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The aim of this paper was to provide a demographic profile of Haitian women household heads and identify factors associated with this phenomenon in Haiti. Data used in this article came from demographic and health surveys carried out in Haiti in 1994 and 2017 by the Haitian Institute for Children (HIC). Data analysis was done at two levels: a descriptive level and a multivariate explanatory level through multilevel regression models. The results revealed that there have been changes in the profile of female heads of households between 1994 and 2017. In addition, results showed that place of residence, age, education level, household size and wealth index are factors significantly associated with the feminization of heads of households in Haiti.

The United Nations (UN) presented the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030 (UN 2016), and goal number two of the SDG is to end hunger and achieve food security and goal five is gender equality. The study assessed the effect of household headship on food security in the Philippines and identify significant factors and assess the gaps. The household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) was used to evaluate household food security (n = 13,672), which was cross-examined with the households' socio-demographic and health and sanitation characteristics using descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses. From the survey, most of the households are headed by a male (84%), and only around 26% are food secure. Initially, the female-headed household had a 1.34 times higher likelihood of food security than the male-headed household, but upon considering the confounding effect and possible effect measure modification of other risk factors, male-headed households had 20% higher odds of food security. The study revealed that there was an overestimation of the magnitude of the association between food security and the gender of the household head if the confounders were not controlled. Confounding parameters that affected this result are occupation, type of cooking fuel, and type of flooring material. The gender-based gaps are mostly connected to employment; implicitly embedded are culture and income. This study adds to the body of knowledge on how the gender of the household head affects household food security as an empirical basis to refine government household food security interventions and maximize their impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood obesity has become the most important and growing public health problem in the world. They add to public health challenges by increasing the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases. However, in spite of its importance, there is limited literature that evaluates the prevalence of obesity among rural adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. We report the first study to present an insight into rural black overweight South African children and the physical characteristics and socio-economic status of the household head. A quantitative cross-sectional population study was conducted involving 51 selected primary villages within the DIMAMO surveillance area in the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study involved 294 adolescents, 154 girls and 140 boys, who were under the age of 18. Of these participants, 127 (43%) were within the normal weight range, and 167 (57%) were overweight. Gender made a significant difference, with more girls being overweight than boys. Adolescents who did not receive child grants and whose heads of household were 45–54 years old, poor, and overweight had a higher prevalence of obesity (p-value < 0.05). This study suggests that public health interventionists need to target both the heads of household and their children in hopes of reducing the prevalence of overweight and obese South African children. We further propose a better understanding of the causes of childhood overweight and obesity to guide policy development and implementation in rural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most ethnographies still pay little attention to the subsistence experiences of older adult women heading household in Africa. Drawing from nineteen months of ethnographic research in Domboshava communal lands, this article addresses this gap in knowledge by discussing the position of older women heading households in rural Zimbabwe and the impact of historical and current challenges on their subsistence activities. In this article, I argue that there is no typical African widow. I further argue that these older adult women's historical and present experiences have led to the visible reversals in the remittance flows, poor social networks, changing gender relations, ill health, the impact of HIV and AIDS, changing household structures, as well as multiple and competing responsibilities. All these factors are coalescing together to affect the older adult women's subsistence activities and their capacity to take care of themselves, their immediate and extended families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potatoes are the world's most important root and tuber crop. It is grown in over 125 countries and consumed by over a billion people daily. Millions of people in impoverished countries rely on potatoes product to their survival. Today, developing countries are the world's major producers and distributors of potatoes and potato products. Potato can be effective produce for allowing smallholder families to achieve their food security. Ethiopia has probably the maximum prospective country for potato production. However, in Ethiopia, various factors influence potato production and commercialization. It is the main tuber crop produced in Farta District. Potato production and value chain status are not studied well. Hence the main aim of this study was to evaluate the value chains of potatoes in the Farta district, Ethiopia. 123 sample potato farmers were chosen using a two-stage random sampling technique in four kebeles. Descriptive, inferential, value chain approach and econometrics analysis were employed. In addition, Heckman's two-stage selection econometrics model was employed to analyze the determinants of potato market participation and sales quantity. Producers, traders, chain supports, chain enablers, and final consumers were the main value chain actors for potato in the study area. Wholesalers control the potato value chain due to their finances advantage. Probit model estimation result provides that: distance to the nearby market, family size, oxen owned by farmers, market information, land size allocated for potato production, and quantity of inorganic fertilizer were the significant variables affecting the decision to market participation positively except family size. The OLS estimation result provides that: the education level of the farmers, farming experience, the number of extension contact, the land size allocated for potatoes, and the quantity of inorganic fertilizer is the significant variables influencing the amount of potato market supply positively. The main constraints for potato production and commercialization in study area were: Shortage of improved seed, lack of capacity building training to the post-harvest management approach, price fluctuation, shortage of market information, absence of policy framework in price-setting strategy was produced and marketing constraints of potatoes. Therefore, the study suggests that; increasing access to farm inputs, introducing new and improved crop varieties, establishing suitable post-harvest management facilities. In addition, follow up misconduct practice for price-setting strategies, strengthening market information service, facilitating conditions that can promote the smallholder farmers for participating in the market and minimize those constraints which impede the complete value chain in potato production and development.

