Socioeconomic Characteristics Research Articles

Leisure time activities of children: Inequalities, determinants, and inter-relations

More studies should adopt a combined approach to modifiable lifestyle behaviors because of their potential synergistic effects on health. This study aims to observe how boys and girls allocate their time on different activities, during week and weekend days, investigate the time inter-relations between different leisure activities, and analyze how child and familial characteristics are associated with children’s time use in multiple activities. In 2016/17, a validated questionnaire collected data from 3-10-year-old Portuguese children (n = 8,472). Parents reported their children’s time use in different behaviors: sleep, study, screen media use, indoor and outdoor play, and school commute, as well as children’s participation in sports, and socio-economic characteristics of the family. A combination of statistical analysis (e.g., t-tests, pairwise correlations and multiple linear regression) revealed that: boys reportedly have higher screen time than girls, but they also accumulate more time in outdoor play; the time spent in different activities was determined by a set of family sociodemographic factors, such as urbanization and parental employment; and exists some inter-relation between leisure activities with high screen time being significantly associated with less sport participation and less sleep duration. Identifying time spent in multiple activities that differ by sex (and associated determinants) is critical for the development of activity promotion strategies, and may help to inform evidence-based policies designed to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behavior in young children. Present findings highlight the growing importance of electronic media in children’s life and how they can displace other leisure activities.

Socio-economic characteristics of onion growers using drip irrigation system in Tamil Nadu

Socio-economic characteristics of onion growers using drip irrigation system in Tamil Nadu

The effect of protecting women against economic shocks to fight HIV in Cameroon, Africa: The POWER randomised controlled trial.

Women in sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Young women are twice as likely to be living with HIV as men of the same age and account for 64% of new HIV infections among young people. Many studies suggest that financial needs, alongside biological susceptibility, are a leading cause of the gender disparity in HIV acquisition. New robust evidence suggests women adopt risky sexual behaviours to cope with economic shocks, the sudden decreases in household's income or consumption power, enhancing our understanding of the link between poverty and HIV. We investigated if health insurance protects against economic shocks, reducing the need for vulnerable women to engage in risky sexual behaviours and reducing HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a formal shock coping strategy to prevent HIV among women at high risk of HIV (registration number: ISRCTN 22516548). Between June and August 2021, we recruited 1,508 adolescent girls and women over age 15 years who were involved in transactional sex (n = 753) or commercial sex (n = 755), using snowball sampling. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive free health insurance for themselves and their economic dependents for 12 months either at the beginning of the study (intervention; n = 579; commercial sex n = 289, transactional sex n = 290) from November 2021 or at the end of the study 12 months later (control; n = 568; commercial sex n = 290, transactional sex n = 278). We collected data on socioeconomic characteristics of participants. Primary outcomes included incidence of HIV and STIs and were measured at baseline, 6 months after randomisation, and 12 months after randomisation. We found that study participants who engaged in transactional sex and were assigned to the intervention group were less likely to become infected with HIV post-intervention (combined result of 6 months post-intervention or 12 months post-intervention, depending on the follow-up data available; odds ratio (OR) = 0.109 (95% confidence interval (CI) [0.014, 0.870]); p = 0.036). There was no evidence of a reduction in HIV incidence among women and girls involved in commercial sex. There was also no effect on STI acquisition among both strata of high-risk sexual activity. The main limitations of this study were the challenges of collecting reliable STI incidence data and the low incidence of HIV in women and girls involved in commercial sex, which might have prevented detection of study effects. The study provides to our knowledge the first evidence of the effectiveness of a formal shock coping strategy for HIV prevention among women who engage in transactional sex in Africa, reinforcing the importance of structural interventions to prevent HIV. The trial was registered with the ISRCTN Registry: ISRCTN 22516548. Registered on 31 July 2021.

Can employee training facilitate production repurposing in crises? An ability-motivation-opportunity perspective

