Low-educated Women Research Articles

Personal and Social Environmental Correlates of Square Dancing Habits in Chinese Middle-Aged and Older Adults Living in Communities

This study aimed to examine personal and social environmental correlates of the physical activity habit of middle-aged and older adults, using Chinese square dancing as a natural exploratory example. Participants were 385 adults aged ≥45 years (93% female), who habitually danced on squares or parks of three old districts of Guangzhou. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify personal, social, psychological, and behavioral correlates of multiyear dance. Old age, high education, sufficient leisure time, and stable social environmental factors were associated with persistent dancing, whereby education (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [1.05, 2.57]) and social engagement (RRR = 1.66, 95% confidence interval [1.05, 2.63]) showed the largest effects. Participants dancing ≤1 year were least satisfied with their social relationships than their counterparts dancing 1-5 years (RRR = 0.68) or over 5 years (RRR = 0.58). Physical activity promotion for older adults should adapt from culturally appropriate group activities and leverage community social resources to encourage voluntary participation, particularly for low-educated older women.

Cross-sectional association between diet quality and cardiometabolic risk by education level in Mexican adults.

Understanding the association between diet quality and cardiometabolic risk by education level is important for preventing increased cardiometabolic risk in the Mexican population, especially considering pre-existing disparities in diet quality. The present study examined the cross-sectional association of overall diet quality with cardiometabolic risk, overall and by education level, among Mexican men and women. Cardiometabolic risk was defined by using biomarkers and diet quality by the Mexican Diet Quality Index. We computed sex-specific multivariable logistic regression models. Mexico. Mexican men (n 634) and women (n 875) participating in the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012. We did not find associations of diet quality with cardiometabolic risk factors in the total sample or in men by education level. However, we observed that for each 10-unit increase in the dietary quality score, the odds of diabetes risk in women with no reading/writing skills was 0·47 (95 % CI 0·26, 0·85) relative to the odds in women with ≥10 years of school (referent). Similarly, for each 10-unit increase of the dietary quality score, the odds of having three v. no lipid biomarker level beyond the risk threshold in lower-educated women was 0·27 (95 % CI 0·12, 0·63) relative to the odds in higher-educated women. Diet quality has a stronger protective association with some cardiometabolic disease risk factors for lower- than higher-educated Mexican women, but no association with cardiometabolic disease risk factors among men. Future research will be needed to understand what diet factors could be influencing the cardiometabolic disease risk disparities in this population.

Demographic, Clinical, and Counseling Factors Associated with the Selection of Pregnancy Termination Method in the Second Trimester for Fetal and Pregnancy Anomalies.

Despite women's preference for induction of labor (IOL) or dilation and evacuation (D&E) for pregnancy termination in the setting of second trimester fetal or pregnancy abnormality, many women are not given a choice between delivery methods. We investigated patient and clinical related factors associated with selecting IOL or D&E. This retrospective cohort experienced pregnancy termination at 17-24weeks of gestation for fetal anomaly, intrauterine fetal demise, or premature previable rupture. We compared the demographic, reproductive, social, and clinical experience variables between women who select IOL and D&E, adjusting for confounders through logistic regression. One hundred eleven women (21.6%) selected IOL and 403 (78.4%) selected D&E. Greater proportions of women of color (p<.01), lower education (p<.01), lower employment (p<.01), and lower status jobs (p<.01) selected IOL. Women selected D&E more often for chromosomal anomaly (p<.01). In adjusted analyses, women with intrauterine fetal demise (odds ratio [OR], 9.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-34.7), premature previable rupture (OR, 110; 95% CI, 23.0-526.8), prior substance use disorder (OR, 35.5; 95% CI-2.7, 473.7), or counseling from obstetrics (OR, 3.3; 95% CI-1.3, 8.4), pediatrics (OR, 3.3; 95% CI-1.3, 8.6), or social services (OR, 12.6; 95% CI, 4.2-37.3) had higher odds of selecting IOL. Patient characteristics, medical factors, and type of counseling are associated with the selection between D&E and IOL for anomalous pregnancies. Institutional, regional, and state policies should permit women both delivery methods to preserve autonomous decision-making at the time of pregnancy termination.