Background: Depression is a mental disorder common worldwide. This study determined the relationships between demographics, health status, household parameters, and depression rates among working-age household heads., Methods: We analyzed data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study Survey conducted in 2020. The 11-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to assess depression. Bivariate analyses and a multiple logistic regression model were used to evaluate the influence of these factors on depression among household heads., Results: The overall prevalence of depression among working-age household heads was 11.69% (19.83% of females and 9.58% of males). The relative risk of depression was 1.71 times higher among the unemployed than among wage earners and 2.18 times higher among those with low income than among those with general income. The relative risk of depression was 3.23 times higher in those with poor health status than in those with good health, and 2.45 times more in those with severe disabilities than in those without disabilities. The rate of depression decreased with education level, number of family members, and presence of children but increased with the presence of the disabled or elderly., Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of depression among working-age household heads and identifies factors strongly associated with depression. These findings may have implications for policymakers to reduce the burden on and improve the quality of life of household heads.

Background: Childhood obesity has become the most important and growing public health problem in the world. They add to public health challenges by increasing the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases. However, in spite of its importance, there is limited literature that evaluates the prevalence of obesity among rural adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. We report the first study to present an insight into rural black overweight South African children and the physical characteristics and socio-economic status of the household head. A quantitative cross-sectional population study was conducted involving 51 selected primary villages within the DIMAMO surveillance area in the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study involved 294 adolescents, 154 girls and 140 boys, who were under the age of 18. Of these participants, 127 (43%) were within the normal weight range, and 167 (57%) were overweight. Gender made a significant difference, with more girls being overweight than boys. Adolescents who did not receive child grants and whose heads of household were 45–54 years old, poor, and overweight had a higher prevalence of obesity (p-value < 0.05). This study suggests that public health interventionists need to target both the heads of household and their children in hopes of reducing the prevalence of overweight and obese South African children. We further propose a better understanding of the causes of childhood overweight and obesity to guide policy development and implementation in rural settings.

Abstract Objective The socioeconomic status (SES) is as a symbol of social determinants of health which has a dominant influence on population health. The purpose of this study was collecting, weighing, and determining the most relevant SES measurement items in Iran. Results The SES health studies conducted in Iran was searched from 2007 to 2017. First, the SES items were categorized. Then, each item was weighed based on its reliability and generalizability. Finally, the necessity of items was determined, weighed, and ranked. This is the two-round Delphi technique. After weighing 57 SES items, 37 items were selected with ≥ 1 weight and classified in 7 categories. According to the Delphi evaluation, 15 items were identified ≥ 3.5 for measuring SES of Iranian households: household size, head of household education, head of household job, household monthly income, type of school that children attend, house ownership, local value of residence, number of rooms in the house, house area, personal computer/laptop, smart cell phone, 3D TV, dishwasher, microwave, and car ownership. The SES items for the present society are categorized in 7 domains. The items collected in this study have the most comprehension of all studies related to income, life facilities, and assets.

