Search Results (110)

This study examines the feminization of poverty in Indonesia, focusing on the distinct vulnerabilities faced by female-headed households. Utilizing data from the 2023 National Socio-Economic Survey (SUSENAS) involving 291,231 households, this study applies a logistic regression model to investigate gender-specific determinants of household poverty. This research finds that education, digital literacy, financial inclusion, and the employment sector are significant factors influencing poverty status, with female-headed households facing disproportionately higher risks. These gaps are mainly attributed to systemic barriers in financial access, digital literacy gaps, and limited labor market opportunities for women. This study emphasizes the importance of implementing gender-responsive policy measures, including targeted education, enhanced digital literacy training, and inclusive financial programs. By presenting empirical evidence from Indonesia, this study contributes to the discourse on gender and poverty, offering actionable insights for the development of inclusive poverty alleviation strategies. Full article

Prostate Cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among men. In Louisiana (LA), Black men are disproportionately diagnosed at later stages compared to White men. This study explores environmental risk factors as potential intermediate variables linking race to cancer diagnosis stage. The Louisiana Tumor Registry data included 24,647 male patients diagnosed with PCa in LA between 2010 and 2018. Among them, 15,875 (64.40%) were Caucasian American (CA) and 8772 (35.59%) African American (AA). Mediation analysis using multiple additive regression trees (MART) identified possible intermediate variables that potentially explain the observed disparity. The study found that individual characteristics and environmental factors jointly explained 84% (95% CI: 44.1%, 94.6%) and 18.6% (95% CI: 7.3%, 53.7%) of the observed racial disparity in PCa stage at diagnosis, respectively. Individual factors included BMI (35.9%), marital status (28.5%), CDI (8.2%), female-headed households (2.3%), comorbidity (3.9%), and insurance status (6.3%). Environmental contributors included cancer risk due to air toxicity exposure (7.2%), asthma prevalence (6.6%), acetaldehyde levels (2.1%), railroad proximity (2.1%), walkability (0.3%), and ozone level (−0.1%). Environmental factors jointly played a significant role in the observed racial disparity. The factors such as air toxicity, acetaldehyde levels, and asthma prevalence highlight the need to address industrial pollutants to reduce the differences. Full article

Women’s decision-making autonomy is widely recognized as a critical determinant of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). However, prevailing measures often conflate genuine autonomy with decisions made within traditional gender roles, risking an overstatement of women’s empowerment. This study examines the extent to which reported female decision-making autonomy reflects authentic agency versus role-based compliance in a patriarchal context. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 male household heads in Kakamega County, Kenya, whose partners were pregnant or recently postpartum. Using multi-stage cluster sampling and structured interviews, men reported on household and MNCH decision-making and their rationales, categorized as gender-role conformity, belief in gender equality, or other reasons. Although 40.4% reported that their partners made decisions independently, only 11.4% attributed it to a belief in women’s equality; 28% framed it within traditional gender roles. Men were over four times more likely to perceive women’s decisions as role-based than autonomous (AOR = 4.40; 95% CI: 2.48–5.78). Younger men (18–34) were more likely to report female decision-making (AOR = 5.54; 95% CI: 5.08–7.27), without necessarily endorsing egalitarian norms. Findings highlight the urgent need for gender-transformative MNCH interventions that move beyond surface-level autonomy to address deeper structural inequities. Full article

COVID-19 has caused global problems with complex ramifications. Vulnerable households worry about disruptions to food security. Mobility restrictions, decreased salaries, and supply chain disruptions have increased food insecurity. This study examined the best food security model and its determinants. The primary research data were collected from 257 respondents via cluster random sampling. Binary logistic regression, using R-Studio, was employed to analyze the data. The study showed that the Minimal Model (MM) was optimal in explaining food security status, with three predictors: the available food stock (AFS), education of the household head (EHH), and household income (HIc). This aligned with studies showing that food purchase ability depends on income and education. Male household heads demonstrated better food security than females, while women’s education influenced consumption through improved nutritional knowledge. Higher income provides more alternatives for meeting needs, while decreased income limits options. Food reserve storage influenced household food security during the pandemic. The Minimal Model effectively influenced food security through the AFS, EHH, and HIc. The findings underline the importance of available food stock, household head education, and household income in developing approaches to assist food-insecure households. The research makes a significant contribution to ensuring food availability and promoting sustainable development post-pandemic. Full article

