Urban Dwellers Research Articles

Crop Production and Pesticide Use: Has Ghana Overlooked the Obvious on Health?

Vegetables and cereals, besides health benefits, are of significant socio-economic importance in Ghana, because, the whole production process provides employment for both rural and urban dwellers. Unfortunately, the high prevalence of pests (weeds inclusive) and disease complexes, associated with them, inflict significant economic damage on field and storage, if not properly managed. This review purposed to document challenges from pesticide use and suggest perspective recommendations for mitigation. Information was sourced from published journal articles, technical and annual reports (Research Extension Farmer Linkage Committee (RELC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, Ghana), and Institutions), the authors’ observations and personal communication with farmers, agricultural extension agents and other experts. The review analysis indicated over 80% of farmers use pesticides, particularly on high-value cash vegetable and cereal crops; and also to alleviate human labour constraints. Challenges such as pesticide resistance, increasing incidence of existing pests and diseases, or the manifestation of new pests and diseases due to climate change or continuous cropping among others were evident, prompting shifts to increased pesticide use for management and also for desired profit. Highlights on concerns for the insatiable quest for pests and disease control by chemical means, consequently increased reports on dangers of continuous pesticide use on human and public health, the environment and the economy. This research revealed that a minimal understanding of the use and application of pesticides contributed to the non-intended effects on health and the environment. Hopefully, the identified gaps and recommendations if properly addressed by policy would significantly enhance quality production systems for global trade and protect local consumers. State the contribution of this study to scholarship. Keywords: Vegetable Crop Production, Pesticide Use, Contamination, Pesticide Residue, Public Health

Contextual and socio-economic factors affected urban dwellers experiences of and vulnerability to ecosystem disservices

Peoples’ experiences of Ecosystem Disservices (EDS) are influenced by socio-economic and environmental characteristics, and this needs better understanding for informed planning and management of urban green infrastructure. The paper investigated the understudied area of how socio-economic and environmental factors influence people's experiences of EDS in urban green spaces, in four towns in South Africa. Employing a questionnaire survey, in 303 randomly selected households in three neighborhoods of different economic standing, alongside statistical analysis provided quantitative data on experiences and vulnerability to EDS. A list of reported EDS was compiled and the number of EDS/respondent was compared between towns, neighborhoods and places of experience, using Kruskal-Wallis test and nested ANOVAs. Respondents’ vulnerability to EDS was assessed by analyzing the magnitudes of experience and coping abilities. The influences of socio-economic and environmental characteristics on experiences of and vulnerability to EDS were assessed using PCAs. Twenty-three EDS were reported in total, with the highest numbers recorded in affluent areas and the lowest in the poorest areas. Irrespective of town and neighborhood, the reported EDS were mainly experienced in domestic gardens and surrounding streets. Consequently, only one EDS seems of high concern, while the others are of lower concern or well manageable by the respondents. Significant influences of socio-economic (education and income levels, source of income, upbringing, frequency of visits to green spaces (GS), length of residence in neighborhoods) and environmental (environmental worldview, garden ownership, membership to environmental NGO) characteristics were observed on the experiences and vulnerability to EDS. Therefore, such variations in and influences on peoples’ experiences and vulnerability to EDS should be considered for sustainable management of urban GS. Also, the creation of GS should be accompanied by actions to improve people relationships to nature as well as to ensure their maintenance and security, particularly public GS and commonages.

Literary cityscape in the sociological topology before 1945 in Việt Nam

When Việt Nam became a French colony in the 20th century, the press created an imagined space of possibilities where urban dwellers could exercise their new power. Attracted by this space of opportunity, literary authors from all over Vietnam came to big cities, like Hà Nội, to make their dreams come true. Depending on their choice of literary genres, authors from rural areas or cities invest their capital in writing. The press then played a key role in creating a cityscape in the literary field. By establishing the link between the hometown, the city of residence, and the choice of literary genre, we strive to understand the investment of capital among writers and the laws regulating the literary landscape in sociological topology.