Exploiting the 2011 abolishment of the mandatory-retirement provision that had allowed employers to force retirement of their 65-or-older employees in the UK, this paper estimates the effect of outlawing mandatory retirement on public-pension benefit claim behaviour of the elderly through changing their employment and retirement rates. Abolishing mandatory retirement raises public-pension claim rate of non-household-head benefit-eligible individuals by making them retire more, while it lowers public-pension claim rate of household-head benefit-eligible individuals by lowering their retirement rate. On the other hand, the abolishment raises full-time employment rate of the elderly, regardless of household-head status or gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of gender differences on maize productivity in Dawuro Zone, southern Ethiopia. Our study addressed the limitations of the previous studies in two ways. First, the study separately assessed gender differences in productivity between de facto female-headed households and de jure female-headed households and revealed that female-headed households are not homogenous. Second, the study separately examined the impacts of the covariates on male-headed households and female-headed households using an exogenous switching treatment effect model. We find the existence of gender differences in maize productivity between male-headed households and female-headed households. The maize productivity of male-headed households was overall 44.3% higher than that of female-headed households. However, if female-headed households received the same return on their resources as male-headed households, their productivity would increase by 42.3%. This suggests agricultural policy should target female-headed households to help reduce the productivity gap between male-headed households and female-headed households. Finally, the distributions of the gender differentials between male-headed households and female-headed households are more pronounced at mid-levels of productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective Access to improved sanitation facilities is critical to the health and well-being of individuals and communities. However, globally, over 2.5 billion people live without access to safe sanitation facilities and more than 40% of the world population, do not use a toilet, but defecate in the open or in unsanitary places. In Ghana, only 14% of the population have access to improved sanitation facilities with great disparities between rural (8%) and urban (19%) dwellers. This paper sought to examine the determinants of access to improved sanitation facilities by households among rural dwellers in two districts in southern Ghana. Results This study, which involved 16,353 household heads from the Dodowa Health and Demographic Surveillance System, found that sanitation facilities used by households were significantly influenced by age, gender, level of education, occupation, marital and socioeconomic status of household heads. It further revealed that a large proportion (85.94%) of the study participants did not have access to improved sanitation facilities. The study therefore recommends that the national sanitation laws must strictly be enforced to ensure each household in Ghana has decent and hygienic toilet facility.

Abstract Background Quality of life can be used to measure the effect of intervention on health related conditions. Health insurance contributes positive effect on availability of medical supplies and empowerment of women and children on financial healthcare. Therefore, the study was aimed to measure the impact of Community-Based Health Insurance on HRQoL and associated socio-demographic factors. Methods A comparative community based cross-sectional study was employed. Data was collected by trained enumerators using World Health Organization QoL-BREF tool from a sample of 1964 (982 CBHI insured and 982 un-insured) household heads selected by probability proportional to size. A descriptive summery, simple and multiple linear regression analysis was applied to describe the functional predictors of HRQoL. The study was ethically approved by IRB of Wolkite University. Results The HRQoL score among CBHI insured family heads was 63.02 and 58.92 for un-insured family heads. The overall variation in HRQoL was explained due to; separated marital condition which reduced the HRQoL by 4.30% than those living together [β = − 0.044, 95% CI (− 5.67, − 0.10)], daily laborer decreased HRQoL by 7.50% [β = − 0.078, 95% CI (− 12.91, − 4.10)], but employment increased by 5.65% than farmers [β = 0.055, 95% CI (2.58, 17.59)]. QoL increased by 6.4 and 6.93% among primary and secondary level educated household heads than those household heads who could not read and write [β = 0.062, 95% CI (0.75, 4.31)] and [β = 0.067, 95% CI (1.84, 7.99)], respectively. As family size increased by one households’ head, HRQoL decreased by 18.21% [β = − 0.201, 95% CI (− 2.55, − 1.63)], as wealth index increased by one unit, HRQoL decreased by 32.90% [β = − 0.306, 95% CI (− 5.15, − 3.86)] and QoL among CBHI insured household heads increased by 12.41% than those un-insured family heads [β = 0.117, 95% CI (2.98, 6.16)]. Conclusions The study revealed that significant difference in quality of life was found among the two groups; health insurance had positive effect on quality of life. Triggered, the government shall expand the scheme into other similar areas’ and further efforts should be made on the scheme service satisfaction to ensure its continuity.

