Middle Income Class Research Articles

Neighborhood Perceptions and Cumulative Impacts of Low Level Chronic Exposure to Fine Particular Matter (PM2.5) on Cardiopulmonary Health.

Adverse perceptions of neighborhood safety, aesthetics and quality including access to resources can induce stress and may make individuals more sensitive to cardiopulmonary effects of air pollution exposure. Few studies have examined neighborhood perceptions as important and modifiable non-chemical stressors of the built environment that may exacerbate effects of air pollution on cardiopulmonary health outcomes, particularly among general population based cohorts. This study examined associations between low-level chronic exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and cardiopulmonary health, and the potential mediating or modifying effects of adverse neighborhood perceptions. Using data from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW), 2230 non-asthmatic adults age 21–74 were included in the analyses. The overall goals of this study were to assess if individuals who experience stress from neighborhood environments in which they live were more sensitive to low levels of fine particular matter (PM2.5 μg/m3). Demographic predictors of air pollution exposure included younger age, non-White race, lower education and middle class income. After adjustments, objective lung function measures (FEV1 and FEV1 to FVC ratio) were the only cardiopulmonary health indicators significantly associated with chronic three-year annual averages of PM2.5. Among all non-asthmatics, a ten unit increase in estimated three year annual average PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with lower forced expiratory volume (L) in one second FEV1 (β = −0.40 μg/L; 95% CI −0.45, −0.06). Among all individuals, adverse perceptions of the neighborhood built environment did not appear to statistically moderate or mediate associations. However, stratified analysis did reveal significant associations between PM2.5 and lung function (FEV1) only among individuals with negative perceptions and increased reports of neighborhood stressors. These findings included individuals who felt their neighborhoods were poorly maintained (β = −0.82; 95% CI −1.35, −0.28), experienced stress from crime (β = −0.45; 95% CI −0.94, 0.04) or reported neighborhood is not well maintained (β = −1.13, CI −2.04, −0.24). These significant associations were similar for FEV1 to FVC ratio. Multi-pronged approaches addressing both neighborhood built environment aesthetics and air pollution regulation may be necessary to protect vulnerable and susceptible individuals and reduce persistent inequalities.

Exponential structure of income inequality: evidence from 67 countries

Economic competition between humans leads to income inequality, but, so far, there has been little understanding of underlying quantitative mechanisms governing such a collective behavior. We analyze datasets of household income from 67 countries, ranging from Europe to Latin America, North America and Asia. For all of the countries, we find a surprisingly uniform rule: Income distribution for the great majority of populations (low and middle income classes) follows an exponential law. To explain this empirical observation, we propose a theoretical model within the standard framework of modern economics and show that free competition and Rawls' fairness are the underlying mechanisms producing the exponential pattern. The free parameters of the exponential distribution in our model have an explicit economic interpretation and direct relevance to policy measures intended to alleviate income inequality.

REPÚBLICA POPULAR CHINA Y EL NUEVO POSICIONAMIENTO GEOESTRATÉGICO: AMÉRICA LATINA EN LA MIRA DEL DRAGÓN

No importa si miramos a la República Popular China (RPCh), de acuerdo a las categorías de Raúl Bernal Meza, como un socio comercial de riesgo o no; como un modelo de desarrollo económico- social; o como eventual pilar en la construcción de un nuevo orden mundial multipolar y no hegemónico, lo claro es que el “ascenso pacífico” de la RPCh ha implicado nuevas ecuaciones de poder, de seguridad y un reacomodo de los equilibrios mundiales, teniendo todos los actores internacionales que ajustar sus agendas a esta nueva realidad, incluyendo América Latina. Este artículo, entonces, mira las implicaciones para Latinoamérica de la creciente presencia (viralización) de una China que no puede desarrollarse de manera aislada del resto del mundo (necesita estabilidad, mercados, materias primas y energía para no caer en la trampa de la renta media), pero donde el mundo tampoco puede disfrutar de la prosperidad y estabilidad sin la RPCh a pesar de que la solidez del poder de EE.UU. sigue siendo un factor prioritario. En este marco, el artículo fundamenta el gran desafío que tiene la región de buscar como conjunto una relación de cooperación “igualitaria” y de contrapesos que sobrepase el “espejismo económico” actual de modo evitar las vulnerabilidades y amenazas de una dependencia estratégica, de una nueva colonización y/o una satelización en un contexto de disputa global.

