Structural inequality and temporal brain dynamics across diverse samples.

BACKGROUND: Structural income inequality - the uneven income distribution across regions or countries - could affect brain structure and function, beyond individual differences. However, the impact of structural income inequality on the brain dynamics and the roles of demographics and cognition in these associations remains unexplored. METHODS: Here, we assessed the impact of structural income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient on multiple EEG metrics, while considering the subject-level effects of demographic (age, sex, education) and cognitive factors. Resting-state EEG signals were collected from a diverse sample (countries = 10; healthy individuals = 1394 from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Turkey and United Kingdom). Complexity (fractal dimension, permutation entropy, Wiener entropy, spectral structure variability), power spectral and aperiodic components (1/f slope, knee, offset), as well as graph-theoretic measures were analysed. FINDINGS: Despite variability in samples, data collection methods, and EEG acquisition parameters, structural inequality systematically predicted electrophysiological brain dynamics, proving to be a more crucial determinant of brain dynamics than individual-level factors. Complexity and aperiodic activity metrics captured better the effects of structural inequality on brain function. Following inequality, age and cognition emerged as the most influential predictors. The overall results provided convergent multimodal metrics of biologic embedding of structural income inequality characterised by less complex signals, increased random asynchronous neural activity, and reduced alpha and beta power, particularly over temporoposterior regions. CONCLUSION: These findings might challenge conventional neuroscience approaches that tend to overemphasise the influence of individual-level factors, while neglecting structural factors. Results pave the way for neuroscience-informed public policies aimed at tackling structural inequalities in diverse populations.

Contextual Boundaries: Skin Tone Stratification and Skill Transferability Among Mexicans in the Age of Mass Migration.

An extensive literature has focused on the association between human, social, and economic capital and better immigrant economic attainment, and how these characteristics contribute to stratification among members of the same group. However, few studies have explored how racialization processes contribute to these within-group differences. We examine the role of intragroup differences in skin tone in stratifying outcomes among Mexican immigrants in the early twentieth century. We create a new dataset of 1910-1940 Mexican border-crossing records that we then link to the U.S. 1940 census. We use characteristics at entry to predict income in 1940 and find that-in line with dominant assimilation theories-standard measures of capital are associated with within-group attainment differences. However, we also find skin tone to be a source of within-group stratification: being perceived as having darker skin is associated with lower subsequent economic attainment than being perceived as having lighter skin. Furthermore, whereas human and social capital transcended context to allow migrants to transfer those skills anywhere, the effect of skin tone was significant only in Texas and not in other major receiving places like California. We argue that although standard measures of assimilation typically predict later outcomes, the stratifying effect of skin tone has long been a feature of Mexican immigration.

Income and education level trajectories and changes in the daily consumption of vegetables after thirteen years of follow-up: the Pró-Saúde Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether education level and income trajectories influence vegetable consumption changes over 13 years among civil servants at different campuses of a university in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: Vegetable intake frequency (daily and non-daily consumption), income (per capita), and education level (maintenance of low schooling/ upward mobility/maintenance of high schooling) were assessed at baseline (1999) and in the fourth wave (2011-12) of the Pró-Saúde (Pro-Health) cohort study. A total of 2,381 participants were analyzed. The association between educational and income trajectories and variation in vegetable consumption was assessed via crude and age-adjusted generalized linear models, stratified by sex. RESULTS: Men in upward educational mobility showed a 0.5% increase in vegetable consumption (p=0.01), while women in this group demonstrated a 2.5% increase (p=0.05). Adjusted models showed that women who reduced their income had a lower likelihood of consuming vegetables (odds ratio [OR] 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the influence of social inequalities on vegetable consumption in adults.

Factors associated with financial risk due to health spending in Argentina.

This article aims to assess the association between household demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) in Argentina during 2017-2018. CHE was estimated as the proportion of household consumption capacity (using both income and total consumption in separate estimations) allocated for Out-of-Pocket (OOP) health expenditure. For assessing the determinants, we estimated a generalized ordered logit model using different intensities of CHE (10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) as the ordinal dependent variable, and socioeconomic, demographic and geographical variables as explanatory factors. We found that having members older than 65 years and with long-term difficulties increased the likelihood of incurring CHE. Additionally, having an economically inactive household head was identified as a factor that increases this probability. However, the research did not yield consistent results regarding the relationship between public and private health insurance and consumption capacity. Our results, along with the robustness checks, suggest that the magnitude of the coefficients for the household head characteristics could be exaggerated in studies that overlook the attributes of other household members. In addition, these results emphasize the significance of accounting for long-term difficulties and indicate that omitting this factor could overestimate the impact of members aged over 65.

