National Survey Of Households Research Articles

Pro-environmental Households and Energy Efficiency in Spain

The residential building sector is a major driver of current and future energy consumption and associated emissions, which can be potentially mitigated through significant energy-efficiency (EE) improvements in both emerging and developed countries. Yet, there are several persistent barriers that hinder the attainment of EE improvements in this area. Using data from a 2008 national representative survey of Spanish households, this paper is interested in the determinants of EE-related decisions. In particular, a discrete-choice model empirically analyzes whether pro-environmental households are more likely to invest in EE and to adopt daily energy-saving habits. We show that households with eco-friendly behaviors are more likely to investment in well-differentiated EE measures as well as to steer daily habits towards energy savings. However, no effects are found for households with environmental attitudes based on stated willingness to pay to protect the environment. In addition to this, households belonging to higher income groups and education levels are more likely to invest in EE but not to adopt energy-saving habits; while households with older members are less likely to invest in EE and show fewer eco-friendly habits.

Pro-Environmental Households and Energy Efficiency in Spain

The residential building sector is a major driver of current and future energy consumption and associated emissions, which can be potentially mitigated through significant energy-efficiency (EE) improvements in both emerging and developed countries. Yet, there are several persistent barriers that hinder the attainment of EE improvements in this area. Using data from a 2008 national representative survey of Spanish households, this paper is interested in the determinants of EE-related decisions. In particular, a discrete-choice model empirically analyzes whether pro-environmental households are more likely to invest in EE and to adopt daily energy-saving habits. We show that households with eco-friendly behaviors are more likely to investment in well-differentiated EE measures as well as to steer daily habits towards energy savings. However, no effects are found for households with environmental attitudes based on stated willingness to pay to protect the environment. In addition to this, households belonging to higher income groups and education levels are more likely to invest in EE but not to adopt energy-saving habits; while households with older members are less likely to invest in EE and show fewer eco-friendly habits.

Correlates of a good death and the impact of hospice involvement: findings from the national survey of households affected by cancer

Correlates of a good death and the impact of hospice involvement: findings from the national survey of households affected by cancer

Access to continued-use medication among older adults, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence and associated access factors for all continued-use prescription drugs and the ways in which they can be obtained.METHODS Data was obtained from the 2008 Household National Survey. The sample comprised 27,333 individuals above 60 years who reported that they used continued-use prescription drugs. A descriptive analysis and binary and multiple multinomial logistic regressions were performed.RESULTS 86.0% of the older adults had access to all the medication they needed, and among them, 50.7% purchased said medication. Those who obtained medication from the public health system were younger (60-64 years), did not have health insurance plans, and belonged to the lower income groups. It is remarkable that 14.0% of the subjects still had no access to any continued-use medication, and for those with more than four chronic diseases, this amount reached 22.0%. Those with a greater number of chronic diseases ran a higher risk of not having access to all the medication they needed.CONCLUSIONS There are some groups of older adults with an increased risk of not obtaining all the medication they need and of purchasing it. The results of this study are expected to contribute to guide programs and plans for access to medication in Brazil.

El impacto de las remesas internacionales sobre el consumo turístico interno de México, un análisis econométrico con encuestas a hogares

El crecimiento de la migración y el turismo son dos de las más significativas manifestaciones de la globalización. Ambos fenómenos involucran el movimiento de personas, sin embargo, actualmente existe poca investigación respecto a esta relación. México ocupa el segundo lugar en captación de remesas internacionales debido a que sus migrantes se encuentran en Estados Unidos. Los vínculos que genera la migración están relacionados con el turismo. El objetivo de la investigación consistió en conocer cuál es la contribución de las remesas generadas por los migrantes mexicanos a la economía del turismo interno de México. Con datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos de los Hogares se conocen tanto las remesas como los gastos turísticos en hospedaje y paquetes, así como el transporte turístico, que en suma conforman el consumo turístico interno que obtienen y realizan los hogares de México. Con estos datos y para contestar la pregunta de investigación se utilizó un modelo de selectividad asumiendo que el turismo es un bien de lujo y que los hogares se autoseleccionan para realizar consumo turístico. Los hogares que hacen consumo turístico son estadísticamente diferentes respecto a los hogares que lo hacen pero que además reciben remesas, por lo que es importante analizar el efecto diferenciador de las remesas. El modelo permitió identificar que por cada peso que ingresa por remesas internacionales, el 6% se destina al turismo interno. Esto equivale a 1.296 millones de dólares anuales. Sin duda, las remesas enviadas por los migrantes principalmente de Estados Unidos elevan el consumo turístico dentro de México. Esto indica que los hogares, en el momento en que uno de sus miembros se encuentra en otro país, estarán dispuestos a viajar, es decir, hacer alguna actividad característica del turismo, ya sea transporte, hospedaje o alimentación y bebidas, pues se crea una influencia a través de las pláticas e intercambio de experiencias que transmite el migrante. Por lo tanto, es necesario implementar políticas públicas que atiendan este sector, que al mismo tiempo es de bajos ingresos.

