Higher Family Income Research Articles

Children’s Essentialist Beliefs About Weight

ABSTRACT Striking weight biases emerge early in development, yet cognitive-developmental research has largely ignored weight as a social characteristic of interest. How do children conceive of weight? In particular, do children hold essentialist views of weight (i.e. do they view weight as natural, stable, inductively meaningful, and reflective of people’s insides) as they do of so many other social characteristics? We conducted an exploratory investigation of children’s weight essentialism across two studies. In total, 356 participants (280 4- to 11-year-old children and 76 adults from the United States, mostly White and from middle- to high-income families) participated in three tasks, respectively assessing three dimensions of essentialism of social categories: Beliefs about weight stability, heritability, and inductive potential despite transformation. Results revealed that children viewed weight as stable (similarly so to race) and informative of someone’s food choices, but they did not view it as biologically- or genetically-determined. Thus, children may not view weight as reflecting people’s biological nature (biological essentialism), but they may view weight as reflecting people’s stable personal character (moral essentialism) – a view which is also highly compatible with weight bias, unlike biological essentialism. Children also demonstrated stronger essentialist views of lightness than heaviness across tasks, though essentialism of heaviness increased over development. Findings are discussed as they relate to early conceptions of weight and weight bias. Implications for conceptualizations and measurement of essentialism are also discussed.

Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in malnutrition among children under 5 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2001 to 2018

ObjectiveMalnutrition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has declined over the past 2 decades. However, malnutrition inequality persists. Evaluating trends of socioeconomic disparities in malnutrition among children under 5 y of age in the DRC can help target meaningful interventions. MethodData from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2001, 2010, 2018) assessed the prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting among children under 5. The Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) measured socioeconomic inequalities. We evaluated trends in the entire national sample and stratified subsamples based on place of residence and wealth index quintiles. The final sample included 42 976 children. ResultsThe national prevalence of underweight and wasting decreased from 31% to 26% and 13% to 6% in rural and urban areas. However, trends in stunting prevalence varied between the two areas. Nutritional disparity widened between low- and high-income families (stunting RIIs: 0.61 in 2001, 0.37 in 2018; stunting SIIs: –0.20 in 2001, –0.40 in 2018; underweight RIIs: 0.53 in 2001, 0.35 in 2018; underweight SIIs: –0.21 in 2001, –0.28 in 2018). Urban areas experienced greater inequality than rural areas (stunting in urban RIIs: 0.41 in 2001, 0.33 in 2010, 0.25 in 2018). ConclusionDespite progress in reducing malnutrition, persistent socioeconomic disparities, particularly in urban areas, remain a serious public health concern in the DRC. Addressing the root causes of malnutrition and ensuring socioeconomically equitable access to nutrition is critical to promote the full potential of children.

Identifying barriers to obstructive sleep-disordered breathing care: Parental perspectives.

Despite established clinical practice guidelines for pediatric obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), disparities persist for this common condition. Few studies have investigated parental experiences about challenges faced in obtaining SDB evaluation and tonsillectomy for their children. To better understand parent-perceived barriers to treatment of childhood SDB, we administered a survey to assess parental knowledge of this condition. A cross-sectional survey was designed to be completed by parents of children diagnosed with SDB. Two validated surveys were administered: 1) Barriers to Care Questionnaire and 2) Obstructive Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Adenotonsillectomy Knowledge Scale for Parents. Logistic regression modeling was performed to assess for predictors of parental barriers to SDB care and knowledge. Eighty parents completed the survey. Mean patient age was 7.4±4.6 years, and 48 (60%) patients were male. The survey response rate was 51%. Patient racial/ethnic categories included 48 (60.0%) non-Hispanic White, 18 (22.5%) non-Hispanic Black, and 14 (17.5%) Other. Parents reported challenges in the 'Pragmatic' domain, including appointment availability and cost of healthcare, as the most frequently described barrier to care. Adjusting for age, sex, race, and education, parents in the middle-income bracket ($26,500 - $79,500) had higher odds of reporting greater barriers to care than parents in the highest (>$79,500) income tier (OR 5.536, 95% CI 1.312-23.359, P=0.020) and lowest income tier (<$26,500) (OR 3.920, 95% CI 1.096-14.020). Parents whose children had tonsillectomy (n=40) answered only a mean 55.7%±13.3% of questions correctly on the knowledge scale. Pragmatic challenges were the most encountered barrier that parents reported in accessing SDB care. Families in the middle-income tier experienced the greatest barriers to SDB care compared to lower and higher income families. In general, parental knowledge of SDB and tonsillectomy was relatively low. These findings represent potential areas of improvement to target interventions to promote equitable care for SDB.

