Hasil untuk "Demography. Population. Vital events"

Cleônidas Tavares de Souza Junior, Desmond Campbell, Srinivasa Vittal Katikireddi et al.

Resumo O Censo brasileiro de 2010 contém uma riqueza de informações que podem permitir pesquisas e subsidiar políticas em saúde, educação, economia e outros setores. O Censo fornece dados publicamente disponíveis em duas formas. Primeiro, tabelas de contingência no nível municipal, para estratos definidos por raça, gênero e educação. Segundo, microdados com informações pessoais. Para preservar o anonimato individual nos dados, o Censo reduziu algumas variáveis a categorias mais amplas e removeu dados com identificações pessoais. As estratégias de composição de dados das tabelas de contingência e dos microdados são diferentes e, ao comparar amostras de ambos os dados, descobrimos que a variável raça nos microdados ignora a presença de minorias em alguns municípios. Isso sugere que populações sintéticas baseadas no Censo de 2010 devem ser criadas usando tabelas de contingência. Nossa avaliação mostra que a população sintética assim criada mantém os valores e proporções das tabelas de contingência e apresenta totais próximos aos dos microdados.

Sadanand Karun, Lotus McDougal, Abhishek Singh

Abstract Background Older adults face substantial sex gaps in health. In many contexts, females live longer than males, but their time spent with disability is also higher. Our study assesses (i) the sex gap (female–male) in health through life expectancy and healthy life expectancy and (ii) the morbidity-mortality paradox among older adults aged 60 and above in India and its states. Methods We utilized data on age-specific death rates obtained from the Sample Registration System and age-specific disability prevalence from the Longitudinal Ageing Survey (LASI) in India. We estimated abridged life tables between age groups 60–64 to 85 + using Greville’s method. We then combined the disability data obtained from LASI with the constructed life tables using Sullivan’s method to estimate disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) and life expectancy with disability (DLE). Finally, we decomposed the sex gap in DFLE and DLE into mortality and disability components using a stepwise replacement decomposition method. Results At the national level, life expectancy at age 60 for males were 17.4 years and for females 19.2 years, indicating a female mortality advantage of 1.8 years. At the state level, the sex gap ranged between 5.1 years in Jammu & Kashmir and -1.1 years in Jharkhand. The disability prevalence was higher among females compared to males at the national level and in all states. The decomposition result indicates that 98% of the mortality advantage of females at the national level was spent in disability. The disability disadvantage of females over their mortality advantage was highest in Uttar Pradesh; 93% of additional years of life were spent with disability. The disability disadvantage of females over their mortality advantage was lowest in Rajasthan where only 9% of additional years were spent in disability. Stepwise replacement decomposition of the sex gap in DFLE by age groups shows that as age increases, the contribution of mortality effects decreases, whereas disability effects increase. Conclusions We find evidence of a morbidity-mortality paradox in India nationally and sub-nationally. As the sex gap in health and its implications vary across the states of India, policies to address these inequities must also vary across the states.

Amy Freier, Morgan Stirling, Nathan Nickel

Background Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN) has committed to strengthening data use to improve health equity. Key this priority is has been an increased operationalization of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) across the organization and within the data research processes HDRN Canada supports. Missing, however, was a unifying strategy for embedding IDEA within all HDRN Canada initiatives. Approach Guided by results from an internal environmental scan and network feedback, HDRN Canada began developing an IDEA strategy in 2023. With the end goal of embedding IDEA across all internal teams and across all HDRN Canada strategic goals, collaborative participation methods were chosen to involve all levels of the organization. A process was designed that included focus groups, interviews, and roundtables. Results Co-creating the IDEA strategy required broad buy-in including detailing expectations of the planning process in advance. A flexible management approach that enabled the team to adhere to the defined process allowed the Project Team to manage unanticipated challenges. 4 key strategies emerged focusing on learning, data quality and research, leadership, and community engagement. Developing the strategy with co-creative methods helped to identify practical approaches for HDRN to prioritize IDEA within its complex data research initiatives. Conclusion HDRN Canada has outlined its commitment to IDEA in the health data ecosystem. The co-created strategy supports efforts towards accomplishing its organizational objectives and priorities. It is also a valuable resource for those in the health data space working to ensure data research contributes to equitable health outcomes.