Iron deficiency anemia as a risk factor for pulp disease in children from the central Peruvian jungle: a case‒control study.

AIM: To investigate iron-deficiency anemia as a risk factor for dental pulp disease in children from the central Peruvian jungle. METHODOLOGY: A case-control study was carried out with 270 children, of which 90 referred to cases and 180, to controls. Patients with pulp disease were diagnosed according to the criteria of the Association of Endodontists and the American Board of Endodontics. A specific questionnaire was used to assess ferrous sulfate consumption, maternal education level, maternal age, occupation, and household income. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and a binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Iron deficiency anemia offers a risk factor for pulp disease in children (OR 7.44, IC 95% 4.0-13.8). According to multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression, ferrous sulfate consumption (OR 13.8, IC 95% 5.6.33.9), maternal education level (OR 2.4, IC 95% 1.1-5.3), maternal age (OR 7.5, IC 95% 2.9-19.4), household income (OR 4.0, IC 95% 1.6-9.6), and caries (OR 10.7, IC 95% 4.5-25.7) configured independent factors that were statistically associated with pulp disease. CONCLUSION: Iron deficiency anemia, ferrous sulfate consumption, maternal education level, maternal age, household income, and dental caries were positively associated with pulp disease in children.

Associations of occupational physical activity and active transport with depressive symptoms in a middle-income country.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the associations of occupational physical activity and active transport with depressive symptoms, stratified by income range, among Brazilian working adults. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study drew on data from the 2019 Brazilian National Health Survey. METHODS: We used the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess depressive symptoms in working adults aged 18-65 years, with physical activities (occupational physical activity and active transport) self-reported through a specially developed questionnaire. Crude and adjusted logistic regression models were fitted. RESULTS: Individuals at the highest level of occupational physical activity (odds ratio [OR] 1.35; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.19-1.53) and at the moderate level of active transport to work (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.24-2.22) returned increased odds of depressive symptoms as compared with those who were inactive in these domains. Stratified by income group, light active transport to work (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.34-0.95) in the lower income group (Range 1) was associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms. On the other hand, individuals at the highest level of active transport to work returned higher odds of depressive symptoms in the low- and intermediate-income groups, Ranges 3 and 4 (OR 1.92; 95% CI 1.22-3.00 and OR 2.91; 95% CI 1.71-4.95, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that occupational physical activity and active transport may be a risk factor for depressive symptoms. They also point to differences in this relationship by income range. Further studies are needed to pursue the analysis of how specific domains of physical activity contribute to depressive symptoms.

Social inequalities in indicators of use of healthcare services by adolescents in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of indicators of use of healthcare services according to sex, income and race/skin color, in adolescents (aged 10-19 years old) based on data from the Health Survey of the Municipality of Campinas (ISACamp), carried out in 2014/2015 in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. The chi-square test was used to evaluate the differences between the outcome variables (indicators of use of healthcare service) and sex, income and race/skin color. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated using Poisson multiple regression models. The demand for medical care was high in the last year of the interview (79.2%), mostly attended by the Brazilian Unified National Health System (65.2%), with routine consultations being more prevalent for females (PR = 1.17; 95%CI: 1.01-1.34) and injury for the male population (PR = 0.47; 95%CI: 0.26-0.84). Economic and racial differences were found in the evaluation of the last medical consultation, with a higher prevalence of worse care among those with lower income (PR = 1.46; 95%CI: 1.14-1.87) and black people (PR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.01-1.61). Inequalities remained for delay or failure to carry out exams (PR = 1.64; 95%CI: 1.02-2.64) and worse quality of dental care (PR = 2.10; 95%CI: 1.38-3.21) in those with lower income. Also, black people had fewer appointments with dentists (PR = 0.90; 95%CI: 0.82-0.99).

