Impact Of Socio-economic Variables Research Articles

Learning Through Focus Groups with Parents, Educators, and Healthcare Providers About the Child’s Journey from Diagnosis to Treatment Adherence for ADHD

The journey of obtaining a diagnosis and treatment for children and youth with ADHD can be challenging for all those involved. Focus groups were conducted with parents (n = 21), educators (n = 76), and healthcare providers (n = 39) to gather information regarding perceptions of this journey, especially as it relates to treatment utilization and adherence. Three cross-cutting categories emerged: the impact of socio-economic variables, the lack of integrated and continuity of care for ADHD, and the stigma surrounding ADHD and treatments. The results help to determine what is needed to support families to facilitate successful treatment for their child with ADHD.

The impact of socioeconomic variables on financial inclusion in Asian countries: A comparative study, 2010–2022

The financial inclusion program in Asia has begun to be carried out intensively, focusing on increasing public access, especially for people who have yet to enjoy banking services. This makes financial inclusion one of the development focuses in the financial sector in various countries, especially in the Asian region. This study compares the financial inclusion level and socioeconomic variables’ influence on financial inclusion in Asian countries in 2010–2022. To compare the level of financial inclusion in several Asian countries, the Index of Financial Inclusion (IFI) analysis method was used, while to examine the relationship between socioeconomic variables on financial inclusion, the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method was used with an estimation technique, in the Fixed Effects Model approach. The results of this study indicate that, in general, financial inclusion in several Asian countries is mainly influenced by the usability dimension. In addition, only the variable GDP per capita is partially influential. While other variables, namely, the unemployment rate and population in rural areas, significantly influence the financial inclusion index.

Estimating burden of cardiovascular disease among survivors of breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer in the detroit research on cancer survivors (ROCS) cohort.

12082 Background: With new advances in cancer treatment, cancer-specific mortality has decreased by 31% over the past 3 decades. The growing number of cancer survivors has led to increased risk of other chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease (CVD), which has become an important competing cause of mortality. This study evaluates the incidence of CVD, including heart failure (HF), myocardial infarction (MI), coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke after cancer in the Detroit ROCS cohort. Methods: ROCS is an African American cancer survivorship cohort that enrolled participants residing in the tri-county Detroit Metropolitan area. This study included survivors of breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer who provided socio-demographic and clinic information on self-administered questionnaires. We calculated incidence as percentages and rates per 1,000 person-years of HF, MI, CAD, AF, and stroke after cancer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between socio-demographic and clinical predictors of CVD by using factors with p-value < 0.1. Results: After excluding patients with pre-existing CVD or lack of data on comorbidities, the study cohort consisted of 2,865 participants. The mean (SD) age at cancer diagnosis was 60.3 (9.4) years with median follow up of 3.0 (1.0-9.3) years. The incidence rate for any CVD was 23.3 per 1,000 person-years. In the study sample, stroke was the leading CVD, followed by HF, AF, CAD and MI. Lung cancer survivors had the highest incidence of CVD followed by prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer. Age at cancer diagnosis, household income, insurance, aspirin, smoking, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol were included in the final model. In the multivariate analysis, decreased household income [OR 1.26 (95% CI 1.05-1.52)], prior aspirin use [OR 1.83 (95% CI 1.34-2.49)], and history of hypertension [OR 1.71 (95% CI 1.20-2.44)] were associated with higher odds of CVD. Conclusions: CVD is a relatively common outcome within years after cancer diagnosis in an African American survivorship cohort. Intervention should focus on the possible impact of socioeconomic variables and control of hypertension in reducing the risk of CVD after cancer. [Table: see text]

Indulgence, Self-Control, and Annuity Preferences: Annuity Choices by Members of the Slovak-Funded Private Pension Pillar

This paper employs data from an original survey to analyse the annuity preferences of members of the Slovak-funded private pension pillar. The focus is on the impact of socioeconomic variables as well as various behavioural attitudes upon annuitisation decisions. The research first considers some well-known behavioural factors (framing, mental accounting) and then turns to some underresearched traits (indulgence, self-control) and behaviours (compulsive shopping, saving habits) and links them to annuity choices. Moreover, the research studies alternative allocations of a lump sum and relates them to annuitisation decisions. Indulgence emerged as a significant negative predictor of annuitisation. This result likely refers to preferences towards hedonic lifestyles in early retirement. Interestingly, low self-discipline was also significant but positively related to an intention towards annuity purchases. People who are aware of their low financial discipline may introduce internal self-protection mechanisms and resort to tried and tested financial products to avoid anticipated feelings of regret and desperation. Annuitisation, in this case, is a regret avoidance behaviour.

