Global Inequality Research Articles

Adventures in ageing: the gender-ageing nexus and older North American women’s engagement with communities of care through lifestyle migration

Drawing from ethnographic research and interviews with older North American women who migrated alone to retire in Ecuador, this article grows the body of literature on gender and ageing, examining how these women position themselves within a gender-ageing nexus, contradicting certain gender norms in their attempt to obtain later-life self-fulfilment. Particularly, we examine how this group positions the third age as a time of individual adventure and self-actualisation, challenging normative gender ideals about femininity and care but meeting (many) social expectations to “age well.” We argue that the lifestyles of these women demonstrate new experiments with gendered ageing, facilitated by global inequalities but challenging some normative ideals around femininity and old(er) age.

The global burden, trends, and inequalities of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities attributable to iodine deficiency from 1990 to 2019 and its prediction up to 2030.

The objective of this study was to assess the global burden of disease for developmental and intellectual disabilities caused by iodine deficiency from 1990 to 2019. Using data from the global burden of disease (GBD) 2019, we conducted a cross-country inequity analysis to examine the worldwide burden of developmental and intellectual disabilities caused by the issue of iodine deficiency from 1990 to 2019. Absolute and relative inequality were assessed by the slope index of inequality and the concentration index, respectively. After summarising the latest evidence, we also projected the age-standardized prevalence and years lived with disability (YLD) rates up to 2030 using the BAPC and INLA packages in R statistical software. In 2019, the global age-standardized prevalence and YLD rates for developmental and intellectual disabilities due to iodine deficiency were 22.54 per 100,000 population (95% UI 14.47 to 29.23) and 4.12 per 100,000 population (95% UI 2.25 to 6.4), respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the age-standardized prevalence and YLD rates of developmental and intellectual disabilities due to iodine deficiency decreased significantly. Geographic distribution showed that areas with lower socio-demographic indices (SDI) were the most affected. The correlation between higher SDI and lower prevalence highlights the role of economic and social factors in the prevalence of the disease. Cross-national inequity analysis shows that disparities persist despite improvements in health inequalities. In addition, projections suggest that the disease burden may decline until 2030. This research underscores the necessity for targeted interventions, such as enhancing iodine supplementation and nutritional education, especially in areas with lower SDI. We aim to provide a foundation for policymakers further to research effective preventative and potential alternative treatment strategies.

Cascade effects of global supply chains induced by regional conflicts increase global inequality

Regional conflicts have become prominent in triggering shocks on supply chains and cascade effects on resource management. Reliable assessments of the cascading pattern of production resources among sectors globally are missing. Here, we modeled global multisectoral production losses and the cascading pattern of a grain supply shock in the Russia–Ukraine regional conflict by utilizing a geographic input–output approach. We find that the most cascading losses emerged in the textile (17.04 % ± 0.72 %, 95 % confidence intervals) and food-processing sectors (16.85 % ± 0.5 %). The shock propagated in a “grain–processed food/livestock” direct chain and a “light manufacturing–heavy manufacturing/textile” indirect chain. Prolonged conflict and disrupted resource allocation decreased the efficiency of production recovery in low-income countries and amplified inequality of production resources. Our approach presents a quantitative framework for unexpected supply chain shocks. The findings support the case for production aid to low-income countries and circular supply chains for sustainable development.

The Transformative Potential of mRNA Vaccines in Revolutionizing Vaccine Development And Therapeutic Applications

Messenger RNA (mRNA) technology has emerged as a transformative force in the field of vaccine development and therapeutic applications, revolutionizing the landscape of modern medicine. This cutting-edge technology enables the rapid and flexible design of vaccines and therapeutics, unleashing a new era of personalized and targeted treatments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA vaccines demonstrated their immense potential by facilitating the swift development and deployment of highly effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, contributing significantly to the global response against the virus. Beyond infectious diseases, mRNA technology has opened new frontiers in cancer immunotherapy, offering personalized and therapeutic cancer vaccines that stimulate robust immune responses against tumors. Furthermore, mRNA technology is being explored for the treatment of genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and allergies, demonstrating its versatility and broad therapeutic potential. The rapid scalability and production of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics also present opportunities to address global health inequities by ensuring wider accessibility and distribution, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Ongoing research efforts aim to further stabilize mRNA formulations, enhance delivery systems, and expand the range of target diseases, including neurological disorders and zoonotic infections. As innovation and collaboration continue to drive advancements in mRNA technology, its impact on global health and personalized medicine is poised to expand, promising more effective, targeted, and personalized medical solutions. Ultimately, mRNA technology represents a groundbreaking advancement in biomedical science, with the potential to transform healthcare delivery and improve outcomes across diverse medical fields

