Household Survey Research Articles

Public information disclosure practices and civic participation: The roles of social justice perceptions and internet use

This study examined the relationship between public information disclosure practices and civic participation and the roles of social justice perceptions and internet use in that relationship. Our data comes from the 2019 Chinese Social Survey (CSS, 2019), a large nationwide household survey across 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities). To ensure data relevance to our main variables, we conducted screening, resulting in the retention of data from 9 621 participants (female= 56. 73%; mean age= 46.62 years, SD = 14.22 years). The results indicated that public information disclosure practices were associated with higher levels of civic participation. Specifically, public information disclosure practices positively affected institutional civic participation and negatively affected non-institutional civic participation. Moreover, citizens’ perception of social justice indirectly mediated civic participation. Internet use moderated the relationship between public information disclosure practices and the perception of social justice. These findings underscore the importance of types of public information disclosures in routine civil society governance. By implication, public information disclosures are tools for empowered civic participation with social justice.

Epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in children of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

In Pakistan, cutaneous leishmaniasis is an emerging tropical disease and a very high number (>70%) of children are afflicted by this marring infection. This study aimed to scrutinise the prevalence, spatial distribution and socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis in children aged <5-15 years in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of 1, 559 clinically confirmed records of children diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis (January-December) from 2020 and 2022 were obtained from selected district hospitals. In addition, a risk factors-related questionnaire was administered to 1, 011 households (400 in 2020 and 611 in 2022) in nine districts during a household survey. The maximum number of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases was recorded in 2022 (n = 877, 56.25%) as compared to 2020 (n = 682, 43.75%). The hospital records showed a greater number of male patients in the 2022 cohort (n = 603, 68.76%). The highest number of cases were observed in children aged 5-9 years in 2022 (n = 282, 32.16%) and 2020 (n = 255, 37.39%). In 2020 and 2022, cutaneous leishmaniasis cases showed peak aggregation in March (n = 118, 17.3%) and January (n = 322, 36.72%). From a spatial analysis, the maximum number of cutaneous leishmaniasis cases was recorded at 59-1700 m elevation in various land-use/land-cover and climatic regions with quaternary alluvium rock formations. A multivariate logistic regression model analysis of risk factors from the households survey suggested that age group, socio-economic status, construction materials of the house, use of insect repellents, Afghan refugee camps in the village/district, knowledge and biting times of sand flies, frequent use of mosquito bed nets, presence of domestic animals in the house, knowledge of the transmission period and peak month of leishmaniasis infection increased the risk of acquiring cutaneous leishmaniasis (p value < 0.05). Our analysis demonstrated that cutaneous leishmaniasis in children is influenced by a variety of environmental, socio-demographic and behavioural risk factors in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The increase in recorded cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in children in 2022 compared to 2020 suggests that the infection likely extended to new foci in the province.

Mobile phones and Mozambique farmers: Less asymmetric information and more trader competition?

We measure how the introduction of mobile phones in Mozambique affected unit values of household maize sales, maize producer prices and traders’ margins. Our estimations are based on both representative household surveys for the years 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008, and weekly producer and market prices of white maize grain from July 1997 to December 2009 for 15 major producer markets. We find household sales unit values and producer price decreases, and traders’ margin increases between 14% and 22%, indicating benefits for traders. Next, we investigate heterogeneity of impacts in order to explore underlying mechanisms: impacts on margins decrease with population density and network density, and increase with gains from long-distance trade. Impacts on household selling prices are not significantly correlated with educational attainment, but the fall in prices is less with larger household wealth. Impacts on household selling prices and producer prices also become less negative over time, suggesting delayed adoption by farmers. Our results are robust to various threats.

Smokers' perception of the comparative health risks of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products: a survey among the German population.

Tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products can pose different health risks (harm continuum). As current tobacco smokers could benefit from switching to less harmful products, we aimed to assess current smokers' perceived comparative health risks of these three products and to explore associations between risk perceptions and specific user characteristics. We analysed data from 11 waves (2019-2021; N=5657 current tobacco smokers) of a representative, cross-sectional household survey conducted in Germany. Associations were assessed with multivariable logistic regression models. 55.2% of smokers (95%CI=53.8-56.5%) ranked cigarettes as the most harmful product. 36.1% of smokers (95%CI=34.8-37.3%) perceived e-cigarettes and 33.8% (95%CI=32.5-35.0%) heated tobacco products as more harmful than cigarettes. Misperceptions that e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products are more harmful to health than cigarettes increased over the 3-year study period and were more common among those with lower educational attainment. Only half of current tobacco smokers in Germany perceive the comparative health risks of cigarettes adequately and such misperceptions have increased recently. As current smokers could benefit most from switching to less harmful products, educational campaigns are needed to inform this group about the health risks of tobacco smoking and the comparative health risks of the various nicotine and tobacco products along the harm continuum.

A "food insecurity poverty line" to replace the official threshold in Canadian rural and urban settings? A single-person household perspective.

Household food insecurity is associated with both low income and high cost of living, it is a potentially better measure for consumption compared to income. We use data on food insecurity and income from 10years of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2007-2017) of single-person households (n = 145,044) to estimate the probability of being food insecure at the Canadian poverty thresholds (Market Basket Measure thresholds, or MBMs), and determine the income required to reach that probability in each MBM region, aggregated by province and rural/urban status. A regression model shows the probability of being food insecure at the MBM is approximately 30% which we call the Food Insecurity Poverty Line (FIPL). The income required to meet the FIPL is substantially different from the MBM, sometimes 1.25 times the MBM. This implies that food insecurity is a potential sentinel measure for poverty.

Effects of Large-Scale Agricultural Land Investment on Local Communities Livelihoods: Evidence from Bambasi Woreda, Western Ethiopia

Most of the African countries including Ethiopia are often known by problem of large scale agricultural land investment effects on the local community where land is being transferred to investment. Even though several efforts made so far to solve the overall effects of large scale agricultural land investment situation, the challenge is still widespread problem in Ethiopia. Hence the study project&amp;apos;s purpose was to find out how large agricultural investments in Bambasi Woreda, Western Ethiopia impact the livelihoods of the surrounding populations and examine the local communities&amp;apos; participation in the large scale agricultural investment. In order to attain these objectives, data were collected from 330 randomly selected households in four purposively selected kebeles of the district for both control groups and treatment groups. The sample size was chosen using a multistage stratified random sampling technique. Both qualitative and quantitative data gathering techniques and instruments were employed in the study. Besides, the instruments utilized to collect the data were observations, focus groups, interviews, household surveys, and document reviews. Data was analyzed using both descriptive statistics and econometric methods. The study shows that out of the total sampled respondents 30 of the treatment group and 13 percent of control group reveal that the project provided opportunity in terms of employment opportunity, technology transfer, utilization of agricultural inputs, changing the working culture of the community and productivity. The chie square value shows there is statistical significance among treated and control group on opportunity investment provided for the household and community. A binary logit regression model was used to describe how large-scale agriculture land investment affected the local community&amp;apos;s standard of living. The findings indicated that only six variables were found to be significant out of the characteristics that were expected to influence local community employment in large-scale agricultural land investment projects. These includes household&amp;apos;s educational accomplishment, size of HH, occupation of HH, Loss of useful land due to investment Project and technology transfer significantly and positively affected the employment opportunity in large scale agricultural investment projects, whereas the distance of a household&amp;apos;s home from an investment project has a negative impact. Large-scale agricultural investments have a detrimental influence on household wealth accumulation and income, according to the estimation results of the average treatment effects on the treated. The management and implementation of land transfer for large-scale agricultural investment projects is inadequate, lack of openness, absence of community consultation, natural forest degradation, socio-economic and ecological effects must be carefully considered before transferring the land for large-scale agricultural investment.