Alcohol control policies and socioeconomic inequalities in hazardous alcohol consumption: a 22-year cross-sectional study in a Swiss urban population

ObjectiveHarmful use of alcohol represents a large socioeconomic and disease burden and displays a socioeconomic status (SES) gradient. Several alcohol control laws were devised and implemented, but their equity impact...

Labour market entry and early career mobility shortly before, during and after the Great Recession in Germany

In December 2007, the United States subprime mortgage crisis triggered not only turbulences on global financial markets but also worldwide economic slowdown. This ‘Great Recession’ hit labour markets in Europe. Using time-series data on unemployment, fixed-term employment and real wages, this paper describes economic changes in Germany and European average before, during and shortly after the Great Recession. Based on these macro data, it is clear that Germany experienced a unique path of development compared to other European societies. We then analyse the impact of the financial crisis on labour market entry and early career processes in Germany, comparing young people who started their first jobs shortly before, during and after the Great Recession. Using longitudinal data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), we apply ordinary regression analysis and discrete-time event history models. Findings show that, in Germany, job prestige at labour market entry has in fact not changed for men during the economic crisis in comparison to the situation before and afterwards. Low-educated women (only) were more likely to start employment in a lower prestige job during the crisis than at other times. However, years of schooling appeared more important for men's early upward career mobility, if they entered the labour market during the financial crisis. Furthermore, less-educated women entering employment in the crisis were even more likely to be upward mobile. We observe little change in early downward career mobility for men and women after starting their first employment in Germany over the Great Recession.

Inequalities in employment rates among older men and women in Canada, Denmark, Sweden and the UK

BackgroundIn most developed countries, governments are implementing policies encouraging older persons to work past 65 years to reduce the burden on societies related to disability benefits and pension payments. Despite this push to extend working lives, we know little about who already works past this age and any inequalities that may exist. Our study investigates the employment rates of those aged 65–75 years of age by educational level, health status and sex in Canada (CAN), Denmark (DK), Sweden (SE) and the United Kingdom (UK). Secondly, we aim to relate findings on employment rates to prevailing policies in the different countries, to increase the understanding on how to further extend working lives.MethodsWe used nationally representative cross-sectional survey data from the 2012–2013 Canadian Community Health Survey, 2013/14 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe for Denmark and Sweden and the 2013 English Longitudinal Study of Ageing to examine employment rates for those aged 65–75 years by sex, educational level and health status (having limiting longstanding illness (LLI) or not).ResultsEmployment rates decline by age, but we see a linear decline in CAN and the UK compared to an initial decline then a plateau of employment rates from 66 to 68 years in DK and SE. Employment rates among persons aged 65–75 years were lower in the UK than in CAN, DK and SE. Among women, employment rates were highest in SE. Women with low education and a LLI had considerably lower employment rates than men with low education and a LLI (employment rates for men ranged from 27% to 12% compared with employment rates for women which ranged from 12% to 0%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that educational level, sex and health all play a role in extending working lives. The variation in employment rates between the four countries implies that policies do matter, but that social differentials show that policies cannot be ‘one size fits all’. Policy-makers must consider different groups (i.e. low-educated women with a LLI) when designing policies to extend working lives.

Evolution of educational inequalities in life and health expectancies at 25\u2009years in Belgium between 2001 and 2011: a census-based study