Effects on household income and earnings from chronic kidney disease of non-traditional origins: PREP project findings from Chichigalpa, Nicaragua.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose with this study is to examine the socioeconomic outcomes associated with chronic kidney disease not related to well-known risk factors (CKDnt) in four communities in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua that are home to a substantial number of sugarcane workers. METHODS: We employed a cluster-based systematic sampling design to identify differences in outcomes between those households affected directly by CKDnt and those that are not. RESULTS: Overall, we find that approximately one-third of households surveyed had a household member diagnosed with CKDnt. 86% of CKDnt households reported that the head of the household had been without work for the last 6 months or more, compared with 53% of non-CKDnt households. Non-CKDnt households took in more than double the earnings income on average than CKDnt households ($C52 835 and $C3120, respectively). Nonetheless, on average, CKDnt households' total income exceeded that of non-CKDnt households due to Nicaragua's national Instituto Nicaraguense de Seguridad Social Social Security payments to CKDnt households, suggestive of a substantial economic burden on the state resulting from the disease. Households headed by widows or widowers who are widowed as a result of CKDnt demonstrate distinct deficits in total income when compared with either non-widowed households or to households widowed by causes other than CKDnt. CONCLUSIONS: Despite strong similarities in terms of demographic characteristics and despite residing in the same communities with similar access to the available resources, households experiencing CKDnt exhibit distinct and statistically significant differences in important socioeconomic outcomes when compared to non-CKDnt households.

Height & income: Labor returns of health in Mexico from 2000 to 2018.

Investment in health has been proposed as a mechanism to promote upward social mobility. Previous analyses have reported inconsistent estimates of the returns to investment in health in Mexico based on different models for different years. We aim to estimate returns for Mexico using data from four time points Adult height and labor income are drawn from the periodical national health and nutrition surveys-a group of relatively standardized surveys-that are representative of individuals living in the country in 2000, 2006, 2012 & 2018. These surveys collect anthropometric measurements and information on individuals' labor income. We estimated Mincerian models separately for men and women using OLS, Heckman, instrumental variables, and Heckman with instrumental variables models. Our results indicate significant and positive returns to health for the four surveys, similar in magnitude across years for women and with variations for men. By 2018, returns to health were about 7.4% per additional centimeter in height for females and 9.3% for males. Investments in health and nutrition during childhood and adolescence that increase health capital-measured as adult height-may promote social mobility in Mexico and similar countries to the extent that these investments differentially increase health capital among the poor.

Inequality of the crowding-out effect of tobacco expenditure in Colombia.

In recent decades, policy initiatives involving increases in the tobacco tax have increased pressure on budget allocations in poor households. In this study, we examine this issue in the context of the expansion of the social welfare state that has taken place over the last two decades in several emerging economies. This study explores the case of Colombia between 1997 and 2011. In this period, the budget share of the poorest expenditure quintile devoted to tobacco products of smokers' households doubled. We analyse the differences between the poorest and richest quintiles concerning the changes in budget shares, fixing a reference population over time to avoid demographic composition confounders. We find no evidence of crowding-out of education or healthcare expenditures. This is likely to be the result of free universal access to health insurance and basic education for the poor. For higher-income households, tobacco crowds out expenditures on entertainment, leisure activities, and luxury expenditures. This finding should reassure policymakers who are keen to impose tobacco taxes as an element of their public health policy.

[What does the Brazilian National Health Survey have to say about the influence of cigarette spending on household income?] / O que a Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde tem a dizer sobre a influência do gasto com cigarro no rendimento domiciliar?

In a country whose indicators of population impoverishment continue to increase, it is concerning that individuals spend money to buy cigarettes instead of using this resource in actions that strengthen aspects of the well-being of their lives and that of their families. Based on the Brazilian National Health Survey conducted in 2019, the influence of spending on manufactured cigarettes on the family budget in households with at least one smoker was estimated, stratified by sociodemographic characteristics. Brazilian smokers allocated around 8% of their average per capita monthly household income to the purchase of manufactured cigarettes. The percentage of average monthly expenditure on cigarettes reached almost 10% of this income among smokers aged 15 to 24 and was even higher for those with incomplete elementary education (approximately 11%). In the North and Northeast regions of the country, this expenditure exceeded 9%. The state with the most significant impact on household income was Acre (13.6%), followed by Alagoas (11.9%), Ceará, Pará, and Tocantins (all with approximately 11%). Our findings, therefore, reinforce the importance of strengthening the implementation of effective measures, such as tax policy, to reduce the proportion of smokers. Thus, the money that individuals currently allocate to purchase cigarettes can be used to meet their basic needs, contributing to the promotion of health and improving the quality of life.

