Debt, Financial Vulnerability, and Repayment Behaviour in Older Canadian Households

Earlier research has documented that debt at older ages has increased significantly in Canada over the period from 1999 to 2016. In this article, we explore the consequences of a growing proportion of older Canadian households experiencing financial vulnerability. After controlling for household characteristics, we find among older households that a high debt-to-asset ratio and very low liquid wealth are significantly and positively associated with skipping or delaying a mortgage or non-mortgage debt payment and with usually paying the minimum amount or less on credit cards in the previous year. The debt-to-income ratio, however, is not an important indicator of financial vulnerability for older households.

Beyond “Women's Traits”: Exploring How Gender, Social Difference, and Household Characteristics Influence Trait Preferences

Demand-led breeding strategies are gaining importance in public sector breeding globally. While borrowing approaches from the private sector, public sector programs remain mainly focused on food security and social impact related outcomes. This necessitates information on specific user groups and their preferences to build targeted customer and product profiles for informed breeding decisions. A variety of studies have identified gendered trait preferences, but do not systematically analyze differences related to or interactions of gender with other social dimensions, household characteristics, and geographic factors. This study integrates 1000minds survey trait trade-off analysis with the Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey to study cassava trait preferences in Nigeria related to a major food product, gari. Results build on earlier research demonstrating that women prioritize food product quality traits while men prioritize agronomic traits. We show that food product quality traits are more important for members from food insecure households and gender differences between men and women increase among the food insecure. Furthermore, respondents from poorer households prioritize traits similar to respondents in non-poor households but there are notable trait differences between men and women in poor households. Women in female headed household prioritized quality traits more than women living with a spouse. Important regional differences in trait preferences were also observed. In the South East region, where household use of cassava is important, and connection to larger markets is less developed, quality traits and in ground storability were prioritized more than in other states. These results reinforce the importance of recognizing social difference and the heterogeneity among men and women, and how individual and household characteristics interact to reveal trait preference variability. This information can inform trait prioritization and guide development of breeding products that have higher social impact, which may ultimately serve the more vulnerable and align with development goals.

An Investigation of Occupant Energy-Saving Behavior in Vernacular Houses of Behramkale (Assos)

Despite its well-known potential to reduce energy use, the inquiry of whether vernacular architecture prompts its occupants to have energy-saving behavior has been neglected. This paper aims to investigate the influence of vernacular houses on the behavior of their occupants and other parameters affecting occupant behavior. Along with site observations, 117 surveys including multiple choice and open-ended questions were conducted with households living in vernacular houses and new houses in the historical settlement, Behramkale (Assos). A principal component analysis was conducted for the whole sample to determine whether there is a relationship between energy saving occupant behavior and energy use, household, and housing characteristics. Then further analyses were performed to explore the differences in descriptive properties of occupants. Household characteristics were found to be associated with occupant behavior. The females and married people tended to show more energy-saving behavior and sought to use their houses in more environmentally friendly ways. The older people were more likely to show no-cost energy-saving behavior. The households with high income and high-level education tended to invest in energy-efficient appliances but consumed more energy than other households. Besides the effects of household characteristics, historical heritage, and landscape values specific to the area influenced occupant behavior. Vernacular houses enabled the households to behave in a certain way and to continue the traditional daily habits related to sustainable, energy-saving behaviors.

Structural family factors and bullying at school: a large scale investigation based on a Chinese adolescent sample

Backgrounds Various family factors have been identified in association with school bullying and the involvement of children and adolescents in bullying behaviors. Methods A total of 11,919 participants (female = 6671, mean age = 15) from 22 middle schools in Suzhou City, China completed the questionnaire. The associations between structural family factors (family socio-economic status, living arrangement, number of siblings, whether they were local residents/migrants, had an urban/rural hukou [a household registration system in China], parental and maternal education levels, and other various bullying-related constructs (i.e. bullying witnessing, bullying involvement, bystander intervention, and fear of being bullied) were all examined. Odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for covariates were calculated for the four bullying-related constructs (bullying witness, bullying involvement, bystander intervention, and reactions to being bullied) using structural family factors. Results The result showed that all demographic household characteristics were associated with bullying at school except for being from a single-child family. Adolescents from rural families witnessed more bullying incidents than those from local families (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: [1.09, 1.68]). Adolescents who come from migrant families (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: [1.07, 1.43]) with a rural hukou (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: [1.00, 1.74]) and low parental education levels (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: [1.01, 2.57]) were more likely to be bullies. Adolescents who came from migrant families (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: [1.03, 1.82]), with low maternal education levels (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: [1.06, 1.91]) engaged in more negative bystander intervention behaviors. Furthermore, adolescents with less educated mothers experienced a higher fear of being bullied (never versus sometimes: OR = 1.33, 95% CI: [1.00, 1.85]; never versus usually OR = 1.39, 95% CI: [1.01, 1.20]). Conclusions A systematic examination of the relationship between school bullying and demographic household characteristics may be used to inform school policies on bullying, such as training management on the importance of paying attention to adolescents from disadvantage household backgrounds. Identifying demographic factors that may predict bullying can also be used to prevent individuals from becoming involved in bullying and reduce the related negative consequences from being bullied.

