Poverty Line Research Articles

The cost of doing nothing: Preventable premature births for at-risk women

Background: The effects of poverty in the United States are growing, and the impacts are most severe for the already vulnerable populations. This analysis looks at the cost of doing nothing for at-risk pregnant women in one county in NE Ohio. Most of these women are living at or below the poverty level, lack safe, affordable, and stable housing, and often do not receive recommended levels of prenatal care. This examination uses data from Mahoning County, Ohio, where one program has provided wrap-around support for any at-risk pregnant mother since 2016. Objective: Examine the cost/savings of providing wrap-around support services to at-risk pregnant women. Methods: Data was provided by the Mahoning County Pathway HUB (MCPH) regarding all births since its 2016 inception. Data was extracted from the Ohio Department of Health, the CDC, and other sources regarding the cost of births and specifically premature births. These sources of data were analyzed using causal-comparative methods, in order to understand the frequency of premature births, with, and without the support services provided by the MCPH. Conclusion: The results of these causal-comparative analyses suggest that the cost of doing nothing for at-risk pregnant women is substantial for all stakeholders. Results demonstrate a savings of 2.45 million dollars for the five years included in the analysis. Because most of the services provided by the MCPH are billable to public health insurance, this model of supporting pregnant mothers who are at risk is important. The cost of doing nothing can lead to a lifetime of avoidable suffering and financial hardship for the women and infants who are born premature. The results from the MCPH suggest that this model of support and service delivery is making a difference, based on the lower-than-expected pre-term births over their tenure of operation.

Effects of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansions on the Employment and Work Hours of Nursing Assistants in Hospitals and Nursing Homes.

We examine the effects of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions on the employment and work hours of nursing assistants (NAs). We use the 2011-2019 American Community Survey data to identify NAs likely to be affected by Medicaid expansions (income up to 138% of the federal poverty level) in nursing homes and hospitals. Using classical difference-in-differences regressions, we find that Medicaid expansions have little effect on employment and work hours among NAs in the full sample. However, there is a 4.4 percentage-point increase in the probability of working part-time (<30 hours/week) for nursing home NAs (p < .05). We found no employment effects of Medicaid expansions for hospital NAs. Our study adds to the literature on the heterogeneous effects of Medicaid expansions on work effort across occupations and workplaces. The rise in part-time employment for nursing home NAs following Medicaid expansions suggests the need for improved benefits to encourage full-time employment.

The chronic illness of poverty: the effects of microfinance on the severity of poverty and the cost of its eradication

PurposeThis paper investigates the impact of microfinance on poverty gap which is the shortfall in income or consumption expenditures below $1.90, $3.20 and $5.50 per day. The paper’s primary goal is to investigate how microloans have impacted the severity of poverty and influenced the cost of poverty eradication in Latin America, empirically evaluate these effects and offer appropriate policy recommendations.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used panel data for 13 Latin American countries from world bank spanning the period 2001–2019 and Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares model for heterogeneous cointegrated panels. This study used Gross Loan Portfolio per active borrowers, gross domestic product per capita, Gini index, Inflation and Unemployment rate as independent variables and poverty gaps as dependent variables.FindingsPoverty gaps narrow as the loan per borrower increases, and the degree of effect differs with the poverty line, with the magnitude increasing as the poverty line falls, underscoring microloans as an effective tool in closing poverty gaps and lowering the cost of poverty eradication. Growth of GDP per capita is helpful reducing the poverty gap, especially for the less poor of the poor. Inflation and unemployment have no to little impact on the severe poverty gaps, but they start to matter when the poverty line is $5.5 per day. Finally, income distribution inequality widens the poverty gap regardless of the poverty line used.Originality/valueThis study suggests several implications. For example, Latin American nations need to embrace tangible policies that encourage economic growth while reducing inequalities in income distribution to effectively eradicate poverty. More supportive environment is necessary to increase the effectiveness of microfinance operations, particularly for the poorest populations. Microfinance institutions need to set less stringent conditions for loan accessibility and repayment schedules that are commensurate with different levels of poverty. Finally, strengthening microfinance as a strategic policy to gradually close poverty gaps and reduce the cost of poverty eradication.