Em um Brasil no qual os indicadores de empobrecimento da população seguem aumentando, preocupa o fato de que indivíduos gastem dinheiro para comprar cigarro em vez de usarem esse recurso em ações que fortaleçam aspectos do bem-estar de suas jornadas de vida e de suas famílias. Estimou-se, a partir da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde de 2019, a influência que o gasto com cigarro industrializado teve no orçamento familiar nos domicílios com pelo menos um fumante, estratificada por características sociodemográficas. Os fumantes brasileiros destinaram cerca de 8% do rendimento médio mensal domiciliar per capita para a compra de cigarros industrializados. O percentual do gasto médio mensal chegou a quase 10% desse rendimento, entre os fumantes de 15 a 24 anos, e foi ainda maior para aqueles com Ensino Fundamental incompleto (aproximadamente 11%). Nas regiões Norte e Nordeste do país, esse gasto ultrapassou os 9%. O estado com o maior comprometimento da renda domiciliar foi o Acre (13,6%), seguido por Alagoas (11,9%), Ceará, Pará e Tocantins (todos com aproximadamente 11%). Nossos achados reforçam, portanto, a importância de fortalecer a implementação de medidas efetivas de redução da proporção de fumantes, tal como a política tributária. Dessa forma, o dinheiro que atualmente é destinado pelos indivíduos à compra de cigarros poderá ser revertido no atendimento de suas necessidades básicas, contribuindo para a promoção da saúde e melhoria da qualidade de vida.

En un Brasil donde los indicadores de empobrecimiento de la población siguen aumentando, es preocupante el hecho de que las personas gasten dinero para comprar cigarrillo en lugar de usarlo en acciones para fortalecer los aspectos del bienestar de sus vidas y la de sus familias. A partir de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud brasileña realizada en 2019, se estimó la influencia del gasto en cigarrillo industrializado en el presupuesto familiar de los hogares donde vivía al menos un fumador, estratificado por características sociodemográficas. Los fumadores brasileños destinaron alrededor del 8% del ingreso per cápita mensual promedio del hogar para la compra de cigarrillos industrializados. El porcentaje del gasto mensual promedio en cigarrillos alcanzó casi el 10% de este ingreso entre los fumadores de 15 a 24 años y fue aún mayor para los que tenían educación primaria incompleta (aproximadamente el 11%). En el Norte y Nordeste del país, ese gasto superó el 9%. El estado con un mayor compromiso con los ingresos del hogar fue Acre (el 13,6%), seguido por Alagoas (el 11,9%), Ceará, Pará y Tocantins (todos con aproximadamente el 11%). Por lo tanto, nuestros resultados resaltan la importancia de fortalecer la implementación de medidas efectivas para reducir la proporción de fumadores, tal como la política tributaria. Así, el dinero que actualmente las personas destinan a la compra de cigarrillos podría utilizarse en la atención de sus necesidades básicas, contribuyendo a promover la salud y la mejora de la calidad de vida.

High Financial Hardship among Patients with Advanced Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer is considered the most fatal and costly gynecologic cancer. Although personalized therapies have improved ovarian cancer prognosis, they have resulted in increased financial toxicity concerns among this population. This study evaluated financial toxicity in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Using secondary data from a study of barriers to palliative care, financial toxicity (FT) was measured through the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity scale. Univariate and bivariate analyses were used to assess the relationship between selected demographic (i.e., age, race, ethnicity, education, place of birth, insurance type, yearly household income, employment status) and treatment-specific variables (i.e., years since diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormonal and targeted therapy) with clinically relevant financial toxicity. Characteristics were compared using Fisher's exact or chi squared tests. A total of 38 participants with advanced ovarian cancer were included in this study; 24% (n = 9) reported clinically significant FT. Income (p = .001), place of birth (p = .048) and employment status (p = .001) were related to FT. Study findings highlight that advanced ovarian cancer patients experience high FT, particularly those with low income, who are not able to work and were born outside the US. Further research using larger datasets and more representative samples is needed to inform intervention development and implementation.

The relationship between income, weight, and using traffic-light labeling to buy processed food in Ecuador.

This paper presents an investigation of the factors influencing the decision to purchase processed food based on traffic-light labeling (TLL). To achieve this, we use data from the official National Survey of Health and Nutrition, which gathered information on 26,532 individuals aged between 19 and 59 between 2011 and 2013. Employing a probit regression to assess the likelihood of buying food based on TLL, we identify a positive association between income level and the probability of buying food based on TLL; indeed, our model suggests that a 1% increase in monthly income increases by 0.008 the probability of buying food based on TLL. We infer that people with higher levels of income are more aware of the benefits of TLL and healthy food habits. Our results also suggest that the probability of basing purchasing decisions on TLL is higher for overweight people compared to those of normal weight, that is, overweight people buy their processed food paying more attention to TLL compared to normal weight people.

