Broadband Market Sizing in Brazil

The objective of this study is to predict the potential broadband market in Brazil. This is done by combining information from two national databases: the 2010 census and the 2015 PNAD (National Household Survey). The 2015 PNAD is used to estimate the probability of the household accessing internet by broadband technology, using a logit regression. The broadband market is predicted using the estimated model with the same covariates found in the 2010 census. The prediction indicated a potential market of 45 million households, an additional of 6 million households in relation to the current situation. The new size of the broadband market is estimated if there is a 10% increase in the average penetration of broadband services in the main metropolitan areas. In this scenario, the new market covers 50.7 million households.

Response Efficacy and Action to Prepare for Disasters With Different Lead Time: Age Differences

This study investigated how disaster types, namely those with short and longer warning lead time, contextualized individuals’ preparatory action, especially as associated with their response efficacy and age. The working sample included 1,467 respondents from the 2017 U.S. National Household Survey. Logistic regressions showed that individuals with higher levels of response efficacy were more likely to prepare after learning information about how to prepare. Respondents in areas prone to short lead-time disasters were less likely to prepare than those in longer lead-time disasters areas. Response efficacy was more important for action taking for short lead-time disasters, which was observed only among older adults when older and younger adults were examined separately. These findings revealed the impacts of disaster types and response efficacy on disaster preparedness and older adults’ unique vulnerability and resilience, which could guide policymaking and interventions to promote national disaster preparedness tailored to regional peculiarities.

Retirement, happiness, and health in Japan

While health effects of retirement have been well studied so far, previous findings remain inconclusive, and mechanisms underlying the linkage between retirement and health are unclear. This can be driven by regional or cohort heterogeneity as well as methodological differences, such as outcome measures and identification strategies; thus, much evidence needs to be accumulated. Utilising a national household survey conducted every year in 2004-2019 in Japan (the Japan Household Panel Survey), we evaluate the effects of retirement among Japanese adults aged 50-75 on their happiness and health in addition to other outcomes that could attribute to happiness or health changes (e.g. health behaviours, time use for some activities, and the expenses by item). As outcomes are not measured every year, we analyse 4,340-7,902 person-year observations by 756-1,389 individuals with the necessary information from 2009. To deal with the potential endogeneity of retirement, we adopt an instrumental variable approach utilising changes in retirement policy and public pension eligible age. Consequently, instruments seem valid only for men, and we find that retirement increases male retirees’ happiness and decreases psychological stress while effects on other health measures are not observed. Although their satisfaction with their income decline, perhaps because of the loss of their wage income, they tend to increase the proportion of expenses for cultural and recreational activities. Enhancement in personal life quality by more leisure activities and stress reduction from work, rather than improvements in health behaviours and physical health, may be key to understanding health benefits in retirement.

Population knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance: results from national household survey 2019 and changes from 2017

Background Lack of knowledge and awareness on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can result in irrational use of antibiotics, which is one of the major drivers of AMR. One goal of the Thailand National Strategic Plan on AMR (2017-2021) is a 20% increase in public knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use and AMR by 2021. This study assesses antibiotic use, level of knowledge and awareness of antibiotic use and AMR and the factors associated with their knowledge and awareness in the Thai population in 2019. It compares findings with a similar national survey in 2017. Methods An AMR module was integrated into the Health and Welfare Survey, a biennial national household survey conducted by the National Statistical Office since 2017. The 2019 survey took place in March, through face-to-face interviews with 27,900 Thai adults aged 15 years or above who participated in the survey and compares 2019 findings with those from 2017. Results One month prior to the survey, 6.3% of population reported use of antibiotics (reduced from 7.9% to 2017), of which 98.1% received antibiotics through healthcare professionals and almost half (43.2%) for flu symptoms. During the last 12 months, 21.5% of Thai adults received information on the appropriate use of antibiotics and AMR (increased from 17.8% to 2017); mostly through health professionals (82.7%). On knowledge, 24.3% of adults gave correct answers to more than three out of six statements (three true and three false statements) (increased from 23.7% to 2017). The overall mean score of awareness of appropriate antibiotic use and AMR is 3.3 out of total score of 5. Conclusions Although progress was made on knowledge and awareness between 2017 and 2019, certain practices, such as use of antibiotics for flu symptoms and receiving information about antibiotic use and AMR, are inappropriate and inadequate. These findings require significant action, notably strengthening health professionals’ ability to prescribe and dispense antibiotics appropriately and effective communication with patients. The government should promote specific information on rational use of antibiotics and AMR to specific target groups.

Measuring the Protective Effect of Health Insurance Coverage on Out-of-Pocket Expenditures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Peruvian Population

Background: Health insurance coverage is expected to protect individuals from out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures, potentially preventing them from falling into poverty. However, to date, the effect of health insurance on OOP spending during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been fully explored. This study aimed to estimate differences in the proportion and the amount of OOP expenditures among Peruvians during the pre- and post-mandatory lockdown response to COVID-19 in 2020 according to the health insurance coverage status. Methods: This study utilized repeated cross-sectional data from the National Household Survey on Living and Poverty Conditions from the first quarter of 2017 until the fourth quarter of 2020. The outcomes were i) the proportion of individuals who incurred OOP expenditures and ii) the monetary value of OOP expenditures. An interrupted time series analysis (ITS) and a quasi-experimental difference-in-difference (DID) analysis were performed to examine the outcomes among the control (individuals without health insurance) and treatment groups (individuals with health insurance) after the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: ITS analysis showed that the proportion of individuals reporting OOP expenditures after implementation of mandatory lockdown due to COVID-19 in Peru decreased in both groups, but no difference in the slope trend was found (p=0.916). The average quarterly amount of OOP spending increased in both groups, but no difference in the slope trend was found (p=0.073). Lastly, the DID analysis showed that the mandatory lockdown was associated with a higher amount of OOP, but there was no evidence to indicate that the higher amount was different between the control and treatment groups. Conclusion: The mandatory lockdown in response to the COVID-19 was associated with a higher amount of OOP expenditures and a lower likelihood of incurring OOP expenditures. However, our findings suggest that health insurance coverage does not lower OOP expenditures or reduce the likelihood of incurring OOP expenditures.

COVID-19 and heterogeneous vulnerabilities in the Peruvian labor market: implications for social inequalities and for gender gaps

Using quarterly data from the 2020 Peruvian National Household Survey (ENAHO), this paper estimates the differentiated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on a set of labor market indicators, such as labor participation, occupational categories, informality, and number of hours worked. The impacts are calculated from an individual perspective (effects on the activities of the heads of household and their spouses, distinguishing them according to sex) and also from a joint strategy perspective among the partners. The results indicate that the intersectionalities of vulnerability considered (rural/urban area, and those contained in the type of households and in the situation of single-parenting or two-parenting of household heads and their spouses) determine that women, who live in rural areas, have children and do not have a partner were the most affected by the global health crisis.

Middle class vulnerability to covid-19 pandemic effects and government measures in Metropolitan Lima

Using National Household Survey data, this study examines the situation of Peruvian middle class households in Metropolitan Lima and Callao prior to the COVID-19 pandemic through financial and non-financial variables in order to identify vulnerability factors in the overall population and in income quintiles.The analysis has revealed that health, income and labor are the most vulnerable indicators and could be heavily affected by government measures against COVID-19, such as mandatory social isolation (lockdown), social distancing, and movement and gathering restrictions. In this context, households in the lowest quintile are substantially more susceptible to falling into poverty due to economic instability, labor informality and lack of social protection. The study results suggest that the definition of “vulnerability” needs to go beyond poverty measurements to improve the focalization of government policies and strategies in similar crises.