The COVID-19 Mortality Rate and its Related Factors in Fars Province

Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 has become the current crisis in most countries. Therefore, paying attention to the consequences and determinants of COVID-19. Mortality can lead to better control of the condition. This study aimed to investigate the COVID-19 mortality rate and its demographic and health determinants in Fars province. Methods: This research was conducted using a quantitative method. For this purpose, available data for selected counties in Fars province were analyzed. The COVID-19 mortality rate was considered a dependent variable. In addition, the variables of literacy rate, urbanization rate, elderly population ratio, unemployment rate, the ratio of the active hospital, ratio of pre-hospital emergency stations, the ratio of centers for primary health care, and the ratio of active hospital beds were considered independent variables. Results: Findings showed that the variables of the elderly population ratio, urbanization rate, and unemployment rate had a direct relationship with the COVID-19 mortality rate. The findings also indicated that the COVID-19 mortality rate in the 45-49 age range begins to accelerate and peaks between 95 and 99 years old. In addition, the literacy rate was inversely related to the COVID-19 mortality rate. The results also showed an inverse relationship between all the selected health variables and the dependent variable. Conclusion: Improving the economic situation, specifically reducing the unemployment rate, emphasizing public education of the people, as well as improving the medical and health facilities, can facilitate the response to pandemics. © 2023 Authors. All rights reserved.

Cross-Border Cooperation Health in Ireland//A RESPONSE

Providing healthcare services commands the largest allocation of public funding on both sides of the Irish border and concerns over the efficiency and effectiveness of these systems are perennial. Over the past two decades health has been identified as a key area for cross-border collaboration. However, in the absence of an overarching framework or strategy, there is little clarity about objectives. Using the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study it demonstrates that even in the face of an existential crisis, political leaders default to debates over culture and identity. The paper sets out how the healthcare systems in the two jurisdictions share similar core principles and values and face similar social, economic and political pressures. They have adopted broadly comparable approaches to tackling systemic issues, such as an ageing and growing population, evolving healthcare needs, workforce planning and financial pressures. It argues that there is potential for greater cross-border cooperation but this requires high-level political agreement and must be based on robust evidence. As this paper shows, there are significant barriers to developing all-island approaches, but these are not insurmountable.

"Something to look forward to" - experiences of older adults taking part in a peer support group