Sensing and making sense of climate change in a Western European urban setting: Bodily exposures, uncertain epistemologies, and climatic care practices

This article probes the crucial role of the body, embodiment, and sensation in the way people encounter large-scale processes of climate change in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Exploring how urban denizens in one of the more temperate regions of the world come to know, speak, and conceptualize climate change in their everyday life, we aim to revitalize a conceptual engagement with embodiment and sensation as meaningful modes of knowing and situating the large-scale realities of climate change. Drawing on a series of group conversations with diverse urban dwellers, we empirically (1) highlight moments, settings, and practices within which climate change is sensed as a local and material reality; (2) trace recurring epistemological questions and anxieties that arise around the register of sense-able experience; and (3) show how moments, settings, and practices within which climate change appears as a sense-able reality generate novel forms of what we coin climatic care practices, in which people try to modulate and manage their exposure to changing climatic conditions in the city. In our conclusion, we underscore the multiple and fragmented character of climate change in the everyday lives, knowledges, and practices of these city dwellers; reflect on methodological possibilities to further address climate change as an everyday reality in Western urban settings; and emphasize the urgency of attuning to climate change as a sensed, in addition to a cognitively known or contested, reality at the level of social theory as well as policy-making.

Development of predictive indices for evaluating the UHI adaptation potential of green roof- and wall-based scenarios in the Mediterranean climate

Urban heat islands can jeopardize urban inhabitants, but the installation of green roofs (GRs) and walls (GWs) can contribute to mitigating urban overheating. The present study provides novel indices to easily predict the spatial median variation in air temperature at pedestrian heights related to the application of GR- and GW-based scenarios during the hottest hours of a typical summer day by varying the building height (BH), coverage percentage, and leaf area index. The indices are meant to be applied to built areas with 0.3–0.4 urban density in the Mediterranean climate and are derived from regression models fed with the outputs of 281 simulations of three urban areas developed and run in ENVI-met software. The developed models are all highly significant. The GR model shows that mitigation is influenced by all three parameters, and it can estimate mitigation with a root mean square error of 0.05 °C. Compared with the other parameters, the GW models revealed that the BH did not influence the decrease in air temperature. The green façade and living wall (LW) indices predict mitigation with errors of 0.04 °C and 0.05 °C, respectively. However, for the LW model, further parameters should be considered to improve its reliability.

Women's perspectives on the role and impact of breastfeeding support groups in Ireland

BackgroundBreastfeeding Support Groups are deemed effective in promoting breastfeeding initiation and duration, but few studies have addressed the mothers’ perspectives. Research aimTo investigate the role and impact of Breastfeeding Support Groups on breastfeeding mothers in Ireland from the women's perspective. Specific objectives included the assessment over time of breastfeeding self-efficacy knowledge, use, and limitations of BSGs and whether they contributed towards women achieving their breastfeeding goals. MethodsAn online survey using an established, validated Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy tool and custom-designed questions was administered at two time points as part of a larger sequential explanatory mixed methods’ design. Cultural Historical Activity Theory was used as the theoretical framework. ResultsMajority of respondents at Phase 1 (N = 978) were multiparous, urban dwellers, and breastfeeding more than twelve months. Mothers first attend Breastfeeding Support Groups primarily to meet other breastfeeding mothers with many attending multiple types of group formats weekly. Qualities considered extremely important in breastfeeding supporters were: personal breastfeeding experience breastfeeding knowledge empathy understanding and listening skills There was no statistical difference in breastfeeding self-efficacy over time (z = -1.296, p = .195, r = -0.06). ConclusionsParticipants attend Breastfeeding Support Groups to ‘meet other mothers’ in a convenient and local location, and not necessarily for a problem. Breastfeeding Support Groups normalise breastfeeding through social support, with breastfeeding supporters providing knowledge, empathy, understanding listening, and personal breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding self-efficacy was high and did not increase over time, suggesting mothers need to be highly efficacious in this cohort to breastfeed.

Sensing perceived urban stress using space syntactical and urban building density data: A machine learning-based approach

Human well-being is an essential criterion in achieving smart and sustainable cities. Given the significant influence of stress on individuals physical and mental health, various approaches have been proposed to examine the subjective experience of stress induced by the urban built environment and its effects on human well-being. Nevertheless, conducting assessments on a large scale continues to be a significant obstacle, particularly in today's context of rapid urbanization. This study utilized advancements in Machine Learning (ML) to develop a method for measuring perceived stress by analyzing urban building density, space syntactic characteristics, and visual features of the built environment. Through the utilization of ML models, a predictive approach has been developed that can capture the perceived stress levels of urban dwellers. The results are verified with public survey data, with R2 reaching 0.698 obtained by evaluating the mean stress scores of 25 districts in Seoul city. The findings demonstrate that the proposed approach can effectively measure perceived stress, enabling urban planners to analyze the spatial pattern of perceived stress and the influence of the built environment on this perception. This work expands current approaches, which concentrate solely on parks, open spaces, or streetscapes, by developing a more comprehensive predictive model for measuring perceived stress levels in various urban areas.

