Need For Financial Assistance Research Articles

Needs for Terengganu Sweet Melon Growers for Quality Production using Fertigation System

The Terengganu government needs 100 more fertigation growers of Terengganu Sweet Melon (MMT), to meet the European market demand. Undocumented local growers' needs for MMT fertigation farming hinder the local government’s efforts to retain and attract new local growers. Hence, this study’s objective was to explore the needs of MMT growers using the fertigation system for quality production in Terengganu. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews complemented with Participatory Research Appraisal (PRA) tools for data collection. Through purposive sampling, 13 MMT growers volunteered as the study informants. The thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews extracted six themes on growers’ needs. Almost all growers acknowledged MMT has promising prospects for its high market price and cost-effective fertigation system for quality production. However, they expressed six needs to help retain and support MMT fertigation technology adoption for quality production. All growers received a lack of technical consultancy; thus, their top urgent need was the advisory services on the technical knowledge and skills on MMT, fertigation system, and pests and diseases controls. Lack of financial support was also their urgent need for financial assistance to initiate, operate and maintain the high-cost infrastructure of the fertigation farming system. Different roles of agricultural-related and financial institutions were crucial to support their need for professional development, resources, and fertigation farm upscaling. In conclusion, MMT fertigation growers identified six needs that must be addressed for quality production. Their major needs were the technical advisory services on MMT and fertigation system, and financial assistance. Thus, the Terengganu government may incorporate the study findings to formulate an attractive policy for relevant government and NGOs’ roles to provide the relevant extension and advisory services, professional development packages, and friendly resources aid for the advancement of existing growers and to solicit new growers' participation.

Market Women's Perspectives on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): The Case of Ghana and South Africa.

Globally, countries are still battling health challenges and the negative economic stress on the citizenry caused by COVID-19. This study explored the perspectives of market women in Ghana and South Africa on COVID-19. Data collection was executed in both Ghana and South Africa between March 2021 and December 2021. Employing semi-structured questionnaires, face-to-face interviews were conducted. Most of the market women in Ghana described COVID-19 as a global pandemic, while market women in South Africa described the disease as the deadly flu. There were similarities in the perceived signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Market women in both countries specifically observed that not adhering to the safety protocols was the major mode of transmission. Lemon, garlic and ginger were the most common foodstuffs used by the market women to fight COVID-19. To prevent COVID-19 at their places of work, market women stressed the importance of observing the safety protocols. An overwhelming majority of market women in both countries bemoaned the negative impact of COVID-19 on their businesses and suggested the need for financial assistance from their respective governments. The findings are intended to assist policymakers in both Ghana and South Africa to implement interventional projects to assist women whom the literature suggests are the most vulnerable during pandemics such as COVID-19.

Assessment of Palliative Care Needs among People Living with HIV/ AIDS Attending Antiretroviral Therapy Outpatient Department in an Urban Slum of Mumbai: A Mixed Method Study.

Objectives:According to WHO, Palliative care is an essential component of a comprehensive package of care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Lack of palliative care results in untreated symptoms that hamper an individual’s ability to perform daily activities. The study aimed to explore the perceived Palliative care needs of People Living With HIV/AIDS and the association between socio- demographic profile with Palliative care needs.Materials and Methods:It was a mixed method study conducted over 2 months in November and December 2020 at Link ART OPD of Urban Health Training Centre in Mumbai. Out of 120 registered patients,15 patients were selected for in-depth interview by purposive sampling. The remaining 105 patients were selected for quantitative part of the study by complete enumeration method. For Qualitative part, Thematic analysis of the transcripts was done. Data were coded using Microsoft word comment feature. Themes and categories were drawn from it. For Quantitative part, Data analysis was done using SPSS version 22. Chi- square test was applied to find out the association between socio- demographic profile & palliative care needs. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The major themes identified were poor attitude towards the disease, lack of support and role of counselling. The common palliative care needs identified were need for financial assistance, family support and psychological support.Conclusions:Palliative care should be introduced early in the care process by a team of providers who is aware of the patient’s history and requirements.

COVID-19-Related Financial Hardship, Job Loss, and Mental Health Symptoms: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Agrarian Community in India.