Markus Sauerberg, Marc Luy

BACKGROUND: Period mean age at death (MAD) is affected by a population’s age structure, and therefore by its mortality, fertility, and migration history. Period life expectancy (e_0) is also a mean age at death, for a standardized population with a stationary age structure. It depends only on current mortality rates. Here, we explore a middle ground: an age-standardized measure of period age at death, called MADstd, that includes both past and present mortality influences, while omitting the effects of past fertility and migration. OBJECTIVE: We want to highlight the common structure of the three measures by expressing them as weighted averages with different weighting functions. This allows us to examine them from the perspective of compositional change; i.e., how changes in the underlying age structure affect MAD, MADstd, and e_0. METHODS: We compare MADstd with e_0 and MAD formally and empirically, using data on six countries from 1990 to 2020. A particular focus is given to the effect of the increased mortality in 2020 on the three longevity measures. RESULTS: The e_0 indicator gives a higher average age at death than MAD and MADstd because the relative number of older individuals is comparatively high in the hypothetical period life table population. While e_0 declines between 2019 and 2020, both MAD and MADstd show increases in 2020. This can be attributed to differences in the dynamics of the age structures underlying the three indicators. Only the life table population shifts to younger ages, whereas for the observed population and standardized population in 2020 the relative numbers of older individuals increased. CONCLUSIONS: Trends in MAD and MADstd are less sensitive to recent developments in mortality, making e_0 the most valuable for examining changes in period mortality rates over time. Considering the interaction between changes in age-specific mortality rates and changes in the underlying age structure deepens the understanding of diverging time trends in MAD, MADstd, and e_0. CONTRIBUTION: We use the formulas developed by Vaupel and Canudas-Romo (2002) to study the change in all three measures over time. Formulas provided by Vaupel and Zhang (2012) are used to study cross-sectional differences in MAD, MADstd, and e_0. These help us to better understand the differences between the longevity measures and their most appropriate applications.

Elizabeth Darling, Olivia Marquez, Alison Park

Introduction There are two main data sources for perinatal data in Ontario, Canada: the BORN BIS and CIHI-DAD. Such databases are used for perinatal health surveillance and research, and to guide health care related decisions. Objectives Our primary objective was to examine the level of agreement between the BIS and CIHI-DAD. Our secondary objectives were to identify the differences between the data sources when identifying a low-risk birth (LRB) cohort and to understand their implications. Methods We conducted a population-based cohort study comparing characteristics and clinical outcomes of all linkable births in BIS and CIHI-DAD between 1$^{\rm st}$ April 2012 and 31$^{\rm st}$ March 2018. We excluded out-of-hospital births, those with invalid healthcare numbers, non-Ontario residents and gestational age < 20 weeks. We compared the portion of the cohort that met the criteria of a provincial definition of LRB based on each data source and compared clinical outcomes between the groups. Results During the study period, 779,979 eligible births were linkable between the two data sources. After applying the LRB exclusions, there were 129,908 cases in the BIS and 136,184 cases in CIHI-DAD. Most exclusion criteria had almost perfect, substantial or moderate agreement. The agreement for non-cephalic presentation and BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 (kappa coefficients 0.409 and 0.256, respectively) was fair. Comparison between the two LRB cohorts identified differences in the prevalence of cesarean (14.3% BIS versus 12.0% CIHI-DAD) and NICU admission (8.7% BIS versus 7.5% CIHI-DAD) and only 0.01% difference in the prevalence of ICU admission. Conclusions Overall, we found high levels of agreement between the BIS and CIHI-DAD. Identifying a LRB cohort in either database may be appropriate, with the caveat of appropriate understanding of the collection, coding and definition of certain outcomes. The decision for selecting a database may depend on which variables are most important in a particular analysis.