The political response to Wales' ageing population has been to strive to make Wales the best place in the world to grow older (Older People's Commissioner for Wales, 2019). Third sector interventions to improve the wellbeing of older adults have been recognised by the Welsh Government as "pivotal" (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008). Many studies have been carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of such interventions, but there is little in-depth understanding of people's experiences of participation. The aim of this study was to describe the experience of taking part in a peer support group for older adults from the perspective of its participants. Using descriptive phenomenology, the study avoided evaluation and instead gave voice to the older adults who participated in a peer support group taking place in a retirement housing scheme in South Wales. The study had a longitudinal design with three interview phases over a 15-month period. The first phase of interviews took place whilst the group was led by professional facilitators. The second phase took place six months later when the group was led by a volunteer peer leader. The final interviews were conducted six months thereafter during the first lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Six members of the group volunteered to participate in this study of whom three became peer leaders. Sixteen one-to-one interviews of between 45 and 60 minutes were conducted over 15 months. The data gathered was analysed to identify themes using Giorgi's method for descriptive phenomenological analysis (Giorgi, 1997). The overarching theme identified was of experiences of wellbeing. The findings suggest that wellbeing includes feelings of positive emotion such as enjoyment, amusement, feelings of being in control, being valued and pride. Wellbeing included feelings of belonging and encompassed the development of relationships with other group members and external facilitators. Participants described attending the group as providing opportunities to learn from one another,share experiences of bereavement and provide empathetic support. Findings indicated that participation in the group generated feelings of wellbeing from participants' perceptions that it was a meaningful experience with purpose. It was described as "something to look forward to" and an opportunity to "bring the outside in." The contribution to new knowledge made by this study arises from findings about the experience of the older adult peer leaders. These experiences have not been explored in other studies. The peer leaders' experiences of wellbeing were broader than those of the group members. They included feelings of engagement and achievement arising from their participation in meaningful activities. These findings can be used to inform policies which seek to improve the wellbeing of older adults. This is a strategic objective of the Welsh Government's Ageing Well policy (Welsh Government, 2020). Welsh Government policy also seeks to realign the negative perceptions held of older adults. Including older adults in opportunities for social participation such as leading peer support groups in a voluntary capacity contributes to this realignment and accords with Ageing Well policy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Estimating Older Adult Mortality From COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to employ simulations to model the probability of mortality from COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus) for older adults in the United States given at best and at worst cases. METHODS: This study first examined current epidemiological reports to better understand the risk of mortality from COVID-19. Past epidemiological studies from severe acute respiratory syndrome were also examined given similar virology. Next, at best and at worst mortality cases were considered with the goal of estimating the probability of mortality. To accomplish this for the general population, microdata from the National Health Interview Survey pooled sample (2016, 2017, and 2018 public-use NHIS with a sample of 34,881 adults at least 60 years of age) were utilized. Primary measures included age and health status (diabetes, body mass index, and hypertension). A logit regression with 100,000 simulations was employed to derive the estimates and probabilities. RESULTS: Age exhibited a positive association for the probability of death with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.22 (p < .05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.42). A positive association was also found for body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.03, p < .01, 95% CI: 1.02-1.04) and hypertension (OR 1.36, p < .01, 95% CI: 1.09-1.66) for the at best case. Diabetes was significant but only for the at best case. DISCUSSION: This study found mortality increased with age and was notable for the 74-79 age group for the at best case and the 70-79 age group of the at worst case. Obesity was also important and suggested a higher risk for mortality. Hypertension also exhibited greater risk but the increase was minimal. Given the volume of information and misinformation, these findings can be applied by health professionals, gerontologists, social workers, and local policymakers to better inform older adults about mortality risks and, in the process, reestablish public trust.

Determinants of the Elderly Share of Population: A Cross-Country Empirical Analysis.

COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on the elderly, who are over-represented among those who suffered severe illness or death. The obvious implication is that the share of the elderly in the population significantly affects the impact of COVID-19 on the overall health of a country. More generally, the elderly share has far-reaching economic and social ramifications. In this paper, we perform empirical analysis of cross-country data from 1970 to 2018 to identify the determinants of the share of the elderly-i.e., those aged 65 and over-in a country's population. We find that the quality of health care, life expectancy, and female labor participation increases the elderly share while higher fertility and female education attainment lower the elderly share. In addition, we find that the share is higher for high income countries and countries in Europe and Central Asia.

Has Demographic Revolution Come to a Halt? An Approximation to Successful Aging and the Need for Socio-Educational Action in the New Normal