Anúncio de uma Sociedade em Crise sem Filosofia: Repensar a Educação Angolana a partir da “Sagrada Esperança”

The present text sheds light on reflection about a society in crisis "that is announced", being the capture of how we think in relation to Philosophy and the use that is made of reason, a necessary condition for this purpose. This way of thinking is reflected in all dimensions of human life, with particular mention of how education, politics, law, and justice are viewed as conditions for achieving a more dignified humanity. Hence, in this sense of philosophizing about our reality, we have proposed the challenge of (re) thinking our (Angolan) society from the perspective of "Sacred Hope" reflected in education. The reflection starts from the question: how to rethink, philosophically, our Angolan society from the "Sacred Hope," whose content is reflected in education? It is a question that fundamentally raises the discussion about the educational possibilities for realizing the individual in the Angolan context, characterized by levels of illiteracy and widespread poverty. This situation leads us to resort to the "Sacred Hope" which, in the circumstances in which it was born, as a thought-out ideal, represented the dream of achieving a different and dignified condition of life for the Angolan person, to, as a Philosophy, understood as a new perspective of life grounded in the light of reason, and question its reach in the present. Thus, if Philosophy is a questioning of any (social) reality, then it makes sense to admit that, without Philosophy, a society enters into existential crisis and, in this sense, it becomes imperative to rethink it from the perspective of education as sacred hope

PENGENALAN DAN PELATIHAN DIVERSIFIKASI PRODUK HASIL PERIKANAN KEPADA ISTRI NELAYAN DI KENJERAN-SURABAYA

The impoverished economic condition of fishermen is one of reasons that compelling the wives to work and earn extra living for their families. This problem is predominantly occurred in fishermen households in Kenjeran, Surabaya. This impoverished economic condition of fishermen is considerably influenced by the lack of adequate facilities and education related to the processing of diversified fishery commodities. Therefore, in order to help the economy improvement and reduce the poverty level within fishermen households, it is necessary to provide community service which is focusing on giving skill in diversification process of fisheries commodities. This activity aims to provide training and information enrichment related to fishery product processing skills in order to encourage financial independence in fishermen communities. This community service activity was initially began with conducting preliminary survey, which then continued with the training in making products from fisheries commodities. In the counseling process, primary data was taken by conducting interviews to fill out questionnaires. The result of this community service activity showed that the majority of participants already had certain level of understanding toward nutritional information and proper method to make processed fisheries products. The participants of this activity were given information regarding to the utilization of package in protecting and elevating the selling price of fisheries products. The questionnaires evaluation shows that the fishermen wives need further assistance regarding the variety of fish processing method, along with the effective marketing strategy and the proper implementation of sanitation hygiene to make products with high selling price. The Kenjeran fishing community understands the importance of diversifying fishery products. This is an effort to increase the economic value of products as an economic resource for residents.

Medical care services interplay between individual and Medicaid managed care markets in expansion versus non‐expansion states

AbstractWe study enrollment, medical service utilization, and incurred expenses of individual comprehensive and Medicaid managed care plans in states with or without Medicaid expansion adopted at the Affordable Care Act (ACA) early stage 2014–2016. To make healthcare services more accessible, 27 states expanded Medicaid eligibility to cover nearly‐poor non‐elderly adults who have had incomes between 100% and 138% of federal poverty level in 2014. In non‐expansion states, early enrollees in this income cohort had to choose individual market plans rather than Medicaid. Early enrollees' enrollment choices and their health status have had a great impact on the individual market premiums and Medicaid spending. We examined health insurers' annual regulatory filings with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for 2013–2016 and found that: First, individual comprehensive insurance enrollment grew much faster in states not expanding Medicaid eligibility. Second, after incorporating early enrollees, per member per month (PMPM) medical service utilization and expenses of individual comprehensive insurance grew much faster in non‐expansion states. Third, among major types of medical utilization and expense measures, PMPM hospital inpatient days and PMPM prescription drug expenses increased substantially since 2014. Finally, Medicaid beneficiaries generated more PMPM medical utilization and expenses in expansion states.