Maria Kola-Bezka, Marcin Kuzel

Global Cities (GCs) and Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) belong to a group of entities that shape the modern world economy in the most distinct way. So far, both of them have been given a lot of attention in the literature, but few studies have been written linking these two important threads of deliberation remaining the aspects of relationships between GCs and MNEs relatively unexplored. This is surprising as GCs and MNEs are not sole players but symbionts in the world economy. Hence, the intention of the authors – and the aim of this paper – is to overview these issues and connect GC and MNE threads in order to provide a platform for future research studies. By adopting an evolutionary approach and integrating the perspectives of economic geography, urban studies and international business, the paper identifies several research areas that may be fundamental to the GC/MNE discussion. They have been grouped in the following five thematic categories: global trends, international and country-specific factors; heterogeneity and transformation of global cities; MNE internationalization motivations and different market entry modes; global cities and global value chains; outcomes of MNE activity.

Siobhán Murphy, Eileen Mitchell, Dermot O'Reilly

Objectives Homelessness is a growing public health concern in Northern Ireland. Our study intends to measure the scale of homelessness in Northern Ireland and identify the potential of using linked administrative data to understand the complex needs of people who experience homelessness (PEH) and contribute to policy and service development. Methods All formal applications for homelessness go to one central body the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). However, it is possible that a proportion might remain unknown to local housing authorities due to personal circumstances, changes in legislation or eligibility criteria etc, which might mean that formal applications underestimate the true scale of homelessness. In this study of the interplay of homelessness health and exposure to social services, we can identify emergency accommodation centres by using ArcGIS, a geographic information system that allows users to analyse maps and spatial data to identify individuals who have been residing at hostels, addiction centres or women's refuges. Results We identified 115 emergency accommodation centres. We plan to use this information to quantify the scale of homelessness in NI and compare the demographic profiles of those who may not be registered with local housing authorities. It is likely these individuals may represent a highly vulnerable population with complex needs and need tailored support packages. Conclusion We will discuss some of the limitations of housing-administrative data and the methodologies we explored to help identify those people who may not be known to local authorities that are experiencing homelessness. Our findings can be used to inform policy on providing continuity of care and support for all people experiencing homelessness and reduce barriers to timely access of this support.

Nicole Gleghorne

Objectives Two thirds of children in poverty did not receive free school meals (FSM) between 2015 and 2019 in Northern Ireland (Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, 2022). This project aims to explore this discrepancy between eligibility and access to FSM and improve access to FSM for all children in poverty. Methods Data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) between 2017 and 2020 was obtained from the UK Data Service and FSM eligibility was calculated using the current criteria provided by the Department for Education in Northern Ireland. Cross-tabulations were used to explore the number of children in receipt of FSM compared to those eligible but not in receipt of FSM. Multilevel logistic regression models used FSM eligibility as the dependent variable and relative and absolute poverty before and after housing costs and number of siblings in a family as the independent variables, controlling for age and gender of the child. Results Preliminary analysis suggests that increasing the income threshold for families with more than one child provides greater access to FSM for children in poverty. There is also evidence that using the OECD modified equivalisation to adjust household income for larger families improves the rate of FSM eligibility for children in relative and absolute poverty before and after housing costs. The findings aim to provide evidence on the most appropriate threshold and equivalisation calculation required to ensure all children in poverty are eligible for FSM, giving greater access to FSM and educational opportunities to those children who need it most. Conclusion The project will inform the current Anti-Poverty Strategy which is under review in Northern Ireland highlighting the need to consider family size through equivalisation into the FSM eligibility criteria. It also emphasizes the importance of administrative data to inform policy on FSM and other educational opportunities in Northern Ireland.

