Male-headed Households Research Articles

Unimproved source of drinking water and the associated factors: Insights from the 2020 Somalia demographic and health survey.

Access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and a critical public health concern, particularly in lower- and middle-income countries with limited infrastructure. Somalia faces significant challenges in providing improved drinking water sources, with a high prevalence of unimproved sources. This study analyzes data from the SHDS 2020 to investigate the prevalence of unimproved drinking water sources and identify associated factors. A cross-sectional study of 32,300 participants was conducted to identify factors associated with using unimproved drinking water sources. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed using Stata 16 software. Variables with a p-value < 0.05 in bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate model. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate the association of significant variables with the outcome. Approximately 22.04% (95% CI: 21.5%, 22.4%) of the Somali population utilizes unimproved drinking water sources. Households with a head aged 20 years and above (AOR = 0.88, p = 0.059) were less likely to rely on unimproved sources than households with a head under 20 years. Female household heads (AOR = 1.17, p = 0.000) were more likely to use unimproved sources than male household heads. Unemployed partners (AOR = 1.14, p = 0.000) were more likely to use unimproved sources than employed partners. Rural (AOR = 1.12, p = 0.013) and nomadic (AOR = 0.93, p = 0.175) residents were more likely to use unimproved sources than urban residents. Households in Mudug (AOR = 31.18, p = 0.000), Nugaal (AOR = 4.15, p = 0.000), Bari (AOR = 5.26, p = 0.000), and Sanaag (AOR = 2.52, p = 0.000) regions were less likely to use unimproved sources compared to households in other regions. These findings highlight the urgent need for Somalia to improve its provision of safe and accessible water sources.

Determinants of non-testing for HIV among women during antenatal care follow up in sub-saharan Africa: a hierarchical analysis of recent Demographic and Health Survey datasets

IntroductionHIV/AIDS is a global public health concern that is closely related to other sociocultural problems. The prevention of mother to child transmission cascade often begins with and is integrated into antenatal care in order to ensure a high rate of case detection and optimal treatment coverage. Although guidelines suggest that all pregnant women should have HIV testing as part of their regular screening checks during antenatal care, a significant proportion of pregnant women were not tested for HIV during antenatal care follow-up in sub-Saharan Africa. Hence, this study was aimed at assessing the determinants of women not tested for HIV during antenatal care follow-up in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the determinants of non-testing for HIV among women as part of antenatal care in sub-Saharan Africa, utilizing secondary data from the 2015–2022 Demographic and Health Surveys. The study included a weighted sample of 788,421 women who had antenatal care follow-up during their most recent pregnancy within five years preceding the survey. A multilevel mixed effect logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the determinants of non-testing for HIV among these women. The adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine the associations between the outcome and explanatory variables. Statistical significance was determined using a p-value of less than 0.05.ResultThe hierarchical analysis of this study identified several significant factors associated with women not being tested for HIV during antenatal care in sub-Saharan Africa. These factors include young age, low or no education, not being in a union, unemployment, and low household wealth index. Additionally, limited media exposure, stigmatizing attitudes towards people living with HIV, male-headed households, and rural residence were significant at the individual and household levels. At the community level, low media exposure and high illiteracy rates were significant, while at the country level, high fertility rates and low literacy rates were also associated with lower rates of HIV testing during antenatal care.ConclusionThis study identified significant individual, community, and country-level factors associated with women not testing for HIV during antenatal care in sub-Saharan Africa. Key factors include young age, low education, unemployment, not being in a union, low household wealth, limited media exposure, stigmatizing attitudes towards people living with HIV, male household head, rural residence, low community media exposure, high community illiteracy, high fertility rates, and low literacy rates. These findings highlight the need for targeted, context-specific interventions to improve HIV testing rates and enhance maternal and child health outcomes in the region.

