Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Income Distribution”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,621 records · Page 90Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Mapping environmental injustices: pitfalls and potential of geographic information systems in assessing environmental health and equity.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been used increasingly to map instances of environmental injustice, the disproportionate exposure of certain populations to environmental hazards. Some of the technical and analytic difficulties of mapping environmental injustice are outlined in this article, along with suggestions for using GIS to better assess and predict environmental health and equity. I examine 13 GIS-based environmental equity studies conducted within the past decade and use a study of noxious land use locations in the Bronx, New York, to illustrate and evaluate the differences in two common methods of determining exposure extent and the characteristics of proximate populations. Unresolved issues in mapping environmental equity and health include lack of comprehensive hazards databases; the inadequacy of current exposure indices; the need to develop realistic methodologies for determining the geographic extent of exposure and the characteristics of the affected populations; and the paucity and insufficiency of health assessment data. GIS have great potential to help us understand the spatial relationship between pollution and health. Refinements in exposure indices; the use of dispersion modeling and advanced proximity analysis; the application of neighborhood-scale analysis; and the consideration of other factors such as zoning and planning policies will enable more conclusive findings. The environmental equity studies reviewed in this article found a disproportionate environmental burden based on race and/or income. It is critical now to demonstrate correspondence between environmental burdens and adverse health impacts--to show the disproportionate effects of pollution rather than just the disproportionate distribution of pollution sources.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed2006

[Use of contraceptive methods by sexually active women in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil].

In 2003, a population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban area of São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The sample included 867 sexually active women from 20 to 60 years of age. The objective was to describe the use of contraceptive methods. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire. The study analyzed the prevalence of contraceptive use and socioeconomic variables in women reporting an active sex life (84.5%), stratified by age groups. Some 627 (61.1%) women reported use of contraceptive methods. In the 20-49-year old group, 48.8% reported using oral contraceptives, 18.7% tubal ligation, 17.3% condoms, and 7.3% IUDs. In the 50-60-year old group, the most widely used method was tubal ligation (79.6%). Regarding tubal ligation, the schooling variable showed a linear trend, that is, women with less schooling showed a higher prevalence. Prevalence of oral contraception was higher in low-income women.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects of early maternal depression on patterns of infant-mother attachment: a meta-analytic investigation.

We analysed results from seven American and British studies that compared groups of mothers with and without clinically diagnosed depression, and assessed the attachment category of their infants (under 3 years) using the Strange Situation. The samples were predominantly middle-income and free of risk factors other than maternal depression. Meta-analysis using loglinear modelling and standardised residuals showed that the effect of depression on the distribution of infants' attachment was statistically heterogeneous. However, after removing one outlier study, the effect of depression was homogeneous across the remaining six studies. Infants of depressed mothers showed significantly reduced likelihood of secure (B) attachment and marginally raised likelihood of avoidant (A) and disorganised (D) attachment. The first two effects varied considerably in magnitude between studies, whereas the increase in disorganised attachment, from 17% to 28% on average, was consistent.

Depression↗
PubMed1993

Aging, intergenerational distribution and public pension systems.

"This paper develops an intertemporal simulation model capable of addressing the macroeconomic and distributional effects of demographic shocks in a small open economy. Two sources of population aging are examined, viz. lower birth rates and prolonged expected lifetimes at retirement age. Due to strong expectational effects, both shocks are found to change average consumption in a downward direction, in the short run as well as in the long run. This effect is matched by a strong net acquisition of foreign assets. Furthermore, it turns out that the intergenerational distribution of the burden of adjusting to an aging population is strongly dependent on whether the benefit rate, the contribution rate, or the relative non-capital income of pensioners and workers is held fixed."

