- off, worse- off and middle income earners, each with its own livelihood trajectories, and differentially equipped with capabilities of coping with stresses and shocks. The worse- off and middle income categories were the most vulnerable due to the resource gaps that featured in their livelihoods. Though land reform may be a necessary condition for reducing poverty and livelihood vulnerability, its importance in playing this role depends on the livelihood trajectories that individual beneficiary households choose to follow.

Socio-economic benefits and pollution levels of water resources, Pece Wetland, Gulu Municipality - Uganda

Communities are dependent on wetlands resources for income generation. However, anthropogenic activities that result into pollution of water are one of the major public health problems. Assessment of socio–economic activities and pollution levels of domestic water sources in Gulu Municipality, Pece wetland was done. The technique for socio–economic data collection was an exploratory method using transect walk along the wetland. Questionnaires and interviews were used. Domestic water sources around the wetland were sampled and analyzed according to APHA (1992). The major activities in the wetland were edge gardening, waste disposal, petty business center called ‘Owino’ market, water collection for sale, livestock grazing, agro–forestry, brick laying, papyrus harvesting and vehicle washing. The climax of some of the activities was affected by seasons. Over all, the activities contributed to > 50% of the monthly income of the respondents. A section of the wetland seems to be sacrificed for socio–economic activities due to the prevailing insecurity as evidenced in the unclear coordination and monitoring plan for conservation of the wetland. Temperature was not significantly different (p = 0.672) and pH was significantly different (p = 0.000). The values ranged from 23.4 to 26.0°C and 5.37 to 5.83 for all the water sources respectively. There was significant difference (p = 0.00 and p = 0.03) in EC and TSS that ranged from 52 to 330 μScm -1 and 0.89 to 2.93 mgL -1 respectively. Spring water had higher EC and TSS than the boreholes. Faecal coliforms ranged from 14 to 50 CFU/100 ml and was significantly higher (p = 0.006) for the spring water than the boreholes. The chloride ion concentration was significantly different (p = 0.000) in the water sources and ranged from 89.2 to 331.1 mgL -1 . The correlation for faecal coliforms and chloride ions was positive (r = 0.3577). The domestic water sources were contaminated, although the assumption in the community is that, boreholes are clean and safe. The communities should be sensitized to treat water before drinking. This could reduce the chances of infection by the pathogenic organisms. Key words: Benefits, pollution, water sources, wetlands, socio–economics.

“On the Social-Economic Front”: The Polemics of Shtetl Research during the Stalin Revolution

ArgumentThis article explores the relationship between ideology and statistical knowledge in Soviet Yiddish scholarship during the first Five-Year Plan and Cultural Revolution. Specifically, it examines the political status of Yiddish-language socioeconomic research as a tool of state building in the shtetls (small market towns) of the former Pale of Jewish Settlement. Historically, many Jewish inhabitants of the shtetl worked as economic middlemen between city and countryside, a function that became politically untenable after 1917. The Soviet regime sponsored Yiddish socioeconomic data collection in order to monitor its efforts to transform the occupational structure of shtetl Jewry. Accordingly, this data was expected to demonstrate the steady self-disintegration of the shtetl as an obsolete artifact of the old regime. In fact, these Soviet Yiddish narratives inadvertently highlighted the endurance of the shtetl in Soviet life at both the concrete and discursive levels. A close reading of these sources provides insight into how a segment of the Soviet Jewish intelligentsia attempted to align itself within the new state's scientific establishment by fusing modern Jewish social scientific knowledge with Marxist-Leninist principles. In the polemics of the “shtetl problem” we find an example of how Soviet yidishe visnshaft registered the constantly shifting perceptions of ideological orthodoxy and deviation among Jewish Communists, and provoked international debate among Jewish demographers and economists as to the political use and abuse of statistics.

Census Peek: Collaboration in the New York City Catskill/Delaware Watershed: Case Study 1990–2000

Because watershed collaborations connect economic and environmental concerns, they are of interest to students of sustainable economic development. The economic outcomes of such collaborations are difficult to study because socio-economic data collection areas do not generally correspond to collaboration boundaries and also because of the simultaneity of economic stimuli and restrictions in collaborative arrangements. This case study of New York City’s Watershed Collaboration in its Catskill Delaware Watershed used a mapping program to create a database of Watershed residents from the 1990 and 2000 census. It provides a heretofore unavailable socioeconomic portrait of the Watershed and trends in indicators relevant to Collaboration effectiveness such as age, demographic pressures, and economic welfare. Through the use of national, state, regional and rural controls, the study also explores the impact of the agreement on the Watershed. Results do not provide evidence of a net negative impact and are consistent with a net positive impact. Several trends which work against agreement effectiveness are identified.

Why the Nation Needs a TIGER System

Maps are one of the most important tools used by the Census Bureau to carry out its mission as the primary socioeconomic data collection agency of the federal government. Maps are needed during all stages of a census or sample survey and their use has been taking on an ever-increasing role. They are, needed in planning, in data collection, and in presentation and analysis of the results. Mapping programs involve large inputs of labor, time, and money. It is becoming increasingly difficult to produce maps by traditional cartographic methods, let alone to provide maps more customized to the task at hand. By necessity, the Census Bureau became a mapmaker because of its unique needs for a large quantity and diversity of reference maps in a short production time frame. The need for adequate maps to carry out its mission ultimately demanded automation and integration of the cartographic and geographic support functions for the Census Bureau to meet the challenges of the future.