BackgroundReducing socio-economic health inequalities is a public health priority, necessitating careful monitoring that should take into account changes in the population composition. We analyzed the evolution of educational inequalities in life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy at age 25 (LE25 and DFLE25) in Belgium between 2001 and 2011.MethodsThe 2001 and 2011 census data were linked with the national register data for a five-year mortality follow up. Disability prevalence estimates from the health interview surveys (2001 to 2013) were used to compute DFLE according to Sullivan’s method. LE25 and DFLE25 were computed by educational level (EL). Absolute differentials of LE25 and DFLE25 were calculated for each EL and for each period, as well as composite inequality indices (CII) of population-level impact of inequality. Changes over the 10-year period were then calculated for each inequality index.ResultsThe LE25 increased in all ELs and both genders, except in the lowest EL for women. The increase was larger in the highest EL, leading in 2011 to 6.07 and 4.58 years for the low-versus-high LE25 gaps respectively in men and women, compared to 5.19 and 3.76 in 2001, namely 17 and 22% increases. The upwards shift of the EL distribution led to a limited 7% increase of the CII among men but no change in women.The substantial increase of the DFLE25 in males with high EL (+ 4.5 years) and the decrease of the DFLE25 in women with low EL, results in a substantial increase of all considered DFLE25 inequality measures in both genders. In 2011, DFLE25 gaps were respectively 10.4 and 13.5 years in males and females compared to 6.51 and 9.30 in 2001, representing increases of 61 and 44% for the gaps, and 72 and 20% for the CII.ConclusionThe LE25 increased in all ELs, but at a higher pace in highly educated, leading to an increase in the LE25 gaps in both genders. After accounting for the upwards shift of the educational distribution, the population-level inequality index increased only for men. The DFLE25 increased only in highly educated men, and decreased in low educated women, leading to large increases of inequalities in both genders. A general plan to tackle health inequality should be set up, with particular efforts to improve the health of the low educated women.

Screening and receiving information for intimate partner violence in healthcare settings: a cross-sectional study of Arab and Jewish women of childbearing age in Israel

ObjectivesWe studied the proportion of women who have ever been screened (ES) for intimate partner violence (IPV) in a healthcare setting, received information (RI) about relevant services, or both, and...

Early Marriage Consequences in the Most Deprived Areas in Menoufia Governorate-Egypt: A Community-Based Survey

Background: Early marriage is a violation of the basic human rights and is considered a public health problem. It has a profound range of physical, intellectual, psychological and social consequences on the teenager girls and their future children. Objectives: The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of early marriage and the associated social and health hazard. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1080 married women in the most deprived areas in Menoufia Governorate. All women were interviewed personally using a structured valid reliable Arabic questionnaire. It assessed the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and their husbands, the socioeconomic state, social and health hazards of early marriage. Results: About 48% of women were married before the age of 18 years. The early marriage was significantly higher among illiterate women (59.9%), those who were housewives (99.1%), and married to illiterate husbands (48%). The main social hazards among the early married group were the conflicts with the husband’s family and isolation of women from her family. While anemia and recurrent chest problems were the main health hazards among their first child. Conclusion: Early marriage has a wide prevalence in the selected areas. It was more prevalent among low-educated women, housewives, and married to low-educated husbands. It is continued to cause different social and health consequences for women and their children. Early marriage is a prevailing problem that needs a plan of action to be implemented with the support of the policymakers.

Building Bridges and Widening Gaps: Efficiency Gains and Equity Concerns of Labor Market Expansions

We exploit the construction of the Oresund bridge, which connects a medium-sized city in Sweden to the capital of Denmark, to study the labor market effects of gaining access to a larger labor market. Using unique cross-country matched registry data that allow us to follow individuals across the border, we find that the bridge led to a substantial increase in cross-country commuting among Swedish residents. This effect is driven both by extensive and intensive margin employment responses, and translates into a 15% increase in the average wage of Swedish residents. However, the wage effects are unevenly distributed: the effect is largest for high-educated men and smallest for low-educated women. Thus, the wage gains come at the cost of increased income inequality and a widening of the gender wage gap, both within- and across-households. We show that these inequality effects are driven not only by differences in the propensity to commute, but also by educational specialization.