Living apart after adoption or guardianship: Perspectives of adoptive parents and guardians

BackgroundFor children who are not reunified with their biological family members, the child welfare system promotes legal permanence through adoption or guardianship. The intent of adoption and guardianship is a safe home where children develop familial relationships that last a lifetime. However, issues may arise that result in children or youth living apart (LA) from their families after adoption or guardianship. In this study, LA is defined as a youth living outside the home after adoption or guardianship for two weeks or longer because the youth was receiving treatment in a residential or hospital setting, in a juvenile justice setting, or became homeless or ran away from home. ObjectiveUsing caregiver survey data, this study examined the following questions: (1) What is the prevalence of LA? (2) What are the risk and protective factors at child and family levels that are associated with LA? (3) What is the nature of the relationships between family members among those who have experienced LA? Participants and SettingThis study re-purposed data from surveys of adoptive parents and guardians of children formerly in foster care in four states (n = 2473). MethodsData were collected concurrently, and analyzed through an explanatory sequential mixed methods design began with determining prevalence rates and logistic regression to explore risk and protective factors for LA. This was followed by an examination of survey responses from a subsample of children who experienced LA to provide a deeper understanding of family relationships. Results8% of respondents experienced LA. Regression findings: kinship (OR = 0.57), higher family income (OR = 0.89), and engagement in extracurricular activities (OR = 0.37) served as protective factors for LA. Two elements of relationships were identified: Reciprocal, nurturing connections, which enhanced familial relationships and unfulfilled, unsupported connections that strained familial relationships. ConclusionsThis study expands our understanding of the challenges faced by adoptive and guardianship families. Key findings include the importance of extracurricular school-related involvement, biological family support, and adoption or guardianship specific services.

Meta Analysis: Effects of Household Size, Maternal Education, and Family Income on Stunting

Background: Nutrition is a requirement for every toddler. Inadequate nutritional intake will cause stunting problems. Stunting is a condition of failure to thrive in children where toddlers are shorter in age. This study aims to examine the effect of the number of family members, mother's education and family income on stunting by using meta-analysis. Subjects and Method: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. Population was infants aged 6-59 months. Intervention: high number of family members, high mother's education, high family income. Comparison: low number of family members, low mother's education and low family income. Outcome: stunting. The online databases used are PubMed, Google Scholar, springerlink, and Science Direct with the keywords Stunting AND (“Family Size OR “Household Size”) AND (“Maternal Education” OR “Mother's Education”) AND “Wealth Status” OR “Household income”) AND “Cross sectional” AND aOR. There were 13 published cross-sectional studies from 2016-2022 that met the inclusion criteria. Analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4. Results: A meta-analysis was carried out on 13 articles with a cross-sectional study design originating from Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zambia and involving 63,888 aged 6-59 months. The results of the meta-analysis show that toddlers with a high number of family members have a risk of stunting 1.43 times compared to a low number of family members (aOR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.75; p&lt;0.001), toddlers with low maternal education can reduce stunting 0.65 times compared to mothers with high education (aOR= 0.65; 95% CI= 0.48 to 0.88; p= 0.005) and toddlers with low family income can reduce the risk of stunting 0.53 times compared to high family income (aOR= 0.53; 95% CI= 0.47 to 0.59; p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Toddlers with a high number of family members can increase the risk of stunting while high maternal education and low family income can reduce the risk of stunting. Keywords: number of family members, mother's education, family income, stunting Correspondence:Septa Decelita Wahyuni, Masters Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta 57126, Central Java. Email: septadeclita@gmail.com. Mobile: +6281373083322.

Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Sleep Duration, Exercise, and Family Income on Obesity in Children

Background: Obesity is still one of the problems in Indonesia. The obesity problem has grown into an epidemic, with more than 4 million people dying each year. Factors causing obesity such as lifestyle, lack of physical activity, poor diet habits, low family income, sleep duration, and others. This study aims to estimate the effect of sleep duration, exercise, and family income on obesity in children. Subjects and Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using PRISMA guidelines and the PICO model. Population= children of 2-18 years. Intervention= short sleep duration, exercise, and high family income. Comparison= long sleep duration, no exercise, and low family income. Outcome= Obesity. Articles were collected from databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and ResearchGate. The literature search used the keywords “family income" AND “exercise” AND "sleep duration" AND “obesity” AND “children” AND "cross-sectional". A total of 19 articles met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis, and subsequently were assessed using RevMan 5.4. Results: A meta-analysis of studies from Japan, Korea, Ethiopia, China, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Ghana showed that children with short sleep duration (aOR= 1.83; CI 95%= 1.22 to 2.73; p= o.003), children with high family income (aOR= 1.18; CI 95%= 1.03 to 1.36; p= 0.020) could increase the incidence of obesity, and those results were statistically significant. Exercise can reduce the incidence of obesity in children, but this risk of reduction was not statistically significant (aOR= 0.80; CI 95%= 0.59 to 1.09; p= 0.15o). Conclusion: Short sleep duration and high family income increase the incidence of obesity in children, and these results are statistically significant. Exercise decreases the incidence of obesity in children, but the risk of decline is not statistically significant. Keywords: family income, exercise, sleep duration, obesity, children Correspondence: Hanifah. Master’s Program in Public Health, Universitas Sebelas Maret. Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. Email: hanifah1611@gmail.com. Mobile: +6281226829788.

Remote Intensive Intervention for Young Children on the Autism Spectrum During COVID-19: the Experience of Caregivers and Service Providers

ObjectivesCommunity-based early autism intervention programs in Geneva, Switzerland, converted their in-person services to a telehealth format during the COVID-19 home confinement period. The current study was aimed at measuring the engagement and satisfaction of service providers and caregivers as they experienced telehealth services for the first time and at monitoring child progress.MethodsForty-five families from diverse backgrounds and their 45 service providers had daily videoconferencing sessions of primarily parent-mediated intervention. Satisfaction questionnaires were completed at three time points over a 2-month period. Session frequency and program participation were recorded. Caregiver and service provider’s answers were compared. Results were also analyzed by family annual income. Child progress was monitored using the Early Start Denver Model Curriculum Checklist.ResultsCaregivers and service providers maintained high levels of participation and satisfaction throughout the telehealth service period and appreciated how the telehealth format allowed them to meet more frequently. Lower-income families tended to be more unanimously positive about the services when compared with mid- and high-income families. We found significant group differences in service providers’ and caregivers’ perceptions of each other’s comfort level with the remote sessions. Child progress followed a pattern of continued significant improvement across most developmental domains during the telehealth service period.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the potential of telehealth as a promising and appreciated approach for delivering intensive early autism interventions in community settings. Further research is needed to determine optimal session frequency for remote parent-mediated intervention and to determine ways to make telehealth services more accessible for low-income families.

