Socioeconomic Profile Research Articles

Assessing the Level of Women's Empowerment among Garment Workers in a Particular Locale of Dhaka City, Bangladesh

This research aims to assess the socioeconomic characteristics of female workers in the RMG industry with primary data from 100 respondents, equally divided into two categories: 50 Helpers and 50 Operators which is selected randomly. Using tabular analysis and descriptive statistics techniques, the study analyzed the data to gain insights into the socioeconomic profiles of the participants. A random sampling technique was used in selecting sample. Results indicated that a majority of the female workers (both Helpers and Operators) fell within the age group of 15-29 years. Furthermore, only 4% of female employees (Operators) possessed higher secondary education. The study found that 80% of respondents (Helpers) and 72% of respondents (Operators) were married, with the household head typically being the respondents' husband. The research revealed that the average annual salary of Helper respondents was Tk. 62040, while the mean annual income of Operator respondents was Tk. 128400. Regarding credit utilization, the study found that, on average, Helpers received 89.45% of the applied loan amount, with an average applied loan of Tk. 5346, and Operators received 92.24% of the applied loan amount, with an average applied loan of Tk. 8590.The study also explored the empowerment levels of the female workers and discovered that about 92% of Helpers and 90% of Operators kept their earnings and spent independently. Overall, Helper and Operator categories experienced improvements in income levels, health conditions, and financial situations, with decision-making abilities in various aspects of life, such as buying and selling, food selection, family planning, treatment, and visiting relatives, showing significant enhancements. Despite these improvements, the study identified a decline in savings, which decreased by 64% for Helpers and 36% for Operators. In light of these findings, the research advocates for enhancing the existing facilities to maximize the empowerment and well-being of female workers in the RMG industry.

An Empirical Study on Investment Choices and Behavior of Salaried and Business Class Individuals

The income of households is increasing day by day because now, both male and female family member prefers to do work. This research analyzes the socio-economic profile of the investors and the impact of socio-economic profile on the investment pattern of salaried and business-class people. The study results show that there is no significant difference between the choice of respondents regarding different Investment alternatives and the occupation of the respondents except fixed deposit and chit funds. The results found that the investors of same occupation donot invest same percentage of their income but Investors lie in the same annual income category generally invest same percentage of their income. The income of the respondents depends on the occupation of the respondents. The capacity and the percentage of investment depends on the income level of respondents. The research found that the knowledge of individuals is increasing day by day as they start investing their money in diverse investment options.

University Open to Older People: factors associated with the use of information and communication technologies

Objective: to identify the factors associated with the use of information and communication technologies by older students at a University Open to Older People. Methods: this was an analytical, cross-sectional study with 102 participants of both sexes. This was an analytical, cross-sectional study with 102 participants of both sexes. The study collected data from older people via web to characterize the socioeconomic and technological profile through a self-completed questionnaire. Results: the findings of the present study revealed the existence of a significant association between the frequency in higher education and the use of notebook (p=0.021) and smart TV (p=0.031). Additionally, the analysis observed an association between the monthly family income higher than four minimum wages and the use of tablet (p=0.026), smart TV (p=0.006) and printer (p=0.002) by the sample participants. Conclusion: education level and socioeconomic status were some intervening factors in the use of technologies by the older individuals enrolled in a University Open to Older People. Contributions to practice: the study provides information on the profile of older students regarding the main factors associated with the use of information technologies. With this, activities that enable greater integration and motivation of this population can be programmed and offered.

High levels of blood pressure among Brazilian overweight and obese children and adolescents

Background: Arterial hypertension (AH) is a growing problem globally, bringing various health consequences. Numerous surveys show that the risk of AH is higher in overweight and obese individuals than in eutrophic ones. However, the number of data that investigates blood pressure in obese pediatric populations is still small. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of hypertension in overweight and obese children and adolescents. Methods:Retrospective cross-sectional study with children and adolescents from two health services in different regions of Brazil and distinct socioeconomic profiles. All children and adolescents seen between 1998-2020, aged 5-17 years, with a body mass index greater than +1 standard deviation (Z-score), were enrolled in the study. Blood pressure was measured once with the patient lying down and at rest. American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines were used to classify the patient’s blood pressure levels. Results: 691 patients were evaluated (49% male). Of these, 47.6% had hypertension. The prevalences of hypertension among overweight and obese subjects were 38.8% and 51.5% (p = 0.002), respectively. In addition, obese people were 1.67 times more likely to have hypertension than overweight people. Males had a higher prevalence of hypertension (52.1% vs. 43.3%; p = 0.002) and were 1.3 times more likely to have high blood pressure values. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was high in overweightand obese children and adolescents from two pediatric outpatient clinics. Males and subjects with obesity were at significantly higher risk of having hypertension.