Impact of Gwadar Deep Seaport Development under CPEC on Poverty Alleviation in Gwadar City

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the deep seaport development project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on poverty alleviation in Gwadar city. A review of past research highlights the feasibility of similar projects that have been initiated in other countries and their positive outcomes for regional economies. Previous literature indicates that port development projects enhance local economic growth and help reduce poverty in the region. This study uses three key indicators to measure poverty: education level, health facilities, and living standards. The statistical analysis reveals that improvements in these three indicators have led to a decrease in poverty levels in the region. Under CPEC, various development projects have been launched across the country. However, several issues can limit the benefits of these projects, such as political interference, pressure from vested interest groups, and adverse effects on the natural environment. The study recommends that improving regional connectivity and fostering social interaction among inhabitants are crucial for maximizing the benefits of these development projects and effectively alleviating poverty.

Endometrial Cancer Survival in Populations of African Descent.

To examine whether the endometrial cancer (EC) survival disadvantage among Black populations is US-specific, a comparison between African descent populations from different countries with a high development index is warranted. We analyzed 28,213 EC cases from cancer registries in Florida (2005-2018) and Martinique (2005-2018)/Guadeloupe (2008-2018), French Caribbean islands. Kaplan-Meier and all-cause Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare survival. Models were stratified by EC histology type and the main predictor examined was race/ethnicity [non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Black (NHB) women in the US versus Black women residing in the Caribbean]. For endometrioid and non-endometrioid EC, after adjusting for age, histology, stage at diagnosis, receipt of surgery, period of diagnosis, and poverty level, US NHB women and Caribbean Blacks had a higher risk of death relative to US NHWs. There was no difference between US NHBs and Caribbean Blacks (HR 1.07, 95% CI: 0.88-1.30) with endometrioid EC. However, Caribbean Black women with non-endometrioid carcinomas had a 40% (HR 1.40, 95% CI: 1.13-1.74) higher risk of death than US NHBs. The low EC survival among US Black women extends to foreign populations of African descent. For the aggressive non-endometrioid ECs, survival in Caribbean Blacks outside of the US is considerably worse.

Examining the Impact of Race and Poverty on the Relationship Between Purpose in Life and Functional Health: Insights from the HANDLS Study.

While research has shown a positive association between a higher sense of purpose in life and functional health, there is a gap in understanding its benefits for racially minoritized and low SES individuals. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between purpose in life and physical functional health in a diverse sample, hypothesizing that purpose in life would be negatively associated with functional difficulties, with potentially stronger associations in White and high SES groups. Data from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study were utilized (166 participants, mean age 59.44 [SD = 8.28], 59.6% females, 65.06% Black participants, 40.36% below poverty). Purpose in life was measured by Ryff's Psychological Well-being Purpose in Life subscale. Functional health was measured by functional difficulties in mobility and daily living. Race (Black and White) and poverty status (above and below) were used as moderators to probe the purpose-functional health association using zero-inflated Poisson regression while adjusting for age, education, depressive symptomology, and previous functional difficulties in four hierarchical models. Results showed that purpose in life was negatively associated with functional difficulty, indicating fewer difficulties in mobility and daily activities among those with a high sense of purpose. While the association did not remain significant after including previous functional difficulty as a covariate in Model 4, suggesting that race may not be a consistent moderator, poverty status remained a consistent moderator. The association was stronger for individuals above the poverty level. These findings underscore the complex interplay between purpose in life, race, poverty status, and functional health, emphasizing the importance of considering socioeconomic factors in interventions aimed at eliminating functional health disparities among diverse adult populations.