Production repurposing is an initiative for firms to alter their manufacturing capabilities and outputs to meet new demands, particularly during times of crisis. This initiative is crucial for businesses to remain resilient to unexpected changes in the market. Despite its importance, the specific factors that drive production repurposing during crises, especially from the perspective of human capital development, are not well understood. Drawing upon the ability, motivation, and opportunity (AMO) framework, this study aims to examine the impact of pre-pandemic employee training, an ability-enhancing practice, on production repurposing during the pandemic. Based on a dataset of 4,679 firm-year observations from 32 countries sourced from the World Bank, our regression results indicate that firms that engaged in pre-pandemic employee training are more likely to initiate production repurposing during the pandemic. Furthermore, we delve into the moderating roles of government wage subsides, a motivation factor, and labor shortages, an opportunity constraint. The results reveal that government wage subsidies amplify the positive effect of pre-pandemic training on production repurposing, whereas labor shortages dampen this impact. Our heterogeneity analysis further suggests that national socioeconomic features can influence these relationships. This study underscores the role of employee training in preparing firms to actively adapt during crises. It also highlights the necessity of providing adequate motivations and creating conducive opportunities to facilitate human capital. These insights are valuable for managers and policymakers aiming to enhance firm adaptability and ensure resilient operations during crises.

Assessment of care provision integration in a community-based mental health system: balanced care model implementation in Andalusia (Spain)

BackgroundAndalusia is the second largest region in Spain, and it has developed a comprehensive mental health (MH) plan that encourages the consolidation of the balanced care model. However, its geographical and socioeconomic disparity is a great challenge for a community-based MH system. Both the assessment of the implementation of the MH plan and the development of new tools to support decision-making can be considered critical.ObjectivesThe present study aims (i) to assess how the integration of different types of MH care may influence system performance and (ii) to check the performance evolution of the integration process geographically regarding the small MH areas of Andalusia.MethodsThe performance of the Andalusian MH system was assessed by combining Monte Carlo simulation, fuzzy inference and data envelopment analysis. The relative technical efficiency was the main performance indicator.ResultsA correct integration of appropriate types of MH care, according to population needs, increases the performance of the Andalusian MH system both from global and regional perspectives. The spatial representation (based on small MH areas) of the results highlights how the performance depends on specific geographical characteristics. By analyzing the identified spatial clusters, defined by different management patterns depending on user and socioeconomic characteristics, benchmark areas and areas for improvement can be studied to design evidence-informed policies and interventions.ConclusionsA global analysis of MH system performance was carried out, including both the successive integration of different types of care and its spatial evolution. Although an appropriate integration of different types of MH care has a positive effect on the Andalusian MH system, this process has different profiles depending on specific geographically based user and socioeconomic characteristics. The balanced care model can be considered the paradigm for assessing the performance of a large and populated territory such as Andalusia, which has a community-based MH system. This methodological approach (performance assessment and spatial analysis) may be used as a guide for developing future evidence-informed policies and managerial interventions.

Analysis of socioeconomic characteristics on coffee yield gap among smallholder farmers in Nyeri Central sub-county, Kenya

Kenya’s coffee production has been declining over the years leading to decreased yields and making it hard for farmers to benefit from the sector. This has resulted in a considerable yield difference, with actual farmer yields far below the potential yields of station trials. This large yield gap reveals an enormous potential for yield improvement in coffee production. However, the large yield gap may be attributed to several factors, yet there is limited quantitative information on site-specific factors and the yield gap attributed to the factors. This study informs the knowledge gap by analysing the effect of socioeconomic characteristics on the coffee yield gap of smallholder farmers in Nyeri Central sub-county, Nyeri County. A cross-sectional research design was used, and a sample of 175 smallholder coffee farmers was drawn using the systematic random sampling technique. Data on socioeconomic characteristics was analysed using SPSS version 29, and their effect on the coffee yield gap was determined using a fractional logit regression model in STATA version 17. The findings noted that the yield gap index per variety was 88.54% for Ruiru 11, 93.78% for Batian, and 95.68% for SL 28. The model parameters indicated that the gender of the household head, schooling years, household size, and labour were negative but significant at p<0.05. This study concluded that smallholder coffee farmers were producing below their potential, as depicted by the large yield gap estimate. Therefore, feasible actions are required to close the existing yield gap, increase coffee yields, and enhance household food security.

Key factors influencing students’ academic performance

Academic achievement is a multifaceted outcome influenced by a multitude of factors spanning across educational, socioeconomic, and individual characteristics. Understanding the key determinants of students’ academic performance is paramount for educators, policymakers, and institutions to enhance learning outcomes and facilitate targeted interventions. The absence of a cohesive framework for understanding academic achievement poses a barrier to effective interventions and policies, hindering educators and policymakers from implementing targeted strategies for student improvement. To address this challenge, it is crucial to conduct a thorough examination of the factors influencing academic performance, prioritizing their identification, exploring interactions, and examining their relative impact. Through this research, educational stakeholders can gain insights to develop evidence-based strategies that foster equitable learning outcomes and pave the way for academic success for all students. In this research, linear regression is chosen as the primary model due to its ability to model relationships between variables, making it suitable for assessing the impact of multiple factors on academic performance. Simulation results show that the proposed model achieved 98% accuracy in predicting the factors that are affecting students’ academic performance. The findings derived from the linear regression analysis offer statistical insights into the key factors influencing students’ academic performance. It also incorporates visual aids to enhance the clarity and interpretability of the results. This research interprets the implications of these key factors and discusses their broader significance in the context of students’ academic performance.

