High Poverty Rates Research Articles

Analysis Of Urban Food Poverty And Policy Strategies For Food Control In The City Of Medan

This research analyzes food poverty in the city of Medan and formulates food control policy strategies. The analysis of the proportion of food consumption expenditures indicates high poverty rates in several districts, particularly in Medan Belawan and Medan Marelan. The SWOT approach identifies policy alternatives in quadrant 1, leveraging opportunities and strengths to address the food security and vulnerability of impoverished households. Five priority strategies were obtained, involving the optimization of food price control, increasing the availability and reserves of food, business collaboration strategies, supply control from hinterland areas, and improving economic access. The research conclusion emphasizes the need for simultaneous policy implementation covering aspects of food availability, distribution, and quality. Recommendations involve cross-sector collaboration to ensure policy sustainability and a focus on priority strategies. It is hoped that the implementation of these policies can reduce food poverty levels and improve the well-being of impoverished households in the city of Medan.

Determining the Optimum Number of Clusters in Hierarchical Clustering Using Pseudo-F

Poverty refers to the condition where a person cannot meet the basic necessities based on the minimum living standards. Statistics Indonesia proxied an increase in the poverty rate in North Sumatra Province in 2021 from 8.75% to 9.01%. However, this increase is exclusive to North Sumatra Province, which has Indonesia's 3rd largest number of districts/cities. This study discussed mapping the North Sumatra Province region based on 10 poverty factor variables. The 10 variables are life expectancy, health complaints, poverty line, Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), population growth rate, Expected Years of Schooling (EYS), Human Development Index (HDI), labor force participation rate, open unemployment rate, and district/city minimum wage. The Hierarchical Clustering analysis was employed to compare single, complete, and average linkage methods. The best method was determined based on the pseudo-F statistic value. 4 clusters had complete linkage methods, each of which possessed varied characteristics. Cluster 1 contains cities with the lowest poverty rate, including Medan City and Pematang Siantar City. Cluster 2 consists of cities with low poverty rates, while Cluster 3 consists of cities with high poverty rates. Cities that are included in Cluster 4 have very high poverty rates, including South Nias District and Pakpak Bharat District. The clusters present significant poverty rate gaps among North Sumatra Province regions.

Prevalence of Person-First Language in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Systematic Review of Case Reports

Background: Person-first language (PFL) is a linguistic prescription, which places a person before their disease. It is considered an important tool to reduce stigma. However, PFL is not routinely used across the scientific literature, particularly in patients with overweight or obesity. Patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) face various stigmas through high rates of poverty, female gender, and frequent rates of comorbidities. Non-PFL language use intersects and worsen the health inequities faced by these patients. Methods: A systematic review of case reports. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for all case reports with “pseudotumor cerebri” [MESH] OR “Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension” as key word between January 1974 and August 2022. The primary criterion was the article's inclusion of patients with overweight or obesity. The secondary criterion was the article's discussion regarding obesity as risk factor. Articles not meeting primary or secondary criteria were excluded. Results: Approximately 514/716 (71.8%) articles used non-PFL language. The publication year was predictive of non-PFL language: 1976–1991 (82.3%) vs 1992–2007 (72.3%, P = 0.0394) and 2008–2022 (68.3%, P = 0.0056). Non-PFL was significantly higher in obesity compared with other medical conditions (60.3% vs 7.3%, P < 0.001). The patient gender (P = 0.111) and ethnicity (P = 0.697), author's specialty (P = 0.298), and primary English-speaking status (P = 0.231), as well as the journal's impact factor (P = 0.795), were not predictive of non-PFL. Conclusions: Most literature focused on IIH use non-PFL when discussing overweight or obesity, regardless of the patient's gender and ethnicity, journal's impact factor, senior author's specialty, and English-speaking status. Non-PFL use is much more common when discussing obesity compared with other medical conditions. Appropriate use of PFL can decrease stigma and, more importantly, decrease the intersectionality of health stigma faced by patients with IIH.