En los últimos años ha aumentado el interés por saber cómo se integra el proceso de envejecimiento en las sociedades actuales. El cuerpo de investigación existente sobre el envejecimiento sugiere que la sociedad debe promover el apoyo al envejecimiento exitoso, lo que implica vivir más y vivir mejor. De esta forma, extensas investigaciones muestran que los adultos mayores necesitan involucrarse en la participación social (Raymond y Grenier, 2015), por lo que, en los últimos años, la educación de los adultos mayores se ha convertido en una parte decisiva de las diferentes políticas aplicadas para lograr un envejecimiento exitoso. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar las diferentes formas en que la sociedad actúa ante el envejecimiento, con especial atención a la situación española. Este estudio examina cómo se ha transformado la demografía en las últimas décadas, considerando el impacto de la reciente pandemia de Covid-19 y las diferentes implicaciones que tiene para la calidad de vida y el envejecimiento exitoso. Se proporciona una revisión de las principales teorías del envejecimiento y recomendaciones para lograr un envejecimiento exitoso. Se presentan acciones socioeducativas vinculadas a la promoción exitosa del envejecimiento, destacando algunos programas universitarios específicamente diseñados para adultos mayores. Este esquema de aprendizaje permanente tiene el potencial de revolucionar la práctica educativa actual para integrar socialmente a los adultos mayores en las sociedades posmodernas.Alternate :In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in how the aging processis integrated into current societies. The existing body of research on aging suggests that society must promote support for successful aging, which implies living more and better. In this way, extensive research shows that older adults need to be engaged in social participation (Raymond and Grenier, 2015). Therefore, in recent years, older adult education has become a decisive part of the different policies applied to achieve successful aging. The purpose of this paper is to review the various ways in which society acts when facing aging, with special attention devoted to the Spanish situation. This study examines how demographics have transformed in the last decades, considering the impact of the recent Covid-19 pandemic and the different implications that it poses for the quality of life and successful aging. A revision of the main aging theories and recommendations to achieve successful aging are provided. Socio-educational actions linked to successful aging promotion are presented, highlighting some university programmes specifically designed for older adults. This lifelong learning scheme has the potential to revolutionize current educational practices to socially integrate older adults in postmodern societies.

Senior Taxi as a Support for the Mobility of Seniors in the Period of Covid 19

Population aging, which is so relevant not only in today's developed world, but also in developing countries. Given the aging of the Slovak population and its expected continuation, it is obvious that this topic deserves attention. The effort of today's society to pay intense attention to the issues of the lives of older people and to lend a helping hand if necessary is undoubtedly current and important. An aging person is exposed to a large number of changes, which can usually be described as physical, mental and social. There is no doubt that spatial movement or mobility is an integral part of human life;there is general agreement that there is an important relationship between mobility and the quality of life of older people. With advancing age, the representation of different modes of transport also changes. It turns out that with increasing years, the number of people preferring to drive as a driver gradually decreases. With the decline in car journeys, walking and public transport are becoming increasingly important among the older generation of seniors. The Covid 19 pandemic affected all walks of life;to a significant extent also the mobility of the population. In most European countries, the pandemic has led to a significant decrease in mobility, which has been reflected in a lower number of trips per day and a shortening of distances between routes. The pandemic also had an impact on travel in the Slovak Republic;closed schools, shops and domestic work caused a significant drop in public transport passengers. The pandemic has a particularly adverse effect on the mobility of seniors. The aim of our research was to identify current problems in the mobility of seniors in Slovakia and to assess the possibility of using senior taxis for this group of people. © 2022 Kaunas University of Technology. All rights reserved.

