Socioeconomic Characterization Research Articles

Socioeconomic inequalities in dental visits among high school students in Chile, years 2013 and 2017.

To analyze prevalence changes in dental visits and socioeconomic inequalities among high school students in Chile, years 2013 and 2017. Analysis of nationally representative data from 2013 and 2017 waves of the Chilean National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN). In a sample of high school students aged 14 to 20 years old (n=12699 in 2013; n=11122 in 2017) we investigated prevalence of dental visits in the last 3 months, by urban-rural residence, sex, type of health insurance, type of school, income level and benefit of dental care at school. For inequality analysis we estimated prevalence ratio of dental visits in the last 3 months according to study variables. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of dental visits in the last 3 months and the receipt of dental care at school between years 2013 and 2017. The highest prevalence of dental visits in the last 3 months was found among students living in urban residence, women, with private insurance, in the highest income level, that attended private schools. Inequalities persist but the gap associated with type of residence, health insurance and between the lowest income quintiles decreased over the years. The Comprehensive Dental Care for senior year high school students, a public policy that began in 2015 in Chile, could have aided the gap reduction and the increase in visits to the dentist in the last 3 months in this group.

Socio-economic Characterization of Family Fruit Farms in the Guinean High Savannah of Cameroon

Socio-economic Characterization of Family Fruit Farms in the Guinean High Savannah of Cameroon

Efficiency of Resource Allocation of Large Cardamom Production: A Case for Nepal East Corridor

Aim: This research aimed to assess the resource allocation efficiency of large cardamom production in Nepal east corridors.
 Method and Duration of Research: A comprehensive analysis of socio-economic characteristics and economic aspects of large cardamom production was conducted using data collected in 2022 in eastern corridor Nepal with 480 samples.
 Result: The socio-economic characterization of large cardamom farmers revealed that the majority of households were headed by males (75.4%), and most had kacchi and semi-pakki houses (77.3%). Nuclear families were more prevalent (71.9%) than joint families (28.1%). Basic education was the most common educational level among household heads (51.7%), and Aadibasi/Janajati was the predominant ethnic group (52.9%). The study identified significant associations between family types and members abroad with the study corridors (p < 0.05). The economic analysis revealed the capital costs and labor costs involved in large cardamom production over a six-year period. Gap filling had a significant positive impact on Marginal Value Product (MVP), increasing it by 182.21 units (99.45%). However, certain factors like chemical costs had a negative impact on MVP, reducing it by 38.33 units (102.61%). Resource use efficiency analysis showed that labor for postharvest activities positively influenced MVP, increasing it by 1.52 units (34.27%). On the other hand, transportation labor had a negative impact, decreasing MVP by 9.89 units (110.11%).
 Conclusion: The study contributes valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and farmers in understanding the socio-economic and economic dimensions of large cardamom farming in the study area. Addressing gaps in production, optimizing resource utilization, and focusing on postharvest activities can lead to improved resource efficiency and higher returns for farmers. The findings are crucial for designing targeted policies and interventions to support the large cardamom farming community and promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Demographic and socioeconomic characterization of the Immediate Region of Teófilo Otoni, MG between 1991 and 2010

The Immediate Geographical Region of Teófilo Otoni (RGIm Teófilo Otoni) is composed of 27 municipalities and reveals itself in different demographic and infrastructural conditions from the other regions of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. In this sense, the objective of this article is to describe and evaluate the main demographic indicators for the municipalities that make up RGIm Teófilo Otoni between 1991 and 2010 for the purposes of general characterization based on this new spatial arrangement. The database used was obtained from repositories of planning and research institutions, such as the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Ministry of Health (DATASUS), and the João Pinheiro Foundation (FJP), and allowed the measurement of the following variables: total urban and rural population; distribution of the total population by age group according to sex; degree of urbanization; total fertility rate; annual geometric population growth rate; life expectancy at birth; mortality rate, and Municipal Human Development Index between the years 1991 and 2010, in addition to the migratory dynamics for the year 2010. The characterization allowed us to identify that, although there have been improvements in the demographic and socioeconomic conditions of this portion of the territory of Minas Gerais, the values found remained lagged in comparison to other regions of Minas Gerais. The perspective is that the data presented may help to understand some socio-spatial dynamics for a portion of the state that still lacks research and/or technical-scientific information.

