Socio-environmental Risk Research Articles

Economic-Mathematical Modeling of Social and Environmental Risks Management of Projects of Urbanized Territories Development

The article covers the problem of development of management methods of social and environmental risks of urbanized territories development. The main purpose of research is a development and scientific substantiation of economic-mathematical model, allowing to increase the efficiency of risk management of urban development and selection for the practical implementation of the most efficient investment and town-planning projects. During the investigation the conditions and possible consequences of socio-environmental violations of natural and antropogenic environment in urban areas were examined, the characteristics of the information base of the assessment and objects of socio-ecological and economic risks of urban development were identified, the peculiarities of the negative occurrences of the deterioration of environmental quality were distinguished. As a base for the source data array composition, the authors propose to use the common system of integral parameters of sustainable development and environmental indicators. As basic function of socio-ecological damage is proposed to use the direct dependency of the health level of the population from the most significant parameters of the environment, expressed in the econometric equation. For formal description of the dependency of economic-mathematical models, the whole complex of factors affecting the value of socio-ecological damage were studied, the drawbacks of simple regression models for description of interaction between the mentioned factors were examined, the assumption about the need to include in a formal description the factors of socio-economic risks of the interrelated equations system was made. The main result of the study is developed economic-mathematical model describing the process of formation of socio-environmental risk during implementation of investment and construction projects of urbanized territories development. The main conclusion of the study is the justification for the need to identify environmental and social risks and due to their presence the economic damage in the process of developing programmes and projects of urban territories development. The use of the proposed model assists with pictorial rendition of the correlation between environmental problems and development of city economy, as well as more objective substantiation of efficiency of investments in the urban environment development.

Suicidal behaviour and related risk factors among school-aged youth in the Republic of Benin.

IntroductionResearch on factors associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts has been conducted largely in developed countries. Research on West African countries in particular is lacking.MethodsData were obtained from the Global School-based Health Survey conducted in Benin in 2009. This was a cross-sectional study of three grades, spanning Junior and Senior High, which sampled a total of 2,690 adolescents. Data on the occurrence of demographic, psycho-social and socio-environmental risk factors were tested using multinomial logistic regression for their association with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.ResultsThe survey indicated that 23.2% had thought about suicide and 28.3% had made a suicide attempt in the previous year. Anxiety, loneliness, being bullied, alcohol misuse, illicit drug use, and lack of parental support were independently related to the ideation outcomes, suicidal ideation without planning and suicidal ideation with planning. Multinomial regression analysis, using one suicide attempt and multiple suicide attempts as outcomes, revealed that female sex, anxiety, loneliness, being physically attacked, and illicit drug use were associated these outcomes.DiscussionThe prevalence of suicide attempts reported in the survey is relatively high. It is possible that there are cultural factors that could explain this finding. Our research indicates that many factors are related to the occurrence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among youth in Benin. Illicit drug use and violence in particular are associated with a high rate of suicide attempts in Benin. Measures to address these issues may reduce the risk of self-inflicted violence.

The emerging molecular architecture of schizophrenia, polygenic risk scores and the clinical implications for GxE research

Schizophrenia is a devastating mental disorder. The level of risk in the general population is sustained by the persistence of social, environmental and biological factors, as well as their interactions. Socio-environmental risk factors for schizophrenia are well established and robust. The same can belatedly be said of genetic risk factors for the disorder. Recent progress in schizophrenia genetics is primarily fuelled by genome-wide association, which is able to leverage substantial proportions of additional explained variance previously classified as 'missing'. Here, we provide an outline of the emerging genetic landscape of schizophrenia and demonstrate how this knowledge can be turned into a simple empirical measure of genetic risk, known as a polygenic risk score. We highlight the statistical framework used to assess the clinical potential of the new score and finally, draw relevance to and discuss the clinical implications for the study of gene-environment interaction.

The socio-environmental determinants of railway suicide: a systematic review.