Providing long‐term care: Options for a better workforce

Older people and their care workers have been disproportionately affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Many OECD Member countries have taken measures to contain the spread of the infection and improve the care workforce. Yet the health crisis is highlighting and exacerbating pre‐existing structural problems in the long‐term care (LTC) sector. In many OECD Member countries, recruiting enough workers in LTC remains a challenge and care workers experience difficult working conditions. Skills mismatch and poor integration with the rest of health care lie at the root of preventable hospital admissions even in normal times. Such challenges are likely to become ever more acute if no further action is taken given the speed of population ageing. Policies to improve recruitment and which also address retention through training, improvements in coordination and productivity, leveraging the effect of digital technologies, are needed.Alternate :Les personnes âgées et leurs soignants ont été touchés de manière disproportionnée par la pandémie de COVID‑19. De nombreux pays de l’OCDE ont pris des mesures pour empêcher la propagation de l’infection et augmenter le nombre de soignants. Néanmoins la crise sanitaire met en lumière et exacerbe les problèmes structuraux existants dans le secteur des soins de longue durée. Dans de nombreux pays membres de l’OCDE, le recrutement d’un nombre de travailleurs suffisants dans le domaine des soins de longue durée demeure un défi et les soignants ont des conditions de travail difficiles. L’inadéquation des compétences et une mauvaise intégration avec le reste des soins de santé donnent lieu à des hospitalisations évitables, même en temps normal. Compte tenu de la vitesse à laquelle la population vieillit, ces défis sont susceptibles de s’accentuer encore plus si aucune autre action n’est entreprise. Il est nécessaire de mettre en œuvre des politiques visant à améliorer le recrutement et permettant de maintenir les effectifs via la formation, des améliorations dans la coordination et la productivité, tout en tirant parti de l’effet des technologies numériques.Alternate :La pandemia de COVID‐19 ha afectado de forma desproporcionada a las personas de la tercera edad y sus proveedores de cuidados. Muchos países miembros de la Organización de Cooperación y Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE) han adoptado medidas encaminadas a evitar que la infección se propague y aumentar el número de proveedores de cuidados. A pesar de ello, la crisis sanitaria está poniendo de relieve y agravando los problemas estructurales existentes en el sector de los cuidados de larga duración. En muchos países miembros de la OCDE, la contratación de un número suficiente de proveedores de cuidados de larga duración sigue constituyendo un desafío y las condiciones de trabajo de dichos proveedores son complejas. Incluso en circunstancias normales, se registran hospitalizaciones evitables debido a competencias inadecuadas y a la escasa integración con el resto del sistema de atención de salud. Habida cuenta de la velocidad a la que envejece la población, es probable que estos problemas se agraven si no se adoptan medidas al respecto. Se precisan políticas que tengan por objetivo mejorar la contratación y abordar la retención mediante programas de formación, mejoras en materia de coordinación y de productividad, e iniciativas de aprovechamiento de las tecnologías digitales.Alternate :Ältere Menschen und ihre Pflegekräfte sind von der COVID‐19‐Pandemie unverhältnismäßig stark betroffen worden. Viele OECD‐Mitgliedstaaten haben Maßnahmen ergriffen, um die Ausbreitung der Infektion einzudämmen und das Pflegepersonal zu fördern. Die Gesundheitskrise verdeutlicht und verschärft jedoch bereits bestehende strukturelle Probleme im Langzeitpflegebereich. In vielen OECD‐Mitgliedstaaten ist es nach wie vor eine Herausforderung, genügend Arbeitskräfte für die Langzeitpflege zu