Empowerment of Poor Communities Through Life Skills Program Automotive Training Cooperation Between BBPVP Makassar and BAZNAS Enrekang District

The high unemployment rate and poverty rate are a problematic mismatch of skills possessed by DUDI's current needs. BAZNAS, in collaboration with BBPVP Makassar, organizes automotive training as a form of solution to the above problems. This research aims to analyse the planning, implementation, and evaluation of automotive training as an effort to empower poor communities. The research method used is a qualitative case study. Research subjects included BBPVP managers, automotive training instructors, BAZNAS staff, BAZNAS commissioners, and automotive training participant alumni. Data collection techniques include in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. Validity of data using the triangulation method. Data analysis techniques include data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The results of the research explain that training program planning was carried out by identifying and analysing needs (TNA) carried out by BAZNAS, selecting training participants, compiling a curriculum, compiling materials, and determining learning strategies. Automotive training is carried out for 2.5 months. The methods used are lectures and practice. Evaluation of automotive training includes improving skills in participating in training, absorption in the world of work, reducing unemployment rates, and improving the economy of training participants. In conclusion, the preparation of the automotive training program has been adapted to the needs of DU/DI, its implementation is in accordance with SKKNI, helps people get absorbed into the world of work, and reduces high rates of unemployment and poverty. Keywords: Planning, Implementation, Evaluation

Poverty Level Grouping in West Java Province with the K-Means Clustering Method

Poverty in a region will have an impact on hampering national development. Poverty is an economic disease that is often faced by every country, including Indonesia. According to information obtained from the Central Bureau of Statistics, we can gather data on the poverty rate in all provinces of Indonesia, with a particular focus on the province of West Java. West Java province is one of the provinces with the highest population density on the island of Java, which is ranked 2nd after the province of DKI Jakarta and ranks 4th for the province with a high percentage of poor people after DI. Yogyakarta, Central Java, and East Java. Consequently, it is crucial for the regional government to identify areas with high, moderate, or low poverty rates. This information will enable the local government to formulate appropriate policies and prioritize interventions to address poverty effectively. In this study, the K-Means clustering method was used to classify poverty rates based on two variables, namely the community development index and the open unemployment rate using the help of RStudio software. The findings indicated that the application of the elbow method in West Java province resulted in the identification of three distinct clusters of districts/cities that stood out as the most prominent. Cluster 1 (districts/cities with relatively high poverty rates), cluster 2 (districts/cities with low poverty rates), cluster 3 (districts/cities with high poverty rates). Regencies/cities that fall into the category with a high poverty rate are Sukabumi, Cianjur, Garut, Tasikmalaya, Ciamis, Kuningan, Cirebon, Majalengka, Indramayu, Subang, West Bandung, and Pangandaran.

Socioeconomic conditions and contagion dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic with and without mitigation measures: Evidence from 185 countries

It is well documented that COVID-19 contagion and mortality rates differed systematically across countries. Less is known, however, on whether these differences could be explained by socioeconomic conditions that may determine both the extent to which individuals voluntarily take protection measures in the absence of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) or comply with imposed NPIs, when these are in place. Using data from 185 countries, we examine associations of COVID-19 infection and mortality dynamics with socioeconomic conditions, as measured by poverty rates, in periods before and after NPIs have been imposed. We find that, in the initial period of the pandemic, when no NPIs were in place, daily growth of COVID-19 cases and deaths are positively associated with the share of the population living in poverty, whereas, in the following period, when NPIs were implemented, these associations turn negative. We argue that these results could be explained by the fact that NPIs are expected to be more effective in countries with high poverty rates where voluntary physical distancing is low and physical distancing practices are more responsive to imposed measures.

