Household Odds Research Articles

Does climate information source matter in smallholder farmers' climate resilience? Comparative insights from Malawi and Ghana

Due to increasing climate variability and change, the need for more accessible, timely, and reliable climate information has risen, particularly in African rain-fed smallholder farming communities. Yet, studies on the role of information sources in climate resilience are limited. Given the plurality of climate information sources, it is uncertain which medium offers better chances to build resilience against the changing climate. To fill this gap, we employed quantitative survey data from smallholder agricultural households in the Mzimba District in Malawi (n = 1090) and the Upper West Region of Ghana (n = 1100). Our findings reveal that in Malawi, households whose primary source of climate information was the mass media (OR = 2.37; p ≤ 0.001) and external organizations (government, private sector, and nonprofit sector) (OR = 2.11; p ≤ 0.001) were over two times more likely to rate their resilience as good compared to those who relied primarily on self-experience. While in Ghana, interpersonal sources (other farmers, friends/relatives, special activities by the community) significantly increased a household's odds (OR = 3.46; p ≤ 0.001) of reporting good resilience, while external sources reduced farmers' likelihood of reporting climate resilience (OR = 0.06; p ≤ 0.001) compared to those who relied primarily on self-experience. Farmers in Malawi who practiced intercropping were also more likely to rate their resilience as good than those engaged in monocropping. The findings suggest that the relevance of information sources on climate change resilience is place-specific and that some sources may impede resilience-building if contextual factors are sidelined. This finding reaffirms the need for context-specific policies due to the heterogeneity of agrarian communities across Africa.

Predictors of Households’ Adoption of Gas Cooking Stove in Some Rural Communities of Abia and Ebonyi States, Southeast Nigeria

This paper aims at the factors that predict household’s adoption of gas cooking stoves in selected rural communities of Southeast Nigeria. Leaning on theories of Knowledge gap, Groupthink, Technological determinism and Innovation Diffusion, it explores the theme of adoption as a selective process while interrogating the idea of an energy ladder. The paper probes the factors that accentuate poor energy choices in the face of availability of the better domestic energy source, gas. Based on data from 600 respondents, 300 from each of the southeastern Nigeria states of Abia and Ebonyi, an ordinal regression in the form of a Generalized Linear Model was used to predict the proportional odds of the dependent ordinal variables. Parameter estimates of the regression model predicting ordinal likelihood (odds) of using cooking gas indicate that none of the categories underage bracket were significant. The odds of households with male heads having very high usage of cooking gas stove were 1.563 (95% CI, .882 to 1.830) times more than that of households with female heads. The odds are against larger households; households with heads that are of lower education levels; households that regularly cook with fuelwood and those with lower income. The study recommends advocacy to bridge the knowledge gap and a subsidization regime that can overcome the income challenge.

Determinants of food insecurity in rural households: A case of lemo district, southern Ethiopia

Despite the increasing global concern of improving food security, the determinants of food insecurity at household level in the rural areas have been poorly known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze determinants of food insecurity at household level. A total of 383 households were selected using multistage sampling techniques. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the data. The result revealed that odds of illiterate households were 2.376 times more likely than educated households to experience food insecurity in the rural areas (ref. (Coef. = 0.865, OR = 2.376, P = 0.006)). Households with landholdings of more than half hectare were less likely to experience food insecurity. (ref. (Coef. = 1.982, OR = 7.260, P = 0.000)). Odds of households who engaged in off-farm activities were 0.204 times less likely to experience food insecurity. (ref. (Coef. = −1.588, OR = 0.204, P = 0.000)). Households who adopt farm technologies were less likely to experience food insecurity than those who do not adopt farm technology (ref. (Coef. = −1.086, OR = 0.337, P = 0.001)). Odds of higher-aged household heads were 6.141 times more likely to experience food insecurity than younger-aged household heads (ref. (Coef. = 1.815, OR = 6.141, P = 0.000)). Larger household sizes were less likely to experience food insecurity (ref. (Coef. = −2.423, OR = 0.089, P = 0.000)). In conclusion, understanding determinants of food insecurity at household level is essential to achieve food security in rural areas. Results suggest implementation of the effective developmental programs are needed to reduce food insecurity in rural areas.

