Person Households Research Articles

Abstract B157: Mediating role of social and health factors on the relationship between sexual minority individuals living with high allostatic load and risk of cancer mortality

Abstract Purpose: Sexual minority (SM) populations (including people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual) may have higher cancer risk attributable to social determinants of health (SDOH) such as limited healthcare access, discrimination, and a lack of culturally sensitive care. SM people have higher chronic physiological stress, or allostatic load (AL) compared to their heterosexual peers. Furthermore, SM individuals with high AL have more than twice the risk of cancer mortality than heterosexual people with high AL. Here, we examined the mediating effects of SDOH on the relationship of SM identity and AL with cancer mortality risk. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 2001-2010 data from 12,470 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) linked to follow-up data from the National Death Index through 12/31/2019. We calculated descriptive statistics across groups defined by SM status and AL (e.g. SM with high AL, SM with low AL, heterosexual with high AL, and heterosexual with low AL) and performed survey-weighted Cox regression to assess the association of sexual orientation/AL with cancer mortality risk. We examined the mediating effects of an individual’s SDOH including household income, self-reported general health condition, whether they attended routine health visits, whether they saw a mental health professional in the past year, location of healthcare visits, poverty to income ratio, self-reported prior health condition, and the number of health visits in the past year. Results: Compared to heterosexual individuals with low AL, SM people with high AL were more likely to report: an annual household income < $20,000 (22.7% vs. 12.8%), living in a single person household (22.5% vs. 8.7%), poor general health condition (7.1% vs. 1.3%), worse health now versus one year ago (16.3% vs. 7.8%), seeing a mental health professional within the past year (21.3% vs. 7.9%), and being in the lowest poverty to income ratio quartile (19.4% vs. 13.9%) (p values < 0.001). Among SM adults with high AL, cancer mortality risk was increased 5-fold (age adjusted HR: 4.89, 95% CI: 2.59 – 9.23) versus heterosexual adults with low AL. Upon additional adjustment for sociodemographic factors (age, race/ethnicity, education status, and gender), the association attenuated but remained significant (adjusted HR: 3.31, 95% CI: 1.77 – 6.16). The following factors all slightly mediated the relationship of SM status and high AL with cancer mortality risk: household income (% mediated = 12.35, p < 0.01), seeing a mental health provider within past year (% mediated = 9.88, p < 0.05), greater number of healthcare visits within past year (% mediated = 8.31, p < 0.05), and poor self-reported general health condition (% mediated = 14.08, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Among a nationally representative sample of more than 12,000 US adults, we observed many SDOH significantly mediate the relationship of SM status and high AL with cancer mortality risk. These results can help inform the identification of intervention points to lessen health disparities. Citation Format: Alisha Patel, Justin X. Moore, Missy Spears, Tracy Casanova, Brent Shelton, Heidi Weiss, Marvin E. Langston, Keith J. Watts, Donte Boyd, Prajakta Adsul, Meredith Duncan. Mediating role of social and health factors on the relationship between sexual minority individuals living with high allostatic load and risk of cancer mortality [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B157.

‘Things have changed since we last spoke…’: The impacts of parental death on the life and livelihood of a young informal vendor in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

AbstractWhile an increasing number of studies concerning youth and informality have examined the complex relationship between youth, informal work and transitions to adulthood, this literature has paid little attention to how the death of a family member presents distinctive challenges to young vendors' life and livelihood progression. Addressing this, the paper draws on a case study of a small‐scale informal worker in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, who was participating in in‐depth ethnographic research when their father died suddenly. Through this, it investigates how parental death intersects with the challenges a young vendor experienced working informally while simultaneously attempting to achieve transitions to anticipated adulthood. Life‐mapping interviews and participatory timeline diagrams were employed, gaining rich insights into a young vendor's experiences of parental death, revealing how these were shaped by an interplay between the past, present and future. More specifically, the research, which brings together literature concerning youth, informality and family relations, explores how parental death can (re)configure a young person's household roles, responsibilities and relations in response to sudden precarity in the present, reshaping priorities and plans towards achieving goals over different timeframes. Given persistent levels of informality and uncertainty across employment in sub‐Saharan Africa and beyond, this article provides a timely contribution by highlighting the need for more studies to investigate how parental death creates and exacerbates the challenges youth vendors experience, constraining their abilities to grow and sustain their lives and livelihoods within the informal sector.