Several countries, including India, imposed mandatory social distancing, quarantine, and lockdowns to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Although these measures were effective in curbing the spread of the virus, prolonged social distancing, quarantine, and the resultant economic disruption led to an increase in financial stress and mental health concerns. Prior studies established a link between the first lockdown and an increase in mental health issues. However, few studies investigated the association between post-lockdown financial hardship, job loss, and mental health. In this study, we examined the association between COVID-19-related financial hardship, job loss, and mental health symptoms approximately nine months after the end of the first nationwide lockdown in India. Job loss was associated with higher reporting of mental health symptoms among men (aIRR = 1.16) while financial hardship was associated with poor mental health symptoms among women (aIRR = 1.29). Conversely, social support and government aid were associated with better mental health symptoms among women. Our findings highlight the need for financial assistance and job creation programs to aid families in the recovery process. There is also an urgent need for improving the availability and affordability of mental health services in rural areas.

Predicting a Need for Financial Assistance in Emergency Department Care.

Identifying patients with a low likelihood of paying their bill serves the needs of patients and providers alike: aligning government programs with their target beneficiaries while minimizing patient frustration and reducing waste among emergency physicians by streamlining the billing process. The goal of this study was to predict the likelihood of patients paying the balance of their emergency department visit bill within 90 days of receipt. Three machine learning methodologies were applied to predict payment: logistic regression, decision tree, and random forest. Models were trained and performance was measured using 1,055,941 patients with non-zero balances across 27 EDs from 1 August 2015 to 31 July 2017. The decision tree accurately predicted 87% of unsuccessful payments, providing significant opportunities to identify patients in need of financial assistance.

The importance of social financial support in reducing food insecurity among elderly people

The growing number of elderly people who are at increased risk of food insecurity for a variety of reasons, including financial ones, requires the current situation to be monitored. The purpose of this research was therefore to determine: (1) how older people perceive their situation in terms of food security; (2) whether older people use any form of external financial support; and (3) the relationship between people’s perception of their food security and the use of financial support from social services and their family. The survey was conducted on a group of 1150 people aged 65 years and above at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019. In total, 762 questionnaires were analysed for the study. The study was conducted in the Świętokrzyskie and Śląskie voivodeships (provinces). Multivariate correspondence analysis (MCA) and the chi-square test were used to compare qualitative variables describing food security, financial assistance and socio-demographic features. Over two thirds of the respondents declared that they had no need of financial assistance from the social services or their family. Two categories of variables were selected using the MCA method: people who declared that their household had food security and that they had no need for financial assistance from social services or their family, and people who said they did not have food security and simultaneously used financial assistance or did not use such assistance but had financial problems. Place of residence and household composition were features that significantly distinguished the opinions about the lack of food security. Financial social programmes and the social education of families should be improved to minimize the risk of food insecurity in households of elderly people, especially those not benefiting from financial social support.

The Willingness to Pay for Flood Insurance

Flooding is the natural disaster that causes the most damage. Postflood, many families are not insured and do not have sufficient savings for rebuilding, and governmental aid can be limited. We undertake, using a stated preference survey, the first willingness-to-pay (WTP) elicitation for flood insurance in the United States. WTP increases with modeled flood risk and flood-risk perceptions. WTP for residents in our study area’s 100-year floodplain is 47% to 59% of the median flood insurance premium, which suggests the need for financial assistance for families who are at risk of flood damage and are unable to afford risk-based premiums.

The Willingness to Pay for Flood Insurance

Flooding is the natural disaster that causes the most damage. Post-flood, many families are not insured and do not have sufficient savings for rebuilding and governmental aid can be limited. We undertake, using a stated preference survey, the first willingness-to-pay (WTP) elicitation for flood insurance in the U.S. WTP increases with modeled flood risk and flood risk perceptions. WTP for residents in our study area’s 100-year floodplain is 47% to 59% of the median flood insurance premium, which suggests the need for financial assistance for families that are at risk of flood damage and are unable to afford risk-based premiums.