Socio – Demographic Correlates and Psychological Factors Associated with Mothers of Mentally Handicapped Children

The response of society to its individuals with disability, especially those with mentally handicapped has varied a great deal over the human history. The mother plays a major role in the family especially as the caretaker of the mentally retarded child. It is important for the service provider to know what are the psychological problem are pose by parents and their children for whom they seek professional help and guidance . However, the present problem for investigation which intends to study the socio – demographic correlates and psychological factors associated with mothers of mentally handicapped children of mentally handicapped children. The study was carried out on 100 subject’s selected using purposive sampling. The subject consisted of mentally handicapped children and their biological mother was coming to OPD of Composite Regional Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with disabilities, Sundernagar, Mandi. Himachal Pradesh. Tools used in the study were (a) Socio-demographic Data sheet (b) Family Interview Schedule for Stress and Coping in Mental Retardation (c) Behavior Assessment Scale for Indian Children with Mental Retardation. The overall analysis of the results revealed that degree of mentally handicapped with or without behavior problem did not influence mothers stress and depression. Besides this, it was found that level of mentally handicapped alone did affect coping skill and anxiety level of mothers. It can be seen that relatively high representation of male child (60%) was brought to the centre for intervention and majority of them belong to rural areas. It was also found that only one third of the mentally handicapped children attending special schools. There was significant high number of mothers (58%) to have education level of 10th and above, majority of them were house wife and fell under the category of lower middle class income group. Moreover rehabilitation related professional would be needed to hike their professional standard of services dealing with the families of the mentally handicapped children. The services offered by governments as well as NGOs have great impact on community and society.

Exploring the place of financial status in the good life: Income and meaning in life

Two studies examined the association between income and meaning in life (MIL). Study 1 (N = 781) demonstrated that income and other measures of financial status are positively associated with MIL and other aspects of well-being. The association between income and MIL was partially explained by autonomy, competence, and perceptions of control. Study 2 (N = 123) examined people’s forecasts of how financial status would affect their future well-being. Having a middle class or upper-middle class income in the future was expected to result in higher MIL, happiness, and need satisfaction than a life with a low income, showing that people perceive income as tied to meaning. These studies demonstrate how financial status can contribute to actual and expected MIL.

Which Class and What Squeezes? Relationships with Wellbeing, National Pride, and Inequality

Singapore had been experiencing high income inequality and a very recent drop in income disparity. As an economy competing for international top talents and investment, Singapore faced worldwide long-term forces raising income inequality; as a democratic city-state responding to heterogeneous demand of its voters, recently strengthened redistributive policies benefiting the poor might strain the national pride and sense of belonging of the middle income class as compared to the relatively more mobile top income class. Using the World Values Survey Singapore 2012, this paper provides evidence that given the long-term trend of income disparity and the recent strengthening of redistribution, the middle income class was indeed squeezed in terms of national pride, feeling as part of the Singapore nation, and attitude towards income redistribution, and suggests that the perception of low social mobility is also a reason for the findings among others.

Making Sustainability Palatable? Changing Practices of Middle-Class Food Consumption in Bangalore

This paper nuances the perspective of the Indian middle class as conspicuous consumers who have inherently unsustainable consumption practices and discusses the powerful role that cultural practices play in shaping consumption and waste. Using 127 qualitative interviews with people from the IT sector, it examines some practices and transformations in cultural arrangements that are intimately linked to food consumption and the identity of the middle class in Bangalore. This material challenges the assumed correlation that if middle-class income rises, people consume more wastefully. In particular, the emphasis on freshness and the low reliance on packaged products for daily consumption results in a low volume of food waste generated in the household. Making a distinction between the public and private space, the paper argues that culture and traditional ethos can be powerful allies of sustainable consumption.

Income Distribution and Inequality in Indonesia: Study on Middle Class Household

The current positive trend of Indonesia’s economic growth has demonstrated that increasing income per capita is one of the economic prosperity indicators. One pillar of the increase in the income per capita of middle class is its surge to 56.5% in 2010 compared to that of in 2000 which only reached 20%, and it has brought Indonesia to be qualified as a middle-income country. It is believed that, one of the ways to reduce inequality in society is by encouraging economic growth and development of middle-class society. This study aims to analyze the profile of middle class household and its contribution on decreasing inequality in Indonesia using the data of National Survey of Social Economy (Susenas) from 2004 to 2012. By using Keynesian Consumption model and Lorenz Curve, the results showed that middle-class grouping by using the 20th and 80th percentile of income has a higher growth than that of the USD or portion average income approach. However, due to the relatively small contribution of middle class income growth in Indonesia to the economic growth, the changes on Indonesian middle class income is inelastic to the changes on national output.

