Social Conditions Research Articles

Accessibility, (dis)advantage and everyday mobility practices and experiences: the cases of Maputo and Freetown

ABSTRACT This paper deconstructs everyday mobility practices from a perspective of accessibility and social and transport (dis)advantage in two capital port cities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) – Freetown, Sierra Leone and Maputo, Mozambique. The paper proposes a novel framework that interprets social and transport (dis)advantage conditions as critical drivers of mobility behaviours and the resulting (in)accessibility that circumscribes individuals’ experience. Building on its framework, the paper raises unique empirical qualitative evidence from eight neighbourhoods about mobility practices across populations facing different degrees of social and transport (dis)advantage. The study’s design is grounded in the in-depth understanding of accessibility using qualitative methods as a counterpoint to predominant quantitative and spatial approaches, filling critical data gaps in cities in SSA. The findings reveal a deep-seated aspiration for car ownership, tempered by the urgency of other immediate material needs, as well as the dynamic nature of travel behaviour due to changing conditions during the day and throughout the year. The findings also indicate informality plays a significant role in enabling access to critical opportunities and the need to strengthen trust in popular transport systems.

When and where we are: Comparing early criminal careers of organized crime offenders in Italy and the Netherlands across decades

PurposeThis study examines the early criminal careers of organized crime offenders in Italy and the Netherlands and assess how these behaviors have evolved across generations. We (1) compare the early careers with the entire career in the two country samples and (2) assess the influence of generational shifts and social changes on these behaviors, particularly focusing on crime control policies. MethodsAnalyzing data on male offenders born between 1950 and 1986, we analyze criminal careers up to ages 23 and 30. Our analysis includes statistical assessments of differences between countries and among decades, employing multinomial logistic regressions to explore the associations between criminal career parameters and crime categories and the offenders' decade of birth. ResultsSignificant differences were found between the Italian and Dutch samples, reflecting country-specific dynamics in organized crime involvement. Evidence suggests minimal generational shifts towards more serious offending, but notable impacts of social changes, especially in anti-drug and anti-organized crime policies, across individuals born in different decades. ConclusionsBoth the societal context (‘where we are’) and temporal influences (‘when we are’) are essential in understanding criminal careers. Changes in policies and social conditions differentially affected organized crime offenders in Italy and the Netherlands.

Exploring determinants influencing the selection of geriatric nursing care services in Thailand Bangkok metropolitan area

The global population structure is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by an increasing number of elderly individuals. Thailand, in particular, is transitioning into an aging society and exhibits the third-highest growth rate in Asia, following Japan and Singapore. This phenomenon is driven by various factors, including economic and social conditions, technological advancements, family dynamics, and evolving lifestyles. Consequently, a growing number of elderly individuals are either living alone or require caregivers and elderly care facilities if they are dependent. This study is prompted by a keen interest in the elderly care service industry, which demonstrates significant potential both currently and in the future. The primary objective of this research is to explore the determinants influencing the selection of Geriatric nursing care and to identify the challenges encountered in delivering these services. The study investigated demographic and social factors, the necessity for elderly care, and the decision-making process in selecting geriatric nursing care. Data was collected through online questionnaires and analyzed, employing both descriptive and inferential statistics, including factor analysis, reliability analysis, and correlations between variables. The target population comprises Thai individuals aged 50 and above residing in Bangkok and its metropolitan areas with a sample size of 426 participants. Findings suggest that demographic factors, excluding occupation, along with social factors, the necessity for dependency, and the decision-making process, affect the selection of Geriatric nursing care in the studied regions.

Social and humanitarian issues in nephrology and hypertension.

