UNASSIGNED: Existing estimates of rates of childhood disability in Kenya are based on data with important limitations. Individual-level data on childhood disability at the local level is also lacking, leaving critical knowledge gaps for clinical and programmatic development.
UNASSIGNED: We aimed to estimate the rates of children at-risk for disability, examine the external factors related to risk of childhood disability, and gain a better understanding of the challenges experienced by children at-risk for disabilities and their families within western Kenya.
UNASSIGNED: We conducted a small, cross-sectional randomized community survey to assess the rates of childhood disability across six administrative locations in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya, and to understand the experiences of these children and their caretakers.
UNASSIGNED: Rate of childhood disability in Uasin Gishu county was estimated to be 5%, with the most common disabilities being mood disorders. Caretakers reported several barriers to accessing treatment for their children at-risk of having disabilities, including financial concerns and lack of transportation.
UNASSIGNED: Our findings suggest a need for improved access to care in this region, including addressing significant barriers to accessing care such as stigma and socioeconomic challenges. These community-level data will inform the development of future infrastructure and programming for this population.

While it is possible to detect cognitive decline before the age of 60, and there is a report indicating that certain cognitive abilities peak in one\'s 30s, the evidence regarding cognitive problems in populations younger than 65 years is scarce. This study aims to (1) determine the proportion of community-dwelling adults with different cognitive status, and (2) determine the prevalence of neuropsychiatric behaviors. A population-based survey was conducted in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Individuals aged 30 to 65 were recruited and assessed for demographic data, memory complaints, cognitive performance, and neuropsychiatric symptoms using self-reported questionnaires. In a total of 539 participants, 33.95% had mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 7.05% had subjective cognitive decline (SCD), and 52.50% had neuropsychiatric symptoms. The risk of MCI increased with age, and neuropsychiatric symptoms were significantly higher in those with MCI or SCD than in those without (p < 0.001). The most common complaints were sleep problems, anxiety, and irritability. Screening for MCI in adults aged < 65 years might be useful. However, further investigation on the appropriate age to screen and the program\'s cost-effectiveness is suggested.

Rats are an understudied stressor for people in urban environments around the world but the effects may not be distributed equally among residents. In this study, we examined associations between residential rat sightings and mental health in Chicago, where rat complaints are the highest of any American city. We examined how this relationship varied by frequency of rat sightings, race, ethnicity, income, home ownership, and gender and explored potential psychosocial pathways (e.g., feelings about the home) between rat sightings and mental distress. We conducted a randomized household survey along an income gradient in 2021 and asked about depressive symptoms in the past week (i.e., Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale), frequency of rat sightings in/around the home, perceptions of rats, neighborhood conditions, and socio-demographic characteristics. We used logistic regression to assess relationships among these variables for our entire sample and for specific demographics using stratified models. Respondents (n = 589; 409 complete cases) who saw rats in/around the home daily/almost daily had 5.5 times higher odds of reporting high depressive symptoms relative to respondents who saw rats less frequently after accounting for socio-demographics and neighborhood conditions. This relationship was significant for men and respondents with lower incomes or race or ethnicity other than white. Our results show that rat infestations should be considered a threat to mental health among urban residents. Increased mental health support for residents living in rat-infested housing may improve public health in cities.

BACKGROUND: Studies examining profit suggest that former tobacco farmers do as well or better than current tobacco farmers. Research has yet to examine the relationship among current and former tobacco farmers, poverty, and receipt of government social assistance. This type of research is critical to understanding the direct and indirect subsidization of tobacco growing. This study analyzed tobacco farmers\' poverty levels and receipt of government social assistance programs.
METHODS: We designed and conducted an original four-wave economic survey of current and former tobacco farming households in Indonesia between 2016 and 2022. We then used descriptive analysis and probit regression for panel data to estimate the relationship between tobacco farming and poverty status.
RESULTS: Tobacco farmers\' per capita income and poverty rates vary across years. The poverty rate was significantly higher in the year with a higher-than-normal rainfall as it negatively affected farming outcomes. During this year, the poverty rate among current tobacco farmers was also higher than that of former tobacco farmers. Regression estimates from the panel data confirm the association between tobacco farming and the likelihood of being poor. We also found a high share of current tobacco farmers who receive government social assistance programs, such as cash transfer programs and a universal healthcare program.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show high poverty rates-particularly during bad farming years-and high rates of government social assistance among tobacco farmers. The high rates of government assistance among tobacco farmers living in poverty show that the government is indirectly subsidizing the tobacco industry.

