Low-income Rural Areas Research Articles

Spatial identification of regions exposed to multi-hazards at the pan-European level

Abstract. The European Commission Disaster Risk Management Knowledge Centre (DRMKC) has developed and hosts a web platform, the Risk Data Hub (RDH), designed to facilitate access to and sharing of curated, EU-wide risk data, tools, and methodologies, ultimately supporting disaster risk management (DRM) initiatives. Based on the RDH data, we propose a methodology for the identification of regions with multi-hazard exposure at the pan-European level (EU27+UK). This methodology aims to support disaster risk management (DRM) decision-making processes at both national and subnational levels in the EU. By employing a meta-analysis approach and aggregating the hotspots of exposure to single hazards, we provide an objective, statistically robust assessment of the European multi-hazard landscape at the finest spatial subdivision level, local administrative units (LAUs). Our results suggest that 21.4 % of European LAUs are exposed to multiple natural hazards, affecting around 87 million people (18.8 % of the European population). Furthermore, nearly half this population is exposed to more than three hazards. We find that beyond population density, the income level (i.e. high, medium, low) is the primary driver that influences risk status at the local level, within both rural and urban areas. On average, we find higher multi-hazard exposure for people living in high-income urban areas or low-income rural areas. We further validate our results by comparing them with empirical data on fatalities and disaster events, revealing a relatively high correlation between statistically significant multi-hazard hotspots and fatalities (r=0.59). By providing a detailed assessment of multi-hazard exposure at the pan-European scale, this study contributes to a better integration of multi-hazard risks in European disaster risk management plans.

Animal Trypanosomiasis: Challenges and Prospects for New Vaccination Strategies.

Animal trypanosomiasis, such as nagana, surra, and dourine, represent a significant challenge to animal health and economic development, especially in tropical and subtropical regions where livestock production is an essential component of a country's economy. Despite advances in the control of human trypanosomiasis, animal diseases caused by several species of trypanosomes remain neglected. The lack of funding for the development of new treatments and vaccines contributes to sustaining the severe economic impacts these diseases have on the farming industry, especially in low-income rural areas. Recent advances in the understanding of the immune processes involved during infection have been essential for the development of new approaches towards disease control including vaccines. These new approaches must be part of integrated control programs, which must also include vector management and the awareness of good veterinary practices. Addressing the challenges posed by the control of animal trypanosomiasis requires collaborative and continuous efforts shared among scientists, governments, and the farming industry, if significant progress is to be made to mitigate the impact of these diseases. In this literature review, we discuss the main challenges for the development of vaccines for animal trypanosomiasis and the research underway, including the prospects for employing new vaccine platforms, such as an mRNA vaccine, vector-based vaccine, and CRISPR-attenuated parasite vaccine.

Vientiane Multigenerational Birth Cohort Project in Lao People's Democratic Republic: Protocol for Establishing a Longitudinal Multigenerational Birth Cohort to Promote Population Health.

Rapid global population growth and urbanization have led to an increase in urban populations in low- and middle-income countries. Although these urban areas have generally better health outcomes than lower-income rural areas, many environmental, social, and health challenges remain. Vientiane, the capital of Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), has approximately 1.5 of the 7.5 million Laotian population (2022) and provides a unique opportunity to examine health outcomes among socioeconomically diverse populations in the rapidly urbanizing context of the country. The aim of the Vientiane multigenerational birth cohort (VITERBI) project is to (1) establish a multigenerational birth cohort in Vientiane capital, Lao PDR, which is representative of the local population, (2) serve as the basis for additional observational (ie, cross-sectional) and intervention studies that promote population health in Vientiane province, and (3) investigate the social, epidemiological, and medical problems of public health importance to Lao PDR. VITERBI is a prospective multigenerational birth cohort. The study population is structured around children born between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, who reside in Chanthabuly, Sikhottabong, Sangthong, or Mayparkngum districts of Vientiane. Whenever possible, children and their mothers are enrolled during pregnancy; nonreported pregnancies are enrolled after birth. The cohort plans to enroll 3000 pregnant women and their children and the infants' fathers, grandparents, and great-grandparents for a total study population of approximately 13,000 individuals. Participants will be followed throughout the life course with a range of data collected, including demographics, behavior, diet, physical activity, physiology, neurodevelopment, health history, quality of life, environmental exposures, depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, household characteristics, obstetric history, birth outcomes, and various living and dementia scales for older adults. Biomarkers collected include height, weight, blood pressure, and hemoglobin levels. Currently, no statistical analyses are planned. As of April 2024, this study has enrolled 3500 pregnant women and 4579 family members. Study participation is ongoing until May 2025 at minimum, with the goal to extend follow-up until 2050. The study cohort will be used as a basis for further observational (cross-sectional, longitudinal) and intervention studies. It also serves as a tool to investigate social, epidemiological, and medical problems of public health importance to Lao PDR, which will contribute to broader understanding of regional and international contexts. DERR1-10.2196/59545.