Demography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of efficacy of self breast examination for breast cancer prevention: a cost effective screening tool.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent neoplasm among females and every year the number of associated deaths increases so that there is a dire need for implementation of cancer screening and early detection. A survey conducted by various locally organised cancer registries indicated breast cancer to be the most prevalent cancer among females and the second most common cause of cancer deaths among Pakistani women. Since Pakistani females do not generally engage in screening practices we argue that nurses and lady health workers should team up to educate women for the possible early detection of cancer using Self Breast Examination as a screening tool. In this paper, we attempt to evaluate the primary efficacy of self breast examination as an early and cost effective cancer screening measure, and to discuss the relation of community health nurses as well as the lady health workers to education of females of low income countries such as Pakistan to possibly lower the cancer burden.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perceptions and practices relating to condom use among urban men in Haiti.

This report is based on a survey conducted in 1986-87 of sexually active adult male residents in a low-income community of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The objectives were to investigate knowledge of and attitudes toward condoms; to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing condom distribution program; and to obtain information that can be used in the design of strategies to increase condom acceptance and use among men throughout Haiti. A final sample of 706 sexually active adult male residents in stable unions, including a specially drawn sample of male partners of condom acceptors, were interviewed in their homes. Although condoms are almost universally known, they are rarely used. The majority felt that the responsibility for family planning should be borne by the woman. Whereas condoms may be of limited popularity for family planning purposes in Haiti, it should be determined whether they might be more acceptable as an effective means of controlling the spread of AIDS and other STDs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Growth in children fed exclusively with breast milk during the first 6 months of life].

To study first year growth patterns in exclusively breast-fed children, the growth (weight and height) of 232 children who had received only breastmilk during the six first months of life was followed over a period extending from 1983 to 1987. The follow-ups were done in the pediatric dispensary at Taguatinga Health Center No. 7 in the Federal District of Brazil. The children were from low-income families and represented various racial mixes. All were single products of pregnancy, had no pathological history, and had been breast-fed on demand. The percentile distribution (90, 75, 50, 25, and 10) of weight and height at birth and at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of age showed that the average quarterly increases in these variables were greater in the first quarter and less in subsequent quarters. The weight of the boys doubled between the third and fourth months, while that of the girls doubled in the fourth month. The results indicate that the growth of these children was satisfactory.

Body Height↗
PubMed1988

A dynamic model of regional population growth and decline.

"This paper presents a two-sector dynamic model of regional population change. The model contains a migration equation, an earnings equation, and an amenity equation for each region. In the context of this model, migration is seen as a disequilibrium process through which the regional populations move towards equilibrium positions. Migration occurs when one region is perceived to be superior to the other on the basis of its earnings and amenity levels. Equilibrium is achieved when population movements between the regions eliminate any differences in their relative attractiveness. A comparative-static analysis of the model is presented to analyze the effects of policy changes and exogenous shocks on the distribution of population among the regions." The geographical focus is on the United States.

Americas↗
PubMedDate not supplied

School region socio-economic status and geographic locale is associated with food behaviour of Ontario and Alberta adolescents.

BACKGROUND: In an attempt to elucidate broader determinants of adolescent dietary intake and habits, food intakes and selected food behaviours of grades 9 and 10 students from Ontario and Alberta were examined according to school region socio-economic status and urban/rural locale. METHODS: Using a stratified random sample framework, 53 high schools from 28 school boards were recruited (45 public and 8 private; 33 urban and 20 rural). Median family income for Canada Post's forward sortation area of the school was used to define school region SES. Public and private schools were compared as a proxy measure of SES. A web-based survey of food intake and behaviours, including a 24-hour diet recall and food frequency questionnaire, was completed by 2,621 students in grades 9 and 10. Comparison of intakes and behaviours by school designation as urban/rural, public/private or regional SES (generalized linear model procedure) controlled for student gender and grade distribution and number of participants within schools. RESULTS: School region SES ranged from dollars 40,959 to dollars 85,922/year. Vegetable and fruit consumption (p < 0.001), fibre intake (p < 0.001) and frequency of breakfast consumption (p < 0.01) increased with increasing income, while added sugar intake decreased (p < 0.01). Private versus public school students had lower intakes of sweetened drinks (p < 0.01) and higher intakes of fibre (p=0.02). Rural students reported higher mean intakes of calcium (1106 vs. 995 mg/day, respectively, p = 0.03) and milk products (2.7 vs. 2.3 servings/day, p < 0.01) than urban students. CONCLUSION: Selected food behaviours of youth from Ontario and Alberta improve with increasing school SES and vary with rural/urban school locale. Identifying regional demographics may be useful in tailoring healthy eating programs to the specific school.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Epidemiology of SIDS and explained sudden infant deaths. CESDI SUDI Research Group.

