The impact of economic downturns on health and mortality

There is yet a consensus on the effects of rapid urbanization on child health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. This study seeks to describe and compare trends in childhood mortality in Kenya between urban and rural areas using DHS data for 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2008/09. Infant, child and under five mortality rates by cohort and urban-rural residence and key determinants are estimated. Results show a narrowing gap in urban rural differentials in childhood mortality. Generally, childhood mortality has declined in both rural and urban areas, but the decline has been more rapid in rural areas. The narrowing gap may be attributed to the fact that most urban residents in Kenya now live in slum areas; with very poor living conditions including water and environmental sanitation, livelihoods and health services, hence the rate of decline in childhood mortality in urban areas does not match that in rural areas.

The research focused on 50 deceased Nigerian women of low socioeconomic status in different locations of the country with some common characteristics. Primary data were generated mainly through verbal autopsy with widowers employing In-depth Interviews (IDIs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). In addition, unobtrusive observation was carried out in these locations to ascertain in some instances the distance between the deceased homes and the health facilities patronised for antenatal, delivery and/or postnatal care. Secondary data were specific to death certificates issued by some of the facilities. Both ethnographic summaries and content analysis were employed in analysing the data to account for contextual differences, especially in a multicultural society like Nigeria. The findings of the study implicated several issues that are taken for granted at the micro-family and macro-society levels. Consequently, policy relevant recommendations that could contribute to significant maternal mortality reduction were made.

Globally, delivering in health facilities is encouraged as a single most important strategy in preventing maternal and neonatal deaths. However, access to facility-based delivery care remains very low in many developing countries including Tanzania, despite the user-fee exemption policy. The study assesses the relationship between socioeconomic status and place of delivery in three districts in Tanzania.

Data originate from a larger cross-sectional survey of random households conducted in three districts in Tanzania in 2011. Logistic regression model was fitted to examine how socioeconomic status and other factors influence place of delivery.

Overall, 75.5% of all participants delivered in facilities. The wealthier and more educated a woman was, the more likely that she would deliver in a health facility (OR=4.34, 95% CI 1.86-10.13). Also Sukuma and Ngindo ethnic groups were less likely compared to ndengereko to deliver in health facilities (OR=0.60, 95% CI 0.36-0.98) and (OR=0.40, 95% CI 0.18-0.89) respectively. Other significant predictors were gravidity, religion, district and type of residence.

Access to facility-based delivery care in Tanzania is significantly skewed in favor of socioeconomically wealthier and more educated women, despite the user-fee exemption policy for delivery care being operational.

Business cycles can be powerful determinants of mortality. Greece is currently found in a severe economic downturn. This study examines whether the repercussions of those economic trends are already shown on age and cause-specific death rates. Despite the fact that the crisis is still unfolding and the rather limited time-span since its outburst, results are quite interesting. All cause age-standardized mortality rates continued to decrease. However, infant mortality has increased since 2008. This trend is of particular importance since infant mortality is traditionally considered as an economic development indicator. Mortality due to violent deaths (namely, homicide and suicide) as well as mental and behavioral disorder has also followed an upward trend mainly among males, during the last two or three years. It seems that there is some evidence that mortality in Greece has been affected by recession. This study focused on immediate mortality effects and therefore follow-up studies are needed to further elucidate our research question.

Background- This paper is an effort to analyze the influence of education and occupation as critical determinants to using smokeless tobacco among male adults in India and its selected states. By using the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), India, 2009-10 data the study presents a distinct picture of tobacco use among male adults for different background characteristics. Methods& Results- The treatment of Bi-variate and Multivariate (Cox proportion hazards model) analysis in the study evidently suggest that majority of Indian male adults are using Khaini and Gutkha (Local names for tobacco). The analysis also shows that education and occupation are two critical predictors of use of smokeless tobacco. The males at young age with less education, self employed and from rural area use more smokeless tobacco than their counter part from urban area. This distinction is mainly due to the lack of education and ignorance about the consequences of tobacco consumption among the rural males. The states of backward region have higher use of smokeless tobacco compared to the developed states. Conclusion- Hence, there is an urgent need to minimize this gap between different regions and other subgroups to ensure an overall growth environment for all citizens in the India.