Impact of digital divide on energy poverty across the globe: The mediating role of income inequality

Energy poverty is an important reality facing the whole world, and the rapid development of digital technology has great potential in eradicating poverty. However, the differences in the level of information development have led to the existence of the digital divide within countries. In this context, this paper explores whether and how the digital divide affects energy poverty from a global perspective. Based on cross-country panel data, this study focuses on the effect and asymmetry of the digital divide on energy poverty. The results show that the digital divide hinders the reduction of energy poverty and manifests itself in a Matthew effect that makes the energy poor poorer. Second, the heterogeneity analysis based on income level and rural-urban areas find that the digital divide has a greater negative impact on energy poverty in low-income countries and rural areas. Finally, the mechanism analysis reveals that the digital divide exacerbates energy poverty mainly by increasing income inequality. Therefore, there is a greater need to focus on the efficiency, equity and inclusive development of the digital economy in the process of its globalization. The findings can also provide an empirical basis for policy design to bridge the digital divide and alleviate energy poverty.

Collaborative vehicle routing for equitable and effective food allocation in nonprofit settings

Purpose Inspired by a food bank distribution operation, this paper aims to study synchronized vehicle routing for equitable and effective food allocation. The primary goal is to improve operational efficiency while ensuring equitable and effective food distribution among the partner agencies. Design/methodology/approach This study introduces a multiobjective Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model aimed at addressing the complex challenge of effectively distributing food, particularly for food banks serving vulnerable populations in low-income urban and rural areas. The optimization approach described in this paper places a significant emphasis on social and economic considerations by fairly allocating food to food bank partner agencies while minimizing routing distance and waste. To assess the performance of the approach, this paper evaluates three distinct models, focusing on key performance measures such as effectiveness, equity and efficiency. The paper conducts a comprehensive numerical analysis using randomly generated data to gain insights into the trade-offs that arise and provide valuable managerial insights for food bank managers. Findings The results of the analysis highlight the models that perform better in terms of equity and effectiveness. Additionally, the results show that restocking the vehicles through the concept of synchronization improves the overall quantity of food allocation to partner agencies, thereby increasing accessibility. Research limitations/implications This paper contributes significantly to the literature on optimization approaches in the field of humanitarian logistics. Practical implications This study provides food bank managers with three different models, each with a multifaceted nature of trade-offs, to better address the complex challenges of food insecurity. Social implications This paper contributes significantly to social responsibility by enhancing the operational efficiency of food banks, ultimately improving their ability to serve communities in need. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to propose and analyze this new variant of vehicle routing problems in nonprofit settings.

School-based caries prevention using silver diamine fluoride: A pragmatic randomized trial in low-income rural children.

