Nations Human Development Report Research Articles

The Risk Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Multimorbidity of Anaemia, Malaria, and Malnutrition among Children Aged 6-59 Months in Nigeria.

In the last ten years, multimorbidity in children under the age of five years has become an emerging health issue in developing countries. The study of multimorbidity of anaemia, malaria, and malnutrition (MAMM) among children in Nigeria has not received significant attention. This study aims to investigate what risk factors are associated with the prevalence of multimorbidity among children aged 6 to 59 months in Nigeria. This study used two nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and the 2018 National Human Development Report. A series of multilevel mixed-effect ordered logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between child/parent/household variables (at level 1), community-related variables (at level 2) and area-related variables (at level 3), and the multimorbidity outcome (no disease, one disease only, two or more diseases). The results show that 48.3% (4917/10,184) of the sample of children aged 6-59 months display two or more of the disease outcomes. Being a female child, the maternal parent having completed higher education, the mother being anaemic, the household wealth quintile being in the richest category, the proportion of community wealth status being high, the region being in the south, and place of residence being rural were among the significant predictors of MAMM (p < 0.05). The prevalence of MAMM found in this study is unacceptably high. If suitable actions are not urgently taken, Nigeria's ability to actualise SDG-3 will be in grave danger. Therefore, suitable policies are necessary to pave the way for the creation/development of integrated care models to ameliorate this problem.

The Intersection of a Child's Demographics and Household Socioeconomic Status in the Multimorbidity of Malaria, Anaemia, and Malnutrition among Children Aged 6-59 Months in Nigeria.

Multimorbidity of malaria, anemia, and malnutrition (MAMM) is a condition in which an individual has two or more of these health conditions, and is becoming an emergent public health concern in sub-Saharan African countries. The independent associations of a child's demographic variables and household socioeconomic (HSE) disparities with a child's health outcomes have been established in the literature. However, the effects of the intersection of these factors on MAMM, while accounting for other covariates, have not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to determine how children's sex, age, and household socioeconomic status interact to explain the variations in MAMM among children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria. Data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey and the 2018 National Human Development Report (NHDR) were used. This study included weighted samples of 10,184 children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria. A three-level multilevel mixed effect ordinal logistic regression model was used, such that individual characteristics at level 1 were nested in communities at level 2 and nested in states at level 3. Subsequently, predictive probability charts and average adjusted probability tables were used to interpret the intersectional effects. Five models were created in this scenario. Model 1 is the interaction between the child's sex and household wealth status; model 2 is the interaction between the child's sex and age; model 3 is the interaction between the child's age and household wealth status; model 4 has the three two-way interactions of the child's sex, age, and household wealth status; and model 5 includes model 4 and the three-way interactions between a child's sex, age, and household wealth quintiles; while accounting for other covariates in each of the models. The prevalence of children with a 'none of the three diseases' outcome was 17.3% (1767/10,184), while 34.4% (3499/10,184) had 'only one of the diseases', and 48.3% (4918/10,184) had 'two or more' MAMMs. However, in the multivariate analyses, model 3 was the best fit compared with other models, so the two-way interaction effects of a child's age and household wealth status are significant predictors in the model. Children aged 36-47 months living in the poorest households had a probability of 0.11, 0.18, and 0.32 of existing with MAMM above the probability of children of the same age who live in the middle class, more prosperous, and richest households, respectively, while all other covariates were held constant. Thus, the variation in the prevalence of MAMM in children of different ages differs depending on the household wealth quintile. In other words, in older children, the variations in MAMM become more evident between the richer and the poorer household quintiles. Therefore, it is recommended that policies that are geared toward economic redistribution will help bridge the disparities observed in the prevalence of multiple diseases among children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria.

