Single Households Research Articles

Singles in the city: happily ever after?

More people than ever are living in cities, and in these cities, more and more people are living alone. Using the example of Vienna, this paper investigates the subjective well-being of single households in the city. Previous research has identified positive and negative aspects of living alone (e.g., increased freedom vs. missing social embeddedness). We compare single households with other household types using data from the Viennese Quality of Life Survey (1995–2018). In our analysis, we consider overall life satisfaction as well as selected dimensions of subjective wellbeing (i.e., housing, financial situation, main activity, family, social contacts, leisure time). Our findings show that the subjective well-being of single households in Vienna is high and quite stable over time. While single households are found to have lower life satisfaction than two-adult households, this result is mainly explained by singles reporting lower satisfaction with family life. Compared to households with children, singles are more satisfied with their financial situation, leisure time and housing, which helps to offset the negative consequences of missing family ties (in particular with regard to single parents).

1인가구의 여가태도, 여가소비, 여가만족의 영향관계 분석: 소득의 조절효과를 중심으로

One person households are rapidly increasing and have emerged as an important segment in the Korean leisure market. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationships of leisure attitude, consumption, and satisfaction of Korean one person households. Also the moderating effect of income status on the relationships of leisure attitude, consumption, and satisfaction was investigated.<BR> A structural equation model was developed and analyzed using the data of 1,902 single households from the「2020 National Leisure Activity Survey」. It was found that leisure attitude has a positive influence on leisure time and expenditure which influence leisure satisfaction. Finally, income was found to have a moderating effect on the relationship between leisure consumption and satisfaction. The effect of leisure time on satisfaction was stronger in the upper income group and that of leisure expenditure was stronger in the lower income class. This study provides implications to enhance understanding of leisure consumption of one person households.

Race, ethnicity, poverty and the social determinants of the coronavirus divide: U.S. county-level disparities and risk factors

BackgroundCommunities with more Black or Hispanic residents have higher coronavirus rates than communities with more White residents, but relevant community characteristics are underexplored. The purpose of this study was to investigate poverty-, race- and ethnic-based disparities and associated economic, housing, transit, population health and health care characteristics.MethodsSix-month cumulative coronavirus incidence and mortality were examined using adjusted negative binomial models among all U.S. counties (n = 3142). County-level independent variables included percentages in poverty and within racial/ethnic groups (Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian), and rates of unemployment, lacking a high school diploma, housing cost burden, single parent households, limited English proficiency, diabetes, obesity, smoking, uninsured, preventable hospitalizations, primary care physicians, hospitals, ICU beds and households that were crowded, in multi-unit buildings or without a vehicle.ResultsCounties with higher percentages of Black (IRR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02–1.03) or Hispanic (IRR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.03) residents had more coronavirus cases. Counties with higher percentages of Black (IRR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.02–1.03) or Native American (IRR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04) residents had more deaths. Higher rates of lacking a high school diploma was associated with higher counts of cases (IRR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.05) and deaths (IRR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07). Higher percentages of multi-unit households were associated with higher (IRR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04) and unemployment with lower (IRR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94–0.98) incidence. Higher percentages of individuals with limited English proficiency (IRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04–1.14) and households without a vehicle (IRR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07) were associated with more deaths.ConclusionsThese results document differential pandemic impact in counties with more residents who are Black, Hispanic or Native American, highlighting the roles of residential racial segregation and other forms of discrimination. Factors including economic opportunities, occupational risk, public transit and housing conditions should be addressed in pandemic-related public health strategies to mitigate disparities across counties for the current pandemic and future population health events.

Additional costs of lactose-reduced diets: lactose-free dairy product substitutes are a cost-effective alternative for people with lactose intolerance.

People with lactose intolerance have to limit their consumption of lactose-containing dairy products which are a main source of Ca. In particular, for low-income people it is of interest which alternative diet form rich in Ca leads to the lowest additional costs. This study aims to calculate the additional costs of lactose-reduced diets and to show which of different options represent the most cost-effective alternative within a lactose-reduced diet. Using linear programming, food baskets with different lactose contents were calculated and were compared to a basic model, reflecting a normal diet without a limitation of lactose. By comparing the costs and the composition of the food baskets, recommendations for a lactose-reduced diet were derived. Germany. A consumer panel dataset representative for Germany is used for the calculations. Information on prices and nutrients is derived from the 9429 adult households without children, and information on consumed food quantities from the 3046 single households. The minimum additional food costs depend on the severity of lactose intolerance and range from 0·2 % to 6·1 % per month. It was found that the greatest adjustments due to lactose reduction could be observed within the dairy product group. In this group, with a rising lactose limit, normal milk was increasingly replaced by lactose-free milk. It was shown that a lactose-reduced diet is generally associated with higher food costs. When suffering from lactose intolerance, switching to lactose-free milk seems to be the most cost-effective way to cover nutrient requirements.