International Workers' Day: Consumption Patterns of Morphine, Codeine, and Methamphetamine in Urban and Rural Areas Based on Wastewater-Based Epidemiology.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a reliable means to estimate drug consumption in a specific population. By measuring the concentration of drug residues or metabolites in wastewater, the consumption behavior pattern of a specific population can be deduced. Using the WBE method, the present study, for the first time, continuously monitored the differences in the consumption of morphine (MOR), codeine (CODE), and methamphetamine (METH) in three wastewater-treatment plants in a city and two surrounding villages in Xinjiang, China during International Workers' Day and the following week. The wastewater samples were pretreated by solid-phase extraction and then analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Methamphetamine was not detected in rural areas and was detected only on International Workers' Day in urban areas. According to the estimation of per capita consumption, the per capita consumption of MOR, CODE, and METH in urban inhabitants was 12.04 to 23.39, 10.44 to 16.39, and 1.31 mg/day/1000 inhabitants. The per capita consumption of MOR and CODE in rural areas was 5.19 to 8.35 and 2.56 to 3.52 mg/day/1000 inhabitants. The consumption of MOR in urban and rural areas was significantly higher than that of CODE and METH. During International Workers' Day, workdays, and weekends, the consumption of MOR and CODE in urban areas is significantly higher than that in rural areas. Compared with those on weekends, the consumption of urban MOR and CODE increased more during International Workers' Day. The consumption of MOR in urban areas showed a weekend effect. The present study can provide information for subsequent research and government departments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-9. © 2024 SETAC.

Self-medication among general population in the European Union: prevalence and associated factors

Self-medication (SM) forms an important part of public health strategy. Nonetheless, little research has been performed to understand the current state of self-medication in the European Union (EU). Utilizing data from the third wave of the European Health Interview Surveys, this study finds an estimated SM prevalence of 34.3% in the EU (95%CI = 34.1-34.5%; n = 255,758). SM prevalence, as well as SM prevalence inequality between men and women, varies substantially between EU member countries. Via multivariable analysis, we also identify a number of variables associated with SM, most notably the substantial impact of health systems on SM behavior (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 4.00; 95% Confidence Interval [95%CI] = 3.81–4.21). Several demographics are also associated with greater SM prevalence, including those aged 25–44 (versus ages 75+: AOR = 1.21; 95%CI = 1.12–1.31), women (AOR = 1.74; 95%CI = 1.68–1.81), immigrants born in other EU states (AOR = 1.16; 95%CI = 1.04–1.30), those with higher education (AOR = 1.83; 95%CI = 1.60–2.09), and urban dwellers (AOR = 1.14; 95%CI = 1.04–1.30). Additionally, long-standing health problems (AOR = 1.39; 95%CI = 1.33–1.45), visits to doctors (both general practitioners and specialists) (AOR = 1.21, 95%CIs = 1.15–1.26, 1.17–1.26), and unmet needs for health care due to waiting lists (AOR = 1.38; 95%CI = 1.23–1.55) or inability to afford medical examinations/treatment (AOR = 1.27; 95%CI = 1.12–1.42) serve as conditioners for SM. We also find that smoking (AOR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.01–1.10), vaping (AOR = 1.19; 95%CI = 1.06–1.32), drinking alcohol (AOR = 1.23; 95%CI = 1.19–1.28), and higher levels of physical activity (AOR = 1.27; 95%CI = 1.22–1.32) are factors associated with SM. Analysis of these variables reveals that though women self-medicate more than men, the patterns that govern their consumption are similar.