A survey availability of kerosene is the leading cause of suicidal burns-death of females in Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Kerosene is the main culprit for the Burns, occupy 90% remaining 10% burns from other cause that to availability of kerosene at home /working place is the leading provocating cause for suicidal burns, For the past 7 years, we have followed 2645 burns admission (total) that too female burns, almost 98% of them are due to kerosene. In most of the case, suicide is due to some family problem. The remaining 10% burns are accidental burns to assess the burns due to kerosene usage and to analysis the mortality and morbidity among patients.Methods: This survey was conducted from 2010 to 2017. The number of burns patient admitted at our hospital is 2645/ female burns. cause of suicide attempting by self-immolation during 7 years 2010-2017 analyzed. A record sheet designed to extract data such as age, education, occupation, gender, residence, marital status, drug abuse, and extent of the burn injuries as a percent of burned total body surface area (TBSA).Results: A detailed survey conducted for the past 7 years female Burns are almost 90%. Due to suicide remaining 10% accidental. Accidental burns are minor/ moderate. We are able to save the life and reduce the mortality. But suicidal burns almost extensive/ major burns. We are not able to save the life with modern availability of treatment.Conclusions: Finding of the current study manifested a high rate of suicide by self-immolation among young, married, and low educated women in south India. It implies a social problem, and need to an arrangement of a cultural program aimed at improving health, psychological habits, and educational level.

Household Employment and the Crisis in Europe

The 2008 crisis had a significant impact on household employment in some European countries. An analysis of the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions generated a new cross-national typology of household employment structures and showed how these changed during the crisis and austerity period, capturing the experiences of high and low qualified households. Findings indicate that dual earning households are not always a consequence of gender equality but result from economic necessity or employment opportunities. The re-emergence of traditional male breadwinner households is often the result of female unemployment, especially for lower educated women. An increase in female single earners and workless households is evident in countries hit hardest by the employment crisis. The value of this cross-national typology, rooted in the interaction of educational effects and employment opportunities, is allowing comparison both within and between European countries, going beyond established typologies based on policy frameworks or gender cultures.

Knowledge and attitudes about HIV-AIDS in a pregnant women population in Southwestern Madagascar

This work reports the knowledge and attitudes of a sample of pregnant women from Tulear, Madagascar. While 91.3% of the 396 women recruited reported experiencing HIV-AIDS, 62.1% could express knowledge of at least one appropriate mode of protection against the disease. Radio and other mass media represented the most frequent source of information. 31.3% of women strongly discriminated against patients with HIV/AIDS. There was no significant relationship between knowledge of the means of protection against HIV-AIDS and the different biomarkers of STIs obtained. 81.7% of women were condom users, but only 5.4% used it as a method of contraception outside the desired period of pregnancy. Low-educated women from the South West appeared to be particularly at risk of not knowing about HIV, and would require the implementation of appropriate information programs.

The role of education on the association between disability and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults: Evidence from Frailty in Brazilian Older People (Fibra) study

ObjectivesTo explore whether higher socioeconomic status attenuates the effects of depressive symptoms on disability among older adults. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study based on 596 older adults, aged 65 and over, from a large city (Belo Horizonte) in Brazil. Disability was defined as limitation in activities such as Basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Covariates were age, comorbidities, Body Mass Index (BMI) and grip strength. Statistical analyses were based on Ordinal Logistic Regression and calculated separately for men and women. ResultsElderly women with disability and higher education levels have similar prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to those without disability (17.9% and 16.1%, respectively), but lower compared to those disabled with lower education (37.2%). A positive gradient trend was observed for depressive symptoms across disability categories among women (OR = 2.61; 95% CI 1.52, 4.48). However, these patterns were not observed among men. ConclusionA higher level of education attenuates odds of depressive symptoms in elderly women with disability but does not eliminate it. Therefore, screening for depressive symptoms in low-educated elderly women is important in order to identify them and start early prevention care for target risk population and decrease the disability expenses for health services.

