Socioeconomic Indicators Research Articles

Differential effects of air pollution on ischemic stroke and ischemic heart disease by ethnicity in a nationwide cohort in the Netherlands

BackgroundAir pollution is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and contributes to health disparities, particularly among minority ethnic groups, who often face higher exposure levels. Knowledge on whether the effect of air pollution on cardiovascular diseases differs between ethnic groups is crucial for identifying mechanisms underlying health disparities, ultimately informing targeted public health strategies and interventions. We explored differences in associations between air pollution and ischemic stroke and ischemic heart disease (IHD) for the six largest ethnic groups in the Netherlands.MethodsThis nationwide analysis (2014–2019), linked residential-address concentrations of NO2 and PM2.5 to individual-level hospital and mortality data. To evaluate incident ischemic stroke, we created a cohort of residents ≥30 years and free of ischemic stroke at baseline and for incident IHD we created a cohort free of IHD. We performed Cox proportional hazard survival analyses in each cohort with 2014 average concentrations of PM2.5 or NO2 as determinants, stratified by ethnicity (Dutch, German, Indonesian, Surinamese, Moroccan, Turkish) and adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic indicators and region.ResultsBoth cohorts included > 9.5 million people. During follow-up, 127,673 (1.3%) developed ischemic stroke and 156,517 (1.6%) developed IHD. For ischemic stroke, the p-values for the interaction between air pollution and ethnicity were 0.057 for NO2 and 0.055 for PM2.5. The HR of 1 IQR increase (6.42 µg/m3) of NO2 for ischemic stroke was lowest for Moroccans (0.92 [0.84–1.02], p-value = 0.032 difference with Dutch) and highest for Turks (1.09 [1.00-1.18], p-value = 0.157 difference with Dutch). PM2.5 results were similar. For IHD, higher exposure was unexpectedly associated with lower incidence. The p-values for the interaction with ethnicity were 1.75*10− 5 for NO2 and 1.06*10− 3 for PM2.5. The HRs for IHD were lowest for Turks (NO2: 0.88 [0.83–0.92], p-value = 2.0*10− 4 difference with Dutch, PM2.5: 0.86 [0.82–0.91], p-value = 1.3*10− 4 difference with Dutch) and highest for Surinamese (NO2: 1.02 [0.97–1.07], p-value = 0.014 difference with Dutch) and Dutch (PM2.5: 0.96 [0.94–0.98]).ConclusionsAssociations between air pollutants and ischemic stroke or IHD differ notably between ethnic groups in the Netherlands. Policies to reduce air pollution and prevent ischemic stroke should target populations vulnerable to air pollution with a high cardiovascular disease risk.

Социальное и экономические развитие Монголии и Туркменистана после распада социалистического лагеря

Following the dissolution of the socialist camp, both laypersons and researchers closely monitored the processes of reintegration of these countries into the global community, the transition to market-based economies, and the adoption of more democratic and liberal values. However, less prominent representatives of the former socialist camp, such as Mongolia and Turkmenistan – countries that share significant historical and geographical similarities – have often been overlooked as they embarked on divergent paths following their departure from socialism. The article examines and compares the consequences of the transition of these two states from a planned economic system to a market-oriented one. The author analyzes the common historical features of the countries under study, their socio-economic indicators, and identifies the causes and factors influencing the formation of these indicators. Additionally, the article presents brief recommendations for improving these metrics. In conclusion, it is posited that due to inclusive state institutions, Mongolia is likely to have long-term advantages in social and economic indicators compared to Turkmenistan, which is characterized by extractive institutions.