finden, und die Arbeitsbedingungen für Pflegekräfte si d schwierig. Ein Qualifikationsdefizit und eine unzureichende Einbindung in die übrige Gesundheitsversorgung sind die Ursache für vermeidbare Krankenhauseinweisungen selbst in normalen Zeiten. Diese Herausforderungen werden wahrscheinlich immer akuter werden, wenn angesichts der raschen Alterung der Bevölkerung keine weiteren Maßnahmen ergriffen werden. Es bedarf Strategien zur Verbesserung der Personalrekrutierung und der Personalbindung durch Fortbildung, Verbesserung der Koordinierung und der Produktivität unter Nutzung der Wirkung digitaler Technologien.Alternate :Пандемия COVID‑19 оказала неравнозначное влияние на пожилых людей и персонал по уходу за ними. Многие страны‐члены ОЭСР принимают меры, чтобы контролировать распространение инфекции и улучшать качество рабочей силы в сфере ухода. Однако кризис в области здравоохранения выдвигает на первый план и усугубляет ранее существовавшие структурные проблемы в области долгосрочного ухода (ДУ). Во многих странах‐членах ОЭСР найм достаточного количества работников для ДУ остаётся проблемой, а сами работники в сфере ухода имеют тяжёлые условия труда. Даже и в обычные времена несоответствие навыков и плохое взаимодействие с остальными службами здравоохранения лежат в основе предотвратимых госпитализаций. Учитывая скорость старения населения, такие проблемы, вероятно, ещё сильнее обострятся, если в дальнейшем не будут приниматься соответствующие меры. Необходимы меры по улучшению ситуации с набором персонала, а также по удержанию работников посредством тренингов, улучшения координации работы и продуктивности, эффективного использования цифровых технологий.Alternate :老年人及其照护工作人员遭受了新冠肺炎大流行病不成比例的影响。许多经合组织成员国已采取措施控制感染传播并改善照护人员队伍。然而, 这场健康危机正凸显并加剧长期照护部门业已存在的结构性问题。在许多经合组织成员国, 招聘足够的长期照护工作人员仍然是一项挑战, 照护人员也面临着艰难的工作条件。即使在正常情况下,可避免入院问题的根源在于技能不匹配以及与其他卫生健康部门的整合不力。鉴于人口老龄化速度, 如不采取进一步行动, 这些挑战可能会变得更加严峻。需要制定政策来改善招聘, 并通过培训、改善协调和生产力以及利用数字技术成果来留住人才。Alternate :تأثر كبار السن والعاملين في مجال رعايتهم بشكل غير متناسب بجائحة كوفيد‐19. واتخذت العديد من البلدان الأعضاء في منظمة التعاون والتنمية في الميدان الاقتصادي ، لا يزال توظيف عدد كافٍ من العاملين في مجال الرعاية طويلة الأمد يمثل تحديًا ويواجه العاملون في المجال ذاته ظروف عمل صعبة. ويكمن عدم تطابق المهارات وضعف التكامل مع بقية جوانب الرعاية الصحية في أساسمنظمة التعاون والتنمية في الميدان الاقتصاديتدابير لاحت٠اء انتشار العدوى وتحسين القوى العاملة في مجال الرعاية. ومع ذلك، فإن الأزمة الصحية تسلط الضوء على المشاكل الهيكلية الموجودة مسبقًا وتؤدي إلى تفاقمها في قطاع الرعاية طويلة الأمد. وفي العديد من البلدان الأعضاء في الإستشفاءات التي يمكن الوقاية منها، حتى في الأوقات العادية. ومن المرجح أن تصبح مثل هذه التحديات أكثر حدة إذا لم يتم اتخاذ مزيد من الإجراءات بالنظر إلى سرعة شيخوخة السكان. وهناك حاجة إلى سياسات لتحسين التوظيف والتي تتناول الاستبقاء من خلال التدريب، وتحسين التنسيق والإنتاجية، والاستفادة من تأثير التكنولوجيات الرقمية.Alternate :Os idosos e seus profissionais de saúde foram desproporcionalmente afetados pela pandemia de Covid‐19. Muitos países membros da OCDE tomaram medidas para conter a propagação da infecção e melhorar a mão de obra assistencial. No entanto, a crise da saúde está destacando e agravando os problemas estruturais preexistentes no setor de cuidados de longa duração (LTC). Em muitos países membros da OCDE, o recrutamento de trabalhadores suficientes para LTC continua sendo um desafio e os profissionais de saúde vivenciam condições de trabalho difíceis. A incompatibilidade de competências e a integração deficiente com o restante dos cuidados de saúde estão na raiz das internações hospitalares evitáveis, até mesmo em tempos normais. Esses desafios provavelmente se tornarão cada vez mais intensos se nenhuma ação adicional for tomada, considerando‐se a velocidade do envelhecimento da população. Há necessidade de políticas para melhorar o recrutamento e que também abordem a retenção por meio de treinamento, melhorias na coordenação e na produtividade, aproveitando o efeito das tecnologias digitais.

