Lineage replacement and evolution captured by the United Kingdom Covid Infection Survey

The Office for National Statistics COVID-19 Infection Survey is a large household-based surveillance study based in the United Kingdom. Here, we report on the epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 determined by analysing sequenced samples collected up until 13th November 2021. We observed four distinct sweeps or partial-sweeps, by lineages B.1.177, B.1.1.7/Alpha, B.1.617.2/Delta, and finally AY.4.2, a sublineage of B.1.617.2, with each sweeping lineage having a distinct growth advantage compared to their predecessors. Evolution was characterised by steady rates of evolution and increasing diversity within lineages, but with step increases in divergence associated with each sweeping major lineage, leading to a faster overall rate of evolution and fluctuating levels of diversity. These observations highlight the value of viral sequencing integrated into community surveillance studies to monitor the viral epidemiology and evolution of SARS-CoV-2, and potentially other pathogens, particularly as routine PCR testing is phased out or in settings where large-scale sequencing is not feasible.

Large household reduces dementia mortality.

Background Large households/families create more positive psychological well-being which may offer a life course protection against dementia development and deliver more comprehensive healthcare to dementia patients. Methods Dementia specific mortality rates of the 183 member states of World Health Organization were calculated and matched with the respective country data on household size, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), urban and ageing. Scatter plots were produced to explore and visualize the correlations between household size and dementia mortality rates. Pearsons and nonparametric correlations were used to evaluate the strength and direction of the associations between household size and all other variables. Partial correlation of Pearsons moment-product approach was used to identify that household size protects against dementia regardless of the competing effects from ageing, GDP and urbanization. Multiple regression identified large household was a significant predictor of dementia mortality. Results Household size was in a negative and moderately strong correlation (r = -0.6034, p < 0.001) with dementia mortality. This relationship was confirmed in both Pearson r (r= - 0.524, p<0.001) and nonparametric (rho = -0.579, p < 0.001) analyses. Regardless of the contribution of ageing, SES and urban lifestyle to dementia mortality, large household was an independent predictor of dementia mortality (r = −0.331, p <0.001) in partial correlation analysis. Stepwise multiple regression analysis selected large household as the variable having the greatest contribution to dementia mortality with R2 = 0.263 while ageing was placed second increasing R2 to 0.259. GDP and urbanization were removed as having no statistically significant influence on dementia mortality. Conclusions Independent of ageing, urbanization and GDP, large household protects against dementia mortality. As part of dementia prevention, healthcare practitioners should encourage people to increase their positive interactions with persons from their neighbourhood or other fields where large household/family size is hard to achieve.

Fishing in Salty Waters: Poverty, Occupational Saline Exposure, and Women’s Health in the Indian Sundarban

Collecting wild tiger prawn seedlings, also known as prawn post-larvae (PL), from rivers and creeks is an important occupation for more than 100,000 poor women in India&rsquo;s Sundarban estuarine delta. Prawn PL collecting requires many hours of immersion in saline river water. This paper uses a large household survey to explore the determinants of poor women&rsquo;s engagement in this occupation and the health impacts. The results reveal high significance for two variables: (i) the opportunity wage, proxied by years of education and (ii) child-care demands, proxied by the household child-dependency ratio. Together, these variables are sufficient to distinguish between women who have no engagement with prawn PL collecting and those with many years of engagement. The probability of self-reported health problems is also significantly higher for women with more saline exposure from prawn PL collecting and whose drinking water is from tube wells with higher salinity.

Pregnant women’s decision-making capacity and adherence to iron supplementation in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-country analysis of 25 countries

Background Anaemia and related complications during pregnancy is a global problem but more prevalent in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). Women’s decision-making power has significantly been linked with maternal health service utilization but there is inadequate evidence about adherence to iron supplementation. This study therefore assessed the association between household decision-making power and iron supplementation adherence among pregnant married women in 25 sub-Saharan African countries. Methods We used data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 25 sub-Saharan African countries conducted between 2010 and 2019. Women's decision-making power was measured by three parameters; own health care, making large household purchases and visits to her family or relatives. The association between women’s decision-making power and iron supplementation adherence was assessed using logistic regressions, adjusting for confounders. The results were presented as adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Approximately 65.4% of pregnant married women had made decisions either alone or with husband in all three decisions making parameters (i.e., own health care, making large household purchases, visits to her family or relatives). The rate of adherence to iron medication during pregnancy was 51.7% (95% CI; 48.5–54.9%). Adherence to iron supplementation was found to be higher among pregnant married women who had decision-making power (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI; 1.16–1.83), secondary education (AOR = 1.45, 95% CI; 1.05–2.00) and antenatal care visit (AOR = 2.77, 95% CI; 2.19–3.51). Wealth quintiles and religion were significantly associated with adherence to iron supplementation. Conclusions Adherence to iron supplementation is high among pregnant women in SSA. Decision making power, educational status and antenatal care visit were found to be significantly associated with adherence to these supplements. These findings highlight that there is a need to design interventions that enhance women’s decision-making capacities, and empowering them through education to improve the coverage of antenatal iron supplementation.