BackgroundRailway suicide has significant adverse impacts for the victims, their family and friends, witnesses to the incident, general public and train network. There is no previous review on the socio-environmental factors and railway suicide. The research question asked in this review was: ‘What socio-environmental risk and protective predictors are significantly associated with railway suicide?’MethodsThe review searched Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus for English-language studies that assessed the associations between socio-environmental (i.e. geographical, physical, economic and social) factors and railway suicide from their inception to June 2013. It was reported based on the PRISMA Statement.ResultsEleven studies met the inclusion criteria. They were categorised into railway environments (availability of railways and trains, accessibility to railways and familiarity with trains), population characteristics and impact of media reporting. Findings from ecological studies using population level railway suicide data suggested weak and inconsistent evidence for the first two categories. The evidence on the impact of media reporting was moderately strong, with irresponsible media reporting being associated with an increased risk of railway suicide.ConclusionsThere is a need for further research activity to strengthen evidence about socio-environmental risk factors for railway suicide. The focus of this research should be on the factors that determine individuals’ decisions of using the railway as a method of suicide, with the consideration of a range of geographical, physical, social, and economic factors.

Neighbourhood-level socio-environmental factors and incidence of first episode psychosis by place at onset in rural Ireland: The Cavan–Monaghan First Episode Psychosis Study [CAMFEPS

BackgroundLittle is known about associations between the social environment and risk for psychosis within rural settings. This study sought to investigate whether such associations exist within a rural context using a prospective dataset of unusual epidemiological completeness. MethodUsing the Cavan–Monaghan First Episode Psychosis Study database of people aged 16years and older, both ecological analyses and multilevel modelling were applied to investigate associations between incidence of psychosis by place at onset and socio-environmental risk factors of material deprivation, social fragmentation and urban–rural classification across electoral divisions. ResultsThe primary finding was an association between more deprived social contexts and higher rates of psychotic disorder, after adjustment for age and sex [all psychoses: incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.12, 95% CI (1.03–1.23)]. ConclusionsThese findings support an association between adverse socio-environmental factors and increase in risk for psychosis by place at onset within a predominantly rural environment. This study suggests that social environmental characteristics may have an impact on risk across the urban–rural gradient.

Análise comparativa sobre os estudos bioclimáticos no Brasil e em Portugal. Articulações e desafios

As diferenciações climáticas e a vulnerabilidade das populações em distintas dimensões espaço-temporais repercutem-se em situações diferenciadas de riscos socioambientais. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é analisar os riscosclimáticos e os impactos na saúde nos territórios brasileiro e português, compreendendo as especificidades, as dinâmicas territoriais e as diferentes geografias que se verificam em ambos os países. Para isso, foram selecionadas pesquisas e estudos publicados sobre bioclimatologia humana em ambos os territórios e foram coletados dados da Organização Mundial da Saúde (Who). Esses dados foram tratados estatisticamente para a compreensão das diferenças no perfil de morbilidade das populações brasileira e portuguesa, associadas aos riscos climáticos. Verificou-se que as condições de vulnerabilidade socioambiental e de gestão dos fatores de risco oferecem capacidade de resiliência diferenciadas nos territórios. Neste contexto, a utilização da climatologia como instrumento para o planeamento e promoção da saúde é fundamental para diminuição dos impactos.

Measuring trauma and stressful events in childhood and adolescence among patients with first-episode psychosis: Initial factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Trauma Experiences Checklist