Analysis on Housing Behaviors of Young Single Person Households after the COVID-19 Appeared in Internet Articles

The purpose of this study is to analyze the housing behaviors of young single person households that will be experiencing the most serious housing conditions due to the COVID-19. This study utilized a content analysis method and targeted 122 articles published by two internet media sources that published in-depth articles related to single person households from January to October 2020, when the coronavirus broke out in Korea. The analysis criteria used 14 housing behaviors developed in consideration of the characteristics of young single person households and current home life based on the housing behaviors used in previous studies. As a result, the most frequently mentioned housing behavior was hobby, accounting for 42.6% of all articles, followed by eating (35.2%), shopping (21.3%), and home decorating (14.8%) in descending order. Among hobbies, media appreciation (32.7%) was the highest, followed by online learning for self-development (25%). In terms of eating, delivery meals (32.6%) and convenience meals (30.2%) accounted for a high proportion. The results of this study can be used as basic data in planning a housing space that can support a healthy life for young households that will live in the era of COVID-19 that will continue in the future.

Health Disparity in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Sickle Cell Disease: Analyzing the Association of Insurance and Socioeconomic Status Among Children Undergoing Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

OBJECTIVE: The impact of racial and socioeconomic status (SES) on access to hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are well known. Even when controlled for SES, racial minorities have lower access to HCT than the racial majority groups. Since the majority of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) in the US are of African descent, HCT for SCD provides a unique opportunity to study the impact of SES on access to HCT in a relatively uniform racial population. The objectives of this study were to explore whether insurance status and SES are associated with the HCT for SCD.METHODS: The clinical database from the SCD program at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), which contains over 3,100 patients, was used to identify SCD patients who have undergone HCT between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016 at CHOA. We then identified non-transplanted SCD patients matched for age at transplant, gender, and SCD genotype. Three matched controls were randomly selected for each case except for one older patient who only had two controls. Non-Georgia residents during the year of transplant were excluded; one sickle cell patient who had BMT due to acute lymphoblastic leukemia was also excluded. Among both the transplanted patients and their controls, insurance status was assessed as well as socioeconomic status was estimated based on block-level census data, specifically household income, home value, percent single parent households, percent unemployment, and education level. Conditional logistic regression analysis using backwards elimation was performed to determine the odds of receiving HCT.RESULTS: Of 34 patients with SCD who underwent HCT at CHOA during this time period, 27 (66.7% females and 33.3% males) were Georgia residents. Twenty-five of the 27 patients received a matched-sibling donor transplant and two had matched-unrelated donor transplant. Among the HCT patients, the median age at transplant was 8 ± 4.7 years (range 1-20 yr). Of the 27 HCT patients, 59.3% had Medicaid and 40.7% had Private insurance at the time of transplant. Among the controls, 81.3% were covered by Medicaid insurance, 17.5% with Private insurance, and 1.3% self-pay. Using a conditional logistic regression model, we found insurance status to be a statistically significant factor in predicting whether a patient undergoes HCT. The model showed that those with Private Insurance are 2.96 (95% Confidence Interval: 1.02, 8.54) times more likely to undergo HCT compared to patients with Medicaid and self-pay. No other socioeconomic status variables were associated with receiving HCT.CONCLUSION: The data suggest that there may be health disparities in the application of HCT for SCD and that SCD patients who have private insurance are more likely to undergo HCT than those with Medicaid insurance. Important limitations of this study include absence of information about the availability of matched-sibling donors among the non-transplanted patients. A more detailed analysis of the impact of disease severity on the application of HCT for SCD is warranted. Similarly, these data provide the rationale for a larger study of national trends on the impact of the type of insurance and SES on access to HCT for SCD as well as factors that may be contributing to this health disparity. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Cognitive and Composite Behavioural Welfare Assessments of Pet Cats between the Ages of 9-22 Months, Living in Single and Multi-Cat Households.