Communities’ Perceptions and Coping Strategies to Flood Hazard in a Peri-Urban Catchment: The Case Study of the Zio River Basin, Togo, West Africa

Climate and land use changes have exacerbated the frequency and intensity of floods in West Africa. In Togo, the communities of the Zio river sub-basin are regularly affected by flood hazard with severe socio-economic consequences. The main objective of this article is to contribute to the improvement of the resilience of these populations through a better understanding of their perceptions and coping strategies to flood hazards. To achieve this goal, a mixed method consisting of household surveys, focus groups and direct observation is used. In addition, the data collected at the household level focused on the perceptions of the flood (origin and cause), the socio-economic impacts as well as the coping strategies. The results indicate that more than 80% of the households are affected by floods and the main negative consequences are the destruction of houses (40.8%), and interruption of socio-economic activities (58.4%). In addition, the efforts to cope with the severe impacts of floods include embankment (71.6%), storage on occasional shelves (52.3%), digging ditches (26.6% and the construction of cement houses with fairly raised foundations (13.1%). This study shows that is important to integrate indigenous knowledge and local population’s opinions in the flood risk management plans in order to increase their resilience.

Social perception of the connectivity and quality of sidewalks in the Metropolitan Area of Panama

ABSTRACT Sidewalks have become important for modern cities in order to ensure that their inhabitants can move to their different activities in an optimal and safe manner. This research examines the perception of residents of the metropolitan area of Panama on the connectivity and quality of sidewalks. The study of sidewalks has been generally focused on evaluating accessibility for people with reduced mobility and the elderly; and also, on improving pedestrian safety. Using georeferenced household surveys, we collected data with which we performed spatial analyses to illustrate the distribution of sidewalk conditions in the urban metropolitan area of Panama. In addition, through the use of various approaches, such as accessibility assessments, user surveys and road safety parameters, other analyses of importance to the research were developed. The main conclusion was that only 26.25% of the metropolitan urban area of Panama has sidewalks that allow adequate pedestrian traffic.

Impact of Climate Change on the Farming Community of Bhaktapur District of Nepal

This study was carried out to evaluate the impact of climate change on the farming community in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The study considered rainfall, temperature, flood/drought, harvest and sowing time, and pest and disease incidence over 20 years as primary factors to be considered. A household survey of 120 houses was conducted following the set of questionnaires prepared. As a result, significant changes were observed in climatic aspects as well as biological aspects. The obtained result demonstrated that the precipitation observed drastic change as there was an incidence of erratic and heavy rainfall on summer days while the intensity and frequency of rainfall decreased during winter. These abnormalities certainly do not favor agriculture and farming. Similarly, the temperature of the study area has increased annually over the last two decades. The data suggests that the average annual temperature is increasing at the rate of 0.038°C per year. Moreover, the survey showed that the time of harvest and time of sowing seeds have been delayed respectively to the time a few decades back while the climatic aberrations have increased the incidence of pests and diseases. In a nutshell, the changes in climatic conditions have a drastic change in the farming system and thus the agricultural produce and productivity. The study highlights the significant impact of climate change on traditional farming practices in Bhaktapur, Nepal. It underscores how changes in rainfall patterns, temperature, and the incidence of extreme weather events like floods and droughts have disrupted agricultural activities such as planting and harvesting cycles. The research not only identifies challenges but also emphasizes the need for adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on farming communities. By linking research findings to policy recommendations and practical interventions, the study offers actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and local stakeholders striving to build resilience in agricultural systems.