Productivity Impact of Climate Change on Primary Export Commodity in Africa

Using a large household survey dataset and climate data, we estimated and analyzed the productivity impact of climate change on two strategic export commodities, cotton, and sugarcane, in Ethiopia. The productivity impact revealed that it is likely that climate change will significantly reduce the productivity of sugarcane and cotton. In addition, net revenue from sugarcane and cotton will also be reduced due to an increase in annual and seasonal temperature as well as changes in mean annual and seasonal rainfall. We have presented results for various climate scenarios and seasons. We also found that non–climate drivers of vulnerability such as gender, education, access to extension services and credit, technology use, access to land and non – farm income, and natural assets will exacerbate the negative impacts of climate change.

Women empowerment and minimum daily meal frequency among infants and young children in Ghana: analysis of Ghana demographic and health survey

Background The nutritional quality of food has an important impact on the health and well-being of families, especially children whose bodies need to grow, develop and reach their full physical and mental potential. Traditionally, women in Ghana provide care and nourishment for their children and families if they have the means to do so or if they are financially, legally and socially empowered. Women’s empowerment is not only important for women’s human rights, but also improves nutrition and health outcomes of both mothers and their children. Women’s empowerment is concerned with increasing ability to make strategic life choices in situations where the ability was hitherto denied. This study sought to investigate the association between women’s empowerment and minimum daily meal frequency (minimum number of meals to be consumed in a day) in Ghana. Methods The study used data from the 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS). A sample of 1640 mother-child dyad was used. Mothers ages ranged from 15 to 49 while children’s ages ranged from 6 to 23 months. Univariate and multiple linear regression techniques were applied to identify women empowerment (economic, socio-familial and legal) and sociodemographic factors associated with minimum daily meal frequency scores. Data was analyzed by the STATA statistical package software version 13.0. Statistical significance level was set at P < 0.10. Results Data from decisions on large household purchases (β = 0.351, p < 0.01) family visits (β = 0.743, p < 0.01), home ownership (β = − 0.245, p < 0.10), age of child (β = 1.387, p < 0.01), mother’s educational attainment (β = 0.496, p < 0.10) and place of residence (β = − 0.298, p < 0.10) showed significant positive association with minimum daily meal frequency in Ghana. Conclusion Minimum daily meal frequency was largely influenced by economic and socio-familial factors that contribute to empowerment of women. as decisions on large household purchases and family visits showed significant positive association with minimum daily meal frequency. Interventional programs should target households and mothers with lower socio-demographic characteristics such as lower educational levels and low economic status to improve minimal daily meal frequency in their children thereby ensuring better child health and well-being.

Resilience to shocks in Malawian households

Building up resilience in agricultural households has assumed a critical role in development strategies in recent years because, it is argued, the costs of strengthening resilience are less than the recurring expenditure for disaster assistance. Relying on large household datasets from 2010 and 2013, we explored the resilience of Malawian households to the exogenous shocks of flooding and currency devaluation during this period. We utilised two strategies for understanding resilience. The first, a classification framework pioneered by Briguglio and others, categorises households into resilience and vulnerability spaces. The second approach employs econometric analysis to explore food security resilience. These two complementary analyses reveal that infrastructure, assets, education and non-agricultural employment opportunities contribute most to food security resilience.

Estimated Rates of Intermittent Preventive Treatment During Pregnancy for Malaria Based on Population-based Survey Responses: Reliability of Recall Among Women with Antenatal Care Cards

Large household surveys performed to estimate coverage rates for various health interventions, including intermittent preventive treatment, depend on recall. Many studies question the validity of recalled data. Regarding vaccine coverage rates, it is standard practice to validate responses using medical history cards. To validate the coverage rates of intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy reported by large household surveys, recalled coverage rates were compared with antenatal care card data in Benin, Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania. The results indicated that recall was comparable to the coverage rates provided indicated by the antenatal care cards. These findings suggest that intermittent preventive treatment coverage rates reported by large household surveys performed using recalled data are valid.

Impact of Child Labour on Children’s Academic Activities in Krachi East District

Child labour is one of the contemporary issues that has attracted the attention of many researchers. Most school children all over the world are engaged in child labour. This research investigates the effects of child labour on children academic activities in the Krachi East District in Ghana. The research adopted the mixed method. The purposive and snow ball sampling technique were used to select one hundred and sixty (160) victims of child labour. The questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The questionnaire was edited by experts in child labour and this helped to achieve validity. Data were analysed using tables and figures. It was realized that 68.7% of the children were engaged in agricultural activities and the major reasons for their plight include large household size, parental illiteracy and poverty. Child labour leads to low academic performance. The study recommends that government should support children from poor homes.