Who does not use urban green spaces and why? Insights from a comparative study of thirty-three European countries

There is a large body of research on the benefits green spaces offer city dwellers and how people use urban green spaces (UGS). However, there is much less information on how many people do not use UGS, who these people are, and why they resign from going there. This paper focuses on understanding reasons that restrict the use of UGS and draws the socio-economic and demographic profile of UGS non-users. For this purpose, we surveyed N = 10,391 respondents from 33 European countries (statistically representative at the country level). Results show that about 10% of the respondents do not use UGS. However, the share of non-users differs between countries from 2% (Turkey) to 25% (United Kingdom). Results reveal statistically significant differences between those who do not use and those who use UGS across age, education level, and residential location, demonstrating the importance of considering the needs of different groups of people when designing, planning and managing UGS. Lack of time and interest, and long distance from where people live are key limiting factors. The dominant reasons for not using UGS enable us to group the countries using the hierarchical agglomerative clustering analysis. With this study, we contribute to the knowledge of personal barriers that prevent UGS use and, in particular, connect the different reasons for not using UGS with the socio-economic groups typically listed as deprived when it comes to UGS provision.

A Study Related to the Assessment of Vitamin a Deficiency in Children Aged (3-6) Years and Survey the Knowledge of the Mothers

The present study was taken with the objective to study the socio-economic profile of the subjects, assess the anthropometric measurements of the pre-school children aged (3-6 yrs.), assess the clinical symptoms of the subjects, mother’s knowledge pre and post- test regarding vitamin A with questionnaire. A total 50 mothers aged 25- 35 years were randomly selected from the two different rural areas (Uncha gaon and Machariya village) of the Moradabad city. Subjects were interviewed for obtaining general information, frequency table, anthropometric data, clinical symptoms, and mother’s knowledge test with questionnaire. Mostly 32% mothers were housewife, 18% mothers were service women. Majority of the subjects 30% were illiterate and 32% mothers were eight class or intermediates but knowledge level is less about vitamin. After pre-test council were given to mothers then there is increment in knowledge level was seen regarding to vitamin A.

Great Lakes for whom? Community outcomes in the Muskegon Lake and White Lake areas of concern

We use social science survey methods to evaluate the extent to which residents in Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC) experience social gaps in accessing benefits of AOC restorations, comparing post-restoration outcomes in two AOCs with differing socioeconomic profiles in Muskegon County, Michigan: Muskegon Lake and White Lake. We find that survey respondents engage in similar types of recreational activities with similar rates of frequency across sites, but Muskegon residents have more pessimistic perceptions of the environmental and community outcomes of the Muskegon Lake restoration. On closer inspection, significant differences in post-restoration assessments exist within the City of Muskegon, with residents from neighborhoods where environmental (in)justice risk factors are high reporting continuing concerns about environmental quality and social problems. We highlight the relevance of these observations to community redevelopment in Great Lakes AOCs that share Muskegon’s historic context and present-day demographic profile, pointing to a potential for equity gaps that require conscientious planning.

The prevalence of frailty and its relationship with sociodemographic factors, regional healthcare disparities, and healthcare utilization in the aging population across India.

To estimate frailty prevalence and its relationship with the socio-economic and regional factors and health care outcomes. In this study, participants from the harmonized Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia for the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI-DAD) were included. The frailty index (FI) was calculated using a 32-variable deficit model, with a value of ≥ 25% considered as frail. Data on demographic (including caste and religion) and socioeconomic profiles and health care utilization were obtained. The state-wise health index maintained by the government based on various health-related parameters was used to group the participants' residential states into high-, intermediate-, and low-performing states. Multivariable and zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used to assess the relationship of frailty index with sociodemographic characteristics, health index, and health care expenditure or hospitalization. Among the 3953 eligible participants, the prevalence of frailty was 42.34% (men = 34.99% and women = 49.35%). Compared to high-performing states, intermediate- and low-performing states had a higher proportion of frail individuals (49.7% vs. 46.8% vs. 34.5%, P < 0.001). In the adjusted analysis, frailty was positively associated with age, female sex, rural locality, lower education level, and caste (scheduled caste and other backward classes). After adjusting for the socio-economic profile, FI was inversely associated with the composite health index of a state (P < 0.001). FI was also significantly correlated with total 1-year health care expenditure and hospitalization (P < 0.001 and 0.020, respectively). There is a high prevalence of frailty among older Indian adults that is associated with sociodemographic factors and regional health care performance. Furthermore, frailty is associated with increased health care utilization and expenditure.