Although agonistic interactions between cats are often regarded clinically as a source of stress, there is currently limited research evidence regarding the welfare impact of keeping multiple cats as pets. The aim of this study was to compare welfare indicators between cats living in domestic single and multi-cat households, as well as between multi-cat households where agonistic behaviour was/was not reported by owners. Indicators included a spatial judgment bias task (JBT), where longer latencies to ambiguous probes are interpreted as being related to a more 'pessimistic' mood state, and the cat stress score (CSS), where high scores are indicative of high stress levels. Of 128 focal cats between the ages of 9-22 months, 94 were from multi-cat households, 126 had useable CSS data and 42 had JBT results suitable for analysis. CSSs were significantly lower for cats showing a more 'pessimistic' response in the JBT. It is possible that the cats that appeared to be the most relaxed may have been showing inactivity relating to negative affective states and/or were the least active/food motivated, and therefore slower in the JBT. CSSs were significantly higher in cats from single compared with multi-cat households, and did not vary with reports of agonistic interactions in multi-cat households. JBT results did not vary depending on the presence of, or reports of agonistic behaviours between, cohabiting cats. These data suggest that cats from single-cat households may be more likely to show signs of acute stress than those in multi-cat households. Alternative explanations are possible. For example, lower CSSs in the multi-cat group may reflect 'relief' effects resulting from separating cats for the test period, or inactivity relating to negative affective states. Due to the narrow sample population and broad scope of husbandry conditions, the potential for confounding variables limits the degree by which results can be used to inform causation of the relationships identified. Further research is warranted to replicate this work and explore potential confounders.

Automated graves: The precarity and prosthetics of caring for the dead in Japan

Once dependent on family to bury and memorialize the dead, caring for the deceased has become increasingly precarious in the wake of a decreasing and aging population, a trend towards single households, and downsizing of social relationality—including the temple parishioner system once key in mortuary rituals. In the new “ending” marketplace emerging today to help Japanese manage this precarity, automated graves offer customers a convenient burial spot in an urban ossuary where ashes, interred in a deposit box, are automatically transferred to a grave upon visitation. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, the article examines the just-in-time delivery system at work in automated graves, arguing that the mechanism serves as a social prosthesis, propping up the allure of social caring for the dead, even for those whose ashes are never visited by human relations. With over 30 such institutions now operating in Japan, automated graves are a sign of changing sociality between the living and the dead.

Small is beautiful? Stories of carbon footprints, socio-demographic trends and small households in Denmark

Shrinking household size is a key challenge for sustainability, simultaneously decreasing sharing and increasing resource consumption. We use the Danish Household Budget Survey and carbon intensities from EXIOBASE to characterise small households in socio-demographic cohorts along the carbon footprint spectrum. Single and dual occupant households represent 77% of the Danish carbon footprint and 73% of the sample, making these households highly relevant for climate and social policy. We identify high carbon footprint cohorts to determine potential intervention targets such as wealthy males living alone and couples in suburban areas. To add emotional depth to these characteristics we provide three stories to our results. Illuminating characteristics of high impact households provides a foundation from which to design and implement interventions to reduce the carbon consequences of the growing trend towards living alone. We also characterise low carbon footprint cohorts, with specific focus on the effects of low income, disability, energy poverty, and population density. Our study makes an original contribution using storytelling, a step in the direction of increasing empathy and compassion for the various carbon footprint cohorts and working toward socially and environmentally sustainable futures.

Exploring the complex origins of energy poverty in The Netherlands with machine learning

Energy poverty is receiving increased attention in developed countries like the Netherlands. Although it only affects a relatively small share of the population, it constitutes a stern challenge that is hard to quantify and monitor, hence difficult to effectively tackle through adequate policy measures. In this paper we introduce a framework to categorize energy poverty risk based on income and energy expenditure. We propose the use of a machine learning classifier to predict energy poverty risk from a broad set of socio-economic parameters: house value, ownership and age, household size, and average population density. While income remains the single most important predictor, we find that the inclusion of these additional socio-economic features is indispensable in order to achieve high prediction reliability. This result forms an indication of the complex nature of the mechanisms underlying energy poverty. Our findings are valid at different geographical scales, i.e. both for single households and for entire neighborhoods. Extensive sensitivity analysis shows that our results are independent of the precise position of risk category boundaries. The outcomes of our study indicate that machine learning could be used as an effective means to monitor energy poverty, and assist the design and implementation of appropriate policy measures.