ANALYSIS OF RISK MANAGEMENT IN TERRITORIAL PLANNING IN AREAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO SLOW FLOODING. CASE STUDY RURAL SETTLEMENT “EL PLAYÓN” BAJO SINÚ (CÓRDOBA, COLOMBIA).

As a result of this research, it is proposed the incorporation of risk management as an environmental determinant in flood areas of the lower Sinú River basin for territorial planning. This was carried out through the analysis of the total flood risk, determining the threat and vulnerability of the target community, likewise, the risk drivers were identified under approaches of the integral analysis of holistic and systemic risk using a PAR model through which it is established the underlying reason, the dynamic relationship of the environment, the unsafe conditions of geography, and the socio-economic characterization of the community. In this way, it was not only obtained the analysis of the areas affected by the floods by identifying the causes and establishing a level of risk tolerance, but also the risk factors with their effects in the study area. This highlighted the importance of developing immediate and priority activities in the study area

Mucua: Sensory analysis of the fruit of Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab) in natura

The mucua is the fruit of the embondeiro or baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) and originates from Africa. It has a high content of ascorbic acid and dietary fiber, along with antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to test the acceptability of the mucua fruit in natura in a sample of Portuguese adults and test its intention to consume and availability to pay for this fruit. After providing the fruit, participants fulfilled a questionnaire for their socioeconomic characterization and tested their acceptability and willingness to pay for the fruit. The participatants in this study (n=53) were 20 years old, primarily female (80.8%), Portuguese (73.1%), and students (86.6%). The tasters considered the following aspects of the mucua fruit pleasant or very pleasant: global appreciation (49.2%), color (71.2%), shape (53.8%), flavor (40.4%), aroma (48.5%) and texture (44.2%). Approximately 30% of tasters would be willing or very willing to consume this fruit regularly and pay 3 €/ kg (62.9%). The mucua had good acceptance by the tasters, and the color, the form, and the global appreciation, were the attributes with the best scores on the acceptability test. In addition, they were willing to consume it regularly if they were available at an economically affordable price.

Socioeconomic Characterization of a Southern Philippine City, before 1898-2015: A Historical Perspective

The socio-economic characteristics of a city unfolded from its past can help policymakers understand its socio-economic trend and devise plans for its development. This paper focused on documenting and characterizing the socio-economic status of Dapitan City, Philippines, briefly before 1898, during the American occupation until the present republic in 2015 by making use of archival methods. Furthermore, interviews with the seven key informants supported and strengthened the data. Over the years, Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte has become greatly dependent on the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), which is the fiscal transfer in the Philippines that serves as the biggest source of operating revenues for the local government units (LGUs) to perform their functions. In its history, the economic conditions of Dapitan improved, albeit slowly if compared to other progressive cities in the country. This rate of transition from a less progressive to a more progressive state can be explained by Dapitan’s natural and historical aura, which is still being preserved and protected. Despite this advantage, the transition depicted in the history of Dapitan did not offer an abundance of economic opportunities that would have catered to the needs of its human resources and eventually helped disadvantaged groups move above the poverty line. Dapitan did not take advantage of becoming the center of a progressive economic structure due to the different paths it took to formulate its concept of progress and modernization. Life in Dapitan is simple as the city is not subject to the rapid process of industrialization. It only attracted a few big business investors that could create more and a variety of jobs.