OBJECTIVES: To establish whether epidemiologic characteristics for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have changed since the decrease in death rate after the "Back to Sleep" campaign in 1991, and to compare these characteristics with sudden and unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) from explained causes. DESIGN: Three-year, population-based, case-control study. Parental interviews were conducted soon after the death and for 4 controls matched for age and date of interview. All sudden unexpected deaths were included in the study and the cause of death was established by a multidisciplinary panel of the relevant health care professionals taking into account past medical and social history of the mother and infant, the circumstances of death, and a full pediatric postmortem examination. Contributory factors and the final classification of death were made using the Avon clinicopathologic system. SETTING: Five regions in England, with a total population of >17 million people, took part in the study. The number of live births within these regions during the particular time each region was involved in the study was 473 000. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred twenty-five SIDS infants (91.3% of those available), 72 explained SUDI infants (86.7% of those available), and 1588 matched control infants (100% of total for cases included). RESULTS: Many of the epidemiologic features that characterize SIDS infants and families have remained the same, despite the recent decrease in SIDS incidence in the United Kingdom. These include the same characteristic age distribution, few deaths in the first few weeks of life or after 6 months, with a peak between 4 and 16 weeks, a higher incidence in males, lower birth weight, shorter gestation, and more neonatal problems at delivery. As in previous studies there was a strong correlation with young maternal age and higher parity and the risk increased for infants of single mothers and for multiple births. A small but significant proportion of index mothers had also experienced a previous stillbirth or infant death. The majority of the SIDS deaths (83%) occurred during the night sleep and there was no particular day of the week on which a significantly higher proportion of deaths occurred. Major epidemiologic features to change since the decrease in SIDS rate include a reduction in the previous high winter peaks of death and a shift of SIDS families to the more deprived social grouping. Just more than one quarter of the SIDS deaths (27%) occurred in the 3 winter months (December through February) in the 3 years of this study. In half of the SIDS families (49%), the lone parent or both parents were unemployed compared with less than a fifth of control families (18%). This difference was not explained by an excess of single mothers in the index group. Many of the significant factors relating to the SIDS infants and families that distinguish them from the normal population did not distinguish between SIDS and explained SUDI. In the univariate analysis many of the epidemiologic characteristics significant among the SIDS group were also identified and in the same direction among the infants dying as SUDI attributable to known causes. The explained deaths were similarly characterized by the same infant, maternal, and social factors, 48% of these families received no waged income. Using logistic regression to make a direct comparison between the two index groups there were only three significant differences between the two groups of deaths: 1) a different age distribution, the age distribution of the explained deaths peaked in the first 2 months and was more uniform thereafter; 2) more congenital anomalies were noted at birth (odds ratio [OR] = 3.14; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.52-6. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2005

Community-based health insurance in poor rural China: the distribution of net benefits.

The collapse of China's Cooperative Medical System (CMS) in 1978 resulted in the lack of an organized financing scheme for health care, adversely affecting rural farmers' access to health care, especially among the poor. The Chinese government recently announced a policy to re-establish some forms of community-based insurance (CBI). Many existing schemes involve low premiums but high co-payments. We hypothesized that such benefit design leads to unequal distribution of the "net benefits" (NB)--benefits net of payment--because even though low premiums are more affordable to poor farmers, high co-payments may have a significant deterrent effect on the poor in the use of services in CBI. To test this hypothesis empirically, we estimated the probability of farmers joining a re-established CBI using logistic regression, and the utilization of health care services for those who joined the scheme using the two-part model. Based on the estimations, we predicted the distribution of NB among those who joined the CBI and for the entire population in the community. Our data came from a household survey of 4160 members of 1173 households conducted in six villages in Fengshan Township, Guizhou Province, China. Three principal findings emerged from this study. First, income is an important factor influencing farmers' decision to join a CBI despite the premium representing a very small fraction of household income. Secondly, both income and health status influence enrollees' utilization of health services: richer/sicker participants obtain greater NB from the CBI than poorer/healthier members, meaning that the poorer/healthier participants subsidize the rich/sick. Thirdly, wealthy farmers benefit the most from the CBI with low premium and high co-payment features at every level of health status. In conclusion, policy recommendations related to the improvement of the benefit distribution of CBI schemes are made based on the results from this study.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