Socio-economic, environmental and health impacts of dietary transformation in Bangladesh

Abstract The transition to healthier diets might be accompanied by trade-offs that occur in other parts of the food system. In this study the trade-offs between socio-economic, environmental, and health indicators were analyzed in different dietary scenarios for Bangladesh between 2022 and 2050. We used a global economic simulation model with updated national food consumption data, extended with a footprint module to track environmental impacts through the food value chain in Bangladesh and its trading partners. This study compares a business-as-usual (BAU) diet with the EAT-Lancet diet and the Bangladesh food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG). The BAU diet has a higher intake of animal products and sugar, and a lower intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts than the EAT-Lancet and FBDG diets. We found that promoting a diet with more plant-based proteins has a strong positive impact on dietary health and an overall positive impact on the environment compared to the BAU scenario. This is due to the reduced impact of animal protein production on greenhouse gas emissions and the reduced impact of rice production on water use and nitrogen application. In addition, the transition to sustainable and healthy diets had minor impacts on the wages of low-skilled workers, Bangladesh’s self-sufficiency, and the affordability of food and cereals. In particular, the FDBG diet scenario scored best on diet and cereal affordability, as well as freshwater use compared to the other two scenarios. The decrease in the self-sufficiency ratio was comparable to the BAU diet scenario and smaller compared to the EAT-Lancet diet.

Институт главы субъекта Российской Федерации в контексте федеративных отношений (на примере Республики Саха (Якутия))

The article analyzes the development of the institution of Heads of the constituent entities of Russia in the context of the development of federalism. During the 1990s, in the period characterized by a decentralized approach, governors significantly increased their political status, particularly the heads of republics. However, in the 2000s, a discernible trend towards the strengthening of vertical power emerged, which predetermined a reduction in regional influence over interactions with the federal center. The changes affected the procedure for forming the Federation Council, changing the procedure for electing the heads of the subjects. Governors became accountable to the federal center for key socio-economic indicators and received additional legitimacy following the reinstatement of direct elections. The positions of governors are also influenced by various ratings of expert and analytical centers. In emergency situations, such as a pandemic, governors receive additional powers, which develops decentralization processes. The latest regional elections of the Head of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) confirmed the authority of the current head A. Nikolaev. In recent years, he has occupied leading positions in the ratings of the heads of the subjects. The residents of the republic, as the largest subject of the Far East and the republic, have requests for the implementation of a stable policy in the form of effective development measures by the current government, represented by the Head of the republic.

Impact of COVID-19 on PM2.5 concentrations in Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand: Cluster Analysis and Generalized Additive Mixed Models

This paper examines the influence of COVID-19-related factors on PM2.5 concentrations (PM2.5) in Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand from January 2018 to December 2021. Using data from four sources, cluster analysis based on six socioeconomic indices was employed to select these countries for focused analysis. Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMM) were applied to assess associations between PM2.5 and COVID-19 factors, including new cases, deaths, vaccinations, stringency index, time series (STOL), and COVID-19 status (dummy variable). Results show that PM2.5 levels in Singapore and Indonesia were significantly impacted by COVID-19 measures, with F-statistics for new cases (22.875, p < 0.001), deaths (12.563, p = 0.012), as well as significant associations for vaccinations (t = 5.976, p < 0.001), stringency index (t = 5.124, p < 0.001), and the dummy variable (t = 6.624, p < 0.001). In contrast, PM2.5 levels in Thailand were unaffected by these factors, likely due to seasonal pollution sources. The model explains 90.3% of the variation in PM2.5 (adjusted R² = 0.872). This paper offers important insights for policymakers on incorporating air quality into health policies and highlights how pandemic responses varied across countries. By examining the impact of COVID-19 factors on PM2.5 in different nations, the study enhances understanding through detailed data and averaging periods. It reveals differences in how countries’ air quality responded to the pandemic, contributing to discussions on environmental management and public health. These findings inform policy decisions and facilitate discussions on better managing environmental and health challenges during global crises.