Past trauma and stressful events, especially in childhood and adolescence, are common among individuals with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia. Traumatic experiences are thought to be a socio-environmental risk factor not only for poorer outcomes, but also potentially for the onset of these disorders. Because improved measurement tools are needed, we developed and studied, among 205 first-episode psychosis patients, the factor structure, internal consistency reliability, and initial validity of the Trauma Experiences Checklist (TEC), our measure of trauma and stressful events during childhood/adolescence. We assessed validity of subscales using correlations with Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form, Parental Harsh Discipline, Violence Exposure, and TEC-Informant Version scores. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in two internally consistent subscales (Cronbach's α=0.79 and 0.80, respectively), interpersonal abuse and family stress, and violence, death, and legal involvement. Scores from the former subscale were substantially associated with CTQ-SF physical, emotional, and sexual abuse (r=0.42–0.57, all p<0.001) and Violence Exposure (r=0.49, p<0.001). On the other hand, violence, death, and legal involvement scores were most highly correlated with Violence Exposure (r=0.49, p<0.001), and not with most CTQ-SF subscales. The TEC is a potentially useful tool in assessing diverse traumatic life events across various social contexts during childhood and adolescence.

Genetic susceptibility to lung cancer--light at the end of the tunnel?

Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadliest cancers in the world. The major socio-environmental risk factor involved in the development of lung cancer is cigarette smoking. Additionally, there are multiple genetic factors, which may also play a role in lung cancer risk. Early work focused on the presence of relatively prevalent but low-penetrance alterations in candidate genes leading to increased risk of lung cancer. Development of new technologies such as genomic profiling and genome-wide association studies has been helpful in the detection of new genetic variants likely involved in lung cancer risk. In this review, we discuss the role of multiple genetic variants and review their putative role in the risk of lung cancer. Identifying genetic biomarkers and patterns of genetic risk may be useful in the earlier detection and treatment of lung cancer patients.

Concurrent Validity of the TIMP and the Bayley III Scales at 6 Weeks Corrected Age

Examine agreement between the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and the Bayley III. One hundred forty-five infants born at 29 to 34 weeks gestation with socioenvironmental risk factors were tested on the TIMP and Bayley III at 6 weeks corrected age (CA). Scores were correlated to assess convergence/divergence of content. Decision analysis using a cutoff of the mean on the Bayley Motor Composite and -0.5 and -1 SD from the mean on the TIMP assessed agreement on delay/nondelay. The TIMP-Bayley Motor Composite correlation was 0.546, with Cognitive was 0.310, and with Language was 0.281. Nine percent of infants scored less than -1.0 SD on the TIMP, while no child scored less than -1 SD on the Bayley Motor scale (sensitivity, 31%). Convergent validity between the TIMP and the Bayley Motor scale was demonstrated, but no infant showed delay on any Bayley scale. The TIMP is preferred for early assessment of infants.

Nervous system regulation of the cancer genome

Genomics-based analyses have provided deep insight into the basic biology of cancer and are now clarifying the molecular pathways by which psychological and social factors can regulate tumor cell gene expression and genome evolution. This review summarizes basic and clinical research on neural and endocrine regulation of the cancer genome and its interactions with the surrounding tumor microenvironment, including the specific types of genes subject to neural and endocrine regulation, the signal transduction pathways that mediate such effects, and therapeutic approaches that might be deployed to mitigate their impact. Beta-adrenergic signaling from the sympathetic nervous system has been found to up-regulated a diverse array of genes that contribute to tumor progression and metastasis, whereas glucocorticoid-regulated genes can inhibit DNA repair and promote cancer cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy. Relationships between socio-environmental risk factors, neural and endocrine signaling to the tumor microenvironment, and transcriptional responses by cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells are providing new mechanistic insights into the social epidemiology of cancer, new therapeutic approaches for protecting the health of cancer patients, and new molecular biomarkers for assessing the impact of behavioral and pharmacologic interventions.

The Equator Principles: Evaluating the Exposure of Commercial Lenders to Socio-Environmental Risk

As a system of managing environmental and social risk in the sector of large-scale international project finance, the Equator Principles (EPs) have generated increased interest and critical engagement in the private, public, and academic spheres. Particular research in the field of transnational governance is especially concerned with assessing the degree in which private and public actors are revolutionizing the methods and procedures of governance in the wake of the decline of the welfare state, and rise of the post-regulatory state. Social scientists and legal theorists alike have begun analyzing the effects of a shift in the “emphasis of control, to a greater or lesser degree, from traditional bureaucratic mechanisms towards instruments of regulation.” Within this context, the EPs present an opportunity to analyze and assess the structure, procedures and effectiveness of a self-regulatory governance system, voluntarily established by private actors in the international project finance sector, to mitigate social and environmental risks.