Farm-related determinants of food insecurity among livestock dependent households in two agrarian districts with varying rainfall patterns in Ghana

BackgroundDespite availability of sufficient arable land, many African countries continue to dawdle in agricultural productivity due to over-reliance on rainfall patterns. Thus, undernourishment levels are disproportionately high in Africa. Even though they play key roles in agricultural production, the food security (FS) levels of livestock dependent households are understudied. Our study assessed the FS level and its determinants in livestock farming households in Ghana.MethodsWe compared the FS levels of 287 cattle producing households in two representative agrarian districts with varying rainfall patterns in Ghana (dry vs. wet), using a cross-sectional survey. We assessed household's FS using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale. FS scores and categories were computed, and using generalized linear models, we assessed factors that explained variations in the FS levels among households.ResultsThe median herd size of households was 31 cattle (lower quartile = 24, upper quartile = 60 cattle), with a majority (91%) engaged in crop cultivation. Households reported experiencing an average of eight adverse events over a five-year recall period (2014–2018) mainly from animal diseases, cattle theft, and pasture shortages. Most households (81%) were food insecure (moderate = 40%, severe = 41%). In an adjusted model, households raising cattle in the dry district [adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 5.43, 95% CI: 1.94, 15.2] and being married (aOR = 9.48, 95% CI: 2.35, 38.3) were associated with moderate food insecurity. While households raising cattle in the dry district [adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) = 4.17, 95% CI: 1.44, 12.0], being married (aOR = 3.55, 95% CI: 1.03, 12.2), and increase in number of adverse events experienced (aOR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.20, 1.96), were associated with increased odds of severe food insecurity. Household's odds of severe food insecurity decreased with each additional head of cattle in their herds (aOR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96, 0.99). We find no evidence of effect modification by farming district on other predictor's effect on food insecurity.ConclusionMost of the livestock dependent households are food insecure. The food insecurity levels are worse for households farming in dry areas, those married and who experience increased frequency of adverse events. Government policy interventions focusing on maintaining healthy, secure, and productive animal herds would contribute to improving the productivity of household herds, food safety and food security.

Predictors of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Seropositivity Before Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination Among Children 0-4 Years and Their Household Members in the SEARCh Study.

Estimates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) seroprevalence in young children and risk factors for seropositivity are scarce. Using data from a prospective cohort study of households during the pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine period, we estimated SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence by age and evaluated risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. The SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology and Response in Children (SEARCh) study enrolled 175 Maryland households (690 participants) with ≥1 child aged 0-4 years during November 2020-March 2021; individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 were ineligible. At enrollment, participants completed questionnaires about sociodemographic and health status and work, school, and daycare attendance. Participants were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in sera. Logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations (GEE) to account for correlation within households assessed predictors of individual- and household-level SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. Of 681 (98.7%) participants with enrollment serology results, 55 (8.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.3%-10.4%) participants from 21 (12.0%) households were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2. Among seropositive participants, fewer children than adults reported being tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection before enrollment (odds ratio [OR] = 0.23; 95% CI, .06-.73). Seropositivity was similar by age (GEE OR vs 0-4 years: 1.19 for 5-17 years, 1.36 for adults; P = .16) and was significantly higher among adults working outside the home (GEE adjusted OR = 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.4) but not among children attending daycare or school. Before study enrollment, children and adults in this cohort had similar rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection as measured by serology. An adult household member working outside the home increased a household's odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas a child attending daycare or school in person did not.