Financial and food security challenges of Egyptian women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Breast cancer treatment is an established cause of financial toxicity, and associated costs may contribute to higher mortality and morbidity rates. In Egypt, breast cancer incidence and mortality rates are among the highest in the Middle East. Late-stage diagnosis is common, and disease occurs at an earlier age than in Europe and North America. Out-of-pocket payments are the primary means of financing healthcare in Egypt, and socioeconomic factors have been shown to significantly impact access to cancer screening and treatment. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among breast cancer patients at Ain Shams University Hospitals in Cairo from 2013 to 2015. One hundred women with breast cancer participated. There was a high need for financial assistance (66.0%) and patients with financial needs had great difficulty affording medications (80.0%). A number of patients had lost their jobs following diagnosis, with 32.7% employed prior to diagnosis and 15.3% afterwards. Nearly one-half of participants were classified as food insecure, and nearly one-third reported difficulty affording transportation costs. This is the first study to describe socioeconomic needs and financial impact among a cohort of Egyptian women undergoing breast cancer treatment. The findings highlight the financial impact of breast cancer treatment on a cohort of Egyptian breast cancer patients and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to help them access and mitigate the costs of treatment. Recommendations include implementing patient financial navigation services and producing printed materials to inform patients of resources to help mitigate the treatment's financial impact.

Perceived needs of patients and family caregivers regarding home-based enteral nutritional therapy in South Africa: A qualitative study.

The need for specialized care, particularly enteral nutritional therapy in community settings is now increasing with implications for both patients and primary care providers. More research is needed to identify the needs of patients and primary caregivers. The study aimed to explore the perceived support needs regarding the provision of home-based enteral nutritional therapy among critically ill adult patients and family caregivers in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. A qualitative study of purposely selected adult patients on homebased enteral nutritional therapy and family caregivers was conducted in a district hospital, a community health centre, two primary health care clinics and selected households in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted between June and September 2018 and the content analysis approach was used to analyse data. Two major themes and five subthemes emerged from the results of the interviews. The major themes concerned socioeconomic and psychosocial support needs related to the provision of home-based enteral nutritional therapy. Subthemes included the need for financial assistance, need for enteral nutrition products and supplementary supplies, need for infrastructure for continuity of care, and psychological support needs. Results of this study confirm the need for developing strategies adapted to a South African context and yonder to meet patients' and family caregivers' needs with regard to nutritional services. More research on the identification of needs through monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of nutritional guidelines is needed, particularly in the district hospital and primary health care (PHC) setting.

Open pilot trial of a brief motivational interviewing-based HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis intervention for men who have sex with men: preliminary effects, and evidence of feasibility and acceptability

ABSTRACTGay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high-risk of HIV infection in the United States. Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing HIV acquisition among MSM. However, PrEP uptake in real-world clinical settings has been slow and uneven. Guided by Self-Regulation Theory, we developed and evaluated a brief (15–25 min) motivational interviewing (MI)-based intervention to promote PrEP uptake in an uncontrolled pilot trial. Nineteen MSM were recruited during the course of routine HIV screening at a sexually transmitted diseases clinic. We administered the 2-session intervention in-person and by telephone. Thirteen (72%) participants completed baseline and 1-month follow-up assessments; all found the intervention and its components highly acceptable. Over the 1-month period, seven participants (37%) obtained a PrEP prescription, more than tripling the rate previously observed with PrEP counseling and referrals alone (11%). The most common barrier to uptake was out-of-pocket costs. This approach was feasible and underscored the need for financial assistance and other PrEP navigation services to supplement behavioral interventions to enhance PrEP uptake.

Determinants of hardship financing in coping with out of pocket payment for care seeking of under five children in selected rural areas of Bangladesh.

BackgroundAround 63% of total health care expenditure in Bangladesh is mitigated through out of pocket payment (OOP). Heavy reliance on OOP at the time of care seeking poses great threat for financial impoverishment of the households. Households employ different strategies to cope with the associated financial hardship.ObjectiveThe aim of this paper is to understand the determinants of hardship financing in coping with OOP adopted for health care seeking of under five childhood illnesses in rural setting of Bangladesh.MethodsA community based cross sectional survey was conducted during August to October, 2014 in 15 low performing sub-districts of northern and north-east regions of Bangladesh. Of the 7039 mothers of under five children surveyed, 1895 children who suffered from illness and sought care for their illness episodes were reported in this study. Descriptive statistics and ordinal regression analysis were conducted.ResultsA total number of 7,039 under five children reported to have suffered illness by their mothers. Among these children 37% suffered from priority illness. Care was sought for 88% children suffering from illnesses. Among them 26% went to a public or private sector medically trained provider. 5% of households incurred illness cost more than 10% of the household’s monthly expenditure. The need for assistance was higher among those compared to others (31% vs 13%). Different financing mechanisms adopted to meet OOP are loan with interest (6%), loan without interest (9%) and financial help from relatives (6%) Need for financial assistance varied from 19% among households in the lowest quintile to 9% in the highest wealth. Ordinal regression analysis revealed that burden of hardship financing increases by 2.17 times when care is sought from a private trained provider compared to care seeking from untrained provider (CI: 1.49, 3.17). Similarly, for families that incur a health care expenditure that is more than 10% of their total monthly expenditure (CI:1.46, 3.88), the probability of falling into more severe financial burden increases by 2.4 times. We also found severity of the hardship financing to be around half for households with monthly income of more than BDT 7500 (OR = 0.56, CI: 0.37, 0.86). The burden increased by 2.10 times for households with a deficit (CI: 1.53, 2.88) between their monthly income and expenditure. The interaction between family income and severity of illness showed to significantly affect the scale of hardship financing. Children suffering from priority illness belonging to poor households were found have two times (CI: 1.09, 3.47) higher risks of suffering from hardship financing.Conclusion and policy implicationsFindings from this study will help the policy makers to identify the target groups and thereby design effective health financing programs.