Chronic kidney disease and hypertension, two widely prevalent conditions worldwide, present an urgent and pressing need for immediate action. The review describes how social conditions and humanitarian issues can influence hypertension and kidney disease. Undoubtedly, social determinants of health (SDoH) are key influencers in the development of many noncommunicable diseases, including hypertension and kidney disease. Healthcare professionals, including public health workers, play a crucial role in addressing these issues. Poverty, low education level, poor nutrition, housing, exposure to environmental hazards, and stress-related disorders are all factors that can be addressed, either directly or indirectly, through improved awareness and access to proper healthcare services. Besides personal factors, national, regional, or global factors cause serious apprehension. Disasters, whether natural or man-made, can lead to significant aftermaths on the healthy person and certainly on kidney disease and hypertensive patients. A Global Overview Report, 2023 turned out to be one of the most violent years since the end of the Cold War. In 2023, 59 state-based conflicts were recorded in 34 countries, the highest number registered since 1946. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza were the primary contributors with a significant impact on the kidney population, especially people living on dialysis and transplantation patients. They also yielded many refugees or displaced persons with ongoing suffering. It is crucial to recognize that social and humanitarian conditions can quickly exacerbate the health of vulnerable populations, particularly those with noncommunicable diseases like hypertension and chronic kidney disease. These patients, who often require continuous follow-up, especially those on dialysis, are particularly vulnerable during difficult times. Their lives depend on uninterrupted access to dialysis or transplantation medications, making the need for special attention and care more pressing. Further research and advocacy are needed to address these issues and ensure the health and well being of these populations.

Can stronger governance and institutional quality drive growth through inward foreign direct investments in BRICS nations?

Background: This research focusses on the significance of institutional quality (INSQ) and governance in shaping the relationship between foreign direct investments (FDI) and growth. It specifically examines the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) because of their economic significance in the global economy.Aim: This study aims to analyse the impact of INSQ and governance on sustainable growth, with a particular focus on its effects through the channels of FDI in the BRICS countries.Setting: Annual panel data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) statistics, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) statistics and the World Bank indicators spanning two decades (2000–2022) are used to analyse BRICS nations.Methods: The research study employed the Bayesian time-varying coefficient vector autoregression (BTVC-VAR) model to achieve the objective of the study.Results: The findings indicate that there is no long-term relationship between FDI, INSQ and economic growth in the BRICS countries. However, there is a noticeable co-movement among these variables in the short run.Conclusion: Given the obtained results, the policymakers should prioritise efforts to strengthen institutional capacity in the short term while focussing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-8 and SDG-16).Contribution: The existing studies have assumed static economic, social and political conditions, potentially failing to accurately depict the complexities of an actual economy. This study offers methodological innovation by employing Bayesian time-varying coefficient vector autoregression (BTVC-VAR), enabling coefficients to adapt to evolving economic conditions over time. This effectively captures the dynamic nature of variables and provides reliable estimates.

Agroforestry Model in Leimea Sorin Village, Emerera District, Timor Leste

Agroforestry is an optimal and sustainable management of land use, by combining forestry and agricultural activities on the same land management unit by taking into account physical, social and economic environmental conditions. The purpose of this study is to calculate the value of farmers' income from the results of the agroforestry model, and the best feasibility analysis on consideration of three factors, namely economic, social and ecological. This research was carried out in the village of Leimea Sorin, Ermera District, Timor Leste in March-May 2021 using qualitative and quantitative methods. The data used in this study are data obtained directly from agroforestry farmers in the Ermera district of Timor Leste by means of interviews with the help of a questionnaire. Economic data analysis using three criteria NPV, BCR and IRR, and social and ecological analysis using qualitative descriptive. The results of the financial analysis show that the NPV is $ 220,184.66, the BCR is 28.7 and the IRR is 35%. The results of the social analysis show that the social aspect in the application of agroforestry in the village of Leimea Sorin Balu is the local community of the Kemak ethnic group of agricultural crops as their daily livelihood such as vanilla, coffee, teak, and others. And the ecological aspect is the results of the study show that the agroforestry model in the village of Leimea Sorin is an agroforestry system that has polycultural properties, and provides various benefits for the community compared to non-agroforestry systems.

Leveraging Community Pharmacies to Address Social Needs: A Promising Practice to Improve Healthcare Quality.

Emerging research suggests that chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and asthma are often mediated by adverse social conditions that complicate their management. These conditions include circumstances such as lack of affordable housing, food insecurity, barriers to safe and reliable transportation, structural racism, and unequal access to healthcare or higher education. Although health systems cannot independently solve these problems, their infrastructure, funding resources, and well-trained workforce can be realigned to better address social needs created by them. For example, community pharmacies and the professionals they employ can be utilized and are well-positioned to deliver balanced, individualized clinical services, with a focus on the whole person. Because they have deep roots and presence in the community, especially in under-resourced neighborhoods, community pharmacies (independent and chain) represent local entities that community members recognize and trust. In this article, we provide case examples from California, United States, to illustrate and explore how community pharmacies can be leveraged to address patient social needs as part of their core responsibilities and overall strategy to improve healthcare quality.