Factors influencing rural Timor-Leste women’s utilisation of family planning services

In Timor-Leste, maternal fertility and mortality rates have been reducing over the past two decades; however, unmet family planning needs remain. Family planning is especially relevant for women with low socio-economic status as they often have unmet family planning needs, which is pertinent for Timor-Leste as its population experiences high rates of poverty and primarily lives rurally. Our qualitative descriptive study explores rural Timorese women’s knowledge, attitudes, and family planning practices to determine factors influencing their family planning decision-making. Purposive sampling resulted in twenty-five women from the rural Suai-Covalima district participating in three focus groups.
 While rural women preferred family planning, many lacked knowledge about specific methods, including misunderstandings about side effects and impact on fertility. Health literacy is central to improving understanding of family planning. Therefore, enhancing service providers’ capacity to provide accurate and up-to-date information and training is necessary to build rural women's understanding of family planning. The patriarchal nature of the Timorese society strongly influenced women’s family planning decisions. Hence, including men in future family planning education is essential. Despite the historical influence of the Catholic Church in Timor-Leste, women in this study did not feel its teachings influenced their family planning decisions. Further research exploring the role of the Church in reproductive decision-making and encompassing broader rural Timorese populations, including men, would increase understanding of family-planning decision-making and its influences.

Implementing an Inclusive-Collaborative Development Model to Create Prosperity for the Poor

Objective: According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik/BPS) of Lampung Province, Republic of Indonesia, the poverty rate has reached 11.57%. The high poverty rate shows that the government's current development treatment is still ineffective. In addition, development that is not on target increases the exclusion of people's lives, especially those with low incomes, so poor people are seen as not enjoying total prosperity. Based on this, research regarding applying a collaborative, inclusive development model to create prosperity for people experiencing poverty must be carried out to alleviate poverty and increase prosperity. The aim is to find a formulation to create sustainable prosperity and reduce poverty. Method: This research will use a qualitative approach with a case study method. Data collection techniques were carried out using interviews, observation, and documentation. The data obtained is in the form of primary data and secondary data. Primary data was taken from interviews and direct observation, while secondary data was obtained from books and journals related to the research context. This research was conducted for poor communities in Kota Agung Barat District, Tanggamus Regency. Results: This research shows that the government implemented an inclusive-collaborative model to create prosperity for poor communities. The community remains involved in development aspects. The community's contribution to development involves providing ideas, suggestions, and energy in executing development. Thus, the Kota Agung Barat District development, Tanggamus Regency, helps create community welfare. Conclusion: The implementation of collaborative, inclusive development in Kota Agung Barat District, Tanggamus Regency, has been carried out. Local communities are sufficiently involved in the development process. Community involvement starts from planning, preparation, and execution to evaluation.

Closing the Gap: A Multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Project Improving Diagnosis and Care for Women with Undiagnosed Bleeding Disorders

Background: Research has shown that irrespective of the hemostatic challenges women face during their lives, they are less likely to be referred to a hematologist than their male counterparts and are managed primarily from a symptomatic standpoint. Women face many barriers to diagnosis including lack of provider awareness of bleeding disorders and the work-up required to make a diagnosis. Unique to menstruating women, there is overlap between many gynecologic diagnoses that can mimic a bleeding disorder; hence, leading to misdiagnosis and treatment targeted towards symptomatology as opposed to establishing a diagnosis. There also remains a major barrier for many women in the United States for diagnosis due to lack of access to care and health literacy. In Eastern North Carolina, compared to United States averages, we have high rates of uninsured, higher rates of poverty, higher patient to primary care physician ratios, and a higher rate of minority patients. Methods: We report on an ongoing, prospective quality improvement project funded by the Foundation for Women and Girls Bleeding disorders that aims to improve the identification of concurrent bleeding disorders in women presenting to the gynecology clinic with excessive vaginal bleeding. During routine gynecology patient encounters, patients are consented and screened utilizing the WHO Bleeding Assessment Tool (BAT). Women who score more than 6 on th e BAT are referred to our Bleeding Disorders Clinic for further diagnostics and evaluation by a hematologist. During the Bleeding disorders evaluation, the BAT score is repeated and specific testing to define a bleeding disorder is obtained. If patients are identified with a bleeding disorder such as Von Willebrand's disease or congenital platelet disorders, additional therapy to correct these are instituted to improve bleeding. In addition, patients who are severely iron deficient from menorrhagia are offered IV iron replacement. Results: In the first three months of this project, we have consented and screened over 70 patients in OB/GYN clinic. Twelve patients (17%) that have screened positive with a score of 6 or more. All twelve patients are being evaluated for congenital bleeding disorders. During our project, the Gynecology physicians have become more aware of patients who might be at risk and have increased their self-referral for hematology evaluation. Demographically, most of our patients came from five counties. Each of these counties has a higher rate of uninsured patients with an average of 16.6%, ranging 15-21% compared with national average of 12%. These counties also have higher rates of patient to primary care ratios than national average, minus Pitt County, a training hospital, with a combined average 1,127:1 ranging from 990:1 to 1,270:1 compared to US average 810:1. Median household Income averaged $46,040 ranging $41,200 to $50,300 with US average of $69,700. Black population made up 34.6% on average and ranging from 23% to 56% compared to national average of 12%. And rurality averaged 47.4% ranging 25.4% to 65.6% compared to national average of 19.3%. Conclusions: This project demonstrates the ability to impact the collaboration between hematology and our gynecology colleagues in identifying undiagnosed bleeding disorders. This study also addresses the disparities faced in medically underserved regions as well as those who have financial and social barriers to care. The rate of positive screening reflects a population of patients who would otherwise not undergo diagnostics at this time potentially missing patients with an untreated bleeding disorder. By better identifying bleeding disorders that complicate gynecologic bleeding, we can develop improved treatment plans to enhance the efficacy of gynecologist control of patient's symptoms. We can also improve the recognition of bleeding disorders by a group of physicians, our OB/Gyn team, who often are the primary providers for many young women in rural Eastern NC.