Early adopters of residential solar PV distributed generation: Evidence from Brazil, Chile and Mexico

Substantial adoption of solar rooftop systems in the residential sector resulting from the implementation of net metering policies can lead to worsening socioeconomic inequalities. This is because of the lack of information on the socioeconomic profiles of distributed solar generators. To fill this information gap and shed light on the determinants of solar photovoltaic distributed generation uptake, this paper aims to identify the profile of the first adopters of solar PV distributed generation by merging different databases. Using multilevel regression analysis, this study investigates how socioeconomic factors, project viability, and neighborhood variables, matter for adopting solar PV distributed generation in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. Results differ across countries, as institutional frameworks matter. In Brazil, adopters live in urban areas and are highly responsive to solar energy potential. In Chile, the size of the project matters. Finally, in Mexico, results show that demonstration effects play a crucial role in adoption. Income as a determining factor is inconclusive. Average spending on electricity matters in all countries. This study highlights the existence of heterogeneity in the distribution of solar distributed generators. To mitigate these distortions, this work suggests some recommendations to improve solar distribution net metering policies in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico.

Characterization of shifting cultivation, trends, and diversification of livelihood patterns: A case study from forest villages in Barak valley, Assam, Northeast India

Shifting cultivation is a traditional agricultural system and predominant land use in the mountainous regions of many parts of the world. Recently, there has been a change in traditional shifting cultivation practice. The purpose of the current study is to map the spatial distribution of shifting cultivation plots in forest villages of Barak Valley, Assam, Northeast India, document the socio-economic profile of cultivators, and examine how traditional shifting cultivation is transitioning towards other agricultural systems, leading to livelihood diversification. The study included both primary and secondary data. The shifting cultivation plots were digitized using Sentinel 2 image of 2022. A total of 146 respondents from nine forest villages were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The plots were concentrated in the southern part of Barak Valley and sparsely distributed in the Northern part. The average plot size was 1.35±0.02 ha. A positive correlation was observed between family size and size of jhum plot. The villages were located in remote areas with little access to basic amenities such as metalled roads and schools. The duration of fallow was lesser in villages located nearer to the market, as it was easier for them to sell their produce. Diversification of livelihoods among the younger members was observed, who were engaged in activities other than cultivation. The reason cited by respondents for this was earning additional income. Shifting cultivation combined with commercial farming on fallow land was the most common form of livelihood. The fallow period ranged between 2 to10 years. Weed infestation and loss of fertility were cited as major reasons by all respondents for leaving jhum plots fallow. Species such as Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (Orange), Musa sp (Banana), Piper betle L. (Betel Leaf), Parkia timoriana (DC.) Merr. (Tree bean), Thysanolaena latifolia (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Honda (Asian Broom Grass) and other economically important species were cultivated in the fallow lands. This has increased the pressure on remaining forest lands that are being converted into shifting cultivation areas. Although conversion of fallow for monoculture and agroforestry may not be the solution to every problem, it holds promise for both ecological and economical sustainability, if managed judiciously. However, transition to other livelihood systems must occur with minimal degradation of ecosystem services.

Utilization Trends of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Beneficiaries

One of the most essential resources in contemporary agriculture is credit. As a result, there is a need to expand agricultural finance, boost land productivity, and raise the potential and effectiveness of using water resources for agricultural output. Credit is needed, among other things, for the adoption of agricultural technology, the purchase of contemporary inputs and tools, the development of land, the purchase of animals, and the purchase of raw materials. By enabling farmers to satisfy their credit needs throughout the whole cycle of crop production and at the same time providing money for investment reasons, agriculture credit plays a significant role in preserving agricultural production. To better understand "Utilization Trends of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Beneficiaries," the current study was proposed. Descriptive research design was used for the study. For this study, 120 farmers were specifically chosen as a sample from the Eligaid mandal of Peddapalli District of Telangana Sate. According to the data, the majority of respondents had socio-economic profiles that are on the middle level. It was discovered that majority of respondents had a medium level of utility for the Kisan Credit Card. Age, education, home type; landholding, annual income, family type, savings increased, income levels increased by this scheme and level of utility etc. were all found to be significantly associated with the credit utilization of the Kisan credit card at 0.05 level of significance by applied the chi-square and one-way ANOVA statistical tests in SPSS.

