Hardest Hit Research Articles

Assessing the post-pandemic socioeconomic and health impacts on daily wage and private sector workers in India: a cross-sectional analysis

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, a global health and socioeconomic crisis, has severely impacted various demographics, with daily wage and private sector workers in India among the hardest hit. Lockdown measures, aimed at curbing the virus's spread, resulted in widespread job losses, financial instability, educational challenges, and mental health issues, leading to a critical examination of the post-pandemic effects on these vulnerable populations. This study aims to assess the socioeconomic and psychological impacts of COVID-19 on daily wage and private sector workers. Specifically, it examines employment and income loss, access to basic needs, educational disruptions, lifestyle changes, and mental health effects post-lockdown. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 100 participants selected through simple random sampling. Data collection spanned from October to December 2023, utilizing a structured questionnaire to capture sociodemographic, economic, lifestyle, and psychological information. The depression, anxiety and stress scale-21 items (DASS-21) scale was employed to measure depression, anxiety, and stress levels among respondents. Results: Results show that 42% of participants experienced job losses, predominantly among daily wage workers, with many respondents also reporting decreased financial stability. Educational impacts were notable, with limited access to digital learning tools exacerbating the digital divide. Significant lifestyle changes included shifts towards healthier habits and increased compulsive behaviours, such as handwashing. Mental health assessments indicated that 30% of participants had mild depression, while moderate levels of stress and anxiety were common. Conclusions: The findings highlight the pandemic's lasting socioeconomic and mental health toll on daily wage and private sector workers in India. Immediate policy interventions are needed to strengthen social support systems, ensure access to mental health care, and facilitate economic recovery for these communities.

Prevalence and Correlates of Likely Anxiety Disorder in Ghana During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From a Cross-Sectional Online Survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic created stressors to daily living, leading to increased mental health problems. It is important to assess the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, specifically anxiety. The goal was to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic, clinical, and other correlates of likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) among study subjects in Ghana. This study employed a cross-sectional approach, using an online survey administered primarily through social media platforms. The survey questions included the GAD-7 scale, which was used to assess likely GAD in respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis. Overall, 756 respondents completed the survey, mainly from Ashanti and Greater Accra, which were the hardest hit by COVID-19. The prevalence of likely GAD in our sample was 7.6%. Gender, loss of job due to COVID-19, and seeking mental health counseling were independently associated with increased likelihood of GAD. The findings suggest that women, those who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and those who sought mental health counseling were more likely to experience moderate to high anxiety symptoms as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Priority must be attached to psychological support measures for members of these groups.

Abstract 4138426: Geographic Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health Widened Across US States Between 2011 and 2021

Background: Geographic inequities in cardiovascular mortality are pervasive in the US. Pandemic-related delays in screening and treatment, economic loss, and worsening social determinants may have widened geographic disparities in cardiometabolic health, particularly in states that were hardest hit by these spillover effects. Understanding changes in state-based inequities could inform targeted public health efforts to advance cardiovascular health. Questions: Did the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity) and lifestyle factors (alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, tobacco use) change between 2011 and 2021? How did between-state differences change over this period? Methods: We included adults from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Survey-weighted logistic regressions models were used to calculate age and sex-adjusted risk difference between states with the highest and lowest adjusted prevalence rates of each risk factor in 2011 and 2011, respectively. An interaction term for state and year was included to assess for differential changes in between-state disparities. Results: From 2011 to 2021, there were increases in the age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of diabetes (10.9% [95% CI, 10.7,11.0] to 12.4% [12.2,12.6]), hypertension (32.4% [32.1,32.7] to 33.7% [33.4,34.0]), and obesity (27.5% [27.2,27.7] to 33.1% [32.8,33.5]). Geographic inequities widened, with increases in the difference between states with the highest vs lowest prevalence of diabetes (5.7% [5.3,6.1] to 7.8% [7.3,8.3]), hypertension (14.2% [13.6,14.8] to 17.2% [16.4,17.9]) and obesity (14.3% [13.6,15.0] to (15.7% [14.7,16.7]) (Table). The prevalence of alcohol consumption (18.0% [17.7,18.2] to 15.6% [15.3,15.8]), physical inactivity (25.7% [25.4,27.4] to 24.0% [23.6,23.7]), and tobacco use (44.9% [44.5,45.3] to 36.3% [35.8,36.8]) decreased, and between-state differences did not widen. Conclusion: In this national study, the prevalence of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes increased from 2011 to 2021, and state-based inequities widened. Our findings highlight the urgent need for public health interventions to address widening state-based disparities in cardiometabolic health.

