The impact of food aid interventions on food insecurity, diet quality and mental health in households with children in high-income countries: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Households with children accessing food aid in high-income countries are often food insecure. We aimed to review the evidence on food aid interventions in households with children and impact on food insecurity, diet quality and mental health. DESIGN: A systematic search was conducted using Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL and PsycINFO. Articles published from January 2008 to July 2022 including cross-sectional, cohort and interventional studies in high-income countries were eligible. SETTING: Food aid is defined as the use of interventions providing free food items by community and/or charitable organisations. PARTICIPANTS: Two-parent, lone parent or households with a primary caregiver with at least one child ≤ 18 years. RESULTS: From a total of 10 394 articles, nine were included. Food banks, mobile pantry combined with a free meal for children, backpack provision during school term and food parcel home delivery interventions were evaluated. Food bank models offering additional support such as community programmes, health and social services, cooking classes and free meals for children, client-choice-based models and programmes providing convenient access were associated with improved food security and diet quality (increased intake of wholegrains, fruit and vegetables). One study reported an improvement in mental health and food bank access at the end of 18 months but not at earlier timepoints and one study reported no change in parents' mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Accessing food aid was linked to improved diet quality and reduced food insecurity in some studies. Allowing clients to choose food items and providing support services were most effective.

Objective assessment of shared plate eating using a wearable camera in urban and rural households in Ghana.

Background: Shared plate eating (SPE), defined as two or more individuals eating directly from the same plate or bowl, is a common household food consumption practice in many Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Examination of household engagement in SPE remains largely unexplored, highlighting a gap in research when interpreting dietary information obtained from these settings. The dearth of research into SPE can be attributed to the inherent limitations of traditional dietary assessment methods which constrain their usability in settings where SPE is common. Objective: In this expository narrative, we describe what SPE is when it is practiced in an LMIC such as Ghana; and also compare the frequency of SPE versus individual plate eating (IPE) by different household members in rural and urban households using a wearable camera (Automatic Ingestion Monitor version 2: AIM-2). Methods: Purposive convenience sampling was employed to recruit and enroll 30 households each from an urban and a rural community (n = 60 households) in Ghana. The AIM-2 was worn on eyeglass frames for 3 days by selected household members. The AIM-2, when worn, automatically collects images to capture food consumption in participants' environments, thus enabling passive capture of household SPE dynamics. Results: A higher percentage of SPE occasions was observed for rural (96.7%) compared to urban (36.7%) households (p < 0.001). Common SPE dynamics included only adults sharing, adults and children sharing, only children sharing, and non-household member participation in SPE. Conclusion: The wearable camera captured eating dynamics within households that would have likely been missed or altered by traditional dietary assessment methods. Obtaining reliable and accurate data is crucial for assessing dietary intake in settings where SPE is a norm.

Guiding clean energy transitions in rural households: Insights from China's pilot low-carbon policies.

The impact of Low Carbon Pilot Policies (LCPPs) on carbon reduction and energy efficiency has been extensively studied. However, the potential of these policies to promote clean energy transition (CET) in rural households remains underexplored. This article constructed a staggered-DID model using data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) to investigate the impact and mechanisms of LCPPs on rural households' CET. The findings indicate that LCPPs significantly enhance the CET among rural households. Moreover, the effects of LCPPs vary across cities, while differences within communities and households are less pronounced. Mechanism analysis reveals that LCPPs facilitate rural households' CET through income effects, infrastructure improvements, and enhanced low-carbon awareness. Notably, the income and low-carbon awareness effects are heterogeneous. Additionally, LCPPs have increased rural households' expenditures on home-cooked meals. We estimate the average fixed cost of the CET for rural households to be approximately $404.495. These insights provide valuable empirical evidence that can guide other countries and regions in promoting CET in rural areas.

The role of agroforestry systems for addressing climate change livelihood vulnerability of farmers of Northwestern Ethiopia.