Copyright of Istanbul Commerce University Journal of Social Sciences / İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi is the property of Istanbul Commerce University Journal of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Ethnographic research on childcare has focused on understanding the influence of cultural contexts on childcare. The research, however, lacks discussions of a child's caregiver as a position of power, and analysis of the knowledge underpinning childcare. Consequently, much remains unknown about the adults responsible for childcare, the significance of their roles, and the values that shape their actions. This paper analyzes how the meanings embedded within the position of "child's caregiver" and the narratives around the position influence childcare practices in Manya Klo, Ghana. The findings suggest that research has overlooked the influence of power in analyses of childcare roles and identifying children's caregivers. The findings challenge the use of female household headship, direct observation of parent–child contact, provision of material goods, and fathers' absence as bases for determining children's caregivers. The differences in the meanings of childcare concepts create different expectations for local communities and external agencies that support children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Census of India, the head of the household is a person who bears the chief responsibility for managing aff airs of the household and makes the decision on behalf of the household. The head of the household need not necessarily be the oldest male member or the earning member but, maybe a female or young member of either sex. In case an absentee de jure "Head" who is not eligible to be enumerated in the household, the person on whom the responsibility of managing the aff airs of the household rests is to be regarded as the head irrespective of whether the person is male or female. The head of the household plays a very important role for the collection of data in any demographic and health survey. Household Headship provides crucial information about household, members and their characteristics. It can influence the quality of data collected regarding household. Thus the characteristics of household head is considered as very important while collecting data. This information is very useful in classifying the data and to represent the results. This paper focuses on the changing patt ern, trend, and characteristics of household head by using the empirical evidences from four rounds of National Family Health Survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy poverty occurs when a household cannot fulfill its energy needs. Despite its widespread occurrence, Chinese cities have yet to formally recognize energy poverty as distinct from general poverty at the national level, thereby limiting the effectiveness of countermeasures. Guangzhou, a subtropical first-tier city in China, has a complex population comprising diverse migrants and locals of all ages. This age diversity greatly affects energy demand and poverty sensitivity, so analyzing age's impact on energy poverty is crucial. Thus, this paper surveyed 1072 households in 2020 to measure the extent of energy poverty. The energy poverty rate was found to be 13.85 %. Additionally, a U-shaped relationship was discovered between age and energy poverty, with a turning point at age 44. The adults in Guangzhou who are in energy poverty are not in income poverty. Higher education levels were found to impact energy consumption in households of both younger and older adults. For individuals older than 42—or 46 with a higher education level—the likelihood of experiencing energy poverty gradually decreases with age. Our findings indicate a unique pattern in which both younger and older individuals are susceptible to energy poverty in a humid subtropical climate. To achieve the UN's 2030 clean energy goals, policymakers must focus on tailored skill training, enhanced social welfare, and effective affordable housing policies to alleviate energy poverty. • We use survey datato measure Guangzhou household energy poverty. The LIHC indicator is 13.86%. • The relationship between age and energy poverty in the household is U-shaped. • Younger and older residents are vulnerable to energy poverty. • Younger and older highly educated individuals are more vulnerable to energy poverty than those without higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The roles and responsibilities of men and women in east African smallholder pig-raising households and the entitlements each can claim from pig-enterprise income are unknown. The article is a qualitative gender-and-household-head-disaggregated exploration of Ugandan smallholder pig farmers’ perceptions. Asset ownership, control, and access; division of labour; and decision-making related to pig rearing and pig-enterprise income are presented in the context of the potential impact of adopting improved diets for pigs (a productivity improvement). Results Potential benefits of improved diet adoption included faster pig growth; increased farmer income and pig population; new on-farm employment and produce market opportunities; and improved pig market opportunities and family- and community-level well-being. Contradictory views about the potential impact of diet adoption on labour requirements and feed costs, and the inclusion of seasonal, home-grown ingredients were expressed. Concerns about people and pigs competing for food and personal safety were also voiced. Women allocated pig-enterprise income to provide for their children, household, and extended family, and spent only the remaining income on themselves. Men allocated income to meet personal needs, and to provide for their children, wife, second wife/family, extended family, and lovers. Men and women in female-headed households (WFHH) had overt decision-making ability over the pig enterprise and pig-enterprise income. Some women in male-headed households (WMHH) had overt decision-making ability over the pig enterprise and pig-enterprise income when their husband allowed it, or failed to provide, or was away. Pig ownership and labour investment by WMHH did not guarantee that women had decision-making ability or benefitted from pig-enterprise income. Some WMHH employed covert strategies which mitigated their relative disadvantage. Threat of domestic violence inhibited the decision-making ability of WMHH. Polygyny reduced intra-household communication transparency. Conclusions Diet adoption could benefit smallholder pig-raising households and farming communities, but lack of funds and human/pig food competition could limit adoption. Men, WFHH, and some WMHH had overt decision-making ability over the pig enterprise and pig-enterprise income. Men allocated income to benefit themselves, and their multiple families and lovers. Women allocated income to benefit their families and spent only surplus income on themselves. Women employed covert strategies to mitigate their relative disadvantage.