What supports are people with intellectual disability living in group homes provided to access health care? A case study

AbstractBackgroundPeople with intellectual disabilities living in group homes often have complex health needs, are high health service users and need support from their service provider to access health services. In Australia, little is known about the types and amounts of these supports.MethodsA case study was conducted on a large Western Australian disability provider of group homes to 160 people with intellectual disability. Over an 18‐month period, including during the COVID‐19 pandemic, the study quantified health service use in hospital‐ and community‐based settings, ways by which the person was supported to access health care and the impact on other people supported by the provider. Economic costs of supporting access to health services were estimated.FindingsOverall, the disability provider supported 160 people in accessing health services an average of 23 times each (n = 3617, median = 20, interquartile range = 10–33) over the 18 months. Support included staff attending with the person (96%), following up with guardian/decision‐maker (50%), additional resourcing via overtime or staff backfills (6%) and transport (94%). The average cost of supporting one health visit was estimated at $78.51 AUD (2021). Impact on the person's household included loss of opportunity for housemates (30%), reduced supervision within the home (79%) and longer timeframes to complete care needs (32%). The impact of COVID‐19 restrictions saw a reduction in allied and mental health service use that did not return to prepandemic levels following the cessation of restrictions. Primary care, specialist, outpatient, pathology and emergency service use was also lower in the postrestriction period compared to the prepandemic period.ConclusionsFor people living in group homes, the disability provider plays an essential role in supporting health service access, primarily through the provision of support staff and transport. The change in health service utilisation following the COVID‐19 restriction period indicates that altered health system priorities can potentially exacerbate access inequality for people with intellectual disability.

1인가구의 행복에 영향을 미치는 심리사회적 요인

This study examined the level of happiness and verified the effect of psycho-social factors on happiness of single person households by life cycle. Data from the Wave 2 of the Korean Happiness Study was used. The final sample for the analyses included data from 1,452 adults aged 20 or older who responded as a single-person household and multiple regression analyses were conducted for each life cycle of youth, middle age, and old age. The main results of this study are as follows. The happiness level of all single-person households was found to be average and decreased from youth to old age. In particular, the level of happiness in middle-aged and old age was found to be relatively low compared to youth. In addition, psychosocial factors affecting the happiness of single-person households were different by the life cycle. Satisfaction with standard of living, satisfaction with future stability, depression and social support were common predictive factors that affected the happiness of single-person households in all life cycles. On the other hand, only a sense of safety in youth, trust in others, social equality, self-rated health status, and stress in middle-aged age, and volunteer activities and satisfaction with neighborhood environment and community belonging in old age were the only new predictive factors that affected the happiness of single-person households. Based on this, policy and practical implications for improving the happiness of single-person households were suggested.

The prevalence of food insecurity amongst refugees and asylum seekers during, and prior to, their early resettlement period in Australia: A cross-sectional analysis of the ‘Building a New Life in Australia’ data

With over 100 million humanitarian migrants globally, there is increasing pressure on high-income countries to offer resettlement opportunities. Humanitarian migrants face many challenges during pre-settlement and resettlement. One challenge is food insecurity (FI). The Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) longitudinal cohort study gathered data from migrating units, that is, a group of humanitarian migrants included on the same visa application (n = 1599). Data were gathered in five annual waves (2013–2018). Data included food security status in four pre-settlement situations and during resettlement. The results of this secondary analysis of BNLA Wave One indicate that FI was highest in refugee camps (71%), followed by bridging visas (30%), community detention (17%), immigration detention (11%), and during early resettlement (9%). During early resettlement, respondents who were male, those from Afghanistan or Iran, and those living in a single person household reported the highest prevalence of FI. An association was found between having spent time on a bridging visa and FI during early resettlement (p < 0.01). This study's results are an important step in understanding the scale of FI and which sub-groups are most vulnerable, so the resources and policies of high-income countries can better meet food security needs during resettlement.

TB index case tracing in the Roma community in the Czech Republic.