Comparative analysis of higher education on the example of certain countries of the European and Asia-Pacific regions

This study analyses and compares higher education in Germany, France, and Singapore. The authors highlight the similarities and differences between higher education systems in some countries of the European and Asia-Pacific regions. Its structure is described, with consideration to characteristics of each state, the place of these countries in the leading world rankings on the level of education is given (Education Index 2022 of the United Nations Development Programme and Human Development Report 2021–2022). A comparative analysis of the study duration, principles of building a higher education system was conducted. Also, the authors studied participation of employers (organisations and enterprises) and state in the process, along with issues of employment of graduates as a criterion for this method. The role of the relative independence of higher educational institutions in resolving admission issues was identified. The authors examined the stages of mastering programmes, the requirements for applicants when entering educational organisations, the types of degrees, and the procedure for awarding them. The system of dual (practice-oriented) training was explored as a basis for employment of graduates in France and Germany, the principles and goals of its functioning in the analysed states of the European region were clarified.

Socio-economic, demographic, and contextual predictors of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria.

Malnutrition has remained a global public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Researchers have committed to studying malnutrition (especially in children under the age of five) to address the nine malnutrition targets, set by the WHO to be achieved by 2025. This study seeks to evaluate the prevalence, the individual and contextual predictors of malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months across Nigeria and its states. Two separates, independently collected, nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, the National Human Development Report (NHDR 2018) and the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (2018 NDHS) were linked for this study. Spatial map was used to describe the prevalence of malnutrition, a 3-level multivariate multilevel logistic regression models were fitted where children/individuals (at level 1) were nested in communities/clusters (at level 2) and nested in states (at level 3). A weighted sample of 7,770 children 6-59 months were considered in this study. The results showed that an estimated 43.6% of children aged 6-59 months are poorly nourished in Nigeria. The proportions of poorly nourished children were generally highest in the Northern Nigeria. Child's gender, age, birth size, preceding birth order, anaemia status, maternal education, work status, body weight, household wealth status, number of bedrooms were among individual/household predictors of malnutrition. On the community level, being from community with high wealth index, distance to nearest health facilities is no big problem. Regional variations and gender inequality index were the state level predictors of malnutrition among children in Nigeria. This study has shown that two-third of children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria were poorly nourished, an indication of a growing concern of double burden of malnutrition in Nigeria.

Exploring spatiotemporal trends and impacts of health resources and services on under-5 mortality in West African countries, 2010-2019: a spatial data analysis.

West African countries experienced the highest under-5 mortality rate (U5MR), the lowest life expectancy, and the poorest economic development. This study aimed to explore the spatiotemporal trend of U5MR and spatial spillover effects of health resources and services to provide a basis for establishing health policies and international cooperative mechanisms in West Africa. We retrieved data from the World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory, the United Nations Human Development Report, and the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Joinpoint regression analysis and Moran's I method were used to examine the temporal trend and spatial dependence of U5MR, respectively. Spatial regression analysis was used to examine the spatial spillover effects. The long-term downward trends in U5MR were divided into multiple segments by two or three change points in 2013, 2014, or 2015, and the annual percentage change after 2015 was higher than before 2015. Global Moran's I was positive, significantly indicating positive spatial autocorrelation, which increased from 0.2850 (p = 0.0210) to 0.3597 (p = 0.0080). Based on spatial regression analysis, human development index (HDI), physicians density, nurses and midwives density, health center density, percentage of infants lacking immunization for diphtheria and measles, and coverage rate of at least one antenatal visit had negative spatial spillover effects on U5MR. HDI had the strongest negative correlation (β = -0.0187 to -0.1054, p < 0.0001). Current health expenditure (CHE) per capita had positive spatial spillover effects on U5MR. This study revealed the spatiotemporal trend of U5MR in West African countries and spatial spillover effects of health resources and services. Promoting economic development, increasing health human resources, health expenditure, vaccination rate, antenatal care coverage, and the proportion of health professionals attending births not only reduced the local U5MR but also exerted spatial spillover effects on adjacent countries. The West African Health Organization may consider regional spillover mechanisms to develop regional health policy and intervention cooperation mechanisms, which will contribute to achieving the sustainable development goal on U5MR, Africa Agenda 2063, and universal health coverage.

