Informal Areas Research Articles

Multidrug-resistant Salmonella Typhi among symptomatic and asymptomatic children in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya

BackgroundThe emergence and persistence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi) infections is a significant global health problem. The carrier state of typhoid makes it prudent to conduct routine surveillance for both acute cases and carriers especially those caused by MDR S. Typhi. We report on the prevalence of MDR S. Typhi, resistance phenotypes and antimicrobial resistance genes detected in symptomatic and asymptomatic children living in informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya.Methods215 archived presumed S. Typhi isolates from stool samples provided by children ≤ 16 years collected from 2013 to 2018 were revived in May, 2022 and confirmed using culture and antisera serotyping. The Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique was used to test the S. Typhi against 14 antibiotics. The MDR S. Typhi (resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim) which in addition were also resistant to either a cephalosporin or a fluoroquinolone were analyzed for Beta lactams and quinolone resistance genes using polymerase chain reaction.ResultsA total of 215 isolates were confirmed to be positively S. Typhi; of these, 105 (49%) and 110 (51%) were from symptomatic and asymptomatic children respectively. On average, S. Typhi resistance from asymptomatic and symptomatic children against 1st line drugs was observed at; 77% &70%, ampicillin; 60% & 64%, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and 45% & 54%, chloramphenicol respectively. Multi drug resistance was observed in 90 (42%) of the isolates, of these, 44 (49%) were isolated from symptomatic and 46 (51%) from asymptomatic children. Fifteen resistance phenotypes (p) were observed with, ampicillin/chloramphenicol/sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim/nalidixic acid (amp/chl/sxt/na) as the most common among the symptomatic 43/90 (48%) and asymptomatic 55/90 (61%) children. The blaTEM−D, AMR genes were detected in 37/44 (84%) S. Typhi isolates, out of this 18 (49%) were from symptomatic while 19 (51%) were from asymptomatic children respectively.ConclusionThe carriage of MDR S. Typhi among the asymptomatic children is concerning as they can act as potential transmitters of the typhoid disease to unsuspecting children. These study findings highlight the need for continued surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and mass immunization of children living in these urban informal areas.

Commuting behaviors response to living and working built environment: Dissecting interaction effects from varied supply and demand masses

Most developed megacities have experienced poly-centralization and suburbanization, leading to job-housing mismatches and negative outcomes such as increased commuting distances and frequencies. Recognizing the scarcity of structural analysis concerning the attractiveness of commuting's geographic endpoints, this study examines the diverse impact of the built environment at living and working locations on commuting flows, considering various supply-demand masses and distance levels. Utilizing a Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) model, the study highlights the importance of job-housing ratio, POI diversity, and subway station proximity in employment locations, while informal area rates and subway proximity remain significant in residential locations. A three-dimensional analysis further indicates that achieving a perfect job-housing balance in megacities remains a dream, with each area presenting unique challenges requiring tailored solutions beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. Potential policies, such as planning large residential areas in the inner suburbs and upgrading convenient infrastructure in the outer suburbs, are proposed. Furthermore, with the uncovered distinct interaction effects of built environment on commuting behavior across various masses and distances, common perceptions related to mixed-use land and the role of informal settlement, are critically challenged. This extends our understanding of sustainable urban system design and provides references for planning policies.

Informal Employment Areas for Syrian Asylum Seekers in Türkiye: A Fuzzy TOPSIS Analysis

Informal employment is considered a major problem in developing countries. Although unregistered employment contributes to a country’s economy in terms of production, it can have a negative impact on macroeconomic indicators such as tax losses and unemployment. Unregistered employment can include both nationals and foreign workers. The aim of this study is to find out in which sectors Syrian asylum seekers are preferred in unregistered employment in Türkiye. Fuzzy TOPSIS was used as a method in the study. Fuzzy TOPSIS provides a ranking according to alternatives and criteria. The analysis results show that Syrian refugees are preferred in agriculture, construction and textile sectors respectively in unregistered employment in Türkiye. With these results, it is suggested that the legal regulations of Türkiye in immigration policy and unregistered employment and those asylum seekers should be evaluated at the legal level regarding the country’s economy.