Tuberculosis (TB) contact tracing and TB preventive treatment are key tools in preventing the transmission of TB with the aim of eliminating the disease. Our study seeks to demonstrate how the infection spread from an individual patient to the entire community and how proactive contact tracing facilitated prompt diagnosis and treatment. Our work was conducted as a retrospective analysis of the spread of TB infection within the Roma community in the Czech Republic, following the case of an index patient who succumbed to pulmonary TB. Several levels of care and preventive and treatment measures are outlined. Confirming the identity of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain was achieved using molecular methods. Among the 39 individuals examined, TB disease was detected in eight patients and TB infection was detected in six patients. The investigation of contacts within this group yielded positive results in 36% of cases, necessitating treatment. The study's findings provide evidence that actively tracing individuals at risk can lead to early detection of cases, prompt treatment, and prevention of further disease transmission. The study also indicates that the highest risk of infection occurs within the sick person's household and that young children under the age of 5 are most susceptible to falling ill.

1인 가구 청년 여성의 커뮤니티 경험에 대한 사례연구

This study examines the meaning of community experiences of female single-person households in their twenties and thirties whose number is gradually increasing focused on experiences and perceptions on family. Case study research method was adopted and in-depth interviews were conducted with 7 single-person household young women. As results of the study, 3 categories were drawn from the discourses of the participants: experiences of single- person household, experiences of communities, and experiences of families. The participants autonomously chose the life of single-person households as a means to pursuit their academic or work careers.The participants participated in the community, self-development activities and hobbies as a way to satisfy their needs of self-actualization and build new relationships. They showed individualism that values a free individual life, but also showed an active aspect in forming or participating in groups for study or hobbies pursuing intimacy by forming social relationship. In the female community, the participants could experience a sense of solidarity with the identity of a woman that cannot be experienced in the female community, or help them to move forward and stabilize themselves in the future when they are frustrated or have struggling, help them to move forward or stabilize in the future and help them stay in the presence. In addition, community members respect each other, share their experiences, and express safely themselves as they are. The female communities can be viewed as a family in a broad sense with intimate but loose solidarity. These experiences was interpreted a process of re-establishing family concept. It was shown that the participants experienced emotional distress and conflicts with their original families, which made them direct a new relationship of family adhering to a normative and ideal concept of family. In conclusion, the female communities that young females independently chose were interpreted in the context of alternative and flexible family further suggesting the need for social, institutional, and policy changes.

Changes in food purchase, consumption and handling during COVID-19 pandemic among single person households.

As a new type of consumer subject in the market that was formerly dominated by multiple person families, single households are driving the change in the buying structure. Food purchase activities have undergone significant changes since the outbreak of the COVID-19. The objective of this study was to assess and compare variations in food consumption, purchase and handling during the COVID-19 pandemic between single person households (SPH) and multiple person households. A cross-sectional study conducted among 211 individuals in communities in Harris and Waller Counties, Texas. Sociodemographic, food purchase, food consumption and food handling activities during the COVID-19 pandemic were assessed with a validated COVID-19 Nutrition questionnaire. Non-Hispanic Black participants constituted 42.6%, and 28.4% were Hispanics. Participants were made up of mostly aged 18-24 years (39.3%), 47.9% single household composition, 30.4% in full time employment, and 29.1% partook in food assistance programs. A large proportion of them had never used grocery pickup services, online grocery shopping and a farmers' market. During the COVID-19 pandemic, majority of the participants used more of large supermarkets, restaurant/fast food, and online grocery but food consumption seemed to remain the same for the majority of participants. For beverages, majority of participants consumed more water, less soda, and no alcohol. There was a significant association between single person household and higher restaurant/fast foods purchase. Many of the participants reported weight gain and less physical activity during the pandemic. Restaurant meal purchases was more prevalent in single-person families. The results from the study have the potential to contribute to how public policy officials, food service, and health authorities forecast how different categories of consumers will react in pandemics and may be used to inform area-specific alleviation strategies to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and future events.

Contact tracing: Characteristics of COVID-19 cases that provided contacts.