On the Updating and Reformulations, Added by Adam Smith and J M Keynes, to Aristotle's Universal, General Theory of Economics, Politics, Civics, and Institutions

On the Updating and Reformulations, Added by Adam Smith and J M Keynes, to Aristotle's Universal, General Theory of Economics, Politics, Civics, and Institutions

Nutritional Status of Autistic Children and Relationship with Nutritional Awareness of Their Mothers

BACKGROUND: Autism Spectrum Disorder is prevalent worldwide. Autistic children are vulnerable, their preference in food intake, well established, that may lead to abnormal nutrition status, this study designed to describe nutritional awareness of mothers of autistic children.METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to determine the nutritional status of autistic children and their mother's awareness in Khartoum state. 67 child aged between 3-18 years were chosen from 12 Centers for children with special needs.Data was collected by questionnaire, which included general information, anthropometric measurements, dietary, and food consumption of children, through case-findings or purposive sampling techniques.RESULTS: The prevalence of autism is higher in males than females, males (77.6%), females (22.4%). Socio-economic status findings showed (65.7%) were from middle class income. Autistic children fathers (74.6%) employed and employed mothers were (28.3%). Nutritional status showed Preschool Females (100%) underweight; while school age males were (44.4%). 94.9% of them consume wheat and other cereal products. Frequent attacks of upper respiratory tract infection occurs in (97%), malaria and worms infestation occurred in (49.3%) and (46.3%) had teeth decay.CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS: Nutrition awareness is essential for mothers of autistic children. It’s recommended that a dietitian should be a member in each center to educate mothers about consumption of recommended food especially in the early childhood for a better outcome through adulthood.

Identifying Issues Surrounding First Generation Students

First-generation students compose a subpopulation within the institution of higher education, which exhibits its own set of resources in areas such as academic preparation, support systems, family background, and finances to apply to education. This quantitative study examined gaps and barriers to resources currently available to assist the population. The researchers utilized four pre-developed demographic questions along with a 34-item survey instrument assessing the experiences of first generation students, to gather the data presented in the study. The analysis involved coding and elementary data analysis of demographics and reporting frequencies. The 200 participants in the study identified as first-generation students at four-year universities within the United States. The majority of the participants surveyed were white (69.5%; n= 139), between the ages of 17 and 26 (94.5%; n=189), and from families within the middle-class income bracket of (39.5%; n= 79). The results indicated that most common barrier to participants attending college was tuition-cost (63%; n=126), followed by a lack of information about a college, such as financial aid availability and required documents (34.5%; n=69). Over 64% (n=129) received support or guidance from support networks in the form of parents and/or guardians. The study provided information about the issues encountered by first-generation students, as well as the accessed support networks, and preferred resources. KEYWORDS: First-Generation Student; College Retention; Academic Preparation; Financial Assistance; Support Systems

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its associated factors in three regions of Saudi Arabia.

Objectives:To measure prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Saudi Arabia, unveil the life style, nutritional habits and status, as well as identify the potential risk factors.Method:A school-based survey targeting Saudi school students and employees was conducted during the period from 2013 to 2014 using multistage cluster random sample in Central, Western and Eastern regions. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and difference between various population subgroups were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of potential risk factors.Results:Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 49.5% in students and 44% in employees. Life style was not adequate to protect against vitamin D depletion. Unhealthy nutritional habits were widespread, some manifested in childhood while others manifested later in life. Living in the Eastern region, females, 16-19 years of age, low economic class, obese and lack of omega 3 supplements were risk factors in students. Employees living in the Eastern region, females, middle-income class, carbonated soft drink consumers, and lack of multivitamin supplements were at higher risk.Conclusion:There is a need for a health awareness program using evidence-based recommendations. Screening for early detection and correction of the condition should be proposed to be part of the national health strategy. There is need for identifying the burden of vitamin D deficiency on other diseases to control and improve the prognosis of these conditions.