Large-scale desertification combatting programs (DCPs) are crucial tools for addressing climate change and improving the ecological environment. Despite existing research having predominantly focused on assessing the ecological benefits of DCPs, the understanding of their impacts on surrounding socioeconomic aspects remains limited, particularly at the household level. To comprehensively evaluate the returns of DCPs, this study chose the representative desertification control area of the Gonghe Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as the research region and identified the dual benefits in terms of ecological environment and socioeconomic gains. Firstly, two essential ecosystem services, carbon sequestration (CS) and wind erosion prevention (WEP), were assessed using the MODIS NPP dataset and the RWEQ model from 2001 to 2021. Household surveys were conducted in 36 villages across 14 townships within the Gonghe Basin to gain a deeper understanding of the residents\' socioeconomic conditions. Through regression analysis, the study assessed the impact of DCPs on the regional ecological environment and household socioeconomic status. The research findings revealed significant improvements in CS and WEP across a significant portion of the study area from 2001 to 2021. Upon analyzing data from 401 household questionnaires, it was generally perceived by residents in the Gonghe Basin that the implementation of DCPs led to environmental improvements and increased their income levels. Further regression analysis revealed a significant impact of both natural factors and the extent of resident participation in the projects on the ecological environment surrounding the villages and on household socioeconomic aspects. With increased resident engagement in the projects, the likelihood of increased household income and life satisfaction was higher. The diverse array of DCPs implemented in the Gonghe Basin not only improved the regional ecological environment but also stimulated socioeconomic development. In future projects, it is imperative to consider regional characteristics, align ecological effects, ensure the sustainability of livelihoods, and maximize the role of social capital.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was diverse and disproportionate among nations, and population segments. The impacts of the disease and the containment strategies adopted are broad and cut across multiple facets of life, society, and the economy, which are intimately interlinked. Therefore, a large household survey was conducted to ascertain the socioeconomic impact and human behavior changes due to the pandemic and the containment strategies covering all provinces of Sri Lanka. The ramifications on mobility and human behavior, income, economic status, food consumption, education, access to health services and information, and cultural and psychological changes were explored, and the data are reported in this paper. The survey was conducted on 3020 households, selected using a multistage clustering technique, to assess the impacts of the pandemic through three distinctly identified waves/phases of the pandemic in Sri Lanka. This dataset will enable researchers and policymakers to analyze the impact of the pandemic through a multifaceted perspective enabling a more holistic approach to decision-making.

Previous research has well-documented that family functioning is an important predictor of individuals\' physical and mental health. However, relatively little research has explored family functioning at the family and population levels, such as changes in family functioning across years and whether predictors of family functioning differ across different family structures. Understanding of the changes in family functioning across years and factors promoting family functioning will inform the development of preventive measures to enhance family health and resilience. Objectives of the study were: (1) to examine the changes in family functioning across a 6-year study period and (2) to study protective factors associated with family functioning and the extent to which the factors are the same or different across different family structures.
The study involved secondary data analysis of the biannual Family Survey carried out by the Family Council, an advisory body to the Hong Kong government. A series of ANOVA and regression analyses were conducted using data of four population-based cross-sectional household surveys conducted in Hong Kong in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017.
There were some fluctuations in overall family functioning scores across the study period, but no significant difference was found between the scores in 2011 and 2017. Different predictors of family functioning were found for different family types, and frequent family communication was a common protective factor for most family types, including never married, married/cohabiting with children, and married/cohabiting with no children.
The study is among the first to examine changes in family functioning at the population level. Monitoring and addressing family functioning may help tackle various social problems and future public health crises. Interventions to promote family functioning should address both common and different protective factors of different family types.
A secondary analysis of population-based cross-sectional household surveys revealed no significant changes in family functioning in Hong Kong between 2011 and 2017, despite some fluctuations across the years.Family communication is a common factor associated with higher family functioning in most family types.Different protective factors are found for specific family types, suggesting interventions should take family types into account to effectively strengthen family functioning.