Social Justice Ensures Sustainable Development in Vietnam

The issue of social justice is a fundamental issue of each era and has a great topical significance because it is posed together with human existence, associated with dreams and aspirations towards a nice and happy life. After all, the goal of economic growth is to serve people, the subject of development, fairly and progressively. Because "Humans, ultimately mastering their social existence, are also thereby mastering nature, mastering themselves, and becoming a free man" (Marx &amp; Engels, 1995, p.333). It is further confirmed in the United Nations Human Development Report (1995) when it says: "what does development mean without regard to human life?". The purpose of economic development, after all, is only a means to serve human development. It is people who create conditions, seize opportunities, and turn them into a driving force to realize their development goals, which in turn will promote socio-economic development. In the process of international integration, Vietnam has actively implemented policies to achieve social justice and has achieved certain results, contributing to improving the living standards of all people. Certain limitations need to be addressed to realize social justice in all of social life. The article analyzes the viewpoints and practices of implementing social justice in Vietnam, thereby proposing solutions to effectively implement social justice in Vietnam today.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 6 December 2022 / Accepted: 25 February 2023 / Published: 5 March 2023

SOCIAL JUSTICE IN VIETNAM: REALITY AND SOLUTIONS

The issue of social justice is a fundamental issue of each era and has a great topical significance because it is posed together with human existence, associated with dreams and aspirations towards a nice and happy life. After all, the goal of economic growth is to serve people, the subject of development, fairly and progressively. Because, "Humans, ultimately mastering their social existence, are also thereby mastering nature, mastering themselves, and becoming a free man" (Marx &amp; Engels, 1995, p.333). It is further confirmed in the United Nations Human Development Report (1995) when it says: “what does development mean without regard to human life?”.The purpose of economic development, after all, is only a means to serve human development. It is people who create conditions, seize opportunities, and turn them into a driving force to realize their development goals, which in turn will promote socio-economic development. In the process of international integration, Vietnam has actively implemented policies to achieve social justice and has achieved certain results, contributing to improving the living standards of all people. There are certain limitations that need to beaddressed to realize social justice in all of social life. The article analyzes the viewpoints and practices of implementing social justice in Vietnam, thereby proposing solutions to effectively implement social justice in Vietnam today.

Correlation Between the Incidence of Breast Cancer and the Human Development Index

Introduction: Breast cancer is the second most frequent type in the world and is the most common among women. The increase in its incidence has been a cause of constant and growing concern, as the incidence rates vary greatly according to the degree of socio-economic development. Currently, the genesis of breast cancer and its risk factors have been receiving an important consideration, since these factors are crucial when thinking about its prevention. As developing countries are constantly growing, there is a change in their lifestyle habits, such as fat and alcohol intake, smoking, exposure to oral contraceptives, changes in procreation and breastfeeding patterns, birth profile. With this change, they also accumulate more diseases associated with this culture, among them breast cancer. Objective: to analyze a possible relationship between HDI and the incidence of breast cancer worldwide. Methods: The incidence of breast cancer in 164 countries was obtained from GLOBOCAN, derived from population-based cancer records. A list of human development index of the same 164 countries was obtained from the United Nations Human Development Report. Nonlinear regression models were obtained using the Levenberg-Marquardt estimation method. Results and Conclusions: Of the 164 countries evaluated, 146 were in the range between 10 and -10 of predicted variation, which were between the fifth and 95th percentile values. The 18 countries whose incidences of CM were found to deviate outside this range (nine above and below, respectively) were considered as discrepant observations. Once the data from countries with discrepant observations were removed, nonlinear regression analysis of the group of 146 remaining countries was obtained using the Levenberg-Marquardt estimation method, identifying a value of “R2” at 0.8343, confirming the high reliability of the proposed mathematical model. This result suggests the hypothesis that the factors included in the calculation of the Human Development Index are strongly related to those involved in the population incidence of breast cancer. The application of this model also suggested the existence of a group of countries that apparently present protective factors or that favor the onset of breast cancer

Assessing the impact of the adoption of agroforestry technology on food production and poverty reduction among farming households in Oyo State, Nigeria