A comparative model for financial advisory standardization in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa

The development of a theoretical model for harmonizing local and international product standards for Nigerian exports Financial inclusion remains a significant challenge in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa, with millions of individuals, particularly in rural areas, lacking access to formal financial systems. Financial advisory services play a critical role in addressing this challenge by helping individuals understand and effectively use financial products such as savings, credit, and investments. However, the lack of standardization in the delivery of these advisory services has hindered their effectiveness, resulting in inconsistent practices and limited reach, especially among the unbanked population. This review proposes a comparative model for the standardization of financial advisory services in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries. It seeks to examine the current landscape of financial advisory services, comparing Nigeria’s approach with successful models in countries such as Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. The model emphasizes key components of standardization, including financial literacy programs, digital advisory platforms, and microfinance initiatives, which are critical to reaching underserved communities. By analyzing case studies, such as Kenya’s M-Pesa platform, which has significantly advanced financial inclusion through mobile money and advisory services, the review identifies best practices that can be adapted to Nigeria’s context. The comparative analysis highlights the importance of leveraging technology, particularly mobile platforms, to provide accessible and scalable financial advisory services. It also underscores the need for public-private partnerships, regulatory support, and tailored programs that address the unique socioeconomic and cultural characteristics of Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan countries. While digital infrastructure remains a challenge in rural areas, the success of mobile banking and advisory platforms in countries like Ghana demonstrates that technology can play a transformative role in financial inclusion. Challenges such as cultural resistance, economic disparities, and infrastructure gaps are discussed, emphasizing the need for a flexible yet standardized approach to advisory services. Additionally, the review outlines the critical role of regulatory frameworks in ensuring that financial advisory services are consistent, transparent, and accessible to all segments of the population. The review advocates for a standardized advisory model tailored to Nigeria’s specific needs, drawing lessons from successful models across Sub-Saharan Africa. Such standardization, supported by regulatory reforms and technology integration, has the potential to bridge the financial inclusion gap, empowering individuals and fostering economic growth. The review also calls for regional collaboration in Sub-Saharan Africa to promote knowledge-sharing and create unified strategies for advancing financial inclusion across the continent.

Breakfast Practices Among Indonesian Adults: Urban and Rural Differences and Its Associated Factors

Backgrounds: Adults in Indonesia have challenges due to the high prevalence of obesity. Factors that contributed to obesity included unhealthy eating practices. Skipping breakfast habits are linked to health issues such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Breakfast practices also reflected the social and cultural dynamics in urban and rural. Socioeconomic and demographic factors could cause differences in breakfast practices between urban and rural areas in Indonesia. Objectives: This research aimed to examine the differences in breakfast practices among Indonesian adults in urban and rural areas based on various characteristics and to explore the association between socioeconomic and demographic characteristics with breakfast practices. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using secondary data from the Indonesia Food Barometer (IFB) in 2018. A total of 770 adults (26–45 years old) were examined to observe the differences in breakfast practices (skipping breakfast, eating together, buying food, cooking food, and activities during meals) in urban and rural areas. Logistic regression analysis was also employed to examine the association between skipping breakfast and modern breakfast practices with socioeconomic and demographic variables. Results: Chi-square analysis showed significant differences between urban and rural areas in eating alone, eating outside the home, and buying food during breakfast (p-value <0.001). Factors related to skipping breakfast were education level and type of residence (all p-value <0.001), while occupation (p-value = 0.004) and type of residence (p-value <0.001) were related to modern breakfast practices. Conclusions: There were differences in breakfast practices between urban and rural. Skipping breakfast and modern breakfast practices were more prevalent in urban areas.