Strategies for income diversification are crucial in enhancing resilience to food insecurity, particularly in developing countries like Afghanistan, where resource scarcity and socio-political conflicts hinder economic stability. This study examines the relationship between income diversification and household food insecurity in Helmand, Afghanistan. Using cross-sectional survey data from 302 household heads, multivariate ordered logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between income diversification and household food insecurity. Results indicate that households with lower income diversification are more likely to experience severe food insecurity. Additionally, factors such as illiteracy, lack of land ownership, unchanged income from the previous year, the absence of relatives in government jobs, poor financial situation, higher numbers of female household members, and greater distance from the district bazaar were associated with increased food insecurity. The findings suggest that while income diversification plays a vital role in mitigating food insecurity, it is insufficient alone for some households. The study concludes with recommendations to promote income diversification, improve education, facilitate land distribution, expand government employment programs, empower women, and improve market access and infrastructure in regions like Helmand to combat food insecurity. Full article

Decentralized solar water disinfection systems (DSODIS) in continuous flow systems are alternatives for large-scale improved water access in rural contexts. However, DSODIS in rural Ghana are limited. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was used to explore the enablers of and barriers to, as well as reported barrier perceptions to, the effective implementation of DSODIS in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba (STK) District of Ghana. The qualitative data (26 respondents) were analyzed thematically, and the quantitative data (1155 household heads) were subjected to Poisson regression analyses. Enablers were categorized into themes such as willingness to pay for DSODIS, household and community participation, and willingness to use water from DSODIS. Similarly, the barriers include environmental barriers, technological barriers, economic barriers, and political and legal barriers. Household characteristics such as main water source and income, age group, education, marital status, household size, being born in the community, and years living in the community are statistically associated with reported barrier perceptions. Households with unimproved water sources and high income (IRR = 1.432, p = 0.000) and improved water sources and high income (IRR = 1.295, p = 0.000) are 43% and 30% more likely, respectively, to report more barrier perceptions compared with households with unimproved water sources and low income. Females (IRR = 1.070, p = 0.032) are marginally more likely to report more barrier perceptions compared with males. The model output also indicates that household heads with higher educational attainment (IRR = 1.152, p = 0.001) are 15% more likely to report more barrier perceptions compared with those with no formal education. These findings provide valuable information for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to provide quality water in rural Ghana where centralized systems cannot be installed. Full article

The global population is experiencing a remarkable demographic shift. The population pyramid of African countries looks very different from that of the West, with a youthful population forming the base of the African population, while the population of Western countries has a larger share of an aging population. A broader understanding of the various facets of urban growth in Africa is needed, including the demographic makeup and drivers of growth. However, inadequate attention has been paid to this aspect of urban change in research, even though this knowledge can aid development planning. Demographic concerns like the interconnections between development and population are important issues of national dialogues and debates. Research from Southern Africa has also found a prevalence of female-headed households in urban areas and predicts a rise in this trend. This study thus set out to explore the primary factor behind urban population growth and the extent of prevalence of female-headed households in African cities using Port Harcourt, Nigeria, as a case study. Quantitative research was conducted. The findings revealed that natural increase was largely responsible for urban growth, given the proportion of participants in the age group 18–40 born in the city. This group currently forms the large base of the African urban population. Results also showed that male-headed households were still dominant in Port Harcourt city. This study highlights the need for expansion of similar research in other cities to enable a more holistic understanding of the wider African urban population demographics and dynamics. Full article

Energy poverty is a significant barrier to sustainable development, limiting access to modern energy solutions and exacerbating socioeconomic inequalities in South Africa. This research identifies key socioeconomic factors contributing to energy poverty among off-grid households using the household-specific energy poverty line. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a well-structured questionnaire among 53 households. The findings reveal significant gender disparities, with female-headed households being more vulnerable to energy poverty, which continues to subject them to economic hardship and social marginalization. Additionally, while larger households generally face higher energy demands, they were found to be less likely to experience energy poverty. The findings also challenge the ‘energy ladder hypothesis’ by showing that education, while potentially enabling better energy awareness, does not guarantee improved energy access in off-grid areas due to infrastructural limitations. Social grant dependency was found to be strongly correlated with energy poverty, underscoring the inadequacy of income transfers in addressing the systemic barriers to energy access. The findings emphasize the need for multidimensional, gender-responsive policy interventions that address both infrastructural and socioeconomic barriers to energy access, particularly in rural South Africa. These insights are crucial for developing targeted interventions to alleviate energy poverty and foster sustainable development in off-grid communities. Full article