Assessing the relationship between economic crime and socio-economic indicators of the region

Subject. The article discusses economic crime as one of internal threats to Russia’s security. Objectives. The aim is to determine the main directions of fight against economic crimes, analyze the impact of some parameters on the level of criminalization of the economy. Methods. The study employs econometric modeling methods. Results. The study confirmed hypotheses about direct impact of the number of unemployed population and the volume of investments in fixed assets on the number of registered economic crimes in regions, and about inverse impact of the average per capita monetary income. Conclusions. The proposed model can be used in further research to assess the level of economic security in the region. Strategies and measures to increase employment, stimulate the growth of the average per capita income of the population, the development and implementation of effective mechanisms to identify unofficial income and shadow transactions can act as the main tools to reduce the level of economic crime.

Alternative energy in Spain and Chile. Forecasts and prospects in the context of the energy transition

The article provides a comparative analysis of the actions and achievements of two states, the Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Chile, in the field of green energy. Over the last decade both countries have done extensive work on decarbonization of the economy and have become one of the leaders in their regions in terms of the pace of implementation of the energy transition. At the same time the strategies and mechanisms of work of the two states in the field of alternative energy development differ in many respects. Under certain comparable conditions and prerequisites for the development of the industry, with an identical share of alternative sources in the energy sector, Spain and Chile achieved different socio-economic indicators. In order to identify the potential for renewable energy development in Spain and Chile, the authors identified three factors of economic, political and energy character, based on which a forecast for the achievement of green energy targets in accordance with the state strategies of the countries was developed.

Problems of Transport Provision in the Regions of Eastern Siberia and the Far East

The article provides a detailed analysis of the existing transport infrastructure in the East of the country, taking into account the development of export directions. A comprehensive study of two main railways, highways and ports that provide communication in the regions of Eastern Siberia and the Far East was carried out. The advantages, disadvantages and prospects for the development of the largest checkpoints have been identified. It is shown that there is an annual development and strengthening of the international integration of the eastern regions of Russia with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, while taking into account the national interest of the Russian state. The integration of the eastern regions with the unified transport system of Russia is also developing by increasing the carrying capacity of the Eastern range. The number of border road and rail crossings is growing, port capacities are expanding, and the country’s key logistics hub is being formed. But despite this, it is shown that there are transport problems in the Far Eastern regions of the country: lack of supply railways to seaports, low railway capacity, poor development of transport infrastructure for the development of natural resources. It is concluded that there is a need to develop transport infrastructure in the Far East, which will improve socio-economic indicators in the eastern regions. The development of integration of the railway with sea ports will increase the export of raw materials and products with high added value from the mining and metallurgical, fuel and energy, chemical and agro-industrial complexes. Effective implementation of transit potential will not only make it possible to obtain economic benefits from participation in international transport, but will also create new instruments for Russia’s influence on global economic processes.

Coupling Coordination and Influencing Mechanism of Ecosystem Services Using Remote Sensing: A Case Study of Food Provision and Soil Conservation

Understanding the trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services is essential for effective ecological management. We selected food provisioning and soil conservation services to explore their intrinsic link and trade-offs. We evaluated these services in Minnesota from 1998 to 2018 using multi-source remote sensing data. The coupling coordination degree model (CCDM) was employed to quantify the relationship between these services. The CCDM evaluates the degree of coordination between systems by measuring their interactions. In addition, we used the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model to identify factors influencing this relationship. Our findings reveal that, while Minnesota’s food provision services have shown a significant overall upward trajectory, distinct declines occurred in 2008 and 2018. In contrast, soil conservation services showed considerable variability from year to year, without a clear trend. Over time, the relationship between food provision and soil conservation services evolved from uncoordinated and transitional to more coordinated development. Our analysis indicates that climate–soil indicators (Z1) exert the most significant influence on the coupling coordination degree (CCD), followed by topography (Z3), vegetation quality (Z4), and socio-economic indicators (Z2). This suggests that natural environmental factors have a greater impact than socio-economic factors. Spatial analysis highlights that topography exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity and serves as the primary spatial driving factor. This study explores the trade-offs between food provision and soil conservation ecosystem services in Minnesota, enhancing the understanding of trade-offs among different ecosystem services and providing insights for global sustainable agricultural development.