Farmers in Ethiopia have been vulnerable to climate change in recent decades. In the face of this change, farmers have managed agroforestry systems to maintain their livelihoods. However, studies exploring the role of agroforestry in reducing household vulnerability are lacking in Northwestern Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to (i) investigate households' livelihoods vulnerability to climate change in Northwestern Ethiopia; (iii) assess the role of agroforestry in mitigating the negative impacts of climate change on farmers livelihoods. Key informant interviews, in-depth interviews, household surveys (387), and focus group discussions were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, the X2-test, and the t-test were run to analyze the data. The findings revealed that households are vulnerable to rising temperatures, rainfall variability, frost, disease and pests, erosion, hailstorms, price hikes, wildlife damage to crops, and health stress. Agroforestry non-practitioners had a higher livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) (0.42 ± 0.081) than practitioners (0.46 ± 0.079). The Livelihood Vulnerability-Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change Index (LVI-IPCC) showed that AF non-practitioners had a higher exposure (0.58), sensitivity (0.54) index, and a lower adaptive capacity index (0.44) than the exposure (0.34), sensitivity (0.38), and adaptive capacity index (0.51) of practitioners. Plant diversity, income level and diversity, livelihood activities, social network, and food security status of farmers were improved by agroforestry. Farmers were therefore less susceptible to adverse climate shocks. Thus, the AF system could be part of future adaptation and resilience programs that provide dependable tools to minimize households' vulnerability to climate shocks. However, management guidelines, such as understanding local ecosystems, setting clear objectives, choosing suitable species, planning for diversity, considering the market, and regular maintenance and monitoring, are needed for agroforestry to improve its contribution.

Household financial burden associated with out-of-pocket payments for healthcare in Iran: insights from a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: One of the key functions and ultimate goals of health systems is to provide financial protection for individuals when using health services. This study sought to evaluate the level of financial protection and its inequality among individuals covered by the Social Security Organization (SSO) health insurance between September and December 2023 in Iran. METHODS: We collected data on 1691 households in five provinces using multistage sampling to examine the prevalence of catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) at four different thresholds (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) of the household's capacity to pay (CTP). Additionally, we explored the prevalence of impoverishment due to health costs and assessed socioeconomic-related inequality in OOP payments for healthcare using the concentration index and concentration curve. To measure equity in out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for healthcare, we utilized the Kakwani progressivity index (KPI). Furthermore, we employed multiple logistic regression to identify the main factors contributing to households experiencing CHE. FINDINGS: The study revealed that households in our sample allocated approximately 11% of their budgets to healthcare services. The prevalence of CHE at the thresholds of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% was found to be 47.1%, 30.1%, 20.1%, and 15.7%, respectively. Additionally, we observed that about 7.9% of the households experienced impoverishment due to health costs. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the age of the head of the household, place of residence, socioeconomic status, utilization of dental services, utilization of medicine, and province of residence were the main factors influencing CHE. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that while wealthy households spend more money on healthcare, poorer households spend a larger proportion of their total income to healthcare costs. The KPI showed that households with lower total expenditures had higher OOP payments relative to their CTP. CONCLUSION: The study findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve financial protection in healthcare and mitigate inequalities among individuals covered by SSO. It is recommended that these interventions prioritize the expansion of coverage for dental services and medication expenses, particularly for lower socioeconomic status household.

Is there a LINKAGE between credit access, land use, and crop diversification in achieving food security? Evidence from cocoa-producing households in Nigeria.

Cocoa farmers in Nigeria adopt crop diversification to safeguard the food security of their households. Although credit and land are thought to play a vital role in crop diversification, they continue to have limited access to credit and land. This study investigated the linkages between access to credit, land use, crop diversification, and food security with a focus on cocoa farming households. A multistage sampling procedure was used to obtain data for the study. Data were analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics, the Heifindahl index, the Tobit regression model, the food consumption score, and the ordered Logit regression model. The results for the entire respondents showed mean values of 55 years for age, 31 years for farming experience, 6 people for household size, and 5 ha for farm size. Heifindahl index shows 38.67 % of the respondents had low crop diversification in the study area. Tobit regression model reveals that access to credit, farming experience, cooperative organization, access to extension service, farm size, distance to farms, and labour are the main albeit significant factors that determine crop diversification among cocoa farming households. Food consumption score revealed that 46.67 % were poor, 30.67 % were at the borderline and about 27.67 % were within the acceptable threshold. The ordered logit model revealed that crop diversification index, formal education, access to credit, farm size, land use, and farming experience have a significant influence on the food security of households. The study concluded that there is a positive relationship between access to credit, land use, crop diversification, and food security. Therefore, the government and financial institutions should make credit facilities accessible to cocoa farmers to improve their livelihood.

