Articles tagged with Poverty
A three-and-a-half-decade analysis of maize research in African farming communities reveals significant benefits, including the adoption of new maize varieties that increase productivity and reduce poverty. The study found that over 1 million people per year have escaped poverty through the adoption of modern maize varieties.
A new project aims to provide healthy school meals using locally-sourced food, providing a reliable income for local farmers and improving rural economies. The initiative will help governments run school meal programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, benefiting millions of children facing poverty and hunger.
Hugh 'Trey' Daly III, a senior attorney at IQ Solutions, Inc., has worked tirelessly to ensure thousands of low-income and sick people in southwest Ohio have access to health care services. His efforts have prompted local hospitals to end abusive medical debt collection practices.
A new study finds that high-quality child care in early childhood combats the effects of poverty on academic achievement. Low-income children who received high-quality care achieved similar academic levels as their more affluent peers.
The global financial crisis has severe consequences on children's health, nutrition, and education in East Asia and the Pacific. Investments can be made to safeguard countries' future economic growth and human development.
The UK International Health Links Centre (IHLC) aims to promote effective international health links between the UK and developing countries. The centre will provide a 'one-stop-shop' for information and guidance on strengthening existing links, as well as a library of resources for international users.
Researchers found that poverty alone does not define an individual's overall well-being and that many qualities and attributes need to be considered when designing social programs. Only 24% of people classified as 'poor' reported low life satisfaction, while 18% of those not considered 'poor' also experienced low life satisfaction.
A new study predicts that climate volatility will deepen poverty vulnerability in developing countries, particularly among the urban poor. The research, published in Environmental Research Letters, uses a new methodology to understand and predict the effects of climate change on food prices and wages in vulnerable countries.
A new study found that climate change could exacerbate poverty in developing countries, with urban workers facing the greatest vulnerability. The study used data from 16 countries to analyze the impact of extreme weather events on food prices and agricultural productivity.
A new study reveals that children living in three-generation households with a grandparent are substantially less likely to live below or near the poverty line. Grandparents' contributions to household income, including cash transfers and Social Security income, play a crucial role in easing financial difficulties.
A study by the University of Chicago Medical Center found that premature babies born in poverty are significantly less likely to be ready for school, despite advances in neonatal care. The researchers found that socioeconomic status was the most powerful factor determining school-readiness level.
A recent study found that colorectal cancer incidence rates decreased significantly among whites aged 65 and over, but not among those in poorer communities. The researchers suggest that lack of access to healthcare may be the reason for this disparity. Colorectal endoscopic screening rates also increased among whites, but were lower a...
A recent study found that distance from a patient's home to the nearest transplant facility has no bearing on whether an individual is placed on the transplant waiting list. However, the research identified neighborhood poverty as a key factor associated with disparities in waitlisting, particularly for black patients.
The Lancet Editorial calls on UK PM Gordon Brown to lead strong and just leadership at the G20 summit, ensuring poorer countries are not left out of global solutions. The Editorial suggests several proposals to aid Brown, including detailed IMF voting rights proposals and a plan to end illegal flight capital.
The global financial crisis is expected to exacerbate poverty for vulnerable households in developing countries, threatening progress towards reducing extreme poverty. Experts will discuss potential outcomes and steps to mitigate the impact on the most disadvantaged populations.
The OPT is experiencing a humanitarian crisis, with rising poverty rates, unemployment, and food insecurity. The country is also struggling to combat infectious diseases, with infant mortality rates stalled at 27 per 1000 live births, and tuberculosis and meningococcal meningitis on the rise.
New research methods developed by Dr Peter Davis aim to better understand the complex realities of chronic poverty, affecting millions worldwide. The conference in Washington DC will engage policymakers and stakeholders from the US and internationally to formulate a policy agenda to address this issue.
A recent study published in PLOS Medicine has found that individuals with visual impairment caused by cataracts are disproportionately represented among the poor. The research analyzed data from Kenya, the Philippines, and Bangladesh to determine the relationship between poverty and blindness, revealing a significant association.
A new study by University of Oregon sociologists found that Americans who are unemployed, incarcerated, or impoverished are more likely to be classified as black, regardless of their past self-identification. The research suggests that race is closely tied to social status and can be altered by changes in economic position.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) plays a vital role in protecting children from maltreatment by promoting accountability and transparency. The convention's human rights-based approach has been shown to be effective in addressing child maltreatment, including poverty, discrimination, and institutional failures.