Dental caries is the world's most prevalent noncommunicable disease, disproportionately affecting children from low-income families and rural geographic areas. The CariedAway 3.0 study was a cluster-randomized pragmatic non-inferiority trial comparing silver diamine fluoride (SDF) to sealants and atraumatic restorations (ART) for the prevention and control of dental caries. All participants also received fluoride varnish. Analysis consisted of mixed-effects logistic regression for caries prevalence and weighted least squares and mixed-effects negative binomial regression for caries incidence. A non-inferiority margin of 10% for the difference between groups was used. Dental caries was defined as an ICDAS score of four or greater. A total of 3345 children were enrolled across 35 schools; however there was a large proportion of children who were noncompliant and received external dental care over the course of the trial. In adjusted analyses of compliant participants (n=1083; 543 in the SDF group and 540 in the sealant and ART group), there was no difference in the weighted risk difference between treatment groups (B=0.003, 95% CI = -0.0001, 0.0008). The odds of caries prevalence was elevated in the SDF group in longitudinal analyses (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 0.86, 2.11) but was not significant and was below the non-inferiority margin. There were no significant differences between groups for caries incidence in adjusted models (IRR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.81, 1.74). Results for intent to treat analyses were similar to that of per-protocol. In this school-based clinical trial, the prevalence of dental caries in children treated with SDF and fluoride varnish was non-inferior compared to those treated with sealants, ART, and fluoride varnish, although the overall risk was slightly higher. Unfortunately, a high rate of dropout and participant noncompliance was observed, likely due to the impacts of COVID-19 on study procedures. As a result, observed effects may be unreliable beyond the short-term. NCT03448107.

Drinking water sources, quality, and associated health outcomes in Appalachian Virginia: A risk characterization study in two counties

ObjectivesIn the US, violations of drinking water regulations are highest in lower-income rural areas overall, and particularly in Central Appalachia. However, data on drinking water use, quality, and associated health outcomes in rural Appalachia are limited. We sought to assess public and private drinking water sources and associated risk factors for waterborne pathogen exposures for individuals living in rural regions of Appalachian Virginia. MethodsWe administered surveys and collected tap water, bottled water, and saliva samples in lower-income households in two adjacent rural counties in southwest Virginia (bordering Kentucky and Tennessee). Water samples were tested for pH, temperature, conductivity, total coliforms, E. coli, free chlorine, nitrate, fluoride, heavy metals, and specific pathogen targets. Saliva samples were analyzed for antibody responses to potentially waterborne infections. We also shared water analysis results with households. ResultsWe enrolled 33 households (83 individuals), 82% (n = 27) with utility-supplied water and 18% with private wells (n = 3) or springs (n = 3). 58% (n = 19) reported household incomes of <$20,000/year. Total coliforms were detected in water samples from 33% (n = 11) of homes, E. coli in 12%, all with wells or springs (n = 4), and Aeromonas, Campylobacter, and Enterobacter in 9%, all spring water (n = 3). Diarrhea was reported for 10% of individuals (n = 8), but was not associated with E. coli detection. 34% (n = 15) of saliva samples had detectable antibody responses for Cryptosporidium spp., C. jejuni, and Hepatitis E. After controlling for covariates and clustering, individuals in households with septic systems and straight pipes had significantly higher likelihoods of antibody detection (risk ratios = 3.28, 95%CI = 1.01–10.65). ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study to collect and analyze drinking water samples, saliva samples, and reported health outcome data from low-income households in Central Appalachia. Our findings indicate that utility-supplied water in this region was generally safe, and individuals in low-income households without utility-supplied water or sewerage have higher exposures to waterborne pathogens.

Community-based water tenure in equitable and transformative drought resilience

In the search for promising pathways for equitable and transformative climate adaptation in low-income rural areas, the present study focuses on resilience to more variable and less predictable availability of precipitation and water resources. Equitable water governance is conceptualized as formal and informal polycentric decision-making that narrows infrastructure inequities and ensures equitable water resources allocation. Focusing on recognitional and procedural equity, vulnerable women's and men's community-based water tenure is starting point. Partnering with government in Zambia and with the Water Integrity Network in Kenya, field research in three communities in rural Zambia and in rural communities and a small town sharing several schemes in Kenya is conducted. These studies recognized horizontal polycentricity of community-based water tenure by identifying common features: communities' age-old drought resilience coping strategies to meet daily domestic water needs and daily or seasonal small-scale productive water needs, by tapping water from surface- and groundwater sources through multi-purpose infrastructure, both self-financed and publicly supported, and by ‘sharing’ water ‘in’ within the community and ‘sharing out’ with neighbouring communities and powerful third parties. Procedural equity implies inclusive, locally-led planning, design and implementation in polycentric vertical governance with governments and other support agencies from local to national level and vice versa. The four interventions studied were the installation of a a solar-powered borehole for multiple uses and local government's institutional framework for potential replication in Zambia, and post-construction support of small water systems and a planned megadam in Kenya. Further research on similar transformative approaches elsewhere is recommended.