Academic Outreach and Collaboration with Community Oncology Practices to Enhance Referrals and Reduce Disparities in Hematological Malignancies

Introduction: Disparities in cancer care are widely reported with the reasons being multifactorial. Delays in referral and distance to travel along with lack of public transportation are common structural barriers that further exacerbate the racial and income related disparities in the care of hematological malignancies. A lower proportion of black patients receive transplants, both autologous (AutoSCT) and allogeneic (AlloSCT) for similar indications as compared to white populations. Racial disparities are evident in transplant utilization for hematologic malignancies. When offered similar therapy, the outcomes might be better in black patients as compared to White populations underscoring the effect of biology of the disease. South Georgia region has a very high poverty rate with many counties having a median income much less than the national average. We report our efforts to increase access for hematological malignancies for patients in predominantly rural and minority focused settings. Methods: We reviewed charts of all patients referred to our center from 01/2014 to 12/2022. We divided patients into three groups. Cohort A. 36 months from 1/14 to 06/2017. Cohort B, 36 months from 07/19 to 12/22. The intervening two years were utilized for outreach development. Physicians visited all the community centers and created an easy access physician to physician referral system. In addition, in partnership with community oncology, two clinics were established at 65 miles and 89 miles to our center. Referrals from these sites were seen at these outreach clinics. The total number of Auto and Allo SCT and clinical trial enrollment data were obtained from databases. Outcomes data is from that reported on the SCT patients to the national databases. Statistics are descriptive. Results: Post outreach activity showed a significant increase in volumes. (Figure 1) Patients' referrals for heme-malignancies were up to 1725 compared to 632 (170% increase). The median distance travelled in these groups was 52.7 vs 17.8 miles (range 0-525 vs 2342) demonstrating the larger area covered from outreach activity. Considering our metro area radius of 20 miles, 62% of patients were outside our immediate area. Excluding the patients withing the 20-mile radius between the two groups, median distance travelled by patients in cohort B being 99 miles vs 60 miles in cohort A. The increase was consistent across all races. There was an increase from 254 to 588 in black population and 355 to 1028 in the white populations. The outreach clinics set up in partnership with the community practices added a significant new patient population with numbers increasing from under 25 in the initial cohort to above 250 in cohort B. Overall this increase translated to higher number of transplants with 146 transplants in cohort A compared to 347 in cohort B, a 137% increase. The alloSCT increased from 51 to 85 and autoSCT from 95 to 262 between the two cohorts respectively. In addition, the addition of CAR-T further expanded the cellular therapy program with a total of 131 cellular therapy products in fiscal year 2023 compared to 39 in fiscal year 2015, a 235% increase. Our outcomes have consistently improved as well with the most recent CIBMTR 1 year survival of 74% while the predicted was 68%. Similarly, the increase in referrals translated to an increase in clinical trial enrollment with the most recent 3-year period having an accrual of 216 as compared to 56, a 285% increase overall and 185% in black patients, compared to the initial 3 years. Age is another commonly noted factor that results in lower access to care. Our model resulted in a significant increase in elderly patients as well with > 60 years of age patients increasing from 326 to 1017 while those above 70 increased from 149 to 549 in the respective cohorts. Conclusions: Our model is easily reproducible and shows a substantial increase in the number of referrals for hematological malignancies. The recent approvals of complex therapies like CAR-T and other T cell engaging therapies necessitate a close collaboration between academic and community practices. Similar models if developed at other academic centers can significantly reduce structural barriers and might improve outcomes further in all patient populations.