High Systolic Blood Pressure of High-Income African American Children

BackgroundAccording to the Minorities’ Diminished Returns (MDRs) theory, racism may reduce the health returns of family socioeconomic status (SEP) resources such as family income for racial minorities, particularly African Americans, compared to Whites. However, we are unaware of any previous studies on racial variation in the protective effects of family income on children’s blood pressure.AimWe conducted this study to compare the overall effects of family income on pre-adolescents’ systolic and diastolic blood pressure, test racial variation in this effect, and investigate whether racial variation in this regard is due to racial differences in body mass index.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data from 4007 racially diverse US children 9–10 years old. The independent variable was family income measured as a three-level categorical variable: less than $50 K USD, 50–100 K USD, and 100 + K USD. The primary outcomes were systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured up to three times at 1-min time intervals. Body mass index was the mediator. Mixed-effects regression models were used for data analysis to adjust for data nested to the centers, families, and individuals. Age, gender, parental education, family structure, and Latino ethnicity were covariates.ResultsIn the pooled sample and in the absence of interaction terms in the model, family income did not show an inverse association with children’s systolic (for 100 + K USD family income: β = − 0.71, p = 0.233 and for 50–100 K USD family income: β = 0.01, p = 0.989) or diastolic blood pressure (for 100 + K USD family income: β = − 0.66, p = 0.172 and for 50–100 K USD family income: β = 0.23, p = 0.600). However, race showed a significant interaction with family income on systolic blood pressure (for 50–100 K USD × African American: β = 2.75, p = 0.034), suggesting higher systolic blood pressure of African American adolescents from high-income backgrounds. Racial variation in the protective effect of family income on systolic BP was no more significant (for 50–100 K USD × African American: β = 2.14, p = 0.149) after we controlled for body mass index (BMI), which was higher for African American than White adolescents.ConclusionThe association between high family income and reduced systolic blood pressure in pre-adolescence might be weaker for African Americans compared to Whites, a difference that African American adolescents’ higher body mass index can explain.

Determinants of adaptation practices to climate change: insights from soybean growers in Central India

The study analyzed the determinants of adaptation practices of soybean growers toward climate change in Central India using primary data collected through household survey from 280 soybean growers. The influence ofa set of explanatory variables on each of the different adaptation strategies was simultaneously modeled using multivariate probit analysis. The most widely practiced adaptation measure was change in the variety (71%farmers) followed by the change in time of farm operations and crop change or crop diversification. To cope with the insect-pest and disease attack on the crops, farmers adopted resistant varieties to minimize the cost of chemicalspray. More than one-third of the sampled farmers practiced change in input application, while soil and water management practices were practiced by nearly 28% of the farmers. Analysis of results indicated that the changein varieties of crops is significantly more likely to be adopted by households with larger family size, higher involvement in extension activities, having a tractor, higher educated head of household. Households with higher family income, possessing mobile phones and other infrastructure are more likely to adopt the change in varieties, whereas farmers having highersocial participation, extension contact, larger land holding, and belonging to ethnicorigin other than scheduled caste or scheduled tribe do not necessarily do so. The government should frame out policiestowardsthe promotion oftechnological and institutional measuressuitable to various categories offarmers so that the adaptation strategies could be helpful in maintaining and/or increasing the sustainability of the production systems.

Availability of off-marketplace plans with lower premiums for higher-income families.

Families with incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level were ineligible for marketplace premium tax credits before 2021 and may again be after 2025. Current laws temporarily removed this income cap, but because credits cap out-of-pocket premiums for a reference plan as a share of income, some higher-income families still receive zero tax credits. We quantified (1) premium differences between on- and off-marketplace plans and (2) the association between these premium differences and state decisions to finance cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) for lower-income families. We created a comprehensive database of on- and off-marketplace plans in each county (including both federal and state-based marketplaces). By county and metal level, we compared on- and off-marketplace (1) plan premiums in 2020 and (2) growth rates in the numbers of plans. We contrasted outcomes for states by how insurers were instructed to finance CSRs. In 2020, 89% of the US population lived in counties where some plans were offered exclusively off-marketplace. In these counties, for a 45-year-old choosing among silver plans in 2020 and who did not qualify for premium subsidies, premiums for the lowest-cost off-marketplace plans averaged 11.3% less than premiums for the lowest-cost on-marketplace plans. In contrast, for bronze and gold plans, the lowest-cost off-marketplace plans were, on average, more expensive. Silver plan premiums were 6.1% higher off-marketplace than on-marketplace in states that loaded CSRs on all silver plans, and 13.5% lower in states that loaded CSRs only on on-marketplace silver plans. Higher-income individuals and families may consider purchasing Affordable Care Act-compliant silver plans off-marketplace and thereby reduce their premiums. State and federal policy makers should consider the impact of their decisions on the choice between on- and off-marketplace plans.