Gasto de bolsillo en salud en la familia con diabetes-hipertensión durante la pandemia del covid-19 / Out-of-pocket health spending in the family with diabetes-hypertension during the covid-19 pandemic

Determinar el gasto de bolsillo en salud en las familias con diabetes mellitus y/o hipertensión arterial y el porcentaje del ingreso familiar durante la pandemia del Covid-19. Estudio de gasto de bolsillo en salud que incluyó muestreo consecutivo de 268 familias de México. El ingreso trimestral familiar se definió como la suma de ingresos de cada uno de los integrantes de la familia, el gasto en salud se definió como el total de erogaciones que tuvo la familia para cubrir los diferentes servicios de salud, y porcentaje de gasto en salud se definió como la relación del gasto total trimestral y el gasto corriente del hogar, valores expresados en pesos mexicanos. El promedio trimestral del gasto de bolsillo en salud en la familia con diabetes mellitus y/o hipertensión arterial en la dimensión consulta fue $975,82 y en la dimensión medicamentos $1,371.22; el gasto promedio total trimestral fue $3,133.08. El ingreso trimestral de la familia después de la pandemia del covid-19 fue $85,348.86 lo que representa 5,93% menos del ingreso trimestral antes de la pandemia. El gasto trimestral en salud fue $3,133.08, lo cual corresponde a 3,45% y 3,67% del ingreso trimestral familiar antes y después de la pandemia del Covid-19 respectivamente (AU)

Determine out-of-pocket health spending in families with diabetes mellitus and/or high blood pressure and the percentage of family income during the Covid-19 pandemic. Study of out-of-pocket health spending that included consecutive sampling of 268 families in Mexico. The quarterly family income was defined as the sum of income of each of the family members, health spending was defined as the total expenses that the family had to cover the different health services, and percentage of health spending. It was defined as the relationship between total quarterly expenditure and current household expenditure, values expressed in Mexican pesos. The quarterly average of out-of-pocket health expenditure in the family with diabetes mellitus and/or arterial hypertension in the consultation dimension was $975.82 and in the medication dimension $1,371.22; The average total quarterly expense was $3,133.08. The family's quarterly income after the covid-19 pandemic was $85,348.86, which represents 5.93% less than the quarterly income before the pandemic. The quarterly health expenditure was $3,133.08, which corresponds to 3.45% and 3.67% of the family's quarterly income before and after the Covid-19 pandemic respectively (AU)

The associations of income and Black-White racial segregation with HIV outcomes among adults aged ≥18 years-United States and Puerto Rico, 2019.

OBJECTIVE(S): To examine associations between Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE) measures for economic and racial segregation and HIV outcomes in the United States (U.S.) and Puerto Rico. METHODS: County-level HIV testing data from CDC's National HIV Prevention Program Monitoring and Evaluation and census tract-level HIV diagnoses, linkage to HIV medical care, and viral suppression data from the National HIV Surveillance System were used. Three ICE measures of spatial polarization were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey: ICEincome (income segregation), ICErace (Black-White racial segregation), and ICEincome+race (Black-White racialized economic segregation). Rate ratios (RRs) for HIV diagnoses and prevalence ratios (PRs) for HIV testing, linkage to care within 1 month of diagnosis, and viral suppression within 6 months of diagnosis were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to examine changes across ICE quintiles using the most privileged communities (Quintile 5, Q5) as the reference group. RESULTS: PRs and RRs showed a higher likelihood of testing and adverse HIV outcomes among persons residing in Q1 (least privileged) communities compared with Q5 (most privileged) across ICE measures. For HIV testing percentages and diagnosis rates, across quintiles, PRs and RRs were consistently greatest for ICErace. For linkage to care and viral suppression, PRs were consistently lower for ICEincome+race. CONCLUSIONS: We found that poor HIV outcomes and disparities were associated with income, racial, and economic segregation as measured by ICE. These ICE measures contribute to poor HIV outcomes and disparities by unfairly concentrating certain groups (i.e., Black persons) in highly segregated and deprived communities that experience a lack of access to quality, affordable health care. Expanded efforts are needed to address the social/economic barriers that impede access to HIV care among Black persons. Increased partnerships between government agencies and the private sector are needed to change policies that promote and sustain racial and income segregation.