Feasibility of managing and organizing the problem of informal settlements a field study on informal areas in Najaf Governorate

The research aims to study the problem of informal housing in Najaf Governorate, present strategic scenarios to solve the problem, as well as choosing the low-cost construction strategy as an approved strategy in the research. The study included (9) areas in which informal housing units spread, namely (Al-Radhwiya, Al-Rahma neighborhood, Al-Najaf Sea depression, Al-Shawafi area, behind Al-Quds neighborhood, Al-Jadidah II slums, Al-Jadidah III slums, Tabuk neighborhood, Al-Barakiyah), affiliated to the Najaf Governorate Municipality Directorate. The researchers used the descriptive analysis method based on structured personal interviews in informal areas to identify the problem, in addition to using financial tools by calculating costs (fixed capital, working capital) and revenues to solve the problem by submitting a proposal to establish a low-cost residential complex. The study reached several conclusions, the most important of which is that efforts and procedures can be organized to reach a radical solution by choosing the optimal and fastest scenario, which is building low-cost housing units, and benefiting from the areas on which slums were built. The study recommended a set of recommendations, the most important of which is forming a government working group from the departments concerned with urban planning, the municipality, the Investment Authority, and departments related to infrastructure, to prepare a technical study and an action plan to establish a package of projects distributed across the governorate's areas. These projects are granted to the best investors in establishing low-cost housing units, and forming a subcommittee to evaluate the lands and re-use them in an optimal manner. In a way that achieves benefit for the city, whether by converting them into green spaces, parks, or investment projects that enhance commercial activity in the city.

Claiming Democracy and Environmental Justice at the Margins: Land Rights and Urban Informality as Sites of Mobilization in Morocco

Since 2011, Morocco has been experiencing major political upheavals. From the February 20th movement to the birth of the Hirak Al-Rif in 2017, numerous mobilizations broke out all over the country. Each of these mobilizations has its own specificities, both in terms of the forms of demands and the contexts in which they took place. This article aims to make a productive contribution to this global reflection by offering an innovative rereading of the dynamics of social and political transformation in North Africa, more specifically in Morocco. It does so by analyzing the increasing social conflicts between the State’s efforts to privatize land and natural resources to revitalize the economy, and marginalized populations who resist their dispossession. It will examine how 2011’s revolutionary movements opened new opportunities for marginalized communities to claim their rights. As a result of the destabilization of existing power structures, power relations between marginalized groups and the State have become increasingly radicalized: from the struggle for housing and access to public services—primarily water and electricity—in informal urban areas to the struggle for land rights and access to resources in rural areas. Throughout the article, it will be shown that these mobilizations have challenged, in their own way, the methods by which the Moroccan state appropriated and managed its territory.

Inequalities and Trends in Under-Five Mortality Between Formal and Informal Areas in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The physical expansion of the city of Ouagadougou, the capital and largest city of Burkina Faso, subsided in 2015 after the government banned land speculation that contributed to the growth and entrenchment of informal areas. The government subsequently implemented social policies such as free health care for pregnant women and children under 5years of age. Against this background, we tested the convergence of under-5 mortality trends between formal and informal areas in the city between 2010 and 2019; data covering that period came from the Ouagadougou Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). The analyses included the calculation of all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates, the implementation of a Poisson regression model, and competing risk models. Over the study period, children in formal areas had lower mortality than those in informal areas. However, the inequality gap decreased over time due to a faster mortality decline in informal areas. This decline was explained by a rapid decline in deaths from malaria and other causes including sepsis, HIV/AIDS, measles, meningitis, and encephalitis. The pursuit of upgrading informal areas and the implementation of social policies targeting the poorest are likely to accelerate the mortality decline in Ouagadougou overall.

Investigating Residential Satisfaction in Informal Settlement Areas from a Sustainability Perspective: The Case of Burayu City, Ethiopia

Investigating Residential Satisfaction in Informal Settlement Areas from a Sustainability Perspective: The Case of Burayu City, Ethiopia

Dialectics of Islamic and Christian Public Sphere in Kediri

Islam and Christianity are religions that have been present in Indonesia for centuries, the history of these two religions cannot be separated from the existence of the Indonesian nation. As time goes by, the relationship between these two religions fluctuates (between conflict and harmony), in certain areas Islam becomes dominant, but in other areas Christianity is the dominant religion. National History records that several times Islam and Christianity were involved in religious conflicts. The dialectic of the relationship between the two religions in the public sphere is the key to fluctuations in the relationship between Islam and Christianity, such as what happened in the Kediri area where Islam and Christianity both exist in the public sphere. Therefore, this research attempts to portray the relationship between Islam and Christianity in public spheres by using a qualitative approach in research, while the technique for obtaining data in research uses interview and observation techniques. The research results show that religion's control of public sphere has exceeded formal and informal boundaries as discussed by Jurgen Habermas. These formal and informal boundaries are exceeded in "public values", namely viewing religious teachings in the public sphere based on the principle of beneficial value. This also goes beyond Jurgen Habermas's thinking about "Public Reason" in looking at the formal and informal areas of religion in the public sphere.