The provision of education in South Africa during the apartheid regime was poor, particularly for the African population and especially those living in the homelands. This has hindered those lacking the required skills from obtaining lucrative employment and earning prospects. The Income and Expenditure Survey data conducted by Statistics South Africa, for the period 1995, 2000, 2005/06 and 2010/11 were used to carry out this investigation. The official absolute income poverty lines of R3864 (lower bound) and R7116 (upper bound) per annum in 2000 prices were used. In order to establish the relationship between education and poverty status of an individual, a probit regression model was used. This model helped to determine the relationship between the head of a household's level of education and the poverty status of the household. The results obtained reveal that there is a strong tendency for lower educational attainment to be associated with a higher prevalence of household poverty. This study aims at investigating the impact of a household head's educational attainment level on the poverty status of the individual household in South Africa, using Limpopo province as a case study. This study seeks to establish whether education has an effect on poverty alleviation in Limpopo province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although built environment effects on travel behavior have become a popular research topic globally, studies on the subject have rarely examined how built environment effects may differ between household members. The distinction between household members may be especially important in countries like China where the household registration system and the culture encourage a clear designation of the household head. Using data from Nanjing, China, this paper applies a cluster analysis method to characterize three distinct types of residential built environment and applies the propensity score technique to control for self-selection when examining the travel behavior effects of the three built environment types. Results show that, after controlling for self-selection, built environment effects on travel behavior differ significantly between the household head and other household members. Changes in the built environment do not affect car travel duration or car trip frequency of the household head, but affect significantly car travel behavior of other household members. Moving from the outer area to core or inner urban area is associated with an increased number of leisure trips for the household head, an increased number of maintenance trips for other household members, and increased walking and bicycling travel for both the household head and other household members. The study provides unique evidence on intra-household differences when it comes to the built environment and travel behavior connection. Overlooking intra-household differences may lead to inequitable and/or inefficient urban planning and transportation policy decisions in the context of Chinese cities. • Built environment (BE) effects on travel behavior differ between household members. • BE does not affect car travel of the household head but other household members. • BE affects active travel of both the household head and other household members. • Self-selection leads to overestimation of BE effects for the household head. • Self-selection leads to underestimation of BE effects for other household members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The socioeconomic status (SES) is as a symbol of social determinants of health which has a dominant influence on population health. The purpose of this study was collecting, weighing, and determining the most relevant SES measurement items in Iran. Results: The SES health studies conducted in Iran was searched from 2007 to 2017. First, the SES items were categorized. Then, each item was weighed based on its reliability and generalizability. Finally, the necessity of items was determined, weighed, and ranked. This is the two-round Delphi technique. After weighing 57 SES items, 37 items were selected with ≥ 1 weight and classified in 7 categories. According to the Delphi evaluation, 15 items were identified ≥ 3.5 for measuring SES of Iranian households: household size, head of household education, head of household job, household monthly income, type of school that children attend, house ownership, local value of residence, number of rooms in the house, house area, personal computer/laptop, smart cell phone, 3D TV, dishwasher, microwave, and car ownership. The SES items for the present society are categorized in 7 domains. The items collected in this study have the most comprehension of all studies related to income, life facilities, and assets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Études Caribéennes is the property of Etudes Caribeennes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)