Price formation in the eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) value chain in the department of Córdoba, Colombia

The objective of the work was to analyze the price formation within the eggplant chain in the department of Córdoba (Colombia). Data from the weekly wholesale series of Montería market obtained from the DANE weekly information system during the years 2020 and 2021 were used. The other calculations for the retail intermediaries and wholesale food distributors come from the proportions found in socioeconomic characterization works of the production system. Engle and Granger cointegration techniques were used; as well as analysis of the relationships between the series, the integration of the links in the chain and its incidence in the price formation were determined. The results show the integration of the value chain being lower between the farmer and the final consumer, which was demonstrated with an elasticity of 0.34. The integration of the chain shows the price transfers from one link to another, also makes clear the increase when the link is changed, thus, the difference between the value paid by the consumer and the one received by the farmer is notorious. The work concludes that commercialization increases occur in the absence of adding value to the product.

Clusters of high-risk, low-risk, and temporal trends of breast and cervical cancer-related mortality in São Paulo, Brazil, during 2000–2016

PurposeStudying breast and cervical cancers in space and time and verifying divergences of different territorially established socioeconomic profiles. MethodsEcological study using spatial scanning (with socioeconomic characterization), space-time, and spatial variation of temporal trends, in order to identify significant clusters of high- and low-risk or temporal trends, of deaths from breast cancer and cervical cancer, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, during 2000–2016. ResultsHigh-risk spatial clusters were identified in the central areas, and low-risk clusters were identified in the peripheral areas, which were associated with better and worse socioeconomic conditions, respectively. As for cervical cancer, the pattern was the opposite. High-risk space-time clusters occurred in the early years of the study, whereas low-risk clusters occurred in the most recent years. For breast cancer, the central areas showed a temporal trend of decreasing mortality and the peripheral areas showed an increasing trend. While for cervical cancer, in general, the temporal trend was for the identified clusters to fall. ConclusionsIt is expected that this study will provide insights for the formulation of public policies to implement prevention and control measures, in order to reduce mortality and inequalities related to breast and cervical cancers.

The Social Economy in Portugal: legal regime and socio-economic characterization

The main objective of this article is to provide an updated portrait of the Social Economy sector in Portugal. For this purpose, we first analyse how in Portugal the concept of Social Economy has been defined and delimited, particularly by legal means. The difficulties in establishing clear and unquestionable boundaries are highlighted, as well as the observation of the concept from the diversity that composes it, both in terms of guiding principles and of groups of entities that integrate this sector. Subsequently, a quantitative portrait of the Portuguese Social Economy is drawn, with the most recent data, made public in 2019 and for 2016, as a source. These data result from work done by the National Statistics Institute (INE - Statistics Portugal) through the Social Economy Satellite Account. In addition to the main general indicators of the sector (number of units, gross value added, main activities, groups of entities, total and paid employment), a specific analysis by groups of entities is also carried out. By making use of Satellite Account to draw this picture, we aim to provide conceptually structured statistical information with a form and content that may facilitate its subsequent use in the context of broader studies, both diachronic analysis as well as international comparisons.

Attending pediatric acutely ill patients at home: families’ socioeconomic characterization, expectations, and experiences

BackgroundSJD a Casa is an acute pediatric hospital-at-home program that was initiated in 2019. For a thorough understanding of acute pediatric homecare programs, an analysis of all related factors, including the medical, social, and economic aspects as well as the family’s experience, is essential. However, no previous study has attempted a comprehensive evaluation of this topic in relation to a complex program such as ours (in terms of the diseases and treatments offered). In this study, we aimed to finely characterize the population that opts for pediatric homecare programs and obtain a thorough understanding of the families’ needs, which will improve our understanding of the program and potentially reveal possible deficiencies.MethodsThis prospective quantitative and qualitative study involved collection of ordinal data as well as statements made by the caregivers of patients undergoing homecare. A total of 372/532 families were asked to answer two independent questionnaires (preadmission and postadmission) that evaluated their socioeconomic characteristics; expectations and experiences; and factors influencing the preference for homecare. The results were presented as frequencies and comparisons (Fisher’s exact test).ResultsThe families had an adequate social network and a less-than-expected workload, and most families responded that they would have repeated the experience despite the workload. The expectations regarding the caregiver’s well-being at home were better than the actual situation, since some caregivers experienced anxiety or fear. The rating for homecare was better than that for the inpatient care offered before the homecare transfer.ConclusionsFamilies included in the program were content with the homecare program and mostly responded that they would repeat the experience if needed. Although the duration of the program was short-term, some caregivers may experience symptoms of burnout like anxiety, which should be taken into consideration. Despite its limitations, this study offers the possibility of improving our service portfolio by focusing on vulnerable families’ access to the program and the caregiver’s risk of burnout.