Individual, household, and socio-economic predictors of COVID-19 testing and vaccination outcomes: a whole population linked data analysis

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic has exposed numerous social inequities in health outcomes across nations, despite early warnings of their potential. Poorer outcomes for ethnic minorities, and to a lesser extent Indigenous peoples, have been widely reported, and may be explained in part by household conditions and poorer socio-economic circumstances. This study aimed to identify the effects of diverse individual and social conditions on COVID-19 outcomes within the New Zealand population. MethodWe conducted a whole population analysis of the association between individual (e.g. ethnicity, disability status), household (e.g. household composition), and socio-economic (e.g. crowding, housing quality, income) factors and four COVID-19 health outcomes – infection, hospitalisation, mortality, and vaccination status. We constructed variables of interest from linked administrative data in New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure, and examined associations within the 2018 Census usually resident population (analysis Ns = 518,571 - 3,216,696). ResultsAnalyses showed that Māori (the Indigenous people of New Zealand) and Pacific peoples, an ethnic minority, experienced worse outcomes than other New Zealanders across all COVID-19 outcomes. These ethnic group differences were persistent, yet reduced, when accounting for household and socio-economic variables. Factors including disability status, high housing mobility, poor quality housing, and household crowding were also widely predictive of worse outcomes. ConclusionEthnic inequity in a range of COVID-19 outcomes is present in a country where the overall impacts of the pandemic were relatively limited. Individual, household, and socio-economic factors are associated with diverse COVID-19 outcomes, and policy amenable factors may help explain the presence of ethnic inequities.

Exploring mismatch negativity in children with congenital Microtia-Atresia: A Preliminary study

BackgroundTo investigate the characteristics of mismatch negativity (MMN) in terms of latency and amplitude in children with bilateral congenital microtia using a Bone conduction implant (Bonebridge), and to explore the relationship between cortical level auditory discrimination, speech perception, and psychosocial well-being. MethodsThis descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study compared three groups: eight children with bilateral congenital microtia and Bonebridge implants (bilateral group), eight children with unilateral congenital microtia and no hearing aids (unilateral group), and eight children with normal hearing (NH group). Participants underwent MMN evaluation using a classic oddball paradigm with a pure tone burst stimulus, featuring a 1000 Hz standard stimulus and a 1200 Hz deviant stimulus, presented in a sound field at 65 dBHL. Additionally, speech perception tests, the Meaningful Use of Speech Scale (MUSS), and psychosocial status questionnaires, including the Social Anxiety Scale for Children (SASC) and the Children’s Loneliness Scale (CLS), were administered to all subjects. ResultsThe bilateral group’s average MMN latency was 241.23 ± 29.47 ms, and the unilateral group’s was 209.96 ± 54.32 ms, both significantly longer than the NH group’s 146.05 ± 15.73 ms (p < 0.0001, F=3.509, 95 % CI 68.09 to 122.3 and p = 0.0097, F=11.92, 95 % CI 18.07 to 109.8, respectively). However, no significant difference was found in MMN latency between the bilateral and unilateral groups (p = 0.202, F=3.397, 95 % CI −18.84 to 81.36). The unilateral group scored significantly higher on the MUSS (38.63 ± 1.41 vs. 30.75 ± 3.80, p = 0.0001, F=7.276, 95 % CI −11.16 to −4.590), had lower CLS scores (47.13 ± 8.13 vs. 58.25 ± 8.39, p = 0.024, F=1.065, 95 % CI 1.652 to 20.60), and lower SASC scores (4.13 ± 2.09 vs. 6.50 ± 2.25, p = 0.062, F=1.204, 95 % CI −0.138 to 4.89) compared to the bilateral group. MMN latency in the bilateral group correlated with SASC scores. ConclusionThe MMN latency in congenital microtia patients may serve as an indicator of central auditory discrimination capabilities. In children with bilateral congenital microtia and Bonebridge implants, MMN latency can reflect social anxiety conditions to a certain degree.