Analysis of Digital Literacy Sources to Identify The Relationship Between Population Income, Socio-Economic and Subjective Well-Being

This research aims to analyze income inequality and subjective welfare in a region. This study uses microdata from household surveys to calculate income inequality. We conducted this survey using an identical questionnaire with a sample of adults. The sample size is around 100. One of the main findings of this study is that regions that were traditionally considered to have greater inequality no longer have this attribute when compared to regional and global levels. This reflects a shift in the pattern of inequality in the region. A positive correlation was also found between income inequality and subjective well-being, as well as a curve when comparing subjective well-being inequality with products. These results suggest that there is a complex relationship between these factors in the context of inequality. However, when compared with the level of subjective well-being, there is a very negative relationship, which may indicate an individual's preference to live in areas that are more egalitarian in terms of well-being. This indicates that subjective well-being perceptions are also influenced by factors other than income, such as access to facilities and services. Although these results are interesting, it is important to remember that this study has problems and limitations in terms of the survey and methods used. Therefore, these results should be interpreted with caution and can serve as a basis for further research to understand more deeply the relationship between income inequality, subjective well-being, and other factors that influence perceived well-being.

Interpersonal violence against women and maternity care in Migori County, Kenya: evidence from a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundInterpersonal violence (IPV) is an issue of major public health concern, with 24% of Kenyan women reporting physical violence perpetrated by a current husband or partner. IPV has profound impacts on physical and mental health outcomes, particularly for pregnant women; it has been found to increase the risk of perinatal mortality, low birth weight, and preterm birth. This study aims to identify variables associated with IPV and assess the effects of IPV experience on prenatal and peripartum maternal healthcare in Migori County, Kenya. Findings build on a previous study that investigated a smaller region of Migori County.MethodsResponses to cross-sectional household surveys conducted in six wards of Migori County, Kenya in 2021 from female respondents aged 18 and older were analyzed. The survey contained validated screening tools for interpersonal violence. Group-wise comparisons, and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to describe community prevalence, factors associated with IPV against women, and the effect of IPV exposure on prenatal and peripartum health care.ResultsThis study finds that 2,306 (36.7%) of the 6,290 respondents had experienced lifetime IPV. IPV experience was associated with the age group 25–49 (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.208; 95%CI: [1.045–1.397]; p = 0.011), monogamous marriage [aOR 2.152; 95%CI: (1.426–3.248); p &amp;lt; 0.001], polygamous marriage [aOR 2.924; 95%CI: (1.826–4.683); p &amp;lt; 0.001], being widowed/divorced/separated [aOR 1.745; 95%CI: (1.094–2.786); p &amp;lt; 0.001], feeling an attitude of “sometimes okay” toward wife beating [aOR 2.002 95%CI: (1.651, 2.428); p &amp;lt; 0.001], having been exposed to IPV in girlhood [aOR 2.525; 95%CI: (2.202–2.896); p &amp;lt; 0.001] and feeling safe in the current relationship [aOR 0.722; 95%CI: (0.609, 0.855); p &amp;lt; 0.001]. A depression score of mild [aOR 1.482; 95%CI: (1.269, 1.73); p &amp;lt; 0.001] and severe [aOR 2.403; 95%CI: (1.429, 4.039); p = 0.001] was also associated with IPV experience, and women who experienced emotional abuse were much more likely to have experienced IPV [aOR 10.462; 95% CI: (9.037, 12.112); p &amp;lt; 0.001]. Adjusted analyses showed that having experienced IPV was negatively associated with attending at least four antenatal care visits during the most recent pregnancy (OR 0.849, p = 0.044) and with having a skilled birth attendant (OR 0.638, p = 0.007).ConclusionsIPV is prevalent in Migori County, Kenya, with increased prevalence among women aged 25–49, those residing in West Kanyamkago, those in a monogamous or polygamous marriage, those who have been widowed/divorced/separated, and those with severe depressive symptoms. Further, IPV exposure is associated with lower use of maternal care services and may lead to worse maternal health outcomes. There is need for enhanced effort in addressing social and gender norms that perpetuate IPV, and this study can contribute to guiding policy interventions and community responses towards IPV.

