Articles tagged with Socioeconomics
Researchers found that lower wealth is associated with increased stroke risk up to age 65, while wealth is not a predictor of stroke beyond age 65. This study suggests that addressing the large wealth gap at age 50-64 may help reduce disparities in stroke incidence.
The UN voted to abolish the death penalty globally, with 125 countries already having done so. In the US, 126 death-row inmates have been exonerated due to DNA evidence, raising concerns about the fairness of the practice.
A new analysis provides quantitative information on socioclimatic risk for each nation, integrating global climate models and socioeconomic indicators of poverty, wealth, and population. Countries face high exposure in at least one category, with major greenhouse gas-emitting nations like China, India, and the US facing substantial exp...
A US study found that despite historic advances in public health, the gap in health rates between socioeconomic classes has persisted. The relative advantage in child mortality rates and health associated with social and economic status remained stable over the past century.
A recent global surgical mission successfully treated 39 Zimbabwean children with cleft lip and palate without complications. The key to effective care lies in training and continuing education of local physicians, a crucial step towards improving the socioeconomic conditions in Zimbabwe.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that overweight children are at a greater risk of school absenteeism compared to their normal-weight peers. The study, which analyzed over 1,000 students in grades 4-6, found that overweight children were absent on average 20% more often than their peers.
A meta-analysis of studies found that controlling for socioeconomic factors reduced racial disparities in colorectal cancer survival. Lower socioeconomic status is linked to poorer health outcomes and reduced access to healthcare.
Research published in Tobacco Control found that smokers took almost 11 extra days off sick compared to non-smokers, accounting for 43% of all sick leave. Despite adjusting for health and socioeconomic factors, the difference remained below eight days.
African-American men face significant barriers to timely diagnosis and screening due to constrained healthcare access, distrust of physicians, and socioeconomic disadvantages. The study reveals that knowledge about prostate cancer is comparable to that of white men, but lack of trust in medical care leads to irregular interactions and ...
A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that a primer, developed by researchers at Dartmouth Medical School, improved medical interpretation skills among participants with varying levels of education. The primer, 'Know Your Chances: Understanding Health Risks,' was effective in both low and high socioeconomic groups,...
A new study reveals that African-American and poor children are more vulnerable to the effects of sleep disruption on their cognitive function, with poorer performance on school-related tests. The study suggests that health-related disparities between different groups of American children have important consequences.
A long-term study of Costa Rican children found that iron deficiency in infancy was linked to lower cognitive test scores at age 19. The gap in cognitive scores between iron-deficient and non-iron deficient teens widened to 25 points by age 19, with a wider disparity in lower socioeconomic levels.
A new study by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers found that poor people living in well-to-do neighborhoods have a higher risk of death. The study, which analyzed data from 8,200 men and women over 17 years, suggests that economic strain and limited access to healthcare may be contributing factors.
A study found that caesarean rates vary substantially between and within countries, with some populations having little or no access to surgical delivery. The researchers estimate that 80,000 births had an unmet need for surgical delivery, representing 15% of global maternal deaths in 2000.
A study led by Rebecca Sudore found that low literacy levels are associated with a higher risk of death among elderly people. Only 28% of adults understood a simplified medical consent form, even after modification to improve understanding. Limited literacy increases mortality risk by a factor of 1.75.
A new study found a correlation between childhood socioeconomic status and adult pessimism, with high SES individuals exhibiting more optimism. Children from low SES backgrounds who experience upward mobility may not develop adaptive coping strategies, limiting their ability to benefit from later success.
A study of nearly 600,000 deaths in men aged 35-69 years across four countries found that smoking-related diseases account for more than half of the disparity in death rates between rich and poor. The research highlights the importance of quitting smoking to narrow health inequalities.
A study of 295 children with JRA found that Medicaid recipients had higher disease activity, more pain, and lower physical function compared to those with private insurance. The reasons for these disparities are not yet clear, but may be linked to non-treatment-related factors such as poverty and adherence to treatment.
A study comparing health outcomes in US and English citizens reveals that Americans are much sicker than their English counterparts. The SES-health gradient appears equally strong in both self-reports and biological measures of health.
A study of 61,228 men aged 65 and older with local or regional stage prostate cancer found that lower socioeconomic status was significantly associated with decreased survival. Socioeconomic factors, including education level and community poverty, were the primary drivers of disparities in survival.
Low-income and education levels linked to higher prevalence of severe periodontitis among African Americans. Socioeconomic status is a significant factor in periodontal health, independent of neighborhood conditions.
A study led by Dr. William Cunningham found that HIV-infected patients with low socioeconomic status have a higher risk of death, particularly those with limited financial resources and education. The researchers also noted that these patients are more likely to use emergency room services and hospital care instead of preventive measures.
The number of bariatric surgical procedures in the US has increased substantially, with gastric bypass accounting for over 80% of all procedures. Length of stay decreased, but sociodemographic disparities persist, highlighting the need for equal access to bariatric surgery regardless of sex and socioeconomic status.
Identical twins who differed in social class had significantly higher blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels compared to their professional counterparts. In contrast, educational attainment differences did not impact health status. This study provides insight into the additional effect of adult experiences on adult health.
A study in Manitoba found a socioeconomic gradient in healthcare utilization, with low-income areas experiencing more hospitalizations and ambulatory visits. This challenges the assumption that frequent outpatient care for Ambulatory Care Sensitive conditions leads to lower hospitalization rates.
Researchers found that public school students from similar social and economic backgrounds outperformed their peers in private schools on national math achievement tests. The study's findings call into question common assumptions about public and private school effects.
A study published by the American Psychological Association found that individuals with low socioeconomic status are at a higher risk of developing mental illness. The study suggests that economic stress, unemployment, and housing insecurity contribute to this increased risk.
