Socioeconomic Characterization Research Articles

Maize bushy stunt in native corn: implications for Mexican “subsistence farmers”

Native corn in Mexico can be affected by maize bushy stunt disease (MBS), which can negatively impact maize-farming operations. Maize bushy stunt symptoms in native corn were linked to the presence of phytoplasmas through molecular analysis of symptomatic native corn plants in Mexico. These findings motivated a socioeconomic characterization and identification of the management strategies developed by the “subsistence farmers” of those communities to answer the questions: What elements of farming affect the presence of MBS disease in “subsistence farmers” fields? What do “subsistence farmers” know about MBS disease and the pathogen associated with MBS disease? How best can MBS disease be managed in small farming communities in Mexico? Through face-to-face interviews with growers and the corresponding analyses of their responses, we identified a widespread lack of knowledge about MBS disease, its causal agent and its vector(s). This study highlighted factors useful to guide future management decisions and education programs, as well as further research to transmit information about MBS disease among “subsistence farmers” in rural communities in Mexico.

ANÁLISE SOCIAL DA CARCINICULTURA MARINHA NO ESTADO DO PIAUÍ: ESTUDO DE CASO NO MUNICÍPIO LUÍS CORREIA

Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar a importância da carcinicultura marinha para as os trabalhadores e comunidades próximas a uma fazenda de carcicnicultura no Município de Luís Correia (PI), através da caracterização sócioeconômica e percepção de mudanças sob os aspectos sociais, econômicos e ambientais à partir da instalação da fazenda. Desta forma, foram elaborados dois questionários, um dirigido aos funcionários (55) da fazenda e outro para os moradores (57) dos povoados no entorno do empreendimento. O grupo de moradores entrevistados foi composto em sua maioria por mulheres, baixa escolaridade, desenvolvendo atividades doméstica e informal, sem renda fixa, enquanto o grupo de funcionários formado por homens, em sua maioria, também apresentou baixo nível de escolaridade, mas com vínculo formal, remunerado com 1 salário mínimo. No que se refere à percepção dos moradores e funcionários sobre a fazenda de camarão, verificou-se que a maioria dos entrevistados de ambos os grupos identificaram aumento da oferta de emprego formal na região, a maioria de ambos os grupos não perceber alterações ambientais, embora maior percentual de alterações tenha sido percebido pelo grupo dos moradores (33,3 %). Quanto às ações sociais realizadas pela fazenda de carcinicultura, foi citada a manutenção da escola, como uma das mais importantes. O nível de satisfação em relação a introdução desta atividade foi maior no grupo dos Funcionários entrevistados com 58,2%, possivelmente pelo vinculo empregatício destas pessoas com a empresa. Neste estudo, podese sugerir que a fazenda de carcinicultura contribui com melhorias no padrão de vida, pois contribui com a geração de emprego e renda, além de ajudar no acesso à educação.

Nurses’ Self-Evaluation of Health and Quality of Life Inside the Workplace

The study’s objective was to report the nurses’ self-evaluation of health and quality of life, associated with the socioeconomic characterization. Transversal study, with a sample of 190 nurses, in a state’s reference general hospital. For procedures of descriptive analysis and inferences, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences 13.0 used. The comparison of averages was made, using statistical tests: Mann-Whitney, Friedman, t of Student and ANOVA. For the accomplishment of correlation analysis, the Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used. The study strictly followed the regulation of national and international research. One observes a population mainly composed of women, with average age of 36.04 years old, working in nursing for 9.05 years, with family income of R$ 8,410.11 and weekly workload of 47.16 hours. The satisfaction with health had a score of 57.50 and the quality of life’s self-evaluation, 61.32. Through the findings, it was possible to demonstrate the existing correlation between the workload’s increase and a worst self-evaluation regarding the quality of life.

Demographic and labor market transformations in rural areas of Chile

Based on the information provided by the Encuesta de Caracterización Socioeconómica Nacional (CASEN) (National Socioeconomic Characterization Survey) of 1990 and 2013, the reconfigurations of the Chilean countryside are analyzed in terms of their demographic trends and labor market restructuring. An ongoing process of depopulation and aging of the rural population is found. Agricultural activities of the rural labor market become less relevant both in terms of jobs and income, showing a strong process of deagrarianisation, salaried workers and feminization of the labor market.

