scholarly journals Mask Use Depends on the Individual, Situation, and Location—Even Without COVID-19 Transmission: An Observational Study in Shanghai

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander S. English ◽  
Xiaoyuan Li
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Older People ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Public Places ◽  
The World ◽  
Public Areas ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Enforcement Policies

COVID-19 has drastically altered people’s mask-wearing behaviors around the world. What is unknown is how long these mask behaviors will last post-COVID-19? To investigate how individual, situational, and locational factors influence mask use in the absence of community spread of COVID-19, we conducted an observational study in public areas in the megacity of Shanghai, China. Researchers coded people’s mask use in various suburban and urban districts and outdoor and indoor locations with and without mask requirements. Firstly, even without any local transmissions in more than 40days, 62% of the sample (N=1,282) still wore masks in public places. The data showed that people in more urban areas wore masks more often and that people wore masks in places where it was mandated. Women also wore masks more than men, and older people complied more with mask enforcement policies. We found that more densely populated districts and areas with more inflow of non-locals also predicted more mask use. We argue that the pandemic has long-lasting effects on human behavior like mask usage and reflects individuals’ continual conformity to new social norms.

Aging Alone, Gossiping Together: Older Adults’ Talk as Social Glue

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (8) ◽  
pp. 1474-1482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacy Torres
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
New York ◽  
Older People ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Emotional Intimacy ◽  
Public Places ◽  
The Social ◽  
Formal Organizations ◽  
Negative Reputation

AbstractObjectivesWhile older adults living alone face challenges to maintaining social ties, elders in urban areas also have unique opportunities for daily socializing that can buffer against loneliness.MethodDrawing on 5 years of ethnographic fieldwork among elders in New York City, this study presents empirical insights into the development of supplementary neighborhood-based networks of support for older people living alone and vulnerable to isolation.ResultsThis study finds that elders who lived alone, without close kin, engaged in daily gossip about other older people they encountered as regulars in local eateries. Despite its negative reputation, gossip helped them connect and access less conventional social support close to home. The majority resisted formal organizations, such as churches or senior centers, and thus their interactions in public venues served as an important source of social involvement. In line with Gluckman’s argument (1963), gossip betrayed emotional intimacy and caretaking that connected people who could have fallen off the social radar.DiscussionHigher rates of divorce and lifelong singlehood, coupled with increased longevity, will compel greater numbers of older adults to construct alternative support networks. My findings suggest that more will draw these connections from unconventional venues such as neighborhood public places.

scholarly journals MAKING THE AGING EXPERIENCE WORTHWHILE: HOW SOCIAL INTERACTION CONTRIBUTES TO ACTIVE AGING

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S533-S533
Author(s):  
Daniel Doh ◽  
Kwadwo Adusei-Asante ◽  
Vicki Banham
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Older People ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
World Health ◽  
Active Ageing ◽  
Country Level ◽  
The World ◽  
The Individual

Abstract In most parts of the world, people are now living longer lives, which presents both opportunities and concerns over how to make the ageing process a worthwhile experience. The World Health Organisation’s Active Ageing model became a prominent global policy response since 2002 and has evolved into different country-level ageing policies. While a considerable volume of literature exists on active ageing – testing the validity of its various components, there is limited empirical evidence of how social interaction contributes to active ageing for older people and how it can be promoted through policy. In this paper, we examine social interaction and how it contributes to lived experiences of active ageing among a sample of 30 older Ghanaians living in Australia and Ghana. Our findings confirm the significance of social interaction for active ageing, and shows that social interaction creates a sense of purpose for living, which leads to the ability of the individual to build resilience, which mitigates anxieties and pains associated with ill health (especially for frail older people); enhances self-motivation for play and fun; empowers the individual to explore opportunities for continuous activity including leisure, and improves the general feeling of happiness resulting in active ageing – quality of life. The paper’s main argument is that social interaction presents potentials for improving the quality of life (active ageing) for older people and needs to be carefully considered in policy, research and practice.