The first 1000 days of life starts from conception to a child’s second birthday. Research suggests that the period is critical for cognitive, physical, and emotional development. Investments in maternal and child healthcare during this period have a profound impact on long-term health, educational attainment, and economic productivity. This study examined the impact of such investments on child health outcomes in Kenya, using data from the 2015/2016 Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS). Key areas of focus included maternal healthcare, early antenatal care, skilled delivery, exclusive breastfeeding, proper weaning practices, immunization, and the timely treatment of childhood illnesses. Using the Cox regression hazard model, the study revealed that twins faced a higher risk of mortality compared to single births, while firstborns were less likely to die before their fifth birthday; larger household sizes were associated with reduced child mortality, and children in female-headed households had a lower likelihood of dying, likely due to better adherence to proper health and nutritional practices. Maternal health conditions, the place of delivery, and assistance during childbirth significantly influenced survival, with government health facility deliveries yielding better outcomes than homebirths. This study emphasizes the importance of educating pregnant women and mothers on health risks and public health protocols during this critical period. Strengthening healthcare systems and promoting equitable access to essential services during the first 1000 days could improve child survival rates and enhance long-term economic productivity. Full article

Tea and coffee as traditional cash crops have been produced in Rwanda for more than six and ten decades respectively. However, new cash crops are being produced and exported, although their role in increased income and poverty reduction over traditional ones is not well understood; hence the analysis of drivers of both traditional and non-mandatory cash crop production among smallholder farmers is imperative. The study applied an experimental research design, and two strata composed of non-mandatory cash crops and traditional crop growers were used to obtain a simple random sample of 400 smallholder farmers. The study analysed the effect of cash crop production on multidimensional poverty among farmers in the Rulindo District using a quantile treatment effect. Although the poorest category of adopters places a high opportunity cost in allocating more time to off-farm activities, the poorest households that are female-headed are likely to increase multidimensional poverty once they adopt non-mandatory cash crops. Similarly, farm size does not help the poorest households to reduce poverty. Poorest households could be considered while introducing new non-mandatory cash crops because they do not help them reduce non-pecuniary poverty. Tea, coffee and food crops should be helpful among the poorest smallholder farmers. Full article

Food insecurity is a global challenge, particularly affecting developing nations. This study evaluated the role of home gardens in addressing food security in rural upland regions of Laos among three different types of vulnerable households. To address this objective, household survey data of project baseline 2019 (n = 504), midterm in 2021 (n = 425), and final 2022 (n = 435) were analyzed and tested. Additionally, focus group discussion (n = 3) and key informant interviews (n = 42) were carried out to gain deeper insights and triangulate and supplement household survey findings. The study found a 21% drop in food insecurity from 2019 to 2022, mainly due to a 12% increase in the number of home gardens, boosting crop production and harvests. We also found that dietary habits significantly improved between 2019 and 2022, with minimum diet diversity rising to 41% for three types of vulnerable households: 62% for female-headed households, 41% for households with disabilities, and 67% for other households. While there has been an improvement among different types of vulnerable households, about 15% of them still faced severe food shortages as of 2022. However, food insecurity among the three predetermined categories reveals significant disparities. Female-headed households experienced the most severe food insecurity and showed the least progress between 2019 and 2022. Additionally, we compared crop and diet diversity and various food insecurity coping methods across different time periods among these three vulnerable households. We provide several recommendations for targeted interventions and policies to address the remaining food security challenges in rural upland areas, ultimately contributing towards reducing global food insecurity. Full article