5.O. Scientific session: Exploring incidence and access to care for migrants and ethnic minorities with long-COVID

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected migrants and ethnic minorities throughout Europe leading to the assumption that long-COVID would also affect these groups to a larger extent than the majority populations. So far, the few studies on long-covid including data on migrants and ethnic minorities suggest that they are also disproportionately impacted by long-covid, but conclusive findings are lacking in European countries and beyond. However, a large number of migrants and ethnic minorities suffering from long-COVID is a major concern for equity in health. Given that migrants and ethnic minorities are more likely to experience barriers to health services, it may also be the case in terms of their ability to access services for long-covid. This would have an unknown impact on long-COVID related. Further, long-COVID may have more far-reaching implications among these populations as they are often more socio-economically vulnerable, holding more temporary jobs with a greater job insecurity. Consequently, unattended long-COVID among migrants and ethnic minorities is likely to exacerbate existing social inequalities and inequalities in health. The aim of the workshop is therefore to discuss different novel perspectives on long-COVID among migrants and ethnic minorities to share their insights from recently published or upcoming studies with leading scientific researchers on the topic. We include both qualitative and quantitative studies focusing on both the incidence and risk factors and on experiences with diagnostic pathways in accessing health care services for long-COVID. We have invited four researchers representing four different European countries to obtain a diversity of perspectives with different country contexts. The format of the workshop is a scientific session. After an introduction by the chair, four researchers will present new studies and different perspectives on long-COVID among migrants and ethnic minorities. Each presenter will have 7 min for presentation and 3 minutes for questions. After the presenters there are 20 minutes for discussion headed by the co-chair. Key messages • Document and discuss the effect of the pandemic regarding long-COVID on some of the most hard hit populations. • Lessons learned that can inform future pandemic policy and structural efforts to reach the most vulnerable.

The characterization, mechanism, predictability, and impacts of the unprecedented 2023 Southeast Asia heatwave

In April and May 2023, Southeast Asia (SEA) encountered an exceptional heatwave. The Continental SEA was hardest hit, where all the countries broke their highest temperature records with measurements exceeding 42 °C, and Thailand set the region’s new record of 49 °C. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of this event by investigating its spatiotemporal evolution, physical mechanisms, forecast performance, return period, and extensive impacts. The enhanced high-pressure influenced by tropical waves, moisture deficiency and strong land-atmosphere coupling are considered as the key drivers to this extreme heatwave event. The ECMWF exhibited limited forecast skills for the reduced soil moisture and failed to capture the land-atmosphere coupling, leading to a severe underestimation of the heatwave’s intensity. Although the return period of this heatwave event is 129 years based on the rarity of temperature records, the combination of near-surface drying and soil moisture deficiency that triggered strong positive land-atmosphere feedback and rapid warming was extremely uncommon, with an occurrence probability of just 0.08%. These analyses underscore the exceptional nature of this unparalleled heatwave event and its underlying physical mechanisms, revealing its broad impacts, including significant health repercussions, a marked increase in wildfires, and diminished agricultural yields.

Mainstreaming Indigenous Knowledge of Pastoralists into Climate Change Policies in Cameroon