Air Pollution and Prosocial Behavior in Chinese Adolescents: The Role of Resilience and Interpersonal Relations.

Past studies have indicated that air pollution is a major environmental factor that negatively affects prosocial behavior in adolescents. However, the mechanism underlying this negative relationship has not been fully explored. This study postulated that this impact may occur through individual resilience, a major psychological capital for adolescents. In addition, we studied interpersonal relations, namely, adolescents' perceived family and teacher support, which may moderate the proposed relationship. This study combined the three-year tracking survey data of 11-to-15 old adolescents (N=1301; approximately 48% female) in China with objective data from the air quality index (AQI) to measure the level of air pollution. Findings from ordinary least squares analysis indicated that air pollution negatively influences adolescents' prosocial behavior, and their resilience mediates this negative relationship. In addition, the results showed that the negative effect of air pollution on adolescent resilience is attenuated by higher family income, whereas it is accentuated by the absence of teacher support. Our study provides insight into how the negative effect of air pollution on adolescents' prosocial behavior is mediated by their psychological resilience, and highlights the moderating role of adolescents' interpersonal relations in the association between air pollution and their psychological resilience. Our research also provides practical advice on how families, teachers, and psychologists can mitigate this negative impact.

Helping Parents Support Their Preschool Children’s Learning and Development Through SMS Messages: An Australian Pilot Study

AbstractFamilies are children’s first and most important teachers. However, their ability to support children’s learning and development at home varies due to knowledge, skills, and confidence. Family interventions aimed at increasing parents’ skills are labour-intensive and expensive. In contrast, text messages are low-cost and scalable. Text messages can provide bite-sized bits of information that remind parents of activities they can do in their everyday lives to support learning. Our pilot study replicated two studies from the United States of America (USA) using text messages to increase children’s language and literacy development. A mixed methods approach comprising a pre- to post-design and survey was used. Approximately 70 families with preschool children in the Australian Capital Territory received three text messages weekly for 18 weeks. Families were randomly assigned to either the language and literacy group or the control group that received general child development messages. Measurement of the impact of text messages on children’s language and literacy skills was not feasible due to COVID-19 constraints. We were able to measure parent knowledge and perceptions of the pilot project pre- and post-text messages. Parent knowledge in both groups moved in the right direction, and approximately 90% of parents reported that the text messages were useful and would recommend the program to other parents. Parents found both sets of texts equally valuable. Our study included highly educated and high-income families, while previous research in the USA were comprised of disadvantaged families. Our findings suggest that text messages about early language and literacy, and general child development are useful to all families.

Solid Waste Audit and Characterization Study at Tuensang Town Nagaland

Today scenario improper waste management causes serious pollution and health risk, which is the main concerning environmental management in developing countries. In most cities, the use of open dumps is common for the disposal of wastes, resulting in soil and water resource contamination. The study carried from March to May 2023.A Total of 30 households were studied for data collection (210 samples) from three types of family, low income, medium income and high income family using the random sample, out of 15 wards,8 wards were used for the sample selection. The study shows that the majority of the residents are very much concerned about the poor condition of the environment due to the inappropriate and improper SWM in Tuensang town. The residents are not much satisfied with the service of the town council in regard with SWM dumping in the hearts of Tuensang. There is no scientific engineered solid waste disposal site in the Tuensang town and the results can be a starting point in planning for such. This paper give the total waste generation in the household level, weekly and yearly per capita per day and and also give the types of solid waste generation in the town. Based on the findings of the study, researcher proposes that district and town needs to provide proper solid waste segregation awareness to the general citizen to every household. It may also encouraged citizens not to dispose of their household wastes randomly.

