scholarly journals European Countries Ranking and Clustering Solution by Children’s Physical Activity and Human Development Index Using Entropy-Based Methods

Mathematics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1705
Author(s):  
Aleksandras Krylovas ◽  
Natalja Kosareva ◽  
Stanislav Dadelo

The aim of the present study is to propose a new approach for evaluating and comparing European countries using indicators of the children physical activity and the human development index. The Global Matrix 3.0 on physical activity for children and youth and human development index data on the 18 European countries were used. MADM (multi-attribute decision making) approach was applied for this task. The criteria weights calculated by applying the weight balancing method—weight balancing indicator ranks accordance (WEBIRA). New methodology of interval entropy is proposed for determining the priority of criteria separately in each group. The novel approach of α-cuts for recursive procedure of ranking the alternatives was used. For comparison, three alternative entropy-based methods—entropy method for determining the criterion weight (EMDCW), method of criteria impact LOSs and determination of objective weights (CILOS) and integrated determination of objective criteria weights (IDOCRIW) were applied to address this MADM problem. Cluster analysis of European countries carried out using results obtained by all above methods. Comparison of the MADM methods revealed that three alternative methods assigned negligible values to whole group of criteria. Meanwhile, WEBIRA family methods performed the ranking of European countries according to the interrelation of the two groups of criteria in a balanced way. Thus, when addressing MADM tasks with two or more naturally related sets of criteria, it is appropriate to apply criteria adapted for that purpose, such as WEBIRA.

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (s2) ◽  
pp. S284-S297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia A. González ◽  
Joel D. Barnes ◽  
Patrick Abi Nader ◽  
Dolores Susana Andrade Tenesaca ◽  
Javier Brazo-Sayavera ◽  
...  

Background: The Global Matrix 3.0 brings together the Report Card grades for 10 physical activity indicators for children and youth from 49 countries. This study describes and compares the Global Matrix 3.0 findings among 10 countries with high Human Development Index. Methods: Report Cards on physical activity indicators were developed by each country following a harmonized process. Countries informed their Report Cards with the best and most recent evidence available. Indicators were graded using a common grading rubric and benchmarks established by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance. A database of grades from the countries was compiled, and letter grades were converted to numerical equivalents. Descriptive statistics and scores for groups of indicators were calculated, and correlation analyses were conducted. Results: Grades for the 10 countries clustered around “D” ranging from “F” to “B+.” Active Transportation had the highest average grade (“C”), whereas Overall Physical Activity had the lowest average grade (“D-”). Low grades were observed for both behavioral and sources of influence indicators. Conclusions: In the context of social and economical changes of high- Human Development Index countries, urgent actions to increase physical activity among children and youth are required. Surveillance and monitoring efforts are required to fill research gaps.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1174-1182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valter C. Barbosa Filho ◽  
Kelly Samara da Silva ◽  
Jorge Mota ◽  
Carmem Beck ◽  
Adair da Silva Lopes

Background:Promoting physical activity (PA) in low- and middle-income countries is an important public health topic as well as a challenge for practice. This study aimed to assess the effect of a school-based intervention on different PA-related variables among students.Methods:This cluster-randomized-controlled trial included 548 students in the intervention group and 537 in the control group (11–18 years-old) from 6 schools in neighborhoods with low Human Development Index (0.170–0.491) in Fortaleza, Brazil. The intervention included strategies focused on training teachers, opportunities for PA in the school environment and health education. Variables measured at baseline and again at the 4-months follow-up included the weekly time in different types of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), preference for PA during leisure-time, PA behavioral change stage and active commuting to school. Generalized linear models and binary logistic regressions were used.Results:An intervention effect was found by increasing the weekly time in MVPA (effect size = 0.17), popular games (effect size = 0.35), and the amount of PA per week (effect size = 0.27) among students (all P < .05).Conclusions:The intervention was effective in promoting improvements in some PA outcomes, but the changes were not sufficient to increase the proportion of those meeting PA recommendations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Sourander ◽  
Roshan Chudal ◽  
Norbert Skokauskas ◽  
Ahmed Malallah Al-Ansari ◽  
Anat Brunstein Klomek ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
André O. Werneck ◽  
◽  
Kabir P. Sadarangani ◽  
Robinson Ramírez-Vélez ◽  
Se-Sergio Baldew ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Our aim was to investigate the association of macroeconomic, human development, and demographic factors with different domains of physical activity and sitting time among South American adults. Methods We used data from nationally representative samples in Argentina (n = 26,932), Brazil (n = 52,490), Chile (n = 3866), Colombia (n = 14,208), Ecuador (n = 19,883), Peru (n = 8820), and Uruguay (n = 2403). Our outcomes included leisure time (≥150 min/week), transport (≥10 min/week), occupational (≥10 min/week), and total (≥150 min/week) physical activity, as well as sitting time (≥4 h/day), which were collected through self-reported questionnaires. As exposures, gross domestic product, total population, population density, and human development index indicators from the most updated national census of each country were used. Age and education were used as covariates. Multilevel logistic regressions with harmonized random effect meta-analyses were conducted, comparing highest vs. lowest (reference) tertiles. Results Higher odds for transport physical activity were observed among the highest tertiles of total population (ORmen: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.23–1.62), ORwomen: 1.51; 95% CI:1.32–1.73), population density (ORmen: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.18–1.57, ORwomen: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.30–1.70), and gross domestic product (ORmen: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.00–1.35, ORwomen: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.20–1.61). For leisure physical activity, women living in departments with higher human development index presented 18% higher odds for being active, and for total physical activity a similar estimate in both sexes was observed among those who live in more populated areas. No consistent associations were found for occupational physical activity and sitting time. Conclusion Macroeconomic, demographic and human development indicators are associated with different domains of physical activity in the South American context, which can in turn guide policies to promote physical activity in the region.