Households willingness to pay for improved solid waste management

Waste is a byproduct of human life. Nowadays, municipal solid waste is being produced in excessive amounts and in this way, both developing and developed countries are facing challenges regarding generation of waste. Economic development, urbanization and improved living standards in cities have contributed to increase in the amount and complexity of solid waste produced. The present study was conducted in the residential area of main Boulevard Gulberg, Lahore to determine the present methods and efficiency of current solid waste management facility and to estimate the willingness of the selected households to pay for the improvement of solid waste management through questionnaire survey. It was found that current Solid waste management system in the area is fair but needs more improvement in terms of improved collection efficiency and rates, recycling bins, and segregation of waste at storage. According to the questionnaire survey, majority of the respondents despite belonging to middle class incomes are willing to pay an amount less than USD 4.8 for the improvement of waste management facility in the area. The area lacks frequent collection of waste containers. Therefore, there is a need for upgradation of storage and collection facilities in terms of increase in collection efficiency and rates, introduction of recycling facility and segregation of waste at source. Waste storage and collection sites of the area should be monitored periodically and waste should be disposed of in a scientific manner in sanitary landfills.

Childhood Family Structure and Intergenerational Income Mobility in the United States.

The declining prevalence of two-parent families helped increase income inequality over recent decades. Does family structure also condition how economic (dis)advantages pass from parents to children? If so, shifts in the organization of family life may contribute to enduring inequality between groups defined by childhood family structure. Using National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data, I combine parametric and nonparametric methods to reveal how family structure moderates intergenerational income mobility in the United States. I find that individuals raised outside stable two-parent homes are much more mobile than individuals from stable two-parent families. Mobility increases with the number of family transitions but does not vary with children's time spent coresiding with both parents or stepparents conditional on a transition. However, this mobility indicates insecurity, not opportunity. Difficulties maintaining middle-class incomes create downward mobility among people raised outside stable two-parent homes. Regardless of parental income, these people are relatively likely to become low-income adults, reflecting a new form of perverse equality. People raised outside stable two-parent families are also less likely to become high-income adults than people from stable two-parent homes. Mobility differences account for about one-quarter of family-structure inequalities in income at the bottom of the income distribution and more than one-third of these inequalities at the top.

A Study of Economic Background and Mental Health of Adolescents

In the today's age of competition and globalization, people have to face many problems, so the question and problems of mental health are increasing. Human life is becoming complex and hectic. While living life, people have to face many problems, so the problems of mental health are taking complex forms. These problems are increasing in high as well as low income families. So we selected for study high, middle and low income class families. Because the factor of economic background has a concern with mental health of all boys and girls. Mental health is regarded as inevitable part of human life.Economic background of the family affects mental health of person. Because of many economic problems, creates crisis and people have to face mental health problems. It can affect on mental health of human being. Mental health depends on different desires and needs of boys and girls, economy of family and parents attitude towards their sons and daughters. Also this mental health depends on physical and mental needs and their fulfillment in concern with people. Family income, occupational prestige, and educational qualifications are related to socioeconomic status. It influence an individual life. They perceive their health according to their income. We observe that low income groups are not serious for their health than high income groups. Health behaviors such as use of tobacco, lack of exercise, and poor diet contribute decline physical as well as mental health of poor people. They are unable to purchase goods and services that promote good health. Economic and social facotrs such as income, education and social approval have a direct connection to health. These socio-economic determinants strongly interact to influence health and behavior of people.People with low income group often lack resources and access to nutritious food, adequate housing andnecessities impact negatively on their physical and mental health. They have to face financial and life stress which affects their health and some problems creates such as high blood pressure, diabetes, immune and so on. On the other hand, those who have adequate income and employment are likely to experience health outcomes that are less dependent on material needs but are nonetheless affected by the demands they face at home and at work and the degree to which they have control and decision-making influence in those settings.Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make contribution to his or her community (WHO, 2013).Venn and kutcher (2009) observe that, although it is often overlooked, mental health is as important to a person's well-being as their physical health, particularly during the turbulent year of adolescence. Christopher Hudson (2005) reported that, the poorer one's socioeconomic conditions are, the higher one's risk is for mental disability and psychiatric hospitalization. It is evident that poverty and mental ill health are linked together in a complex manner. Insecurity, low educational levels, inadequate housing and malnutrition, which are the correlates of poverty, are recognized as contributing to common mental disorders (Kuruvilla & Jacob (2007).Katie McLaughlin (2012) concluded that significant associations between low socioeconomic status (SES) and mental disorder have been found throughout the developed world in studies of both adults and children. Christopher Hudson (2005) found that is inverse correlation between socioeconomic status and mental illness. Young people are at risk of mental problems afterjob loss. …