The cost of care for children hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) associated lower respiratory infection in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the main causes of hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infection in children under five years of age globally. Maternal vaccines and monoclonal antibodies for RSV prevention among infants are approved for use in high income countries. However, data are limited on the economic burden of RSV disease from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) to inform decision making on prioritization and introduction of such interventions. This study aimed to estimate household and health system costs associated with childhood RSV in Kenya. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was administered to caregivers of children aged < 5 years admitted to referral hospitals in Kilifi (coastal Kenya) and Siaya (western Kenya) with symptoms of acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) during the 2019-2021 RSV seasons. These children had been enrolled in ongoing in-patient surveillance for respiratory viruses. Household expenditures on direct and indirect medical costs were collected 10 days prior to, during, and two weeks post hospitalization. Aggregated health system costs were acquired from the hospital administration and were included to calculate the cost per episode of hospitalized RSV illness. RESULTS: We enrolled a total of 241 and 184 participants from Kilifi and Siaya hospitals, respectively. Out of these, 79 (32.9%) in Kilifi and 21(11.4%) in Siaya, tested positive for RSV infection. The total (health system and household) mean costs per episode of severe RSV illness was USD 329 (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 251-408 ) in Kilifi and USD 527 (95% CI: 405- 649) in Siaya. Household costs were USD 67 (95% CI: 54-80) and USD 172 (95% CI: 131- 214) in Kilifi and Siaya, respectively. Mean direct medical costs to the household during hospitalization were USD 11 (95% CI: 10-12) and USD 67 (95% CI: 51-83) among Kilifi and Siaya participants, respectively. Observed costs were lower in Kilifi due to differences in healthcare administration. CONCLUSIONS: RSV-associated disease among young children leads to a substantial economic burden to both families and the health system in Kenya. This burden may differ between Counties in Kenya and similar multi-site studies are advised to support cost-effectiveness analyses.

A multivariate dataset on water-energy-food nexus: Multi-actor governance for social justice.

The article presents and validates an extensive multivariate dataset that offers insights into water-energy-food (WEF) nexus governance for social justice at the intrahousehold, household, and community levels. The lack of insights in the WEF nexus debate that take social justice and governance into account is what spurred the data collection. The initial process involved scoping the originally selected investigated sites and their suitability. Once the research areas were identified, the data were collected from 1184 households in the Matatiele, Magareng, and Greater Taung Local Municipalities in South Africa, using a semi-structured questionnaire and KoboCollect software. The freely available software was installed on Android Tablets which were used by the enumerators. The questionnaires were initially piloted in Matatiele Local Municipality, testing for internal validity and skip patterns, as well as time to complete the questionnaire. The reliability of the Likert responses from the questionnaire was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. The questionnaire was then refined for data collection and utilized a total of twenty-two (22) locally trained enumerators who were employed at the investigated sites. These enumerators were trained in administering the questionnaire and the use of the KoboCollect software used in data collection. The enumerators also received training on how to conduct the survey ethically, including informed permission, confidentiality, and the option to withdraw from the interview. The design of the data collection process was a cross-sectional survey that was conducted between 6 June and 4 August 2022, using purposive sampling. At the end of each data collection day, the enumerators uploaded their collected data into the KoboTool cloud, which allowed the lead in the survey to assess the data and effect any correctional measures on the questionnaire if the need arose. The enumerators also used a WhatsApp chat group to communicate real time opportunities and challenges in the questionnaire, which allowed the lead in the survey to constantly update the questionnaire. The multivariate questionnaire was divided into sections of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, community-level governance, decision-making, food, energy, and water security, social justice, legal knowledge, and rights to utilize these resources. The dataset will be of significance to multi-disciplinary researchers focusing on WEF security, governance, and social justice in Southern Africa. Furthermore, environmental and sustainability practitioners can find valuable insights from the provided data. The employed methodology is replicable and adaptable, enabling real-time monitoring of social justice and governance in the context of food, energy, and water security. The real time monitoring of governance and social justice in water, energy and food allows for the possibility of continual data collection and updating, and if a longitudinal design is adopted, it can be used for impact inquiry of any interventions or policies.