This cross-sectional study evaluated COVID-19 contact tracing efforts to identify variations in contact tracing outcomes in different population subgroups. Contact tracing was a critical tool to slow the COVID-19 epidemic. A literature gap evaluating contact tracing elicitation exits, particularly on prioritized groups. We analyzed data from COVID-19 cases linking statewide case management, immunization, laboratory testing, and hospitalization databases in New York State (NYS) outside of New York City from February 1 to November 30, 2021. Focus was cases in home-based residential settings (excluding congregate care) and prioritized groups (educational institutions, large households, close quarters, higher-risk persons, hospitalized). The primary outcome was completed interviews that provided a contact. Of the 550,850 cases interviewed during the study period, 316,645 (57.5%) provided at least one contact. Adults aged 18 to 49 years were most likely to provide contacts than those aged 65 years and older (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-1.45). Compared to unvaccinated cases, boosted individuals (aOR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.50-1.73) were most likely to provide contacts, followed by persons with only a primary vaccine series (aOR, 1.3; 95%CI, 1.28-1.33) and partially vaccinated (aOR, 1.21; 95%CI, 1.18-1.24). Repeat cases (aOR, 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.14), pregnant persons (aOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1,19-1.34), those with underlying conditions (aOR 1.22; 95%CI, 1.20-1.23), and those in K-12 settings (aOR 1.55; 95%CI, 1.50-1.61) were more likely to provide contacts. There was no clear association between hospitalized, while zip code level income may (aOR, 1.006; 95%CI, 1.003, 1.009). Persons from larger households were more likely to provide contacts: aOR for two or more persons vs. one person households ranged from 2.49 to 4.7 (95%CI, 2.20-4.78). Our findings indicate success in eliciting contacts from prioritized groups and identify variable contact elicitation outcomes from different population groups. These results may serve as a tool for future contact tracing efforts.

Demographic, health, and prognostic characteristics of Australians with liver cancer: a cohort study of linked data in New South Wales for informing cancer control

BackgroundAustralian age-standardized incidence and death rates for liver cancer are lower than world averages, but increasing as in other economically advanced western countries. World Health Organization emphasizes the need to address sociodemographic disparities in cancer risk. A more detailed sociodemographic risk profiling was undertaken for liver cancer in New South Wales (NSW) by diagnostic stage, than possible with NSW Cancer Registry (NSWCR) alone, by incorporating linked data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The purpose was to inform targeting and monitoring of cancer services.MethodsThe ABS manages the Multi-Agency Data Integration Project (MADIP) which includes a wide range of health, educational, welfare, census, and employment data. These data were linked at person level to NSWCR liver cancer registrations for the period post 2016 census to December 2018. De-identified data were analyzed. Sex-specific age-adjusted odds ratios (95%CIs) of liver cancer were derived using logistic regression by age, country of birth, residential remoteness, proficiency in spoken English, household income, employment status, occupation type, educational attainment, sole person household, joblessness, socioeconomic status, disability status, multimorbidity, and other health-related factors, including GP consultations. These data complement the less detailed sociodemographic data available from the NSWCR, with alignment of numerators and population denominators for accurate risk assessment.ResultsResults indicate liver cancer disproportionately affects population members already experiencing excess social and health disadvantage. Examples where 95% confidence intervals of odds ratios of liver cancer were elevated included having poor English-speaking proficiency, limited education, housing authority tenancy, living in sole-person households, having disabilities, multiple medicated conditions, and being carers of people with a disability. Also, odds of liver cancer were higher in more remote regions outside major cities, and in males, with higher odds of more advanced cancer stages (degrees of spread) at diagnosis in more remote regions.ConclusionsLinked data enabled more detailed risk profiling than previously possible. This will support the targeting of cancer services and benchmarking.

사실혼으로서 동성생활공동체

The Korean family has experienced diversity. Being in appearance, nuclear family has been reduced, single person household is getting absolute majority, and marriage and birth rate are seriously decreased. On the basis of superficial alterations, Koreans' perception about family is newly formed. As a result, people are most receptive to living together without marriage.&#x0D; However, Korean legal system does not accept the internal and external transition of family at all. The Korean civil law stands on the principle of legal marriage and does not stipulate de facto marriage relation. Despite all that, de facto marriage relation which has been acknowledged by legal theory and precedents is provided legal protection. But, the definition about de facto marriage is not clear. Basically, when the parties which are able to marry with legally, live together under social recognition without marriage registration, it is protected as de facto marriage. On the other hand the couple who were in same family lineage and thereby could not legally marry with by the previous Korean civil Law were recognized as de facto marriage relation. Furthermore, in the case of social security like pension, the spouse who had been in prohibition of marriage by the Korean civil law, was recognized as de facto marriage partner.&#x0D; Legal theory and precedents demand parties' intention of marriage, living together under supporting each other, and obtaining social approval as the conditions of de facto marriage. Parties' internal intention of marriage is presumed when the couple live together under supporting each other and receive social approval. Nevertheless, the Korean court does not admit same sex couple as de facto marriage relation, even if they live together under supporting each other and obtaining social acknowledge. The reason for it is that they can not marry with legally. This paper examines that the position of Korean court is not proper in the stage of getting fact finding and applying provisions of Korean civil law in the lawsuit. It claims also that on the basis of major legal theory and precedents about de facto marriage same sex couple belong to the relation.