Colorectal cancer disparities in Latin America: Mortality trends 1990-2019 and a paradox association with human development.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer mortality is growing in Latin America. It is known for a marked income disparity between its countries, and there is a consistent association with development. Our purpose was to describe trends in colorectal cancer mortality in Latin America between 1990 and 2019, identifying differences by human development categories. METHODS: We extracted age-adjusted mortality rate from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study from 22 Latin American countries, subregions, and country groups previously ranked by the GBD study due to Sociodemographic Index (SDI) between 1990 and 2019. We applied the segmented regression model to analyze the time trend. Also, we estimated the correlation between mortality rates and Human Development Index (HDI) categories for countries. RESULTS: Between 1990 and 2019, colorectal cancer adjusted mortality rate increased by 20.56% in Latin America (95% CI 19.75% - 21.25%). Between 1990 and 2004, the average annual percentage change (APC) was 0.11% per year (95% CI 0.10-0.12), and between 2004 and 2019 there was a deceleration (APC = 0.04% per year, 95% CI 0.03%- 0.05%). There is great heterogeneity among the countries of the region. Correlation between these two variables was 0.52 for 1990 and 2019. When separated into HDI groups, the correlation varied in the direction of the association and its magnitude, typifying an effect modification known as Simpson's Paradox. CONCLUSIONS: Human development factors may be important for assessing variation in cancer mortality on a global scale. Studies that assess the social and -economic contexts of countries are necessary for robust evaluation and provision of preventive, diagnostic and curative services to reduce cancer mortality in Latin America.

Empirical impact of financial service access on farmers income in Ghana / Impacto empírico do acesso a serviços financeiros na renda dos agricultores em Gana

The impact of access to financial services (AFS) and access to informal financial services (AIFS) on farmer income is examined in this study. After a multi-stage random sampling procedure, the study used a sample size of 478 people from two regions in Ghana. The endogenous treatment regression (ETR) model was used to account for selection bias while the unconditional quantile regression (UQR) model was used for a heterogenous analysis. The findings showed that education, financial literacy, IT access, farm size, and distance were all factors of access to financial services. Similarly, the findings revealed a positive and statistically significant link between household income and access to formal financial services. Similarly, there was a positive and significant association between access to informal financial services and household income. The findings showed that access to formal and informal financial services has different effects on household income. As a result, the effects of access to financial services on income varied by quantile. Based on the findings of the study, we developed policies to boost financial services accessibility as a means of increasing household income.

O impacto do acesso a serviços financeiros (AFS) e acesso a serviços financeiros informais (AIFS) na renda do agricultor é examinado neste estudo. Após um procedimento de amostragem aleatória em vários estágios, o estudo utilizou uma amostra de 478 pessoas de duas regiões de Gana. O modelo de regressão de tratamento endógeno (ETR) foi usado para explicar o viés de seleção, enquanto o modelo de regressão quantílica incondicional (UQR) foi usado para uma análise heterogênea. Os resultados mostram que educação, alfabetização financeira, acesso a TI, tamanho da fazenda e distância foram fatores de acesso a serviços financeiros. Da mesma forma, os resultados revelaram uma ligação positiva e estatisticamente significativa entre a renda familiar e o acesso a serviços financeiros formais. Da mesma forma, houve associação positiva e significativa entre acesso a serviços financeiros informais e renda familiar. Os resultados mostram que o acesso a serviços financeiros formais e informais tem efeitos diferentes na renda familiar. Como resultado, os efeitos do acesso a serviços financeiros sobre a renda variaram por quantil. Com base nos resultados do estudo, desenvolvemos políticas para aumentar a acessibilidade dos serviços financeiros como forma de aumentar a renda familiar.

Predictors of Population Awareness of Cancer Genetic Tests: Implications for Enhancing Equity in Engaging in Cancer Prevention and Precision Medicine.