Reduction in Indoor Airborne Endotoxin Concentration by the Use of Air Purifier and Its Relationship with Respiratory Health: A Randomized Crossover Intervention Study

Endotoxins are biological components of particulate matter that cause adverse respiratory system effects. Recently, air purifiers have been widely used; however, their effects on endotoxins are not fully understood. We conducted a randomized crossover intervention study to evaluate the effects of air purifiers on indoor endotoxins and occupants’ respiratory health. Thirty-two healthy subjects were randomly assigned to two groups; each group spent four weeks using either a true or sham (filter removed) air purifier. Subsequently, the subjects spent an additional four weeks using the alternative air purifier. The indoor endotoxins in fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10–2.5) particulate matter were continuously collected, and pulmonary function was tested repeatedly during the study period. Household characteristics were assessed using a questionnaire. The geometric mean of the PM2.5 endotoxin concentrations was 0.13 EU/m3, which was significantly lower with true purifiers compared with sham purifiers, after adjusting for household characteristics (0.17 EU/m3). In addition, the PM2.5 endotoxin concentrations were significantly greater in reinforced concrete houses than in wooden houses. The PM10–2.5 endotoxin concentrations were significantly greater in homes with two or more household members, and in those with pets. No association was found between endotoxin concentration and respiratory health among the subjects.

Determinants of the type of health care sought for symptoms of Acute respiratory infection in children: analysis of Ghana demographic and health surveys

Background Globally, acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a leading cause of infant and childhood morbidity and mortality. Currently, it is estimated that 50 million cases of childhood ARI are untreated. In this study, we identified determinants of the type of treatment sought for symptoms of childhood acute respiratory infection (ARI), including non-treatment, amongst a nationally representative sample of children under five years in Ghana. Methods In total, 1 544 children were studied by a secondary analysis of pooled survey data from the 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS). Cross-tabulations, chi-square, multinomial logistic regression, and Bayesian hierarchical spatial logistic regression analyses were used to identify relationships between the type of treatment sought and maternal socio-economic and household characteristics. Results Seeking medical care was significantly associated with child age (RRR= 1.928, 95 % CI 1.276 – 2.915), maternal employment status (RRR = 1.815, 95 % CI 1.202 – 2.740), maternal health insurance status, (RRR = 2.618, 95 % CI 1.801 – 3.989), children belonging to middle (RRR = 2.186, 95 % CI 1.473 – 3.243), richer (RRR = 1.908, 95 % CI 1.145 – 3.180) and richest households (RRR = 2.456, 95 % CI 1.363 – 4.424) and the 1998 survey period (RRR = 0.426, 95 % CI 0.240 – 7.58). Seeking self-care or visiting a traditional healer was significantly associated with maternal educational status (RRR = 0.000, 95 % CI 0.000 – 0.000), and the 1998 (RRR= 0.330, 95 % CI 0.142 – 0.765), 2003 (RRR= 0.195, 95 % CI 0.071 – 0.535), 2008 (RRR= 0.216, 95 % CI 0.068 – 0.685) and 2014 (RRR= 0.230, 95 % CI 0.081 – 0.657) GDHS periods. The probability that the odds ratio of using medical care exceeded 1 was higher for mothers/caregivers in the Western, Ashanti, Upper West, and Volta regions. Conclusions Government policies that are aimed at encouraging medical care-seeking for children with ARI may yield positive results by focusing on improving maternal incomes, maternal NHIS enrolment, and maternal household characteristics. Improving maternal education could be a positive step towards addressing challenges with self-care or traditional healing amongst children with ARI.

Changes in rural household characteristics and their implications on agricultural income in wetland rice ecosystems

Agricultural development has impacted changes in rural economic structure, as reflected by rural economic indicators.. The research question is how the direction of the changes is and the implications for rural household agricultural income. This paper aims to analyses household characteristics changes in the rice-based ecosystems and their implication on household agricultural income. The study used micro-panel data of the National Farmers Panel (in 2010 and 2016) from the Indonesian Centre for Agro Socio-Economic and Policy Studies. The survey was conducted in 14 villages of five rice production centers provinces in Java and Outside Java. The number of respondents is 559 households. Data was analyzed statistically descriptive by calculating the average, minimum-maximum numbers, and participation rate. Generalized Linear Models method was employed to determine the factors affecting household agricultural income. The results showed that agricultural land occupation tends to decrease. The number of older workers tends to increase. The increase of workforce older than 65 years is more significant in Java than Outside Java. The workforce level of education remains predominantly in elementary school. Although nominal total income increased significantly, real income increase sluggishly. Household agricultural income is still dominant but declining. The farmland managed, age and level of education of the household member, number of the household member, and cropping intensity affect household agricultural income significantly. To increase the household agricultural income by increasing the production capacity of farmers’ households through increasing land occupation, improving human resources skills, and facilitating innovative technology that can increase farming efficiency and productivity.

Family and household characteristics associated with seropositive cases to SARS-CoV-2 across Mexican households

Objective. To assess the association of family and housing characteristics with the number of seropositive cases to SARS-CoV-2 in households. Materials and methods. We analyzed 874 households from Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición (Ensanut) 2020 Covid-19 using Poisson regression models. Results. The number of seropositive family members was higher among families composed of children/adolescents, adults and older adults, households with more than two members per bedroom, and among households with closed windows. No association was found for bathroom availability and piped water. Conclusions. Family composition and housing characteristics can impose significant structural barriers to safe home confinement.