Impact of the Family Environment on the Frequency of Animal-Based Product Consumption in School-Aged Children in Central Poland.

Animal-sourced foods (ASFs) have a high nutritional value, which makes them important elements of young people's diets. Several environmental factors might affect the dietary habits of children and adolescents, and their identification seems to be a principal reason to maintain their healthy eating practice. Thus, we aimed to investigate selected environmental factors (a place of residence, net income, mother's education level, number of siblings, and mother's BMI), which may be linked to the consumption frequency of ASFs among school-aged children. In total, 892 mothers of primary school children aged 7-14 years from central Poland took part in the anonymous and voluntary survey. The frequency of meat and meat product consumption was affected by the mother's education level, place of residence, and net income. Generally, meat was eaten more often by the city children (G = 0.178, p < 0.01) of better-educated mothers (G = 0.268, p < 0.001) and higher-income families (G = 0.209, p < 0.001). A higher level of education was linked to more frequent fish consumption but only in the younger group (G = 0.130, p < 0.05). The frequency of egg intake was positively associated with the maternal level of education (G = 0.185, p < 0.001), children's gender (girls > boys, G = 0.123, p < 0.05), and place of residence (city > village, G = 0.214, p < 0.001). In turn, the frequency of milk and dairy intake was related only to the place of residence (village > city, G = 0.97, p <0.05). It can be concluded that the mother's level of education is a key factor linked to the selected children's dietary habits. Thus, we believe that successful health education programs designed for young people should include the maternal capacity to interpret and adapt information into daily practice.

Social Disparities Increase Risk of SUDs

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Annual MeetingFull AccessSocial Disparities Increase Risk of SUDsNick ZagorskiNick ZagorskiSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:16 Jun 2023https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2023.07.7.53AbstractAt APA’s 2023 Annual Meeting, National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora Volkow, M.D., highlighted the relationship between early stress and brain development.The COVID-19 pandemic made many hidden truths more abundantly clear, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Nora Volkow, M.D., said during a presentation at APA’s Annual Meeting in May. Among them was the power of social determinants of health—as racial and ethnic minorities, those with less income, and people with psychiatric illness bore the brunt of negative health outcomes.Social determinants of health are also strong risk factors for substance use disorders, Volkow continued.She noted that brain imaging data indicate that the environment plays a stronger role than genetics in guiding brain development between the ages of 5 and 8 years. In households with dysfunction, stress, and/or financial difficulties, children tend to receive more negative environmental stimulation and less positive stimulation.Making use of new imaging data from over 7,500 9- and 10-year-old children enrolled in NIDA’s Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, Volkow together with Dardo Tomasi, Ph.D., a staff scientist at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, evaluated the relationship between family income and brain structure. Their analysis revealed that children from higher-income families appeared to have larger and thicker frontal cortices as well as higher cognitive test scores compared with children from lower-income families.Another brain imaging study of babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic uncovered a similar pattern: Greater levels of maternal stress and anxiety were associated with worse connectivity between the amygdala and frontal cortex in the infants. Lower social support was a significant predictor of clinically elevated prenatal maternal distress, the study found.Such early changes in brain structure may increase the risk of later problems with substance use, Volkow noted, as data show that people who are more sensitive to negative conditioning (for example, learning quickly not to touch a hot stove after getting burned) and/or have blunted reward conditioning are at higher risk of addiction.Showing a correlation is one thing, but is there evidence that correlation can be changed?Well, yes, Volkow noted. She pointed to one controlled intervention in which 1,000 low-income mothers from several U.S. cities were randomly allocated either a $333 or $20 monthly stipend after the birth of their child. About 400 of the babies were selected for EEG scans at one year of age, and the EEG data found that babies of mothers with the high-cash stipend had more robust and active brain activity than the babies of mothers who received the low-cash stipend.“This simple monetary intervention probably reduced the mother’s stress [related to] how she would support her child and maybe let them spend more time together,” Volkow said. There was a clear positive neurodevelopmental outcome.Volkow acknowledged that the United States may not have the resources right now to implement some of these early-life interventions on a large scale, but building up the infrastructure is one of NIDA’s priorities. Just attenuating the impact of poverty can boost childhood development and prevent susceptibility to substance use down the road, she said. ■Resources“Associations of Family Income with Cognition and Brain Structure in USA Children: Prevention Implications”“Prenatal Maternal Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Associations With Infant Brain Connectivity” ISSUES NewArchived