Transplantation, Waitlist Status, and County Indices of Economic Health in West Virginia.

Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment for patients with end stage kidney disease. Given lower rates of kidney transplant in West Virginia (WV), we searched for potential predictors, focusing on indices of economic health. Data on initiation of kidney replacement therapy, being waitlisted for and receiving a kidney transplant between 1965 and 2020 were collected from United States Renal Data System (USRDS). Data on county poverty rate (PR) and economic distress were collected from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Of the 23,055 WV patients identified, 2,999 (13%) were transplanted compared to 514,050 (15.3%) for the rest of the US (p< 0.001). Patients who never received a kidney transplant were from counties with higher PRs (17.95%) compared to transplanted patients (17.44%); p<0.001. Waitlisted patients (2,375) came from counties with lower PRs than those who were never waitlisted (17.48 vs 17.94%; p<0.001). Waitlisted patients were less likely to be from distressed or at-risk counties (32 vs 34.3%; p=0.05) than patients who were never waitlisted. In multivariable logistic regression, county PR remained an independent predictor of being transplanted (OR 0.91, 95% CI: 0.85-0.97; p=0.008) or waitlisted (OR 0.9, 95% CI: 0.84-0.96; p=0.001) per 5% increase in poverty rate after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, alcohol use, functional status and comorbid medical conditions. Group/employer health insurance appeared to modify the relationship between PR and waitlist, where PR remained an independent predictor of waitlisting among patients with insurance. Waitlisted patients and transplant recipients from WV were more likely to hail from counties with lower PRs and those in better economic health.

Conservation and economic benefits of medicinal plants: Insights from forest-fringe communities of Southwestern Ghana

Medicinal plants have significant socioeconomic and health benefits, especially in developing countries with high poverty rates and limited health care coverage. However, the continuous utilization of medicinal plants without conservation efforts leads to species scarcity, especially for endangered species. This study, therefore, assessed the economic benefits and conservation status of medicinal plants in the Asukese and Amama Forest Reserves in Ghana. Field visits, structured and semi-structured questionnaires were used to survey 172 respondents focusing on their socio-demographic characteristics, medicinal plants used to treat diseases in the communities and plant parts used, preparation and administration of remedies, availability trend of medicinal plants, drivers of loss of medicinal plants, contribution of medicinal plants to gross incomes and conservation strategies. The study identified 143 plant species used to treat 135 ailments and diseases. The mostly highly cited plant family was Fabaceae (15 spp.). On average, medicinal plants contributed 64 % of gross annual income. Income from medicinal plants varied significantly across marital status and primary occupation but was similar across gender, religion, and educational levels. Thirty-three (33) of these plants were perceived to be threatened by over-harvesting, agricultural expansion, mining, logging, and climate change. Consequently, the cultivation of medicinal plants on farms, creation of medicinal plants nurseries, integration of medicinal plants in home gardens, creation of botanic gardens, and indigenous knowledge systems and practices were suggested as strategies for their conservation and sustainability utilization. There is therefore the need for increased conservation efforts to protect medicinal plant species from anthropogenic disturbance and the imminent threat of climate change. This will be critical for biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development in local communities.