Routine childhood immunisation is one of the most important life-saving public health interventions. However, many children still have inadequate access to these vaccines and millions remain (partially) unvaccinated globally. As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health systems worldwide, its effects on immunisation have become apparent. This study aimed to estimate routine immunisation coverage among children under two in Sierra Leone and to identify factors associated with incomplete immunisation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in three districts in Sierra Leone: Bombali, Tonkolili and Port Loko. A three-stage cluster sampling method was followed to enrol children aged 10-23 months. Information regarding immunisation status was based on vaccination cards or caretaker\'s recall. Using WHO\'s definition, a fully immunised child received one BCG dose, three oral polio vaccine doses, three pentavalent vaccine doses and one measles-containing vaccine dose. Following the national schedule, full immunisation status can be achieved at 9 months of age. Data were weighted to reflect the survey\'s sampling design. Associations between incomplete immunisation and sociodemographic characteristics were assessed through multivariable logistic regression.
A total of 720 children were enrolled between November and December 2021. Full vaccination coverage was estimated at 65.8% (95% CI 60.3%-71.0%). Coverage estimates were highest for vaccines administered at birth and decreased with doses administered subsequently. Adjusting for age, the lowest estimated coverage was 40.7% (95% CI 34.5%-47.2%) for the second dose of the measles-containing vaccine. Factors found to be associated with incomplete immunisation status were: living in Port Loko district (aOR = 3.47, 95% CI = 2.00-6.06; p-value < 0.001), the interviewed caretaker being Muslim (aOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.25-3.02; p-value = 0.015) and the interviewed caretaker being male (aOR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.03-3.59, p-value = 0.039).
Though full immunisation coverage at district level improved compared with pre-pandemic district estimates from 2019, around one in three surveyed children had missed at least one basic routine vaccination and over half of eligible children had not received the recommended two doses of a measles-containing vaccine. These findings highlight the need to strengthen health systems to improve vaccination uptake in Sierra Leone, and to further explore barriers that may jeopardise equitable access to these life-saving interventions.

Pilot testing is crucial when preparing any community-based vaccination coverage survey. In this paper, we use the term pilot test to mean informative work conducted before a survey protocol has been finalized for the purpose of guiding decisions about how the work will be conducted. We summarize findings from seven pilot tests and provide practical guidance for piloting similar studies. We selected these particular pilots because they are excellent models of preliminary efforts that informed the refinement of data collection protocols and instruments. We recommend survey coordinators devote time and budget to identify aspects of the protocol where testing could mitigate project risk and ensure timely assessment yields, credible estimates of vaccination coverage and related indicators. We list specific items that may benefit from pilot work and provide guidance on how to prioritize what to pilot test when resources are limited.

Critical infrastructures are ubiquitous and their interdependencies have become more complex leading to their uncertain behaviors in the aftermath of disasters. The article develops an integrated economic input-output model that incorporates household-level survey data from Hurricane Sandy, which made its landfall in 2012. In this survey, 427 respondents who were living in the state of New Jersey during Hurricane Sandy were used in the study. The integration of their responses allowed us to show the probability and duration of various types of critical infrastructure failures due to a catastrophic hurricane event and estimate the economic losses across different sectors. The percentage of disruption and recovery period for various infrastructure systems were extracted from the survey, which were then utilized in the economic input-output model comprising of 71 economic sectors. Sectors were then ranked according to: (i) inoperability, the percentage in which a sector is disrupted relative to its ideal level, and (ii) economic loss, the monetary worth of business interruption caused by the disaster. With the combined infrastructure disruptions in the state of New Jersey, the model estimated an economic loss of $36 billion, which is consistent with published estimates. Results from this article can provide insights for future disaster preparedness and resilience planning.