Research from the University of Bath found that marriage dowry payments and medical expenses are major causes of poverty in Bangladesh. The study surveyed 2,000 households and found that almost half moved out of poverty over a decade, but around one-fifth remained chronically poor.
A Dutch researcher developed an early warning system to monitor food consumption and predict potential shortages in rural Uganda. The system highlights the most pressing issues in a given area at a certain moment in time.
A University of Missouri poverty expert found that the emotional stress associated with food stamp participation is higher than previously thought, particularly during the application and transition processes. The researcher suggests modifying the program by implementing a web-based application system to alleviate negative effects.
A recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations highlights that higher food prices are partly to blame for the number of hungry people growing, with around 925 million worldwide. To address this, a second Green Revolution is needed to expand productivity sustainably while preserving natural resources.
A new UNC study finds that families with disabled children, regardless of income level, experience significant challenges with food, housing, and health issues. The study suggests expanding eligibility standards for federal programs to assist these families, including increasing income limits for food stamps and housing assistance.
A new study suggests that job growth is not the only factor controlling job attainment and poverty rates, as many barriers limit its effectiveness. In small metropolitan areas, jobs had a bigger impact on reducing poverty due to easier access to job opportunities.
A new Carnegie Mellon University study finds that low-income individuals spend a larger percentage of their incomes on lottery tickets due to the hope of improving their financial situations. The research suggests that lotteries exploit poor people's desires to escape poverty, exacerbating income inequality.
Uninsured Black and Hispanic patients are more likely to report experiencing racial bias in healthcare, with language impacting reporting rates. Good communication between doctors and patients protects against perceptions of racial discrimination.
Neglected tropical diseases in the US disproportionately affect poverty-stricken communities, particularly minorities. These chronic infections cause significant disability, impaired child development, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
The Caribbean region has a high burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) due to poverty. A proposed $1 tourist tax could fund disease control efforts and is supported by industry donations of low-cost generic drugs.
Research from the University of Rochester Medical Center reveals that uninsured children in middle-class families are just as likely to go without health care as those in poorer families. Nearly 3 million children had no medical care and no prescription use for a full year, according to an analysis of nationally representative data.
Dr. Martin Fisher's low-cost, human-powered irrigation pumps have enabled over 310,000 people to rise out of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. The pumps improve farming efficiency and allow small-scale rural farmers to grow high-value crops year-round.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that neighborhoods with higher levels of poverty, lower education, and more female-headed families tend to have lower exercise levels. Social and economic factors outside of individual control can impact physical activity.
A new UCLA report calculates that the federal poverty line grossly underestimates the basic costs of living for California's seniors, with average annual costs ranging from $21,011 to $37,263. The Elder Index provides a more comprehensive look at expenses elders face.
A new £7M research initiative aims to improve crop yields and alleviate poverty in developing countries. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is funding 12 projects to develop crops that can survive in harsh environmental conditions, reducing the impact of pests, diseases, and climate change.
The US is likely to miss its goal of eliminating tuberculosis by 2010 due to high latent TB infection rates among certain groups, including those living below the poverty line and foreign-born individuals.
Recent research finds that blacks are nearly twice as likely to develop severe sepsis as whites, with a significantly higher mortality rate. After controlling for poverty and geography, black race remained independently associated with higher severe sepsis incidence.
Large numbers of poor Americans are suffering from parasitic infections like toxocariasis, cysticercosis, and toxoplasmosis. These neglected diseases disproportionately affect minority populations living in inner cities and poor rural areas, causing significant health issues such as lung disease, epilepsy, and congenital birth defects.
A recent paper suggests that reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) could be key to addressing climate change. By including REDD in the Kyoto Protocol, developing countries can claim compensation for sustainable forest management, potentially earning $630 million annually.
A new report from Cornell reveals that people with disabilities are underrepresented in the workforce, with only 38% employed compared to 80% of those without disabilities. Additionally, Americans with disabilities face a higher risk of living in poverty, with 25.4% facing economic hardship.
A study found that care provided by nurses and clinicians in primary health care settings can lead to good outcomes for HIV-infected children in Africa. Children receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) showed significant improvements in CD4 cell status, weight gain, and hemoglobin concentration.