Indigenous pastoralists are hardest hit by the impacts of climate change because of their dependence on nature and limited adaptation. This paper seeks to examine the level of integration of traditional knowledge systems into adaptation policies in Cameroon, using the specific case of Mbororo pastoralists in the Western Highlands. Using a mainly qualitative approach in data collection, in-depth interviews were conducted with 28 purposively selected pastoralists from 4 divisions with intense pastoral activity, comprising 19 Mbororo pastoralists, 2 members of the Mbororo Social and Cultural Association (MBOSCUDA), 2 Mbororo traditional rulers, 5 Mbororo women and one focus group discussion. Discussions were recorded and voice notes were transcribed, coded and treated according to content and thematic with the aid of Atlas. Ti software. Results show that Mbororo pastoralists migrated into the region in the 1950s as nomadic herders and occupied marginal lands due to the nature of their activity. With climatic aberrations being acute, their closeness to nature permitted them to develop a wide array of knowledge and traditional practices to adapt and exploit existing opportunities. Semi-nomadic and transhumance methods of rearing, cross-breeding local species with high-breed species to produce resistant breeds of cattle, cultivating resistant pasture species, rotational grazing and using traditional medicines to treat cattle diseases have reduced resource degradation and curbed the effects of climatic aberrations. Nevertheless, these indigenous knowledge systems are eroding fast due to poor indigenous institutions and non-integration into policy. This work will reinforce capacities of decentralized communities in developing and implementing local adaptation plans on climate change.

Challenges in Sustaining Donor Initiated Monitoring and Evaluation System for HIV and AIDS at the Service Delivery Level; Examples from APHIA plus project in Kakamega County

HIV/AIDS remains a major global public health issue, with Sub-Saharan Africa being the hardest hit and housing over 1.7 million people living with HIV. Kenya's long-term success in combating AIDS requires decentralization, allowing counties and local networks to take an active role in developing, implementing, and monitoring evidence-based initiatives. Current frameworks for Monitoring and Evaluating (M&E) HIV/AIDS programs are primarily focused on data collection to inform decisions at the county and national levels. As a result, there's a pressing need to boost M&E capacity at the service delivery level to ensure effective HIV/AIDS programs. This paper interrogates the AIDS, Population, and Health Integrated Assistance (APHIA plus) Western Project's success in enhancing local M&E capacity at the service delivery level in Kakamega County and the challenges of sustaining the gains beyond the project period. The study sampled 110 health facilities offering HIV/AIDS services in Kakamega County. and established It established that the APHIAplus Western Project made significant strides in strengthening the M&E system by establishing M&E departments, improving collection, quality and dissemination of M&E data and hiring trained staff. The study identified the main challenges to the sustainability of the M&E system which included heavy reliance on external funding and inadequate dedicated M&E staff in county health facilities where 62% of staff carrying out M&E functions/duties were hired by the project. It also identified a challenge in the likely compromise to the prerequisites for quality M&E data after the exit of the project since there was no clear transition plan from project to county. The study results indicate that that 70% of the facilities were collecting monthly data using specified tools and storing the data in an automated system. ANOVA yields a statistically significant difference in the length of years the APHIAplus Western project has supported the health facilities and the frequency of M&E data collection at the service delivery level. The study further identified a challenge in the likely discontinuation of fora/platforms organized monthly in 94% of the facilities for dissemination of M&E findings and supported by APHIAplus Western Project. The study recommends increasing the number of dedicated M&E staff in county health facilities by developing a phased transition plan for M&E staff contracted by the project with a clear handover schedule to County Government of Kakamega, and advocating for increased budget allocation for M&E activities at the service delivery level. Additionally, health facilities are encouraged to explore strategies for diversifying funding sources for M&E activities.

ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT AND FUTURE LAND DEGRADATION UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE UPSTREAM OUERGHA WATERSHED (MOROCCO) USING GIS AND AHP METHOD

Land degradation is a worldwide phenomenon that negatively affects the topsoil of agricultural land. The Mediterranean region is the hardest hit by this phenomenon, which is set to increase due to climate change. This study aims to assess the susceptibility of land to degradation under climate change, based on the calculation of the Land Degradation Sensitivity Index (LDI) in the upstream Ouergha catchment in in Northern Morocco (Southern Mediterranean), using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDM) method. In this study, 4 main criteria (climate, vegetation, soil and human environment) divided into 15 sub-criteria were used to assess soil sensitivity to degradation. The weight of each criterion was assigned using the AHP method. The degree of soil degradation was classified on a map based on four categories (low, moderate, high and critical). About 14.9% of land is not very sensitive to degradation, while 37.2% of land is highly sensitive to degradation. Vegetation and climate were identified as the main drivers of land degradation (37% and 28% respectively). climate scenarios indicate a significant drop in precipitation (around 10% for RCP 4.5 and 20% for RCP 8.5 scenarios by 2050), which accelerates soil degradation. The result represents a planning tool that can help decision-makers to take the necessary measures to ensure sustainable soil management in the face of climate change.