Estimated Coverage to Address Financial Barriers to HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Persons With Indications for Its Use, United States, 2015.

An estimated 1.2 million American adults engage in sexual and drug use behaviors that place them at significant risk of acquiring HIV infection. Engagement in health care for the provision of daily oral antiretroviral medication as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), when clinically indicated, could substantially reduce the number of new HIV infections in these persons. However, resources to cover the financial cost of PrEP care are anticipated barriers for many of the populations with high numbers of new HIV infections. Using nationally representative data, we estimated the current national met and unmet need for financial assistance with covering the cost of PrEP medication, clinical visits, and laboratory tests among adults with indications for its use, overall and by transmission risk population. This study found that of the 1.2 million adults estimated to have indications for PrEP use, <1% (∼7300) are in need of financial assistance for both PrEP medication and clinical care, at an estimated annual cost of $89 million. An additional 7% (∼86,300) are in need of financial assistance only for PrEP clinical care at an estimated annual cost of $119 million. This information on PrEP care costs, insurance coverage, and unmet financial need among persons in key HIV transmission risk subpopulations can inform policy makers at all levels as they consider how to address remaining financial barriers to the use of PrEP and accommodate any changes in eligibility for various insurance and financial assistance programs that may occur in coming years.

Accounting Students’ Perception and Their Intention to Become Professionally Qualified Accountants

The purpose of this paper is to study accounting students at Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) institutions who are predominantly Bumiputra about their perception of the accounting profession, their grit level, the need for financial assistance and whether or not these are significant in influencing them to become professionally qualified accountants. The research was conducted using a questionnaire survey structured around seven independent variables and translated into 27 statements which was then distributed to accounting students at various MARA institutions. To analyse the data, descriptive and regression analysis were employed and the findings show that all predictor variables explain about 6.3 percent of the variability of students’ intention to pursue professional qualification. The research results also show that when studying the independent variables individually, only three independent variables have significant relationship with students’ intention to pursue professional qualification. These are job security or stability, financial assistance and grit. The findings have implications for accounting educators as well as the professional bodies and other related organisations in their effort to increase the number of professionally qualified accountants in Malaysia. The study also provides evidence that students’ grittiness is a significant factor in influencing them to become professionally qualified accountants.

INFORMATION NEEDS AND SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN, THEIR CAREGIVERS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN RURAL REGIONS IN NAMIBIA

A big problem in Namibia is the issue of destitute orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), many of whose parents have died from HIV/AIDS related illnesses. This study sought to examine the information needs of OVC and their caregivers and their information seeking strategies in managing the OVC situation in Namibia. Both qualitative and quantitative survey research methods were employed. Questionnaires were posted to various service providers, while interviews were conducted with OVC and their caregivers. Focus group discussions were also used for caregivers and informants in order to collect data on the respondents’ general attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences and reactions. The study took place in the rural Ohangwena region in January 2009 and urban Khomas region in April 2009. The preliminary findings indicated that there was a higher school dropout rate among rural OVC. Both rural and urban OVC expressed the need for financial assistance or grants, child care support, feeding schemes and health services as their top priorities. The rural OVC said they required information about school development fund exemptions, financial assistance or grants, health services, childcare support, and training opportunities. The urban OVC expressed the same priorities except for counselling, which was added to their list instead of training opportunities. Both the rural and urban OVC stated that they consulted relatives, teachers and friends for advice or information, thus indicating that interpersonal sources of information were the most important source of information. The study provided useful information for interventions and further research.