Physical, demographic, and socioeconomic characterization of the cantons of Costa Rica based on the rates of users injured or killed on the road in 2018

This work presents the application of techniques related to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to characterize the 81 cantons of Costa Rica in limited dimensions, based on indicators of road users’ exposure to minor, serious injuries, or death (on-site) in traffic accidents, to analyze possible variables that could be related to their incidence. Through the analysis of hierarchical groupings, three groups of cantons were found with differentiated conditions in two constructed components, and in terms of the incidence rates in analysis. With the association of physical and sociodemographic variables, it was found that the cantons with the lowest development indices, the greatest deficiencies, and the highest proportion of young population have a higher risk of road victimization in occupants of cars with four or more wheels.

Water, land, and air: how do residents of Brazilian remote rural territories travel to access health services?

BackgroundEnsuring adequate and safe means of travel is essential for maintaining and improving the health and well-being of residents of rural communities worldwide. This article maps costs, distances, travel times, and means of elective and urgent/emergency health transport in Brazilian remote rural municipalities.MethodsMultiple case studies were conducted in 27 remote rural municipalities using a qualitative method. A total of 178 key informants (managers, doctors, and nurses) were interviewed. Secondary data from national information systems were analyzed for the socioeconomic characterization, to identify the costs, distances, and travel times. Through the thematic content analysis of the interviews, the means of transport, and strategies developed by managers, professionals and users for their provision were identified.ResultsThe costs of traveling between remote rural municipalities and locations where most of specialized and hospital services are centered can compromise a significant part of the families’ income. The insufficiency, restriction of days, times, and routes of health transport affects the selection of beneficiaries based on socioeconomic criteria in places of high vulnerability and less investment in road infrastructure. In remote rural municipalities, travelling to seek health care involves inter-municipal and intra-municipal flows, as their territories have dispersed populations. Several means of transport were identified – air, river, and land – which are often used in a complementary way in the same route. Some patients travel for more than 1000 km, with travel times exceeding 20 h, especially in the Amazon region. While the demands for urgent and emergency transport are partially met by national public policy, the same is not true for the elective transport of patients. The impossibility of providing health transport under the exclusive responsibility of the municipalities is identified.ConclusionsFor the remote rural municipalities populations, the absence of national public policies for sufficient, continuous, and timely provision of transport for health services worsens the cycle of inequities and compromises the assumption of the universal right to health care.

Socioeconomic Analysis of the Graduates of the Public Accounting Program at the Francisco De Paula Santander University Ocaña Sectional

Despinte the great obstacles that women have faced throughout history, the struggle for gender equity and equal rights has always existed; however, there are many women who have been characterized by empowering themselves and leading economic, political, social, and scientific processes, among others. The purpose of this research is to carry out a socioeconomic characterization of the woman graduated from the public accounting program of the Francisco de Paula Santander Ocaña University during the last 5 years, for which a survey was applied through descriptive, documentary and field research. to 129 graduates of the program, obtaining as a relevant result that as the level of schooling improves, it positions their participation in the labor and family market.