P24-136-23 Single Person Households More Likely To Purchase Restaurant Food and Consume Fruits and Vegetables During COVID-19

P24-136-23 Single Person Households More Likely To Purchase Restaurant Food and Consume Fruits and Vegetables During COVID-19

나노사회의 심리적 현상에 관한 연구

The purpose of this study was to provide the main characteristics of psychological phenomenain the nano society and to present the psychological nature of human existence in theunderstanding of single person households, individualization, isolation, and polarizationphenomena. As a literature research method, it was analyzed by focusing on previous domesticand foreign studies. The main research question was to examine what the core psychologicalphenomena of the nano society are and how far they affect them. As a result of this study, themain keyword of the psychological phenomenon of the nano society wasloneliness, and itwas found that chronic loneliness affects sleep deprivation, depression, stress, diseaseexacerbation, mental illness, and suicide. These results have academic significance in providingimplications for future research and suggest clinical insights.

Poverty, extreme poverty and homelessness in Spain: an analysis for the period 2010–2019

This work adopts different approaches to analyse situations of poverty and extreme poverty in Spain during the last decade, considering different monetary thresholds, measures of severe material deprivation and the combination of both. The determining factors of these situations and the patterns that act as a link between extreme poverty and homelessness are also examined. The results of the study show that for the most restrictive thresholds of 10 per cent and 20 per cent of the median equivalised disposable income the smallest variations during the series are observed, confirming that situations of such deep poverty are not influenced by the cycle since they do not respond to economic stimuli. The determinants of extreme poverty suggest that public policies should be target towards high-risk groups, such as single person households, households with children, younger individuals, individuals with a low educational attainment, and of foreign nationality. Finally, an interesting result is that the profile of individuals in situations of consistent poverty have the greatest similarities to the group of people experiencing homelessness.

Determinants of vaccine refusal, delay and reluctance in parents of 2-year-old children in Canada: Findings from the 2017 Childhood National Immunization Coverage Survey (cNICS)

Vaccine hesitancy is a barrier to improving childhood vaccination rates in Canada, but the scope of this problem is unclear due to inconsistent measurement of vaccine uptake indicators. Using 2017 data from a Canadian national vaccine coverage survey, this study analyzed the impact of demographics and parental knowledge, attitudes and beliefs (KAB) on vaccine decisions (refusal, delay and reluctance) in parents of 2-year-old children who had received at least one vaccine. The findings show that 16.8% had refused a vaccine, specifically influenza (73%), rotavirus (13%) and varicella (9%); female parents or those from Quebec or the Territories more likely to refuse. 12.8% were reluctant to accept a vaccine, usually influenza (34%), MMR (21%) and varicella (19%), but eventually accepted them upon advice from a health care provider. 13.1% had delayed a vaccine, usually because their child had health issues (54%) or was too young (18.6%) and was predicted by five or six person households. Recent immigration to Canada decreased likelihood of refusal, delay, or reluctance; however, after 10 years in Canada, these parents were as likely to refuse or be reluctant as parents born in Canada. Poor KAB increased likelihood of refusal and delay by 5 times, and reluctance by 15 times, while moderate KAB increased likelihood of refusal (OR 1.6), delay (OR 2.3) and reluctance (OR 3.6). Future research into vaccine decisions by female and/or single parents, and predictors of vaccine KAB would provide valuable information and help protect our children from vaccine preventable diseases.

저소득 장년층 1인 가구의 생활경험에 관한 사례연구

The purpose of this study is to understand the life experiences of low-income middle-aged single person households who are prone to the crisis of the welfare blind spot. In-depth interviews were conducted with 8 participants who had agreed to the research purpose and analyzed using a qualitative case study method. As a result of the analysis, the life experience of low-income middle-aged single person households has 4 categories such as ‘Not intending to live alone’ ,‘Difficulties as a single person households’, ‘Different daily life for each single households’, ‘Suggestions for the middle-aged single person households’ and 16 sub-categories. Based on these results, policy and practical suggestions were made to prevent social isolation and improve the quality of life of low-income middle-aged single person households, which are emerging as new social risks.