Neighbourhood Deprivation and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Arizona From the AzPEARS Study.

The maternal population residing in rural areas, tribal lands or near the United States-Mexico border are at high risk for adverse pregnancy complications, notably gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Few studies have considered the socioeconomic status (SES) attributes of neighbourhoods on maternal health during gestation. Given that the national and global rate of GDM is rising, this analysis moves beyond individual-level factors and investigates the role of neighbourhood deprivation on GDM risk. To investigate the relationship between neighbourhood deprivation and risk of GDM using Arizona state birth records. This population-based study of singleton live births (N = 481,113) utilised birth certificates from 2014 to 2020 from the AzPEARS study. Using American Community Survey (5-year data) linked to 2010 US Census tracts, a composite neighbourhood deprivation index (NDI) score (continuous and quartiles) was derived from 8 socioeconomic indicators. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to examine the association between NDI and GDM risk, adjusting for maternal age, maternal education, race/ethnicity, parity, rurality, and birth year. The state-wide incidence of GDM was 7.8% (n = 37,636) with variation by neighbourhoods (4% to 12%). GDM risk was highest for Native Americans (17.6%), Asian/Pacific Islanders (13.7%) and Hispanic/Latinas (8.3%). Compared to mothers living in areas with the lowest quartile of NDI, mothers living in neighbourhoods with the highest deprivation had an adjusted risk ratio of 1.21 for developing GDM (95% CI 1.18, 1.26). We observed that neighbourhood deprivation was positively associated with a higher risk of GDM for each increase in quartile. These results suggest that NDI, a proxy for neighbourhood socioeconomic status, may contribute to GDM risk. Identifying high-risk neighbourhoods for place-based interventions targeting the most vulnerable birthing populations may be an effective strategy in the prevention of GDM.

Analysing Rural Development Models Based on Intangible Assets and Socio-Economic Development

Despite the existence of a variety of conceptual approaches to rural development, there is a lack of methods that take into account intangible assets, such as, for example, social capital, leadership, and local identity. A more effective design of the rural development strategy may be achieved by uncovering knowledge regarding the manifestation of various intangible resources. Territorial development policies, both in terms of the level of socio-economic development and the presence of intangible resources in rural areas, are investigated in this study. The main objective is to determine how intangible resources manifest in specific empirical models of development policy for rural settlements. A novel ensemble of indices and indicators of socio-economic development and the manifestation of intangible resources, calculated based on the method of analytical hierarchies and frequency analysis, are provided. These allow for a comprehensive study of the development of rural areas by clustering settlements with a similar level of development. Patterns and deficits of resources in rural settlements are analysed according to empirical models. Verification of the empirical models is carried out by assessing the level of socio-economic development and indicators of intangible resources for 12 rural settlements in the south of Russia. Therefore, several groups of factors of intangible resources splitting the factors related (reflect the current state) and unrelated (reflect the development potential) to the socio-economic development of rural settlements have been specified.

Development and Evaluation of 4 Short, Animated Videos for Women in Midlife Promoting Positive Health Behaviors: Survey Study