Poligami Vis a Vis Monogami (Analisis Dalil Normatif dan Sosio-Historis Legalitas Poligami dalam Literatur Keislaman)

Abstract The issue of polygamy has always been a social problem that causes polarization between the groups that support and reject it. This discussion should no longer revolve around whether polygamy is allowed. Furthermore, the discussion on polygamy should lead to the issue of how polygamy can be placed proportionally as something logical and just. This article seeks to situate the issue of polygamy by reviewing various perspectives. The focus of this study is as follows. 1) What is the background to the legality of polygamy in Islam? 2) Does Islam advocate polygamy or monogamy, the model of marriage expected by Islam? This study used a library research method. The approaches used were the normative approach (fiqh), the social conditions of society when the polygamy verse was revealed (socio-historical), and the cultural approach of pre-Islamic society. The results show that 1) polygamy was legalized at that time because it aimed to avoid the Arab habit of marrying female orphans and engaging in injustice. Instead, Islam legalized the polygamy that had become a tradition of the Arabs before as an emergency measure. 2) Islam came to reduce the practice of polygamy, which was done far from justice. Instead, monogamy became the principle of marriage expected by Islam to achieve the goal of marriage: sakinah, mawaddah, and rahmah. Keywords: Polygamy, Monogamy, Islam

Equity and social determinants of health over the life course

Socio-structural and socio-cultural change in Western societies is increasingly challenging healthcare institutions to take good care of people's health and dignity. Further and sustainable progress in health care is increasingly influenced by socio-cultural conditions. If these conditions are insufficiently taken into account, further medical progress is jeopardized. The aim of this paper is to elucidate the significance of social conditions of health over the life course and thus to shed more light on one of the four ethical principles in medicine, namely equity. The question is addressed by aliterature review, whereby the literature was reviewed from astructural theory perspective. If people feel discriminated against in terms of their age, gender, or migration background, this not only has an impact on their self-esteem, but also on their health and recovery from illness. Unfavorable economic living conditions have anegative impact on health behavior. Experiences of discrimination in the healthcare system can reduce satisfaction with treatment and contribute to non-compliance with treatment instructions. The socio-cultural effects mentioned above can be influenced not only by individual changes in behavior but in particular by structural and institutional change processes. There is aneed for "habitus sensitivity" in both clinical and private practice, i.e., it is also part of the responsibility of doctors in the healthcare system to eliminate discrimination.

Neurodevelopmental imprints of sociomarkers in adolescent brain connectomes

Neural consequences of social disparities are not yet rigorously investigated. How socioeconomic conditions influence children’s connectome development remains unknown. This paper endeavors to gauge how precisely the connectome structure of the brain can predict an individual’s social environment, thereby inversely assessing how social influences are engraved in the neural development of the Adolescent brain. Utilizing Adolescent Brain and Cognition Development (ABCD) data (9099 children residing in the United States), we found that social conditions both at the household and neighborhood levels are significantly associated with specific neural connections. Solely with brain connectome data, we train a linear support vector machine (SVM) to predict socio-economic conditions of those adolescents. The classification performance generally improves when the thresholds of the advantageous and disadvantageous environments compartmentalize the extreme cases. Among the tested thresholds, the 20th and 80th percentile thresholds using the dual combination of household income and neighborhood education yielded the highest Area Under the Precision-Recall Curve (AUPRC) of 0.8224. We identified 8 significant connections that critically contribute to predicting social environments in the parietal lobe and frontal lobe. Insights into social factors that contribute to early brain connectome development is critical to mitigate the disadvantages of children growing up in unfavorable neighborhoods.

Constructing the "Family Personality": Can Family Functioning Be Linked to Parent-Child Interpersonal Neural Synchronization?