J. Cleeland, Deborah Pardo, Benoît Raymond et al.

Invasive species present a major conservation threat globally and nowhere are their affects more pronounced than in island ecosystems. Determining how native island populations respond demographically to invasive species can provide information to mitigate the negative effects of invasive species. Using 20 years of mark-recapture data from three sympatric species of albatrosses (black-browed Thalassarche melanophris, grey-headed T. chrysostoma, and light-mantled albatrosses Phoebetria palpebrata), we quantified the influence of invasive European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus and extreme weather patterns on breeding probability and success. Temporal variability in rabbit density explained 33–76% of the variability in breeding probability for all three species, with severe decreases in breeding probability observed after a lag period following highest rabbit numbers. For black-browed albatrosses, the combination of extreme rainfall and high rabbit density explained 33% of total trait variability and dramatically reduced breeding success. We showed that invasive rabbits and extreme weather events reduce reproductive output in albatrosses and that eliminating rabbits had a positive effect on albatross reproduction. This illustrates how active animal management at a local breeding site can result in positive population outcomes even for wide ranging animals like albatrosses where influencing vital rates during their at-sea migrations is more challenging.

Nicolo L. Cabrera, T. Tran, William R. Miller et al.

Abstract Background Ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) is a novel cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitor combination for treating Gram-negative infections, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). C/T has been FDA-approved for complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections and has just completed a trial in ventilator nosocomial pneumonia, but real-world outcome data are still emerging. Methods Demographic, microbiologic, treatment and outcome data of patients who received C/T for ≥48 hours from January 2016 to August 2018 at multiple centers within a single hospital system were retrospectively collected. Available isolates were analyzed for C/T susceptibility (by Etest) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Spades v.3.11.1 was used for assembly, multi-locus sequence typing v2.10 performed for in silico MLST with the PubMLST database and Abricate v0.7 was used for resistance gene screening with the CARD database. Results Among 45 patients, 58% were non-white, 53% were female and 13% were immunocompromised. The median age was 64 years (IQR, 50 to 69). At the time of the index event, a high proportion of patients required ICU care (42%) and pressor support (13%) as well as had invasive devices in place (64%). A minority (2.4%) had prior exposure to C/T. Respiratory infections were most common (38%) followed by urinary tract (20%). Concomitant Gram-negative agents were used in 18%. 69% achieved clinical success (i.e., recovery from infection-related signs and symptoms). The in-hospital mortality rate was 16% of which 5 out of 7 were attributed to infection. Microbiology was available for 91% of patients; 84% had PA isolates resistant to at least 3 antipseudomonal classes (Figures 1 and 2). Ten PA isolates were analyzed with WGS (Table 1). C/T resistance arose during therapy in one patient (MIC increase from 1 to 128 µg/mL). WGS showed a substitution in AmpC β-lactamase (A46D) and presence of blaCARB-2. Conclusion Although C/T was used in a critically ill population with highly resistant organisms, cure rates were high and mortality was low. Acquired β-lactamases were not frequently seen among the PA isolates. C/T is a vital therapeutic option, particularly on MDR isolates for which options are limited. Disclosures Samuel L. Aitken, PharmD, Melinta Therapeutoics: Grant/Research Support, Research Grant; Merck, Sharpe, and Dohme: Advisory Board; Shionogi: Advisory Board.

Miloš Bešić

U ovom radu prezentiramo rezultate longitudinalnog istraživanja etničke distance u Crnoj Gori. Osnovni cilj istraživanja bio je da se utvrde promene stepena međuetničkog distanciranja koje su nastale od 2013. do 2018. godine. Pretpostavke na kojima počiva merenje razlika u etničkom distanciranju tiču se snažnih promena u pogledu ukupne političke konstelacije i delovanja političkih faktora na međuetničku distancu. Podaci ukazuju da je u ovom periodu porastao nivo međuetničkog i ukupnog etničkog distanciranja, što posledično u multietničkoj državi predstavlja izvor potencijalne ukupne političke nestabilnosti. Povećanje stepena međuetničkog distanciranja merimo gotovo u svim aspektima, a naročito kada je reč o distanci koju iskazuju Albanci prema drugim etničkim skupinama. Metodološki, u istraživanjima je korišćena ekstenzivna Bogardusova skala za istraživanje socijalne distance. Kada je o samom merenju reč, rad se oslanja na analize trenda i regresione metode, kako bi se obezbedila preciznost merenja efekta protoka vremena na porast etničkog distanciranja. Konačno, rad kritički preispituje moguće faktore identifikovanih trendova rasta etničke distance.