A spatial analysis of the association between social vulnerability and the cumulative number of confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in United States counties through November 14, 2020.

ObjectivesCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is classified as a natural hazard, and social vulnerability describes the susceptibility of social groups to potential damages from natural hazards. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the association between social vulnerability and the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths (per 100,000) in 3,141 United States counties.MethodsThe cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths was obtained from USA Facts. Variables related to social vulnerability were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index and the 2018 5-Year American Community Survey. Data were analyzed using spatial autoregression models.ResultsLowest income and educational level, as well as high proportions of single parent households, mobile home residents, and people without health insurance were positively associated with a high cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths.ConclusionIn conclusion, there are regional differences in the cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths in United States counties, which are affected by various social vulnerabilities. Hence, these findings underscore the need to take social vulnerability into account when planning interventions to reduce COVID-19 deaths.

로짓 모형을 활용한 가구 유형별 주택연금 가입자 특성 분석

The purpose of this study is to derive policy implications for the reverse mortgage system following new social changes by analyzing the characteristics of reverse mortgage member by household type. To this end, we set the dependent variable to the household type(married couple/single). In addition, the entity categorised the independent variables into human characteristics, economic characteristics and regional characteristics, and set monthly payments reflecting the characteristics of all members as control variables. The analysis data utilized 1,394 cases derived by granting conditions out of 4,973 newly JooTaekYeonKeum members in the Korea Housing Finance Corporation (June 1, 2013 to May 31, 2014). The results were derived from a logit models consisting of couples and single households. Logit analysis shows that statistically significant variables are age, housing price and income. The older the age, the higher the rate of single households joining the reverse mortgage, and if they have income, single households are more likely to join the reverse mortgage than couples. This confirms that celibacy is more sensitive to the economic situation of old age. Therefore, various efforts will be needed, such as enhancing the counseling ability of reverse mortgage so that the existing couple-centered reverse mortgage system can embrace single households.

국민건강영양조사 자료를 이용한 가구형태에 따른 청소년의 식생활 실태 및 영향요인 분석

This study sought to investigate the dietary life of adolescents according to their household types and factors that could affect their health status using the raw data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018). 160 adolescents aged 13-18 in single parent households (SPH) and parents households (PH) respectively were analyzed. The ratio of SPH to the income quartile ‘high’ was 55%, but only 18.1% of SPH in ‘low’ and ‘middle-low’ was 59.4%. It was found that there was a difference between the subjective body type recognition and the actual body type. There was a significant difference in the rate of missing breakfast, 20.0% in SPH, as compared to 8.8% in PH. According to an analysis of the ratio of actual intake to the recommended nutrient intake, all subjects were found to have less than 100 percent recommended intake of energy, vitamin A, niacin, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, iron, dietary fiber, and potassium. An analysis of the effect of food intake on health indicators showed that grain and condiment intake affected fasting plasma glucose, HDL cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure, grain and processed food intake affected waist circumference, grain and alcohol intake affected triglycerides, and grain and beverage intake affected systolic blood pressure. In SPH, grain and processed foods were found to affect waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure. Also, grain and beverage intake affected triglyceride levels.

Oedipus for Everyone: Revitalizing the Model for LGBTQ Couples and Single Parent Families

ABSTRACT The misguided application of Oedipal theory has led to the pathologizing of those with different gender identities or sexual preferences. Despite this harm, Oedipal dynamics are often viewed as a central organizing schema for understanding the dynamics of couples and families. In this paper, I revitalize Oedipal theory, divorcing it from its historical heterosexist bias, and highlighting its relevance for working with couple and family relationships, including LGBTQ and single parent households. Rather than using classical Freudian Oedipal theory which situates Oedipus in the psychosexual development of children, I use a contemporary Kleinian/Bionian model to orient the discussion to the relevance of Oedipal issues in adult relationships. Problematic Oedipal dynamics are not always present, but when they dominate or underlie adult relationships, they can be stifling, destabilizing, and destructive. This perspective emphasizes the importance of considering Oedipal triadic structures when working with diverse couples and families.