An overview of consumer preferences for souvenirs in China post-COVID

The COVID-19 epidemic had a major effect on the travel sector worldwide, with China's souvenir market being especially hard hit. Examining post-COVID-19 tourist preferences for memento designs, this study also attempts to explore the ramifications for the souvenir design business as the tourism sector starts to recover. In order to find pertinent publications from 2019 to June 2024, a systematic literature review procedure based on the PRISMA criteria was used to scan the Web of Science and Scopus databases. After screening the collected literature for research themes and post-pandemic development trends, the VOSviewer tool was used to perform keyword co-occurrence analysis. Four primary research issues were established by the study: (1) the rationale for cultural tourism; (2) community involvement; (3) technological integration design; and (4) cultural economic analysis. It was discovered that travellers prefer personalised travel experiences and engaging with local culture, and that creating keepsakes using technology is becoming more and more popular. Travellers' tastes for Chinese souvenir designs have changed since COVID-19, and they are now more interested in individualised experiences, cultural components, and technological integration. The study's conclusions offer legislators, souvenir designers, and other tourism industry practitioners insightful information on how to promote innovation and long-term economic success.

"Vinnugleðin hefur tapast, nú er bara álag og erfitt og lítil gleði" - starfsumhverfi opinberra starfsmanna á tímum efnahagsþrenginga

Árið 2008 markaði upphaf mikils samdráttarskeiðs um heim allan og Ísland var eitt af fyrstu löndunum í Evrópu sem alþjóðakreppan náði til. Áhrifa kreppunnar gætti víða í samfélaginu og þó hún hafi komi harðar niður á einkageiranum hafði hún einnig mikil áhrif í opinbera geiranum, ekki síst hjá sveitarfélögunum. Tilgangur rannsóknarinnar var að komast að því hvernig starfsfólk sveitarfélaga greindi frá starfsánægju, álagi, starfsöryggi, ánægju með stjórnun vinnustaðarins og umhyggju stjórnenda fyrir heilsu og líðan starfsfólks tveimur, þremur og fimm árum eftir efnahagshrunið. Auk þess var skoðað hvort þættir í starfsumhverfinu, auk persónubundinna þátta, geti spáð fyrir um líkur á starfsánægju. Notað var blandað rannsóknarsnið (spurningalistakannanir og rýnihópaviðtöl). Niðurstöðurnar sýndu lækkandi hlutfall þeirra sem voru ánægðir í starfi eftir því sem lengra leið frá efnahagshruninu, einkum vegna sparnaðaraðgerða stjórnenda. Starfsaðstæður versnuðu verulega að mati þátttakenda og mátti sjá birtingarmyndir þess í fækkun starfsfólks, auknu vinnuálagi, minna starfsöryggi, meiri óánægju með stjórnun og minni umhyggju stjórnenda fyrir heilsu og líðan starfsfólks, sérstaklega á vinnustöðum þar sem uppsagnir höfðu orðið. Uppsagnir á vinnustað var besta spágildið fyrir starfsánægju (OR=0,590), þannig að á vinnustöðum þar sem uppsagnir höfuð orðið var mun minni starfsánægja en á öðrum vinnustöðum. Einnig kom í ljós að aðrir þættir í starfsumhverfinu (umhyggja stjórnenda fyrir heilsu og líðan starfsmanna OR=1,349; ánægja með stjórnun vinnustaðarins OR=1,345; starfsöryggi OR=1,221 og vinnuálag OR=0,801) höfðu allir marktæk áhrif á starfsánægju. Mikilvægt er að stjórnendur hafi vakandi auga fyrir starfstengdri líðan á vinnustaðnum, sérstaklega á samdráttartímum, og þá ekki einungis meðal þeirra starfshópa sem hafa orðið verst úti heldur einnig þeirra sem að jafnaði eru taldir búa við mikið starfsöryggi, eins og starfsfólk sveitarfélaga.