Inequalities in access to health care for people with disabilities in Chile: the limits of universal health coverage

We analysed cross-sectional data collected as part of the National Socioeconomic Characterisation Survey (2013) in Chile, in order to explore if there are differences in access to health care between adult Chileans with and without disability. The study included 7459 Chilean adults with disability and 68,695 people without disability. Logistic regressions were performed in order to determine the adjusted odds ratios for the associated variables. We found that despite universal health coverage, Chileans with disabilities are more likely to report worse access to health care, even when controlling for socio-economic and demographic variables, including age, gender and income. Specifically, they are more likely to face greater difficulty arriving at a health facility, obtaining a doctor’s appointment, being attended to in a health facility, paying for treatment due to cost, and obtaining necessary medicine. Both people with and without disability are more likely to face difficulties in accessing health services if they are affiliated with the public health provider, an indication of the economic factors at play in accessing health care. This study shows that universal health coverage does not always lead to accessibility of health services and underlines the disadvantaged position of disabled people in Chile in accessing health services. While efforts have been made recently to improve equity in health care access, disability in Chile poses an additional burden on people’s access to health care, emphasising the necessity for policy to address this perpetual cycle of disadvantage for disabled people.

Inglês

This study aimed to compare the levels of physical fitness among students in the city of Caceres, Mato Grosso, comparingperformance between students from public and private schools. For this survey was conducted including 87 students, aged 11 and 12years, male and female, 49 students of Public School and 38 students Private School, using the tests and measures battery (GAYA ,2005), weight (body mass), Height (Height), BMI (body mass Index), Build, Abdominal, Horizontal Leap (Force Upper Extremities)Medicinebol (Strength Upper Extremities), Flexibility, Agility, Speed, Member Resistance superiors General and resistance. Also thequestionnaire was used to identify the main living habits, divided into socioeconomic characterization, everyday organization, socioculturalparticipation and sports practices. It was found that for most tests there was little significant difference only in the flexibility testwas verified significance between the two schools, a fact explained by the great difference in the level of education of parents and thepattern of family life. The results of other tests were balanced, BMI (Body Mass Index) proved to be within the normal range for the vastmajority of students. Compared to the Standards Table nationally referenced to sportspeople, between Genders, there were positiveresults for Strength testing of the lower limbs and resistance, and negative for flexibility.

¿Perdió el Área Metropolitana del Gran Santiago su atractivo?: Sí, pero no. Un examen basado en datos y procedimientos novedosos para la estimación de la migración interna y sus efectos durante el periodo 1977-2013

Internal migration has quantitative and qualitative effects on the Metropolitan Area of Greater Santiago (MAGS). These effects can influence the demographic and socio-economic development of MAGS, of which academic hypotheses and political arguments have been found. To estimate these effects, the authors used the latest censuses–with the exception of year 2012–and CASEN (Socio-economic Characterization) surveys, as well as new methodologies. The results show a gradual loss of attractiveness of MAGS, although they also reveal that this trend has irregularities and partially depends on the geographic definition of the MAGS. The results also show that the effects of internal migration on the socio-demographic composition of MAGS are beneficial for the metropolis because it rejuvenates and increases the educational level of the population, which contributes to strengthen the dominant position of MAGS within the network of cities.

Socio-economic Characterisation and Dairy Production System Maintained by Women Milk Producer Cooperative Societies in Indian Sundarban Region

The present study was undertaken to characterise socio economic pattern of WMPCS members and analyse small holder dairy production system including its constraints in the Indian Sundarban. A total of 160 respondents from six development blocks were interviewed with a pre tested questionnaire. 74.4 per cent of the farmers had age between 20–45 yr and 88 per cent of them were married, which reflects young and energetic attitude of the farmers. 46.9 per cent of the farmers had only primary level of education.63.5 per cent of the WMPCS members belonged to low income group (Rs 2500/--5000/-), evidently, net income from sale of milk by WMPCS members was found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of informal dairy farmers. Herd size per household varied between 1.46 to 1.87 total livestock units (TLU); non-descript Indian zebu was the pre-dominant breed. 37.6 per cent respondents used artificial technique for breeding purpose. FEAST computer program was used to analyse feed resources of the area and it was found that the small holder dairy production system entirely depend upon grazing with little supplementation of concentrates. In the lean months of winters, residues of leguminous crops as well as mangrove leaves were used as fodders. Milk production of different cattle breeds varied significantly (P<0.01) and milk yield from cross-bred Jersey was maximum (1652 l/lactation). Principal constraint was lack of green fodder production for dairy farming.