Racial and ethnic disparities in genetic awareness (GA) can diminish the impact of personalized cancer treatment and risk assessment. We assessed factors predictive of GA in a diverse population-based sample to inform awareness strategies and reduce disparities in genetic testing. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2019 to August 2019, with the survey e-mailed to 7,575 adult residents in southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Constructs from National Cancer Institute Health Information and National Trends Survey assessed cancer attitudes or beliefs, health literacy, and numeracy. Characteristics were summarized with mean ± standard deviation for numeric variables and frequency counts and percentages for categorical variables. Comparison of factors by race or ethnicity (non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black) and sex was conducted by t-tests, chi-square, or Fisher's exact tests. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted to identify factors independently predictive of GA. RESULTS: Of 1,557 respondents, data from 940 respondents (the mean age was 45 ± 16.2 years, 35.5% males, and 23% non-Hispanic Blacks) were analyzed. Factors associated with higher GA included female gender (P < .001), non-Hispanic White (P < .001), college education (P < .001), middle-higher income (P < .001), stronger belief in genetic basis of cancer (P < .001), lower cancer fatalism (P = .004), motivation for cancer information (P < .001), and higher numeracy (P = .002). On multivariate analysis, college education (odds ratio [OR] 1.79; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.63), higher motivation for cancer information (OR 1.56; 95% CI, 1.17 to 2.09), stronger belief in genetics of cancer (OR 2.21; 95% CI, 1.48 to 3.30), and higher medical literacy (OR 2.21; 95% CI, 1.34 to 3.65) predicted greater GA. CONCLUSION: This population-based study conducted in the precision medicine era identified novel modifiable factors, importantly perceptions of cancer genetics and medical literacy, as predictive of GA, which informs strategies to promote equitable engagement in genetically based cancer care.

Social determinants of health associated with severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Historically, pandemics have resulted in higher mortality rates in the most vulnerable populations. Social determinants of health (SDH) have been associated with people morbidity and mortality at different levels. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between SDH and COVID-19 severity and mortality. METHODS: Retrospective study, where data from patients with COVID-19 were collected at a public hospital in Chile. Sociodemographic variables related to structural SDH were classified according to the following categories: gender, age (< 65 years, ≥ 65 years), secondary education (completed or not), work status (active, inactive) and income (< USD 320, ≥ USD 320). RESULTS: A total of 1,012 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases were included. Average age was 64.2 ± 17.5 years. Mortality of the entire sample was 14.5 %. Age, level of education, unemployment and income had a strong association with mortality (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings reinforce the idea that SDH should be considered a public health priority, which is why political efforts should focus on reducing health inequalities for future generations.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Históricamente, las pandemias han tenido como resultado tasas de mortalidad más altas en las poblaciones más vulnerables. Los determinantes sociales de la salud (DSS) se han asociado a la morbimortalidad de las personas en diferentes niveles. OBJETIVO: Determinar la relación entre los DSS, la severidad de COVID-19 y la mortalidad por esta enfermedad. MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo en el que se recolectaron datos de pacientes con COVID-19 en un hospital público de Chile. Las variables sociodemográficas relacionadas con los DSS estructurales se clasificaron según las siguientes categorías: sexo, edad (< 65 años, ≥ 65 años), educación secundaria (completada o no), condición de trabajo (activo, inactivo) e ingreso económico (< USD 320, ≥ USD 320). RESULTADOS: Fueron incluidos 1012 casos con COVID-19 confirmados por laboratorio. La edad promedio fue de 64.2 ± 17.5 años. La mortalidad de la muestra total fue de 14.5 %. La edad, nivel educativo, desempleo e ingresos tuvieron fuerte asociación con la mortalidad (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONES: Los hallazgos refuerzan la idea de que los DSS deben considerarse una prioridad de salud pública, por lo que los esfuerzos políticos deben centrarse en reducir las desigualdades en salud para las generaciones futuras.

Blue food demand across geographic and temporal scales.

Numerous studies have focused on the need to expand production of 'blue foods', defined as aquatic foods captured or cultivated in marine and freshwater systems, to meet rising population- and income-driven demand. Here we analyze the roles of economic, demographic, and geographic factors and preferences in shaping blue food demand, using secondary data from FAO and The World Bank, parameters from published models, and case studies at national to sub-national scales. Our results show a weak cross-sectional relationship between per capita income and consumption globally when using an aggregate fish metric. Disaggregation by fish species group reveals distinct geographic patterns; for example, high consumption of freshwater fish in China and pelagic fish in Ghana and Peru where these fish are widely available, affordable, and traditionally eaten. We project a near doubling of global fish demand by mid-century assuming continued growth in aquaculture production and constant real prices for fish. Our study concludes that nutritional and environmental consequences of rising demand will depend on substitution among fish groups and other animal source foods in national diets.