Single-Person Households: Insights from a Household Survey of Fruit and Vegetable Purchases.

Despite the efforts made to promote consumption, some countries are not increasing their fruit and vegetable intake, while household structures are undergoing relevant changes. Fruit and vegetable consumption is necessary but not sufficient for a healthy diet. Previous research has linked adequate fruit and vegetable consumption to a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and some mental health conditions. Furthermore, millions of deaths are reported annually worldwide due to diets low in fruit and vegetables, highlighting their critical public health importance. This study aims to separately analyze the purchases of fruit and vegetables in single-person households. We used three waves of the Family Budget Survey, Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares, in Chile, which is nationally representative of urban areas and includes over 10,000 households in each wave. We employed descriptive statistics to examine the characteristics of the head of household and the food shopper as well as the structure, composition, and overall characteristics of households. Additionally, we performed separate analyses for fruit and vegetable purchases, using these variables to determine the marginal effect on the probability of purchasing fruit or vegetables through probit models. Results show that, from 2011-2012 to 2021-2022, the share of households not purchasing fruit and vegetables increased from 5.0% to 8.4% and that, in single-person households, it rose from 11.2% to 19.1%. Male-headed, single-person households with low education and income were more likely not to purchase fruit, and these households also have decreasing vegetable purchases. Additionally, household income significantly impacts fruit purchases but does not significantly affect vegetable purchases. Our findings highlight the importance of considering single-person households as a target population segment for future public policies to promote fruit and vegetable consumption.

Quantification of household food waste in Greece to establish the 2021 national baseline and methodological implications.

The aim of this study was to present the national-level quantification of household food waste in Greece for 2021, in alignment with the legal framework of the European Union (EU) for measuring and reporting food waste. An online diary survey was conducted in spring 2021, utilizing pre-tested semi-structured food waste logs. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze food waste levels and generalized estimating equations (GEE) were performed to assess the influence of diary duration on food waste levels. The final representative sample consisted of 1,133 households. At the national level, the average per-capita annual total food waste generation rate was 86.5 ± 64.5 kg. The predominant share of food waste (47 %) was inedible plant-derived parts, reflecting underlying consumption patterns, whereas 40 % was once-edible food parts. Particularly, vegetables, fruits, and bakery products were the most discarded once-edible food items. Moreover, no statistically significant difference was found between food waste levels across the diary entries, with reporting periods varying from one day to one week. This study marks the first implementation of the EU legislation for household food waste measurement and reporting in Greece. Moreover, the study results indicate that the utilization of diaries with shorter reporting periods than one week, with a sufficiently large sample, may be an appropriate method for measuring nationwide levels, enhancing compliance while mitigating social desirability bias and reducing attrition. Future research should delve into the behaviors driving food waste, motives for prevention in different geographic and cultural contexts, and optimal diary reporting durations.

Individual, household and institutional level predictors of waste sorting: Evidence for Ecuador.

The rapid increase in waste generation in developing countries presents significant challenges, necessitating effective waste management strategies. This study examines the influence of individual, household and institutional factors on waste sorting behaviours in Ecuador, employing an ordered logistic regression model. Data were sourced from the 2019 National Multipurpose Household Survey (NMHS) and the Census of Economic Environmental Information in Decentralised Autonomous Governments (CEEIGAD). The NMHS uses a two-stage probabilistic sampling methodology, with census sectors as the primary sampling units and households as the secondary units. After excluding outliers and selecting individuals aged 15-65 years, the final sample consisted of 8601 households, including 26,175 individuals. The findings reveal that personal attributes such as gender, ethnicity, age, marital status and environmental concern significantly influence waste sorting behaviours. Household characteristics, including urban or rural location, are also critical. Institutional factors, such as municipal regulations, waste collection fees and waste separation at source, play essential roles in promoting waste separation. The study highlights the necessity for targeted governmental policies. Recommendations include improving environmental education, increasing sorting infrastructure in urban areas and ensuring waste collection systems maintain the separation of waste streams.