Multivariate prediction of emerging psychosis in adolescents at high risk for schizophrenia

BackgroundAccurate prediction of psychosis development in high-risk populations is an important but thus far elusive goal. Of the many diverse etiologic and risk factors identified thus far, few have been combined into prospective multivariate risk ascertainment models. We tested the predictive power of familial, neurobiological, socioenvironmental, cognitive and clinical risk factors through an integrative biopsychosocial model for emerging psychosis in young relatives at familial risk for schizophrenia. Methods96 young first- and second- degree relatives of schizophrenia probands were followed for an average of 2.38 (SD=0.98) years to examine their trajectory towards psychosis. Iterative structural equation modelling utilizing multiple etiologic and risk factors was employed to estimate their joint contribution to prediction of psychosis development. ResultsThe rate of conversion to psychosis over the study period was 12.5%. In the final model, clinical measures of schizotypy were directly predictive of conversion, with early (familial, biological, socioenvironmental) and cognitive risk factors indirectly predictive of psychosis through increased baseline clinical symptomatology. Our model provided an excellent fit to the observed data, with sensitivity of 0.17, specificity of 0.99, positive predictive value of 0.67 and negative predictive value of 0.89. ConclusionsIntegrative modeling of multivariate data from familial, neurobiological, socioenvironmental, cognitive and clinical domains represents a powerful approach to prediction of psychosis development. The high specificity and low sensitivity found using a combination of such variables suggests that their utility may be in confirmatory testing among already selected high-risk individuals, rather than for initial screening. These findings also highlight the importance of data from a broad array of etiologic and risk factors, even within a familial high-risk population. With further refinement and validation, such methods could form key components of early detection, intervention and prevention programs.

Clinical and social determinants of diarrhoeal disease in a rural HIV/AIDS clinic, South Africa: a case-control study.

Diarrhoeal diseases are a common cause of morbidity and are associated with mortality in HIV-infected populations. Little is known about the contribution of clinical and socio-environmental factors to the risk of diarrhoea in these populations in rural sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted a case-control study of people attending a rural HIV clinic with an episode of diarrhoea in Bushbuckridge, South Africa. Cases were defined as HIV-positive adults with symptoms of diarrhoea before or after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Controls without diarrhoea were randomly selected from clinic attendees. Structured questionnaires and case-file reviews were undertaken to describe clinical and socioenvironmental risk factors. We recruited 103 cases of diarrhoea from 121 patients meeting case definitions. Cases were more likely to be women (P = 0.013), aged over 45 years (P = 0.002), divorced or separated (P = 0.006), have limited formal education (P = 0.003), have inadequate access to sanitation facilities (P = 0.045), have water access limited to less than three days per week (P = 0.032) and not yet initiated on ART (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, diarrhoea remained associated with female gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.02, 95% CI 1.10-3.73), older age (aOR: 6.31, 95% CI 1.50-26.50), limited access to water (aOR: 2.66, 95% CI 1.32-5.35) and pre-ART status (aOR: 5.87, 95% CI 3.05-11.27). Clinical and socio-environmental factors are associated with occurrence of diarrhoeal disease among rural HIV patients in South Africa. Further intervention research is urgently needed, combining community- and clinic-based approaches, to improve access to water, sanitation and ART for rural areas with high HIV prevalence, along with structural interventions to address gender inequities.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Patterns and Determinants of Criminal Justice Involvement Among Youth in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

Adolescent substance abuse is a criminal behavior; however, not all criminal behaviors result in criminal justice involvement. This study examined disparities among adolescents aged 12 to 17 admitted to substance abuse treatment nationwide. Findings indicate significant disparities in patterns and determinants of criminal justice involvement between White and minority adolescents. Minorities were significantly more likely to be involved with the criminal justice system, even after controlling for criminal behaviors, substance abuse, mental health problems, and socioenvironmental risk. Findings reveal that connections to the educational system may be especially important for minority groups. The importance of developing systems of treatment for adolescents in the community and correctional system that are part of the same continuum of care is highlighted.