Ethnopharmacological survey of the therapeutic use of camel urine in the Guelmim-Oued Noun and Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra regions of Morocco

The therapeutic use of camel urine (CU) has shown an increasing trend in recent decades for treating diverse ailments and infections. An ethnopharmacological survey was conducted to collect and document the ethnomedicinal knowledge of local people in the Saharan region of Morocco, including the Laayoune Sakia El Hamra and Guelmim Oued Noun regions, regarding the traditional use of CU for treatment. Semi-structured interviews with 384 traditional practitioners, camel herders, and rural and urban dwellers were conducted from December 2022 to June 2023. The collected data covered diseases treated, CU quality attributes, modes of preparation, dosage, administration, treatment duration, and mild side effects. Quantitative data analysis was performed through the relative frequency of citations, informant consensus factor, informant agreement ratio, cultural importance index, and fidelity level. The results showed that CU was collected from virgin female camels (46.7 %) and pregnant camels (51.6 %) at different age stages (39.7 %) in both wet and dry seasons (57.5 %). For the treatment of the most common ailments (cancer, liver diseases, gastric ulcers, diabetes, and tuberculosis), accounting for 69 %, the recommended regimen involved orally consuming one teacup (69 %) of fresh urine (70.6 %) on an empty stomach (91.1 %) once a day (87.1 %) four days a week (56 %). In the case of integumentary system problems, applying one (13.2 %) to three teaspoons (17.8 %) topically (10.3 %) was also effective. Secondary effects occurred in 48 cases (13.8 %), including diarrhea (13 cases), nausea (11 cases), headache (7 cases), constipation (7 cases), and dry mouth (8 cases). The duration of these effects ranged from 2 to 3 h. The present survey indicates that CU is still used in traditional medicine by local inhabitants of the southern regions of Morocco to cure various human illnesses. The outlined findings strongly suggest the usefulness of CU as a valuable source of bioactive molecules for pharmaceutical, dermo-cosmeceutical applications, and developing innovative food supplements that promote significant job creation and entrepreneurial prospects.

P011 PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION AND ASSOCIATION WITH RED MEAT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION IN A MEGACITY IN NIGERIA: A POPULATION-BASED SURVEY

Background and Objectives: Hypertension is a growing burden worldwide, but the impact is worse in developing countries especially in cities, due to epidemiologic transition, rapid urbanization and socioeconomic dynamics. We determine the current prevalence of hypertension, and association with red meat and vegetable consumption in Lagos, a megacity in Nigeria. Methods: This was a population-based opportunistic cross-sectional survey of 2244 voluntary adults ≥ 18years residents of Lagos megacity in Nigeria. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained. We measured blood pressure by Omron M3 automatic upper arm monitor after ≥5 min of rest. We defined hypertension as systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mmHg or use of antihypertensive drugs. Qualitative information on meat and vegetable consumption was documented. Chi squared and multiple logistic regression methods were used to determine association and predictor of hypertension respectively, and odds ratio with confidence interval as the measure of effect size. P value of < 0.05 was taken as statistical significance. Results: 2244 participants were analyzed, with mean age of 46±14 years, and 75% were women. More than 26% were overweight or obese, 43.2% drinks alcoholic beverages, and 30.3% men and 3.5% women smoked cigarettes. The overall prevalence of hypertension was similar in males (38.1%) and females (37.4%), and it increases with age, reaching 46.7% in ≥ 60years. Daily consumption of meat (38.6% versus 28%(rarely), p =0.03), and infrequent consumption of vegetables (47.7%% versus 19.2%9 (daily intake), p = 0.006) were associated with higher prevalence of hypertension. Older age (OR, 2.133(CI, 1.61 – 2.83)), and family history of hypertension (OR, 1.51(CI, 1.20 – 1.92)) were the predictors of hypertension. Conclusions: The prevalence of hypertension is high among middle age urban dwellers in Lagos, Nigeria. Avoidance of red meat, and increased consumption of vegetables, may reduce the burden of hypertension in the population.