Vulnerabilities and exposure of recent informal urban areas in Lima, Peru

Urban areas are experiencing rapid growth, accompanied by significant disorder in Lima Metropolitan area and many other cities in South America. Due to decades of uncontrolled construction practices, it is imperative to identify and better understand the types of informalities prevalent in these recent urban areas. Addressing this lack of information is crucial for implementing appropriate countermeasures and developing new policies that benefit the communities residing in such areas. It is worth noting that understanding disaster risk aligns with the first priority of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. In this study, we propose the use of radar satellite imagery recorded by the Sentinel-1 constellation since 2017 to identify clusters of urban growth in Lima Metropolitan area. Then, the informal urban clusters can be depicted by visual inspection of the last recorded high-resolution optical image. With good spatial and temporal resolution, we identified 25 clusters informal areas. Among our findings, we observed that several of these clusters are situated in landfills comprised of construction and other waste, increasing their vulnerability to debris flow, landslides, and earthquakes. Additionally, we noted that some new urban areas mainly consist of temporarily empty houses, highlighting the feasibility of implementing countermeasures, such as relocations, in the early stages of informal occupation. These results underscore the significant contribution of satellite radar imagery in identifying recent informal urban areas.

Key Success Factors of Urban Infill Development: A Conceptual Framework

Current cities, especially megacities, are going through a continuous increase in population size because the city extends beyond its urban borders, causing what is called urban sprawl, which constitutes the real problem for cities at present. Also, these megacities have many informal areas and urban dilapidated areas because of the ancient period since their establishment, from which the city has suffered greatly. Hence, the need to determine development methods that should be within the city instead of expanding outside its borders, and many methods have been reached that can be used to solve this problem, the most important of which is infill development. The research methodology focused on reviewing the literature of the study and discussing the best international practices to arrive at a first draft of a list of key success factors for infill development projects and reviewing it with a group of experts who developed it until the final approved version was reached. The result of these procedures was to arrive at a conceptual framework for the key success factors for infill development. This conceptual framework applies to any city to ensure that infill development projects are successful with the highest possible quality and reflect positively on the city and its residents.

Spatial occurrence and variation of the active pharmaceutical compounds in rivers and groundwater systems in Arusha City, Tanzania

This study investigated the occurrence of 11 pharmaceutical compounds in the rivers and groundwater systems of Arusha City, Tanzania. Each suspected individual residue of active pharmaceutical compounds in water matrices, was pre-concentrated using solid-phase extraction techniques and, then quantified using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). The concentrations varied across the assessed rivers and groundwater systems. High concentrations of caffeine 520 ng/L were detected in the station downwards of a wastewater stabilization pond, discharging its partially treated effluent into the river, followed by stations whose rivers flowed through informal areas. Sampled points' located near the river's water sources reported fewer compounds with values below the detection limit, such as amoxicillin, paracetamols, and doxycycline. Except for sulfamethoxazole (94 ng/L) in the borehole, most of the concentrations detected in rivers were ten times higher than in boreholes. In addition, in boreholes, more compounds were identified in the monitoring than in the domestic ones, and concentration varied with depth of deep boreholes (25 m) were less abundant than shallow wells of less than 10 m. In conclusion, pharmaceutical compounds were frequently detected in both rivers and groundwater systems within Arusha City suggesting the need for understanding of their fates and associated risks.

Low-Cost, Low Environmental Impact Streetscape in Egyptian Informal Residential Areas

Low-Cost, Low Environmental Impact Streetscape in Egyptian Informal Residential Areas

Factors Affecting Learners Enrollment into STEM Programs n TVET Institutions within Kisumu County, Kenya: A Comparative Analysis