Spatial nonstationarity and the role of environmental metal exposures on COVID-19 mortality in New Mexico

Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has been influenced by a combination of environmental and sociodemographic drivers. To date, population studies have overwhelmingly focused on the impact of societal factors. In New Mexico, the rate of COVID-19 infection and mortality varied significantly among the state's geographically dispersed, and racially and ethnically diverse populations who are exposed to unique environmental contaminants related to resource extraction industries (e.g. fracking, mining, oil and gas exploration). By looking at local patterns of COVID-19 disease severity, we sought to uncover the spatially varying factors underlying the pandemic. We further explored the compounding role of potential long-term exposures to various environmental contaminants on COVID-19 mortality prior to widespread applications of vaccinations. To illustrate the spatial heterogeneity of these complex associations, we leveraged multiple modeling approaches to account for spatial non-stationarity in model terms. Multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) results indicate that increased potential exposure to fugitive mine waste is significantly associated with COVID-19 mortality in areas of the state where socioeconomically disadvantaged populations were among the hardest hit in the early months of the pandemic. This relationship is paradoxically reversed in global models, which fail to account for spatial relationships between variables. This work contributes both to environmental health sciences and the growing body of literature exploring the implications of spatial nonstationarity in health research.

The response of labour demand to different COVID-19 containment measures: evidence from online job postings in Austria

This paper analyses changes in the speed of labour demand for new hires in response to the lockdowns that were repeatedly put in place to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. It tests whether the uncertainty-reducing effect of similar lockdowns occurring in quick succession increased the responsiveness of the labour market, thereby allowing for more rapid adjustment, both at the beginning and at the end of subsequent lockdowns. It uses high-frequency online job-posting data and applies an event study approach to the beginning of three national lockdowns and the subsequent reopening in Austria between 2020 and 2022. In view of the importance of progress in vaccination for labour market recovery, it also looks at vaccine roll-out as an additional COVID-19 containment measure, with 2021 as the main roll-out period. The results indicate very different responses to the three lockdowns, with a decline in job-posting activity of between 47 and 50% during the first lockdown and of between 29 and 31% during the second; but an increase of 23% to 28% during the last lockdown. Moreover, responses to the first lockdown were sluggish, with a slow decline at the beginning and a very slow recovery after it was lifted; but over subsequent lockdowns the responses were more rapid and more symmetrical. Responses to the various events differed by occupation and industry: the strongest responses were to be observed in the highly skilled and more-teleworkable occupations of technicians, and managers and professionals, who were badly affected during the first lockdown; the leisure and hospitality industry, which was the hardest hit on account of the mandatory closures and the widespread travel restrictions and bans, and which recovered only very slowly; and the IT, internet and telecommunications industry, where posting activity developed in a direction opposite to that seen in the other industries. Finally, there is little robust evidence of a differentiated effect of vaccinations during lockdowns, suggesting that vaccination roll-out did not have an additional demand-generating effect, over and above the lockdowns.

"I haven't really gone through things like this": Young long-term care workers' experiences of working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Long-term care (LTC) facilities were hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Using life course theory concepts, we looked for conditions that led to worker moral distress -i.e. pain or anguish over not being able to take right action - and how life stage may influence experiences. To illuminate the experiences of adults under the age of 30 who stepped into, and/or persevered in, working in LTC during the pandemic, recognizing that this emerging workforce represents the future of LTC in Canada. This secondary analysis uses interview data from a sub-sample of 16 young workers between 18 and 29 years of age who had been working in Canadian LTC facilities for between 8 months and 7 years. Young workers expressed feeling guilt about mourning the loss of socially significant milestones as these milestones paled by comparison to the loss of life and consequences of resident isolation they witnessed at work. To manage feelings of moral distress, young workers attempted to maintain high standards of care for LTC residents and engaged in self-care activities. For some workers, this was insufficient and leaving the field of LTC was their strategy to respond to their mental health needs. The life stage of young LTC workers influenced their experiences of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions are needed to support young workers' wellbeing and job retention.