Spatial analysis and privation index to identify urban areas with a high risk of lymphatic filariasis

To evaluate composite living conditions as indicators of urban areas with a higher risk of filariasis transmission. This was an ecological study in the municipality of Jaboatão dos Guararapes, in Brazil. The analysis units were census tracts. The study was divided into three phases. First, data gathered during an epidemiological investigation were analysed. Secondly, living condition indicators were drawn up and the relationship between these indicators and microfilaremia prevalence rates was analysed. Thirdly, positive cases were georeferenced with a view to identifying spatial concentration using kernel intensity estimates. Two composite living condition indicators were calculated: a socio-environmental risk index (in the form of scores) and a social deprivation index (through principal-component factor analysis). Of 23,673 individuals examined, 1.4% had microfilaremia. According to the two indicators, greater prevalence was found in the high-risk strata, and this association was confirmed by the kernel intensity estimates. Classification of census tracts into risk strata showed the relevance of socio-economic factors and environmental conditions in identifying priority areas in urban spaces for interventions by the surveillance services and in planning filariasis control. Spatial analysis also proved to be an important tool for building up a territorially based surveillance system. These indicators, used in association with spatial analysis, are an instrument to be used by the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis.

Coping with Complexity in Baltic Sea Risk Governance: Introduction

Coping with Complexity in Baltic Sea Risk Governance: Introduction

Do High-Risk Urban Youth Also Have Older Friends?

The purpose of this study was to explore how behavioral, intrapersonal, and socio-environmental factors were associated with the likelihood of having at least one older friend. Participants included 3,709 ethnically diverse eighth grade students in the Project Northland Chicago intervention trial. Socio-demographic characteristics included gender, family composition, language spoken at home, race/ethnicity, and age. Behavioral factors included cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use, depressed feelings, willingness to wear alcohol-branded merchandise, and violent and delinquent behavior. Intrapersonal factors included low refusal self-efficacy, and outcome expectations and expectancies. Socio-environmental factors included alcohol offers and access, normative estimates and expectations, and peer alcohol use. Having an older friend was defined as having at least one friend aged 16 years or older (students' mean age = 14.2). Logistic mixed-effects regression models were used and controlled for gender, race/ethnicity, treatment status, and age. Adolescent girls and older eighth graders were significantly more likely to have at least one older friend. Students who scored higher on all the behavioral, intrapersonal, and socio-environmental risk factors were significantly more likely to have at least one older friend. Significant gender interactions were found for several of the relationships. Overall, this study showed that multiple risk-related factors are associated with having older friends in eighth grade. Particularly important factors appear to be cigarette, marijuana and alcohol use, having friends who use alcohol, having increased alcohol offers, and being willing to wear or use alcohol-branded merchandise.

High Prevalence/Low Severity Language Delay in Preschool Children Born Very Preterm

