High Socioeconomic Development Research Articles

The Impacts of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic and Socioeconomic Development on the Living Arrangements of Older Persons in Sub‐Saharan Africa: A Country‐Level Analysis

This study investigates whether socioeconomic development and the HIV/AIDS pandemic are associated with living arrangement patterns in older persons in 23 sub-Saharan African countries. Country-level aggregate data were taken from previous household surveys and information provided by the United Nations, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization. Results showed that 13.5% of older persons (aged 60 years or over) were living with grandchildren but not adult children (i.e., skipped generation households). Countries higher in HIV/AIDS prevalence had more skipped generation households, and also more older persons living with spouse only and fewer older persons living with other relatives. Countries with higher socioeconomic development had fewer older persons living with children younger than 25 years old and more living with spouse only or with other relatives and unrelated persons. The pandemic and socioeconomic development combine to accelerate the breakdown of the extended family structure so that older persons are less and less likely to reside with, and to receive support from, their children.

THE GLOBALIZATION OF A MINOR SPORT: THE DIFFUSION AND COMMODIFICATION OF MASTERS SWIMMING

ABSTRACT We examine the global spread of Masters Swimming (MS) focusing on the economic, social, and demographic conditions associated with its initiation in the United States and its international growth. We characterize MS as a modern sport and look at its subcultural form, organizational structure, practices, and early pattern of organizational growth from bottom to top. Then we describe the top down role of La Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) in supplying legitimacy, resources, organizational coherence, and corporate sponsors to spread the sport among FINA members. By establishing mutually beneficial relations with corporate sponsors, MS rapidly commodified and diffused to countries and territories with middle to high socio-economic development.

The Measurements and Interpretations of Gender Equity in European Union

This article aims to review and to interpret the gender equity in the political, economical and social areas in the EU. The work is based on Human development perspective and methodology. The article consists of two parts. First part gives an explanation about human development and its measurements methodology such as human development index (HDI), gender-related development index (GDI), gender empowerment measure (GEM). The second part of article argues main thesis: high socioeconomic development automatically does not guarantee equity and equality for both woman and man. According to the data of global Human Development report the greater the gender disparity in basic human development, the lower is a country’s GDI relative to its HDI. Sweden, Latvia, Denmark, Finland have the closest correspondence between HDI and GDI. Ireland, Luxembourg, Austria, Belgium, Greece shows highest gender inequality rates. GEM shows that gender equity gaps in political, economic participation and decisionmaking and power over economic resources exist in all EU states members. HDI, GDI, GEM shows that Lithuania does not reach the average of EU. Article concludes that gender inequality problems exist in each EU country and does not depend directly from economical achievement. The good experience of Scandinavian countries gender policy indicates that for gender equity it is necessary to mainstream gender policy.

Desalination of brackish water by nanofiltration and reverse osmosis

Jordan is characterised by an arid climate and its population is increasing at an annual rate of about 3.6%. The annual consumption of fresh water per capita is less than 200 m 3 compared to the international average of 7500 m 3. Jordan's water resources comprise surface water (41%), ground water (54%) and treated wastewater (5%). With such a high population growth rate and fast socio-economic development, water demand and wastewater production is steeply increasing and the gap between water supply and demand is getting wider. On the other hand, the constraints for water resources development are also increasing due to high investment costs and water quality degradation caused by over exploitation of aquifers. Jordan is likely to face a potable water crisis by 2010, by depleting the fresh water sources. Desalination of water from the Red Sea by reverse osmosis (R0) and/or desalination of brackish water from some basins by nanofiltration (NF) or RO might be technically and economically viable to cope with water scarcity and overcome water deficit in Jordan. In this work, treatment of brackish water by RO and NF into potable water is investigated. Brackish water samples were collected from Zarqa basin, Jordan, and characterised in terms of pH, conductivity, total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS) and total organic carbon (TOC). The brackish water samples were pre-treated through microfiltration (MF) cartridges in order to get rid of the suspended matter. A pilot plant equipped with composite RO and NF membranes was operated at 20 bar, ambient temperature, natural pH and up to water recovery rates of 95%. The results show that both processes are efficient, as they highly reduce the organic and inorganic contents present in the raw waters. The technical and economical feasibilities of NF and RO processes for the production of potable water from brackish water were compared. This study contributes for the development of efficient technologies for the production of affordable potable water in Mediterranean countries where the threat of water shortages is a serious problem, especially in summer.

Protective Role of Infections and Vaccinations on Autoimmune Diseases

Infectious agents may induce autoimmune disease through several mechanisms, notably antigen mimicry and inflammation of the target organ; conversely, infections may protect from autoimmune diseases. This paradoxical effect has been demonstrated for a number of bacteria, viruses and parasites on a variety of spontaneous or experimentally induced animal models of autoimmune diseases (e.g. experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, lupus mice, non-obese diabetic mice). The mechanisms of the protection are still ill-defined, and probably vary according to models. Stimulation of immunoregulatory CD4 T cells has been shown to play a central role in several major models. The role of superantigens is also important, like that of Toll-like receptors. Antigen competition is another major mechanism, itself open to several interpretations. Epidemiological data support a protective role of infections on human allergic and autoimmune diseases. These diseases are much more common in countries with high socio-economic development (typically Northern countries in Europe). The reason for this cannot be fully explained by genetic differences because migrating populations develop these diseases with the same incidence of the adoptive country rather than that of the country of origin. It is interesting that the frequency of these diseases has been increasing in developed countries over the last 20 years but not in undeveloped ones.