Lower social vulnerability is associated with a higher prevalence of social media-involved violent crimes in Prince George’s County, Maryland, 2018–2023

BackgroundSocial vulnerability may play a role in social media-involved crime, but few studies have investigated this issue. We investigated associations between social vulnerability and social media-involved violent crimes.MethodsWe analyzed 22,801 violent crimes occurring between 2018 and 2023 in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Social media involvement was obtained from crime reports at the Prince George’s County Police Department. Social media application types included social networking, advertising/selling, ridesharing, dating, image/video hosting, mobile payment, instant messaging/Voice over Internet Protocol, and other. We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social Vulnerability Index to assess socioeconomic status (SES), household characteristics, racial and ethnic minority status, housing type and transportation, and overall vulnerability. Modified Poisson models estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) among the overall sample and stratified by crime type (assault and homicide, robbery, and sexual offense). Covariates included year and crime type.ResultsRelative to high tertile areas, we observed a higher prevalence of social media-involved violent crimes in areas with low SES vulnerability (aPR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.37-2.43), low housing type and transportation vulnerability (aPR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.17-2.02), and low overall vulnerability (aPR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.23-2.17). Low SES vulnerability areas were significantly associated with higher prevalences of social media-involved assaults and homicides (aPR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.02-2.62), robberies (aPR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.28-3.12), and sexual offenses (aPR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.02-4.19) compared to high SES vulnerability areas. Low housing type and transportation vulnerability (vs. high) was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of social media-involved robberies (aPR: 1.54, 95% CI:1.01-2.37). Modified Poisson models also indicated that low overall vulnerability areas had higher prevalences of social media-involved robberies (aPR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.10-2.67) and sexual offenses (aPR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.05-4.39) than high overall vulnerability areas.ConclusionsWe quantified the prevalence of social media-involved violent crimes across social vulnerability levels. These insights underscore the need for collecting incident-based social media involvement in crime reports among law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally. Comprehensive data collection at the national and international levels provides the capacity to elucidate the relationships between neighborhoods, social media, and population health.

Modern features and problems of forming balanced economic growth and development of the Republic of Tatarstan

This paper examines the theoretical foundations and provisions for the formation of balanced economic growth and development of the region considering its territorial, socio-economic, resource, and structural features and using the Republic of Tatarstan as an example. The paper analyses the theoretical and methodological apparatus proposed by scientists and specialists in ensuring the economic growth and development of the region. The purpose is to identify the main risks, factors and problems in the economic sectors of the Republic of Tatarstan, which to one degree or another are capable of influencing the processes of forming the balanced economic growth and development of the region. Based on the analysis, the paper identifies common problems for the regions and formulates the main directions for improving the economic situation in the region, and also submits for consideration the authors’ model of interaction between enterprises, state and municipal entities in order to reduce the negative impact of previously identified threats and problems, which considers new global challenges, transformations and restructures in economic processes associated with the introduction of restrictive measures, political isolation, various economic sanctions, and with the unresolved internal problems in the field of the economic growth and development of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The Influence Of Socio-Economic Characteristics Of Farmers On The Food Availability Of Farming Households In Warudoyong Sub-District, Sukabumi

Food security is a global, multidimensional issue with social, economic, political and environmental interests. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of socioeconomic characteristics of farmers on the availability of farm household food in Warudoyong Sub-district, Sukabumi City. This study used descriptive method with quantitative approach. The data collection techniques used in this research are observation, questionnaires, literature, and documentation. The results showed that the socio-economic characteristics of farmers, which include age, education, area of cultivated land, number of dependents, and farmers' income, together have a significant effect on the food availability of farming families with a contribution of 97.8%, while 2.2% is influenced by other variables outside the study. Farmers' age through education has a significant effect on food availability, but farmers' education through income does not have a significant indirect effect. Similarly, the size of cultivated land through income also has no significant effect on family food availability. The direct effect of these factors is greater than the indirect effect, so the income variable is not a significant mediator in the relationship between education and land area on food availability. The implication of this study is that the increasing age of farmers will further reduce the food availability of farming families.

Socioeconomic characteristics of organic poultry farmers in Afikpo north local government area

The study was conducted to determine the socio- economic of organic poultry farmers in Afikpo North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. Data collected using structured questionnaire from 80 randomly selected farmers were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools: mean, frequency, percentage and Standard deviation. The result showed that majority (55.00%) of the farmers were female, (56.25%) were married, tertiary education (47.50%). The mean household size was 5 persons, membership of social organization (68.75%). It further revealed that over seventy percent of the farmers (73.75%) had up to 1-10 years farming experience. The study concluded that despite the wide attention received by organic broiler production in Afikpo, it has been constrained by some factors like lack of proper awareness,technical knowhow and preference of old practice to new practice. It is recommended that research institutes should organize extensive and periodic trainings for the farmers within Afikpo North Local government area to teach them the use of the organic recipes on poultry meat and egg production.Also enlightenment campaign should be initiated to sensitize farmers on the benefits of the use of organic recipes on broiler production.