Association between modifiable lifestyle pattern and periodontitis: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES

BackgroundPeriodontitis can be avoided with a healthy lifestyle. However, studies have only looked at one lifestyle, ignoring the connection between lifestyle patterns and periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to look at the association between modifiable lifestyle patterns and periodontitis.MethodsData were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2009–2010 and 2011–2012. Smoke, drink, exercise, sleep duration, oral exams, and self-rated oral health were all lifestyle factors. The CDC/AAP classification/case definition was used to evaluate periodontitis. Drawing upon latent class analysis, distinct patterns of lifestyle were identified, with each participant exclusively affiliated with a single pattern. The association between lifestyle classes and periodontitis was then examined using ordinal logistic regression.Results4686 (52%) of the total 9034 participants, with a mean age of 54.08, were women. Three lifestyle latent classes were found by fitting 2–10 models: “Class 1” (52%), " Class 2” (13%), and " Class 3” (35%). The “Class 1” displayed a prevalence of oral examination (75%), favorable self-rated oral health (92%), and engagement in physical activity (50%). The ‘Class 2’ exhibited the lowest alcohol consumption (64%) and smoking rates (73%) but the highest prevalence of physical inactivity (98%). The ‘Class 3’ showed a tendency for smoking (72%), alcohol consumption (78%), shorter sleep duration (50%), absence of oral examinations (75%), and suboptimal self-rated oral health (68%). The influencing variables for the latent classes of lifestyle were age, education, and poverty level. Periodontitis risk may rise by 24% for each additional unhealthy lifestyle practiced by participants (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.18–1.31). The ‘Class 3’ (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.52–2.13) had a greater risk of periodontitis compared to the ‘Class 1’.ConclusionsOur analysis revealed that unhealthy lifestyle patterns are associated with periodontitis. These different lifestyle patterns need to be taken into account when developing public health interventions and clinical care.

Outcome of Women’s Reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions in Bihar

Many studies have highlighted the advantages of female leadership in bolstering investment in public infrastructure aimed at enhancing the well-being of women and children, along with fostering the empowerment of women. Building upon this premise, this study aims to examine how political decentralization and female leadership impact social and demographic indicators related to women's empowerment, thereby contributing to the growing body of research on this topic. The focus of this study is on State of Bihar, which is India's third most populous state with approximately 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. By analysing data from various rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), the study finds that empowering local governance and promoting female leadership have led to enhancements in women and child health outcomes, as well as bolstering women's empowerment at the grassroots level in Bihar.

Analisis Tingkat Kemiskinan Di Asean-5

This research aimed to understand the influence of unemployment, inflation, and per capita income on the ASEAN-5 poverty level. The analytical tool used is descriptive quantitative using secondary data originating from BPS, World Bank, and ASEAN Secretariat, namely time series data for 2001-2020 and cross-section data from 5 countries in ASEAN. The methodology used is to use the panel data regression method. The model used in this research is the Common Effect Model. From this research, the results showed that the Unemployment variable had a significant positive effect on the poverty level in ASEAN-5, the Inflation variable had a positive and insignificant impact on the poverty level in ASEAN-5, and the Per Capita Income variable had a negative and significant effect on the poverty level in ASEAN-5.

Education on Innovation of Processed Beverages Made from Turmeric and Telang Flowers as Tourism Kampong Products

People in Baran Buring Village, Malang City produce turmeric. There are still many of them living below the poverty line. To improve the community's economy, the Tourism Kampong program was initiated and driven by the Tholabie Islamic Boarding School in collaboration with academics. This Public Service (PKM) program aims to educate people how to process turmeric and telang flower into popular beverages. The method used is educating and training people about how to produce popular beverages made from turmeric and telang flower. The results achieved are: the increasing of people knowledge about the benefits of telang and turmeric flowers (80%) and the skill in produce turmeric and telang flowers (90%). This beverage product can be a souvenir as well as a reinforcement of the character of Kampoeng Eduwisata Buah Bercahaya.