Understanding residents’ choice of urban farming systems in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana: Land use policy implications

The heightened food insecurity in urban settings has rekindled the debate over the promotion of urban agriculture (UA) as a sustainable alternative food supply source across the globe. This study, therefore, examines the determinants of urban residents’ decisions to engage in UA and their choice of agriculture practices. Cross-sectional data was solicited from 430 urban dwellers through a multi-stage sampling technique. The data was analysed using descriptive as well as binary and multinomial logit regression models. The descriptive analysis shows that the cultivation of crops (34.7 %) predominates urban agricultural practices before crop-livestock integration (32.6 %) and livestock farming (32.6 %). The study identifies gender, age, religious affiliation, years of formal education, location of residence, household size, food insecurity status, availability of vacant land, extension access, and household income as significant determinants of urban households’ decision to participate in UA. The multinomial logit regression analysis revealed that urban farmers’ decision to practice only crop production is invariant between livestock-only production and integrated crop-livestock systems. When compared to the base category of the integrated crop-livestock system, the findings indicate that farmers’ educational background, food insecurity, engagement in salaried jobs, location, extension, and credit access are the main drivers of the decision to practice either crop-only or sole livestock production systems. The findings of this study have useful implications for the formulation of UA programs based on the different farming systems practiced in the study location.

Analyze the Causes of Income Gap Between Urban and Rural Residents: Take Guangdong Province in China as an Example

In nearly 40 years since China's reform and opening-up, Guangdong province has experienced continuous economic growth, reaching high levels of production. Urban and rural development has also seen gradual growth, but the income gap between urban and rural residents has gradually increased. In the initial phase of reform and opening-up, rural and urban development was not adequately supported through limited policies and financial assistance for farmers. As Restructuring and liberalizing policies continued, China's economic reconstruction made significant progress, and the income gap between urban and rural areas deepened. With the advancement of China's economic level, Guangdong province has experienced increased economic development, but the income disparity between urban and rural areas has continued to grow gradually. However, in recent years, the income gap between rural inhabitant and countryside resident in Guangdong province has not increased at the same rate as in the past, although this gap persists. This paper analyzes the per individual expendable income for urban and countryside inhabitant in Guangdong province from 2010 to 2020 as an indicator.

One Health risk perception among the urban vulnerable dwellers of Gujarat, India: A cross–sectional assessment

Objective: To assess One Health risk perception and local knowledge concerning threats arising from the interaction of humans, animals, and the environment at the community level with a particular emphasis on zoonotic disease transmission at Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar City, Gujarat, India, where the majority are vegetarians. Methods: A cross-sectional design with cluster sampling was employed with 387 participants participated in a quantitative survey, comprising 192 livestock handlers and 195 non-livestock handlers. Additionally, 20 in-depth interviews explored qualitative insights. Data were processed using MS Excel and analysed using Stata version 14. Results: In our study, we observed varied risk perceptions among predominantly female participants. Among livestock handlers, 23.4% acknowledged the potential for zoonotic transmission, while this awareness increased to 41.0% among non-livestock handlers. Although handwashing after animal contact and work was common among livestock handlers, only 20.3% recognized the pivotal role of hygiene in preventing zoonotic diseases. Similarly, 37.0% of livestock handlers and 47.2% of non-livestock handlers understood the risks associated with consuming raw milk and meat, which reveals a statistical difference between these two groups (P=0.000). Another significant difference was observed in the perception on animal waste disposal sites with 58.9% of livestock keepers and 80.0% of non-livestock keepers considering such sites as risky factors (P=0.000). Furthermore, vaccination awareness was high, with 85.4% of livestock handlers and 88.7% of non-livestock handlers being aware of vaccination as a preventive measure against zoonotic diseases. Interestingly, non-livestock individuals demonstrated a higher level of awareness regarding zoonotic diseases compared to their livestock counterparts. Conclusions: This study emphasizes the urgent need for collaborative One Health interventions to address zoonotic disease risks among livestock handlers in India. By bridging knowledge gaps and promoting proactive measures, we can effectively safeguard public health and well-being in the face of emerging zoonotic threats.

Neighbourhood environments and cognitive health in the longitudinal Personality and Total Health (PATH) through life study: A 12-year follow-up of older Australians