"A quantitative analysis on the adoption of soil, water, and forest conservation technologies in the upper Gelana watershed, Northeast Ethiopian highlands".

Globally, the degradation of soil, water, and forests has had a significant impact on both livelihoods and the environment. This issue is particularly severe in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Despite extensive efforts to implement conservation measures for soil, water, and forests in the highlands of Ethiopia, there has been a lack of thorough evaluation and documentation regarding the adoption of these practices by rural households. It is crucial to have scientific and up-to-date information at various spatial scales in order to effectively monitor existing practices, scale up successful initiatives, and promote sustainable regional development. Therefore, this paper focuses on analyzing the adoption of soil, water, and forest conservation activities by households in the upper Gelana watershed, South Wollo zone, Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia. The field data collection for this study took place from January to March 2022, from 150 rural household heads. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS software version 23. Descriptive statistics, Pearson bivariate correlation, and multinomial logistic regression were used. The survey findings revealed that 69 % of the respondents had implemented various soil, water, and forest conservation measures at different stages. The Pearson correlation results indicated a positive relationship between the adoption of soil, water and forest conservation practices. The multinomial logistic regression analysis has revealed that age, gender, access to credit, and access to extension services, significantly influenced the households' decision behaviour to adopt soil conservation practices. Age, access to extension service, and access to water resource were significant predictors of adoption of water conservation practices; whereas age, educational status, and access to extension service were significant predictors of adoption of forest conservation practices. This study underscores the significance of institutional factors in driving the adoption of technology in the research area. It further recommends policies that prioritize the dissemination of information on effective strategies, improvement of access to extension services, water resources, and credit facilities to promote sustainable watershed management. This study is exceptional in its innovative approach, which explores the convergence of these vital conservation domains within the distinct setting of the upper Gelana watershed. Studying the adoption of these technologies is crucial for informing policy-making and designing effective interventions that promote sustainable watershed practices. In this case, the Ministry of Agriculture, and development agents should scale up the adoption of these practices and take remedial actions for those not yet adopted.

Measles Outbreak Investigation in Aneded District, Northwest Ethiopia: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Between 2000 and 2018, global measles deaths decreased by 73%, but the disease remains prevalent in many developing countries, especially in Africa and Asia. Although Ethiopia was attempting to eliminate the measles, it still ranks fourth in the world in terms of the number of cases. The aim of the investigation was to describe the outbreak and identify its determinants in the Aneded district. METHODS: Between March 3, 2020, and April 2, 2020, the 89 patients and 178 controls participated in a case-control study. Data were gathered by means of in-person interviews with household leaders. The attack and case fatality rates were determined. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, variables having a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant cut-off points. RESULTS: An investigation was conducted on a total of 89 measles cases, with 3 deaths and 178 controls. In total, there were 1.65 attacks per 1000 people, or 3.4% of the case fatality rate. There were 155 days of outbreak duration. The disease was significantly associated with being female [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 2.66; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.38-5.11], under 5 years old [AOR = 7.24; 95% CI = 2.58-20.31], positive in attitude [AOR = 0.22; 95% CI = 0.11-0.42], and having a contact history [AOR = 3.19; 95% CI = 1.67-6.10]. CONCLUSION: The measles outbreak, with its higher attack and case fatality rate, has been influenced by factors like household attitudes, age, sex, contact and travel history and needs to be reduced through early detection, active surveillance, and fostering favorable attitudes towards disease prevention and control.

Changes in Health Spending During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Expenditure Type and Household Profiles in Mexican Households.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the changes in the health expenditure of households in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic to approximate changes in healthcare that can lead to difficulties in detecting noncommunicable diseases, among others. METHODS: We compare health spending before and after the pandemic through various estimators using multivariate linear regression models at the household level. We also explore heterogeneous effects by zone, sex, and household composition by age. We explore potential mechanisms of change estimating probit models of healthcare. We use microdata from the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018 and COVID-19. RESULTS: The results suggest a significant reduction in health spending, mainly referring to oral health, clinical analysis, and medical studies. Moreover, differences arise by type of area and household age profile. Changes are more significant among families with children younger than 12 years and households situated in urban areas. Regarding the mechanisms, the results suggest that the lower spending is not due to fewer health needs but rather due to less healthcare attention. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant and heterogeneous impact on household health spending. This lower spending could lead to less detection of noncommunicable diseases, translating into more pressure on the health system in the medium and long term.