Diabetes mellitus patients' mental responses to COVID-19 and its treatment

Mental health has taken a particularly hard hit during the COVID-19 epidemic of patients living with chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, TB, and HIV/AIDS. The effects of COVID-19 on the psyches with diabetes mellitus were investigated. One hundred and fifty-seven individuals aged twenty and above with diabetes mellitus participated in this cross-sectional research conducted in a hospital setting. Concerns about contracting COVID-19 were measured using the 17-item Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS17), while concerns about being "overly affected due to diabetes if infected with COVID-19," "worry about people with diabetes being characterized as a risk group," and "worry about not being able to manage diabetes if infected with COVID-19" served as separate benchmarks. Information was gathered using a closed-ended questionnaire. Most of the 157 patients with diabetes who were questioned had type two diabetes mellitus with complications, and COVID-19 found that just 42.7 percent had their symptoms under control. Concern about COVID-19 was moderate to high, anxiety over social isolation was moderate, and anxiety about diabetes was low. About one-third (33.8 percent) of the sample population was concerned about the pandemic. According to logistic regression, there was a strong correlation between age, employment, and the prevalence of other chronic illnesses and how worried persons with diabetes were about the seriousness of a COVID-19 infection. The degree to which participants worried about contracting COVID-19 and their consequent inability to manage their diabetes varies by age group, sex, and employment status. During the epidemic, the overall trend suggests that diabetic patients are worried about their health. Clients' anxiety and emotional tension may be reduced with education and counseling on COVID-19, which addresses some of their issues.

Impact of firm characteristics and country-level governance on global energy stocks during crises

Two successive crises have raised the need to understand the dynamics of the global energy sector during these crises. This study examines the effects of the Russia-Ukraine War (RUW) and the COVID-19 pandemic on the energy sector across developed and emerging markets. Additionally, it examines the role of firm- and country-specific variables in stimulating energy stocks. We employ a rigorous event study methodology to analyse data from 387 firms spanning 44 countries and reveal that the RUW exerted a more significant global impact on the energy sector compared to the pandemic, both before and after the event day. Notably, emerging markets displayed early reactions before the global announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remarkably, the American markets were hardest hit by the pandemic, while Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa fared relatively better. Intriguingly, our cross-sectional analysis demonstrates that firm-specific characteristics (leverage and firm size) and the country-level governance variable, corruption control, influenced market performance during these events. Conversely, country-level development variables demonstrated minimal impact. This study enhances the understanding of how global crises uniquely impact the global energy sector. It also demonstrates how country-level governance variables could influence stock market returns.

Leveraging Multiomics Insights and Exploiting Wild Relatives' Potential for Drought and Heat Tolerance in Maize.

Climate change, particularly drought and heat stress, may slash agricultural productivity by 25.7% by 2080, with maize being the hardest hit. Therefore, unraveling the molecular nature of plant responses to these stressors is vital for the development of climate-smart maize. This manuscript's primary objective was to examine how maize plants respond to these stresses, both individually and in combination. Additionally, the paper delved into harnessing the potential of maize wild relatives as a valuable genetic resource and leveraging AI-based technologies to boost maize resilience. The role of multiomics approaches particularly genomics and transcriptomics in dissecting the genetic basis of stress tolerance was also highlighted. The way forward was proposed to utilize a bunch of information obtained through omics technologies by an interdisciplinary state-of-the-art forward-looking big-data, cyberagriculture system, and AI-based approach to orchestrate the development of climate resilient maize genotypes.

When mentally ill women become sexual preys in Zimbabwe: An African indigenous religio-cultural perspective