COMPARISON OF EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AGRICULTURE STUDENTS BY GENDER AT UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, FAISALABAD-PAKISTAN

The research based on cross-sectional data was conducted to develop a comprehensive characterization of the situation of students in higher education. In this regard, analysis of differences in various gender-related socio-economic characteristics was conducted that may motivate future systematic annual analysis of tertiary education demographics. To address the purpose of the study, first of all, the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad was purposively selected as a study population. Next, primary data was collected through well designed and pretested questionnaire from randomly selected 185 total students of second semester during under-graduate academic session 2019-20. Descriptive statistics show that traditional opinion of rural-male centered agricultural education was no more present because now 40% of student body was coming from urban areas as well as enrollment of female students in agricultural sciences was also increasing. Results further show that in many aspects females enjoy near parity with males. Female students were comparatively spending less on food and mobile-related items during studies despite their higher income family status. Even female students were significantly surpassing males based on the previous school, college and first semester examinations. Comparatively higher proportion of females planning to continue agricultural education up to Ph.D implies that gender disparity in agricultural education is diminishing. Given forthcoming changes in the agrarian economy of Pakistan and the country being signatory to sustainable development goals, it is suggested that the government should enhance safe pick and drop facilities particularly to females to lessen disparities in agricultural education. Similarly, more job placements should be arranged to absorb forthcoming agriculture graduates in the market. Finally, large sample-based studies on finding the statistical relationships among socio-economic characteristics of agriculture graduates is also suggested to give input for the development of the agriculture sector of the country.

Intersectional sociodemographic and neurological relationships in the naming ability of persons with post-stroke aphasia

IntroductionSignificant attention has been given to the role of brain function and disruption in determining performance on naming tasks among individuals with aphasia. However, scholarly pursuit of a neurological explanation has overlooked the fundamental cornerstone of individual health—the underlying social, economic, and environmental factors that shape how they live, work, and age, also known as the social determinants of health (SDOH). This study examines the correlation between naming performance and these underlying factors. MethodsIndividual level data from the 2010 Moss Aphasia Psycholinguistic Project Database (MAPPD) was matched with the 2009–2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) using a propensity score algorithm based on functional, health, and demographic characteristics. Multilevel, generalized, nonlinear regression models were applied to the resulting data set to assess the correlation between the Boston Naming Test (BNT) percentile score and age, income, sex, race, household size, marital status, aphasia type, and region of residence. Poisson regression models with bootstrapped standard errors were used to estimate these relationships ResultsDiscrete dependent variable estimation with non-normal prior specification included individual level (age, marital status, years of education), socioeconomic (family income), health (aphasia type), household (family size), and environmental (region of residence) characteristics. Regression results indicated that, relative to individuals with Wernicke's, individuals with Anomic (0.74, SE = 0.0008) and Conduction (0.42, SE = 0.0009) aphasia performed better on the BNT. While age at the time of testing was not significantly correlated, higher income level (0.15, SE = 0.0003) and larger family size (0.002, SE = 0.002) was associated with higher BNT score percentiles. Finally, Black persons with aphasia (PWA) (-0.0124, SE = 0.0007) had lower average score percentiles when other factors were held constant. ConclusionsThe findings reported here suggest higher income and larger family size are associated with better outcomes. As expected, aphasia type was significantly associated with naming outcomes. However, poorer performance by Black PWA and individuals with low income suggests that SDOH can play a critical role (positive and negative) in naming impairment in some populations with aphasia.