Rachel Margolis, Youjin Choi, Feng Hou et al.

<b>Background</b>: Statistics Canada ceased publishing vital statistics on marriage and divorce in 2008, leaving a knowledge gap in these important demographic indicators. <b>Objective</b>: This paper makes the methodological contribution of examining how best to operationalize divorce with tax data, and the substantive contribution of presenting recent trends in divorce in Canada. <b>Methods</b>: We examine trends in divorce using both vital statistics and administrative tax data and compare them during the period for which they are available (through 2008). Then, using administrative tax data, we update trends in divorce through 2016. We examine overall, age-specific, and age-standardized trends in divorce. <b>Results</b>: We document "gray divorce" from the 1990s through 2008 and then flat divorce rates for older adults and a continued decline in divorce for younger adults through 2016. <b>Conclusions</b>: Tax data show a recent decline in divorce trends in Canada. However, there are important limitations to estimating divorce with tax data. We discuss data gaps and make suggestions for more accurate measures of union dissolution. <b>Contribution</b>: Divorce is important for demographers to measure well, and this paper carefully examines recent trends and critically evaluates administrative data's ability to fill the void left by the termination of vital statistics.

Okka Zimmermann, Nicole Hameister

<b>Background</b>: Prior research focused on the impact of being in a partnership on quality of life from a cross-sectional perspective; the impact of partnership histories has not yet been investigated. <b>Objective</b>: Based on the life-course paradigm and the theory of cumulative (dis)advantages, we address this research gap. <b>Methods</b>: Using pairfam data, we analyse the influence of partnership histories between ages 14 and 41 on depressiveness, overall life satisfaction, and partnership expectations. We demonstrate the additional value of using life-course clusters over simple sequence characteristics by showing that more detailed and accurate conclusions can be drawn. <b>Results</b>: Results highlight that both men and women benefited from being in a stable cohabitational union. Gender differences were found among those who were negatively affected by not establishing a stable cohabitational union. Among men, long-term singles were significantly more depressed, less satisfied, and had more negative partnership expectations than their cohort peers. Among women, those with a history of unstable relationships were less satisfied and had more negative partnership expectations. <b>Conclusions</b>: In line with the theory of cumulative (dis)advantages, the benefits of stable cohabitations were shown to accumulate over time for both genders. The differences found between men and women are convincing in light of research on unequal gender roles within partnerships. <b>Contribution</b>: We add to prior research by demonstrating the value of conducting a gender-sensitive longitudinal analysis of the impacts of partnership trajectories on quality of life.