DIE EVALUERING VAN ’N LEESBEVORDERINGSPROJEK: DIE ZOË-VOORLEESPROJEK IN DIE NOORD-KAAP

In view of the dire state of literacy levels in South Africa and the fact that few literacy programmes provide research reports to evaluate best practices and effectivity, this article reports on the evaluation of a literacy project. The project, inspired by two children, is referred to as the Zoë-reading aloud project and targeted children in and around Upington in the Northern Cape, South Africa. The project was set up according to acknowledged reading promotion principles and it was structured to collect detailed data. Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods were used and a selection of methods provided reliability. The findings of the analysis of a collection of data for a period of 15 months revealed the best practices of the project. It highlights, for example, the need for financial assistance and challenges the concept of family literacy in low-literate and poor communities.

Global Management and the COP21 Process: Climate Change as Juggernaut

Examining the status quo with regard to emissions, energy and GDP leads to a pessimistic view on the feasibility of the COP21. Achieving its 3 major goals will be very difficult for a majority of countries. Only a few nations have started the decarbonisation process. And many countries is in dire need for financial assistance from the Super Fund in the COP21. This sets up the management task of the 21rst century on a global scale. The colossal sum of 100 billion dollars a year is mentioned in the COP21. Probably decarbonisation will prove so expensive, given the enormous reliance of most countries on fossil fuels and traditional renewables. But managing this gigantic money in a successful manner is a hercukean task in global governance. To which countries should major financial assistance go? This paper discusses a few options.

The impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment on employment, income, treatment decisions and financial assistance and their relationship to socioeconomic and disease factors.

The financial impact of cancer diagnosis and treatment can be considerable to individuals and their households, leading to changes in treatment decision making. This study aimed to quantify effects on income and employment; describe how cost-related factors influence treatment decision making and need for financial assistance; and to identify patient sociodemographic factors associated with treatment decision making, use of financial assistance and financial effects. A cross-sectional self-report questionnaire was administered to oncology outpatients from two hospitals in Australia: one regional and one metropolitan. Of 255 participants, 67% indicated a change in employment and 63% of those reported reduced household income since their diagnosis. Travel (15%), loss of income (14%) and cost of treatments (11%) were commonly cited factors influencing treatment decision making. Seventy-four percent of participants reported that they did not access financial assistance, with more than a third (37%) of those being unaware that financial assistance was available. Being currently not employed and more recent diagnosis were associated with a reduced income since diagnosis. After adjusting for employment status and age, patients with private health insurance had higher odds of reporting that financial factors had influenced treatment decision making (OR=2.5). Unemployment is a major driver of the financial impact of cancer. The costs of treatment may be particularly challenging for those with private health insurance who are more likely to be treated in the private health system where out-of-pocket costs are greater. Improved access to financial assistance is required to better avoid potential inequities.

Prevalence and correlates of problem gambling in people with psychotic disorders

ObjectiveThere are few published studies on the comorbidity of psychosis and problem gambling. This paper provides estimates of the prevalence and clinical correlates of problem gambling in a representative sample of people with psychotic disorders. MethodThe second Australian national survey of psychosis was undertaken in 2010 and included adults (18–64years) attending mental health services. Problem gambling was measured using the Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) at two sites of this study, with 442 participants providing data suitable for analysis. ResultsThere were 151 participants who screened positive to past-year gambling. 4.1% of the total sample was classified as low risk gamblers, 6.4% were moderate risk gamblers and 5.8% were problem gamblers. Moderate risk/problem gamblers were more likely to be male, have left school with no qualifications and have sought financial assistance in the last year. There was a significant association with substance use, including alcohol use disorders and use of cannabis and ‘other’ drugs (excluding cannabis). ConclusionsPeople with psychosis are four times more likely to have a gambling problem than the general population. The association of gambling with substance use disorders is consistent with community studies, while the increased need for financial assistance suggests that problem gambling increases the likelihood of financial harm for this population. Clinicians should screen for comorbid gambling problems in people with psychosis, while there is also a need for additional research into this area.

AB0390 Suicidal ideation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: prevalence and risk factors

ObjectivesTo study the prevalence of suicidal ideation in patients with SLE and its associated risk factorsMethodsConsecutive patients who fulfilled 34 ACR criteria for SLE were recruited for a questionnaire study...