BackgroundUrban neighbourhood environments may impact older adults’ cognitive health. However, longitudinal studies examining key environmental correlates of cognitive health are lacking. We estimated cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of neighbourhood built and natural environments and ambient air pollution with multiple cognitive health outcomes in Australian urban dwellers aged 60+ years. MethodsThe study included 1160 participants of the PATH Through Life study (60+ cohort) who were followed up for 12 years (four assessments; 2001/02 to 2013/15) and with data on socio-demographics, health, cognitive functions and diagnoses, and full residential address. Neighbourhood environmental features encompassed population and street-intersection densities, non-commercial land use mix, transit points, presence of blue space, percentages of commercial land, parkland and tree cover, and annual average PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations. All exposures except for tree cover were assessed at two time points. Generalised additive mixed models estimated associations of person-level average, and within-person changes in, exposures with cognitive functions. Multi-state hidden Markov models estimated the associations of neighbourhood attributes with transitions to/from mild cognitive impairment (MCI). ResultsDense, destination-rich neighbourhoods were associated with a lower likelihood of transition to MCI and reversal to no MCI. Positive cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of non-commercial land use mix, street intersection density and percentage of commercial land were observed especially with global cognition and processing speed. While access to parkland and blue spaces were associated with a lower risk of transition to MCI, the findings related to cognitive functions were mixed and supportive of an effect of parkland on verbal memory only. Higher levels of PM2.5 and NO2 were consistently associated with steeper declines and/or decreases in cognitive functions and worse cognitive states across time. ConclusionTo support cognitive health in ageing populations, neighbourhoods need to provide an optimal mix of environmental complexity, destinations and access to the natural environment and, at the same time, minimise ambient air pollution.

Nutritional status of HIV-infected children at Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, Nigeria: A prospective analysis of rural and urban dwellers.

Malnutrition is a critical concern among children living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), particularly in regions heavily affected by the HIV epidemic, such as sub-Saharan Africa. In 2019, nearly 2.84 million children under 19 years of age were living with HIV globally, with over 90% residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Concurrently, malnutrition remains prevalent in the region, with approximately 49 million children under the age of 5 experiencing stunting and 149 million suffering from wasting in 2018. This burden of malnutrition is exacerbated by factors such as poverty, food insecurity, and HIV/AIDS, which collectively contribute to adverse health outcomes among affected children. The bidirectional relationship between HIV/AIDS and malnutrition is well-established, with HIV infection increasing the risk of malnutrition and malnutrition worsening the progression of HIV/AIDS. Studies have consistently demonstrated higher rates of stunting, underweight, and wasting among HIV-infected children compared to their uninfected counterparts. Moreover, malnutrition significantly impacts the disease progression, morbidity, and mortality of HIV-infected individuals, further underscoring the importance of addressing this issue in pediatric HIV care. A total of 99 HIV-infected children, aged 2 to 16 years, were consecutively recruited from the pediatric infectious disease clinic of the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri. Anthropometric measurements, including weight and height, were obtained using a stadiometer (RGZ-160 England). Weight status was categorized as normal, underweight, overweight, or obese, while height status was classified as stunted, normal, or tall stature. The study participants ranged in age from 2 to 16 years. Approximately 20.2% of the children were underweight, and 6.1% were classified as obese. Stunting was observed in 29.3% of the participants. Notably, all forms of malnutrition, including underweight and overweight, were more prevalent among children residing in rural areas. In addition, stunting was more common among rural dwellers. This study highlights the high prevalence of malnutrition among HIV-infected children attending the pediatric infectious disease clinic at the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri. The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted nutritional interventions, particularly in rural areas, to improve the health outcomes of HIV-infected children.

Financial literacy and digital product consumption - An analysis based on CFPS data

This study explores the profound connection between financial literacy and the utilization of digital products. The research uncovers a substantial rise in digital product usage as one's financial knowledge improves. Moreover, household income and social interaction serve as significant mediators in this relationship. Additional investigations revealed that gender, geographical location, and urban/rural status moderate the connection between financial literacy and digital product consumption. More precisely, males, individuals residing in the eastern region, and urban dwellers tend to enhance their digital product usage more significantly upon enhancing their financial literacy, as opposed to females, central/western region residents, and rural inhabitants.