Factors influencing small holder farmers adoption of climate SMART agriculture practices in Welmera Woreda, Central Ethiopia

Adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices are believed to have significantly lessened the devastating impact of climate change on agriculture. However, in countries like Ethiopia, the adoption and use level of climate-smart agriculture practices remains low. The understanding of farmers’ levels of CSA practice adoption and influencing factors is therefore crucial. The goal of the study is to evaluate the degree to which various CSA practices were being used in the study area, as well as adoption determinants. The study was conducted in Welmera district, Oromia, Ethiopia. Three kebeles were chosen from the district, and a random sample of 306 farmers was picked. We used a cross-sectional household survey, a focus group discussion, and interviews with key informants. A multivariate probit model was employed to investigate the factors influencing the adoption of multiple climate-smart agriculture practices. According to the result, conservation agriculture, integrated soil fertility management, and crop diversification are the most often used CSA practices. The results also revealed that male farmers outperformed female farmers in terms of crop diversity and improved animal feed and feeding practice adoption. The age of farmers has a considerable and unfavorable impact on their likelihood of adopting improved soil fertility management and crop diversification practices. However, it has a positive and considerable impact on the adoption of agroforestry practices. With regards to economic factors, having a relatively big farmland area considerably enhances the adoption of conservation agriculture, enhances soil fertility management and crop diversity, and improves livestock feed and feeding methods and post-harvest technology practice. Improved livestock feed and feeding are more likely to be used with higher farm income. Having a significant number of animals strongly promotes the adoption of conservation agriculture, and access to financial services positively impacts agroforestry, diversification of crops, and postharvest technology practice adoption. Furthermore, institutional factors including access to agricultural extension services and training were discovered to be important and beneficial for crop diversification; similarly, access to field day participation was discovered to have a significant and positive impact on the adoption of conservation agriculture and improved soil fertility management practices. It is critical to raise awareness about climate change among farmers and experts, as well as to incorporate location-specific CSA practices into agricultural programs.

Trends and projections of age-appropriate vaccination coverage in 41 low- and middle- income countries in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2030

IntroductionRoutine immunization programs have focused on increasing vaccination coverage, which is equally important for decreasing vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), particularly in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). We estimated the trends and projections of age-appropriate vaccination coverage at the regional and national levels, as well as place of residence and wealth index in LMICs.MethodsIn total, 174 nationally representative household surveys from 2000 to 2020 from 41 LMICs were included in this study. Bayesian hierarchical regression models were used to estimate trends and projections of age-appropriate vaccination.ResultsThe trend in coverage of age-appropriate Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), third dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP3), third dose of polio (polio3), and measles-containing vaccine (MCV) increased rapidly from 2000 to 2020 in LMICs. Findings indicate substantial increases at the regional and national levels, and by area of residence and socioeconomic status between 2000 and 2030. The largest rise was observed in East Africa, followed by South and Southeast Asia. However, out of the 41 countries, only 10 countries are estimated to achieve 90% coverage of the BCG vaccine by 2030, five of DTP3, three of polio3, and none of MCV. Additionally, by 2030, wider pro-urban and -rich inequalities are expected in several African countries.ConclusionSignificant progress in age-appropriate vaccination coverage has been made in LMICs from 2000 to 2020. Despite this, projections show many countries will not meet the 2030 coverage goals, with persistent urban–rural and socioeconomic disparities. Therefore, LMICs must prioritize underperforming areas and reduce inequalities through stronger health systems and increased community engagement to ensure high coverage and equitable vaccine access.

Impact of India’s farm science centers (Krishi Vigyan Kendras) on farm households’ economic welfare: An evidence from a national farmers’ survey

This study examines the impact of access to India’s farm science centers (Krishi Vigyan Kendras, or KVKs) on agricultural households’ welfare using household data from the nationally representative Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households conducted by India’s National Sample Survey Office in 2013. Employing different matching techniques and endogenous switching regression models, it was observed that the KVKs have a positive and statistically significant impact on agricultural households’ economic welfare, although, that impact is heterogeneous. Further, the investments made in expansion of India’s network of KVKs have been quite remunerative, as the benefit- to-cost ratio of expenditure on KVKs ranges from 8–12. Moreover, present findings suggest that expanding rural formal credit markets and promoting literacy can maximize the potential impact of KVKs on agricultural households’ economic welfare.