Socio-Economic and Environmental Interactions in the Maasai Mau Forest Kenya: A Comprehensive Household Survey Analysis

Maasai Mau Forest contains a diversity of flora and fauna, which are a source of livelihood for the local communities and provide various valuable ecosystem services. However, it is under threat from illegal subsistence farming in the Mau catchment and its surrounding areas due to anthropogenic activities leading to deforestation. The main objective of the study was to look at socioeconomic and environmental contexts of the households to inform sustainable land management (SLM) and conservation efforts. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was employed with a study area located in the Maasai Mau Forest region, Narok County, Kenya, which comprises of communities living within and around the Maasai Mau Forest. The study participants included Maasai communities, with a study population being mainly household-headed in the Maasai Mau Forest, which mainly depended on agriculture and animal farming for their livelihoods. A multi-stage sampling approach was also used in selecting the sampling units, such as villages, which were then further stratified into different areas or locations depending on the boundaries. The final sample size comprised of 385 households. Data were collected using semi-structured household questionnaires. Data was analyzed by the software SPSS using frequencies and percentages for nominal data and means for numeric data. About 59.5% of the respondents were women, a higher proportion compared to male-headed households of 76.1%. The major source of education of respondents was primary education (49.9%) followed by secondary education (29.6%) while only 14% had no formal education. Sources of income included crop farming (37.4%); livestock production (28.2%) followed by casual employment (15.8%). About 77.9% of the households had monthly incomes of below KES 15,000. Land ownership was freehold with 97.7% of the land in the freehold status and an average of a freehold land size at 1.4 acres. Most households kept various livestock including cattle (71.7%), poultry (12.5%) followed by other livestock kept. Crop production declined from the past years; with maize (96.4%) and beans (90.9%) being the main crops grown followed by potatoes (30.6%) and wheat (29.8%). Food security was a main concern with 54% of households indicating a downward trend in crop production over time. The survey objectives were met, showing that there are challenges with socio-economic issues, resource base, agricultural productivity and food security impacting the Maasai Mau Forest. However, there are opportunities for investing in sustainable agriculture and enhancing community involvement in conservation. The study recommended an integrated conservation approach that addressed the economic related issues, improved sustainable farming practices and enhanced community involvement, by: Improving land use planning and its management; Improving agricultural productivity and increasing market access; and Increasing food and water security to support improved sustainability of the Maasai Mau Forest Ecosystem.

Estimation of the Proportion of Vulnerable Households and Its Determinants in Lampung Province in 2022

Aims: The purpose of this research to determine the profile of poverty vulnerability in Lampung Province and the factors that influence it. This is one of the efforts to achieve the ultimate goal of determining targeted policies as a preventive effort to prevent poverty from occurring in vulnerable households in Lampung Province in 2022. Study Design: Carrying out poverty grouping then carries out testing to determine poverty vulnerability. Place and Duration of Study: The data sources used in this study are secondary data in the form of raw data from the National Socio-Economic Survey (SUSENAS) KOR and Module for March 2022. In addition, this study also uses various other data sourced from the BPS Lampung Website and the Lampung Province Publication in Figures 2022. Methodology: The first step is to estimate poverty vulnerability using the Vulnerability as Expected Poverty (VEP) method. The study continued by analyzing the determinants of poverty vulnerability. The analysis of vulnerability determinants was carried out using the logit regression method. Results: Analysis of the level of vulnerability to poverty in the Lampung region shows that areas with high vulnerability, such as East Lampung, Tanggamus, and South Lampung, are influenced by various structural factors such as limited access to infrastructure and public services, minimal economic opportunities, and dependence on the agricultural sector. These factors are exacerbated by low levels of education and limited access to credit, which further worsen the economic conditions of the community. The number of household members, age of the head of household, education, gender, regional classification, access to credit, savings, employment status, and non-cash food assistance all contribute to the level of vulnerability; increasing the number of household members and the age of the head of household increase the likelihood of vulnerability, while higher education is also associated with increased risk. Male heads of households and urban areas are less likely to experience poverty vulnerability, while access to credit, savings, employment status, and non-cash food assistance can reduce the risk of poverty. Conclusion: The government needs to prioritize infrastructure development in vulnerable areas, such as East Lampung, Tanggamus, and South Lampung, to improve connectivity and public accessibility to basic services, in line with the Lampung Provincial Government's program to improve production efficiency and regional connectivity.

Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Dairy Farms in Rural Assam: A Double Bootstrap Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

Analysing a sample of 245 smallholder rural dairy farms in Assam, it is found that most dairy farms operate at technically inefficient level. The analysis of input-oriented conventional and bias-corrected data envelopment analysis (DEA) procedure entails that most farms produce milk below the production frontier with underlying scope of reducing variable input component up to 50% to retain the same level of output. Further, exploring the bias-corrected efficiency score determinants, it is found that input use decision is superior for male-headed households, farms that are involved in fodder cultivation, farms with proximity to markets and resource poor farmers whose dairy farming is mostly a principal source of income. The findings of the study indicate presence of ample scope and potential to leverage the technical efficiency (TE) and thereby increase the socio-economic wellbeing of the smallholder dairy farm households in the state. The study also points towards the need for sensitising farmers about the improved dairy farm technologies such as artificial insemination to produce more crossbred cattle along with building a strong network of extension machineries.

Adoption and impacts of hermetic storage on household food insecurity among maize producers’ organizations in Tanzania

We utilize a unique dataset comprising 1180 households affiliated with maize producers' organizations (POs) in the Rukwa and Ruvuma regions of Tanzania to analyze the adoption and impacts of hermetic storage technologies (HSTs) on the quantity of stored maize, measured in kilograms (QSM), and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The study employs the logit and endogenous switching regression models to generate results. We find that, among other factors, the presence of HST vendors in the local community and training on proper HST usage are crucial in the adoption of HSTs among POs. Additionally, the usage of storage pesticides is negatively and significantly correlated with HST adoption. This suggests that farmers employing chemical insect pest control methods are less likely to adopt HSTs. The adoption of HSTs is shown to increase maize storage quantities by 40% and decrease household food insecurity by 43%. Further analysis based on the gender of the household head demonstrates that both female- and male-headed households benefit equally from the adoption of HSTs. The results advocate for the promotion of HSTs as a viable solution to mitigate household food insecurity among members of maize POs in Tanzania.

Comparative Analysis of Factors Influencing Optimal and Timely Antenatal Care Uptake in Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria: A Cross-Section Study

Background Adequate antenatal care (ANC) visits and early timing are crucial for maternal and foetal health. However, many pregnant women in Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria delay ANC initiation and fail to meet recommended visit numbers. This study aimed to identify factors associated with timely ANC initiation and achieving optimal number of ANC visits in these countries. Methods A cross-sectional analysis with data from the most recent Demographic Health Survey (DHS) datasets for Kenya (2022), Nigeria (2018) and South Africa (2016) were used. The study included 35,219 women aged 15–49 who had given birth within the previous two years. The women's sociodemographic and maternal health care-seeking characteristics were summarised using descriptive statistics. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify associations between explanatory variables, the timing of the first ANC visit, and the frequency of ANC visits. Results Optimal ANC visits (≥4 visits) were 67.2% in Kenya, South Africa (75.5%), and Nigeria (56.9%). Early timing of first ANC visits (≤3 months) was 30.2% in Kenya, 47.3% in South Africa and 18.3% in Nigeria. Factors associated with adequate ANC visits were maternal age, wealth status, and caesarean section, while parity and household size reduced the odds of optimal ANC visits. Maternal age, caesarean section, wealth status, and others were associated with increased odds of early timing of ANC visits. Parity, male-headed households, employed women and women who had a challenge with treatment costs had reduced the odds of timely ANC uptake. Conclusion More than half of the participants had optimal ANC visits, while less than half initiated ANC early. Tailored interventions addressing specific social, cultural, and economic contexts are crucial to improving early ANC visits and the frequency of ANC visits. Mixed methods research could provide in-depth insights into barriers and facilitators of ANC uptake, informing the design of targeted interventions.

Protestantism and human capital: Evidence from early 20th century Ireland

Using a large individual-level dataset, we explore the significance of religious affiliation for human capital variation in Ireland at the turn of the twentieth century. We construct a large sample based on the returns of male household heads in the 1901 census and explore variation in literacy across the three principal denominations: Roman Catholicism, Anglicanism and Presbyterianism. Protestantism, particularly Presbyterianism, is associated with higher levels of human capital. This denominational effect is remarkably robust, even when accounting for various control variables and alternative modelling specifications. Supplementary analyses reveal that these literacy disparities existed before the foundation of centralised national schooling in 1831 and were independent of school attendance, as Presbyterians exhibited lower attendance rates than Anglicans. We suggest that denomination mattered because it affected the incentives to accrue literacy ability to fully participate in religious and wider cultural life.