Assessing greywater characteristics in the sahel region and perception of the local population on its reuse in agriculture.

Research on greywater reuse in water stressed areas is in full swing. However, the perception of greywater reuse is one of the least researched areas in West Africa, particularly in Sahelian countries. This study aimed to fills a significant gap in the existing literature, which has largely ignored the specific socio-demographic contexts of developing countries in the Sahelian regions. The study involved in-depth interviews with 240 rural households and the collection of 40 greywater samples in four locations for laboratory analysis. The survey focused on greywater management and household perceptions of greywater reuse in agriculture. The analyses focused on determining the physico-chemical and microbiological parameters of greywater collected from households. The results showed that over 80 % of households discharged greywater into the natural environment without prior treatment. The majority of respondents were aware that poor greywater management poses a health risk. The results also showed an association between locality, gender, education level and perceptions of poor grey water management. Respondents were willing to accept the reuse of greywater in agriculture, to consume irrigated vegetables and to install a greywater treatment system. The quality analysis showed that the greywater was not in compliance with the legal discharge limits. This study highlights that in order to promote sustainable greywater management practices within households, it is important to design effective greywater treatment systems that meet the needs of the target population. Awareness campaigns, education and training programmes on wastewater management could also be established.

Changes in mixed ethnicity households and neighbourhood transitions in England and Wales.

Conventional explanations of neighbourhood ethnic transitions consider what drives differential growth in ethnic group populations without regard to household composition. We enrich these nonhousehold approaches by using consistent Census data on neighbourhoods and households for England and Wales for 2001, 2011 and 2021 to analyse connections between mixed-ethnicity households and neighbourhood ethnic diversity. We employ a neighbourhood typology of ethnic diversity that identifies neighbourhoods as either low- or moderate-diversity, or high-diversity, where no single ethnic group is in the majority. We focus particularly on White-majority and highly diverse neighbourhoods given the dominance of the former in residential spaces in England and Wales, and because they are the principal source of transitions to highly diverse neighbourhoods. Mixed-ethnicity households have become an increasingly important feature of the ethnic diversification of England and Wales; by 2021, almost 15% of multiperson households were mixed, a growth from 12% in 2011 and 9% in 2001. We find that higher levels of neighbourhood ethnic diversity are associated with higher shares of mixed-ethnicity households. In high-diversity neighbourhoods, for example, around 30% of multiperson households (nearly a quarter of a million households) were ethnically mixed in 2021. Levels of household mixing in moderate-diversity White neighbourhoods were considerably higher than in low-diversity White neighbourhoods. The same is found for diversifying neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods that become more ethnically diverse were typically home to higher rates of mixed-ethnicity households. Stably moderately diverse White neighbourhoods also had a higher proportion of mixed households. Studies of neighbourhood transition that focus on individuals in neighbourhoods may be missing important processes operating in the intimate spaces of the home. Including this intermediate scale of analysis adds to our understanding of neighbourhood ethnic mixing and processes of integration.

Predicting the pulse of urban water demand: a machine learning approach to deciphering meteorological influences.

OBJECTIVE: This study delves into the impact of urban meteorological elements-specifically, air temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure-on water consumption in Kamyaran city. Data on urban water consumption, temperature (in Celsius), air pressure (in hectopascals), and relative humidity (in percent) were used for the statistical period 2017-2023. Various models, including the correlation coefficient, generalized additive models (GAM), generalized linear models (GLM), and support vector machines (SVM), were employed to scrutinize the data. RESULTS: Water consumption increases due to the influence of relative humidity and air pressure when the temperature variable is controlled. Under specific air temperature conditions, elevated air pressure coupled with high relative humidity intensifies the response of water consumption to variations in these elements. Water consumption exhibits heightened sensitivity to high relative humidity and air pressure compared to low levels of these factors. During winter, when a western low-pressure air mass arrives and disrupts normal conditions, causing a decrease in pressure and temperature, urban water consumption also diminishes. The output from the models employed in this study holds significance for enhancing the prediction and management of water resource consumption.