Production and Marketing Practices of Ginger Cultivation in Karbi Anglong District, Assam

Ginger is one of the important commercial crops grown in Assam. The present study estimated the impact of socio-economic variables on the revenue generated from the sales of ginger products using the OLS regression. The findings revealed that household size, educational qualification, and production (t) had a positive impact on increasing the net income of the farmers. Moreover, the gap between direct communication and market availability encouraged the local traders to act as the dominant pillar in controlling price. Hence, infrastructural support and proper linkage among the actors are vital for advocating a sound marketing system. Also, an efficient support system needs to be implemented by the government or NGOs to improve the ginger marketing framework.

Distress financing in coping with out-of-pocket expenditure for maternity care in India

BackgroundThe cost of maternity care is seen as the barrier in utilizing maternity care, resulting in high maternal deaths. This study focuses on the distress financing and its coping mechanisms associated with maternity care expenditure in India so that corrective measures can be taken to reduce the burden of maternity care.MethodsThis study used the National Sample Survey (NSS) data conducted in 20,014–15 (71st round of NSS) and 2017–18(75th round of NSS). We define distress financing as use of formal borrowing, borrowing from friends or family or sale of asser to finance maternity care. Percentage of pregnant/delivered females using distress financing were calculated.. The present study also used multinomial logistic regression with 95% to understand the impact of socio-economic variables on distress financing and concentration index to measure the inequality in maternity care expenditure.ResultsThis study found that the maternity care expenditure has decreased from the INR. 9379 in 2014–15 to INR. 7835 in 2017–18. The percentage of households using distress financing is higher among the poorest (13.2%). Almost 14% of the SC households experience distress financing. Among EAG + A states, particularly in Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the percentage of households are which experience a high level of distress financing increased from 8.9 to 18.3 and 0.7 to 8.1 from 2014–15 to 2017–18 respectively. The study finds that more urban households (37%) utilized insurance than rural households (26%). Among EAG + A states, 67.9 percent of households were dependent upon household savings, and it was 63.6 percent in the non-EAG states. The households with a high burden of maternity care expenditure were at higher risk of borrowing money to finance the cost of maternity as compared to use of savings/income for the same (relative risk (RR) (R: 2.59; P < 0.01; 95% CI: 2.15–3.13). Mothers belonging to the SC caste were at significantly higher risk (RR: 1.43; P < 0.1; 95% CI: 1.07–1.91). of using borrowings as compared to the use of income/savings. Mothers with college education were 50% more likely to use health insurance as compared to those with primary education.ConclusionsThe study found that even though many programs for maternity care services are there, the maternity care expenditure, particularly the delivery care expenses, is very high in many states. The study recommends that India should increase subsidized maternity care facilities to decrease catastrophic maternity expenditure among households.

The Impact of Socioeconomic Variables Status on Bladder Cancer Treatment Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Social inequalities are concerning along the bladder cancer (BC) continuum especially within the malignancy outcomes and treatment effects and complications. Moreover, the COVID-19 crisis and its variants have uncovered major inequalities between communities and added more pressure on socioeconomic (SE) status along with the COVID-19-associated variants. Within this global situation, discerning the societal risk factors that render specific communities vulnerable is crucial to ensure more effective management of BC malignancy. In this paper, we aimed to investigate the status and the impact of SE variables and disparities on BC survival as reported in recent studies and give an update on the impact of social environment on treatment outcomes within COVID-19 pandemic. Several studies showed that SE status is a significant predictor of survival for BC patients. Recent evidence found that BC outcomes are directly affected by social deprivation. Our results confirm that there are major and recurrent SE disparities in BC survival. Together, the findings demonstrate the considerable impact in public data-based centers, albeit reportings are partial and inaccurate, of SE and health inequities in severely segregated neighborhoods under the weight of the COVID-19. The findings show the major influence of healthcare inequalities SE deprivation in a distinctly segregated community within the COVID-19 burden and death in centers according to public statistics, even if reports are unfinished and partial.