The United States liver donor population in the 1990s: a descriptive, population-based comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Orthotopic liver transplantation in the United States is primarily limited by a shortage of donor organs. METHODS: To better understand the low rates of organ donation in the United States and identify areas for potential improvement, we analyzed detailed demographic and mortality-specific data from 10,689 adult cadaveric liver donors obtained from the United Network for Organ Sharing from April 1, 1994 to March 31, 1997. Comparative U.S. population demographic and economic data were obtained from the U.S. census. RESULTS: As compared with the U.S. population, we found there to be significantly fewer nonwhite (P=0.001) and foreign-born donors (P=0.001); 58.9% of liver donors were male (P=0.001). The mean age was 40.6 years; yet during the 3-year period analyzed, there was a significant trend toward increasing age of donors. Median household income was 18% to 32% lower in the donor population than in the general U.S. population. In 91.2% of cases, the donor cause of death was listed as cerebrovascular stroke or head trauma. Numerous significant interracial differences were found in both the donor mechanism and circumstance of death. These included black donors being more likely to have gunshot wound as the listed mechanism of death (P=0.001) and to have homicide as the listed circumstance of death (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Nonwhites and foreign-born individuals are significantly underrepresented in the U.S. liver donor population. Furthermore, donors seem to be poorer than the general U.S. population. Increasing the liver donor pool, especially among minorities, will require creative and thoughtful public initiatives.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Risk indicators and risk markers for periodontal disease experience in older adults living independently in Ontario, Canada.

This study examined risk indicators and risk markers for periodontal disease experience in 624 adults aged 50 years and over living independently in four communities in Ontario, Canada. The data were collected as part of the baseline phase of a longitudinal study of the oral health and treatment needs of this population. Periodontal disease experience was assessed in terms of attachment loss, measured at two sites on each remaining tooth. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine the relationship between a number of sociodemographic, general health, psychosocial, and oral health variables and three indicators of periodontal disease experience. These were: mean attachment loss, the proportion of sites examined with loss of 2 mm or more, and the probability of the subjects having severe disease, arbitrarily defined as a mean attachment loss in the upper 20th percentile of the distribution. Mean attachment loss was 2.95 mm (SD = 1.41 mm), and 76.6% of sites examined had loss of 2 mm or more. In bivariate analyses, the most consistent predictors of periodontal disease experience were: age, education, income, smoking, dental visiting, the number of remaining teeth, the number of decayed coronal surfaces, and the number of decayed root surfaces. In multivariate analyses, age, education, current smoking status, and the number of teeth had the most consistent independent effects. These data confirm the results of recent US studies indicating that periodontal disease experience is influenced by social and behavioral factors.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