Factors associated with prevalence of diarrhea among children under five years of age in Pakistan

ObjectivesThe study aimed to identify the determinants of childhood diarrhea in Pakistan with a specific focus on water, sanitation, hygiene, and mother’s decision-making ability. MethodsThis study is based on nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey of Pakistan. The working sample is 3,067 children. Bi-variate and multi-variate logistic regressions are used to estimate the unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios of the determinants of diarrhea, respectively. ResultsIn bivariate regression, type of water source i.e., tube well/bore has significantly lower odds [OR = 0.85, 95 CI = 0.76–0.96] of diarrhea among children of age less than five years compared to piped water. Although, this variable is not significant in the multivariate model. Though, the variable of toilet type, Flush to Septic Tank, is significant in multivariate analysis with the odds of [OR = 0.77, 0.59–0.99] meaning that odds of household with a flush to septic tank type of toilet observe 23 percent less diarrhea compared to households with piped to sewer type of toilet. Moreover, the presence of a handwashing facility is an insignificant predictor of diarrhea. In a household where a mother does not make health-related decisions, a child is significantly likely to have diarrhea [OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.12–1.39]. Although, this association is lost in multivariate regression analysis. ConclusionThe results show that mothers should be empowered to make their health-related decisions, as children of empowered mothers are less susceptible to diarrhea. Similarly, the findings suggest that WASH interventions are likely to work better if they target multiple WASH sectors instead of focusing on one of the components, as children with access to multiple improved WASH components are less likely to get diarrhea as compared to the children who have access to one of them.

Association of loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits with food insecurity and dietary intake of adults and children

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) disenrollment among income-eligible households could limit their ability to access food. To assess the association of loss of SNAP benefits on food security status and dietary intake of household members, using 2011-2016 NHANES data. SNAP participation status among those with a household income ≤130% of the federal poverty level was categorized as 1) current participants, 2) former participants with benefits cut off in the past year, and 3) former participants with benefits cut off for more than a year. Logistic regression examined associations of SNAP participation status with odds of household (n=7387), adult (n=7387), and child (n=5898) food security. Linear regression examined associations of participation status with Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) total and component scores in adults (n=2784) and children/adolescents (n=2553). Former SNAP participants with benefits cut off in the past year had greater odds of severe household (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.25, 3.78) and adult (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.24, 3.54) food insecurity compared with current participants. Benefit cutoff in the past year was significantly related to low child food security (OR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.04, 3.11) and lower child/adolescent greens and beans score (estimate: -0.40; SE: 0.18). Loss of benefits for more than a year was significantly associated with increased marginal child food security odds (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.47), lower adult dairy score (estimate: -0.63; SE: 0.24), and lower child/adolescent greens and beans (estimate: -0.34; SE: 0.16), whole grains (estimate: -0.50; SE: 0.21), and dairy scores (estimate: -0.93; SE: 0.29). This study suggests that loss of benefits may increase household food insecurity. Although child/adolescent intakes of certain HEI-2015 adequacy components were lower among former SNAP participants, overall diet quality score did not differ. Findings collectively imply the need for policies that protect households from the adverse effects of benefits loss.

A Fort on the Moon by Maggie Pouncey

Reviewed by: A Fort on the Moon by Maggie Pouncey Elizabeth Bush Pouncey, Maggie A Fort on the Moon; illus. by Larry Day. Porter/Holiday House, 2020 [32p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780823446575 $18.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R 4-7 yrs Narrator Dodge and his older brother, Fox, are old hands at space travel, having been to the Moon several times aboard The White Dolphin, which they constructed from household odds and ends. Tonight’s flight will be a bit different, since they have an agenda beyond exploration. Their ship is supplied with ribbons, tape, diggers, and whackers; bicycle helmets on and snowsuits zipped, the boys head to the roof when the house goes quiet and strap themselves into their old car seats installed on the Dolphin, and they’re off. Executing their mission on the Moon’s surface proves much harder than they figured; low gravity isn’t conducive to construction tasks, and Dodge is getting sleepy and whiny and anxious to get home. Perseverance pays off, though, and they build the fort that will be their base for further adventures. Pouncey pitches this at an audience just beginning to negotiate unreliable narrators and trickster authors, with a narrative that could supply a sophisticated reading that attributes the boys’ activities to imagination or dreams yet requires reconsideration when Mom mentions that the junk stored on the roof has gone missing. Day encourages this head scratching with lively mixed media artwork that revels in the cobbled-together spaceship and fort—wondrously inviting to build and to occupy—immersing viewers in make-believe play as prelude to Pouncey’s reveal that this might all have been the real deal. Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Reaching rural veterans: a new mechanism to connect rural, low-income US Veterans with resources and improve food security.