There is a phenomenal increase in the number of cases of women suffering from mental illness in our contemporary society, which is hard hit by pandemics. As scholarship reflects on this condition, there has been little attention paid to the impact of indigenous religion and cultural practices to the sexual and reproductive health of women with mental illness and indigenous entrepreneurs who seek economic fortunes in a post COVID-19 epoch. Largely, the Zimbabwean society detests mental illness and this has rendered mentally ill women to the social margins. However, cases of men from the mainstream society having illicit sexual intercourse with mentally ill women are rampant, both in urban and rural environments. So one can ask why men from the mainstream society are having sexual relations with the ostracised mentally ill women. Prioritizing ethical considerations, this qualitative study uses ritual theory as its theoretical framework, sociology of religion, phenomenology of religion and gendered cultural hermeneutics to explore the prevalence of these sexual practices. Data was gathered through interviews and desk research from January to December 2023. Findings of the study were that these sexual activities are ritualistic, done to enhance success in politics, business, farming and self-initiated churches. An analysis of the reasons behind the performance of these sex rituals showed that a mentally ill woman’s body is an entity which belongs to the spiritual world so the sexual relationship makes it possible for the male entrepreneur to access the spiritual world. Through these rituals, men with entrepreneurial wishes will be attempting to connect with and manipulate the spiritual world. The study concluded that mentally ill women have less choice over their sexual and reproductive lives. They are sexually exploited, yet they lack the capacity to disclose these heinous acts to the mainstream society. They are regarded by the patriarchal society as sexual preys where coercive sex and or rape are used for ritual purposes, with the intent of attaining socio-economic transformation.

Regionale Disparitäten in der Transformation: Braucht es ein Update der deutschen Regionalpolitik?

Abstract The green transition will affect different places in diverse ways, as place specific and contextual factors, such as pre-existing industrial specialisations, shape how transitions unfold in various territories. In the absence of a place-sensitive approach to decarbonisation, regional disparities are likely to intensify. This may make those who will be potentially hard hit reluctant to support policies necessary for reducing GHG-emissions. Research shows that populist parties that have been the most vocal opponents of climate policies in many countries can capitalize on this sentiment. Thus, investigating how both economic and political costs of the transition will be distributed regionally is key to crafting policies that make a just transition possible. By drawing on the findings of Südekum and Rademacher (2024), the text at hand discusses how the costs of the green transition are likely to be distributed among regions in Germany and what to do about it. It calls for a proactive approach to regional policy and outlines how Germany’s most important regional policy programme can be updated.

Risk Factors for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID -19) -Related Mortality among Hospitalized Patients in Southeastern Iran: A Case -Control Study

Background & Objectives: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID -19 ) pandemic has posed a devastating global impact, with millions of cases which vary widely in the disease severity. Southeastern Iran has been particularly hard hit, with a high number of patients requiring hospitalization. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with mortality from COVID -19 among hospitalized patients in this region. Materials & Methods: A case -control study compared hospitalized COVID -19 patients who succumbed to the disease (confirmed by death certificates and positive polymerase chain reaction or PCR tests) with those who recovered, from February 27, 2020, to June 30, 2021. Researchers analyzed data using t -tests and chi - square tests to identify significant factors associated with mortality (p < 0.05). Variables significant at a less stringent level (p < 0.2) were then included in a backward logistic regression model to explore independent predictors of mortality. Results: This retrospective study examined data from 473 patients, of whom 158 were in the case group and 315 were in the control group. Among the case group, 80.4% were elderly, compared to 41% in the control group. A significantly higher proportion of patients in the case group (12.7%) experienced critical symptoms leading to the ICU hospitalization, compared to the control group (7.3%). Multivariable regression analysis identified several factors significantly associated with increased mortality risk. These included ICU hospitalization (OR=5.27, CI: 3.09 -8.98), advanced age (OR=4.06, CI: 2.43 -6.80), hypertension (OR=4.44, CI: 1.52 -12.93), cardiovascular diseases (OR=2.56, CI: 1.1 -5.98), and critical symptoms (OR=2.74, CI: 1.92 - 8.04). Diabetes, pregnancy, nationality, and gender did not statistically increase mortality risk (p -value ≥ 0.05). Conclusion : Advanced age, severe symptoms requiring ICU care, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases are all critical mortality risk factors in hospitalized COVID -19 patients.

THE IMPACT OF A LARGE DEPRECIATION ON THE COST OF LIVING OF RICH AND POOR CONSUMERS

AbstractUsing retailer scanner data, we investigate how a sharp and abrupt depreciation of the exchange rate affects consumers' cost of living. We find that the marginal cost of imported goods increased, whereas their retail markups decreased compared to domestic products. There was also a surge in the entry and exit of both foreign and local product varieties post‐depreciation. Wealthier consumers, who spend more on imports, are hit harder by higher marginal costs but benefit from reduced markups and increased product diversity, unlike their less affluent counterparts.