The impact of digital skills on health: Evidence from the China General Social Survey.

The widespread penetration of the internet and digital technology have profoundly impacted the global economy and people's lives. Although the impact of digital skills on social development and personal lifestyles is well-documented, their influence on health and health inequalities remains underexplored. This study aims to analyze the impact of digital skills on health and health inequalities and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. This study utilized cross-sectional data from the 2017 China General Social Survey (N = 2195). We employed the Ordered Probit (O-Probit) model and ordinary least squares regression to examine the impact of digital skills on health and explore the underlying mechanisms. Health inequalities across different groups were measured using the health concentration index. Enhancing digital skills enhances population health by boosting economic status, increasing social participation, and improving access to information. However, the impact varies by age and residence. Digital skills have a stronger effect on the health of young and middle-aged individuals, as well as urban residents, compared to older adults and rural populations. Furthermore, digital skills exacerbate health inequalities, benefiting high-income groups and widening the gap between income levels. Widespread promotion and continuous improvement of digital skills are key to enhancing public health. We need to focus on the popularization of digital skills and the construction of digital infrastructure for low-income disadvantaged groups and rural areas, as well as use various means to reduce group and regional differences in the impact of digital skills on health conditions.

Healthcare and telehealth use among U.S. immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent studies have documented the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income families, rural and underserved areas, and racial and ethnic minority populations. However, less is known about immigrants' healthcare access and utilization, including telehealth use. This study investigated disparities in healthcare access and utilization by immigration status among adults aged 18-64 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study pooled data from the 2020 and 2021 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the variation of healthcare access and utilization by citizenship and nativity status. Immigration status (U.S.-born citizen, naturalized U.S. citizen, and non-citizen) served as the key independent variable. Healthcare access measures were dichotomized indicators of whether individuals had delayed medical care either due to cost or due to COVID-19. Healthcare utilization measures included whether individuals visited a doctor, used the emergency room, or had a telehealth visit during COVID-19. Compared to U.S.-born citizens, non-citizen immigrants were more likely to delay medical care due to cost (adjusted OR = 1.375, [95%CI: 1.137, 1.662]), less likely to visit a doctor (adjusted OR = 0.71, [95%CI: 0.617, 0.817]), or visit an emergency room (adjusted OR = 0.756, [95%CI: 0.635, 0.901]). Non-citizen immigrants were less likely to have a telehealth visit (either video or phone visits) during COVID-19 (adjusted OR = 0.634, [95%CI: 0.557, 0.723]). Compared to U.S.-born citizens, lower healthcare and telehealth utilization persisted among non-citizen immigrants during the pandemic.

Differences in medicaid expansion effects on buprenorphine treatment utilization by county rurality and income: A pharmacy data claims analysis from 2009–2018

BackgroundAlthough use of buprenorphine for treating opioid use disorder increased over the past decade, buprenorphine utilization remains limited in lower-income and rural areas. We examine how the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion influenced buprenorphine initiation rates by county income and evaluate how associations differ by county rural-urban status. MethodsThis study used nationwide 2009–2018 IQVIA retail pharmacy data and a comparative interrupted time series framework–a hybrid framework combining regression discontinuity and difference-in-difference approaches. We used piecewise linear estimation to quantify changes in buprenorphine initiation rates before and after Medicaid expansion. ResultsThe sample included observations from 376,704 county-months. We identified 5,227,340 new buprenorphine treatment episodes, with an average of 9.2 new buprenorphine episodes per month per 100,000 county residents. Among urban counties, those with the lowest median incomes experienced significantly larger increases in buprenorphine initiation rates associated with Medicaid expansion than counties with higher median incomes (5-year rates difference est=3525.3, se=1695.3, p = 0.04). However, among rural counties, there was no significant association between buprenorphine initiation rates and county median income after Medicaid expansion (5-year rates difference est=979.0, se=915.8, p = 0.29). ConclusionsMedicaid expansion was associated with a reduction in income-related buprenorphine disparities in urban counties, but not in rural counties. To achieve more equitable buprenorphine access, future policies should target low-income rural areas.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of COPD: A Scoping Review From 2011 to 2021