Early child development occurs within an interactive environment, initially dominated by parents or caregivers, and is heavily influenced by the dynamics of this social context. The current study probed the neurobiology of "family personality", or family functioning, in the context of parent-child dyadic interaction using a two-person neuroimaging modality. One hundred and five parent-child dyads (child mean age 5 years 4 months) were recruited. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning was employed to measure neural synchrony while dyads completed a mildly stressful interactive task. Family functioning was measured through the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale IV (FACES-IV). Synchrony during stress was significantly greater than synchrony during both baseline and recovery conditions for all dyads. A significant interaction between neural synchrony in each task condition and familial balanced flexibility was found, such that higher levels of balanced flexibility were associated with greater changes in frontal cortex neural synchrony as dyads progressed through the three task conditions. Parent-child dyads from families who display heightened levels of balanced flexibility are also more flexible in their engagement of neural synchrony when shifting between social conditions. This is one of the first studies to utilize a two-person imaging modality to explore the links between family functioning and interbrain synchrony between parents and their children.

Assessing the Social and Economic Conditions of Beneficiaries under the Ashrayan Project in Bangladesh: A Critical Study

Shelter is one of the fundamental rights and essential for the dignified living of a human. In 1997, the Bangladesh government undertook a housing initiative for the land and homeless named the "Ashrayan Project". This multi-phased project has provided homes and land to hundreds of thousands of people over the years, and it is still in progress. Under this project, the government has built lots of homes across the nation on khas land. This project instills impetus into the socioeconomic conditions of the people concerned. Due to spatial and other limitations pertaining to improper planning, the project is open to pitfalls. Apart from the facilities provided, the people are bearing the brunt of varying socioeconomic impacts on their lives collectively. Based on primary (qualitative and quantitative) and secondary data, in this study, I have ventured to demystify these impacts with proper suggestions to mitigate the extent of the people's sufferings.

Young women’s sustainable fashion consumption in China: A qualitative study using the theory of planned behavior

As the second most polluting industry in the world, the fashion industry has a critical impact on the environment. The development of sustainable fashion is conducive to reducing the environmental pollution caused by the fashion industry. China has the largest consumer market in the world, and the Chinese government and major companies have made considerable contributions to the sustainable development of the fashion industry. However, research regarding young women’s attitudes towards this topic remains under-explored. This study interviewed 30 young women of different ages from different places in China. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), a semi-structured interview was used as a data collection method, and thematic analysis was adopted for data analysis. This paper discusses young Chinese female consumers’ attitudes towards sustainable fashion and analyzes the motivating factors and hindrance factors affecting the consumption intentions of young Chinese female consumers towards sustainable fashion. The research found that young Chinese female consumers generally hold a positive and supportive attitude towards sustainable fashion. Consumers’ perceptions of sustainable fashion, their self-perceptions, and their level of green awareness all significantly impact their attitudes and purchase intentions toward sustainable fashion. Consumers feel low social pressure, and Chinese society demonstrates a high level of acceptance and praise for sustainable concepts. However, the lack of purchasing channels and choices for sustainable fashion in China and the high cost of sustainable fashion products discourage consumers from making purchases. This study will be beneficial as a reference when the Chinese government makes sustainable policies to guide consumers toward sustainable fashion consumption. This study helps enterprises select target markets in China and formulate sustainable fashion marketing strategies and targeted advertising. This study contributes to increasing consumer awareness of sustainable fashion, as well as providing reference and reflective value when consumers purchase sustainable fashion products. Finally, this study will help promote the development process of sustainable fashion in Chinese society, make contributions to reducing the waste of social resources, promoting the recycling of resources, and improving social conditions, and put forward specific solutions and feasible suggestions for the development of sustainable fashion in Chinese society.

Measuring Social Sustainability in the Italian Agri-Food Sector: Proposed Key Performance Indicators.

The social dimension of sustainability in the agri-food sector is gaining more and more attention from both scholars and policymakers. In Europe, among different countries, Italy stood out for the active role played in including social conditionality in the Common Agricultural Policy. Despite such interest, there is still confusion concerning the concept of social sustainability, and tools aimed at measuring the social performance of farms are still lacking. The current study aims to identify indicators to measure the social sustainability of farm practices in the Italian agri-food system. The methodology included an analysis of the most relevant literature, legislation, and guidelines to identify five macro-areas of interest, which served as the foundation for developing theoretical social sustainability key performance indicators. The results of this study provide useful insights for both practitioners and policymakers to develop strategies and policies focused on social sustainability.