Assessing the impact of the adoption of agroforestry technology on food production and poverty reduction among farming households in Oyo State, Nigeria

EDUCATION SECTOR OF PAKISTAN: NEXT VICTIM OF TERRORISM AND EXTREMISM IN A GLOBALIZED ENVIRONMENT

Globalization has affected the education sector of Pakistan differently because of its peculiar and diversed security challenges. An extremely cunning hostile enemy on east who always stages all kind of clandestine operations against Pakistan. On the western border, Afghanistan has always remained a source of instability for Pakistan. US policy failures in Afghanistan and do more demand by Trump administration from Pakistan without acknowledging its sacrifices are a matter of concern. To retain their national interests transition-co forces are using fifth generation asymmetric warfare in this region. Almost all the segments of our society got affected by worst kind of terrorism and extremism in last fifteen years and the current target is our youth and educational institutes. According to the recent National Human Development Report published in May 2018, Pakistan has the largest percentage of youth ever recorded in its history. 64 percent of the total population is below the age of 30 while 29 percent is between the ages of 15 and 29 years. This youth buldge has critical implications for Pakistan because if not groomed and directed in right direction, will create internal implosion. Our enemy precisely identified our centers of gravity and attacking it with numerous means. Be it the Safora Ghot Karachi massacre of forty three innocent unarmed people by Saad Aziz - an Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi graduate or the inhuman killing of human rights activist Sabeen Mahmood by the same man; the IS-indoctrinated and affiliated medical student Noreen Leghari’s case or the recent failed attempt on the MQM leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan by a Karachi University graduate, the incessant reality for Pakistani anti-terrorism strategists is that the extremists and terrorists have succeeded in infiltrating modern education institutions and the youth is being indoctrinated with the toxic ideology of the terrorists. With the defeat of the IS in Syria and Iraq the influx of militants to Pakistan could continue that could further complicate the situation.

मानवी विकास आणि सरकारी धोरण (Human Development and Government Policy)

Marathi Abstract: UNDP न सरवपरथम 1990 मधय अरथशासतरजञ महबब हक याचया सहकारयान मानव विकास रिपोरट परकाशित कला, या HDI निरदशाकाच परवरतक महणन तयाना सबोधल जात. HDIनिरदशाकातील सरवाधिक महतवपरण बाब महणज, दिरघायषय, सवसथ जीवन, शिकषण परापतीची सधी आणि उतकषट जीवनाचा सतर तसच यातील अनय महतवाचया बाबी महणज राजनतीक सवततरता, मानवाधिकाराची गवाही आणि आतमसनमानाची विविध ततव होत.UNDP चा मानव विकास रिपोरट हा तीन ततवाच समिशरण आह. त महणज . 1) जनमाचया वळी जीवन सभावयता. 2) शिकषणाचा सतर. (परौढ शिकषणाचा दर, पराथमिक,माधयमिक,उचच शिकषणाचा दर) 3) जीवनाचा सतर. (USD वर आधारीत परती वयकति GDP) या तीन ततवाच अधिकतम आणि नयनतम मलयाचया आधार HDIनिरदशाकाची सरासरी आखली जात. या रिपोरट नसार भारत सन 2006 मधय HDI निरदशाकाचया करमवारीत 126 वया करमाकावर होता. सन 2008 मधय UNDP च भारतातील परतीनिधी मकसिन ओलसन व योजना आयोगाच उपाधयकष मोटक सिह अहलवालीया यानी दिलली यथ मानव विकास रिपोरट परकाशीत कला, यात भारत दश 128 (Value 0.619) वया करमाकावर आह. सन 2006 चया तलनत भारत दोन करमाकान खाली घसरलला असलयाच दिसन यतो. English Abstract: UNDP first published the Human Development Report in 1990 in collaboration with economist Mehboob Haque, who is credited as the promoter of the VKP Index. The most important aspects of the CPI index are longevity, healthy living, educational attainment and quality of life, among others. Political independence, human rights testimony and self-respect are the various elements. That is. 1) Life expectancy at birth. 2) Level of education. (Rate of adult education, rate of primary, secondary, higher education) 3) The standard of living. (Lack of per capita based on NAC) The VKP index is averaged based on the maximum and minimum values ​​of these three elements. According to the report, India was ranked 126th in the CPI index in 2006. In 2008, Maxine Olson, India's Representative to India, and Motek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, published the Human Development Report in Delhi, which ranked India 128th and 619th. Compared to 2006, India has slipped two places. The National Human Development Report is published by the Government of India with the assistance of the Planning Commission. The Human Development Report was published in 2001. The Planning Commission, while preparing the National Human Development Report, relied on new indicators different from the NPC's VP indicators.