Background Health and health behaviors in midlife are important determinants of healthy aging. There is evidence of unmet needs for health-promoting information for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women with low literacy. Objective This study aimed to (1) develop accessible short, animated videos viewable and downloadable from YouTube aimed at promoting positive health behaviors in women in midlife and (2) evaluate their accessibility, acceptability, understanding, and usability and whether this was influenced by the level of education or socioeconomic disadvantage. Methods In collaboration with a video production company, a multidisciplinary team of academics and health professionals developed 2 short, animated videos on self-management of menopause health and 2 promoting joint health. Their accessibility, acceptability, understanding, and usability to women were evaluated in an anonymous web-based survey. Results A total of 490 women viewed the videos and responded to the survey. Of these, 353 (72%) completed all questions. Almost all (from 321/353, 91% to 334/363, 92%) agreed that the information in the videos was “very easy to understand.” The proportions reporting that all or some of the information in the video was new to them varied between videos from 36% (137/386) to 66% (233/353), the reported likelihood of using the practical tips offered in the videos varied from 70% (271/386) to 89% (331/373), and between 61% (235/386) and 70% (263/373) of respondents stated that they would recommend the videos to others. Education-level group comparisons revealed few differences in opinions about the videos, except that women with lower education were more likely than those with higher education to state that they would recommend the 2 joint health videos to others (36/45, 80% vs 208/318, 65%; P=.051 for video 3; and 36/44, 80% vs 197/309, 64%; P=.04 for video 4). There were no differences between women living in the least advantaged areas (Socioeconomic Indexes for Areas quintile areas 1 and 2) and those living in the most advantaged areas (Socioeconomic Indexes for Areas quintile areas 3, 4, and 5) in their responses to any of the questions about the 4 videos. Conclusions Most women found the videos easy to understand, learned something new from watching them, planned to use the practical tips they offered, and were likely to recommend them to other women. This suggests that short, animated videos about health self-management strategies in midlife to improve the chance of healthy aging are perceived as accessible, acceptable, easy to understand, and useful by women.

Burden of disease attributable to risk factors: Estimates of the Global Burden of Disease from 1990 to 2021

ObjectivesAnalyze the burden of diseases attributable to risk factors (RF) in Brazil according to age, sex, and Brazilian states between 1990 and 2021. MethodsThis study used data from the Global Burden of Disease study 1990 to 2021. The metrics used in this analysis included: mortality rates, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and Summary Exposure Value (SEV). A ranking of the risk factors was created by highlighting the changes between 1990 and 2021, according to sex, age group, and Brazilian state. RF were analyzed according to the Socio-Demographic Index (SDI). ResultsDecline the risk factors of tobacco (−50.2 %), environmental: water, sanitation and hand washing (−58.0 %), and air pollution (−45.0 %), as well as an increase in the burden attributable to BMI (+78.4 %), alcohol consumption (+15.7 %). High systolic blood pressure ranked first in all states in 2021, followed by high blood glucose; tobacco ranking third in most states. The burden of diseases attributable to RFs in Brazil varied considerably between men and women, age groups, and states. Trends in the period from 1990 to 2021 showed a strong correlation with the SDI, better results being observed in states with higher SDI. ConclusionsHigh blood pressure, high BMI and tobacco are the main risk factors for mortality and DALYs in 2021. The burden of disease has a high correlation with socio-economic indicator (SDI). It is important to strengthen public policies that promote healthy lifestyles, thus reducing disease and death.

More green, less annoying? The moderating effects of greenery near home, noise sensitivity, and nature relatedness on road traffic noise annoyance

Noise is one of the greatest environmental health risks causing health issues via stress, deteriorated sleep, and annoyance. Noise annoyance is partially explained by measurable sound characteristics, and partially by other environmental, situational, and individual factors. Greenery might decrease noise annoyance via hiding the noise source, facilitating psycho-physiological restoration, and masking noise. However, whether greenery near home and some individual traits moderate the effect of road traffic noise on noise annoyance has been rarely assessed in everyday life. Using cross-sectional Environmental Health survey (n = 7321) collected at the Finnish capital region in 2015–16, we analysed the interactions between road traffic noise, green space, tree cover density, green view from home, noise sensitivity and nature relatedness on noise annoyance, using logistic regression modeling. Covariates included age, gender, socio-economic indicators, living floor, and the direction of windows. More green space and greater tree coverage around home were associated with lower odds of road traffic noise annoyance when road traffic noise was < 60 dB Lden but increasingly higher odds at higher noise levels. No other interactions were found. Green view was only tentatively associated with lower odds of noise annoyance. Noise sensitivity and nature relatedness were related to greater odds of noise annoyance. In conclusion, greenery might mitigate noise annoyance at low-to-moderate road traffic noise levels. At higher noise levels, greenery may even increase noise annoyance. This could be due to incongruency between expected and actualised soundscapes in greener areas. However, more studies, especially interventions, are needed to confirm this.