Birthplace as a factor of influence for the sporting success of Brazilian Olympic gymnasts

The main objective of this study was to identify the population and socioeconomic profile of the place of birth of Brazilian Olympic gymnasts in the three gymnastics disciplines that are part of the Olympic Games program (Men's and Women's Artistic Gymnastics, individual and team Rhythmic Gymnastics, and Men's and Women's Trampoline Gymnastics) and their relationship with international sporting success. This study was characterized as descriptive, with a quantitative approach using the following analysis factors: State of the country, Region of the country, Number of inhabitants, Demographic Density, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, and Municipal Human Development Index (MDI). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study is original in that it gathers diverse information about athletes who represented Brazil in different editions of the Olympic Games in a specific group of sports and contributes to understanding factors that influence international sports success for gymnastics modalities in the Brazilian context. The data indicate that Brazilian Olympic gymnasts from cities in the South and Southeast regions of the country, with more than 100,001 inhabitants, with a demographic density greater than 1869.37 inhabitants/km2, and with a high or very high HDI are more likely to achieve international sporting success. We believe that this study can contribute to future studies to analyze the influence of environmental factors on sporting success, especially in the Brazilian context.

Русские в Республике Узбекистан: демография, идентичность и социальная динамика

Introduction.The article analyzes the issues of demographic development, identity, and social dynamics among Russians on the basis of the field materials collected in the Republic of Uzbekistan in the period from 2011 to 2019. Methods and materials. Based on historical and anthropological approaches, the article proves that the term “Russians” in the context of Uzbekistan should be considered without ethnicization; Russian people in the Republic can’t be analyzed as a homogeneous ethnic group. It was revealed that the alternative denominations for this group are such terms as “Russian speaking” and “Europeans,” including the descendants of migrants to Central Asia during the time of the Russian Empire and the Soviet period. Analysis. It was proved that the demographic activities of Russian speaking ethnic groups (Russian Ukrainians, Tartars, and Koreans) in the Republic of Uzbekistan in the period from 1991 to 2021 are gradually decreasing. It was revealed that the dominant features of the social dynamics of Russian people in the period of sovereignty were: the loss of special legal and “symbolic” status; the realization of minority status; and dependence on state policy in the national sphere. Results. Russian people in Uzbekistan preserve “European” social-cultural identity and emphasize the borders with the national identity of the indigenous population of the region. During the period under research, the complex and diverse identity of the Russian population, including local and regional identity, has become stronger. The narrowing of the socio-economic profile of Russians in the cities of the Republic of Uzbekistan becomes a conspicuous phenomenon.

Haematological screening and its correlation with sociodemographic profile among the indigenous communities in and around Puducherry.

Haemoglobin disorders are unique and important health challenges for tribal populations. Hence, this study was undertaken with the aim to screen for haematological disorders, particularly anaemia and haemoglobinopathies, and to assess the sociodemographic profile in indigenous communities residing in and around Puducherry. This was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in both urban and rural areas of Puducherry district. We included 556 participants through convenient sampling. Trained research associates visited community to enrol eligible participants and sought information on sociodemographic parameters, health status, and disease profile, using a structured questionnaire; 2-3 ml of blood was collected in ethylene diamine tetra acid anticoagulant for analysis of haematology parameters. Median age of participants was 28 (17-42) years. Majority (58.8%) of the participants were female, married (52.8%). On thalassemia screening, none of the study participants had any haemoglobinopathy. The burden of anaemia among the study population was 38.7% (95% CI: 34.6-42.8%) and was higher among the female participants in both adolescent (54.5%) and adult (57.8%) age groups. The next common haematological abnormality observed was eosinophilia 21.4% (95% CI: 18-25%), more prevalent among males in the age group of 30-60 years. More than half of the women were anaemic. Multidimensional planning and implementation are needed to improve the socio-economic profile and overall health of this vulnerable population.

Socio-economic Profile of Households in Haor Region of Bangladesh: A Study on Micro-Credit Perspective

Socio-economic Profile of Households in Haor Region of Bangladesh: A Study on Micro-Credit Perspective

Popular use of medicinal plants in the Southeast region of Para, Brazil

The aim of this study was to identify the popular use of medicinal plants in Southeast Pará. A semi-structured study was carried out where a questionnaire composed of questions related to the socioeconomic profile, use, form, and frequency of use of medicinal plants was applied during visits to the homes of residents of the region. The research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Pará. Among the 153 respondents, they were between 18 and 80 years old, most of them female (71.8%). 62% two individuals declared themselves brown, followed by white (29.4%) and black (8.4%). Most people had completed elementary school, were married, and their per capita income was approximately one minimum wage. 98% reported using medicinal plants without taking care of their health. The indication for use is mostly by relatives and the most recommended plants are Mastruz, Ginger, Chamomile, Lemon balm, Slug, Chile Boldo. The data show a considerable use of products derived from medicinal plants and, therefore, health education strategies are necessary for more vulnerable populations and less developed regions of the country.