An Analysis of Household Foods Demand in Rural Burundi

This study was aimed to investigate the roles of income and other socioeconomic variables such as household size, land size, head of household education level, raising the animals, source of income on food demand in rural Burundi. The demands for food and nutrients among the households in rural Burundi were examined using a recent survey done by the authors. An almost ideal demand system (AIDS) was employed to estimate the price and expenditure elasticities and the impact of socioeconomic variables on food demand patterns. An econometric model was then used to analyze the determinants of food demand. The estimated expenditure elasticities for the food groups range from 0.64 for oils to 1.36 for meats. These outcomes showed that there is a higher expenditure elasticities for meats, fish, and animal products, as well as cereals and grains. The results showed that the income and other socioeconomic variables exerted significant effects on food demand. The income and other socioeconomic variables exerted a significant impact on the food demand, and higher expenditure elasticity for food group items will increase remarkably with rising income.

Height of Male Prisoners in Santiago de Chile during the Nitrate Era: The Penalty of being Unskilled, Illiterate, Illegitimate and Mapuche.

This article contributes to the study of inequality in the biological welfare of Chile’s adult population during the nitrate era, ca. 1880s–1930s, and in particular focuses on the impact of socioeconomic variables on height, making use of a sample of over 20,000 male inmates of the capital’s main jail. It shows that inmates with a university degree were taller than the rest; that those born legitimate were taller in adulthood; that those (Chilean born) whose surnames were Northern European were also taller than the rest, and in particular than those with Mapuche background; and that those able to read and write were also taller than illiterate inmates. Conditional regression analysis, examining both correlates at the mean and correlates across the height distribution, supports these findings. We show that there was more height inequality in the population according to socioeconomic status and human capital than previously thought, while also confirming the importance of socioeconomic influences during childhood on physical growth.

Impact of Socio-economic Variables on Disbursement of Agricultural Credit

Impact of Socio-economic Variables on Disbursement of Agricultural Credit

Impact of Socio Economics Variables on Poverty: An Empirical Analysis for District Chitral of KPK Pakistan

This study investigates the impact of socioeconomic variables on household poverty in Chitral valley, the largest district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. The household poverty index has been constructed while calculating multidimensional poverty index for each household. For this purpose, a representative sample of 252 households has been surveyed while distributing a questionnaire to each household. The data have been collected through stratified sampling technique and the collected data then analyzed while applying descriptive statistical tools and regression techniques. The regression analysis was done while taking explanatory variables as income of the household, the gender of household head, lives stock population of household, age of household head and dependence ratio of the household. Results of the regression analysis show that lives stock population and income of household have significant negative impact on household poverty. The results further reveal that dependency ratio has also significant positive impact on household poverty. Different diagnostics tests have also been applied in order to test the assumptions of the linear regression model and the results of all the diagnostics show the absence of econometric problems in the estimated model.

Impact of Socio-Economic Variables on Disbursement of Agricultural Loan

Agriculture is also an enterprise like others and success in it also depends on socio-economic development of the locality. Higher development of area in terms of infrastructure as availability of markets, electricity, roads, literacy also increase the profitability in agriculture and thus necessitates the credit requirement in agriculture. The study is based on time series data of Bihar for a period of 25 years that is from 1980–81 to 2005–06. It is found that association between agricultural credit flow and different socio-economic and infrastructure variables when it was analysed for different categories of districts classified on the basis of per hectare agricultural loan. The proportion of electrified villages, road length per 1000 kms of geographical area, literacy per cent, number of dairy co-operatives per 1000 villages, population per bank branch and per capita electricity consumption were comparatively high in districts of category D than the category of districts A, indicating the association of these socio economic and infrastructural variables with agricultural credit flow in different districts of Bihar.

Differences in surgical outcomes for patients with craniosynostosis in the US: impact of socioeconomic variables and race.

OBJECT Craniosynostosis is often treated with neurosurgical intervention. The aim of this study was to report and analyze the clinical and socioeconomic characteristics of patients with craniosynostosis and to present current national trends. METHODS Using the Kids' Inpatient Database for the years 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009, the authors identified patients with craniosynostosis using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes and their associated procedure codes. Clinical features, demographics, inpatient procedures, outcomes, and charges were collected and analyzed. RESULTS Of the 3415 patients identified, 65.8% were White, 21.4% were Hispanic, and 3.2% were Black. More than 96% were treated at urban teaching hospitals and 54.2% in southern or western regions. White patients were younger (mean 6.1 months) as compared with Blacks (mean 10.9 months) and Hispanics (mean 9.1 months; p < 0.0001) at the time of surgery. A higher fraction of Whites had private insurance (70.3%) compared with nonwhites (34.0%-41.6%; p < 0.001). Approximately 12.2% were nonelective admissions, more so among Blacks (16.9%). Mean hospital length of stay (LOS) was 3.5 days with no significant differences among races. Following surgical treatment, 12.1% of patients developed complications, most commonly pulmonary/respiratory (4.8%), wound infection (4.4%), and hydrocephalus (1.4%). The mean overall hospital charges were significantly lower for Whites than nonwhites ($34,527 vs $44,890-$48,543, respectively; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The findings of this national study suggest a higher prevalence of craniosynostosis in Hispanics. The higher predisposition among males was less evident in Hispanics and Blacks. There was a significant percentage of nonelective admissions, more commonly among Blacks. Additionally, Hispanics and Blacks were more likely to receive surgery at an older age, past the current recommendation of the optimum age for surgical intervention. These findings are likely associated with a lack of early detection. Although mean LOS and rate of complications did not significantly differ among different races, nonwhites had, on average, higher hospital charges of $10,000-$14,000. This discrepancy may be due to differences in type of insurance, craniosynostosis type, rates of comorbidities, and delay in treatment. Although there are several limitations to this analysis, the study reports on relevant disparities regarding a costly neurosurgical intervention, and ways to diminish these disparities should be further explored.