Minimum Wages and the Health of Hispanic Women

States are increasingly resorting to raising the minimum wage to boost the earnings of those at the bottom of the income distribution. Several policymakers have also claimed such increases may be health improving. In this paper, we examine the effects of minimum wage increases on the health of low-educated Hispanic women, who constitute a growing part of the US labor force, are disproportionately represented in minimum wage jobs, and typically have less access to health care. Using a difference-in-differences identification strategy and data drawn from the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Survey and the Current Population Survey from the years 1994 to 2015, we find little evidence that low-educated Hispanic women likely affected by minimum wage increases experience any changes in health status, access to care, or use of preventive care. We conclude that efforts to improve the health of low-educated Hispanic women are not likely to occur through increases in the minimum wage.

Age, Cohort, and Social Change: Parental and Spousal Education and White Women's Health Limitations From 1967 to 2012.

A large body of research finds that the association between educational attainment and health is at historic highs for White women. Rapid changes in labor force participation, access to high-paying jobs, and gender attitudes have radically altered the meaning of education for women's lives and their dependence on the socioeconomic attainments of their families. Drawing on three nationally representative longitudinal surveys conducted from 1967 to 2012, this study examines how personal, parental, and spousal attainments contribute to the widening education gap in health for successive cohorts of White women ( N = 8,405). Overall, the health of women did not change substantially across cohorts, but results did uncover cohort differences among low-educated women that were linked to parental and spousal educational attainments and personal earnings. These findings confirm growing educational inequalities in health and demonstrate the importance of historical context and family attainments when examining cohort variation in the education-health relationship.

What\u2019s the difference? A gender perspective on understanding educational inequalities in all-cause and cause-specific mortality

BackgroundMaterial and behavioural factors play an important role in explaining educational inequalities in mortality, but gender differences in these contributions have received little attention thus far. We examined the contribution of a range of possible mediators to relative educational inequalities in mortality for men and women separately.MethodsBaseline data (1991) of men and women aged 25 to 74 years participating in the prospective Dutch GLOBE study were linked to almost 23 years of mortality follow-up from Dutch registry data (6099 men and 6935 women). Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals, and to investigate the contribution of material (financial difficulties, housing tenure, health insurance), employment-related (type of employment, occupational class of the breadwinner), behavioural (alcohol consumption, smoking, leisure and sports physical activity, body mass index) and family-related factors (marital status, living arrangement, number of children) to educational inequalities in all-cause and cause-specific mortality, i.e. mortality from cancer, cardiovascular disease, other diseases and external causes.ResultsEducational gradients in mortality were found for both men and women. All factors together explained 62% of educational inequalities in mortality for lowest educated men, and 71% for lowest educated women. Yet, type of employment contributed substantially more to the explanation of educational inequalities in all-cause mortality for men (29%) than for women (− 7%), whereas the breadwinner’s occupational class contributed more for women (41%) than for men (7%). Material factors and employment-related factors contributed more to inequalities in mortality from cardiovascular disease for men than for women, but they explained more of the inequalities in cancer mortality for women than for men.ConclusionsGender differences in the contribution of employment-related factors to the explanation of educational inequalities in all-cause mortality were found, but not of material, behavioural or family-related factors. A full understanding of educational inequalities in mortality benefits from a gender perspective, particularly when considering employment-related factors.

Educational Attainment as a Predictor of HIV Testing Uptake Among Women of Child-Bearing Age: Analysis of 2014 Demographic and Health Survey in Zambia.