Socio-Economic Characterization of Some Milk Value Chain Actors in The Vina Division- Producers, Collectors and Processors

Socio-Economic Characterization of Some Milk Value Chain Actors in The Vina Division- Producers, Collectors and Processors

Socioeconomic and cultural characterization of drivers who do not wear seatbelts in spain: through social networks study

El objetivo principal del presente articulo es profundizar en las caracteristicas socioeconomicas y culturales de los usuarios de carreteras con mayor prevalencia en el no uso del cinturon de seguridad. Para ello desarrollamos una metodologia de trabajo capaz de combinar y complementar los datos obtenidos a partir de un cuestionario online administrado en Facebook, y nuevos datos procedentes de las redes sociales, en concreto, los «Me gusta» del perfil de Facebook de los usuarios que cumplimentaron el cuestionario. Los resultados muestran un perfil de riesgo alto que incluye hombres y mujeres con edades comprendidas entre los 36 y 47 anos, y hombres y mujeres entre los 18 y 29 anos, principalmente conductores de automoviles y en menor medida de furgonetas, con niveles educativos medios-altos, residentes en pequenas ciudades o poblaciones rurales.

A GIS-based methodological framework to characterize the Resource Management Domain (RMD): A case study of Mewat district, Haryana, India

Resource Management Domains (RMD) represent a way to characterize land units, based on biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics. This concept has been applied to delineate and characterize sustainable land units for agricultural use in the Mewat District of Haryana, India. A GIS-based framework was conceptualized to characterize RMD and appropriate biophysical and socioeconomic parameters were identified based on local conditions and expert opinion. The biophysical characteristics of the region were represented by soil (soil erosion and fertility) and groundwater (groundwater quality, potential and vulnerability) parameters. Population density, landholding, cropping pattern, irrigation source, fertilizer type, sprinkler density, tubewell type and tractor density were considered for socioeconomic characterization. Each of these parameters was modelled and mapped using well established methods The biophysical and socioeconomic parameters were integrated using a multivariate clustering method. The integration modelling results in the delineation of the region into seven RMDs, which were validated with two focus group discussions (FGD) in each of the RMD’s. The correlation between the RMD modelling results and the FGD was found to be more than 90% in five RMDs and 65% and 39% in the remaining two RMDs respectively. The result was also validated with feedback from the local administrative authorities. The study charts a sound basis for policy makers for taking the necessary steps to address location-specific differential agricultural needs in any region.

Metodología para el aprovechamiento de potencial energético con biomasa forestal en el departamento de Nariño: caso de estudio

Introducción: el presente artículo es producto de investigación del proyecto “Análisis de oportunidades energéticas con fuentes alternativas en el departamento de Nariño –Alternar–”, ejecutado desde el 2014 hasta inicios del 2016, por la Universidad de Nariño, en cooperación con la Universidad de los Andes y ASC Ingeniería S. A. E. S. P., con el apoyo de la Gobernación de Nariño, y financiado por el Sistema General de Regalías durante el 2014, en Colombia. El objetivo de la investigación fue proponer un esquema de aprovechamiento integral y sostenible de los recursos locales para la generación de energía, investigando las tecnologías de redes inteligentes y microrredes aplicadas a zonas no interconectadas zni. Metodología: los estudios se llevaron a cabo en dos poblaciones de la región Pacífica nariñense, donde los índices de cobertura energética son muy bajos (2-5 horas/día). Para determinar el potencial energético de cada zni, se realizaron los siguientes pasos: caracterización geográfica y socioeconómica de la localidad, caracterización de la demanda energética, caracterización de los residuos forestales, diseño de la planta de gasificación y del sistema híbrido y el prediseño de la red eléctrica. Resultados: en las dos zni de estudio, se describen los equipos del sistema híbrido mediante simulaciones de optimización en Homer. Conclusiones: es factible usar residuos forestales para la energización de las zni con tecnologías sostenibles, para minimizar así la dependencia de combustibles fósiles y reducir la producción de los gases de efecto invernadero.