Co-Housing to Ease and Share Household Chores? Spatial Visibility and Collective Deliberation as Levers for Gender Equality

Dwelling is very much related to time. A home shields the dweller from outsiders yet, provides an opportunity to engage with the outside world. However, the time required for household chores tends to hinder this engagement, especially for women. Interestingly, co-housing projects tend to rationalise housing and mutualise time-consuming tasks, freeing up time to and thus emancipating and empowering inhabitants. This argument was put to the test in a field study in Brussels. Through a gendered perspective, the research questions and tries to identify which levers ease domestic drudgery in co-housing projects. Spatial analyses coupled with qualitative observations and interviews were carried out in two co-housing projects. The issue of freeing up time through co-housing seems particularly relevant to various categories of people. First, it addresses gender inequalities regarding an egalitarian sharing of household chores. Second, individual (divorced, elderly, or single) households could also benefit from these time savings. Understanding co-housing within this emancipating perspective could be a lever to influence future policy making and incentives.

The effectiveness of social bubbles as part of a Covid-19 lockdown exit strategy, a modelling study.

Background: ​ During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown, contact clustering in social bubbles may allow extending contacts beyond the household at minimal additional risk and hence has been considered as part of modified lockdown policy or a gradual lockdown exit strategy. We estimated the impact of such strategies on epidemic and mortality risk using the UK as a case study. Methods: ​ We used an individual based model for a synthetic population similar to the UK, stratified into transmission risks from the community, within the household and from other households in the same social bubble. The base case considers a situation where non-essential shops and schools are closed, the secondary household attack rate is 20% and the initial reproduction number is 0.8. We simulate social bubble strategies (where two households form an exclusive pair) for households including children, for single occupancy households, and for all households. We test the sensitivity of results to a range of alternative model assumptions and parameters. Results: Clustering contacts outside the household into exclusive bubbles is an effective strategy of increasing contacts while limiting the associated increase in epidemic risk. In the base case, social bubbles reduced fatalities by 42% compared to an unclustered increase of contacts. We find that if all households were to form social bubbles the reproduction number would likely increase to above the epidemic threshold of R=1. Strategies allowing households with young children or single occupancy households to form social bubbles increased the reproduction number by less than 11%. The corresponding increase in mortality is proportional to the increase in the epidemic risk but is focussed in older adults irrespective of inclusion in social bubbles. Conclusions: ​ If managed appropriately, social bubbles can be an effective way of extending contacts beyond the household while limiting the increase in epidemic risk.

The effectiveness of social bubbles as part of a Covid-19 lockdown exit strategy, a modelling study

Background: ​ During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown, contact clustering in social bubbles may allow extending contacts beyond the household at minimal additional risk and hence has been considered as part of modified lockdown policy or a gradual lockdown exit strategy. We estimated the impact of such strategies on epidemic and mortality risk using the UK as a case study. Methods: ​ We used an individual based model for a synthetic population similar to the UK, stratified into transmission risks from the community, within the household and from other households in the same social bubble. The base case considers a situation where non-essential shops and schools are closed, the secondary household attack rate is 20% and the initial reproduction number is 0.8. We simulate social bubble strategies (where two households form an exclusive pair) for households including children, for single occupancy households, and for all households. We test the sensitivity of results to a range of alternative model assumptions and parameters. Results: Clustering contacts outside the household into exclusive bubbles is an effective strategy of increasing contacts while limiting the associated increase in epidemic risk. In the base case, social bubbles reduced fatalities by 42% compared to an unclustered increase of contacts. We find that if all households were to form social bubbles the reproduction number would likely increase to above the epidemic threshold of R=1. Strategies allowing households with young children or single occupancy households to form social bubbles increased the reproduction number by less than 11%. The corresponding increase in mortality is proportional to the increase in the epidemic risk but is focussed in older adults irrespective of inclusion in social bubbles. Conclusions: ​ If managed appropriately, social bubbles can be an effective way of extending contacts beyond the household while limiting the increase in epidemic risk.