Covid-19 and intra-household financial coping strategies in Pakistan

The economic challenges due to the Covid-19 are likely to be acuter in developing countries as their population predominantly relies on informal activities not protected through insurance or government support. To understand how people are coping with the Covid-19 challenges, this study investigates seven important financial coping strategies of households in Pakistan using a nationally representative large dataset of 6000 households. The data was collected by the government right after the acute stage of the Covid-19 to study the economic implications of pandemic. By using the binary logit regressions our results show that households exposed to a severe negative Covid-19 shock have higher odds of using their savings or investments, acquiring loans, quitting education of their children, not paying their utility bills, and selling their productive assets in comparison to the households unexposed to a severe Covid-19 shock. Furthermore, a gender-based comparison between severely affected male and female-headed households reveals that female-headed households are two times less likely to discontinue the education of their children, obtain informal loans, and sell their productive assets to cope with the Covid-19 shock. This reflects better financial management among female as compared to male-headed households. Lastly, compared to rural households, urban-affected households have higher odds of acquiring a formal loan. The findings highlight the severity of the pandemic in a developing country and call for a swift and targeted government response to ensure minimum well-being of the households.

Beyond the ‘gender gap’ in agriculture: Africa's Green Revolution and gendered rural transformation in Rwanda

The African Green Revolution (AGR) aims to modernize, intensify, and commercialize agriculture through increasing technology adoption by smallholder farmers. AGR interventions also promote gender equality, aiming to close the ‘gender gap’ in agriculture by enhancing women's access to purchased inputs, technology, land, and finance. With an empirical focus on Rwanda, this article examines the gendered implications of the AGR. We critically reflect on the notion of gender gaps and the associated tendency of development research to treat gender as a variable, assessing outcomes for male-headed versus female-headed households in terms of their access to material assets. We argue that these assessments overlook (1) the differential impacts of AGR policies within households and (2) how agricultural modernization influences gendered access to material resources as well as immaterial responsibilities, norms, and identities. Our findings from a mixed-methods study with four Rwandan communities show how the AGR empowers men as ‘modern’ farmers while marginalizing women's agricultural spaces, labor, and crops. We argue that development research and practice should move beyond the narrow focus on gender gaps to additionally consider how technologies and policies are themselves gendered in ways that can constrict food security, entrench inequitable power dynamics, and further marginalize women.

Do social cash transfers bridge the wellbeing gender gap in developing countries? The case of Ghana’s LEAP programme

ABSTRACT Gender inequality remains a significant problem in Ghana with many women socially and economically disadvantaged. Social protection interventions, in particular cash transfer programmes, have the potential to increase wellbeing and reduce gender gaps in poor households. This article analyses the wellbeing differences between men and women beneficiaries of Ghana's Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme. Using a multiple regression moderation interaction model, we analyse six wellbeing dimensions (financial, health, education, food, housing and social) of 322 LEAP cash transfer beneficiaries in Ghana's KEEA district. We found that female-headed households achieve better wellbeing than male-headed households when LEAP income is paid at regular intervals. Regular LEAP payments also reduce gender gaps in wellbeing. These findings contribute to the design of policies seeking to bridge the wellbeing gap between men and women.

MITIGATION OF FOOD INSECURITY IN ETHIOPIA: PERSONAL, HOUSEHOLD, AND REGIONAL DETERMINANTS

Food insecurity has plagued Ethiopia for decades. The objective of this study is determining which personal attributes, household features, income-generating undertakings, and regional location change the food insecurity of Ethiopian households updating past studies. Furthermore, the study quantifies the probability changes in a household being food insecure in response to changes in personal attributes, household features, income-generating undertakings, and regional location. The data from the 2021/2022 Ethiopian Rural Socioeconomic Survey have been applied to estimate coefficients using the logit technique and calculate the effects of explanatory variables. Results show that being a male household head, education, having non-farm enterprise, and access to electricity lower the likelihood of a household being food insecure. In contrast, the likelihood of being food insecure has been associated with the region where a household was located, or dependence on raising livestock. The regional discrepancies have been substantial. Broadening access to education, stimulating non-farm enterprise, and promoting economic development while accounting for regional differences will reduce the risk of household food insecurity.