The Impact of Food Security on Economic Growth through Interaction with Poverty Levels

Food security has a significant impact on economic aspects, poverty levels, and the quality of human resources in a region. Food security issues are something that must be watched out by the East Java Provincial government. The high population and poverty level can cause problems in economic growth in East Java Province. The purpose of the study is to determine how the poverty level can strengthen or weaken the relationship between economic growth and food security as measured from the Food Availability Index, Food Affordability Index, and Food Utilization Index. This research is important because food security not only talks about food consumption for the community but also how food availability, affordability, and utilization can be the basis of sustainable development. The data used are secondary data from the Central Bureau of Statistics of East Java Province and the Indonesian National Food Agency. This research was conducted with a quantitative approach using Moderation Regression Analysis (MRA) method on panel data. The results showed that partially the poverty level can strengthen the influence of the Food Availability Index and Food Utilization Index on economic growth. In this case, the poverty level is classified as quasi-moderation which has a dual role as a moderation variable and an independent variable directly affects economic growth. Meanwhile, the effect of the Food Affordability Index on economic growth is not moderated by the poverty level as a predictor of moderation.

The Correlation Between Education and Income Inequality

This paper analyzes the dynamics of wealth and education inequality in the world. This topic is very useful for the current economic situation. Meanwhile, the economic circle has different views on this issue by searching different literature. Each paper comes up with a different result and a different conclusion based on a different way of calculating economic inequality, and most scholars are divided into two groups, those who think they are strongly related and those who think they are not deeply related. These papers use some special calculations to calculate economic inequality. After analyzing the experimental process and results, it was found this issue and came up with personal views. In opinion, education does have a great impact on the economic situation of the middle class, but for the richest group of people, education has little impact on them. However, this research result still has some defects, so researchers need to consult more pieces of literature and obtain more data to obtain a more accurate result, which would greatly improve the level of economic inequality and extreme poverty in the world.

Travel-Time Disparities in Access to Proton Beam Therapy for Cancer Treatment

Proton beam therapy is an emerging radiotherapy treatment for patients with cancer that may produce similar outcomes as traditional photon-based therapy for many cancers while delivering lower amounts of toxic radiation to surrounding tissue. Geographic proximity to a proton facility is a critical component of ensuring equitable access both for indicated diagnoses and ongoing clinical trials. To characterize the distribution of proton facilities in the US, quantify drive-time access for the population, and investigate the likelihood of long commutes for certain population subgroups. This population-based cross-sectional study analyzed travel times to proton facilities in the US. Census tract variables in the contiguous US were measured between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. Statistical analysis was performed from September to November 2023. Drive time in minutes to nearest proton facility. Population totals and prevalence of specific factors measured from the American Community Survey: age; race and ethnicity; insurance, disability, and income status; vehicle availability; broadband access; and urbanicity. Poor access to proton facilities was defined as having a drive-time commute of at least 4 hours to the nearest location. Median drive time and percentage of population with poor access were calculated for the entire population and by population subgroups. Univariable and multivariable odds of poor access were also calculated for certain population subgroups. Geographic access was considered for 327 536 032 residents of the contiguous US (60 594 624 [18.5%] Hispanic, 17 974 186 [5.5%] non-Hispanic Asian, 40 146 994 [12.3%] non-Hispanic Black, and 195 265 639 [59.6%] non-Hispanic White; 282 031 819 [86.1%] resided in urban counties). The median (IQR) drive time to the nearest proton facility was 96.1 (39.6-195.3) minutes; 119.8 million US residents (36.6%) lived within a 1-hour drive of the nearest proton facility, and 53.6 million (16.4%) required a commute of at least 4 hours. Persons identifying as non-Hispanic White had the longest median (IQR) commute time at 109.8 (48.0-197.6) minutes. Multivariable analysis identified rurality (odds ratio [OR], 2.45 [95% CI, 2.27-2.64]), age 65 years or older (OR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.06-1.11]), and living below the federal poverty line (OR, 1.22 [1.20-1.25]) as factors associated with commute times of at least 4 hours. This cross-sectional study of drive-time access to proton beam therapy found that disparities in access existed among certain populations in the US. These results suggest that such disparities present a barrier to an emerging technology in cancer treatment and inhibit equitable access to ongoing clinical trials.