Cross-border healthcare-seeking and utilization behaviours among ethnic minorities: exploring the nexus of the perceived better option and public health concerns

BackgroundMany ethnic minorities in Hong Kong seek medical tourism after encountering inequalities in access to local healthcare because of language barriers and cultural-religious differences. The present study explored the ethnic minorities’ lived experiences of medical tourism and issues arising from cross-border health-seeking relevant to this specific population.MethodsQualitative in-depth interviews with 25 ethnic minority informants from five South Asian countries in 2019.ResultsThe 19 informants out of the 25 have sought assistance from their international networks for home remedies, medical advice and treatments of traditional/Western medicines, for they are more costly or unavailable in Hong Kong and for issues related to racial discrimination, language barriers, transnationalism engagement, cultural insensitivity, and dissatisfaction with healthcare services in Hong Kong.DiscussionMedical tourism can relieve the host country’s caring responsibilities from healthcare services, so the government might no longer be hard-pressed to fix the failing healthcare system. Consequently, it could cause public health concerns, such as having patients bear the risks of exposure to new pathogens, the extra cost from postoperative complications, gaps in medical documentation and continuum of care, etc. It also triggers global inequities in health care, exacerbating unequal distribution of resources among the affordable and non-affordable groups.ConclusionEthnic minorities in Hong Kong sought cross-border healthcare because of structural and cultural-religious issues. The surge of medical tourism from rich and developed countries to poor and developing countries may infringe upon the rights of residents in destination countries. To mitigate such negative impacts, policymakers of host countries should improve hospital infrastructure, as well as train and recruit more culturally sensitive healthcare workers to promote universal health coverage. Healthcare professionals should also strive to enhance their cultural competence to foster effective intercultural communication for ethnic minority groups.

Does global warming worsen poverty and inequality? An updated review

AbstractWe offer an updated and comprehensive review of recent studies on the impacts of climate change, particularly global warming, on poverty and inequality, paying special attention to data sources as well as empirical methods. While studies consistently find negative impacts of higher temperatures on poverty across different geographical regions, with higher vulnerability especially in poorer Sub‐Saharan Africa, there is inconclusive evidence on climate change impacts on inequality. Further analyzing a recently constructed global database at the subnational unit level derived from official national household income and consumption surveys, we find that temperature change has larger impacts in the short term and more impacts on chronic poverty than transient poverty. The results are robust to different model specifications and measures of chronic poverty and are more pronounced for poorer countries. Our findings offer relevant inputs into current efforts to fight climate change.

Advantages and disadvantages of digital mental health initiatives in Nigeria – a qualitative interview study

Background The impact of COVID-19 and its mitigation measures have exacerbated the global mental health crisis. Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) may have the potential to address health system gaps and global health inequalities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Aims This thesis aims to map the current state of DMHIs in Nigeria and illustrate their progress, limitations, and challenges. Methods Twenty interviews were conducted with researchers, healthcare providers, and digital health experts. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Then data were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results The majority of DMHIs in Nigeria are private mental health service delivery platforms that connect directly to mental health professionals. The target audience encompasses all mental health conditions and ages. Advantages of DMHIs include increasing efficiency, accessibility, addressing stigma, and filling the mental health service gap. Disadvantages include skepticism, limitations of applicability, lack of accessibility to internet and technology, lack of sustainability and infrastructure, and lack of funding and policies. Conclusion The lessons learned in the Nigerian context can inform the delivery of DMHIs in other low-resource settings. Future research should examine user and provider feedback of DMHIs to allow for comparative analysis, more conclusive and replicable results to inform DMHI design and implementation.

Hindrance to sustainable development: Global inequities, non-progressive education and inadequate science-policy dialogue.

Social habits and economies driven by profit are opposing efforts to reach a path of sustainable development. In addition, many communities worldwide have diverged away from nature through consumerism and technology. In the context of the escalating risks and consequences related to global challenges such as the climate crisis and ecosystem degradation, education for sustainable development and science-driven decision-making offer tremendous opportunities for improvement.