To examine the language development at corrected age 4 years of a regionally representative cohort of children born very preterm (VPT). Of particular interest was the identification of biological and socioenvironmental risk and protective factors that influence VPT children's early language development. Data were collected as part of a prospective longitudinal study of 110 VPT (VPT: ≤ 33 weeks gestation) and 113 full-term children (full term: 37-41 weeks gestation) born in Canterbury, New Zealand from 1998 to 2000. At corrected age 4 years, all children were assessed with the preschool version of the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals. Extensive information was also collected about children's family social background, perinatal health, childrearing environment, education/intervention exposures, and neurodevelopmental progress from birth to age 4. At the age of 4 years, VPT children were characterized by poorer receptive and expressive language development than full-term children. These differences persisted after exclusion of children with neurosensory impairment as well as statistical adjustment for the effects of social risk. Within the VPT group, the key predictors of children's overall language development were family social risk at birth (p =.05), severity of white matter abnormalities on neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (p =.49), observed parent-child synchrony (p =.001), and concurrent child cognitive ability (p =.001). Together, these factors accounted for 45% of the variance in children's total Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Preschool scores. By preschool age, children born VPT show early emerging mild to moderate language delays that are likely to affect their school success and longer-term developmental progress. Findings highlight the importance of potentially modifiable factors such as early brain injury and parenting quality in predicting the language outcomes of children born VPT.

Translating the epidemiology of psychosis into public mental health: evidence, challenges and future prospects

Genetic and environmental factors are associated with psychosis risk, but the latter present more tangible markers for prevention. We conducted a theoretical exercise to estimate the proportion of psychotic illnesses that could be prevented if we could identify and remove all factors that lead to increased incidence associated with ethnic minority status and urbanicity. Measures of impact by population density and ethnicity were estimated from incidence rate ratios [IRR] obtained from two methodologically-similar first episode psychosis studies in four UK centres. Multilevel Poisson regression was used to estimate IRR, controlling for confounders. Population attributable risk fractions [PAR] were estimated for our study population and the population of England. We considered three outcomes; all clinically relevant ICD-10 psychotic illnesses [F10-39], non-affective psychoses [F20-29] and affective psychoses [F30-39]. One thousand and twenty-nine subjects, aged 18-64, were identified over 2.4 million person-years. Up to 22% of all psychoses in England (46.9% within our study areas) could be prevented if exposures associated with increased incidence in ethnic minority populations could be removed; this is equivalent to 66.9% within ethnic minority groups themselves. For non-affective psychoses only, PAR for population density was large and significant (27.5%); joint PAR with ethnicity was 61.7%. Effect sizes for common socio-environmental risk indicators for psychosis are large; inequalities were marked. This analysis demonstrates potential importance in another light: we need to move beyond current epidemiological approaches to elucidate exact socio-environmental factors that underpin urbanicity and ethnic minority status as markers of increased risk by incorporating gene-environment interactions that adopt a multi disciplinary perspective.

Perceptions of Race/Ethnic Discrimination in Relation to Mortality Among Black Women

Because racial discrimination is a form of chronic psychological stress that might unfavorably affect health, we examined whether perceived experiences of racism among black women are associated with mortality. We followed 48 924 participants in the Black Women's Health Study (mean age, 40.5 years) for 8 years to assess the risk of all-cause mortality associated with perceived experiences of racism. Subanalyses of cancer and cardiovascular mortality were also conducted. Perceived racism was evaluated by 8 questions about institutionalized racism (unfair treatment on the job, in housing, or by the police) and everyday experiences of racism (eg, others acting as if the woman was not intelligent). We estimated the relative risk of death with Cox proportional hazard models, adjusting for traditional and socioenvironmental risk factors. During 412 224 person years of follow-up from 1997 to 2005, there were 920 deaths, including 277 due to cancer and 195 due to cardiovascular causes. All-cause mortality was not associated with institutionalized racism (relative risk, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-1.2) for the highest category vs the lowest or with everyday racism (relative risk, 0.9; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-1.2) for the highest quartile compared with the lowest. Risk estimates for the highest categories of perceived racism relative to the lowest were greater than 1.0 for cancer deaths and less than 1.0 for cardiovascular disease death but were not statistically significant. In this large prospective study of black women, reported experiences of racism were not significantly related to mortality. Longer follow-up of this relatively young cohort and further work is warranted in this complex area of research because continued race/ethnic disparities in mortality are not entirely explained by traditional risk factors.