The aim of this review was to document the recently reported prevalence and risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the last ten years. A scoping review of studies released between 2011 and 2021 was done. The main findings on selected studies’ prevalence and risk factors were summarised. Thirty-seven studies in total were chosen. The overall data on COPD prevalence was 1.3-36.7%, and the average incidence rate was 9.1%. The risk factors of COPD prevalence were identified as unchangeable risk factors (gender, age, family history of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and environmental temperature and humidity) and changeable risk factors (outdoor and indoor air pollution, cigarette smoking, occupational exposure, low education, low household income, obesity, underweight, physical inactivity, and cooking method). The highest changeable risk factors were cigarette smoking, indoor air pollution, and occupational exposure. In contrast, the lowest changeable risk factors were physical inactivity and cooking methods. Changeable risk factors significantly increase COPD risks. The COPD caused by household emissions from biofuel cooking in low-income rural areas deserves attention. Emphasis on healthy lifestyle interventions and economic and educational policies to reduce environmental impacts may prevent COPD.

Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Among Pregnant Women at Tertiary Care Hospital

Backgrounds: The prevalence study of HCV infection among pregnant women is limited in central India. Vertical transmission (Mother-to-child) has become the major cause of pediatric hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis C among pregnant females attending antenatal clinics. Material and Methods: The cross-sectional study done at Malwanchal University, Indore Madhya Pradesh, from March 2019 to September 2022. The confirm diagnosis of HCV infection made by anti-HCV Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) among enrolled pregnant women. Results: Out of 3254 pregnant women tested, 26 were found positive for HCV infection. The prevalence of 0.79% was observed. The majority of infection were found in age groups 21-25 years 11/26 (42.3%) and in 26-30 years 09/26 (34.6%). The study also concluded to the most positive pregnant women belonged to low-income groups and rural areas. Conclusion: Screening of pregnant women during each pregnancy, and testing infants born to mothers with HCV infection highly recommend to for the timely prevention of its transmission to infants. Keywords: Vertical transmission, pregnant women, HCV infection

Reducing rural income inequality and its spatial convergence in China during the past two decades

Rural poverty and inequality are still big challenges for the world sustainable development. China has eliminated absolute poverty and reduced regional rural income inequality over the past two decades. To explain the spatial convergence of China’ rural income inequality, a comprehensive framework was proposed based on the convergence hypothesis. We examined the spatial convergence and influencing factors of rural income inequality using province-level panel data from 2001 to 2020. The findings showed that China's rural income inequality generally decreased from 2001 to 2010, the contribution rate of inter-regional rural income inequalities is he highest. There was a significant spatial β convergence of rural income change, indicating that rural income inequality in China has been effectively reduced and a catch-up effect has been created in low-income rural areas with a higher income growth rate. Social security and human capital factors play key roles in reducing regional rural inequality, especially in poor western regions. Meanwhile, China's targeted poverty alleviation policy amplified the positive impact on rural income convergence, and low-income regions benefited more from the policy. Then several suggestions were proposed for developing countries to reduce rural inequality and poverty.

Assessment of women participation in sanitation value chain in low-income rural areas: a case study of South Imenti, Meru county