Concurrent Plasmodium infection, anemia and their correlates among newly diagnosed people living with HIV/AIDS in Northern Ethiopia

The magnitude of concurrent malaria infection and the impact it has on hematological abnormalities, such as anemia in people living with HIV/AIDS, is not well studied in Ethiopian set up. In this cross sectional study, therefore, we assessed the prevalence of concurrent malaria infection and anemia among highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) naive people living with HIV/AIDS between October, 2012 to May, 2013 in Northern Ethiopia. After obtaining consent, socio demographic, clinical, immunological and behavioural data was obtained. The overall prevalence of concomitant malaria infection was 17.4%. Rural residents and low to middle income class clients were more frequently co-infected with malaria (p<0.0001). Utilization of insecticide treated nets (p=0.0002) and co-trimoxazole intake (p=0.006) were protective factors against Plasmodium infection. The overall prevalence of anemia was also high (43%), being significantly higher (91.3%) in malaria positive people living with HIV/AIDS compared to malaria free HIV patients (32.8%) (p<0.0001). Female gender (p=0.011), history of opportunistic infections (P=0.0027) and late HIV stages (III and IV) (p=0.0001) were also significantly associated with anemia in HIV patients. In conclusion, concurrent malaria represents a common condition and there was a significant difference in the odds of anemia between malaria positive and negative people living with HIV/AIDS in Northern Ethiopia indicating a need for routine screening of people living with HIV/AIDS living in malaria endemic-areas and close monitoring of co-infected patients. Indeed utilization of ITNs, malaria prophylaxis and early HIV diagnosis are highly encouraged in people living with HIV/AIDS.

Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization by Branko Milanovic

Reviewed by: Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization by Branko Milanovic Abdella Abdulkadir Abdou Branko Milanovic, Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization (Cambridge: Harvard University Press 2016) In the last several years there has been an explosion of mainstream economics literature on inequality including writings by Branko Milanovic who spent decades at the World Bank and is author of the The Haves and the Have-Nots: A Brief and Idiosyncratic History of Global Inequality (New York: Basic Books, 2012). His new book, Global Inequality is an excellent complement to Thomas Piketty's Capital in the Twentieth Century (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2014), a work which has boosted the momentum for a focus on inequality. Milanovic's timely short book examines changes in inequality focusing on the period since 1988, a period he refers to as a "high globalization" era. He explains the evolution of inequality within advanced economies, an income convergence among nations, and the interaction between them using concepts such as global inequality, Kuznets waves, the elephant curve, the global middle class, global plutocrats, and citizenship premium in five concise chapters. The analysis focuses on three social classes: the global middle class (urban residents of China and other emerging economies), global plutocrats, and the middle class of advanced economies. "High globalization" benefited the first two classes, and harmed the last group. Key developments include: the high growth rate in Asian economies which boosted convergence and helped the rise of the "global middle class," the weakening of the middle class in advanced economies, the rise of the share of the top 1% in global income and wealth, and the associated rise of inequality in advanced economies. These trends are captured by the "elephant curve" (Figure 1.1: 11) showing the cumulative percentage income gain of the three classes. Using household surveys of income of nations the figure shows that between 1988 and 2008 the real income of the global middle income rose the most, followed by the global plutocrats, while the income of the global upper middle class (the advanced world's middle class) remained stagnant. Milanovic captures this reversal of fortune for the middle class of advanced [End Page 314] countries by the novel concept of Kuznets waves. Historically, inequality rose in the West during the industrialization decades, and started declining in the first half of the 20th century. Kuznets claimed that industrialization caused both income and inequality to increase initially, but eventually increases in income accompanied reduced inequality. This relationship, the Kuznets curve, became the conventional wisdom in economics until inequality started rising in the last quarter of the 20th century. This development led Piketty to reject the claim that the Kuznets curve captured some natural tendency of capitalism, and posited that the decline in inequality experienced by the West was caused by exogenous shocks of the two world wars and the economic policies shaped by them. Milanovic's comment on Piketty is twofold. Firstly, he contends that the causes of World War I were not exogenous to the economy, and instead the war can be explained by rising inequality and class conflict. He refers to Hobson, Lenin, and Luxemburg to explain how increased inequality within industrialized countries led to imperialism and war. The war unleashed the forces of "the socialist movement, the Russian revolution" and caused the destruction of capital. (98) Consequently, inequality began declining in the 20th century as captured by the original Kuznets curve. Once these conditions reversed, inequality stared to rise again undergirded by globalization and technological revolution. Secondly, this means that increased inequality at present could generate political forces that would bring about another decline in inequality, i.e., a new Kuznets curve, hence the idea of Kuznets waves. Milanovic argues that inequality can decline for both malign (war, civil conflict, epidemics) and benign (labour movement, education, demographic and technological changes) reasons. The second wave of decline in inequality can be caused by any combination of these forces. He summarizes long-term data on changes in income and inequality and the movement of Kuznets waves for six advanced economies in an illuminating manner. (Table 2.2: 88) Unlike Piketty who avoids the...