Research found African-Americans had lower medical care expenditures, excused time from work, and smaller financial settlements than Caucasians. Differences were also seen with socioeconomic status, with those of lower education and income receiving less.
Research suggests that mentally demanding jobs may protect against Alzheimer's disease by increasing brain cell activity and maintaining cognitive reserve. However, the exact link between job demands and Alzheimer's is not fully understood, and other factors such as socioeconomic status and environmental exposures may also play a role.
Adolescents from lower socioeconomic families exhibit heightened biological responses to stressful situations, interpreting ambiguous social interactions negatively. Positive life experiences and alternative interpretations can promote better physical health for these children.
A study found that only 6% of women received ten mammograms, and disparities in usage were seen among Hispanic, African-American, and Asian women as well as those from lower economic status. Regular mammograms significantly reduce breast cancer death risk, highlighting the need for improved screening adherence.
A recent study found that low-income Native American women experience alarmingly high rates of domestic abuse, with over half reporting assault by a partner in their lifetime. The research highlights the need for targeted programs and services to address these disparities and prevent further harm.
Patients from lower socio-economic backgrounds are at a higher risk of developing postoperative MRSA infections. The study found that patients from the most deprived areas had a seven-fold higher infection rate than those from the least deprived areas.
Research finds blue collar workers are more apt to smoke and struggle with quitting due to low socioeconomic status. Successful quitters tend to come from wealthier backgrounds, suggesting targeted on-the-job programs can help.
A recent US study found that parents' income and education significantly influence their teenager's likelihood of smoking. Adolescents from lower-income families, with less-educated parents, face a higher risk of smoking. The study suggests that tailoring smoking cessation programs for adults with low incomes or educational levels coul...
Medical care expenses among older persons in the US are similar across racial and ethnic groups. Analysis of 4,870 Medicare patients from 1996-1998 reveals small differences mainly due to varying medical needs.
A recent study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics suggests that bedwetting may be associated with low socioeconomic status in children. The research found that almost 39% of children with bedwetting problems came from low socioeconomic backgrounds, compared to 23% of non-bedwetters.
Researchers found that high-risk trachoma patients are unwilling to pay for future antibiotics, even if they can use household items as payment. This could limit the government's ability to control the disease and its progression.
A study by Shortt and Shaw found no correlation between socioeconomic status and waiting times for elective surgical procedures. The authors suggest that health reforms should track trends in service delivery to vulnerable groups, highlighting the need for equity in healthcare.
Research found that children from low socioeconomic backgrounds experienced poorer cardiovascular health and higher rates of adult periodontal disease in adulthood. Upward mobility during childhood did not reverse negative health outcomes associated with a poor environment.
Researchers found that neighborhoods with higher socioeconomic status have more diverse bird populations, while lower-income areas tend to have fewer birds. The study analyzed data from 15 Phoenix-area community parks and suggests that socioeconomic factors play a significant role in shaping the local bird population.
The study found that between 1950 and 1960, male cancer mortality was nearly 50% greater in high socioeconomic areas compared to low areas. By 1998, this gap had narrowed and even reversed, with the lowest socioeconomic groups experiencing higher mortality rates.
A study by Jeff Kwong and colleagues found that tuition fee increases in Ontario are disproportionately affecting lower-income students, with fewer from these backgrounds enrolling in medical school. The researchers also noted that first-year Ontario students expect higher debt loads at graduation than their peers in other provinces.
A study found that Canadian medical students are more likely to be from visible minorities, but underrepresented from certain minority groups like black and Aboriginal. Medical students also tend to come from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and less rural areas compared to the general Canadian population.
A recent study found that women with lower incomes and those insured by Medicaid had worse breast cancer treatment outcomes, including later-stage diagnoses, reduced radiation therapy, and higher mortality rates. Socioeconomic factors accounted for most of the disparities in these outcomes.
Research by Spruijt-Metz et al. found that maternal feeding practices are a strong predictor of childhood obesity, with controlling feeding strategies potentially interfering with children's ability to self-regulate their food intake. The study suggests that future obesity prevention efforts should focus on improving parental feeding b...
A Hopkins-led study found that African Americans and Asians have poorer graft rejection and survival rates after liver transplantation compared to white Americans and Hispanics. The study's lead author suggests that more research is needed to determine the causes of these disparities, with preliminary data suggesting socioeconomic fact...
A new study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that women with higher educational attainment have less calcification of the arteries, indicating a lower risk of developing heart disease. The analysis of 308 postmenopausal women revealed an inverse linear trend between calcium deposits and education level.
The study confirms a suspected global epidemic of childhood obesity, with higher rates in the US compared to Russia and China. Obesity prevalence varies by socioeconomic status and geographic location, with urban areas and affluent families more likely to be affected.
A new study reveals that vaccinating poor children against measles significantly improves their long-term survival rates and reduces health inequities. The research found that vaccinated children from poor families were 50% less likely to die before age 5 compared to unvaccinated children.
The NIH and NIOSH are collaborating on a $33 million, five-year study to investigate how social and physical environmental factors impact the health of racial and ethnic minorities. The research aims to understand the underlying causes of disparities in health outcomes.
Children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds exhibit greater cardiovascular responses to stress, leading to larger left ventricles and increased heart disease risk. The study found differing pathways for African American and white children and adolescents, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.
A recent study by Peggy McDonough and colleagues found no difference in the effects of men's and women's socioeconomic status on mortality risk. However, they discovered a new wrinkle: increasing one spouse's income affects the other's mortality risk differently for men and women.
A new study published in Social Science Research found that cognitive ability does not create growing differences among socioeconomic classes in the United States. Instead, educational attainment is the key variable in the American class system.