Sedentary Behavior and Physical Inactivity in the Asia-Pacific Region: Current Challenges and Emerging Concerns.

This editorial sets the scene for our Special Issue on the growing problem of sedentary behavior and physical inactivity in the Asia-Pacific region. In many societies, more than 40% of the adult population and growing numbers of children are insufficiently physically active to safeguard their health. This is contributing to high rates of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and other deleterious health outcomes across the region. The Asia-Pacific is heterogeneous and complex, with diverse social, cultural, and environmental barriers that affect intentions and opportunities for regular physical activity. Recently, the problem has been compounded by the acceleration of population aging, the worsening effects of anthropogenic climate change, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Without strong leadership, enduring funding support, and innovative interventions that cut across policy and society, we may yet be facing a century of unmitigated expansion of morbidity across the Asia-Pacific.

Population Growth and Population Aging in Alberta Municipalities

Between 2011 and 2021, a significant number of Alberta’s towns, villages and rural areas experienced population stagnation or decline, while the cities and many nearby municipalities continued to grow. As smaller municipalities’ populations shrink or fail to grow, they also become disproportionately older—trends that can threaten tax bases and community involvement. This demographic trend has two main causes. First, Alberta’s cities offer increasing employment opportunities in the rapidly growing service sector, while many smaller communities have seen declines in employment in the resource and manufacturing sectors important to their economies and struggle to attract new industries. Thus, as in the rest of the country, towns, villages and municipal districts lose residents, especially young people, to where the jobs are. Second, while the province’s birth rate continues to decline, and overall growth has come to depend almost as much on international immigration as on natural growth, newcomers to the province tend to prefer the major urban areas. Following Alberta’s boom years, the last decade saw decreased migration from other provinces into Alberta and a declining fertility rate. The province’s economy is now on the mend, with the highest employment rate in Canada;however, the once-high birth rates and elevated rates of internal migration from other provinces are unlikely to return. The pace of growth will depend on Alberta’s ability to attract a healthy share of the many new immigrants Canada intends to welcome over the decade ahead. Alberta’s smaller municipalities, in turn, need strategies to attract immigrants. For this, they will require employment opportunities and dedicated resources to assist newcomers. Manitoba has had success in doing this and may offer Alberta an example of how to proceed. Some emerging economic and social trends may work to the benefit of smaller municipalities. For example, industries that require large amounts of land or significant storage facilities often opt to locate outside the big cities. New developments in agriculture and energy, especially in geothermal and hydrogen, may open new opportunities for growth in towns and rural areas. While Alberta is unlikely to replicate B.C.’s success in attracting retirees, the popularity of outdoor recreation provides a chance for many municipalities to attract new residents. Although changes in work practices brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic make future trends difficult to predict, as people continue to work at a distance from their places of employment, it is possible that Alberta could see a demographic shift away from the urban centres. Smaller municipalities may attract both city dwellers and immigrants seeking the benefits of life away from the cities, including bigger and less costly properties. Nevertheless, slower growth and population aging are likely to continue, and communities must use the coming years to prepare, putting in place necessary services, especially those related to health care. This is especially vital in communities far from the urban centres.

The Association Between the China's Economic Development and the Passing Rate of National Physical Fitness Standards for Elderly People Aged 60-69 From 2000 to 2020.

Objective: According to the seventh demographic census, China's elderly population reached 260 million, accounting for 18.7% of the total population, indicating that China is on the verge of transitioning from a relatively mild aging to a moderately aging society, and an aging society inevitably brings concerns about the elderly people's health. The purpose of this study was to better understand the effect of economic development on the physical fitness of the elderly people aged 60-69 in China during the first two decades of the twenty-first century, as well as to establish a correlation between China's gross domestic product (GDP) and changes in the elderly people's passing rate of national physical fitness standards. Methods: A linear regression analysis was performed on the data of GDP and the passing rate of national physical fitness standards of Chinese elderly people aged 60-69 in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2014, and 2020. Results: The passing rate of national physical fitness standards for elderly people aged 60-69 increased linearly (R2 = 80.56%, p < 0.05), indicating that the physical fitness of the elderly tends to increase steadily with GDP expansion. Conclusions: Between 2000 and 2020, the annual improvement in the physical fitness of the elderly people in China is inextricably linked to rapid economic development. Increased financial investments in public sports services and a corresponding national fitness plan all contribute to an overall improvement in the physical fitness of the elderly people. This outcome is the effect of fiscal and policy coordination, which may represent a distinctive Chinese model and contribution to the global effort to manage and improve population physical fitness.