Fear of Small Numbers and Political Behaviour of Ethnocentric Majority of Sri Lanka: Undeclared War against Upcountry Tamil Females

Abstract The United Nations Human Development Report (UNHDR) mentions that the rights of women and female children are inalienable, integral and indivisible. It further highlights the full and equal participation of women in every segment of the social process without any discrimination or without considering sex - gender hierarchies.1 The legal frameworks of the international system and local political space is accepting of the normative values of gender equality and the eradication of gender-based discrimination. But most of the majoritarian societies challenge these legal frameworks to address their political, social and market-oriented interests. These actions are driven by political, social and structural frameworks which have been accepted by the majoritarian societies in the liberal democratic world. Tamil women in upcountry tea plantations in Sri Lanka were subjected to systemic and structural violence because of Sinhala majoritarian statecrafts in post-independence Sri Lanka. The ethnocentric violence directly problematises human security, survival and the personal rights of the upcountry Tamil female labour force. This paper discusses the survival of Tamil female plantation labour forces, focusing mainly on the security crisis of female reproductive rights under the ethnocentric Sinhala Majoritarian Society.

Political Security in Southern Africa: Historical, Contemporary and Futuristic Perspectives

Political security has been widely argued to be one of the fundamental pillars of development, stability and prosperity, as it in turn lays the ground and conducive environment for the attainment of other forms of human security, namely economic security, food security, health security, environmental security, personal security and community security. Political security, as stated by the United Nations Human Development Report (994), entails defense against the different forms of political oppression, respect to human rights, and protection from threats of militarization. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to establish the extent towhich the concept of Political Security is applicable in Southern Africa within the context of a fast-globalizing landscape through analyzing historical and contemporary trends as well as forecasting future trends and patterns of political security in Southern Africa. Methodologically, the paper used secondary data sources to examine historical and contemporary trends in political security within Southern African countries whilst the International Futures (IFs) model, a comprehensive integrated modeling system, was used as a forecasting tool to establish the likelihood of political security within the different Southern African countries and future political security dynamics and complexities within Southern African countries whilst at the same timeproviding an outlook of the situation within the next 12 years. The study results show varying levels of political security in the region, with the majority of the Southern African states showing worsening political security situation by 2030, except Mauritius, Botswana, Namibia, Seychelles, and South Africa. Recommendations are suggested in the form of national and regional policy and strategic interventions that are key in strengthening political security within Southern Africa.

The Role of Government and Governance in Human Development: A Study of very High Development Economies

The study of human development has witnessed spectacular attention across the globe. The components of the Human Development Index (HDI) such as life expectancy at birth, literacy rate, and GNP per-capita income are the outcome of achieving appropriate economic growth of the nation provided that there are effective government expenditures in the economy. In the era of fiscal consolidation and neo-liberalism, it becomes seemingly essential to revisit the governance role in building human capital, especially in nations with very high human development. The study employed the data of nineteen very high human development countries as per the United Nations Human Development Report, across 2000 to 2016. The data has been collected from the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) database. The study incorporates the role of government expenditure on various socio-economic aspects like education, health, and the military in the development of human capital, along with the role of Governance. The study deduced the facilitating role of Governance in the developmental process, even in countries with very high human development.