Introduction

Global North theories of being “young” or a “man” do not translate neatly onto the everyday lives of young men in the Global South (Jeffrey and McDowell 2004). The specters of colonialism, postcolonialism, and global capitalist inequalities, as well as the various politics of race, caste, class, sexualities, religion, and local histories, powerfully shape both the countries of the Global South as well as youth masculinities therein (Nayak 2016; Philip 2022; Mani and Krishnamurthy 2021). In such a context, this special issue seeks to put forward an empirically grounded understanding of youth masculinities from perspectives emerging and grounded in the Global South. The specific challenges, opportunities, desires, and practices of young men from the Philippines, India, South Africa, and Senegal, as well as various other contexts covered in this special issue, reveal the broader global dynamics shaping youth lives today.

Hydrocephalus: Current State of Diagnostics and Treatment

Hydrocephalus, the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain’s ventricles, has numerous difficulties regarding diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the condition, including the areas of current therapeutic options, surgical intervention (implementation of shunts/ third ventriculostomies), and novel therapeutic approaches including inhibition of NKCC1 and modulation of PKC. This paper also discusses noninvasive treatments like gene therapy and “smart shunt” systems. From a global perspective, it is revealed that there are numerous disparities regarding hydrocephalus and its treatment modalities. This very aspect forms the basis for special healthcare programs to cater to these global inequalities. This study bedevils us with the fact of how intricate hydrocephalus management is, a complication that is mostly determined by a specific country’s healthcare infrastructure. The region's funding, health facilities, and cultural issues also are used to showcase hydrocephalus causes and effects. Furthermore, there is a large focus on patient care and also a meticulous presentation of subsequent care strategies and rehabilitation with the family's support to improve the results for those who are afflicted with the disease. This article concludes with a call to go beyond research in this area with the international cooperation that will lead to comprehending this challenge and the multidisciplinary problems and opportunities that come along with it. This research study provides an indispensable contribution to the fields of neurology and healthcare, and this adds value in terms of the care and treatment of hydrocephalus by facilitating its understanding on a scientific basis for students and healthcare professionals around the world.

International Circulations and Inequalities in the Social Sciences

International Circulations and Inequalities in the Social Sciences

BAMBOO LANTERN FESTIVAL - A SOCIAL DESIGN EXPERIENCE INTEGRATING THE UNIVERSITY AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Environmental degradation and global social inequality require an education focused on transforming values and practices in today's world. Bamboo, both as a plant and a material, has mitigated the impacts of climate change. Combined with design within a bamboo productive chain, it also enhances the possibility of a pedagogical dimension for design students and the participation of local communities. This study aims to examine how social design can collaborate in education for sustainability, involving the researcher’s participant observation and co-creation, which resulted in the Take Akari Bamboo Lantern Workshop, held at the Unesp Campus in Bauru/SP. Results show that social design combined with bamboo helps in motivating people to internalize and carry out new practices due to the collaborative and collective ways of working collectively based on which it was held, and is capable of transforming scenarios and changing beliefs and values.

Global, regional, and national cancer burdens of respiratory and digestive tracts in 1990–2044: A cross-sectional and age-period-cohort forecast study

BackgroundUnderstanding the current status and future trends of cancer burdens by systems provides important information for specialists, policymakers, and specific risk populations. MethodsThe aim of this study was to compare the current and future cancer burdens of the gastrointestinal (GI) and respiratory tracts in terms of their magnitude and distribution. Data from a total of eight cancers of the digestive and respiratory tracts in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database were collected. The age-standardized incidence/death rates (ASIR/ASDRs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were analyzed. Future trends were predicted with Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) and NORDPRED models. ResultsIn 2019, there was a significant increase in DALY for both digestive and respiratory tract cancers compared to 1990. Meanwhile, ASIR increased slightly and ASDR decreased notably. In 2019, the global cancer burdens of respiratory and digestive tracts were 38568363.53 and 66912328.72 in DALY, 34.28 and 55.32 in ASIR, and 656.82 and 808.22 in ASDR per 100,000 population with changes of +54.63% and +43.93%, +2.92% and +5.65%, and −17.39% and −26.83% compared to those in 1990, respectively. Significant cross-regional differences in the cancer burdens were observed among the regions. Compared to four representative chronic diseases, the burden of cancers showed less remission and greater global inequalities. The burdens of both digestive and respiratory tract cancers were higher in males than in females in terms of the ASIR, ASDR, and DALY. The incidence and mortality rates of respiratory tract cancers were up to 3–4 times higher in males than in females, whereas the difference between male and female rates of digestive tract cancers was relatively smaller. The main risk factor associated with all kinds of digestive and respiratory tract cancers is tobacco, leading to 18.5 in ASDR and 3.38×107 in DALY for respiratory tract cancers; 8.29 in ASDR and 1.60×107 in DALY for digestive tract cancers, in 2019. Additionally, alcohol use contributes to most digestive and respiratory tract cancers (1.23/1.03 in ASDR and 1.60×106/2.57×106 in DALY for respiratory tract cancers; 4.19/3.82 in ASDR and 4.49×106/8.06×106 in DALY for digestive tract cancers), except for stomach cancer and tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer. The cancer burdens of respiratory and digestive tracts are likely to decrease substantially between 2020 and 2044. For most metrics, except for the ASIR and male-to-female ratios of ASDR and ASDALY in digestive tract cancers, the worldwide variances of burden metrics have been decreasing in the past decades and will possibly maintain stable trends in the future. ConclusionsThe epidemiology of respiratory and GI tract cancers has common features and individual characteristics that are reflected in geography, age characteristics, and risk factors. Current epidemiological status, future trends, and the globalization of these disease burdens are important factors for making scientific planning of resources to minimize the cancer burden metrics and their cross-regional inequalities.