The European Silver Economy

The European Union is going through a period of profound transformation due to socioeconomic and demographic changes. Europe's population is aging as a result of declining fertility and increasing life expectancy, and its share of the world's population continues to decline. The top 10 countries on the planet with the oldest populations include nine EU countries. Older citizens are increasingly shaping the economy, constituting a growing segment in many areas of consumption. The expansion of this age group is expected to lead to an increased demand in many sectors, and in the not-too-distant future will provide significant economic opportunities for European businesses. The so-called “silver economy” (or longevity economy) is a concept of responding to and adapting to the challenges determined by demographic shifts at the global, regional and country levels by inclusively supporting job growth and productivity in traditional and new sectors of the modern digital economy, acceptable to government, business and the entire population, and supposedly capable of becoming the engine of the future economy. Population aging, its density, and household size, in turn, have also had an impact on the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, whose outbreak tested health and welfare systems as well as economic and social sustainability. This is why demographic processes need to be taken into account in the post-pandemic economic cycle, managing their long-term effects has many different aspects concerning health care, including care for the elderly, as well as government budgets. The integration of digital solutions, robotic technologies in these areas can significantly empower the elderly, promote independent and active lifestyles, and integrate into the labor market. Thus, it can be argued that the potential risks of the modern demographic transition are not inevitable, and the challenge is to find tools, opportunities and means to adapt the economy and society to it. © 2021 Institute of Europe Russian Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Formal Peacebuilding and Youth Inclusion in the Twenty-First Century: The Case of Muslim Mindanao

Ragandang focuses on the formal peacebuilding and youth inclusion in Muslim Mindanao during the 21st century. The current realities of the twenty-first-century drive youth inclusion in the formal peacebuilding space. These realities include technological advancement, dangers of violent extremism, population rise of youths, threats of COVID-19, and the gradual aging of peacebuilding adults. Positive intergenerational power dynamics acknowledge young people as core partners in the peace process and not just part of adults' support system. The Mindanao conflict is one of the longest conflicts in the world. It revolves around the quest for self-determination among the Islamized indigenous tribes living on the islands of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan. During the Government of the Philippines-MILF peace negotiation, young Moros were part of the secretariat, ensuring that no unnecessary insertions were made. Their technical expertise to use the computer, browse the Web, and digitalize documents lightened the work of the elderly. The presence of young people in the formal peace process maximizes the benefits brought by technology.

Global Population Aging, National Development Level, and Vulnerability to the Pandemic.

PURPOSE: This study examined the roles of population aging and national development level in affecting different phases of novel coronavirus disease development with a view to advancing preparedness and corresponding policy. METHODS: Regression analysis was conducted using multisource data from the World Bank and Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Dashboard. RESULTS: Population aging is positively associated with confirmed cases of day-10, day-20, and day-30. The positive association between population aging and death does not emerge until day-20. Countries with a higher proportion of older males face higher risks of death.. Countries with a higher proportion of males aged 70-74 years are at the highest risk of confirmed cases. National development level is not associated with confirmed cases, but developing countries face significantly higher risks of death of day-10 and day-20. CONCLUSION: Prevention and control policies for older adults and underdeveloped areas and sex differences need to be studied.

Brazilian Older People Hospitalized by COVID-19: Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in a Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Analyzing the survival of older people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Brazil and identifying its main predictive factors for death. METHOD: This is a retrospective, multicenter cohort study, based on 20,831 records of hospitalizations of older people due to SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil. The observation period was from February 28 to May 18, 2020. RESULTS: There was a reduced overall survival time of 47.70% (95% confidence interval [CI] = [46.72%, 48.67%]) in 10 days. The variables age, race, education, intensive care unit (ICU), region, day of hospitalization, time elapsed between the first symptom and hospitalization, and the municipality that provided assistance showed increased risk of death using the multiple Cox proportional-hazards model. CONCLUSION: These results emphasize the relevance of inequality and access to health services as determinants for the death of older people with COVID-19.