Correlates of a good death and the impact of hospice involvement: findings from the national survey of households affected by cancer.

Knowing how to improve the dying experience for patients with end-stage cancer is essential for cancer professionals. However, there is little evidence on the relationship between clinically relevant factors and quality of death. Also, while hospice has been linked with improved outcomes, our understanding of factors that contribute to a "good death" when hospice is involved remains limited. This study (1) identified correlates of a good death and (2) provided evidence on the impact of hospice on quality of death. Using data from a survey of US households affected by cancer (N = 930, response rate 51 %), we fit regression models with a subsample of 158 respondents who had experienced the death of a family member with cancer. Measures included quality of death (good/bad) and clinically relevant factors including: hospice involvement, symptoms during treatment, whether wishes were followed, provider knowledge/expertise, and compassion. Respondents were 60 % female, 89 % White, and averaged 57 years old. Decedents were most often a respondent's spouse (46 %). While 73 % of respondents reported a good death, Hispanics were less likely to experience good death (p = 0.007). Clinically relevant factors, including hospice, were associated with good death (p < 0.05)--an exception being whether the physician said the cancer was curable/fatal. With adjustments, perceptions of provider knowledge/expertise was the only clinical factor that remained associated with good death. Enhanced provider training/communication, referrals to hospice and greater attention to symptom management may facilitate improved quality of dying. Additionally, the cultural relevance of the concept of a "good death" warrants further research.

Patterns of sexual mixing with respect to social, health and sexual characteristics among heterosexual couples in England: analyses of probability sample survey data.

Patterns of sexual mixing are major determinants of sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission, in particular the extent to which high-risk populations mix with low-risk populations. However, patterns of mixing in the general population are poorly understood. We analysed data from a national probability sample survey of households, the Health Survey for England 2010. A total of 943 heterosexual couples living together, where at least one partner was aged between 16-44 years, were included. We used correlation coefficients to measure the strength of similarities between partners with respect to demographic characteristics, general health, health behaviours and sexual history. Males were on average 2 years older than their female partners, although this age difference ranged from a median of 0 years in men aged 16-24 years to a median of 2 years in men aged 35-44 years. A positive correlation between partners was found for all demographic characteristics. With respect to general health and health behaviours, a strongly positive correlation was found between men and women in reporting alcohol consumption at ⩾3 days a week and smoking. Men typically reported greater numbers of sexual partners than their female partner, although men and women with more partners were more likely to mix with each other. We have been able to elucidate the patterns of sexual mixing between men and women living together in England. Mixing based on demographic characteristics was more assortative than sexual characteristics. These data can better inform mathematical models of STI transmission.

Single Motherhood, Living Arrangements, and Time With Children in Japan.

The authors examined relationships between single parenthood and mothers' time with children in Japan. Using data from the 2011 National Survey of Households with Children (N = 1,926), they first demonstrate that time spent with children and the frequency of shared dinners are significantly lower for single mothers than for their married counterparts. For single mothers living alone, less time with children reflects long work hours and work-related stress. Single mothers coresiding with parents spend less time with children and eat dinner together less frequently than either married mothers or their unmarried counterparts not living with parents, net of (grand)parental support, work hours, income, and stress. The findings suggest that rising divorce rates and associated growth in single-mother families may have a detrimental impact on parents' time with children in Japan and that the relatively high prevalence of intergenerational coresidence among single mothers may do little to temper this impact.