Associated factors with vaccine hesitancy in mothers of children up to two years old in a Brazilian city.

This study aims to evaluate maternal vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors. This is a cross-sectional study of a probabilistic sample of 450 mothers of children born in 2015, living in a Brazilian city, and who was, at the time of data collection, more than two years old. We used the tool proposed by the World Health Organization (10-item Vaccine Hesitancy Scale). To assess its structure, we performed, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. We performed linear regression models to evaluate the factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. The factor analysis showed two components for the vaccine hesitancy scale: lack of confidence in vaccines and risk perception of vaccines. High family income was associated with lower vaccine hesitancy (greater confidence in vaccines and lower risk perception of vaccines), while the presence of other children, regardless of birth order, in the family was associated with lower confidence in vaccines. A good rapport with health professionals, willingness to wait for the vaccination and the getting vaccinated through campaigns were associated with greater confidence in vaccines. The deliberate delay or decision not to vaccinate their children and previous experience with adverse reactions to the vaccine were associated with lower confidence in vaccines and greater risk perception of vaccines. Health care providers, especially nurses, play a relevant role to address vaccine hesitancy, guiding vaccination through a trustworthy rapport.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the general population of Pakistan regarding typhoid conjugate vaccine: findings of a cross-sectional study.

Typhoid fever, a common enteric disease in Pakistan, caused by Salmonella typhi, is becoming an extended drug-resistant organism and is preventable through the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV). Public adherence to preventive measures is influenced by knowledge and attitude toward the vaccine. This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the general population of Pakistan toward TCV. The differences in mean scores and factors associated with typhoid conjugate vaccine knowledge, attitudes, and practices were investigated. A total of 918 responses were received with a mean age of 25.9 ± 9.6, 51% were women, and 59.6% had graduation-level education. The majority of them responded that vaccines prevent illness (85.3%) and decrease mortality and disability (92.6%), and typhoid could be prevented by vaccination (86.7%). In total, 77.7 and 80.8% considered TCV safe and effective, respectively. Of 389 participants with children, 53.47% had vaccinated children, according to the extended program on immunization (EPI). Higher family income has a higher odds ratio (OR) for willingness toward booster dose of TCV [crude odds ratio (COR) = 4.920, p-value <0.01; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.853, value of p <0.001], and negative attitude regarding the protective effect of TCV has less willingness toward the booster dose with statistical significance (COR = 0.388, value of p = 0.017; aOR = 0.198, value of p = 0.011). The general population of Pakistan had a good level of knowledge about the benefits of TCV, and attitude and practices are in favor of the usage of TCV. However, a few religious misconceptions are prevalent in public requiring the efforts to overcome them to promote the usage of vaccines to prevent the disease and antibiotic resistance.

English

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the positive childhood experiences of young people and family values. In the quantitative research design, descriptive and relational screening method was used in the study, and the study group consisted of 753 university students aged 18-25. Data were collected using the Positive Childhood Experiences Scale and the Family Values Scale. T-test, ANAVO, and Pearson Correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. As a result of the study, it was determined that females and individuals with a higher family income had higher levels of positive childhood experiences. Differences in family values were found according to the participants&#39; gender, family structure, family income status, and whether they had the desire to start a family. It was found that as the participants&#39; positive experiences with children increased, they attributed more importance to the mother in childcare, gave more importance to relatives, had a more positive view of extended family, believed that there should be a strong mother-child connection more, gave more importance to the role of child-rearing in the family, and their emotional attachment to the family increased, the importance they attached to marriage and the institution of marriage increased, they adopted unconventional values more, they evaluated the family as conventional, and their view that the decision-making process in the family should be democratic/participatory increased, justifying violence for &quot;family well-being&quot; and being in favor of more freedom in matters related to sexuality decreased. Some suggestions were developed by discussing the findings in light of the literature. &nbsp; Key words: Family values, positive childhood experiences, family-child relationship, family.