Meanings and Functions of Money in Different Cultural Milieus

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 475-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dov Cohen ◽  
Faith Shin ◽  
Xi Liu
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Economics ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Human Psychology ◽  
The Family ◽  
The World ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Economic Need ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
Descriptive Models

We explore the psychological meanings of money that parallel its economic functions. We explore money's ability to ascribe value, give autonomy, and provide security for the future, and we show how each of these functions may play out differently in different cultural milieus. In particular, we explore the meanings and uses of money across ethnic groups and at different positions on the socioeconomic ladder, highlighting changes over the last 50 years. We examine the dynamics of redistribution between the individual, the family, and the state in different cultures, and we analyze the gendering of money in the world of high finance and in contexts of economic need. The field of behavioral economics has illustrated how human psychology complicates the process of moving from normative to descriptive models of human behavior; such complexity increases as we incorporate the great diversity within human psychology.

scholarly journals Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on public surfaces in a densely populated urban area of Brazil

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jônatas Santos Abrahão ◽  
Lívia Sacchetto ◽  
Izabela Mauricio Rezende ◽  
Rodrigo Rodrigues ◽  
Ana Paula Correia Crispim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Acid Extraction ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Public Areas ◽  
One Step ◽  
Belo Horizonte

Abstract Importance The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in more than 3.5 million cases and 245 thousand deaths worldwide as of May 6, 2020. Determining the extent of the presence of the virus on public surfaces is critical for understanding the potential risk of infection in these areas. Objective To evaluate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on public surfaces in a densely populated urban area in Brazil. Design and Setting A total of 101 samples were collected from different surfaces in public places in the region of Belo Horizonte with the highest number of COVID-19 cases. Samples were collected near the hospital and public transportation areas using sterile swabs, and then submitted to nucleic acid extraction and genomic detection and quantification by one-step qPCR. Results Seventeen of the 101 samples tested positive (16.8%) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, including samples from bus stations/terminals, public squares, and sidewalks, including those near hospitals. Conclusions and Relevance Our data indicated the contamination of public surfaces by SARS-CoV-2, especially near hospital areas, highlighting the risk of infection for the population. Constant monitoring of the virus in urban areas is required as a strategy to fight the pandemic and prevent further infections. Key points Question Can SARS-CoV-2 be detected on surfaces in public areas used by a large proportion of the population? Findings SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in different locations, including bus stations/terminals, squares, and sidewalks, especially those near hospitals, in a densely populated area of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Meaning This study highlights the need for constant monitoring for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in urban areas to support better strategies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent further infections.

The ageing population

2021 ◽  
pp. 175573802199281
Author(s):  
Jenny Walton ◽  
Angus Kaye
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Older People ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Huge Amount ◽  
Older Population ◽  
The World ◽  
The Individual

As we all age, the demographic of the world changes. Looking after older people well can bring a huge amount of pleasure and satisfaction, not just to the individual, but also to their family, friends and indeed healthcare professionals. How we care for our elderly now is likely to set a precedent for our own care in the future. This article highlights some of the features of ageing and discusses the role of primary care in the management of the older population, within the context of the general practice curriculum.

scholarly journals Developing Age-Friendly Cities and Communities: Eleven Case Studies from around the World

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Samuèle Rémillard-Boilard ◽  
Tine Buffel ◽  
Chris Phillipson
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Global Network ◽  
World Health ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The World ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Health Organization

Developing age-friendly cities and communities has become a key part of policies aimed at improving the quality of life of older people in urban areas. The World Health Organization has been especially important in driving the ‘age-friendly’ agenda, notably through its Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, connecting 1114 (2020 figure) cities and communities worldwide. Despite the expansion and achievements of the Network over the last decade, little is known about the progress made by cities developing this work around the world. This article addresses this research gap by comparing the experience of eleven cities located in eleven countries. Using a multiple case study approach, the study explores the key goals, achievements, and challenges faced by local age-friendly programs and identifies four priorities the age-friendly movement should consider to further its development: (1) changing the perception of older age; (2) involving key actors in age-friendly efforts; (3) responding to the (diverse) needs of older people; and (4) improving the planning and delivery of age-friendly programs. The article concludes by discussing the research and policy implications of these findings for the age-friendly movement.

scholarly journals Sociological modeling of smart city with the implementation of UN sustainable development goals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Kolesnichenko ◽  
Lev Mazelis ◽  
Alexander Sotnik ◽  
Dariya Yakovleva ◽  
Sergey Amelkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Smart City ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Personal Space ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Data Governance ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The World ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic before mass vaccination can be restrained only by the limitation of contacts between people, which makes the digital economy a key condition for survival. More than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and many cities have already transformed into “smart” digital/virtual hubs. Digital services ensure city life safe without an economy lockout and unemployment. Urban society strives to be safe, sustainable, well-being, and healthy. We set the task to construct a hybrid sociological and technological concept of a smart city with matched solutions, complementary to each other. Our modeling with the elaborated digital architectures and with the bionic solution for ensuring sufficient data governance showed that a smart city in comparison with the traditional city is tightly interconnected inside like a social “organism”. Society has entered a decisive decade during which the world will change by moving closer towards SDGs targets 2030 as well as by the transformation of cities and their digital infrastructures. It is important to recognize the large vector of sociological transformation as smart cities are just a transition phase to human-centered personal space or smart home. The “atomization” of the world urban population raises the gap problem in achieving SDGs because of different approaches to constructing digital architectures for smart cities or smart homes in countries. The strategy of creating smart cities should bring each citizen closer to SDGs at the individual level, laying in the personal space the principles of sustainable development and wellness of personality.

