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The good advice that could lift people out of poverty

A University of East Anglia study finds that providing access to housing, debt, and benefit advice within food banks can help lift people out of poverty. The 'Making a Difference' initiative sees representatives from Citizens Advice and Shelter posted within food bank services, offering personalized support to vulnerable individuals.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalPerspectives in Public Health·TypeSurvey·DateJul 12, 2023

Study suggests need for iron tests in teen girls & young women

A new study reveals that nearly 40% of teen girls and young women have low iron levels, with higher rates among Black, Latina, low-income, or low-BMI individuals. The study recommends considering routine screening for iron levels in adolescents and young women to prevent life-limiting symptoms associated with iron-deficiency anemia.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJAMA·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 29, 2023

The expanded Child Tax Credit led to improved health and nutrition among adults

The expanded Child Tax Credit led to significant improvements in adult health and nutrition, with eligible adults reporting better health outcomes and food security compared to ineligible adults. The study estimates that this policy may have benefited approximately 1.08 million adults and 684,000 households.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 24, 2023

In schools that could benefit most, building relationships is key to increasing capacity for nutrition education programming

A new study by researchers at the School District of Philadelphia found that building relationships between SNAP-Ed implementers and school staff was crucial for developing school staff motivation and capacity to implement programming. This approach can help schools most in need, which are often high-poverty schools with limited capacity.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·TypeObservational study·DateJun 8, 2023

Almost 3 in 10 of young kids may have malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa

A study of almost 65,000 children aged up to 5 found that nearly 27% are infected with malaria, with older under-five children and those from large families or rural areas being most vulnerable. Insecticide-treated bed nets and improved housing are promising means to prevent malaria infection among children.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateMay 31, 2023

KC-based study shows evictions happen most in predominantly Black neighborhoods, homes with children

A new study from the University of Kansas shows that neighborhood characteristics such as being predominantly Black and having families with children are strongly associated with higher eviction rates. In contrast, gentrified neighborhoods or those with high rents do not predict increased eviction levels.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalJournal of Urban Affairs·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 31, 2023

Life stressors may contribute to multiple sclerosis flares, disability

A Michigan Medicine-led study reveals that life stressors across the lifespan, including childhood trauma and adult abuse, contribute significantly to worsening health and functional outcomes for people with multiple sclerosis. The findings highlight the importance of analyzing the impact of life stressors on MS patients.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalBrain and Behavior·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 24, 2023

Scientists create high-resolution poverty maps using big data

A team of researchers from the Complexity Science Hub and Central European University created more-detailed poverty maps for Sierra Leone and Uganda, identifying poor areas with greater accuracy. The maps use a combination of survey information, satellite imagery, and social media data to provide a more accurate picture of wealth distr...

SourceComplexity Science Hub·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 30, 2023

Study shines light on impact of environment on neurocognitive outcomes

A new study by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that children with supportive environments fared better than those living in neighborhoods with economic hardship. Higher EHI scores were associated with lower cognitive abilities and greater decline after treatment, especially in math skills.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalNeuro-Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 28, 2023

Firearms injure or kill up to a quarter of juvenile justice youth after detention

A new study by Northwestern University found that up to a quarter of juvenile justice youth are later injured or killed by firearms within 16 years. The study highlights the need for policy and intervention strategies to address the epidemic of firearm injury and death among high-risk youth, particularly those in the juvenile justice s...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2023

Climate change may keep India from achieving its sustainable development goals

A recent study suggests that India's recurrent heatwaves have a significant socioeconomic impact on the country, weakening its progress toward achieving sustainable development goals. The study found that nearly 90% of the country is in danger zone from heatwave impact and around 20% is highly vulnerable to climate change.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Climate·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 19, 2023

Poverty is the fourth greatest cause of U.S. deaths, analysis published in JAMA finds.

A new analysis published in JAMA found that poverty is the fourth leading cause of US deaths, claiming an estimated 183,000 lives in 2019 among people aged 15 and older. Poverty was associated with significantly higher mortality rates compared to other causes such as heart disease, cancer, and smoking.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of the American Medical Association·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 17, 2023

Global population could peak below 9 billion in 2050s

Researchers from the Earth4All initiative project that global population could peak at 8.5 billion people by mid-century with unprecedented investment in poverty alleviation. The team's analysis also suggests that extreme poverty can be eliminated in a generation, leading to a decline in global population trends.