Inequalities in income and long term disability in Spain: analysis of recent hypotheses using cross sectional study based on individual data

Objective: To compare the relation between inequalities in long term disability and income in the 17 regions of Spain.Design: Data were taken from the survey on impairments, disabilities, and handicaps...

A population-based study of inflammatory bowel disease in Florence over 15 years (1978-92).

In the group of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are considered to be more frequent in Western countries and in areas with a high socioeconomic development but relatively infrequent in southern Europe. Sporadic reports have indicated a lower incidence and a milder course of the disease in Mediterranean countries. Although conclusive data on this point are still lacking, recent reports suggest an increase in both incidence and prevalence rates. The incidence of UC and CD during the period January 1978 to December 1992 and their prevalence on 31 December 1992 were estimated in the 15-year-old population of the metropolitan area of Florence. Clinical, demographic, and follow-up information was collected for all identified IBD patients. A total of 796 residents (345 females and 454 males) were newly diagnosed as having IBD during the study period. Of these 593 had UC and 203 CD. The age-standardized incidence rates, calculated for each of five 3-year consecutive periods, rose from 3.8 (in 1978-80) to 9.6 per 100,000 person-years (in 1990-92) for UC and from 1.9 (in 1978-80) to 3.4 (in 1990-92) for CD. Both trends were statistically significant. The prevalence estimated on 31 December 1992 was 121.0 and 40.0 per 100,000 inhabitants for UC and CD, respectively. Our results confirm that IBD incidence rates and prevalence in this area of central Italy are currently comparable with those reported in northern Europe. These data are necessary for planning adequate health care services for IBD patients.

China's Fertility Patterns Closely Parallel Recent National Policy Changes

This paper examines the impact of the one-child policy on second birth patterns in China. Based on the data from the 1987 One-per-Hundred Survey findings indicate that the rate of second births decreased to 63% in 1984 but rose from 65% in 1985 to 77% in 1987. Smaller surveys in the provinces of Hebei and Shaanxi showed that the one-child policy had varying effects in urban and rural areas and higher socioeconomic development was associated with the lower rates of second births. It was demonstrated that the sex of the first child and yearly household income contributed significantly to the probability of a second birth. Furthermore an analysis of a 1988 national survey indicated that the marriage boom resulting from a relaxation of marriage restrictions in 1980 exercised a greater influence on rates of second births throughout the period 1980-86.

Determinantes do processo de infestação domiciliar por Panstrongylus megistus: o papel da habitação e do desmatamento

A qualidade das habitações e o desmatamento foram estudados em Caconde e São José do Rio Pardo, municípios paulistas com taxas diferenciadas de infestação domiciliar por Panstrongylus megistus, e com desenvolvimento sócio-econômico dessemelhante. Para o conhecimento da qualidade das habitações recorreu-se a dados registrados na Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (SUCEN) durante a década de 70; o estudo do desmatamento foi realizado em mapas, construídos por nós a partir de fotografias aéreas, obtidas em vôos realizados pela Secretaria de Agricultura em 1972 e 1983. A análise sócio-econômica baseou-se nas informações do Censo Agro-pecuário e em entrevistas com agrônomos dos municípios. O estudo mostrou uma situação de maior precariedade das casas em Caconde. Essa situação decorre do menor desenvolvimento sócio-econômico deste município, confirmando assim uma tendência já demonstrada em pesquisas anteriores. O desmatamento foi mais intenso em São José, onde o desenvolvimento social é maior e no qual à taxa de infestação é menor, fato que mostra um comportamento oposto entre os dois determinantes nestes municípios. Os vínculos entre o desmatamento e o maior desenvolvimento sócio-econômico pode também ser demonstrado na medida em que se pode relacionar a atividade produtiva com a destruição da cobertura vegetal natural. Cabe sublinhar que esta tendência de efeito oposto do desmatamento não inverteu o resultado final, ou seja, que o confronto dessas forças determinantes resultou ainda numa taxa de infestação superior em Caconde, área de menor desenvolvimento social. A existência dessas tendências opostas entre os determinantes revela, desse modo, uma maior complexidade no processo de infestação por P. megistus, sem produzir, no entanto, reversão do resultado final.

Toward stationary populations and beyond.

The world's rate of population growth is declining. Most industrialized societies have achieved or are moving rapidly toward stationary populations, but while birth rates are also declining in many developing countries, continued growth must be expected because of the large proportions of young people in these populations. New evidence of exceptions to the classical demographic transition theory indicate that declining fertility is compatible with high mortality or low socioeconomic development if acceptable means of fertility control are readily available. "Fertility silhouettes" showing differing age-specific fertility rates indicate that present family planning programs have had a demographic impact. A review of the economic and ecologic consequences of rapid population growth justifies the conclusion that considerable effort will be required to again bring the world's population into balance with these systems. The author outlines priorities for this effort, with emphasis on the need to devise acceptable means of fertility control that will not tax the frail health care infrastructures of developing countries.