Outward Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Development – A Developing Countries’ Study

Outward FDI is considered as a developed countries phenomenon. However FDI outflows from developing countries particularly Asian countries such as China and India have been growing over the past few decades. The paper focuses on outward FDI from developing countries in terms of outflows and outward stock. The paper studies the impact of socio-economic variables such as infrastructure, human capital, labour, market, trade openness, resources etc. on FDI outflows from developing countries. With the help of Principal Component Analysis, we construct a set of six composite indices, namely, human resource, infrastructure, labour, market, trade openness and resource, as determinants of OFDI. We use a Panel Regression approach both in terms of OFDI stock and flow, for the period 1990-2009. Outward FDI flows from developing countries do not show a significant pattern. FDI outward stock from developing countries represents stable patterns. It shows that steadily this is growing at 4.4 percent per annum, although the initial level is low. Top ten countries show a significant growth rate of 8 percent per annum, in the case of outward stock. Infrastructure is the only single variable whose elasticity is slightly over one in the case of top ten countries and is highly significant. Therefore, the FDI outflow is going from those countries amongst developing countries that have a significant infrastructure base.

Impact of Socio-economic Variables on Teenagers’ Influence in Family Buying Decisions

In the present study, the researcher tried to trace out the impact of socio-economic variables, for example, area of residence, type of family, parent employment status, caste system and the annual household disposable income of the family on teenagers’ influence in family buying of selected products. The present study is focused on to get an insight into role of teenagers in buying decision-making process of families in Haryana. A total of 234 households were visited, and responses of teenagers were taken from four villages, and two cities, Hisar and Kaithal. The data were collected between March and July 2013. The study is confined to three decision stages during buying decision-making process of television and cell phone. ANOVA and t test have been used to achieve the objectives of the study. Study reveals that 98 per cent of respondents have television set at their home in which 30 per cent families are having TV of LG brand followed by Samsung and Videocon. Every family (100 per cent) is having a cell phone and 36.6 per cent of teenagers have personal cell phone. Nokia is the most possessed brand among families (54 per cent) followed by Samsung, Tata Indicom and Spice. While analyzing the influence of teenagers in family buying decision-making process across decision stages, majority of them participated in it. Caste and income have significant impact on teenagers influence in cell phone-buying decision stages but not in the case of TV. This might be because TV is common and a family product and cell phone is a more personalized product. Rural teenagers of scheduled caste and general caste were significantly more influential in buying decision-making process of cell phone than did those in urban backward caste. It was found that with an increase in annual disposable income of the family, they were significantly more influential than teenagers from lower-income families.

FIMA--questionnaire for health-related resource use in an elderly population: development and pilot study

Due to demographic trends towards an ageing population resource use of health care will increase. By collecting health-related costs via questionnaires, the impact of socio-economic variables and other medical factors can be examined. In addition, only patient reported resource use accounts for out-of-pocket payments. Thus, it is necessary to develop an appropriate tool to collect the health-related resource use in an elderly population. The development of the FIMA (questionnaire for the use of medical and non-medical services in old age) was carried out in 6 steps. These included the determination of necessary questionnaire contents based on a literature review and the wording and layout were defined. Finally the questionnaire was tested in a pilot study and was modified. All direct medical and non-medical resource use excluding transportation and time costs were recorded. Productivity losses were not included. The recall time frames differed according to resource categories (7 days, 3 months, 12 months). For the pilot study, 63 questionnaires were analysed. The response rate was 69%. The questionnaire took an average of 21 min to complete. Three quarters of respondents completed the questionnaire without help and 90% rated the difficulty as easy or even very simple. There was good agreement between self-reported health-related quality of life and the resource use of nursing and domestic help (phi coefficient values between 0.52 and 0.58). The FIMA is a generic questionnaire which collects the health-related resource use within the older population groups.