Prevalence and psycho-social factors associated with alcohol use among primary school-going children aged 6 to 13 years in Mbale district, Uganda: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAlcohol use among children in low-resource settings has received limited attention. This study investigated the prevalence of and biopsychosocial factors associated with alcohol use among children aged 6 to 13 years enrolled in primary education in Uganda.MethodsThis cross-sectional study conducted in primary schools within Mbale district, employed stratified random sampling to select 470 child-parent dyads. Screening for child alcohol consumption utilized the validated Ugandan (Lumasaaba) version of the Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Family/Friends, Trouble (CRAFFT) tool. Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) was diagnosed using the AUD module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for children and adolescents (MINI KID). Logistic regression analysis explored associations between alcohol consumption (CRAFFT cut-off score: 1 or more) and biopsychosocial factors (age, sex, nutrition, family dynamics, socioeconomic indicators, and school environment). Data analysis utilized STATA-17 statistical software.ResultsThe median age of the participants was 11 years, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 9 to 12 years and a male to female ratio of 1:1.3. The screened prevalence of alcohol consumption among the children in the past 12 months was 25.2% (95% CI: 21.4–29.4) and 7.2% (95% CI: 5.1–10.0) were diagnosed with AUD. The study found a comparable prevalence of alcohol use between boys (25.0%, 95% CI: 19.4–31.5) and girls (25.4%, 95% CI: 20.0-31.1). Age-specific variations indicated that early adolescents (10 to 13 years), were more likely to consume alcohol 28.1% (95% CI: 23.5–33.3) compared to pre-adolescent children (6 to 9 years) 17.6% (95% CI: 11.9–25.1) in the past 12 months. Factors associated with alcohol use included single-parent households, lower caregiver education, low socioeconomic status, maternal drinking, food insecurity, under-weight, physical discipline by parents, peer influence, rural school attendance, and the school environment.ConclusionThe prevalence of alcohol consumption among children in Mbale district, eastern Uganda was high with one-in-four primary-school-children aged 6 to 13 years consuming alcohol in the past year, and no significant gender differences. It highlights various interconnected factors associated with alcohol use among school-aged children. We recommend awareness campaigns at all levels, stricter implementation of alcohol policies, school prevention programs, and family-focused and socio-economic interventions. Nationwide school surveys should target pre-adolescent alcohol use.

Do disparities exist in flood risks during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons? Comprehending diametric behaviors over coastal multi-hazard catchments

Abstract Global coastal catchments experience peculiar flood risk attributes due to the confluence of multiple flood drivers. In these regions, the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons impose diverse flood risks that evoke meticulous research for the prudent execution of appropriate flood management options. For the first time in flood management literature, we develop an integrated approach to quantify the distinguishing nature of flood risks during both seasons. We employ a sophisticated 1D-2D coupled flood model to generate high-resolution flood hazards while considering the compound interactions between rainfalls and storm-tides. Flood vulnerability is mapped at the finest administrative scale while considering flood-susceptible physical and socio-economic indicators. With the concept of Bivariate Risk Classifier, we introduce two novel metrics: (a) Area Index and (b) Multi-Hazard Risk Index that advance our understanding of the multi-hazard nature of flood risks during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. These incisive indices propound case-specific flood management measures for long-term resilience.&amp;#xD;

Empirical entrepreneurial ecosystem research: A guide to creating multilevel datasets

Entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) are multilevel phenomena crucial for understanding and promoting productive entrepreneurship and economic development. The key insight of this study is that there is an actionable path to build and manage multilevel, longitudinal datasets for EE research, facilitating deeper insights into patterns and dynamics across different levels—often missed in single-source and cross-sectional data studies. It guides the integration of data spanning founders, firms, and socio-economic indicators from diverse sources, including archival records and self-reported data. Combining and triangulating these sources fills a significant methodological gap, supporting robust empirical EE analyses and enabling evidence-based policy formulation.