Cultural Values and Decision to Work of Immigrant Women in Italy

We investigate the role of culture in explaining economic outcomes at individual level analyzing how cultural values from the home country affect the decision to work of immigrants in Italy, using the National Survey of Households with Immigrants. Following the “epidemiological approach”, we relate the probability of being employed in Italy for immigrant women with the female labor force participation (LFP) in their country of origin, taken as a proxy of cultural heritage and gender role model. Controlling for a number of individual and household characteristics, we show that participation in the labor market is affected both by the culture of females’ and by their husband’s origin countries. We also show that the relationship between own decisions in the host country and home country LFP cannot be attributed to human capital quality or discrimination and it turns out to be stronger for immigrants that maintained more intense ties with their origin countries. Finally, we investigate to what extent cultural influence is driven by religious beliefs: we find that religion is a key determinant of differences in female labor decisions, but, besides religion, other cultural values exert additional influence..

FOOD DEMAND IN YOGYAKARTA: SUSENAS 2011

The impacts of economic and demographic variables on food demand in Yogyakarta are estimated usingthe Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS). Data from the national social and economic survey of households(SUSENAS) in 2011 are used to accomplish the goal of this study. Food demand consists of cereals, sh,meats, eggs and milk, vegetables, fruits, oil and fats, prepared foods and drinks, other foods and tobaccoproducts. Results show that except for meat and tobacco products, demand elasticities for the rest of foods areinelastic and cereals is the least responsive to price change. All ten studied foods are normal good, but theirincome elasticities are very inelastic.Keyword: Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS), price and income elasticity, Yogyakarta.

Informal Loans in Russia: Credit Rationing or Borrower's Choice?

This paper examines the strategies of Russian households for choosing either the formal or informal banking sector as a source of credit. We aim to learn why households refuse to become clients of a bank and prefer to instead raise funds by borrowing from individuals – friends, colleagues, relatives, and other private parties. We use the results of “Monitoring the Financial Behavior of the Population” (2009-2010), a national survey of Russian households. Our results suggest that a household’s choice of the informal credit market is based not only on economic factors, but also on some institutional ones, including financial literacy, trust in the banking sector, and credit discipline. We show that choosing the informal market is explained by a lack of financial literacy, measured by mathematical competence and home accounting, as well as by a lack of trust in the banking sector as a whole. Borrowers from private parties demonstrate a higher degree of credit discipline: those who believe that repaying a loan is not obligatory are less frequently among informal borrowers and they choose the bank credit market. Our findings, however, are still in line with credit rationing theory. We show that better financial conditions reduce a household’s probability to use both formal and informal credit markets in favor of pure bank borrowing.

Trust in Chinese state media: The influence of education, Internet, and government

The current study conducted a series of data analyses of the China General Social Survey (CGSS) 2008, the latest national survey of urban and rural households investigating the social structure and quality of life in China. Based on a recently conducted national survey, the study focuses on trust that Chinese citizens place in their state media, and explores the extent to which the trust is influenced by viewers' education, online news exposure, and trust in government. Overall, this study demonstrates a great amount of trust the Chinese people place in state media. The trust is negatively associated with education levels and online news exposure. The correlation between trust in state media and trust in government is higher than the correlation between trust in state media and trust in other two information sources (experts and word-of-mouth communications). There is also a significant interaction between education and evaluation of government. As education level gets higher, the association between evaluation of media and evaluation of the government becomes weaker. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Rural Income Inequality in Mo zambique: National Dynamics and Local Experiences

This study examines the drivers of income inequality in a rural, developing economy. The analysis uses data from a national longitudinal survey of rural households and a case study in Mozambique’s Limpopo River Basin and to investigate how economic integration affects income inequality within environmentally-embedded economies. Decomposition of the Gini coefficient finds increasing inequality of agricultural income at the national level. Qualitative findings suggest that economic change pressures smallholders to abandon traditional agricultural strategies, which increases environmental risk and contributes to higher inequality. Results indicate changing environmental-economic trade-offs are one mechanism behind rising inequality in rural societies integrating into the global economy.

