China population and development studies最新文献

The suicide rate in Hong Kong has increased significantly over the past four decades. Population subgroups such as the elderly or economically-distressed are reported to be more vulnerable than others to suicidal behaviors, while changing suicide methods (such as charcoal burning which emerged in 1998), has also contributed significantly to increasing suicide rates. However, the extent of the contribution of different factors to changes in suicide rate remains unclear. This paper reported on a decomposition analysis of the epidemiological profile of suicide in Hong Kong between 1976 and 2015, specifically considering factors underlying the increasing suicide rate over this period. Completed death registry information was available from the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong SAR for this investigation. We compared absolute and relative contributions of gender, age and suicide method to rate changes over time. Changes in suicide rate were generally underpinned by more than one factor. Population aging in a rapidly-aging city contributed significantly to suicide rate increases, whilst jumping from a height had the greatest influence on rate changes throughout the study period. Suicides by male aged 25-34 years and 45-54 years were more likely to be triggered by economic factors, compared with the other gender-age subgroups. The decomposition approach provided a comprehensive understanding about how socioeconomic factors and suicide methods interacted to influence over-time suicide patterns. This research supports development of more focused suicide prevention measures to reduce suicide rate.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42379-021-00087-5.

The COVID-19 is impacting the health of the population, including older persons. Available evidence shows that older people are highly vulnerable and more likely to have adverse health outcomes. In Bangladesh, the older population is rapidly increasing, living with various disadvantaged socio-economic conditions, including inadequate access and healthcare services. These disparities are likely to increase during the COVID-19, resulting in high morbidity and mortality among them. Thus, we have examined the health vulnerabilities of older persons due to the COVID-19 pandemic using content analysis. We have analyzed 102 content collected from various online and printed articles published in newspapers, journals, and other relevant sources. The study has found increased health risks, deteriorated mental health, and poor health system functioning during the pandemic and its impact on older persons in Bangladesh. Strengthening health systems through an integrated model with capacity development of existing health care providers to deal with elderly health problems, including mental health and psychosocial wellbeing; promoting preventive measures, facilitating access to healthcare is required. Bangladesh can learn the Chinese experience to adopt innovative, specialized, and advanced systems to efficiently fight against the COVID-19.

Social security is an important social and public policy measure to help address poverty in any contemporary society. The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) system in Hong Kong provides a safety net for those aged children and adults below 65 years old who cannot support themselves financially. It is designed to bring their income up to a prescribed level to meet their basic needs. The rapid increase in social welfare expenditure in the last decade has become a concern to the Hong Kong SAR Government. The overall social welfare expenditure has accounted for nearly 15.6% of government expenditure in 2018, with the total amount increasing from $58 billion to $90 billion (an increase of 72.4%) for the period 2014-2018. However, the amount spent on CSSA only increased from $20.7 billion to $22.3 billion with an increase of 7.7% only for the same period. The much slower magnitude of increase is related to the reduction in the number of CSSA recipients, which decreased from 237,501 to 185,528 over the period. A decomposition method was used to assess the changes in the number of people in the CSSA system. It showed that the rate of arriving into the system has been decreasing due to a robust economy with a very low unemployment rate; whereas moving out of the system has also been decreasing in the past 5 years. This phenomenon can be partly attributed to the widening of the income gap in the community in the period. Despite the increase in population size, as long as employment conditions remain strong and the momentum of leaving the system can be maintained, the number of CSSA recipients will continue to decrease. However, the results also suggested that a certain proportion of CSSA recipients will not be able to move out of the system and have been trapped. Some innovative methods to help them out of CSSA are discussed. In view of the poor economic outlook arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important for the Government to have effective measures to keep people in their jobs. If the unemployment rate will does not substantially increase and then increase of in CSSA recipients can be contained.