Author(s):  
Levent Kutlu ◽  
Ran Wang

In our study, we examine whether spatial spillover effects exist for greenhouse gas emission efficiency for 38 European countries between 2005 and 2014. We find that inefficiencies of other countries would lead to lower efficiency levels for a country. This negative inefficiency spillover effect goes down till 2008 then goes up till 2011, then stays relatively stable after 2011. Any strategy to reduce inefficiencies of other countries could potentially improve the efficiency levels. We find that human development index shows significant positive impact on greenhouse gas emission efficiency levels. In particular, one standard deviation increase in human development index would lead to a 11.12 percentage points increase in the greenhouse gas emission efficiencies on average. Different countries show different efficiency levels and efficiency growth patterns over time. However, the pattern of spatial spillover is quite similar among all countries over time.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (08) ◽  
pp. 1541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdi Mohammadian ◽  
Mahin Ghafari ◽  
Bahman Khosravi ◽  
Hamid Salehiniya ◽  
Mohammad Aryaie ◽  
...  

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) has high incidence and mortality rates among the reproductive system cancers. This study investigated the relationship between the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of OC and Human Development Index (HDI) in European countries in 2012. Methods: This ecological study assessed the correlation between the ASIR and ASMR of OC and HDI and its components including life expectancy at birth, average years of schooling, and gross national income (GNI) per capita. Bivariate correlation analysis was used for assessing the correlation between the ASIR and ASMR of OC and HDI and its components. All reported P values were two-sided. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (Version 15.0, SPSS Inc.). Results: The maximum ASIR of OC was observed in Latvia, Bulgaria, and Poland. The highest ASMR of OC was observed in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. The incidence and mortality rates of OC are expected to increase between 2012 and 2035. This increase will be more pronounced in women ≥ 65 years. HDI had a weak negative correlation with the ASIR of OC (r=- 0.213; P=0.186) and a weak positive correlation with the ASMR of OC (r=0.072; P=0.659). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, health policy makers must make appropriate decisions to deal with the increasing morbidity and mortality of OC, especially in women over 65 years of age, in regions with lower access to prevention and treatment services.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (s2) ◽  
pp. S298-S314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salomé Aubert ◽  
Joel D. Barnes ◽  
Nicolas Aguilar-Farias ◽  
Greet Cardon ◽  
Chen-Kang Chang ◽  
...  

Background: To better understand the childhood physical inactivity crisis, Report Cards on physical activity of children and youth were prepared concurrently in 30 very high Human Development Index countries. The aim of this article was to present, describe, and compare the findings from these Report Cards. Methods: The Report Cards were developed using a harmonized process for data gathering, assessing, and assigning grades to 10 common physical activity indicators. Descriptive statistics were calculated after converting letter grades to interval variables, and correlational analyses between the 10 common indicators were performed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. Results: A matrix of 300 grades was obtained with substantial variations within and between countries. Low grades were observed for behavioral indicators, and higher grades were observed for sources of influence indicators, indicating a disconnect between supports and desired behaviors. Conclusion: This analysis summarizes the level and context of the physical activity of children and youth among very high Human Development Index countries, and provides additional evidence that the situation regarding physical activity in children and youth is very concerning. Unless a major shift to a more active lifestyle happens soon, a high rate of noncommunicable diseases can be anticipated when this generation of children reaches adulthood.


2021 ◽  
Vol 119 (11) ◽  
pp. 101-108
Author(s):  
Sumarni ◽  
Efiani ◽  
A. Massora ◽  
Yolanda

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-127
Author(s):  
Maria-Lenuţa Ciupac-Ulici

Abstract Human Development Index (HDI) measures development in a country by combining indicators of life expectancy, education level and income. In 2013, 187 countries were included in this index, which aims to expand the coverage area as additional statistics become more available. HDI, which is published by UNDP, may be the most comprehensive indicator, but it is not fully compatible enough to measure the human development level in a global perspective. Human Development Index explicitly explains the development of a country as being more than an economic growth tool or material wealth. In this way, this index is distinguished from many other performance indicators. This article aims to analyze the proportion of the three indicators on 37 European countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3251
Author(s):  
Hui Jin ◽  
Xinyi Qian ◽  
Tachia Chin ◽  
Hejie Zhang

In response to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this paper proposes a new National Sustainable Development Index (NSDI), based on the modification of the Human Development Index (HDI). The purpose of our research was to improve the widely adopted HDI index by incorporating more comprehensive sustainability perspectives, so as to help policy makers to better analyze the sustainability-related issues facing their countries. After clarifying the concept of sustainable development, our research suggests that this term represents a coordination and configuration of economic, social, and environmental aspects of development, with its major focuses on balancing intra-generational welfare and maximizing the total welfare across generations. We then put forward a novel NSDI framework including 12 indicators from dimensions of economy, resource environment, and society, and calculated the weights of 12 indicators using the entropy method. To further validate our proposed index, this paper also measured the NSDIs of 163 countries in the world, and compared this index with the HDI and other well-known modification indices of HDI. The results showed that the NSDI is a reliable and relative complete index for sustainable development assessment, which makes up for the shortcomings of existing indices.


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