F. Rossi

Stanić Katarina, Matković Gordana

Over the past number of years, the public expenditures for childbirth-related leave benefits have more than doubled – in 2015 amounted to 0.7% GDP in relation to 0.3% GDP in 2002. This increase can mainly be attributed to the increased number of beneficiaries that grew consistently from 24 thousand in 2002 up to 40 thousand in 2015, despite the fact that the annual number of live births has been almost continually decreasing and the registered employment has dropped by almost 20 per cent in the observed period. One of the clear reasons explaining part of this increase is the extension of 3+ order of birth leaves in 2006, from one to two years, which can explain the increase of around 3.5 thousand of beneficiaries. Another reason is high number of beneficiaries using special child-care leave meant for parents with children with disabilities, but which, in reality, is very often used simply as the extension of parental leave. The average number of special child-care leave beneficiaries in the second half of 2015 amounted to 2.8 thousand. When these two effects are taken into account, we still notice significant increase of beneficiaries of around 10 thousand in the observed period. Fictitious employment during the pregnancy can explain this increase to some extent. Available data unambiguously show that a number of women formally employing during the second and third trimester of pregnancy has increased from 800 in 2002 to almost 3.5 thousand monthly average in the second half of 2015. There are two flaws of the childbirth-related leave programme in Serbia, which together lead to the constant increase of the number of beneficiaries. First is the lack of flexibility of the programme, both in terms of eligibility for acquiring the right as well as in terms of flexibility in use. Maternity/parental leave benefit may acquire only those in „standard employment” i.e. employed under employment contract (and entrepreneurs) while other type of contracts is not eligible. Second problem is the loophole in the benefit calculation method and the inadequate special child-care acquiring procedure which brings about the inclusion error. This results in the increase of generosity of the program, in a selective way, which in turn jeopardizes the financial sustainability of the programme as a whole. The reform of the childbirth-related leave program should progress in two directions. First is the change of the benefit calculation method extending the calculation base period so that it disables misuse and inclusion error; enabling the right to those with flexible/non-standard employment; and tightening the eligibility criteria for special-care leave. Second array of reform should tackle the flexibility in use, allowing options such as taking a leave on part-time basis or taking longer periods of leave with lower benefits.

Kim Rolfe, Mallinath Chakraborty, David Tucker

ABSTRACT Objectives The All Wales Perinatal Survey (AWPS) collects mortality data on perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality in Wales up to a year of age. The Congenital Anomaly Register and Information Service (CARIS) collects clinical data on all congenital anomalies in foeti, infants and children in Wales. This was the first attempt to link the AWPS and CARIS databases. Approach The AWPS database coded stillbirths, terminations and deaths by the clinic-pathologic classification until 2012, assigning each case a survey number. The CARIS database started collecting data from 1998. Thus, the common period between 1998 and 2012 (15 years) was chosen for this study. Using CARIS as the main dataset, AWPS data were matched against the CARIS database using NHS numbers, along with soft linking on date of birth, maternal date of birth, and postcode. The unique AWPS survey number and coding was then added to the matched record within the CARIS dataset. This final ‘linked’ dataset was used to look at trend data. Results Between 1998 and 2012 a total of 20,574 cases were recorded in the CARIS database. After excluding cases where no gestation or date of death were recorded, and including deaths between >19 weeks’ gestation up to 365 days after birth, there were 1306 foetal losses/terminations, 231 stillbirths, and 662 livebirths (total 2,199) records left in the CARIS database who died with congenital anomalies. In the comparable period, using the same criteria, there were 6,909 records identified in the AWPS database. Of those, 1,765 had a recorded lethal congenital anomaly. By using the above criteria, a total of 2,039 cases in the CARIS database were linked to the AWPS database. 241 cases in the CARIS database and 151 cases in the AWPS database could not be linked by the above methods. Analysing the CARIS cases alone showed that consistently more than 80% of foeti are live-born, and survive. Chromosomal (22%), cardiovascular (21%) and brain (15%) anomalies are the most common congenital anomalies in the linked cases, which contribute to infant mortality. This pattern has remained largely unchanged over the study period. Conclusion Using NHS numbers and soft linking, the majority of CARIS cases were linked to AWPS cases. Although both these databases should closely reflect each other, missing cases suggest there is scope for improvement in data collection. Sharing of data could also improve the quality of both databases.