Factors Associated with Participation in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) among Low-Income Households: A Scoping Review.

Households with limited financial resources often struggle with inadequate access to healthy, affordable food. Community supported agriculture (CSA) has the potential to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables, yet low-income households seldom participate due to cost and other barriers. Cost-offset (or subsidized) CSA reduces financial barriers, yet engagement varies widely among those who enroll. This scoping review explored factors associated with CSA participation among low-income households in the United States. Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria, quantitative and qualitative data were extracted, the evidence was synthesized, and themes were developed. The findings suggested that women may be more likely than men to enroll in CSA. A lack of familiarity with CSA may hinder enrollment, whereas more education and self-efficacy for food preparation may facilitate participation. In terms of share contents, high-quality produce, a variety of items, more fruit, a choice of share contents, and a choice of share sizes may facilitate participation. In terms of CSA operations, a low price, good value, acceptance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, close pick-up locations on existing travel routes, delivery of shares, clear communication, fostering a sense of belonging and trust, and educational support may support participation. Together these findings support 13 recommendations for cost-offset CSA implementation to engage low-income households.

Heterogeneous Trajectories in Post-Disaster Drug Use Across Different Race/Ethnicity and Income Strata: Focus on Natural Hazards During COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, climate-related natural hazards, such as wildfires, storms/hurricanes, and others (e.g., earthquakes, tornadoes), further disrupted the normal functioning of US residents. The co-occurrence of natural disasters and COVID-19 created unprecedentedly elevated levels of stress, especially to the racial/ethnic minorities and lower-income households. This study examines how natural disasters related to recreational drug use during COVID-19 and whether the relation is heterogeneous across different subgroups categorized by race/ethnicity and household income. This study used the data from the biweekly online surveys of the Understanding America Study (UAS) and analyzed the drug use behaviors of 966 US adults between April 29 and December 31, 2020. This study found that middle-income adults (household income ranging from $50,000 to $149,999), serving as the reference group, generally exhibited a significant reduction in drug consumption during or after disaster events. However, compared to the middle-income group, White and Black adults with household income lower than $50,000 showed 142% and 88% more frequent drug use when experiencing storms/hurricanes. This disparity widened in the following weeks. Additionally, lower-income Hispanics showed 74% more frequent drug use compared to the middle-income group in the weeks following wildfire incidents. The study's findings shed light on the risk of drug misuse during the co-occurrence of climate and public health crises, emphasizing the disproportionate risk among lower-income racial/ethnic minorities amid the pandemic and natural disasters.

Food Insecurity and Nutritional Inadequacy in Children and Adolescents of Basic Education Schools of Cantagalo District in São Tomé and Príncipe, Central Africa.

Food insecurity (FI) is a critical socioeconomic and public health problem globally, particularly affecting children's nutritional status and development. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of nutritional inadequacy among children and adolescents in the Cantagalo district of São Tomé and Príncipe (STP), in Central Africa. It also assessed their households' FI situation and examined sociodemographic, anthropometric, and nutritional characteristics associated with severe FI. Data included 546 children/adolescents (51.8% males, aged 9-15 years) from the eight public basic education schools. A structured questionnaire provided sociodemographic data, while anthropometric measurements assessed nutritional status. Dietary intake data were gathered using a single 24 h dietary recall, and the adjusted prevalences of nutritional inadequacy were obtained using version 2.0 of the PC-Software for Intake Distribution Estimation (PC-SIDE®). The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale was used to assess FI, and households were classified as severely or non-severely food insecure. Multivariable binary logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders identified factors related to FI. Children's/adolescents' thinness was exhibited in 34.1% of participants, and over 95% had inadequate intake of essential micronutrients, including iron. Notably, 73.7% were severely food insecure. A higher severity of FI was positively associated with a lower intake of iron and certain household head characteristics, such as being female or older, and negatively associated with having a home garden.