Modeling socioeconomic pathways to assess sustainability: a tailored development for housing retrofit

In the European context, energy and climate have been prioritized by policies related to retrofitting, but social concerns such as unemployment or poverty need to be tackled. Policy makers need supporting assessment methods to comprehensively address complex processes as retrofitting, and the methodology of life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) seems an appropriate tool. However, LCSA needs further adaptation for the intended application. The objective of this work is to define socioeconomic models that, added to environmental life cycle assessment, enable LCSA. The intended application is guiding policy making related to retrofitting from a life cycle perspective. This study defines models to assess social and socioeconomic impacts similarly to environmental life cycle assessment. These models address social and socioeconomic concerns, relevant in housing retrofitting processes, for which a cause-effect relationship can be established. Characterization models result from the identification, combination, and adaptation of available methods, developed within various research fields. These methods analyze damages to the health of workers involved in the life cycle and to the health of the household living in the retrofitted dwelling. Impacts on human well-being and dignity are addressed by analyzing prosperity, in terms of fair employment, alleviation of fuel poverty of households, and economic growth. With the proposed LCSA methods, we have compared impacts associated to the retrofitting of a house in Brussels in two scenarios, considering a remaining life cycle of 30 years and taking into account the reference situation. Environmental damages significantly decrease in one of the scenarios, but slightly increase for households that commonly under-heat. Retrofitting prevents indoor mold and associated damages on health but implies damages on the health of workers. Fair working hours involved in the life cycle have been quantified as well as the effects on the households regarding fuel poverty. The effects on the economic growth have also been studied to provide insights for the optimization of encouraging measures. This LCSA proposal consists of a set of socioeconomic characterization models coupled with selected environmental ones. The models have been defined adapted to the particular application, given the context-specific nature of some of the social concerns, indicators, and characterization factors. This LCSA proposal helps adapting policies to housing typologies, household and dwelling conditions, as well as identifying potential improvements in the life cycle.

Un análisis espacial del emprendimiento en Chile: Más no siempre es mejor

La promocion del emprendimiento se ha convertido en la ultima decada en una de las principales politicas de la estrategia de desarrollo en Chile y se ha planteado como un medio para mejorar el desarrollo local. Este articulo utiliza una definicion ocupacional del emprendimiento, para estudiar si el aumento del numero de emprendedores sin tener en cuenta su dimension espacial es una politica apropiada. Para ello se examinan los patrones de localizacion comunal de los emprendedores en 2009 y 2011 a partir de informacion de la Encuesta de Caracterizacion Socioeconomica Nacional (CASEN). Los resultados muestran que los patrones espaciales y clusteres comunales de emprendimiento presentan alta heterogeneidad en los entornos locales segun las caracteristicas de sus emprendedores. En este contexto, politicas nacionales de emprendimiento exclusivamente orientadas al incremento del numero de empresas podrian perpetuar la desigualdad espacial.

Socioeconomic Characterization and Equity Market Knowledge of the Citizens of Barranquilla, Colombia

Este articulo examina empiricamente el grado de conocimiento y participacion de los ciudadanos de Barranquilla en el mercado bursatil colombiano. Para ello, se encuestaron 800 individuos distribuidos en las cinco localidades de la ciudad. Utilizando un modelo logit, se estimaron los factores que explican el estado del conocimiento del mercado bursatil asi como las variables que influyen en la probabilidad de inversion en la bolsa de valores. Se encuentra que el rango de ingresos determina en mayor medida el nivel de conocimiento e inversion en el mercado bursatil respecto al resto de variables. Finalmente, se confirma que se trata de un mercado de caracteristicas muy especificas, en el cual participan principalmente aquellos inversionistas con mayor conocimiento de las inversiones que ponen en marcha.

Aspectos socioeconómicos y percepciones de los corteros de caña sobre la mecanización en Risaralda, Colombia

El artículo presenta la caracterización socioeconómica de los corteros de caña de azúcar del ingenio Risaralda; adicionalmente ilustra las percepciones que los trabajadores tienen con respecto a una transición hacia corte mecanizado, además de su impacto sobre las condiciones de vida. Se realizaron encuestas para identificar algunas características socioeconómicas y dentro de estas, unas palabras claves para determinar las apreciaciones sobre el cambio en la actividad. Los resultados muestran que la mecanización en la recolección de la caña, trae consecuencias significativas en la calidad de vida de los corteros del municipio de la Virginia y del corregimiento de Caimalito.

