scholarly journals Impacts of Electricity Outages in Urban Households in Developing Countries: A Case of Accra, Ghana

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 3676
Author(s):  
Paul Nduhuura ◽  
Matthias Garschagen ◽  
Abdellatif Zerga
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Electricity Supply ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Urban Households ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Family Setting

Many developing countries in Africa face a “double tragedy” when it comes to electrification. Electricity access rates are low, while those who have access to electricity face frequent outages. There are ongoing efforts aimed at increasing access to electricity on the continent. However, the need to improve the reliability of electricity supply receives limited attention. Unreliable electricity impacts users by limiting electricity utilization and the benefits that should accrue from having an electricity connection. Using data from 496 household survey questionnaires, this study examines the impacts of electricity outages in urban households in Accra, Ghana. The study applies correlation and regression analyses to identify which household characteristics are associated with or predict households reporting outage impacts. Outages were found to impact household safety/security, access to food, and access to social services and were found to cause appliance damage as well. Factors that are significantly correlated with reporting certain outage impacts include respondent’s annual income and employment status, frequency of electricity outages, and household size. Significant predictors of reporting outage impacts are socioeconomic disadvantage, high exposure to outages, and living in a large family setting. The study’s findings underscore the need for interventions to eliminate, or at least minimize, electricity supply interruptions in developing countries if sustainable social and economic development is to be achieved.

scholarly journals Disability and Household Welfare in Ghana: Costs and Correlates

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Asuman ◽  
Charles Godfred Ackah ◽  
Frank Agyire-Tettey
Keyword(s):  
Social Services ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Extra Cost ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Vulnerability To Poverty ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Using Data

AbstractPersons with disabilities face substantial barriers that impede their integration and participation in social and economic activities. Households with disabled members may be vulnerable to poverty due to the extra cost of living with a disability. However, there exists a knowledge gap in the magnitude of the extra cost of disabilities in sub Saharan Africa. Using data from a nationally representative household survey, this paper estimates the extra cost of disabilities in Ghana. The paper further examines the welfare effects of households with persons with disabilities. Based on the standard of living approach, we estimate the extra cost to households with a person with disability to be 26% of annual household consumption expenditures. Adjusting for the extra cost of poverty, the incidence of poverty increases from 38.5 to 52.9% amongst households with a disabled member. Our findings suggest the need to improve the efficiency of support programs to persons with disabilities to mitigate the extra costs of disabilities and reduce their vulnerability to poverty. In addition, enhancing access to economic opportunities and social services for persons with disabilities will be imperative to improve their quality of life and dignity.

scholarly journals Association between triglycerides, known risk SNVs and conserved rare variation in SLC25A40 in a multi-ancestry cohort

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth A. Rosenthal ◽  
David R. Crosslin ◽  
Adam S. Gordon ◽  
David S. Carrell ◽  
Ian B. Stanaway ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Missense Variant ◽  
Mixed Ancestry ◽  
Limited Sample ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Pathogenic Variants ◽  
Phenotype Data ◽  
Emerge Network ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Background Elevated triglycerides (TG) are associated with, and may be causal for, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and co-morbidities such as type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Pathogenic variants in APOA5 and APOC3 as well as risk SNVs in other genes [APOE (rs429358, rs7412), APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster (rs964184), INSR (rs7248104), CETP (rs7205804), GCKR (rs1260326)] have been shown to affect TG levels. Knowledge of genetic causes for elevated TG may lead to early intervention and targeted treatment for CVD. We previously identified linkage and association of a rare, highly conserved missense variant in SLC25A40, rs762174003, with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) in a single large family, and replicated this association with rare, highly conserved missense variants in a European American and African American sample. Methods Here, we analyzed a longitudinal mixed-ancestry cohort (European, African and Asian ancestry, N = 8966) from the Electronic Medical Record and Genomics (eMERGE) Network. We tested associations between median TG and the genes of interest, using linear regression, adjusting for sex, median age, median BMI, and the first two principal components of ancestry. Results We replicated the association between TG and APOC3, APOA5, and risk variation at APOE, APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster, and GCKR. We failed to replicate the association between rare, highly conserved variation at SLC25A40 and TG, as well as for risk variation at INSR and CETP. Conclusions Analysis using data from electronic health records presents challenges that need to be overcome. Although large amounts of genotype data is becoming increasingly accessible, usable phenotype data can be challenging to obtain. We were able to replicate known, strong associations, but were unable to replicate moderate associations due to the limited sample size and missing drug information.

Cannabis Growers in the United States: Findings From a National Household Survey 2010−2014

2021 ◽  
pp. 002204262110004
Author(s):  
Alejandro Azofeifa ◽  
Rosalie L. Pacula ◽  
Margaret E. Mattson
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Prevention Education ◽  
The Past ◽  
National Household Survey ◽  
Using Data

Given the rapidly changing U.S. cannabis legislation landscape, the aim of this article is to describe individuals who self-reported growing cannabis in the past year by selected characteristics and geographical location. Using data from 2010 to 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we conducted bivariate chi-square tests and ran a multivariable logistic regression model to examine the indicators associated with growing cannabis. Approximately, 484,000 individuals aged 12+ self-reported growing cannabis in the past year (1.6% of marijuana users). Predictors of growing cannabis included being male and self-reported reporting using cannabis for a greater number of days. Data showed differences in the proportion of cannabis growers by the state of residence. Obtaining a baseline estimate of cannabis growing practices prior to recreational cannabis markets emerging (2014) is important because such practices may undermine efforts to discourage diversion to youth. Tracking these acquisition patterns will better inform content for public health messaging and prevention education, particularly those targeting youth.