Cartography of Carioca environments: mapping Rio de Janeiro through the geolocation of consumption

This article investigates the geospatial relationship of consumer activities in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, relating them to profiles called "urban environments." Through geostatistical analysis of how different types of consumption are distributed in the city's urban fabric, the existence of seven territories with characteristic spatial delineations was postulated, which aggregate social groups not only with similar socioeconomic indicators but also with similar interests - and who consume in a similar way. This reading of the city allows for a distinct portrait of how cariocas (residents of Rio de Janeiro) organize themselves in space, beyond conventional divisions of urban planning.

Co-production of sustainability indicators in a vulnerable South American agricultural frontier

Deforestation linked to agricultural activities is a major sustainability concern. Planning towards sustainable agricultural landscapes in the (sub-)tropics requires indicators that capture the many aspects of social-ecological cost and benefit of agriculture. Agricultural production strategies are developed using the best available data and knowledge such as high-yield locations, distance to storage facilities, or certification bonuses. However, there is often a divide between sustainable production data generated by the scientific community and current data that are of interest to actors, such as those in the agribusiness sector. Here, we describe how the harmonization of crop production, conservation, and social data used by scientists and agribusiness is possible using a participatory exercise based on knowledge co-production (i.e., generation of knowledge in a collaborative way) of socio-economic and environmental indicators (such as agricultural production, logistics, or the location of indigenous communities). This was made available through an online decision support platform that facilitated the generation of sustainable entrepreneurial strategies. We tested this exercise for the social-environmentally vulnerable Argentine Chaco dry forest, subject to some of the highest rates of deforestation globally, mainly due to soybean production. The cooperation between participants of this exercise built a knowledge exchange network that was key for informing decision-makers and highlighted information gaps including agricultural productivity, accessibility of regions, and the vulnerability of rural communities. Our exercise may be applicable to other agricultural commodity frontiers and showcases the value of including actors’ priorities in the design of indicators to ensure their policy impact and to achieve food systems’ sustainability.

Health, Disability, and Economic Inactivity Following a Diagnosis of a Severe Mental Illness: Cohort Study of Electronic Health Records Linked at the Individual-Level, to Census from England.

The association of social and clinical indicators with employment, disability, and health outcomes among individuals with severe mental illnesses (SMI) remains unclear. Existing evidence primarily comes from smaller cohort studies limited by shorter follow-up and high attrition, or registry-based research, which lacks information on important social determinants. We utilized a novel data linkage consisting of clinical records of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum or bipolar disorders from the South London and Maudsley Mental Health Trust, linked at the individual-level to the 2011 UK Census, a rich source for sociodemographic information. Using logistic regression, we estimated adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals to determine associations between socioeconomic and clinical indicators and economic inactivity, self-rated health, and disability outcomes. The sample comprised 8249 people with SMI diagnoses. Economic inactivity (77.3%), disability (68.3%) and poor health (61.1%) were highly prevalent. Longer duration of illness and comorbid substance misuse were associated with economic inactivity, poorer self-rated health, and disability, with associations noted between living alone and all outcomes (aORs and 95% CI: Economic inactivity: 1.72, 1.45-2.03; disability: 1.48, 1.31-1.68; poor health: 1.32, 1.18-1.49). Relative to the White British group, Black African, South Asian, and Other Black groups were more likely to be economically inactive. Black Caribbean and other groups were less likely to report poorer self-rated health or disability. Our findings highlight considerable disability, poorer health, and economic inactivity experienced by people with SMI. Addressing comorbid substance misuse and social isolation could play a role in improving outcomes.