What Drives People’s Willingness to Adopt Autonomous Vehicles? A Review of Internal and External Factors

This article presents a state-of-the-art literature review to understand people’s perceptions and opinions of Autonomous Vehicles and the factors that influence their adoption. A strategic literature search was conducted to select articles for this review. Most of the articles were published since 2015 and they used a household questionnaire survey to collect data. Mostly, they used statistical and econometric methods to evaluate the factors that affect people’s intentions to adopt Autonomous Vehicles. The results show that psychological factors often appear as the most important internal factors of people’s willingness to adopt Autonomous Vehicles. Additionally, other internal factors such as the socioeconomic profile of individuals and their household, and knowledge and familiarity with Autonomous Vehicle technologies would affect adoption tendencies. User attributes also indirectly affect adoption of Autonomous Vehicles by influencing the psychological factors of users. We identify several critical external factors such as opportunities (e.g., safety and security, low congestion, energy use) and challenges (e.g., system failures, privacy breaches, and legal issues), while another influential group includes transportation factors (e.g., travel mode, distance, and time), urban form (e.g., urban/rural, density, land use diversity), affinity to new technology, and the institutional regulatory environment. We discuss some recommendations for policy makers, auto industries, and private stakeholders to formulate policies and strategies to increase the market share of Autonomous Vehicles. Finally, we identify some limitations of previous studies and provide a blueprint for future research on Autonomous Vehicle adoption.

Identifying Novel Data-Driven Dietary Patterns via Dimensionality Reduction and Associations with Socioeconomic Profile and Health Outcomes in Ireland.

Dietary patterns and body mass index (BMI) play a significant role in the development of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, including Ireland. A cross-sectional survey was conducted across Ireland to collate respondents' socioeconomic profiles, health status, and dietary patterns with a representative sample size of 957 adult respondents. Principal component analysis (PCA) and statistical analyses were subsequently employed. To the author's knowledge, this is the first study to use recent (2021) nationally representative data to characterise dietary patterns in Ireland via dimensionality reduction. Five distinct dietary patterns ("meat-focused", "dairy/ovo-focused", "vegetable-focused", "seafood-focused", and "potato-focused") were identified and statistically characterised. The "potato-focused" group exhibited the highest mean BMI (26.88 kg/m2), while the "vegetable-focused" group had the lowest (24.68 kg/m2). "Vegetable-focused" respondents were more likely to be associated with a categorically healthy BMI (OR = 1.90) and urban residency (OR = 2.03). Conversely, "meat-focused" respondents were more likely to have obesity (OR = 1.46) and rural residency (OR = 1.72) along with the "potato-focused" group (OR = 2.15). Results show that data-derived dietary patterns may better predict health outcomes than self-reported dietary patterns, and transitioning to diets focusing on vegetables, seafood, and lower meat consumption may improve health.

Using land inequality to inform restoration strategies for the Brazilian dry forest

Forest and landscape restoration aims not only to restore ecosystems but to improve people's livelihoods. However, mapping of restoration often neglects key socioeconomic aspects such as land-access inequalities. In this article, we quantify and describe the distribution of vegetation deficits (areas that demand mandatory restoration) across small and large rural properties across 1,204 municipalities of the Brazilian Caatinga biome. We mapped 313,537 ha of vegetation deficit, i.e. areas previously cleared that will need to be restored for legal compliance. This vegetation deficit is almost equally shared between 141,144 smallholders and only 2,986 in large properties. Around half of this vegetation deficit is spatially clumped mainly in the East and along the main river basin of the region dominated by rich large-holders. On the other hand, spatially scattered and poor small landowners hold around another half of the vegetation deficit across several municipalities. Because of such an unequal distribution of native vegetation deficit, we propose three different restoration strategies to account for land-access inequalities and socioeconomic differences at the municipality level. This is one of the first studies to clearly address land inequality and socioeconomic profile of landowners to inform adapted restoration strategies. Restoration planning that ignores land concentration and socioeconomic contexts may reproduce inequalities known to be one of the main causes of ecosystem degradation across Global South countries.

Distinct socioeconomic profile of patients hospitalised with severe COVID-19 and prepandemic respiratory infections in Brussels’s deprived areas: a case–control study

ObjectiveBelgium has been hit harder by COVID-19 than other countries in Europe. While clinical risk factors are well studied, socioeconomic risk factors remained underexplored. This study’s objective was to analyse...