Undue Burden the Medical School Application Process Places on Low-Income Latinos

Undue Burden the Medical School Application Process Places on Low-Income Latinos

POVERTY ERADICATION PROJECT IN SABAH, MALAYSIA: NEW INITIATIVE, NEW CHALLENGES?

Since independence, the Malaysian government has invested billions of ringgits in the fight against poverty. Despite the national decrease in the percentage of the population living in poverty, the state of Sabah has had the highest poverty rate in Malaysia since 1997. Why has the poverty alleviation programme been less effective in reducing this social phenomenon among the poor communities in Sabah? To address this question, this paper discusses the issues and challenges confronting stakeholders involved in the poverty eradication programme in Sabah. The paper focuses on the implementation of the People's Income Initiative (PII) Phase 1 project in two communities: Penimbawan Village, Tuaran, and Bongkol Village, Pitas. This qualitative study reveals those participants, implementing agencies, and other stakeholders face issues and challenges when implementing poverty eradication projects. Furthermore, the issues faced by the poverty eradication project participants were found to include their own attitudes towards the project, such as a lack of focus on or interest in the project; the existence of a subsidy mentality; and the lack of clarity regarding the project's goals. However, the implementing agency was discovered to encounter issues with market support. The difficulties currently faced by these three parties could affect how long the PII Project can successfully eradicate poverty in both localities.

Analisis Pengaruh Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) Di Kelurahan Gebang Putih, Kecamatan Sukolilo, Kota Surabaya

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the Family Hope Program (also known as PKH). In and of itself, the PKH program is a social assistance program that the Indonesian government launched in order to combat the country's high poverty rates. In this study, qualitative research methodologies and a descriptive approach are utilized, and interviews with various resource persons serve as the primary method for data gathering. The findings of this study showed that there were variations in the number of people who received PKH benefits over the course of the program's first five years of operation. In addition, there were variations in the lifestyles of people who received PKH benefits in the Gebang Putih Subdistrict. Despite the fact that the results were generally positive, this demonstrates that the implementation of PKH in the Gebang Putih Subdistrict was successful in reducing the level of poverty in the area. It is hoped that the Subdistrict assistants and the PKH assistants who are now on duty would continue to analyze the results of the program's implementation. In order for the percentage of people living in poverty to continue to fall, and for the inhabitants of Gebang Putih to be able to enjoy a higher standard of living.

Legal effectiveness in promoting development policies: A case study of North Aceh Indonesia

This research evaluated the effectiveness of the Law on the Governing of Aceh (LoGA) as the legal basis for regional development policies in the North Aceh District, Indonesia. Despite its enactment in 2006, the district has faced persistent challenges, including high poverty rates and poor economic growth. The LoGA was intended to accelerate development in Aceh after the conflict and tsunami, reflecting the legal aspirations of the region (reconsidered). Therefore, using a qualitative approach, including interviews, observations, and analysis of secondary data, this research evaluated the effectiveness of the LoGA based on its provisions, enforcement, infrastructure and facilities, political landscape, cultural factors, and societal impacts. The result showed significant substantive, institutional, and societal challenges, which led to legal uncertainty, ineffective policy implementation, and the necessity for policy revision and community involvement.

Thermal Performance Assessment of Burkina Faso’s Housing Typologies

Burkina Faso is a sub-Saharan African country suffering from a high poverty rate. It has quadruplicated its population over the last twenty years, that is, from 4.5 to 18 million inhabitants. Such demographic changes, together with an intense migration process from rural areas to large cities, among other issues, are contributing to a rapid process of socio-cultural transformation. In this context, changes in both traditional and contemporary housing are analyzed for this article. To this aim, a thorough thermo-hygrometric evaluation is carried out by processing significant data from on-site measurements to shed new light on the adaptation of the said dwellings to the environmental and local cultural values. Preliminary results show that the introduction of land ownership linked to climate change and the increasing scarcity of natural resources are forcing native ethnic groups to modify their traditional ways of life, even threatening their subsistence. Consequently, we can prove that the new building typologies are not suitable in the least for the climatic conditions nor the rich cultural heritage of Burkina Faso. This fact negatively affects the possibility of revitalizing vernacular and environmentally oriented solutions for the contemporary world and the necessary advance towards a more sustainable architecture. With this research, we intent to start a reversal of such a deterioration process.