Comparative performance and analysis of indigenous pig production systems in Cameroon: constraints and socio-economic characterization in three agro-ecological zones

A socio-economic characterization of the indigenous pig farming systems, performance analysis, and constraints were carried out in three agro-ecological areas of Cameroon such as Sudano-Sahelian (SSA), Western highland (WHA) and Humid forest with bimodal rainfall Areas (HBA). A questionnaire was administered to 157 farmers. The data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics procedure. The results showed that pig farming was mainly practised by men over forty year old (79.1%), with a low level of technical supervision and having reached the level of primary education (44.6%). The production systems in HBA and SSA are mostly extensive whereas in WHA these systems were mostly semi-intensive. The piggeries were made with wooden pens (61.1%). The farms were more prone to feed shortages in the SSA and WHA. The animals were mostly fed once (45.8%) or twice (38.9%) a day. Animals were largely unvaccinated (40.8%) and not dewormed (59.9%). The SSA farming system was the least efficient in terms of gross added value per sow per year (GVA /sow/year = 398 USD) while the WHA and HBA (GVA/ sow/year in the WHA = 1305 USD and GVA /sow/year in the HBA= 1210 USD). This characterization is important for future improvements in livestock management, especially with the indigenous pig farming system in Cameroon.

A comparative analysis of health status of international migrants and local population in Chile: a population-based, cross-sectional analysis from a social determinants of health perspective

BackgroundDuring recent decades intraregional migration has increased in Latin America. Chile became one of the main receiving countries and hosted diverse international migrant groups. Evidence have suggested a healthy migrant effect (HME) on health status, but it remains scarce, controversial and needs to be updated. This study performed a comprehensive analysis verifying the existence of HME and its association with social determinants of health (SDH).MethodsWe analyzed data from the Chilean National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey (CASEN, version 2017). Unadjusted prevalence of health status indicators such as negative self-perceived health, chronic morbidity, disability, and activity limitations were described in both international migrants and local population. Adjusted associations between these outcomes and sets of demographics, socioeconomic, access to healthcare, psychosocial and migration-related SDH were tested using multivariate logistic regression in each population. The HME for each health outcome was also tested using multivariate logistic regression and sequentially adjusting for each set of SDH (ref = Chilean).ResultsInternational migrants had lower unadjusted prevalence of all health indicators compared to Chileans. That is, unadjusted analysis revealed an apparent HME in all health outcomes. Age, unemployment, and health care system affiliation were associated with health outcomes in both populations. Psychosocial determinants were both risk and protective for the analysed health outcomes. After adjustment for each set of SDH, the immigrant health advantage was only significant for chronic morbidity. Being migrant was associated with 39% lower odds of having chronic diseases compared to locals (OR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.44–0.84; P = 0.0003). For all other outcomes, HME disappeared after adjusting by SDH, particularly unemployment, type of health system and psychosocial factors.ConclusionsTesting the HME in Chile revealed an advantage for chronic morbidities that remained significant after adjustment for SDH. This analysis shed light on health disparities between international migrants and local population in the Latin American region, with special relevance of unemployment, type of health system and psychosocial SDH. It also informed about differential exposures faced during migration process that could dissolve the HME over time. Evidence from this analytical approach is useful for informing health planning and intersectoral solutions from a SDH perspective.

Social problem scale, public investment and social entrepreneurship action

PurposeSocial entrepreneurs engage in action because social entrepreneurs want to solve social problems. Consequently, to see more social entrepreneurship in contexts with the most severe social problems is expected. This paper argues that this is an oversimplification of the problem-action nexus in social entrepreneurship and that action does not necessarily correspond to the observed scale of social problems. Drawing on the theoretical framing of crescive conditions, this relationship is affected by forms of public investment as institutions that distinctively promote engagement and public interest amongst social entrepreneurs. Thus, this paper assesses the relationship between varying levels of social problems and social entrepreneurship action (SEA) and how and to what extent public investment types – as more and less locally anchored crescive conditions – affect this relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe hypotheses are tested with a series of random-effects regression models. The data stem from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor's (GEM) 2015 social entrepreneurship survey and Chile's 2015 National Socioeconomic Characterisation Survey (CASEN). The authors combined both data sets and cross-matched individual-level data (action and investment) with commune-level data (social problem scale) resulting in unique contextualised observations for 1,124 social entrepreneurs.FindingsContrary to current understanding, this study finds that SEA is positively associated with low-social problem scale. This means that high levels of deprivation do not immediately lead to action. The study also finds that locally anchored forms of investment positively moderate this relationship, stimulating action in the most deprived contexts. On the contrary, centralised public investment leads to increased social entrepreneurial action in wealthier communities where it is arguably less needed.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to the literature on SEA in deprived contexts, social and public investment as well as policy-level discussion and broader issues of entrepreneurship and social problems.