Rural, low-income US veterans face additional barriers to accessing food and resources compared to urban veterans. Based on both social-ecological and cultural competence approaches, the Reaching Rural Veterans (RRV) pilot intervention built on the existing infrastructure of food pantries to improve food security and connect rural, low-income veterans with resources. This article describes the process of implementing and evaluating RRV. Five rural food pantries within each of two states, Indiana and Kentucky, received training in cultural competence and held monthly outreach events where food and services were offered to veterans. Veteran adult participants completed an assessment at baseline and 3-month follow-up that measured food security using the US Household Food Security Survey Module and self-reported resource enrollment. Repeated measures logistic regression models evaluated the odds of improving food security and resource enrollment from baseline to follow-up (significance P < 0.05). RRV recruited 234 participants; 53% completed the follow-up assessment. At follow-up, the odds of household (P = 0.009) and adult (P = 0.01) food security increased, as did enrollment in one or more of the following resources: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, General Assistance or Assistance from the Township Trustee (P = 0.005). RRV yielded promising preliminary results of improved food security and resource use.

Out-of-Pocket Spending and Premium Contributions After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was associated with a reduced number of Americans who reported being unable to afford medical care, but changes in actual health spending by households are not known. To estimate changes in household spending on health care nationwide after implementation of the ACA. Population-based data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2015, and multivariable regression were used to examine changes in out-of-pocket spending, premium contributions, and total health spending (out-of-pocket plus premiums) after the ACA's coverage expansions on January 1, 2014. The study population included a nationally representative sample of US adults aged 18 to 64 years (n = 83 431). In addition, changes were assessed in the likelihood of exceeding affordability thresholds for each outcome and spending changes for income subgroups defined under the ACA to determine program eligibility at 138% or less, 139% to 250%, 251% to 400%, and greater than 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Implementation of the ACA's major insurance programs on January 1, 2014. Mean individual-level out-of-pocket spending and premium payments and the percentage of persons experiencing high-burden spending, defined as more than 10% of family income for out-of-pocket expenses, more than 9.5% for premium payments, and more than 19.5% for out-of-pocket plus premium payments. In this nationally representative survey of 83 431 adults (weighted frequency, 49.1% men and 50.9% women; median age, 40.3 years; interquartile range, 28.6-52.4 years), ACA implementation was associated with an 11.9% decrease (95% CI, -17.1% to -6.4%; P < .001) in mean out-of-pocket spending in the full sample, a 21.4% decrease (95% CI, -30.1% to -11.5%; P < .001) in the lowest-income group (≤138% of the FPL), an 18.5% decrease (95% CI, -27.0% to -9.0%; P < .001) in the low-income group (139%-250% of the FPL), and a 12.8% decrease (95% CI, -22.1% to -2.4%; P = .02) in the middle-income group (251%-400% of the FPL). Mean premium spending increased in the full sample (12.1%; 95% CI, 1.9%-23.3%) and the higher-income group (22.9%; 95% CI, 5.5%-43.1%). Combined out-of-pocket plus premium spending decreased in the lowest-income group only (-16.0%; 95% CI, -27.6% to -2.6%). The odds of household out-of-pocket spending exceeding 10% of family income decreased in the full sample (odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.90) and in the lowest-income group (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67-0.97). The odds of high-burden premium spending increased in the middle-income group (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.03-1.59). Implementation of the ACA was associated with reduced out-of-pocket spending, particularly for low-income persons. However, many of these individuals continue to experience high-burden out-of-pocket and premium spending. Repeal or substantial reversal of the ACA would especially harm poor and low-income Americans.