The Kenya National Qualification Authority (KNQA) defines Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as the process used to identify, assess, and certify a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and competencies acquired in non-formal or informal learning, such as work or life experiences, against prescribed standards or learning outcomes. Despite the launch of RPL by KNQA in 2021, its implementation in Kenya, especially Western region, has generally been slow. This study was therefore conducted to: i)To identify key non-formal and informal economy-driving industries with uncertified skilled workers in, ii) To determine the level of need for RPL by Jua Kali workers; iii) To identify the possible RPL processes and nomenclature suitable to MMUST in relation to CBET and, iv) To identify the level of awareness on RPL among stakeholders. The study was done through questionnaires. The first was a needs assessment study targeting eleven ‘Jua Kali’ sectors in Kakamega town. These were Mechanical, Electrical, Welding, Masonry, Plumbing, Hotel Services, Carpentry, Textile/Dressmaking, Berber Services, and Hair and beauty services Sectors. The study involved 157 workers spread across the eleven sectors. The study found that 77.7% of the respondents have no certification to prove their competency in the work that they do. A majority (88%) of the respondents would like their skills and knowledge gained informally to be assessed and certified by a recognized institution. Also Out of these, 80.6% reported that their institutions have never been involved in the RPL process and 58.3% reported that their institutions have enough trained personnel to implement RPL. Findings also indicate that there is high level of RPL need among the workers at 88%. While reviewing literature from the KNQA, the study found a well laid down policy and guidelines for RPL implementation suitable for MMUST TVET Institute. It further exposes the low awareness on RPL among stakeholders. The study concludes by emphasizing the need to create effective awareness among RPL possible candidates, implementors and policy makers The study recommends aggressive and effective awareness creation among the ‘Jua-Kali’ traders in the twelve non-formal and informal trade areas as well as among the key stakeholders. Establishing an RPL centre in MMUST TVET Institute was deemed highly necessary to accommodate the 88.5% ‘Jua-Kali’ traders in Kakamega town, who are willing to have their skills and knowledge assessed and certified.

Flood vulnerability assessment in rural and urban informal settlements: case study of Karonga District and Lilongwe City in Malawi

Flood vulnerability assessment (FVA) informs the disaster risk reduction and preparedness process in both rural and urban areas. However, many flood-vulnerable regions like Malawi still lack FVA supporting frameworks in all phases (pre-trans-post disaster). Partly, this is attributed to lack of the evidence-based studies to inform the processes. This study was therefore aimed at assessing households’ flood vulnerability (HFV) in rural and urban informal areas of Malawi, using case studies of Traditional Authority (T/A) Kilupula of Karonga District (KD) and Mtandire Ward in Lilongwe City (LC). A household survey was used to collect data from a sample of 545 household participants. Vulnerability was explored through a combination of underlying vulnerability factors (UVFs)-physical-social-economic-environmental and cultural with vulnerability components (VCs)-exposure-susceptibility and resilience. The UVFs and VCs were agglomerated using binomial multiple logit regression model. Variance inflation factor (VIF) was used to check the multicollinearity of variables in the regression model. HFV was determined based on the flood vulnerability index (FVI). The data were analysed using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), artificial neural network (ANN) and STATA. The results reveal a total average score of high vulnerability (0.62) and moderate vulnerability (0.52) on MCA in T/A Kilupula of Karonga District and Mtandire Ward of Lilongwe City respectively. The FVI revealed very high vulnerability on enviroexposure factors (EEFs) (0.9\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$0.9$$\\end{document}) in LC and(0.8\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$(0.8$$\\end{document}) in KD, followed by ecoresilience factors (ERFs) (0.8) in KD and(0.6\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$(0.6$$\\end{document}) in LC and physioexposure factors (PEFs) (0.5)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$0.5)$$\\end{document} in LC besides 0.6 in KD for the combined UVFs and VCs. The study concludes that the determinants of households’ flood vulnerability are place settlement, low-risk knowledge, communication accessibility, lack of early warning systems, and limited access to income of household heads. The study recommends that an FVA framework should be applied to strengthen the political, legal, social, and economic responsibilities of government for building the resilience of communities and supporting planning and decision-making processes in flood risk management.

Building a resources-modulable approach as appropriate strategy to reduce and rehabilitate spontaneous housing area (SHA) in developing countries cities: the case of Mokolo in Yaoundé, Cameroon city

ABSTRACT Cities in developing countries are facing a critical housing deficiency, seen, for example, in Cameroon by an estimated deficit about two million units. Despite real estate programmes in response, supply remains very low compared to demand. It favours the growth of anarchical housing production so-called spontaneous housing area (SHA) or slums. High concentration of poor households in these informal areas coupled with their expansion (about 5.5% per year) is a real headache for population, government authorities who fight for the common good. A major challenge has been how to ensure access to land certificates, basic urban services and decent housing while fighting against urban sprawl and SHA growth. Within the framework of cognitive science, our study provides a multidisciplinary tool for calibrating rehabilitation of SHA based on eight technical criteria, and on profitability. It enables decision-makers not only to assess the degree of precariousness, but also to know in advance whether the intervention will be profitable. This determines whether rehabilitation is bankable for government or whether total destruction is better. Upon application on Mokolo, the case study region in Yaoundé, it revealed how it can be made affordable while reducing the slum rate from 54%–20%.