scholarly journals Does the inverse farm size productivity hypothesis hold for perennial monocrop systems in developing countries? Evidence from Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-252
Author(s):  
Josiah Ateka ◽  
◽  
Perez Ayieko Onono-Okelo ◽  
Martin Etyang ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Mixed Cropping ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Household Survey Data ◽  
Robust Measures

The inverse farm size and productivity relationship (IR) is a recurring theme in the literature. However, most previous studies were undertaken within a setting of mixed cropping systems. In this article, we investigate the effect of farm size on productivity within the context of a perennial monocropping system, acute competition for farmland, frequent subdivision of farms and declining yields. We apply household survey data of smallholder tea farms in western Kenya and consider both technical efficiency (TE) and the yield per hectare as indicators of productivity. The findings show that the effect of farm size on productivity is nonlinear, with TE initially declining and then rising with farm size. The findings also demonstrate that the farm size and productivity relationship is important for perennial monocrops and that the use of robust measures of productivity is important for the IR. The findings have important implications for agricultural policy in developing countries.

scholarly journals Domestic water improvement behaviour: the probability determinants and policy implications

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Amoah ◽  
Rexford Kweku Asiama ◽  
Kofi Korle ◽  
Edmund Kwablah
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Econometric Model ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Environmental Knowledge ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Knowledge Age ◽  
Quality Water ◽  
Key Drivers

Abstract Although water is important for human livelihoods, access and use of improved domestic water for households in most developing countries is still a major problem. Households adopt several domestic water improvement mechanisms to improve the quality of their water before consumption. However, the drivers of the probability to engage in this behaviour have not been adequately explored in developing countries. Therefore, this study investigates the factors that determine the probability of choosing to improve domestic water quality before consumption, with data from a household survey implemented in Ghana. Using the Logit econometric model with its associated margins, this study shows evidence that environmental knowledge, age, gender and wealth are key drivers of the probability of engaging in a water improvement behaviour. Based on the identified drivers, practical lessons are discussed to inform policy decisions on quality water supply.

Sexual exploitation of adolescent students in Tanzania: Implication for social services

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 1104-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Budeba Petro Mlyakado ◽  
Jessica Chi-Mei Li
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
School Students ◽  
Adolescent Students ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Collaborative Efforts

A considerable empirical research has been conducted on sexual exploitation of children and adolescents; however, limited information is available in developing countries. This study describes and discusses the prevalence, nature and characteristics of sexual exploitation of adolescents using data collected from 1116 secondary school students in Tanzania. Results indicate that 21 percent of the surveyed adolescent students had had at least one experience of sexual exploitation. Being a female, living in rural areas and being aged above 15 years were associated with high risk of sexual exploitation. This study underscores gender- and locality-specific social work interventional requirements, with emphasis on interdisciplinary collaborative efforts.

Can Good Products Drive Out Bad? A Randomized Intervention in the Antimalarial Medicine Market in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Björkman Nyqvist ◽  
Jakob Svensson ◽  
David Yanagizawa-Drott
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Simple Model ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Antimalarial Drugs ◽  
Improve Quality ◽  
Quality Improvements ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Randomized Intervention ◽  
One Year

Abstract How can quality be improved in markets in developing countries, which are known to be plagued by substandard and counterfeit (“fake” , in short) products? We study the market for antimalarial drugs in Uganda, where we randomly assign entry of a retailer (NGO) providing a superior product - an authentic drug priced below the market - and investigate how incumbent firms and consumers respond. We find that the presence of the NGO had economically important effects. Approximately one year after the new market actor entered, the share of incumbent firms selling fake drugs dropped by more than 50% in the intervention villages, with higher quality drugs sold at significantly lower prices. Household survey evidence further shows that the quality improvements were accompanied by consumers expecting fewer fake drugs sold by drug stores. The intervention increased use of the antimalarial drugs overall. The results are consistent with a simple model where the presence of a seller committed to high quality, as opposed to an average firm, strengthens reputational incentives for competing firms to improve quality in order to not be forced out of the market, leading to ‘good driving out bad’.

scholarly journals Episodes of non-employment among immigrants from developing countries in Canada

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Said Ahmed Aboubacar ◽  
Nong Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Average Duration ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Income Dynamics ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Labour Market Mobility

Using data from the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID), we analyze non-employment episodes for immigrants from developing countries, and compare their situation to that of immigrants from developed countries and Canadian-born individuals between 1996 and 2006. The methods used allowed us to draw the following conclusion: significant differences exist between these three groups in labour market mobility, the average duration of a non-employment episode, and the factors that affect the propensity to exit from a nonemployment episode. These differences demonstrate a particular disadvantage for immigrants from developing countries. In fact, they tend to spend more time in non-employment episodes compared to their counterparts from developed countries, and compared to Canadian-born individuals.

scholarly journals Gini Index Estimation within Pre-Specified Error Bound: Application to Indian Household Survey Data

Econometrics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Francis Bilson Darku ◽  
Frank Konietschke ◽  
Bhargab Chattopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Error Bound ◽  
Confidence Level ◽  
Gini Index ◽  
Sequential Analysis ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Specific Distribution ◽  
Sampling Cost ◽  
Using Data

The Gini index, a widely used economic inequality measure, is computed using data whose designs involve clustering and stratification, generally known as complex household surveys. Under complex household survey, we develop two novel procedures for estimating Gini index with a pre-specified error bound and confidence level. The two proposed approaches are based on the concept of sequential analysis which is known to be economical in the sense of obtaining an optimal cluster size which reduces project cost (that is total sampling cost) thereby achieving the pre-specified error bound and the confidence level under reasonable assumptions. Some large sample properties of the proposed procedures are examined without assuming any specific distribution. Empirical illustrations of both procedures are provided using the consumption expenditure data obtained by National Sample Survey (NSS) Organization in India.

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