Household food insecurity and associated factors in West Abaya district, Southern Ethiopia, 2015

BackgroundSubsistence farming in West Abaya district is sited in an area prone to drought. Thus, poor food security is a principal concern. But, this has been less documented. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the magnitude of household food insecurity and identify associated factors in West Abaya district, Southern Ethiopia, 2015.MethodsCommunity-based cross-sectional study was done on 779 households from February to March, 2015. Out of 24 kebeles (lowest administrative units) in the district, 9 kebeles were selected randomly. Then from 9 kebeles, 15 ‘gots’ were selected using probability proportionate to size. Gots are villages in a kebele where a kebele may have up to three of them. Data were collected using pretested structured questionnaire by trained data collectors. The study used a ‘Household Food Insecurity Access Scale’ to measure access component of household food insecurity. Data were entered in Epi Info version 3.5.4 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 for cleaning and analysis. Binary and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with food insecurity in the study area.ResultsThe overall prevalence of household food insecurity was 38.1% in the study district. Households headed by female were more likely to be food insecure than households headed by males ‘AOR = 2.1 (95% CI 1.15, 3.74).’ Households headed by persons aged >65 years were 6.5 times more likely of being food insecure compared to household headed by persons aged 18–44 years, ‘AOR = 6.51 (95% CI 3.25, 13).’ The odds of households with larger family size to be food insecure was higher than households with smaller family sizes ‘AOR = 2.4 (95% CI 1.7, 3.5).’ Owning smaller farm land increases the risk of being food insecure nearly by 2 times compared to larger land size ‘AOR = 1.7 (95% CI 1.12, 2.7).’ Besides, households headed by uncoupled were likely to be food insecure than married ‘AOR = 2.6 (95% CI 1.53–4.26).’ConclusionsThis study revealed that household food insecurity was considerable in the study area. Hence, proper attention should be given to increase food production and productivity of the farmers by improving access to farm land, strengthening the efforts of family planning and women empowerment.

Bundled parking and vehicle ownership: Evidence from the American Housing Survey

This article estimates the effect of bundled residential parking—parking whose price is included in the rent or purchase price of housing—on household vehicle ownership. Using data from the American Housing Survey, I show that the odds of households with bundled parking being vehicle-free are 50–75 percent lower than the odds of households without bundled parking, while households in dense center cities near transit are twice as likely to be without vehicles if they lack bundled parking. I also find substantial, though less stable, evidence that bundled parking encourages driving among commuters who have vehicles. These results are robust to a wide variety of demographic and land-use controls and to controls for residential self-selection. Examining self-selection shows that housing without bundled parking is sufficiently scarce and geographically concentrated that people who search for it may not find it. Four metropolitan areas, which hold 11 percent of U.S. housing units, hold more than 40 percent of its housing without bundled parking. Overall, the results suggest that when cities require parking with residential development, they increase vehicle ownership and use.

The relative odds ratio and the theory of abortion choice

This paper hypothesizes that rational household choice with respect to abortion can be conceptualized and empirically measured by way of the relative odds ratio. If, indeed, the household behaves rationally and is endowed with perfect information, it can state its odds of choosing an abortion and will do so in a consistent and noncontradictory way. In this respect, the behavior of the household's odds ratio with respect to abortion choice should confirm Becker's hypothesis regarding cost minimization of child rearing as a tradeoff between child quality and child quantity. This study's empirical findings for a sample of U.S. households reveal odds ratios consistent with Becker's expectation that white household responses to hypothetical abortion inquiries would indicate a preference for child quality, while black responses yield odds ratios pointing to a decided preference for child quantity.