A recent study highlights the significant impact of poverty on chronic disease in Asian countries, resulting in over 8 million avoidable deaths annually. Practical interventions such as tobacco-smoking cessation programs and regional partnerships between governments and institutions are proposed to mitigate these effects.
The article highlights effective, low-tech, and affordable ways to improve the lives of those living on less than $1 a day. Comments from global health experts emphasize the importance of interventions like training village health workers, hunger alleviation, prevention and treatment of malaria, and empowering women.
The Council of Science Editors has organized a Global Theme Issue on Poverty and Human Development, with contributions from Mary Ann Liebert journals. Research papers discuss HIV/AIDS treatment, breastfeeding as a solution to poverty, and the social responsibility of naturopathic physicians in addressing human development.
Researchers integrate information technologies into clinical studies to improve dengue infection research and access to healthcare in low-income countries. A framework for analysis and action is presented to explore and improve access to healthcare in resource-poor countries.
A community-based trial in Uttar Pradesh, India found that disseminating information on entitled services improved the delivery of pre-natal care, infant vaccinations, and village council meetings. The intervention resulted in significant improvements, while control villages showed little change or worsening outcomes.
AIDS Patient Care and STDs has been selected as one of seven papers presented orally at the NIH Launch of the Council of Science Editors' Global Theme Issue on Poverty and Human Development. The paper explores the importance of human resources for treating HIV/AIDS, highlighting gaps in needs assessment and capacity building.
More than 200 medical and scientific journals are publishing articles on poverty and human development to address this critically important global topic. The studies will focus on targeting funding and programs for the poor, as well as health effects of declining income and innovation in global health.
The journal PLoS Medicine gathered global health experts to identify the single intervention that would have the greatest impact on the health of those living on less than $1 a day. Experts recommend training village health workers, hunger alleviation, and prevention of malaria as key strategies.
Interventions prioritizing nutrition, clean water, sanitation, and household fuels can reduce child mortality by 14-31% in Latin America, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. Implementing these interventions primarily for the poor would have larger benefits, closing up to 48% of regional gaps towards the MDG target.
The WHO EURO region's Ministerial Forum on tuberculosis must consider the global impact of the disease and take collective action to control poverty and inequality. The authors propose a six-pronged approach to tackle the threat, including addressing trade policies and global poverty.
A University of Missouri-Columbia researcher found that AIDS compounds poverty in households, especially when a primary income earner dies. Older women play a crucial role in day-to-day survival through government pensions and are more likely to be affected than infected with HIV/AIDS.
The Lancet Editorial emphasizes the need for dramatically increasing legal organ donations to meet demand, as punitive measures only drive organ trafficking further underground. The Iranian model of paying and caring for donors is considered the gold standard, but its commercialization raises moral concerns.
A recent study by Dr Yin Paradies and colleagues reveals that indigenous people do not have a genetic predisposition to diabetes. The research shows that social factors such as poor diet, reduced physical activity, stress, and low birth weight contribute significantly to the high rates of diabetes among indigenous populations.
Seven countries have issued a declaration of co-operation on global health issues, aiming to address common threats and achieve goals through globalization. The Oslo Ministerial Declaration highlights the importance of health as a foreign policy issue and invites foreign ministers from all nations to join the initiative.
A new research program, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, aims to understand the impact of non-governmental agencies on reducing poverty and exclusion. The program will focus on a broad range of groups, including NGOs, advocacy networks, and social movements.
Over 200 million disadvantaged children under 5 are at risk of poor cognitive development due to factors like poverty, inadequate healthcare, and malnutrition. Interventions such as parental education, play-based programs, and improved diets can have lasting benefits on IQ and educational performance.
The US has failed to promote effective family planning policies due to the Bush administration's inaction. Europe may need to take a lead in revitalizing global commitment to family planning, as population growth poses a greater threat to development than HIV/AIDS in many poor countries.
The People's Health Movement urges transparent selection of WHO Director-General amid concerns about corporate influence and inadequate funding. Candidates' profiles and responses to public questions will facilitate a more open examination of their strengths and weaknesses.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $15 million to the Earth Institute at Columbia University to advance scientific research and efforts to end poverty, disease, and hunger in Africa. The grant supports a dynamic strategy for achieving sustainable development in some of the world's poorest countries.