SourceThe Club of Rome·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 27, 2023

Black Americans, low-income Americans may benefit most from stronger policies on air pollution

A new study found that stronger air pollution rules would lower premature death risks for all Americans, but particularly those from marginalized communities. Lowering PM2.5 levels to 8 μg/m3 could reduce mortality rates by 4% for White higher-income adults and up to 7% for Black higher-income and low-income adults.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 24, 2023

Poorest children have worse health and educational outcomes in adolescence

A new report reveals that children born into the poorest fifth of families in the UK are 12 times more likely to experience poor health and educational outcomes by age 17. This clustering of adverse outcomes is linked to early childhood disadvantage, with modest reductions seen when lifting families out of poverty.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateMar 23, 2023

For educational attainment, it's more helpful to grow up in an affluent neighborhood than it is harmful to grow up in a poor one, per 23-year large Netherlands cohort study

A recent large-scale Netherlands cohort study found that growing up in an affluent neighborhood has a more significant positive impact on educational attainment than growing up in a poor one. Exposure to affluence was found to have a greater effect, surpassing the negative effects of poverty.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 8, 2023

The myths around consumer financial vulnerability -- and how it affects most consumers at different points in their lives

Consumer financial vulnerability (CFV) is a risk of experiencing future harm given current access to financial resources and future uncertainty. Most consumers across the socioeconomic spectrum experience varying degrees of CFV at different life stages, due to factors like age, economic cycles, and unforeseen crises.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateFeb 22, 2023

The unnecessary burden of war

A study finds that governments could help millions of people and save a lot of money with targeted energy subsidies. The research quantifies the impacts of the energy crisis on households worldwide, revealing that indirect energy costs impose the biggest burden on both high- and low-income countries.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Energy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 17, 2023

Researchers illuminate gaps in public transportation access, equity

A new study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reveals that even with broad coverage, public transit systems may still exclude low-income and vulnerable populations. The researchers used a GIS-based approach to evaluate travel times by location and economic conditions, finding that routes often leave behind those who rel...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·TypeCase study·DateFeb 16, 2023

Access matters: Lack of resources is associated with increased mortality in childhood cancer survivors

A recent study by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that socioeconomic deprivation and frailty are independently associated with increased late mortality in childhood cancer survivors. The research highlights the importance of policies to improve local environments and access to interventions that may improve health conditions.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateFeb 10, 2023

Childhood mental health problems resulting from early-life adversity drive poorer cognitive performance in adolescence, study suggests

A new study suggests that childhood mental health problems resulting from early-life adversity drive poorer cognitive performance in adolescence. Researchers found that addressing mental health difficulties when children are young can alleviate the effects of early-life adversity on later cognition.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 8, 2023

Colombia, a biodiversity hotspot, holds lessons for other countries trying to balance development with conservation, Stanford-led study shows

A new Stanford-led study highlights the importance of coordinated policies governing biodiversity in Colombia, one of the world's most biodiverse countries. The research found that biodiversity is governed by nearly 200 distinct policies covering various ecosystems and conservation approaches.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateFeb 6, 2023

Poor literacy linked to worse mental health worldwide, study shows

A new study by the University of East Anglia finds a significant association between low literacy and poor mental health outcomes across multiple countries. People with lower literacy skills are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, highlighting the importance of addressing literacy as part of mental health services.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalMental Health and Social Inclusion·TypeSystematic review·DateJan 26, 2023

Across the US, white neighborhoods have more greenery, fewer dilapidated buildings, fewer multi-family homes

A nationwide study using Google Street View images found that predominantly White neighborhoods had better neighborhood conditions associated with good health, such as fewer neglected buildings and more greenery. In contrast, neighborhoods with residents who were primarily Black or of other minority races had fewer green spaces and mor...

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateJan 20, 2023

Adversity in childhood is linked to increased risk of heart and blood vessel diseases in early adulthood

A large study found that children who experienced adversity, including serious family illness or death, poverty, neglect, or dysfunctional relationships, are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease in early adulthood. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, followed nearly 1.3 million children and found a 60%...

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeObservational study·DateNov 14, 2022

CAR T-Cell therapy outcomes similar across different socioeconomic levels among pediatric patients with ALL

A new study finds no significant difference in overall survival or complete remission rates between children and young adults with different levels of poverty exposure, regardless of their neighborhood opportunity. CAR T-cell therapy is equally effective for those from disadvantaged households as it is for those from more socioeconomic...

Global distributive justice and systemic transformations key to planetary stability, study finds

A new study finds that achieving access to minimum resources and services for all while safeguarding the Earth system requires redistribution and societal transformations. The research shows that the wealthiest individuals and societies must undergo transformative change to mitigate climate impacts, while the poor are not the primary c...

SourceFuture Earth·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 10, 2022