Public participation is extensively acknowledged as predominantly indispensable to the success of sanitation and water projects in rural areas in developing countries. Women are the foremost users of water schemes in rural areas and have numerous ideas on how water and sanitation management can be enhanced. Women's participation in sanitation in South Imenti has recently surfaced as an area of interest in the past decade, there has been rapidly growing evidence of women lagging behind in taking part in sanitation. In this context, the study involved examining how management and knowledge of sanitation are gendered, determining women's participation in sanitation development, governance and management, and evaluating the challenges hindering their participation. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. In-depth interviews and questionnaires were used to conduct the study. Purposive sampling was used to select three locations in South Imenti sub-county and a sample size of 100 determined using Yamane's formula. Data was collected from December 2021 to March 2022. 75 respondents aged 18 years and above took part in the study. 58.6% (44) respondents filled the questionnaires and 41.3% (31) respondents were interviewed. The data was entered into statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 software and presented using descriptive statistics. The results showed that 80.4% (n=41) of the women in South Imenti were not fully taking part in sanitation projects, despite them being known as primary sanitation attendants at the household level. Women's contribution was very minimal in sanitation activities involving community members, besides, their contribution was greatly under looked. The study findings revealed various roles played by both men and women in the sanitation group. 20.8% (n=5) of men were in charge of decision making, chairing and directing meeting discussions, and mobilization of funds for sanitation projects. 16.7%(n=4) of men provided labour during the construction of a projects, 37.5%(n=9) coordinated day to day running of projects and 25%(n=6) organized for donors' visits as well contributed funds to the group and were key actors during elections. On another hand 80.4%(n=41) of women were involved in domestics chores like cooking for constructors, ensuring cleaningness of sanitation facilities and compounds as well 29.4% (n=15) of women welcomed and entertained guests during a meetings and led in prayers during meetings times.35.3%(n=18) of women were not included in policy and decision-making about sanitation projects since it was given a blind eye concealed under community beliefs, practices, and norms.The finding als revealed numerous determinants to women participation among them were financial rewards 27%(n=14),source of income 20%(n=10),influenced by leaders 14%(n=7) and fear of consequences 10%(n=5) .Various challenges hindered women participation where 49%(n=25)had tight schedules ,age disparity 15.7% (n=8),low literacy level 31.4%(n=16)and lack of registration fees 29.4%(n=15) among others. Women's rights and freedoms in leadership and management abilities were hindered by old-fashioned cultural practices and busy schedules. Both men and women should be included in community sanitation projects to boost the sanitation sector in the attainment of its goals and specifically meet sanitation targets. This research study gives detailed rich information on women in sanitation, contributes to critical literature, and provides many insights for further research on women's participation in sanitation. It also gives a greater understanding of women’s position in sanitation and reduces any kind of potential gender discrimination and promote policy implementation.

LCA of Disposal Practices for Arsenic-Bearing Iron Oxides Reveals the Need for Advanced Arsenic Recovery.

Iron (Fe)-based groundwater treatment removes carcinogenic arsenic (As) effectively but generates toxic As-rich Fe oxide water treatment residuals (As WTRs) that must be managed appropriately to prevent environmental contamination. In this study, we apply life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare the toxicity impacts of four common As WTR disposal strategies that have different infrastructure requirements and waste control: (i) landfilling, (ii) brick stabilization, (iii) mixture with organic waste, and (iv) open disposal. The As disposal toxicity impacts (functional unit = 1.0 kg As) are compared and benchmarked against impacts of current methods to produce marketable As compounds via As mining and concentrate processing. Landfilling had the lowest non-carcinogen toxicity (2.0 × 10-3 CTUh), carcinogen toxicity (3.8 × 10-5 CTUh), and ecotoxicity (4.6 × 103 CTUe) impacts of the four disposal strategies, with the largest toxicity source being As emission via sewer discharge of treated landfill leachate. Although landfilling had the lowest toxicity impacts, the stored toxicity of this strategy was substantial (ratio of stored toxicity/emitted As = 13), suggesting that landfill disposal simply converts direct As emissions to an impending As toxicity problem for future generations. The remaining disposal strategies, which are frequently practiced in low-income rural As-affected areas, performed poorly. These strategies yielded ∼3-10 times greater human toxicity and ecotoxicity impacts than landfilling. The significant drawbacks of each disposal strategy indicated by the LCA highlight the urgent need for new methods to recover As from WTRs and convert it into valuable As compounds. Such advanced As recovery technologies, which have not been documented previously, would decrease the stored As toxicity and As emissions from both WTR disposal and from mining As ore.