Health-related inequalities in out-of-pocket expenditure under universal health coverage in Taiwan: A cross-sectional decomposition analysis.

Studies have investigated income-related inequality in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on health care but less is known about health-related inequality of OOPE distribution. This study analysed the relationship between health-related inequality and OOPE and the factors contributing to OOPE inequality in Taiwan. We developed a household OOPE questionnaire and conducted a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of households in Taiwan between January and August 2022, using two-stage probability proportional-to-size sampling based on a national address registry in Taiwan. We calculated a concentration index to determine OOPE inequality in health. We then identified factors contributing to OOPE inequality in health distribution by performing a decomposition analysis. A total of 657 people responded to the survey (81.4% response rate). The two largest categories of OOPE were spending on curative care and on medical goods and pharmaceuticals, with concentration indices of -0.265 (p < .001), -0.272 (p = .006) and -0.227 (p = .003), respectively, indicating that the OOPE burden fell disproportionately on people with poor health. Socioeconomic status explained significant proportions of inequality in total, curative and medical goods and pharmaceuticals OOPE. Utilisation of health care increased the OOPE burden among people with poor health while having private health insurance worked in the opposite direction. In Taiwan, people in poor health faced a disproportionately high OOPE burden, indicating that the National Health Insurance scheme may not meet their needs for health care. There is a need for policies to take account of the different factors affecting health inequalities in OOPE in order to enhance equity in Taiwan's universal health system.

Effective multi-sectoral approach for rapid reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality: the exceptional case of Bangladesh

BackgroundBangladesh experienced impressive reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality over the past several decades with annual rates of decline surpassing 4% since 2000. We comprehensively assessed health system and non-health...

Continuum of maternal and new-natal health care: empirical evidence from 10 developing countries in South and South East Asia

Maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, particularly in developing countries, are high even in the twenty-first century, which is a cause for concern. Therefore, this paper examines the Continuum of Mother and Neonatal Health Care (MNH), i.e., at least four ante-natal care visits (ANC 4 +), skilled birth attendance at delivery (SBA), post-natal care (PNC), and its determinants in 10 developing countries in Asia. It uses Demographic and Household Survey data (2014–2021) and finds that only 46% of women received all the MNH services, and 8% did not receive any services. In Afghanistan, only 2.8% of women availed complete care of MNH services, followed by Timor-Leste (26.1%), Bangladesh (31.5%), Pakistan (35.1%), and Nepal (38.8%). Empirical analysis shows that women with higher education, those living in urban areas, from wealthy families, and female-headed households have higher odds of availing all MNH. Media exposure, ease of access to MNH services, and the women who have attended the first ANC at less than four months of pregnancy have higher odds of availing all three MNH services. Therefore, the MNH policy should target women in rural areas who have a lower level of education and come from low-income families to improve the mother and neonatal health situation in South and Southeast Asia.

Caste and class interactions in inequality in access to sanitation and hygiene services in India

Caste and class interactions in inequality in access to sanitation and hygiene services in India

Challenges in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in Niger: an in-depth case study

IntroductionRecent modelled estimates suggest that Niger made progress in maternal mortality since 2000. However, neonatal mortality has not declined since 2012 and maternal mortality estimates were based on limited data....

Too Little, Not Enough: Impact of Safety Nets on Food Security Among Households with Disabled Members in Nigeria

ABSTRACT This study assessed the impact of safety nets on food insecurity in households with people with disabilities (PWD) in Nigeria. Using data from the 2019 Nigeria General Household Survey, we assessed the risk of experiencing food insecurity among households and the moderating role of safety nets using households without PWDs as a reference. PWD households were three times more likely to experience severe food insecurity compared to households without PWDs. The impact of the safety net program on the risk of food insecurity showed that receiving social benefits had little effect among households with disabled members experiencing severe food insecurity.