Social inequality and changes in students’ expected political participation in Chile

To what extent does social origin impact the disposition of students toward becoming politically involved in their future adult life? Using Chilean data from Civic Education Study, 1999 (N = 5688), and International Civic and Citizenship Education Study, 2009 (N = 5192), the present research analyzes, on the one hand, the impact of socioeconomic variables on attitudes toward future political participation and, on the other hand, explores to what extent the association between social origin and participation has changed over time. The analysis is performed in a multilevel framework, to account for both family socioeconomic status and individual school characteristics. The results support the hypothesis that social origin continues to have a strong influence on students’ attitudes toward political participation, in the context of the two measurement points. The resulting discussion focuses on the role of schools in reducing socioeconomic differences, an issue that acquires additional relevance in societies with high inequality such as Chile.

Commentary: Access to care affects the rate of spinal deformity surgery

COMMENTARY ON Nuno M, Drazin DG, Acosta FL. Differences in treatments and outcomes for idiopathic scoliosis patients treated in the United States from 1998 to 2007: impact of socioeconomic variables and ethnicity. Spine J 2013;13:116–23 ( in this issue ).

A Study on Impact of Socio Economic Profile on Investment Pattern of Salaried and Business People in Coimbatore City

In recent times, the investment companies have emerged as the most dynamic segment in the Indian financial system. Reforms in the Indian economic system and the opening up of the economy have been the reasons for the tremendous growth in the Indian capital market. This study analyzes the impact of socio economic variables on the attitude of investors towards investments. Apart from this, it also focuses on the benefits delivered by savings to investors. To achieve, 100 respondents of Coimbatore city, having different socio economic profiles were surveyed. The results also highlight that certain factors like education level, awareness about the financial system, age of invertors etc make significant impact while deciding on the investment pattern for investment. Further, it is observed that the level of income also influences the investment decisions. Higher income group shows relatively high preference towards investment in share market, conversely lower and average income group shows keen preference towards insurance and banks as the most preferred investment avenues

Differences in treatments and outcomes for idiopathic scoliosis patients treated in the United States from 1998 to 2007: impact of socioeconomic variables and ethnicity

Background contextScoliosis is a significant cause of disability and health-care resource utilization in the United States. PurposeOur aim was to evaluate potential disparities in the selection of treatments and outcomes for idiopathic scoliosis patients on a national level. To date, only one study has examined inpatient complications, discharge disposition, and mortality with respect to scoliosis treatment on a national scale. Study design/settingRetrospective review of cases having a primary diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis using the nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) administrative data from 1998 to 2007. Patient sampleThe NIS data were queried to identify patients with a primary diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision [ICD-9] diagnosis code: 737.30) admitted routinely. Surgically treated patients were identified as those patients who underwent a spinal fusion (ICD-9-Clinical Modification code: 81.08) as a principal procedure. Outcome measuresRates of surgical versus nonsurgical treatments were measured as were inhospital complications and mortality rates. MethodsNo external funding was received for this work. Univariate and multivariate analyses evaluated race, sex, socioeconomic factors, and hospital characteristics as predictors of surgical versus nonsurgical treatments, as well as inhospital complications and mortality rates. ResultsThe study analyzed 9,077 surgically and 1,098 nonsurgically treated patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Univariate analysis showed both patient- and hospital-level variables as strongly associated with surgical versus nonsurgical treatments and outcomes. Multivariate analysis revealed that Caucasians and private insurance patients were more likely to undergo surgical treatment (p<.05) even when controlling for comorbidities. Additionally, Caucasians had a reduced risk of nonroutine discharge compared with non-Caucasians (p=.03). Large hospitals had higher surgery rates (p=.08) than small- or medium-sized facilities and a lower risk of mortality (p=.04). Caucasians (65.1%) were more commonly admitted to large teaching hospitals than African American (59.8%) or Hispanic (41.8%) patients. ConclusionsDifferences were found in the selection of surgical versus nonsurgical treatments, as well as inhospital morbidity for hospitalized idiopathic scoliosis patients based on ethnic and socioeconomic variables. This may in part be because of differences in access to the resources of large teaching hospitals for different ethnic and socioeconomic groups or variability in severity of scoliosis among these groups that was not captured in this database.