Biophysical and Socioeconomic Characterization of the Timari River Micro-basin in the Central Tropics of Peru

The study was carried out in the Timari river micro-basin belonging to the Río Negro district of the Satipo province, with the objective of evaluating the influence of the vulnerability to contamination of surface water resources in the Timari-Río Negro river micro-basin. The results in the physical aspect were: area 1061.16 ha with length of channel 7.36 km and 44 tributaries, slope of the channel 12%, mean elevation of 1176.47 meters above sea level; the biophysical aspect presents: temperature from 19.87°C to 24.16°C, precipitation from 1693 mm to 2063 mm, evapotranspiration from 1083.31 mm to 1519.81 mm and slopes ranging from flat to steep. The population in the socioeconomic aspect presents 40% illiteracy and 60% some degree of education, productive activities are based 83% on agriculture and 17% trade, monoculture predominates with 60% and diversified crops at 40%. The flow rate was 0.248 m3 /s; while the raw surface water quality index presents 81.28 characterized as good quality and ends with 41.87 as poor quality.

Socioeconomic and technical characterization of beekeeping in Burkina Faso: case of the Center-West Region

Beekeeping is a potential source of income for rural populations. Once viewed as a minor agrosylvopastoral activity, beekeeping is now considered a promising activity. However, data to guide interventions are insufficient. The objective of this study was to carry out a technical and socioeconomic characterization of beekeeping in the Center-West Region of Burkina Faso. A cross-sectional survey using a pretested questionnaire enabled to collect information on the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of beekeepers (n = 113), and the characteristics of apiaries and beekeeping practices. The results showed that the majority of beekeepers were male (64.3%), educated (71.4%), with an average age of 42.8 ± 10.4 years, belonging mainly to the Mossi ethnic group (76.9%). Practiced as a secondary activity, the main attraction of beekeeping was its profitability for 69.0% of those interviewed. With a dominance of modern Kenyan type hives, the typology identified three production systems: the modern system, the traditional system and the mixed system. Average production was 6.9 ± 2.9 and 11.5 ± 2.8 liters per year for the traditional and modern hives, respectively. The profitability of the apiaries reached 10,504 and 24,620 CFA francs annual net margin for the traditional and modern hives, respectively. The main constraints revealed by the study were the lack of modern equipment and financial resources, insufficient technical supervision, and pests/predators.

High spatial resolution dataset of La Mobili\xe8re insurance customers

We present the La Mobilière insurance customers dataset: a 12-year-long longitudinal collection of data on policies of customers of the Swiss insurance company La Mobilière. To preserve the privacy of La Mobilière customers, we propose the data aggregated at two geographical levels, based on the place of residence of the customer: postal areas and municipalities. For each geographical area, the data provides summary statistics on: (i) the demographic characteristics of the customer base, (ii) characteristics of vehicles insurance policies and (iii) characteristics of housing and building insurance policies. To assess the validity of the data, we investigate the temporal consistency of the data and the representativeness of La Mobilière customer base along several dimensions (total population, percentage of foreigners, etc.). We also show how the insurance data can reliably model the spatial patterns of socio-economic indicators at a high geographical resolution. We believe that the reuse of this data provides an opportunity for researchers to broaden the socio-economic characterization of Swiss areas beyond the use of official data sources.