Food insecurity and changes in social citizenship. A comparative study of Rome, Barcelona and Athens

ABSTRACT Food insecurity is a pressing issue not only in low-income countries and rural areas, but also in affluent societies and major cities all around the world. Inequality related to access to food has, thus, become one of the main challenges to the social inclusion model based on social citizenship that is a characteristic feature of European societies. Starting from the multidimensional nature of food security, access to food is considered a necessary entitlement to make social citizenship effective, but this is not guaranteed in European societies. This contribution sets out to analyse the social inclusion/exclusion processes related to the status of food deprivation. This outcome is assessed in terms of social citizenship initiatives’ ability to stimulate a demand for institutional change, in a more inclusive direction. This aim is achieved through a comparative analysis of three different case studies of social citizenship initiatives, in three major cities of Southern Europe: Rome, Barcelona and Athens. Since food is not only a means of survival, but also holds multiple emotional, cultural and social meanings, this article shows – under what conditions – people, participating in social citizenship initiatives, can get social recognition and autonomy which can lead to reconnecting food and effective citizenship.

Customary Water Tenure

Heritage and culture not only shape the customary tenure of land and forest resources of most indigenous peoples and local communities in low-income rural areas, but also community members’ mutual relations vis-à-vis their water resources, or, in other words: customary water tenure. Age-old settlement by farm communities or pastoralists’ establishment of nomadic routes vested customary rights to land and the fugitive surface runoff and streams flowing over the lands; soil moisture, wetlands and lakes on the land; and aquifers under the land.&#x0D; In customary water tenure, orally transmitted norms and practices have governed communities’ construction, operation and maintenance of traditional local infrastructure, such as weirs, dams and ponds, to store water as buffer to seasonal variability; wells and lifting devices to tap aquifers, the planet’s largest storage; and canals, tunnels and pipes to channel water where and when needed for drinking, other domestic uses, livestock, irrigation of crops, vegetables and trees, brick making, crafts, small-scale enterprise and ceremonial uses, or to ensure water availability for fisheries and navigation. Customary normative frameworks continue to shape communities’ investments in “modern” low-cost plastic pipes, tanks, small motorized pumps, or solar energy, also responding to growing populations, markets for water-dependent produce, and higher aspirations.

Assessing the causality relationship and time series model for electricity consumption per capita and human development in Colombia

Increasing access to electricity is essential to improve human development in poor and developing countries. To this end, the relationship between electricity consumption and human development is critical to supporting the process of decision-making. However, the discussion on this topic is limited. In Colombia, developing adequate policies requires characterizing the impact of electricity consumption on human development. This study uses time series and the Human Development Index data and per capita electricity consumption between 1990 and 2018 to assess their relationship. Furthermore, the government projections for electricity consumption and population growth are used to forecast the Human Development Index up to 2030. To this end, the econometric and correlation approach is applied. The Lagrangian multiplier unit root was used to verify if variables are stationary, while cointegration tests were used to define if non-stationary variables are cointegrated. Moreover, the Granger causality test was used to assess the causal relationships between the variables, and the ARIMA model was applied for the correlation analysis. Results show a bidirectional relationship between the Human Development Index and the per capita electricity consumption. Moreover, the government’s projection of per capita electricity consumption is forecasted to have little impact on the Human Development Index up to 2030. Therefore, developing adequate policies to improve access to electricity while contributing to human development is essential. Particularly for low-income citizens and rural areas, especially in non-interconnected, vulnerable, and geographically marginalized communities. However, further discussion is needed to characterize energy inequality through income classes, departments, and economic sectors, which is one challenge for the government to meet sustainable development goals.

Citizen assessments of clientelistic practices in South Africa

Research on political clientelism has provided conflicting findings on citizen perceptions and evaluations of clientelism. Survey as well as ethnographic research sometimes finds that citizens reject clientelism and politicians making clientelistic offers and at other times that citizens find clientelism acceptable and perceive clientelistic politicians as caring. We build on current literature on the characteristics of diverse types of clientelism and argue that the differences in evaluations result partly from differences in the type of clientelism that is studied. To investigate this idea, we conduct focus groups in low-income urban and rural areas in South Africa about how clients and citizens understand and evaluate different forms of clientelism in South Africa. We identify five distinctive exchange types across groups. Citizens evaluate vote-buying exchanges pragmatically but all other types negatively: relational forms of clientelism are seen as stirring welfare competition and coercive forms as unlawful. Patrons are mostly seen as selfish but views on clients vary across types. Citizens describe clients in vote-buying and coercive clientelism as victims and in relational types as egoistic. These findings suggest that citizens in communities where clientelism is prevalent have highly differentiated views on different types of clientelism and the actors involved in it.