Blue-green infrastructure in view of Integrated Urban Water Management: A novel assessment of an effectiveness index

Addressing urban water management challenges requires a holistic view. Sustainable approaches such as blue-green infrastructure (BGI) provide several benefits, but assessing their effectiveness demands a systemic approach. Challenges are magnified in informal areas, leading to the combination of integrated urban water management (IUWM) with BGI as a proposed solution by this research. We employed the Urban Water Use (UWU) model to assess the effectiveness index (EI) of BGI measures in view of IUWM after stakeholder consultation. The procedure in this novel assessment includes expert meetings for scenario building and resident interviews to capture the community's vision. To assess the impact of IUWM on the effectiveness of BGI measures, we proposed a simulation with BGI only and then three simulations with improvements to the water and sewage systems. The results of the EI analysis reveal a substantial improvement in the effectiveness of BGI measures through IUWM combination. Moreover, we offer insights into developing strategies for UWU model application in informal settlements, transferrable to diverse urban areas. The findings hold relevance for policymakers and urban planners, aiding informed decisions in urban water management.

Kompletterande, kompenserande och komplicerande

Complementing, compensating and complicating – informal organisation in Swedish child fare work The child welfare work within the Swedish personal social services (PSS) is clearly marked by formalisation and specialisation. It is guided by a diversity of national and local guidelines, while different units assume responsibility for specific tasks (e.g., intake, investigation and decision, or care and treatment). A risk of service fragmentation has been identified as a substantial downside to these organisational settings. However, prior research has mainly focused on formal organisational structures and how work is ‘supposed to’ be carried out. Less attention is paid to informal organisation, namely how work is ‘actually performed’ on day-to-day basis, which has been identified as an important but often overlooked aspect for understanding organisational performance. Therefore, the aim was to describe and analyse the influence of informal organisation in child welfare cases. Non-participating observations and group interviews were conducted in 11 Swedish municipalities. The findings show that informal organisation can ‘grease the wheels’ in child welfare cases: firstly, by complementing formal structures and offering alternative channels for collaboration and information exchange; and secondly, by compensating for gaps in areas of responsibility within the formal organisation, such as when staff offer informal care and support, even though their work is supposed to specifically focus on investigation and decision making, or individual social workers assume an informal case management role. Nevertheless, informal organisation was also found to complicate work, as unregulated and informal areas of work also allow the conflicting interests and work logics among different units and their staff to unfold. The findings are finally discussed in relation to the future organisation of social services.

Who is killing South African men? A retrospective descriptive study of forensic and police investigations into male homicide

Not much is known about the perpetrators of male homicide in South Africa, which has rates seven times the global average. For the country’s first ever male homicide study we...

Exploring real estate valuation practices in an informal market

This study investigates the intricate realm of real estate valuation in the Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem. Drawing on 27 interviews with real estate appraisers and an analysis of betterment tax valuations, arbitration reports, and court minutes spanning the years 1991–2023, we unpack the distinct valuation practices in this informal urban setting. We discuss the unique challenges involved in valuations in informal real estate markets and how appraisers address them, suggesting that appraisers in East Jerusalem grapple with structural, top-down challenges—arising from inconsistent Israeli planning regulations, geopolitical instability, and an underdeveloped mortgage market—and bottom-up obstacles stemming from limited transaction reporting by local Palestinian residents. To navigate these challenges, appraisers employ creative solutions, such as a 'copy & paste' strategy, referencing older arbitration verdicts, and creating complementary databases. They also rely on local knowledge and their familiarity with the field. Our research sheds light on the innovative methods appraisers utilize to assess land value in the complex and dynamic environment of East Jerusalem, and in informal areas more broadly.

UV-SAM: Adapting Segment Anything Model for Urban Village Identification

Urban villages, defined as informal residential areas in or around urban centers, are characterized by inadequate infrastructures and poor living conditions, closely related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on poverty, adequate housing, and sustainable cities. Traditionally, governments heavily depend on field survey methods to monitor the urban villages, which however are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and possibly delayed. Thanks to widely available and timely updated satellite images, recent studies develop computer vision techniques to detect urban villages efficiently. However, existing studies either focus on simple urban village image classification or fail to provide accurate boundary information. To accurately identify urban village boundaries from satellite images, we harness the power of the vision foundation model and adapt the Segment Anything Model (SAM) to urban village segmentation, named UV-SAM. Specifically, UV-SAM first leverages a small-sized semantic segmentation model to produce mixed prompts for urban villages, including mask, bounding box, and image representations, which are then fed into SAM for fine-grained boundary identification. Extensive experimental results on two datasets in China demonstrate that UV-SAM outperforms existing baselines, and identification results over multiple years show that both the number and area of urban villages are decreasing over time, providing deeper insights into the development trends of urban villages and sheds light on the vision foundation models for sustainable cities. The dataset and codes of this study are available at https://github.com/tsinghua-fib-lab/UV-SAM.