Prevalence, Trend, and Correlates of Child Fostering in Nigeria, 2008–2018: Findings from a National Survey

Nigeria’s young population has implications for child living arrangements, such as fostering, where children live in non-biological households for various reasons. Despite documented issues, there’s a lack of contemporary evidence on this practice to guide interventions. To address this, we investigated child fostering’s level and correlates by analyzing the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey data from 2008 to 2018 (n = 71,975) using bar charts and binary logistic regression. Child fostering rates were 5–6% over the decade and can be consistently linked to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of mothers, children, and household heads. The study discusses the implications of these findings.

Structural equations modelling applied to the study of Communities Supported Agriculture (CSAs) located in the Southeastern region of Brazil

Food production is an increasingly relevant issue in the current framework associated with food and water security and future years projections. In addition, the production of organic food has gained significance in recent years, revealing a growing change in the population's consumption habits. The Communities Supported Agriculture (CSAs) play an important role in enabling productive areas for planting crops in agroecological and biodynamic standards. Given this, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between different CSAs variables located in the Southeastern region of Brazil to validate or not the hypotheses created. Thus, the study was designed as a descriptive research and quantitative approach, using an inductive logic survey. In addition, the methodology was set up with the support of the Structural Equation Modeling technique. The study confirmed the hypothesis (H1) that socioeconomic characteristics positively influence CSAs’ performance. The limitations were associated with the method of data collection and the difficulties imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Influence of the covid-19 pandemic on the education and academic performance of university students

Purpose: Investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the higher education through the perception of Brazilian undergraduates. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1006 students of public and private universities. Data collection happened between September-December 2020 with an online questionnaire addressing socioeconomic characteristics, use of anxiolytics/antidepressants and issues related to the course. Data were analyzed using Poisson regression (α = 5%). Results: Most students (68.7%) perceived an impact on their education and reported a high satisfaction with the course (62.2%). Age (OR = 0.98, 95%CI: 0.96 – 0.99), residing in the northern region of the country (OR= 1.26, 95%CI: 1.06 – 1.50), enrollment at a public university (OR= 1.28, 95%CI: 1.17 – 1.40) and lower satisfaction with the course (OR= 1.13, 95%CI: 1.04 – 1.23) were associated with the perception of impact. Regarding self-rated performance in the courses, 41.7% students reported a very low/low performance. A family income of up to two times the monthly minimum wage (OR= 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48 – 0.97), residing in the northeastern region of the country (OR= 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48 – 0.97) and lower satisfaction with the course (OR= 0.36, 95% CI: 0.23 – 0.53) were associated with this outcome. Conclusions: The pandemic negatively affected two thirds of undergraduates, especially the younger, from the northern region, public universities and those less satisfied with the course. Nearly forty percent of students rated their academic performance during the pandemic as very low/low, especially those with a low family income, from the northeastern region and those less satisfied with the course.

OCORRÊNCIA DA FEBRE DO NILO EM EQUINOS NO BRASIL

West Nile Fever (WNF) is a zoonotic arbovirus caused by the West Nile Virus (WNV). It is a highly relevant topic in veterinary medicine in Brazil. It was first identified in Uganda in 1937 and the virus spread to Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Western Asia and Australia. In 1999, the virus reached the United States and has since spread throughout the Americas, becoming the arbovirus with the largest geographic distribution. The first signs of WNV in Brazil appeared in 1999, with positive results in birds and horses, with birds acting as sentinels for the disease. In 2014, the first human case was recorded in Piauí. As of 2018, cases in birds and horses have been confirmed in Espírito Santo. WNV, an RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family, is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes of the Culex genus, and these mosquitoes become infected through infected birds during the viremic period. Birds are amplifying hosts and humans and horses are accidental hosts. In Brazil, climatic, environmental and socioeconomic characteristics contribute to the amplification of the virus. Diagnosis is made by demonstrating antiviral IgM by ELISA, or, post-mortem, with RT-PCR. Preventive measures involve the use of repellents and screens, in addition to the application of larvicides. In horses, the application of vaccines, although recommended, is not yet licensed in Brazil. This study analyzed the occurrence of West Nile Fever in horses in Brazil through a review of scientific articles. Searches were conducted in the Google Scholar, PUBMED and Scielo databases, published between 2004 and 2024. The research was supported by the following search criteria: “Nile Fever”, “equines” and “Brazil”, in Portuguese, and “West Nile Fever”, “horses” and “Brazil”, in English. It was found that horses are accidental or terminal hosts and, because it is little known, many times it is not reported or diagnosed, thus demonstrating the importance of further studies and dissemination of information about this disease.