Contesting Gross National Happiness in the Context of the Digital: The Digital and GNH Divide in Bhutan

Digitalisation has transformed the lives of millions of individuals, societies and governments globally by creating an impact on political, social, economic, cultural and environmental conditions of human existence. Through the use of information and technology, people have expanded their knowledge base, transparency in the government has been greater than ever before, and economic development has been amplified. Although varying in availability, affordability, accessibility, and technological know-how, most governments of the world have adopted the digital in some ways, of which, Bhutan is no exception. Since the inception of the first radio station in 1973 to the launch of its first nanosatellite (BHUTAN-1) in 2018, the country has made remarkable digital transformation. As a matter of fact, Bhutan’s narrative of development through the use of the digital founded on the four pillars of Gross National Happiness (GNH) has caught the attention of the whole world. Placing people at the center of its development efforts, the convergence of the digital and development to enhance GNH, over the years, has influenced all aspects of Bhutanese life. However, everything comes with a price, digitalisation involves risks for the people and natural environment, thereby, compromising the very foundation of GNH philosophy. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to assess and evaluate the impact of digital upon the GNH of Bhutan, with a special focus on environmental conservation as one of the pillars of GNH.

Transforming relationships. Pedagogical tact as a utopian figure of mediation

ABSTRACT The article discusses the figure of pedagogical tact in its cultural and social entanglements and transformations. Tact is reconstructed from a dialectical-relational perspective as a utopian figure which arises both within pedagogical relationships and from the relationships to the respective cultural and social conditions – more precisely: from a criticism of them. In this dialectical tension, it is argued that relationships are both transformative and, in turn, require transformations in order to enable tactful pedagogical action.

Prognosis in elderly head and neck cancer patients without indication for treatment

AbstractAimWith an aging population, the number of older patients with head and neck malignancies is increasing. Some patients are not indicated for treatment because of their social condition or medical history. Prognostic data for patients with untreated head and neck elderly malignancies are scarce, making planning difficult. This study retrospectively examined older patients with oral malignancy who were ineligible for treatment and evaluated their prognostic factors.MethodsOf 658 patients with oral malignancies who visited the Saitama Cancer Center, those aged &gt;75 years who were ineligible for curative treatment (chemotherapy or palliative treatment) were included. Patients who had been treated at other hospitals or had undergone palliative treatment, including radiotherapy, were excluded. Progress since the first visit was retrospectively collected based on data from electronic medical records.ResultsForty‐six patients were included in the study. The 12‐month survival rate was 10.6%, and the median overall survival was 6.0 months. The primary site was the maxillary gingiva (including the palate) in the largest number of patients (n = 15), and the disease stage was Stage III‐IV in the largest number of patients (n = 30). Although imaging evaluation was difficult in some patients because of their general condition, evaluating the primary site was predominantly associated with prognosis.ConclusionOverall, 8% of patients were deemed ineligible for treatment. The median overall survival was 6.0 months. We suggest that the evaluation of primary oral tumors may have prognostic significance.

Over 25 Years of Hope: Development of Lymphatic Filariasis Patient Support Groups in Haiti.

Support groups can create environments that are conducive to healing and well-being, particularly for persons with stigmatizing chronic diseases. In 1998, the support group concept was adapted in Haiti for persons with disabling lymphedema caused by lymphatic filariasis (LF). The project was developed with the expectation that the support group model conceived in the developed world be interpreted and modified by persons affected with lymphedema in the Haitian setting. Initiated with modest financial support within a research initiative to eliminate LF, a total of 50 "Hope Clubs" were formed from 1998 to 2023 across seven communes (districts) located in 3 of Haiti's 10 regional Departments. Documented benefits of the support groups included improved limb self-care, decreased incidence of inflammatory episodes (adenolymphangitis), enhanced self-efficacy, economic benefit through microenterprise, and improved quality of life. Despite challenges of funding shortfalls, natural disasters, and political insecurity, persistence of LF support groups in Haiti highlights the crucial role of group ownership by affected persons and the freedom to reinvent the support group concept in light of local social, cultural, and economic conditions.