Changes in psychotic-like experiences and related influential factors in technical secondary school and college students during COVID-19

ObjectiveAlthough students have been found to be at high risk of distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, little is known about the pandemic's impact on psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). We conducted a study in technical secondary school and college students before and during the pandemic to explore changes in PLEs and relevant influential factors. MethodsA total of 938 students completed both waves of the survey through electronic questionnaires. PLEs were assessed using the 15-item Positive Subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P15). Childhood trauma, perceived stress, resilience, and demographic factors were evaluated at baseline, and psychological status was measured during the pandemic. ResultsThe overall CAPE-P15 scores significantly decreased during the pandemic. Students with persistent PLEs showed the most severe COVID-19 related psychological symptoms, followed by new-onset and remitted individuals; those without PLEs exhibited the mildest symptoms (all p < .001). A single parent family (OR = 4.707), more childhood trauma (OR = 1.056), and a higher family income (OR = 1.658) were predictive of new-onset PLEs during the pandemic, while better resilience was a protective factor, associated with remission of previous PLEs (OR = 0.932). ConclusionsDespite a downward trend in the prevalence of PLEs during the pandemic, PLEs predict greater serious psychological impact due to COVID-19, especially for students with persistent PLEs. Interventions that cultivate students' resilience are urgently needed to reduce PLEs and improve mental health, especially for students from single parent households or those who have experienced childhood trauma.

Women\u2019s empowerment, intrahousehold influences, and health system design on modern contraceptive use in rural Mali: a multilevel analysis of cross-sectional survey data

BackgroundPersistent challenges in meeting reproductive health and family planning goals underscore the value in determining what factors can be leveraged to facilitate modern contraceptive use, especially in poor access settings. In Mali, where only 15% of reproductive-aged women use modern contraception, understanding how women’s realities and health system design influence contraceptive use helps to inform strategies to achieve the nation’s target of 30% by 2023.MethodsUsing household survey data from the baseline round of a cluster-randomized trial, including precise geolocation data from all households and public sector primary health facilities, we used a multilevel model to assess influences at the individual, household, community, and health system levels on women’s modern contraceptive use. In a three-level, mixed-effects logistic regression, we included measures of women’s decision-making and mobility, as well as socio-economic sources of empowerment (education, paid labor), intrahousehold influences in the form of a co-residing user, and structural factors related to the health system, including distance to facility.ResultsLess than 5% of the 14,032 women of reproductive age in our study used a modern method of contraception at the time of the survey. Women who played any role in decision-making, who had any formal education and participated in any paid labor, were more likely to use modern contraception. Women had three times the odds of using modern contraception if they lived in a household with another woman, typically a co-wife, who also used a modern method. Compared to women closest to a primary health center, those who lived between 2 and 5 km were half as likely to use modern contraception, and those between 5 and 10 were a third as likely.ConclusionsDespite chronically poor service availability across our entire study area, some women—even pairings of women in single households—transcended barriers to use modern contraception. When planning and implementing strategies to expand access to contraception, policymakers and practitioners should consider women’s empowerment, social networks, and health system design. Accessible and effective health systems should reconsider the conventional approach to community-based service delivery, including distance as a barrier only beyond 5 km.

Examining the Effects of Drug-Related Killings on Philippine Conditional Cash Transfer Beneficiaries in Metro Manila, 2016–2017

Is the Philippine War on Drugs a ‘War on the Poor’? Focusing on beneficiaries of the Philippine Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program as the most legible cohort of poor, we examine the effects of the anti-narcotics campaign on impoverished families in Metro Manila from April 2016 to December 2017. From field validation and interviews with families affected by drug-related killings (DRKs), we find that at least 333 victims out of 1,827 identifiable DRK cases in Metro Manila during the study period were CCT beneficiaries. These are extremely conservative figures since field validation did not saturate all cities in Metro Manila and does not include deaths after December 2017 or poor families who are not CCT beneficiaries. The findings illustrate that DRKs negatively affect CCT beneficiaries and their families. Most victims were breadwinners, leading to a decrease in household income. The reduced available income and the social stigma of having a drug-related death in the family often cause children beneficiaries of the CCT program to drop out of school. Widowed parents often find new partners, leaving the children with paternal grandmothers. DRKs are often bookended by other hazards such as flooding, fires, and home demolitions. The direct effects of these DRKs, compounded with disasters and other socio-economic shocks, traumatizes CCT families, erodes social cohesion, and pushes them further into poverty. We conclude with recommendations for the design of support packages to mitigate untoward effects on families, particularly single parent households.