Higher Exposure of Poorer People to Emerging Weather Whiplash in a Warmer World

AbstractThe emergence of abrupt shift from drought to downpour has attracted widespread attention in recent years, with particularly disastrous consequences in low‐income regions. However, the spatiotemporal evolution and poverty exposure to such drought‐to‐downpour events remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate the connection between poverty and drought‐to‐downpour events based on three data products and climate models on a global scale. We find that the drought‐to‐downpour events increased by 24%–48% in the poorest 20% of the world's population from 1980 to 2010. The drought‐to‐downpour events do not appear to be occurring more frequently in most regions globally, just affecting regions with higher poverty rates more frequently, especially in African countries. The exposure inequality remains under future socioeconomic pathways, with a nearly fivefold increase in the exposure for the poorer populations. Poverty exposure to more frequent drought‐to‐downpour events demands greater support for climate adaptation in low‐income countries to reduce poverty and inequality.

Examining the effect of demographic and socioeconomic factors on household food insecurity in Lideta subcity, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Food security and vulnerability assessments in Ethiopia have traditionally focused on rural regions. In contemporary policy discussions, urban food security has garnered significant attention. Notably, there is a lack of empirical substantiation of urban food security and its impact on the livelihoods of city dwellers as they grapple with escalating food prices. The present study aims to determine the extent of household food insecurity and identify correlated factors among 692 households in three randomly selected Woredas (districts) within Lideta sub-city, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Six Ketenas (villages) were selected using a probability proportional-to-size technique from three Woredas between February and March of 2023. Data were collected through a validated survey administered by trained individuals, and household income and expenditure were used to measure food insecurity access. Chi-square (&amp;chi;2) and logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with food insecurity in the region. The overall prevalence of household food insecurity in the study area was found to be 66.5%. Regression results indicate that seven of the hypothesized nine demographic and socioeconomic determinants of household food insecurity significantly influence the probability of experiencing food insecurity (p &lt; 0.05). Household food expenditure, household dependency ratio, age, sex, educational status of the household head, access to savings and credit, and the urban productive safety net program were identified as significant determinants of urban household food insecurity. This study underscores that food insecurity in Ethiopia is not limited to rural areas but also affects urban regions, mainly due to high urban poverty rates. Strategies to reduce household size, improve the household dependency ratio, and enhance socioeconomic factors can empower households to build resilience against food insecurity. Policymakers should adopt measures to stabilize the food insecurity improve living standards, and enhance the economic capabilities of urban households.

Detection of Ponzi scheme on Ethereum using machine learning algorithms

Security threats posed by Ponzi schemes present a considerably higher risk compared to many other online crimes. These fraudulent online businesses, including Ponzi schemes, have witnessed rapid growth and emerged as major threats in societies like Nigeria, particularly due to the high poverty rate. Many individuals have fallen victim to these scams, resulting in significant financial losses. Despite efforts to detect Ponzi schemes using various methods, including machine learning (ML), current techniques still face challenges, such as deficient datasets, reliance on transaction records, and limited accuracy. To address the negative impact of Ponzi schemes, this paper proposes a novel approach focusing on detecting Ponzi schemes on Ethereum using ML algorithms like random forest (RF), neural network (NN), and K-nearest neighbor (KNN). Over 20,000 datasets related to Ethereum transaction networks were gathered from Kaggle and preprocessed for training the ML models. After evaluating and comparing the three models, RF demonstrated the best performance with an accuracy of 0.94, a class-score of 0.8833, and an overall-score of 0.96667. Comparative evaluations with previous models indicate that our model achieves high accuracy. Moreover, this innovative work successfully detects key fraud features within the Ponzi scheme dataset, reducing the number of features from 70 to only 10 while maintaining a high level of accuracy. The main strength of this proposed method lies in its ability to detect clever Ponzi schemes from their inception, offering valuable insights to combat these financial threats effectively.