Psychological distress, self esteem and emotional dependency of married individuals as predictors of marital adjustment

In current literature there are studies that have evaluated the relationship between psychological distresses, self-esteem, emotional dependency and marital adjustment. This study aims to contribute to the expansion of this area of research concentrating on especially Turkish case which seems to be considerably different one from both the United States and other Western countries. It is concluded that marital adjustment is higher for the men than for the women. Psychological distress negatively predicts marital adjustment for both women and men, whereas self-esteem and emotional dependency predicts it positively and psychological distress levels are higher for the women than for the men. Some factors for this could be subordinated status of women at home, lack of sufficient income, violence, social and economic inequalities, traditional duties that should be performed in daily affairs. Those in low income class have lower marital adjustment, self-esteem, emotional dependency compared to those in middle and high income classes. There is no doubt that economic problems enhance the preoccupation with financial issues in many couples. Higher-Post Graduate educational level had higher marriage adjustment scores compared to individuals with Primary-Secondary School educational level. Higher/Post Graduate educational level had lower psychological distress scores compared to individuals with Primary-Secondary School educational level and High School.

A Case-Control Study of Alcohol Consumption and Esophageal Cancer in the Northeast State of Mizoram, India

Summary: Esophageal cancer is one of the main health issues in Mizoram. The risk factors of the disease are related to consumption of alcohol. There have not been any epidemiological studies on this subject in the state. The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between esophageal cancer and consumption of alcohol. Materials and Methods: A hospital based matched case-control study was conducted comprising of 138 cases with histologically confirmed diagnosis of esophageal cancer and 276 controls that were cancer and esophageal cancer disease free. Cases and controls matched by gender and age (± 5 years). Ratio of cases and controls were 1:2. A questionnaire was used to collect information on possible risk factors of esophageal cancer. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for gastric cancer were calculated by a conditional logistic regression. Results: Cases had significantly lower education level. Most of the cases are from middle income class. After adjustment for consumption of betel quid, tobacco, smoking, body mass index (BMI), family history of cancer, education level and income level, higher risk of esophageal cancer was found for those who have the habit of consuming alcohol in the morning. After controlling for consumption of betel quid, tobacco, smoking, body mass index (BMI), family history of cancer, education level, income level, dietary habits, physical activity, consumption of Zu(locally brewed alcohol) and both Zu(locally brewed alcohol) and commercial alcohol(rum, whisky, vodka and beer, etc) are also associated with higher risk of esophageal cancer (O.R = 9.820, 95% CI = 2.029-47.523).

Media and The Environment in Malaysia: An Analysis on News Coverage of Landslide Disaster in Kuala Lumpur

Studies done on media reporting and the environment, particularly on natural disasters area less researched topic in Malaysia. This paper examines the representation of disaster news and analyses on how disaster news reports are being covered in local newspapers by taking a landslide case occurred at Taman Puncak Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur in December, 2012. The samples were taken from two local mainstream newspapers as a comparative study. Utusan Malaysia, being the major Malay newspapers in the country targets Malay readers, while The Star, an English-language daily, targets multi-ethnic and middle-class income readers. This study used quantitative and qualitative content analysis in identifying patterns of coverage by both newspapers. The analysis revealed that despite having their own principles, guidelines and ideologies; this study concludes that both newspapers have a lot of similarities in their reporting on this particular disaster. The main similarity is local environmental news is still predominantly presented as straight news.