Background: Globally, an estimated 150,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2015, over 90% of them in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Zambia, ~500,000 babies are born to HIV positive mothers every year, and without intervention 40,000 of them would acquire the infection. Studies have shown a strong association between education and HIV prevalence, but in Zambia, this association has not been demonstrated. There is little published information on the association between educational attainment and HIV testing uptake among pregnant women, which is fundamental in understanding the mother to child transmission of HIV. This study investigated whether educational attainment was associated with uptake of HIV testing among women of reproductive age in Zambia.Methods: Data were taken from Zambia Demographic and Health Survey in 2014 (ZDHS14). The analysis consisted of all women aged 15–49 years, who responded to the question on HIV testing in the ZDHS. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine whether educational attainment was associated with uptake of HIV testing among women of reproductive age in Zambia.Results: Educational attainment was strongly associated with HIV testing among 15,388 women of child bearing age [AOR 3.8, 95% CI 1.7–8.2; p = 0.001]. HIV testing differed greatly by socioeconomic social status with an increased uptake among women with higher wealth index [AOR 4.4, 95% CI 1.9–9.9; p = 0.001]. Additionally, HIV testing was observed to be higher among the older women 25–34 years compared to the young women 15–19 years [AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.3–4.3; p = 0.007].Conclusions: This study revealed educational attainment to be a strong predictor of HIV testing among women of child bearing age in this population. High HIV testing uptake among educated pregnant women indicated that low-educated women may not fully realize the benefits of testing for HIV. Therefore, strengthening HIV testing in rural health facilities and providing initiatives to overcome barriers to testing among women with no formal education may help reduce vertical transmission of HIV.

Unmet need among married women: examining socio-religious influences on family planning use in Rwanda, 2005-2015

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the socio-religious factors associated with unmet need for family planning among married Rwandan women, and examine individual and contextual characteristics of married fecund women influencing their contraceptive use and future intentions to use contraception. Design/methodology/approach This study employed merge data, which were extracted from 2005, 2010, 2014–2015 Rwanda Demographic And Health Survey’s individual women data sets. Characteristics of married fecund women with unmet need for family planning were compared using Pearson’s χ2 test. A binary logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the influence of socio-religious factors on contraceptive use, and future intentions to use contraception among married fecund women. Findings Unmet need for family planning among married Rwandan women has significantly decreased over the past decade, from 39.9 percent in 2005 to 19.5 percent in 2010 and 17.5 percent in 2015. Women who are Protestants, residing in rural area, and having five or more children were significantly more likely to have an unmet need for family planning. Overall, the likelihood of having unmet need for family planning, not using contraceptives and future intentions for not using contraception was found statistically high among Protestant women compared to Catholics and low-educated women. Research limitations/implications Unmarried women and men are not included to examine their role play and characteristics influences on family planning use in Rwanda. Investing in education of girls should be a priority for the future, without that there will not be equality in reproductive health and rights. Factors behind the recent slow motion of family planning initiatives need to be addressed in order to meet the reproductive needs and rights of all women. Practical implications Public-religious collaboration to promote nationally Natural Family Planning in all healthcare facilities is extremely needed. Since the family planning initiatives have been recently very slow, investing in behavioral change programs through mass communication seems deliberately prudent. Social implications Investing in behavioral change programs and promoting sexual and reproductive health education would improve women’s social well-being. Originality/value This is the first-ever effort to examine the influence of the socio-religious values on family planning use among Rwandan fecund women.

Inequity in disability pension: an intersectional analysis of the co-constitution of gender, education and age. The Hordaland Health Study

Social position, education, gender and increasing age are all identified as important risk factors for disability pension. This study takes an intersectionality approach and examines their co-constitution, in relation to inequity in disability pension. The population included 22,203 middle-aged men and women participating in the community-based Hordaland Health Study, Western Norway (1997–1999). The participants were categorised in four exposure groups: higher educated men, higher educated women, lower educated men and lower educated women. The outcome was disability pension from 1992 to end of 2007, from a national registry. Using recommendations for intersectionality-informed quantitative research, we estimated the main effects of gender and educational attainment on disability pension, and potential statistical multiplicative interactions between gender and education in relation to cause-specific and all-cause disability pension. For all-cause disability pension, men with higher education had the lowest risk for disability pension (rate per 1000 person-years: 2.01) during the course of working life (from age 35 to 57), followed by higher educated women (rate 3.56), and lower educated men (rate 4.59). Finally, women with lower education had a substantially increased risk already in early middle age (rate 8.39). We found a statistical multiplicative effect of lower education and female gender on all-cause disability pension and disability pension with musculoskeletal disorders compared with men with higher education. The discussion highlights that inequity in disability pension is not only about defining vulnerable groups, but also about understanding how privileges and disadvantages are unequally distributed.