Global and regional burden of disease and risk factors, 2001: systematic analysis of population health data.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to calculate the global burden of disease and risk factors for 2001, to examine regional trends from 1990 to 2001, and to provide a starting point for the analysis of the Disease Control Priorities Project (DCPP). METHODS: We calculated mortality, incidence, prevalence, and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) for 136 diseases and injuries, for seven income/geographic country groups. To assess trends, we re-estimated all-cause mortality for 1990 with the same methods as for 2001. We estimated mortality and disease burden attributable to 19 risk factors. FINDINGS: About 56 million people died in 2001. Of these, 10.6 million were children, 99% of whom lived in low-and-middle-income countries. More than half of child deaths in 2001 were attributable to acute respiratory infections, measles, diarrhoea, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. The ten leading diseases for global disease burden were perinatal conditions, lower respiratory infections, ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, diarrhoeal diseases, unipolar major depression, malaria, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and tuberculosis. There was a 20% reduction in global disease burden per head due to communicable, maternal, perinatal, and nutritional conditions between 1990 and 2001. Almost half the disease burden in low-and-middle-income countries is now from non-communicable diseases (disease burden per head in Sub-Saharan Africa and the low-and-middle-income countries of Europe and Central Asia increased between 1990 and 2001). Undernutrition remains the leading risk factor for health loss. An estimated 45% of global mortality and 36% of global disease burden are attributable to the joint hazardous effects of the 19 risk factors studied. Uncertainty in all-cause mortality estimates ranged from around 1% in high-income countries to 15-20% in Sub-Saharan Africa. Uncertainty was larger for mortality from specific diseases, and for incidence and prevalence of non-fatal outcomes. INTERPRETATION: Despite uncertainties about mortality and burden of disease estimates, our findings suggest that substantial gains in health have been achieved in most populations, countered by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa and setbacks in adult mortality in countries of the former Soviet Union. Our results on major disease, injury, and risk factor causes of loss of health, together with information on the cost-effectiveness of interventions, can assist in accelerating progress towards better health and reducing the persistent differentials in health between poor and rich countries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Sociodemographic indicators and risk of brain tumours.

BACKGROUND: To better understand patterns of occurrence or diagnosis of brain tumours in different segments of the population, we evaluated associations between sociodemographic variables and the relative incidence of brain tumours as part of a multi-faceted case-control study. METHODS: The study was conducted at hospitals in three US cities between 1994 and 1998. In all, 489 glioma cases (354 high-grade, 135 low-grade), 197 meningioma cases, 96 acoustic neuroma cases, and 799 controls admitted to the same hospitals for any of a variety of non-neoplastic diseases or conditions were enrolled and interviewed. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR), calculate 95% CI, and test for trends. RESULTS: The OR showed significant positive associations with household income for low-grade glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma, but not for high-grade glioma. Positive associations were observed with level of education for low-grade glioma and acoustic neuroma, but not for high-grade glioma or meningioma. Jewish religion was associated with a significantly elevated risk for meningioma (OR = 4.3; 95% CI: 2.0-9.0). Being single at the time of tumour diagnosis or enrolment was associated with significantly reduced risks for meningioma (OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0.6) and low- or high-grade glioma (OR = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.5-0.8), but not for acoustic neuroma. CONCLUSIONS: Associations with sociodemographic variables varied considerably among the different subtypes of brain tumour, including between low-grade and high-grade glioma. The general pattern was for associations with indicators of affluence and education to be stronger for tumours that tend to grow more slowly and have less catastrophic effects, although the evidence was mixed for meningioma. We cannot isolate the specific factors underlying the observed associations, but intrapopulation differences in the completeness or timing of diagnosis may have played a role. There is less opportunity for such influences to operate for the rapidly progressing, high-grade gliomas than for more slowly growing tumours.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Socioeconomic distribution of noncommunicable disease risk factors in urban Brazil: the case of Pôrto Alegre.

The study reported here sought to assess the degree to which the prevalences of five risk factors for noncommunicable diseases--hypertension, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and excessive alcohol consumption--varied individually and in combination for urban Brazilians with differing socioeconomic status in terms of educational achievement, income, and social class. For this purpose, 1986-1987 data from a cross-sectional household survey of 1,157 randomly selected adults 15-64 years of age residing in the major Brazilian city of Pôrto Alegre were analyzed. In general, it was found that less privileged socioeconomic situations tended to be associated with higher risk factor prevalences. However, this was not the case for obesity and sedentary lifestyle among men, and may not have been the case with respect to hypertension among women. When the effects of education, income, and social class were considered simultaneously, higher risk factor prevalences were most strongly associated with low educational attainment. Important exceptions to this rule were found for smoking among women and excessive alcohol consumption among men, where higher risk factor prevalences were most associated with social class. Once the effects of education and social class were accounted for, low income generally tended to be associated with lower prevalences of the risk factors studied.

Adolescent↗