#305 Global health inequalities of CKD: a systematic review and meta-analysis examining prevalence and disparities in age, sex and socio-economic status

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Age, sex and socio-economic status are considered to be influential in the development, progression and outcomes from CKD. This study investigated disparities in age, sex and socio-economic status in CKD and updated global prevalence estimates through systematic review and meta-analysis. Method Five databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL Library, CINAHL, Web of Science) were searched from 2014 to 2022, with 14,871 articles screened, 119 papers included and data analysed on 29,159,948 participants. Studies were included if they described CKD prevalence in participants over the age of 18 and were carried out in the general population. CKD was defined on the basis of albuminuria/proteinuria and/or an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <60 ml/min/m2. Random effects meta-analyses using generalised linear mixed models were conducted to determine overall prevalence, prevalence of stages 3–5 and prevalence in males and females. Influences of age, sex and socio-economic status were assessed in subgroup analyses, and risk of bias assessment and meta-regressions were conducted to explore heterogeneity. Results Overall prevalence of CKD was 13.0% (11.3–14.8%) and 6.6% (5.6–7.8%) for stages 3–5. Prevalence was higher in studies where all participants were over the age of 60 (19.3% for stages 1–5. 15.0% for stages 3–5) and meta-regression demonstrated association of age, body mass index, diabetes and hypertension with prevalence of CKD stages 3–5. The prevalence of CKD stages 1–5 was similar in males and females (13.1% versus 13.2%) but prevalence of stages 3–5 was higher in females (6.4% versus 7.5%). Overall prevalence was 11.4%, 15.0% and 10.8% in low, middle and high-income countries respectively; for stages 3–5 prevalence was 4.0%, 6.7% and 6.8%, respectively. Risk of bias of included studies was generally moderate or high, with 8% at low risk of bias, 44% at moderate risk of bias and 48% at high risk of bias. Conclusion With nearly 30 million participants, this study is the largest systematic review on CKD prevalence to date, with prevalence demonstrated to be persistently high globally. It has highlighted that important disparities related to age, sex and socio-economic status may exist, and addressing these concerns should be a priority for policymakers. Future research should focus on targeted screening and treatment approaches, improving access to care and more effective data monitoring, particularly in low and middle income countries.

Covid-19 Vaccine Passports: Global Inequalities and Entangled Mobilities

Vaccine passport is a new term that has recently entered the vocabulary of nation-states and those involved in the travel industry. A passport is a tool through which individuals can be mobile internationally and by which they can be identified, tracked, and regulated. Although the introduction of vaccine passports has facilitated the reopening of borders and air travel and assists with reviving economic situations of nation-states, it also means that those who carry proof of immunization are the only ones who may be able to travel freely. The citizens of many countries will not have access to vaccines nor vaccine passports in the near future. As such, the biopolitics of vaccination passports become entangled with preexisting global and domestic inequalities and risk further entrenching the immobilities of people in the periphery. In this article, we discuss the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the meaning of freedom of movement globally and how the introduction of vaccine passports perpetuates and exacerbates existing inequalities in terms of unequal access to international travel and freedom of movement.