Background/Objectives: Anemia adversely affects children’s cognitive and motor development and remains a global public health problem. This study aimed to identify the individual, feeding, household, and community determinants of anemia among children in Mozambique. Methods: We used pooled datasets of two Mozambique representative population-based surveys: the 2011 and 2022–2023 Demographic and Health Surveys. A total sample of 8143 children aged 6–59 months with available hemoglobin testing was included. Multilevel mixed-effects analysis was performed using STATA (18.0). Results: Over a decade, the prevalence of anemia in children aged 6–59 months remained high, increasing slightly from 69.1% in 2011 to 72.9% in 2022. Children aged 6–11 months were less likely to have anemia than children from other age groups (aOR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.62–0.96). Children who suffered from illnesses (aOR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.18–1.75), received vitamin A supplements (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.63–0.93), lived in female-headed households (aOR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.01–1.32), and who lived in households with unimproved drinking water sources (aOR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.19–1.65) were more likely to have anemia than their peers. Overall, 16% of the variability in anemia prevalence was attributed to differences between clusters (ICC = 0.16). Conclusions: Childhood anemia remains a critical public health challenge in Mozambique, with prevalence rates exceeding the average for sub-Saharan Africa. Multisectoral approaches to enhance essential supplies’ provision and the primary healthcare monitoring of children at risk favored more investments in rural development and sustainable agriculture, water sanitation, and social care and gender-sensitive work policies that can help tackle childhood anemia. Full article

A digital infrastructure has the potential to mitigate the digital exclusion in rural areas, offering a pathway to alleviate the financial vulnerability of rural households. This paper investigates the impact of the Broadband China pilot policy—an important government initiative—on rural household financial vulnerability, utilizing data from five waves of the China family panel studies (CFPS) spanning from 2012 to 2020. By leveraging the quasi-natural experiment provided by the Broadband China initiative, this study makes a novel contribution to understanding how a digital infrastructure affects financial sustainability in rural households. The findings show that the Broadband China pilot policy significantly reduces rural household financial vulnerability, with particularly strong effects on female-headed households, spousal-headed households, and those in regions with a limited traditional or advanced digital finance infrastructure. Further analysis reveals that a digital infrastructure enhances rural household financial resilience by increasing land transfer opportunities through an ‘income effect’ and by fostering non-farm employment and financial literacy through a ‘security effect’. This paper contributes to the literature by shedding light on the specific mechanisms through which a digital infrastructure enhances the financial sustainability of rural households and offers valuable insights into policies aimed at bridging the rural–urban divide. Full article

Fully harnessing the digital economy to encourage the clean transition of household cooking fuel is essential for improving environmental conditions and enhancing human health. To this end, we developed a theoretical framework to examine how the digital economy influences household cooking fuel choices and empirically investigated these relationships using panel data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) spanning 2014–2020. The results show that the digital economy accelerates household clean cooking fuel transition, particularly in the adoption of electricity. These conclusions remain consistent after addressing endogeneity and conducting robustness tests. Furthermore, the promotional effect exhibits certain heterogeneities, notably more prominent among female household heads, as well as in urban and northern regions. Mechanism analysis reveals that this promoting force is primarily driven by increased household income, expanded social networks, and heightened environmental awareness. These findings offer theoretical and empirical backing for utilizing the digital economy to facilitate household cooking fuel transition and guide policymakers in designing targeted interventions that consider household and regional diversity. Full article

Armed conflict remains a significant global issue, with several studies highlighting its detrimental impact on the affected communities, making it a critical area of research. This study aimed to examine the effects of prolonged armed conflict on food security among urban households in Tigray, Ethiopia, and to examine their coping mechanisms. Primary data were collected from 740 urban households between May and June 2024. The Food Insecurity Access Scale (FIAS), Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and Food Consumption Score (FCS) were employed to assess the levels of food security, while the Livelihood Coping Strategy Index (LCSI) was used to identify coping strategies. The findings revealed that female-headed households were more affected by food insecurity than male-headed households. FIAS (FIES) scores indicated that 17% (2%) of households were food-secure, with 20% (25%) mildly, 35% (32%) moderately, and 29% (30%) severely food-insecure. The FCS analysis showed that 52% of households had poor food consumption, 33% were borderline, and 16% were acceptable. The findings show that 39% of urban households experienced hunger in the post-conflict period. Stress-level strategies are the most widely adopted coping mechanisms. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted policy interventions that address the specific vulnerabilities of female-headed households and ensure the development of sustainable coping strategies to mitigate the long-term effects of food insecurity in war-affected urban settings. This study offers novel insights into the urban dimensions of food insecurity and coping strategies in post-conflict settings. Full article