GST Rate Structure and Exemptions in India: Comments from a Global Perspective

Many countries, including India, apply a multi-rate VAT system and exemptions. The author in this article compares the rationale for a single VAT rate with the justifications generally given for applying multiple rates and exemptions. He focuses on India and evaluates the main justification for multiple rates and exemptions in its GST system, namely combating regressivity. It is argued that relief for the burden the GST particularly imposed on the lowest income groups can be provided more effectively than through reduced rates and exemption by incorporating into the GST system a rebate for GST paid up to the poverty level.

Analyzing Exchange Rate Effects on Trade: Empirical Evidence

In this study, we aimed to find a fair exchange rate for Egypt, exploring how exchange rate policies affect the country’s economic growth and food security. We also sought to answer an important question for Egyptian policymakers: “Do current exchange rate policies help reduce Egypt’s trade deficit?”. We used two methods in our research: First, we applied the purchasing power parity (PPP) method to determine the equilibrium real exchange rate (ERER). Then, we combined the computable general equilibrium model (CGE) with the ERER value from the PPP method to observe how different sectors interact with the overall economy and understand how household incomes and poverty levels are related. Our findings showed that the fair exchange rate is EGP 38.5 per US dollar, according to the PPP method. This new exchange rate may significantly impact the Egyptian economy. Some impacts are positive, such as better real GDP, more exports, and fewer imports; however, these are minor and not significant. On the downside, it may lead to higher inflation, increased prices for goods, and reduced consumption. Moreover, this study highlights the importance of having balanced exchange rate policies that consider Egypt’s unique economic situations, and challenges and align with other economic policies. Experience and reality have shown that exchange rates alone are not the only solution.

Urban greenspace and neighborhood crime

AbstractUrban greenspace (UGS) has been recently linked to public safety. Criminologists, however, have been largely absent from the discussion about this association, despite having important theoretical tools and empirical findings to contribute. In the current study, we review the prominent criminological perspectives that may be used to explain the association between UGS and crime. Furthermore, we draw from prior work to extend beyond the question of whether UGS affects crime to the more crucial question of when it does. Using a sample of block groups in Washington, D.C., we examine the association between two measures of UGS—tree canopy coverage and noncanopy vegetation coverage—and violent and property crime. We also assess the moderating effects of antecedents to social disorganization (poverty and homeownership) on the association between UGS and crime. Our results suggest that both types of UGS are associated with fewer crimes, even while controlling for a range of criminogenic factors. The effects of tree canopy coverage appear to be crime general, while the effects of noncanopy vegetation coverage only apply to violent crime. The effects of tree canopy, however, are weaker in communities characterized by high levels of poverty and low levels of homeownership.

How to quantify the regional effects of ocean temperature rise due to climate change: implications of Octopus maya ecophysiology on food security of the Yucatan shelf artisanal fishermen

The vital survival, maturation, and reproduction rates of Octopus maya were formulated according to the thermal preferences in each stage (juvenile and adult) and the bottom temperature of the Yucatan shelf projected from different shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs): SSP1-5, to describe the species population growth in shallow waters. The dispersion of each individual in the population and the spread of the offshore population were incorporated with an integrodifference equation. For each SSP, the food security of the artisanal fishermen in the Western, Central, and Eastern Yucatan shelf region was analyzed based on the proposed availability, access, and utilization indices of Octopus maya as food. The analysis was complemented with an average monthly protein and income poverty indicators that this species’ shallow water fishery would have the capacity to supply by the year 2100. Although the proportion of the legally O. maya catchable population may be favored with the gradual increase in temperature in the coming years, this increase may not translate into greater food security for the artisanal fishermen who catch this species in shallow waters. Moreover, this fishery alone may not have the capacity to supply the average annual intake of 10.6 kg of protein per person recommended and maintain fishermen and their families above the income poverty line by 2100.