Perceptions and Utilization of Primary Healthcare Services in Iraq: Findings from a National Household Survey

After many years of sanctions and conflict, Iraq is rebuilding its health system, with a strong emphasis on the traditional hospital-based services. A network exists of public sector hospitals and clinics, as well as private clinics and a few private hospitals. Little data are available about the approximately 1400 Primary Health Care clinics (PHCCs) staffed with doctors. How do Iraqis utilize primary health care services? What are their preferences and perceptions of public primary health care clinics and private primary care services in general? How does household wealth affect choice of services A 1256 household national survey was conducted in the catchment areas of randomly selected PHCCs in Iraq. A cluster of 10 households, beginning with a randomly selected start household, were interviewed in the service areas of seven public sector PHCC facilities in each of 17 of Iraq's 18 governorates. A questionnaire was developed using key informants. Teams of interviewers, including both males and females, were recruited and provided a week of training which included field practice. Teams then gathered data from households in the service areas of randomly selected clinics. Iraqi participants are generally satisfied with the quality of primary care services available both in the public and private sector. Private clinics are generally the most popular source of primary care, however the PHCCs are utilized more by poorer households. In spite of free services available at PHCCs many households expressed difficulty in affording health care, especially in the purchase of medications. There is no evidence of informal payments to secure health services in the public sector. There is widespread satisfaction reported with primary health care services, and levels did not differ appreciably between public and private sectors. The public sector PHCCs are preferentially used by poorer populations where they are important providers. PHCC services are indeed free, with little evidence of informal payments to providers.

Filial piety and intergenerational communication in China

The current study conducts a series of data analyses of the China General Social Survey (CGSS) 2008, the latest national survey of urban and rural households investigating the social structure and quality of life in China. Overall, Chinese people express a remarkable level of filial piety. The present study reveals the association between the values of filial piety and the moral actions. However, filial piety is significantly correlated with only one practice, namely, providing emotional support. It does not have a significant link with providing financial assistance and practical assistance. Generally, the results support a culture-specific evaluation of an imbalance with respect to actual support exchange. We find a larger amount of social support offered by Chinese younger generations to the elderly. The findings also evidence a positive correlation between life satisfaction and filial piety. Implications, limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

Perception of environmental problems and common mental disorders (CMD)

In the past few years, there has been increasing interest in studying the association between problems in the neighbourhood environment and health indicators. The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the perception of environmental problems by individuals and the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) in Spain. A cross-sectional study using data from a large scale national representative survey of households (the 2006 Spanish National Health Survey). Participants included in the study were aged between 16 and 64 years (n = 23,760). The dependent variable was common mental disorders assessed with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The independent variable was the individual's perception of environmental problems. Raw and adjusted Odds Ratios and their confidence intervals (95%) were calculated by fitting logistic regression models adjusting for age, marital status, work situation, social class, rural or urban area, country of origin, restrictions in carrying out activities of daily life due to a health problem and social support. The individuals who reported environmental problems had a higher prevalence of CMD. There was a clear increasing gradient in CMD prevalence with the increase in the number of environmental problems mentioned. Among the subjects who reported to have 1 or no environmental problem the prevalence of CMD was 11.8% (men) and 18.7% (women), and among those who mentioned 6 or more problems, the prevalence increased to 20.8% (men) and 35.4% (women). After adjusting for all the co-variables, there is an association between environmental problems and CMD (men OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.08-1.66; women OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.27-1.67). The environmental problems most strongly associated with the prevalence of CMD are noise, bad smell, air pollution, and lack of green areas. Our findings show that individuals who perceive environmental problems in their neighbourhood have a higher prevalence of CMD, even after adjusting for all co-variables. In addition, there is a clear increasing gradient in the prevalence of CMD with the increase in the number of environmental problems. Efforts to reduce the prevalence of CMD must be directed to improve individual and contextual risks.

Perceptions and utilization of primary health care services in Iraq: findings from a national household survey

BackgroundAfter many years of sanctions and conflict, Iraq is rebuilding its health system, with a strong emphasis on the traditional hospital-based services. A network exists of public sector hospitals and clinics, as well as private clinics and a few private hospitals. Little data are available about the approximately 1400 Primary Health Care clinics (PHCCs) staffed with doctors. How do Iraqis utilize primary health care services? What are their preferences and perceptions of public primary health care clinics and private primary care services in general? How does household wealth affect choice of services?MethodsA 1256 household national survey was conducted in the catchment areas of randomly selected PHCCs in Iraq. A cluster of 10 households, beginning with a randomly selected start household, were interviewed in the service areas of seven public sector PHCC facilities in each of 17 of Iraq's 18 governorates. A questionnaire was developed using key informants. Teams of interviewers, including both males and females, were recruited and provided a week of training which included field practice. Teams then gathered data from households in the service areas of randomly selected clinics.ResultsIraqi participants are generally satisfied with the quality of primary care services available both in the public and private sector. Private clinics are generally the most popular source of primary care, however the PHCCs are utilized more by poorer households. In spite of free services available at PHCCs many households expressed difficulty in affording health care, especially in the purchase of medications. There is no evidence of informal payments to secure health services in the public sector.ConclusionsThere is widespread satisfaction reported with primary health care services, and levels did not differ appreciably between public and private sectors. The public sector PHCCs are preferentially used by poorer populations where they are important providers. PHCC services are indeed free, with little evidence of informal payments to providers.