Needs to Change Behaviour in Households Producing Lots of Food Waste

The purpose of this research was to investigate avoidable food waste among households of students studying in higher education in Sein¨ajoki. The focus was to quantify the avoidable food waste in different-sized households. The focus was also to specify food categories wasted, and the main reasons for avoidable food waste accumulated. The participating households weighed all their food waste during the one-week monitoring period recording the data on an Excel spreadsheet. The university students taking part in the study were introduced to the work by video instruction. In total 421 households with 918 persons took part in this study. It was found that the average amount of avoidable food waste was equal to 25.2 kg/person/year. In single person households, the amount was 36.6 kg/year. The amount for households with five or more persons was 80.0 kg/household i.e. 14.1 kg/person. This research showed that 25 % of the households caused 56 % of the avoidable food waste, which means that main efforts should be targeted to this ’heavy wasting’ group. One way of improving the good practices would be to share good habits related to lowering food waste among university students through peer learning. This study is aimed to awaken the ’heavy wasting’ university student to change their attitude and behaviour.

Comparison of Health Behaviors between Adults with Hypertension in Single- and Multi-Person Households: Based on the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

The risk of hypertension is known to be higher in single-person households than in multi-person households. This study was performed to investigate the differences in health behaviors of patients with hypertension by household type.This cross-sectional study used data in the 8th National Health and Nutrition Survey to investigate the lifestyle habits of 3,093 patients with hypertension aged 18 years or above. Health behaviors of single- and multi-person households were analyzed using chi-square test and t-test by gender. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of health behaviors by household type.According to gender, there were differences in demographic distribution and health behaviors between single-person household and multi-person households. The results in the comparison between single- and multi-person households by multivariate logistic analysis showed: single-person households showed a 1.50-fold increase of being a current smoker (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.01-2.22) in males, 2.18-fold (OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.06-4.48) in females. With respect to nutritional intake, women in single person household showed lower intake in various nutrients such as protein, fat, water, fibers, and sodium, as well as total calorie (but not carbohydrate), while men in single person household showed lower intake in fibers only.The results of this study shows that adults in single-person households have an increased risk of being smokers. Also, nutritional support could be necessary. Based on such findings, physicians, nurses and other health professionals are recommended to focus more on health behaviors such as smoking and diet in patients with hypertension, particularly in single households.

Demographic factors lead to mobile phone ownership in Tanzania mainland: A binary logistic regression approach

The purpose of this study was to determine the demographic factors that influence mobile phone ownership in Tanzania Mainland. Secondary data from the 2017-2018 Household Budget Survey (HBS), which was conducted by the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), were used in this study. In order to determine which demographic factors influence Tanzanian mobile phone ownership, the Binary logistic regression method was utilized. According to the findings, a person's age, marital status, sex, residence area, and household size are all demographic factors that influence mobile phone ownership. Out of 9463 households, approximately 77.3 percent (7311) have at least one mobile phone, while only 22.7 percent (2152) do not. More than just a means of communication, the mobile phone has changed how people live and keep in touch with one another.

Towards Sustainable Food Systems: Exploring Household Food Waste by Photographic Diary in Relation to Unprocessed, Processed and Ultra-Processed Food

Global society is wasting food at unsustainable levels, and unconsumed food is contributing markedly to carbon emissions. Simultaneously, food insecurity and obesity are increasingly prevalent concerns in high-income countries. This study aimed to evaluate food waste at the household level to understand relationships between discarded food, food processing and household characteristics. A sociodemographic and food security survey of householders in Hampshire (UK) was conducted alongside a seven-day photographic food waste diary. Of the total food waste from 94 participants, 87% was unprocessed, 51% was avoidable or potentially avoidable and 36% was unavoidable. Of the total food waste, 61% occurred during food preparation. Greater amounts of avoidable food waste occurred in one, three and four+ person households than in two-person households. Potentially avoidable food waste was greater in households educated to postgraduate and university degree level than others. The outcomes of this study indicate that the focus on interventions should vary demographically. Interventions that support food security, improving diet quality and saving money, while reducing avoidable and unprocessed food waste, in one, three and four+ person households during food preparation are one option. Reducing potentially avoidable unprocessed food waste is a priority in households educated to university degree level and above.