Global Trends of Bladder Cancer Incidence and Mortality, and Their Associations with Tobacco Use and Gross Domestic Product Per Capita

BackgroundBladder cancer is a major urological disease, with approximately 550 000 new cases diagnosed in 2018. ObjectiveWe examined gender-specific incidence and mortality patterns, and trends of bladder cancer from a global perspective. We further investigated their associations with tobacco use and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Design, setting, and participantsWe retrieved data on the incidence and mortality of bladder cancer from the GLOBOCAN database, Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, and the WHO mortality database. Data on the rate of tobacco use were retrieved from the WHO Global Health Observatory. Data on GDP per capita was retrieved from the United Nations Human Development Report. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisWe performed two sets of analyses. The first set of analysis is based on bladder cancer incidence and mortality data in 2018. The gender-specific age-standardised rates (ASRs) of incidence and mortality, and their correlations with the rate of tobacco use and GDP per capita were investigated. A multivariable linear regression analysis was also performed. In the second set of analysis, we examined the 10-yr temporal trends of bladder cancer incidence and mortality by average annual percent change using joinpoint regression analysis. A further exploratory analysis on GDP per capita in countries with decreasing trends of tobacco use was also performed. Results and limitationsWide variations in bladder cancer incidence and mortality were observed globally. There were positive correlations between the rate of tobacco use and the ASRs of bladder cancer incidence (r=0.20) and mortality (r=0.38) in men, and between the rate of tobacco use and the ASRs of bladder cancer incidence (r=0.67) and mortality (r=0.22) in women. There were positive correlations between GDP per capita, and the ASRs of bladder cancer incidence in men (r=0.48) and women (r=0.44). There was a weak positive correlation between GDP per capita and bladder cancer mortality in men (r=0.19), but no correlation with bladder cancer mortality in women (r=0.06). Upon multivariable linear regression analysis, tobacco use was significantly associated with bladder cancer incidence and mortality in men, and bladder cancer incidence in women. Regarding the 10-yr temporal trends of bladder cancer, Europe has an increasing incidence but decreasing mortality, and Asia has a decreasing incidence but increasing male mortality. Among countries with decreasing trends of tobacco use, the mean GDP per capita was higher in countries with decreasing trends of bladder cancer mortality than in those with increasing trends of bladder cancer mortality. A major limitation of the study is that cancer incidence might be underdetected and under-reported in less developed nations. ConclusionsThere were observable trends of bladder cancer incidence and mortality globally. Tobacco use was significantly associated with both bladder cancer incidence and mortality. A certain level of economic capacity might be needed to further reduce bladder cancer mortality in countries with a decreasing trend of tobacco use. Patient summaryThere are different trends of bladder cancer incidence and mortality globally. Smoking is significantly associated with the incidence and mortality of bladder cancer. A higher financial capacity may be needed to further improve the disease outcomes.

The Changing Narrative of Security Discourse: From State Security to Human Security in South Asia?

Security discourse has radically changed over the years, especially since the Post–Cold War period. The traditional concept focuses on state security and national security, and is essentially based on realist and neo‐realist paradigms. However, in 1994, the United Nations Human Development Report for the first time elaborated the notion of human security and the associated Human Development Index (HDI). Human security advocates a people‐centric approach to security. The two foundational principles on which human security is based are “freedom from fear” and “freedom from want.” I evaluate the notions of state security versus human security and examine how South Asian countries have fared regarding the human security indices. I conclude that, despite advances in some areas, various HDI parameters show that the human security record is still rather dismal in South Asia. There remains a critical need to improve it.

Siberia from the Standpoint of Human Development

The paper discusses the problems of human development in Siberian regions. Attention is focused on regional aspects delineated in national Human Development Reports; the necessary resources for the development of human capital are identified. It is noted that the poverty of a significant share of Siberians is a significant brake on their development. It is concluded that the archaic social structure of the population with a high share of the poorest people, the narrow stratum of the middle class, and a very small share of rich people has formed in the country. All Siberian regions had positive dynamics in human development in the last decade. However, the human development indices lagged significantly behind the average Russian indices. Analysis of the human development indicators for different regions of the Siberian Federal District allows to conclude that there is spatial heterogeneity in quality of life. The majority of Siberian regions form a group with lower indicators. The most acute situation is observed in the national republics of Tyva, Khakassia, and Buryatia, where mostly indigenous people live. High social inequality and regional barriers to the development of human capital are noted. It is concluded that the Government of the Russian Federation is not taking decisive steps to reduce social inequalities and smooth out regional and social differences in human development.