Utilization of unimproved energy sources and associated factors among households in Bishoftu town, Ethiopia: implications for climate change and health concerns

IntroductionThe use of unimproved energy sources is associated with a range of health problems. However, in Ethiopia, studies focused on the utilization of unimproved energy sources and associated factors are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to close this gap.MethodsIn this community-based cross-sectional study, 5,350 participants were enrolled. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the associations between the utilization of unimproved energy sources and the predictor variables. Additionally, the chi-square test was used to examine the association between households' unimproved energy source utilization and the occurrence of health problems.ResultsIn this study, 45% of households used unimproved energy sources. In the multivariable analysis, households headed by men (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.76; with 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66, 0.87), households headed by illiterate heads (AOR = 1.77 with 95% CI 1.47, 2.14), household family size (AOR = 0.79 with 95% CI 0.79, 0.93), households headed with farmers (AOR = 3.33 with 95% CI 2.31, 4.81), households with low income (AOR = 3.41 with 95% CI 2.57, 4.51), rural households (AOR = 7.94 with 95% CI 6.76, 9.32), and households with regular coffee ceremony practices (AOR = 1.17 with 95% CI 1.00, 1.36) were significantly associated with the utilization of unimproved energy sources. Additionally, the results of the chi-square test revealed that households that relied on unimproved energy sources had a 1.5-fold greater risk of developing respiratory illnesses, an 8.5-fold greater risk of developing cataract disease, and a 5.2-fold greater risk of developing trachoma than households that used improved energy sources.ConclusionA significant proportion of households in Bishoftu town still rely on unimproved energy sources for cooking and other household needs. This indicates a substantial challenge in achieving universal access to clean and sustainable energy in the area. Several socioeconomic and demographic factors are associated with the use of unimproved energy sources, including male-headed households, illiteracy of household head, smaller family size, farming occupation, low income, rural residence, and regular coffee ceremony practices. Most importantly, the use of unimproved energy sources is associated with higher risks of respiratory illnesses, cataracts, and trachoma among household members. Therefore, the government should implement targeted interventions to promote the adoption of clean and improved energy sources among vulnerable households such as households headed by farmers, those with illiterate heads, households with low socioeconomic status, households with regular coffee ceremony practices, and those in rural areas. In addition, the local government should develop and implement educational campaigns to raise awareness about the health and environmental risks associated with the use of unimproved energy sources, particularly among households with high-risk factors identified in the study.

Cultural Constraints and Women's Education: A Case Study of Women's Higher Education in District Mardan

The purpose of this study is to explore deeply rooted cultural issues responsible for women's failure to pursue higher education in District Mardan, Pakistan. For this purpose, a qualitative research approach is employed and data is collected through semi-structured interviews with male household heads. The research pinpointed major issues that surfaced as early marriages, family responsibilities, and discrimination on the basis of gender, poverty, and stigmatization of women rather than men. These barriers do not only stifle the growth of women but also the development of the region in terms of economic incorporation and human resources development. The thematic analysis technique is utilized for qualitative data analysis. This study focuses on equal opportunities for all, irrespective of gender identity, and aims to generate awareness among all relevant stakeholders: family members, community, and policymakers.