Incentives for Cell Phone Only Users: What Difference Do They Make?

Providing incentives to potential respondents has been shown to be one of the more effective means of encouraging participation in surveys across modes of data collection. The increasing number of cell-phone only (CPO) households has sparked an interest in best practices for interviewing cell phone respondents. One aspect of interviewing cell phone respondents that has not been adequately addressed is the question of the need to provide some type of remuneration to those who complete the interview on a cell phone. In this research, we provide evidence that suggests that providing such remuneration does not have a significant impact on either response rates or results. Although the literature on this topic is not extensive, there have been several studies of this topic (Dillman 2007; Singer 2002; Trussell and Lavrakas 2004). For example, Brick and his colleagues (2007) found in a national survey of cell phone households that a $10 incentive significantly improved participation over a $5 incentive. Similar studies by Diop and his colleagues (2008a, 2008b) found that a $10 incentive produced a higher rate of production compared to no incentive or to a $5 incentive. These earlier studies were based on unscreened dual-frame designs that included all cell phone users – that is, those both with and without landlines – while our research focused on those in cell phone only households, which may account for some of the difference in the findings. In the early 2000s, most initial approaches to contact cell phone users presumed that some type of incentive or remuneration would be given. This was usually done as a reimbursement for possible charges incurred by the respondent, although in some cases they may have functioned as incentive payments. One of the conclusions from the Cell Phone Sampling Summit II was that “survey respondents reached on their cell phone should be properly reimbursed for their time on a research call” (Lavrakas and Shuttles 2005). As the cost structure of cell phone billing has changed and more users have moved to virtually “unlimited minutes” plans, does reimbursement of cell phone users remain a sine qua non?

Tertiary Activities and Informality: Quantitative Importance and Interconnections within the Economy in Brazil

This paper studies the importance of the Tertiary sector and the informal sector for the Brazilian economy, making an interconnection between them and with them and the rest of the economy and the formal sector. To do so, this work makes use of the data presented in the System of National Accounts and the National Survey of Households (PNAD), both from IBGE, and the Leontief model. The results show: a) the importance of the Tertiary sector for the Brazilian economy in terms of employment (around 61% of the occupied persons), and income generation (around 67% of the economy Value Added); b) the high share of the informal sector in the Brazilian economy (around 58% of the occupied persons and 34% of the income); c) the combination of these factors results in an economy with low wages and salaries and with an high concentration of income; and d) that the present productive structure of the Brazilian economy contributes to the concentration of income in the country.

Financial Burden in Families of Children With Special Health Care Needs: Variability Among States

The main objective of this study was to examine variability among states for 3 indicators of the family financial burden related to caring for children with special health care needs. Data were from a 2001 national survey of households with children (<18 years of age) with special health care needs, with a representative sample from each state. The outcomes examined included whether a family had any out-of-pocket expenditures during the previous 12 months related to the child's special health care needs, the amount of expenditure (absolute burden), and the amount of expenditure per $1000 of family income (relative burden). We used multilevel regression to examine state-level variability in financial burden, controlling for individual-level factors. We also examined the association between state median family income and state mean financial burden. Overall, 82.5% of families reported expenditures of more than $0. Among these families, the mean unadjusted absolute burden was $752 and the relative burden was $19.6 per $1000. Adjusted state means ranged from $562 to $972 for absolute burden and from $14.5 to $32.3 per $1000 for relative burden. Families living in states with higher median family incomes had lower financial burdens across all 3 measures. Families that are similar with respect to household demographic characteristics and the nature of their children's special health care needs have different out-of-pocket health expenditures depending on the state in which they live. Documenting and understanding this variability moves the field closer to the goal of establishing evidence-based, state policy recommendations aimed at reducing the financial burden of these vulnerable families.