Global trends in the development of labour markets and employment in the focus of innovation change

The article focuses on the main trends of innovation change effects on the labour markets and employment, value and mental characteristics, relation formation, regulation mechanisms, competitive relations, the distribution of rights and movement freedom, leading the formation of a new era of “the planet man” development. The world trends in the development of the labour markets and employment are analyzed. The ratification dynamics of international regulatory legal documents in the field of the world employment in 2006-2017 is investigated. Over 8,000 ratifications are found to be carried out by different states in 2017. This indicator increased constantly, gaining the highest rate acceleration in 2011-2012. Based on the United Nations Human Development Report, the polarization of the world's countries in terms of employment and unemployment (including among young people) is studied, with shares of employees less than $ 3.10 of PPP per day. The lack of a direct correlation between the Human Development Index and the employment rate is established: the highest employment rate is found for a group of countries with a low index; it means that the improvement of the state employment policy should be oriented towards qualitative indicators. The structure of the employed by status is analyzed. On average, 54.8% of the world employed population is found to work on the basis of employment, and the higher the level of state development, the higher the proportion of such individuals. The analysis of GDP indicator per capita employed shows the high polarization of the modern world: the difference between countries with high- and low-income levels is about 25 times; this indicator for Ukraine is 47% of the world average and 18% of high-income countries. As a generalization of the analysis, the main problems of the development of the global labour market are considered and ways of their solution are proposed.

Impacts of Illiteracy on the Risk of Dementia: A Global Health Perspective.

Despite its significance as a contributing factor for late-life dementia risk, illiteracy is frequently underappreciated in the management of dementia. In this study, we estimated the proportion of dementia cases attributable to illiteracy using the population attributable fraction (PAF), and calculated to what extent the monetary cost of dementia could be saved in the future by reducing illiteracy from the South Korean, Latin American, South Asian/Middle Eastern, and African populations. We collected necessary data from the 2011 United Nations Human Development Report and prevalence studies conducted in these regions. Additional variables not included in the above sources were estimated using a logit model under a "trend scenario"-based assumption. Around 16% of the total number of dementia cases in South Korea in 2015 can be attributed to illiteracy, with this figure predicted to decline to around 2% by 2050. This translates to a saving in dementia care costs of approximately 52 billion USD, providing we are successful in theoretically eradicating illiteracy as of 2015, in the population aged 65 years or under. Likewise, reducing illiteracy to 50% in Latin America, South Asia/The Middle East, and Africa by 2050 could generate further cost savings of between 71 and 244 billion, 13 and 94 billion, and 17 and 78 billion USD, respectively. Even public policies aimed solely at reducing illiteracy in the childhood, adolescent, or middle-aged population could potentially have a role in the primary prevention of dementia. Moving forward, governments will need to address this issue in a purposeful and systematic manner.

A Triangulated and Exploratory Study of the Relationships Between Secularization, Religiosity, and Social Wellbeing

By comparing mainly religious America and secular Europe, several scholars (e.g. Harris, Paul, and Zuckerman) suggested a strong correlation between secularization (non-religiosity) and social well-being. The authors of this paper argue that the preceding thesis may be too simplistic and Western-centric. Without attempting to affirm any specific hypothesis, these authors employed exploratory data analysis and data visualization to unveil patterns found in worldwide data, including the 2013 United Nations Human Development Report, the 2014 Gallup’s Global Wellbeing Index, and the 2013 World Values Survey. It was found that the relationship between secularization and social well-being is not straightforward or clear-cut. In some cases, secularization or lack of religiosity is seemingly linked to better quality of life (e.g. disbelief and inequality-adjusted human development index), while in other cases, the relationship is reversed (e.g. skepticism and adolescent birth rate). In most situations there is no association at all.