FARO-44 RICE PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY OF FADAMA III ADDITIONAL FINANCE II BENEFICIARIES IN TARABA STATE,

The study analysed the faro-44 rice production efficiency of fadama III additional finance II beneficiaries in Taraba State, Nigeria. A Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 250 respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study revealed that The result of maximum likelihood estimates of the stochastic frontier production Function of dry season faro-44 rice farmers reveal that farm size (P<0.01), fertilizer (P<0.05), quantity of seed (kg) (P<0.01), herbicide (liter) (P<0.05), were positive and significant increasing output of the farmers. Similarly, the age (P<0.01) level of education (P<0.01), farming experience (P<0.05) and household size (P<0.05 were the socio-economic characteristics influencing the increase in technical efficiency of the farmers. Furthermore, the technical efficiency of the farmers is glaringly below 1, an indication that the farmers are operating below their production efficiency frontier. A reasonable proportion (41.20%) of the respondents were within 0.60-0.69 technical efficiency index range with highest value of 0.91 for the most efficient farmers and minimum of 0.50 for the least efficient or worst farmer. Consequently, farmers obtained mean technical efficiency of 0.76 which will improve their technical efficiency by 24%. The result further revealed that, the farmers attained an estimated mean allocative efficiency of 0.88. It was concluded that most of the farmers were unable to obtain technical efficiency level above 76% and farmers were 88% allocative efficient. The study recommended that farmers level of technical efficiency can be increased by 27% by building farmers’ capacity through training, workshops and seminars on postharvest loss management, processing techniques, farm record keeping in order to avoid wastages and sustain efficiency.

Appliance utility in low-income housing: On the relation between socio-economic characteristics, thermal comfort and appliance usage pattern

This study examines the effect of behavioural aspects, dwelling characteristics, and socio-economic drivers, particularly cooling appliance usage patterns, on perceived thermal comfort and further estimates the utility of using different household appliances within low-income archetypes of Mumbai, India. Field-survey-derived 625 samples were drawn from slums and rehab housing and empirically examined using the Ordinal Logistic Regression and Fractional Multinomial Logit models. The results reveal a significant influence of household income and occupant behaviour on thermal satisfaction. Income is a significant barrier to the adoption and usage of thermal appliances. Residents in social housing drive higher utility from operating refrigerators and TVs than washing machines. Low-income quartiles, however, reveal a higher utility from using iron. A positive correlation exists between the proportion of working individuals and appliance usage like washing machine, refrigerator and iron. Surprisingly, larger households are less likely to use exhaust. Considerable heterogeneity thus exists in thermal comfort and appliance usage behaviour and derived energy services in the studied area. This research sheds light on the critical role of income and socio-cultural factors in shaping thermal comfort perceptions and appliance usage patterns. The findings have implications for policy interventions aimed at improving energy efficiency, indoor comfort, and access to essential appliances in low-income communities of developing nations.

Assessing and correcting neighborhood socioeconomic spatial sampling biases in citizen science mosquito data collection

Climatic, ecological, and socioeconomic factors are facilitating the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, heightening the importance of vector surveillance and control. Citizen science is proving to be an effective tool to track mosquito populations, but methods are needed to detect and account for small scale sampling biases in citizen science surveillance. In this article we combine two types of traditional mosquito surveillance records with data from the Mosquito Alert citizen science system to explore the ways in which the socioeconomic characteristics of urban neighborhoods result in sampling biases in citizen scientists’ mosquito reports, while also shaping the spatial distribution of mosquito populations themselves. We use Barcelona, Spain, as an example, and focus on Aedes albopictus, an invasive vector species of concern worldwide. Our results suggest citizen scientists’ sampling effort is focused more in Barcelona’s lower and middle income census tracts than in its higher income ones, whereas Ae. albopictus populations are concentrated in the city’s upper-middle income tracts. High resolution estimates of the spatial distribution of Ae. albopictus risk can be improved by controlling for citizen scientists’ sampling effort, making it possible to provide better insights for efficiently targeting control efforts. Our methodology can be replicated in other cities faced with vector mosquitoes to improve public health responses to mosquito-borne diseases, which impose massive burdens on communities worldwide.