The effect of peri-urban parks on life expectancy and socioeconomic inequalities: A 16-year longitudinal study in Hong Kong

Exposure to greenspaces has well-established benefits for the health and well-being of urban dwellers. Among these greenspaces, peri-urban parks (PUPs), which are human-modified, large-scale, and public-accessible greenspaces located on the urban fringe, have received increasing attention from policymakers and researchers in recent years, as the limited provision of greenspaces in urban areas barely meet the residents’ needs for nature engagement. However, the associations between PUPs and life expectancy and their potential socioeconomic inequalities remain unclear. In this study, we employed a longitudinal, territory-wide death-registration dataset to address such research gaps. The results showed that both the area and greenery of PUP significantly decreased life expectancy loss with standardized coefficients of −0.156 (p = 0.001) and −0.173 (p < 0.001), respectively. The life-expectancy benefits of PUP greenery remain significant throughout 200–8000 m buffer radii. Nevertheless, socioeconomic inequalities were found between PUPs and life expectancy associations. We found that people with higher socioeconomic status (SES) received higher PUP exposure. In addition, contrary to the hypothesis of equigenesis theory, higher-SES populations received greater benefits in life expectancy than lower-SES populations, even after controlling for inequalities in PUP exposure. Our findings uncover a complex relationship between PUPs, life expectancy, and SES, highlighting the need for targeted interventions for people with different SES to ensure equitable health benefits for all.

Factors influencing contraceptive uptake among women of reproductive age in Kenya

Background Modern Contraceptive Methods (MCM) use is among the interventions preventing unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions globally. Nevertheless, MCM uptake is still low. We aimed at determining factors influencing contraceptive uptake among women of reproductive age 15 to 49 years, in Kenya. Methods We used secondary data collected by Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA). PMA used cross sectional multi-stage cluster survey design and collected the data between November and December 2019. The study was approved by NACOSTI/202974 and KNERC KNH/ERC/R/192. Results The study obtained a sample size of 9477 women of reproductive age (WRA) from 11 counties in Kenya. Both descriptive and inferential statistical analysis with a P value of 0.05 was done using Stata 16.1. The prevalence of modern contraceptives uptake was 43.2% uptake was 43.2% among all WRA. The prevalence was lower among rural dwellers 41.4% (95% CI 39.62, 43.17) as compared to urban dwellers 47.5 (95% CI 44.39,50.55). More than half (53.4%) of the married women were using a modern contraceptive, while only about two in every 10 of the unmarried were using a modern contraceptive. Women affiliated with the Islam religion were less likely to use modern contraceptive (aPOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.42, 0.89 p=0.010) as compared to the Catholics. Family planning (FP) services were found to be lower (aPOR 0.535(95% CI 0.29,0.98 p=0.043) in National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF)-covered facilities than in non-NHIF-covered ones. Adolescent FP service provision and prescription was 4 times higher (aPOR 4.0 95% CI; 1.05,15.41, p=0.42) as compared to either the prescribed or provided. Conclusion Low uptake for MCM is influenced by sociodemographic factors and Health system factors. Efforts to increase MCM uptake should focus on rural residents, unmarried women, Islamic religion women and accreditation of NHIF services in all facilities.

Long-Term Mortality Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Rural Versus Urban Dwellers With Autoimmune or Inflammatory Rheumatic Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis From the National COVID Cohort Collaborative.

Autoimmune or inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) increase the risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes. Although rurality is associated with higher post-COVID-19 mortality in the general population, whether rurality elevates this risk among people with AIRD is unknown. We assessed associations between rurality and post-COVID-19 all-cause mortality, up to two years post infection, among people with AIRD using a large nationally sampled US cohort. This retrospective study used the National COVID Cohort Collaborative, a medical records repository containing COVID-19 patient data. We included adults with two or more AIRD diagnostic codes and a COVID-19 diagnosis documented between April 2020 and March 2023. Rural residency was categorized using patient residential zip codes. We adjusted for AIRD medications and glucocorticoid prescription, age, sex, race and ethnicity, tobacco or substance use, comorbid burden, and SARS-CoV-2 variant-dominant periods. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards with inverse probability treatment weighting assessed associations between rurality and two-year all-cause mortality. Among the 86,467 SARS-CoV-2-infected persons with AIRD, we observed a higher risk for two-year post-COVID-19 mortality in rural versus urban dwellers. Rural-residing persons with AIRD had higher two-year all-cause mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio 1.24, 95% confidence interval 1.19-1.29). Glucocorticoid, immunosuppressive, and rituximab prescriptions were associated with a higher risk for two-year post-COVID-19 mortality, whereas risk with nonbiologic or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs was lower. Rural residence in people with AIRD was independently associated with higher two-year post-COVID-19 mortality in a large US cohort after adjusting for background risk factors. Policymakers and health care providers should consider these findings when designing interventions to improve outcomes in people with AIRD following SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially among high-risk rural residents.