Assessment of Beekeeping Practice and Its Constraints in Cheha Woreda of Gurage Zone

The objective of this study was to assess the potential of beekeeping and its practice taking place, constraints affecting the beekeeping practice of the area. For this study, 20 households were selected randomly, with the total of 60 households. Both primary and secondary source of data was collected. The primary data were collected mainly from interviews and by observation, whereas secondary data were collected from Chaha Woreda Agricultural office. Further more, visits to the districts were taken to gather relevant information for the study prior to actual survey. The results of this study show that, out of the respondents, 51 were male headed households whereas the rest 9 households were female headed. Majority of household in the area was from 20-60 years old indicating that, active working force is dominant in the study area. In relation to educational level, 20% of the respondents were illiterate and the remaining had got at least basic education quantitatively, 18.33%, 28.33% and 13.33% of the respondents had attended elementary school, secondary and high school, respectively. Beekeeping is an ancient farming activity and practiced as a side line with other farm activities. Based on the type of hives and management practiced, three types of beekeeping are yet visible in the area. There was no significant variation in proportion of hives among the study kebeles. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;However, Sisenamati, which was lower in number of transitional hive, has shown relatively high potential with modern hive followed by warden. Adoshe was better in potential of transitional hive but has lower number of modern hive. &amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;Out of householders, 53.4%, 30.6%, 9.4% and 6.6% state that they have place traditional hive under the roof of the house, hanging on trees, inside the house and back yard respectively.

Sustainable land management and implications on incomes, food self-sufficiency and women

The adoption of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices among smallholder farmers remains low, particularly among women farmers. Understanding the relationship between assets, gender, and SLM adoption and how their interaction impinges on household food self-sufficiency and livelihoods is essential for developing gender-responsive SLM programmes that effectively promote sustainable livelihoods and address household food insecurity. This study examines the effects of asset type on SLM practices adoption, women farmers, and their implications on household incomes and food self-sufficiency. Data was collected through a cross-sectional survey of 761 households selected from 11 chiefdoms across six districts in Eastern Zambia. Analysis involved Structural Equation System framework and Propensity Score Matching techniques to examine relationships between SLM adoption, food self-sufficiency, and household incomes, considering various socio-economic factors. Results showed marital status and household size as significant demographics, with education positively correlating with household income and SLM participation (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Gender disparities persisted, with male-headed households having higher incomes. Labour allocation analysis revealed women’s involvement in labour-intensive tasks, while smaller farms showed higher income probabilities, supporting sustainable agricultural intensification. Social capital significantly influenced SLM participation, and access to financial capital. Livestock assets, land size, and crop diversity predicted food security, while male decision-making influenced food security and income. Incomes were higher for women participating in SLM projects. This study underscores the importance of SLM practices in influencing household incomes and food security, especially for women. Addressing gender disparities and promoting women’s empowerment in agriculture are crucial for achieving equitable and sustainable rural development. Policymakers can foster sustainable livelihoods in rural communities by prioritizing SLM and empowering women.

ANALYZING SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC DISPARITIES AND FACTORS INVOLVED IN NON-USE OF MODERN CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG YOUNG AND NON-YOUNG MARRIED FEMALES IN INDIA: EVIDENCE FROM NFHS 2019-21

It has been observed that married women refrain from utilizing contraceptive methods owing to a variety of reasons, including postpartum-amenorrhea, side-effects-worries, rarely or never having sex, no contraception while breastfeeding, or frustration with a particular method. The current study sought to investigate the sociodemographic disparities and contributing factors related to married women who are young (15–24 years old) and non-young (25–49 years old) and who do not utilize contemporary contraceptive methods. The research utilized cross-sectional data obtained from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) to explore the determinants of contraceptive non-utilization among 175,652 married women in India. Multiple logistic regression analysis was utilized for the examination. The study found that non-young married females (25-49) had a higher prevalence of not using contemporary contraceptives (72%) compared to young married females (45.8%). The majority of non-users were from the central region (24.4%), followed by the east (17.4%), north-east (17.2%), north (15.9%), south (15.2%), and west region (9.9%). The majority of non-users were non-working and had male and female household heads. Most non-users knew about modern contraceptives but were unaware of family planning on radio and TV. Higher odds ratios in the non-use among married females were found significant among central-region females (OR=2.189, CI: 1.815-2.641), East-region (OR=1.324, CI: 1.148-1.527), South-region (OR=1.262, CI: 1.063-1.497), females who don’t know caste (OR=1.898, CI: 1.176-3.062), females having primary (OR=3.466, CI: 2.889-4.157) and secondary education (OR=2.281, CI: 1.890-2.753), females who used since last birth (OR=1.851, CI: 1.658-2.068) and never used (OR=1.632, CI: 1.474-1.806). The study found that economically disadvantaged females, household heads, and those with multiple children are less likely to avoid birth control methods, while marital status, religion, caste, education, and birth order did not have a significant impact on non-usage. The study highlights sociodemographic disparities in contraceptive use, emphasizing the need to address issues like low education, media exposure, and ignorance towards birth-control practices, and recommends immediate actions to reduce non-use among married females.