Pescadores artesanais a jusante da Usina Hidrelétrica de Tucuruí­­, Amazônia, Brasil

A pesca é uma das atividades mais tradicionais realizadas í­Â jusante da Usina Hidrelétrica de Tucuruí­­, nordeste paraense, gerando emprego e renda a inúmeras famí­­lias ribeirinhas. O apetrecho de pesca mais utilizado na área de estudo é a rede-de-emalhar fixa e as principais espécies capturadas são a pescada-branca (Plagioscion squamosissimus) e o mapará (Hypophthalmus marginatus). A maior parte do pescado é comercializada fresco. A caracterização socioeconômica dos pescadores foi realizada por meio entrevistas semiestruturadas, com questionários aplicados a 109 pescadores nos meses de junho, agosto e setembro de 2006 e em abril de 2008. Os entrevistados, em sua maioria, são paraenses (98%), homens (89%) que vivem em regime de união estável (38%), 82,6% possuem filhos; a renda familiar é inferior a um salário mí­­nimo (67%) e possuem idade entre 14 e 70 anos, com ensino médio incompleto (62%), e aproximadamente 27% exerce a atividade a um tempo que varia entre 5 a 9 anos. Para os pescadores entrevistados há redução na produção pesqueira associada a fatores como uso de apetrechos de pesca fora das especificações previstas na legislação.

Classification of Tours in the U.S. National Household Travel Survey through Clustering Techniques

AbstractTours are increasingly being considered as an appropriate unit of observation of mobility behaviors and are one of the key ideas underpinning contemporary activity-based modeling approaches. Identifying typologies of tours would benefit both modelers and decision makers, striving to set up more tailored actions aimed at promoting environmentally benign travel choices. Different a priori classifications based on activity kinds have been proposed, none of which seems clearly preferable on empirical grounds. This paper takes a complementary approach and defines a data-driven segmentation through a cluster analysis of tours that were derived from the trip records from a United States national survey. The socioeconomic characterization of each cluster is finally carried out to link travelers’ profiles with specific kinds of tours. Four main tour clusters have thus been identified: nonwork tours for compulsory activities done by young individuals, tours done by elder or retired persons, short and second...

Determinants of crop-livestock integration by small farmers in Benin

Despite the numerous work conducted on integrated crop-livestock systems, very little is known about factors determining farmers’ trend to integrate. Our study aimed at a socioeconomic characterization of endogenous crop-livestock integration in Benin and identification of determinants of farmers’ decision to use these practices. Two hundred and forty farmers were surveyed in three agro- ecological regions randomly selected. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on farmer’s characteristics, production factors and agriculture and breeding by-products valorization practices. On the basis of main links between both productions, three integration levels (no integration, NI: 36%; partial integration, PI: 55%; total integration, TI: 9%) were identified and characterized according to socioeconomic characteristics of farmers. Then the multinomial logistic regression technique was used to predict the integration level of a given farmer in function of its socioeconomic characteristics. The three integration levels differ significantly (p&lt;0.001) according to variables such as membership in farmers’ association, educational level, weight of agricultural experience, farming equipment and size of herds. The decision by a farmer to choose the total integration type significantly depends (p &lt;0.001) on the size of his cattle herd, his membership in farmers’ association, the weight of his agricultural experience and his equipment value. Thus, integration is a practice used by small farmers with good experience in agriculture. Strategies for improving integration of cropping and breeding are to motivated farmers for cattle keeping and membership in an association.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Animal feeding, integrated soil fertility management, resilience, sustainability

Sustainable Development of Rural Areas: Using Urban Patterns to Map the Agricultural Systems

Abstract Rural territories cover 91% of EU27 area and 56% of population live in there. Common Agricultural Policy pays more and more attention to these territories, in particular to their development. In this work it is argued that a generic agricultural and/or socio-economic characterization might be not sufficient to understand these territories, to formulate appropriate policies and ultimately to evaluate the effectiveness of such policy measures. In our view, the “agricultural” character is closely related to the farmland natural attributes as well as to the specific farming activities while the “rural” character is more related to the functional relationships with the urban areas. Hence, a methodology is discussed to classify a geographical space based on a simple measure of urbanization and to provide a classification that considers multiple degrees of urbanization and/or rurality. The method is applied to municipality data for the Lombardy region to distinguish network-based urban systems from mono-centric cities and to classify “non-urban” territories accordingly, separating rural from peri-urban areas. Statistical tests are conducted to study the extent to which the different typologies of territories identified differ with respect to a set of agricultural characteristics. Substantial differences in agriculture are highlighted between urban and rural areas as well as among “non-urban” areas, suggesting that more rigorous definitions of rural can best used to program policies for sustainable local development.