It is acknowledged that the level of injury mortality reacts quickly to socioeconomic changes. Transition from the Soviet system initially brought a two-fold rise from the average level of the 80’s to an injury SDR of 242 per 100000 in 1994 in Estonia (54 in EU). Thereafter the decline, both in total mortality and injury mortality, has been exemplary. The nature and success of reforms is the best explanation for differences among countries according to Vallin and Shkolnikov. During the Asian crisis of 1997/8 and especially the 2008/9 global recession, which had severe economic consequences, the trend did not change – injury SDR fell from 110 in 2007 to 77 in 2011.

Interestingly today, when the injury mortality is much lower, inherent characteristic features still remain in Estonia. The male/female ratio, globally around 2, has firmly stayed at 4-5 during past 20 years. Unlike in most countries where injury mortality is peaking in the oldest age group, a second peak at the age of 45-59 is evident.

There is a notable difference between cohorts during the transition – those born around 1955 were hit the hardest. Employed population has enjoyed a significant decline of injury deaths, unemployed have seen their situation stabilise.

Death is inevitable in all societies irrespective of colour, group or nationality. However, infants have greater risks of dying than matured people due to several factors, especially to their biological immaturity. Moreover, studies have established that infants whose parents are rich tend to enjoy higher chances of surviving than those whose parents are poor. The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between the household socio-economic status and infant mortality (Death) in the study area. The study will anchor on social model and medical model to explain infant deaths within an household.The study population will consist of women in reproductive age group s between the ages of 16- 47 years., who had live birth within the last two years and men whose wives had live birth within the same time frame. A sample size of five hundred women and men will be selected across the state. The respondents will be chosen across the study areas using multi-stage technique. Twenty-health centre’s personnel will selected for in-depth interview across the state. The study hopes to find how household socio economic status affects both neonatal death and post neo-natal

This paper analyses the determinants of IPT in Uganda using data from the 2009 Uganda Malaria Indicator Survey. A total of 1464 women who had had a birth in the two years before the survey are a basis of the analysis. Binary logistic regression model was used to find out factors that have an effect on women taking two doses of sulfadoxine pyrimethamine while pregnant. Most of the respondents had primary education (63.8%), aged 20-24 (33.1%) and lived in rural areas (87.9%).The study found that IPT up-take varied by education level, occupation and wealth index. Girls’ access to education and employment opportunities outside the home to increase their incomes will help increase IPT up-take from the current levels of 32%. Also, fansidar should be made especially in public health facilities so that it is made available for women at ANC.

While the Cameroon’s population is doubling, the urban population is tripling. Within the next few years, more than 70 % of the population will be living in urban areas in Cameroon. Urban populations interact with their environment. Urban people change their environment through their consumption of food, energy, water, and land. And in turn, the polluted urban environment affects the health and quality of life of the urban population. The urban environment is an important factor in determining the quality of life in urban areas and the impact of the urban area on the broader environment. Some urban environmental problems include inadequate water and sanitation, lack of rubbish disposal, and industrial pollution. The health implications of these environmental problems include respiratory infections and other infectious and parasitic diseases. Unfortunately, reducing the problems and ameliorating their effects on the urban population are expensive.
What kind of measure and their availability Cameroon Government is putting together to tackle theses problems in final to improve the lives of the urban people in line with the objectives of the Millennium Development goals.

This study investigates how social exclusion impact household poverty among the older persons in Nigeria. This has become essential in order to improve the preparation for old age among Nigerians. Data were gathered using questionnaire and multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 242 respondents. Simple percentages cross tabulations and chi-square statistics were used to analyze the data. The study found that more than half of the respondents admitted to have been discriminated based on their age while about one-third of the respondents said they have not been discriminated based on their age. This indicates that the concept of ageism which is prejudice based on age still persists. The study found out the majority of the respondents agreed that household poverty is an important predictor of whether or not an elderly would be socially excluded. It was also indicated that a slight majority of the elders do not contribute to the decision making process of their household which indicates role loss. In conclusion, the reintegration of the elderly into the value system of the modern society is paramount to enhance higher moral standing, so as not to lose cultural heritage, also the rate of social inequality should be reduced.