Janett Powietzka, Christoph Stallmann, Enno Swart

ABSTRACT Objectives The German GNC-Health Study (GNC) will have duration of at least ten years and will compile medical examinations, biomaterials and computer assisted interviews of intended 200.000 participants (funding code: 01ER1301A). For the first time, this data collection will be supplemented with a multitude of administrative and claims data such as data of statutory health insurance funds, statutory pension funds as well as the Federal Employment Agency. The GNC extends this field of research to private health insurance funds, epidemiologic and clinical cancer and mortality registers. This supplementary use of claims data is strictly regulated by legal requirements. The challenges and solutions for scientific use of such data in Germany will be described. Approach The Social Security Code and data protection rules govern the scientific use of administrative data. These rules include requirements for the wording of important documents such as informed consent, release from confidentiality, participants’ information, data protection concept etc. and often an authorization process by the supervisory authority of the data owner. These complex tasks, which are time consuming costly and labour intensive, are tied into the GNC-Competence Network for secondary and registry data (CNSRD). Results The GNC-CNSRD has helped to formulate legal informed consent for each data source, which describes the use of the information provided by the participants, as well as the period and limitation of its retro- and prospective use. Furthermore, only the GNC-trust agency is allowed to save the social security number but not the local study center. The modular consent process and the IT- and data protection concept of the GNC is a prototype to enable the large scale use of administrative and claims data of future epidemiologic studies in Germany. Conclusion Unfortunately, one of the biggest obstacles for the scientific use of administrative and claims data still remains unsolved. The application for data use at the local supervisory authority of the data owner requires the description and limitation of the research question and the period of use of this data. This is in conflict with the modern longitudinal design of GNC because it wants to establish a research structure and data base in order to answer a variety of future and unspecified research questions. Hence, current legal requirements in Germany prevent the full utilization of the potential of administrative and claims data. Therefore, the German Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information recommended an amendment to the social law.

Branislav Šprocha, Luděk Šídlo

Over the last quarter of a century female fertility in Czechia has undergone dynamic and dramatic change. One of the main indications of this is the postponement of births and associated fertility ageing. This article analyses the spatial differences in the character and intensity of fertility in the early 1990s and the current era and attempts to highlight any stability or change in the spatial patterns resulting from the changes in reproductive behaviour. The authors use a number of indicators to analyse the rate, timing and distribution of fertility by woman’s age at the district level (LAU1). Additional indicators are also used to assess the level of birth postponement in young people and recuperation during the second half of the reproductive life span. Since the results suggested that there were some areas which exhibited similarities in the characteristics and trajectory of the fertility postponement transition, cluster analysis was used to produce a spatial classification. Although all Czech districts are undergoing a fertility postponement transition, the tendency is for it to deepen the spatial pluralisation of reproductive behaviour, particularly the timing and internal structure of fertility by woman’s age, which is the main spatial differentiation factor affecting fertility.

Harat Aleksandra, Chojnacki Michał, Leksowski Krzysztof

The main purpose of the article is to analyze humanitarian aid provided by the European Union and the United Nations. The research includes a review of existing documents, reports, and studies on world humanitarian assistance. The main issues and findings analyzed in this study are the evolution of the humanitarian assistance provided by the European Union and the United Nations and the role of the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office – ECHO and the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - OCHA – as units responsible for organization and financial issues. On the basis of the history and key events, the finances, and significant projects in the field of humanitarian aid implemented by the EU and the UN are presented. Finally, the authors attempt to assess the effectiveness of assistance.

Lilia Montali, Marcelo Tavares de Lima

A análise da pobreza e das desigualdades de renda com base nos arranjos domiciliares eluci dou aspectos que possibilitam orientar políticas sociais para a superação da pobreza e para o desenvolvimento social. O objetivo da pesquisa é investigar as fragilidades dos arranjos domi ciliares mais vulneráveis ao empobrecimento. Foi motivado por se constatar que permanece a desigualdade de renda entre domicílios metro politanos brasileiros identificados como mais vulneráveis ao empobrecimento e os demais arranjos domiciliares durante a década de 2000, período em que ocorre a redução da desigualdade de renda no país, crescimento do emprego e da renda domiciliar per capita e a ampliação da política de transferência de renda. O conceito de divisão sexual do trabalho tem papel central neste artigo como transversal à família e ao mercado, definindo os lugares de homens e de mulheres na esfera da reprodução e na esfera da produção. Esta abordagem explicitou a di visão sexual do trabalho como um dos desafios que limitam tanto a inserção em empregos de qualidade para mulheres responsáveis por família com crianças e adolescentes como a superação da pobreza no caso dos domicílios mais vulneráveis.