Insensitizing controls for the micropolar fluids

In this paper, we investigate the existence of insensitizing controls for the micropolar fluids in a bounded domain with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions and arbitrarily located internal controller. The study of insensitizing controls is essential to solve a stability problem, which means that we look for controls such that some functionals of the velocity fields (the so‐called sentinels) are insensitive to the small perturbations of initial data. The problem of insensitizing controls is transformed into a suitable controllability problem for a cascade system. Our proof relies on a new global Carleman inequality and the inverse mapping theorem.

A comparative analysis of the environmental sustainability of London 2012 and Rio 2016: A Capability Approach to inter-national inequality at the Olympic Games

Major sporting events can act either as drivers of environmental degradation or catalysts for environmental sustainability, often dictated by the developmental level of the host nation. This article applies a Capability Approach, alongside World-Systems Theory, in its analysis of the environmental sustainability of the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The article suggests that it is the possessed capabilities of the event host, rather than resources or utilities, which defines sustainable Olympic delivery. It asserts that the ‘non-core’ Rio possessed national capabilities less valuable in hosting an environmentally sustainable MSE than the ‘core’ London. In doing so, the article establishes four key inequalities between the environmental sustainability of the two cases: environmental starting positions; prevalence of expert local organisations; structural and regulatory conditions; and economic stability. It argues that these inter-national inequalities were unaccounted for in event planning and delivery – and were exacerbated by the ‘core’ hegemony of the Olympic Games. The paper suggests that the identification, acknowledgement, and attempted remediation of this inter-national inequality of capability may encourage a more equitable Olympic Games.

Unveiling the Shadows: Exploring the Nexus of Global Threats and Income Inequality

The contemporary world is characterized by its diversity and globalization, and how to allocate limited resources has emerged as a complex issue. The widening gap between rich and poor has led to growing concerns regarding the inherent inequity and potential instability that arise from these disparities. Global threats, the challenge has emerged in front of people, which significantly impact peoples daily life. For instance, from the pandemic, the drastic influence on the economy to environmental crises that upend livelihoods has been presented. Moreover, environmental crises, such as extreme weather events, deforestation, and the depletion of natural resources, pose significant threats to both developed and developing nations. Lastly, political conflict could also dramatically impact citizens' lives and the state of economic growth. This essay delves into the intricate relationship between global threats and global income inequality, seeking to dissect the multifaceted dynamics that bind these two seemingly disparate phenomena, by illustrating different perspectives from the academic world and presenting the authors personal view.

Social connections and ethical entrapments: On doing anthropology of and through the border regime

The article aims to conceptualize the relational dimension of the border regime and its function in reinforcing and reproducing global inequalities. It does so by analyzing the social connections that shaped my fieldwork on The Gambia's “backway,” the illegalized trip to Europe. In particular, the article focuses on what I define as moments of ethical entrapment that my main Gambian interlocutor and I faced while interacting with people in Serekunda. In interrogating those entrapments as simultaneously provoked by and exposing the border regime, the analysis highlights how borderwork and the potentiality of border violence constantly haunt social connections at/in/across borders. At the same time, the article looks at the emergence of such entrapments as a product of the shifting and ambiguous positionalities subjects hold in the different nodes of borders’ temporally and spatially scattered assemblages. I argue that the analysis of such social connections and ethical entrapments discloses the implications of doing anthropology of the border regime through the border regime itself. On the one hand, borders’ capacity to act on and through subjects—even beyond their conscious will—reinforce the principle of dissimilarity on which they rely and reproduce. On the other hand, the ethical entrapments emerging from the connections that the border regime creates between people illuminate its socially productive, counterintuitive, and fragmented dimensions, potentially opening space for what Povinelli defined as the otherwise.

Strategies for enhancing global supply chain resilience to climate change

This review paper addresses the critical need for enhancing resilience within global supply chains against climate change impacts. It systematically explores strategies for identifying and assessing risks, adapting supply chain practices, fostering collaborative efforts among stakeholders, and leveraging policy and regulatory support. The study highlights the financial, technological, and regulatory challenges impeding resilience implementation, emphasizing the exacerbating effect of global inequalities. Recommendations for businesses, policymakers, and international bodies are provided to facilitate the effective implementation of resilience strategies. The paper calls for future research focusing on empirical validation of these strategies, integrating long-term climate projections, and exploring social dimensions within supply chain resilience. This comprehensive approach aims to bolster global supply chains against climate-induced disruptions, contributing to sustainable economic stability and community well-being. Keywords: Climate Change, Global Supply Chains, Resilience Strategies, Risk Management, Collaboration, Policy Support.