scholarly journals Clinical Profile and Outcome of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Dhaka

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khan Mohammad Arif ◽  
Fazle Rabbi Mohammed ◽  
Zannatun Nur ◽  
Md Ziaus Shams ◽  
Md Billal Alam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Tertiary Care Hospital ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
The World ◽  
Adequate Management

Background: Dengue has become endemic in Bangladesh since 2000. The cases are being encountered each year particularly in urban areas. Thus, Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and other cities are commonly affected areas. We sought to get a profile of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in a tertiary care hospital in the Dhaka city.Methods: This direct observational study was undertaken from June to October 2008 among the hospital admitted patients with a diagnosis of DHF.Result: Out of 55 patients with DHF, 87.27% came from urban areas. About 43.64% patients showed various types of active bleeding in association with different clinical features. 100% patients had relative bradycardia. Tourniquet test was positive in 43.63% patients. IgM and/or IgG antibody titer to dengue virus were positive in 85% cases.Conclusion: The clinical picture of Dengue is not as diverse as other regions of the world and the National guideline is till now found to be effective in adequate management,   doi:10.3329/jom.v10i1.1996   J Medicine 2009; 10: 12-15  

scholarly journals Regulatory Framework Implementation for the Prescription of Zolpidem in France, What Impact in the Older People?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 12099
Author(s):  
Alexandra Jobert ◽  
Marion Istvan ◽  
Edouard-Jules Laforgue ◽  
Benoit Schreck ◽  
Caroline Victorri-Vigneau
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Older People ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
World Health ◽  
Healthcare Data ◽  
The World ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hypnotic Drugs ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Background: Zolpidem is one of the most prescribed hypnotic drugs. In 2001, the World Health Organization alerted a risk of pharmacodependence associated with zolpidem. The French health authority decided in 2017 to enforce security on the prescription of zolpidem to reduce those risks. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of regulatory framework implementation, secure prescription pad, on the prevalence and incidence of prescriptions of zolpidem according to the age. Methods: This study was based on an observational study using the French healthcare data system. Two age categories were defined: “younger” and “older” (<65 years, ≥65 years); in order to study the evolution of prevalence and incidence of zolpidem use in our two groups, two periods were defined, before and after the implementation of the measure. Results: The prevalence decreased in the younger population by 51% (4012 vs. 7948 consumers), while that of the older population decreased by 42% (4151 vs. 7282). This difference in our two groups, with a greater decrease in the younger people, is statistically significant compared to the older people. Conclusion: Our study showed that regulatory framework implementation and mandatory secure prescription pad is more effective for decreasing prevalence of zolpidem prescription for younger people compared to older people.

scholarly journals Designing Towards Ecological Environments: A Modular Approach to Structure a Design Studio Sequence

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oswald Jenewein ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Design Studio ◽  
Western World ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
The World ◽  
The Individual

Architecture is a process that forms the physical background of every-day life. Both in academia and practice, a contemporary design studio must tackle ecological topics as architecture materializes itself within the rapidly changing natural environment. The premise for this paper are three timely challenges that the world is facing collectively in this stage of Post-Industrialization.First and foremost, the challenges arising from the Epoch of the Anthropocene. As the repercussions of climate change have started to materialize, the built environment needs to adapt to changing conditions, from sea-level-rise to extreme weather and cultural shifts, as climate migrants need to find new lands.Second, the challenges correlated with globalized economies and networks which have been a major force causing environmental threats and change. Capitalist democracies in the western world have developed complex logistical processes shipping commodities, goods, and thoughts around the world. These processes have shaped the (built) environment and life especially in urban areas. The relationship between the individual and the collective undergoes change as a consequence of how (political) regimes organize their economies and distribute wealth.Third, the challenges and opportunities digitalization offers to society. The dematerialization of (urban) landscapes through digital media enables the (re)distribution and access to information, education, and labor. Urban environments need to address these challenges as opportunities to create fairer and healthier places to live.These three challenges form the context of the studio modules presented here and link the contemporary discourse of architecture to a global cross-disciplinary discourse.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document