Analysis of agricultural technology adoption: the use of improved maize seeds and its determinants in Ethiopia, evidence from Eastern Amhara

Agriculture is the major source of income and employment creation for majority of least developed countries. Ethiopia as one of least developed countries of sub-Saharan Africa, majority of its citizen’s livelihood is predominantly dependent on agricultural products, more specifically on the production of cereal crops (Alemayehu et al. in Adv Crop Sci Technol 6(1):1–9, 2018). This study is conducted to identify the determinants of household to adopt and use improved maize seed, one of highly cultivated cereal crops in Eastern Amhara of Ethiopia. The data used in this study are secondary data collected by the agriculture office of Amhara regional state from 3864 household farmers living in the study area in 2022 fiscal year. To address the objective of the study, both descriptive and econometric methods of data analysis are applied. Because of the binary nature of adoption to be either adaptor or non-adaptor, probit regression model is applied. The probit model result shows that being male-headed household, rural credit provision, access to irrigation and the use of fertilizers affect the tendency of adopting improved maize seeds are positively related, while total arable land size owned by farmers negatively affects adoption status. Based on this result, the researcher recommends that government and other institutions should be invited to facilitate and directly involve in providing credit, irrigation, and fertilizers in the study area.

Effect of Open Market Operations on Income Inequality

Inequality is particularly relevant for public debates on the disaggregate implications of economic policies since they might have distinct effects across different segments of the population. Impact of monetary easing on inequality have recently attracted increasing attention especially in developing countries. This article examined the effect of open market operations on income inequality in Kenya. A quantitative research design method was adopted. The study utilized a quantitative cross-sectional data from the Kenya Continuous Household Survey Programme (KCHSP) for the years 2020 and 2021. Stepwise regression, forward selection model was executed with a threshold of 0.2. Further, the study was supported by Permanent Income Hypothesis, Kuznets Hypothesis and the modernization theory. Income inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient, was the dependent variable. Open market operations (repo, and reverse repo) was the independent variable in the model. The male headed households had a Gini coefficient of 0.58 while a Gini coefficient of 0.59 was attributed to female headed households, across the 47 counties. The results showed that open market operations (reverse repo) had a coefficient of 0.022, p=0.026&lt; 0.05 which was positive and statistically significant at 5% level. The findings indicate that in order to effectively manage income inequality in the country, policymakers should adopt an interdisciplinary and multifaceted approach. This approach should take into account the differential impacts of various policy instruments on income distribution, with a particular focus on demographic segmentation. Additionally, policymakers should combine careful adjustments to monetary policy with targeted social and fiscal measures. These measures should be continuously informed by rigorous data analysis, with the aim of fostering a more inclusive and equitable economy.

Financial literacy, social security, and healthcare cost anxiety in China.

This study examines the impact of financial literacy and social security on healthcare cost anxiety in China using data from the 2021 Global Financial Inclusion database. Employing an ordered logit model and its marginal effects, we analyse how these factors influence varying levels of healthcare cost anxiety (worried, somewhat worried, and not worried at all) across total, female-headed and male-headed households. Financial literacy and social security both demonstrate significant negative effects on healthcare cost anxiety across all household types. It implied that individuals who save for old age and those with social security coverage are less likely to experience high levels of healthcare cost anxiety. The ordered logit results show consistent negative coefficients for financial literacy and social security across all household categories. Marginal effects analysis further illustrates how these factors affect the probability of falling into each category of healthcare cost anxiety. These findings underscore the importance of promoting financial literacy and expanding social security coverage as potential strategies to alleviate healthcare cost anxiety in China.