Background: The percentage of overweight children has tripled in the last thirty years. Inconsistent findings are published regarding the relationship between socioeconomic variables and being overweight in childhood.Objective: To determine whether socioeconomic variables are associated with risk of being overweight among six year olds. Methods: Six year olds with BMI data were selected from the National Survey of Children's Health (n=4,362). Variables were coded and a low socioeconomic index was created. Using population weights, descriptive statistics were generated and regression was utilized to assess the relationship between socioeconomic variables and being 'at risk' for overweight. Socioeconomic variables were also compared by risk status.Results: Approximately 47% of the sample was 'at risk' of overweight (BMI ≥ 85th percentile). Males and nonwhites were more likely to be 'at risk' than their counterparts. After adjustment, the proportion of those with Medicaid was greater among the 'at risk' group compared to those who were 'not at risk' (38.3% vs. 35.3%' p-value=0.010). Those 'at risk' were also more likely to have free/reduced-cost breakfast/lunch (60.3% vs. 51.8%, p-value=Conclusion: Several low socioeconomic indicators as well as a composite index were associated with being 'at risk' for childhood overweight. With the current obesity epidemic, governmental agencies should identify low socioeconomic groups and target interventions specific to these vulnerable populations.

Educators are examining many aspects of schools as they find ways to help students improve their performance on standardized tests in order to meet both federal and state standards. This study examined the relationship between organizational climate and student achievement on the Virginia Standards of Learning tests. A total of 1,061 teachers in 47 schools across the Commonwealth of Virginia responded to the climate survey. The survey instrument was the Organizational Health Inventory for Elementary Schools (OHI-E). This brief survey instrument examined five aspects of school climate. They were Teacher Affiliation, Collegial Leadership, Resource Influence, Institutional Integrity, and Academic Emphasis. Third and fifth grade Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests were the measure of student achievement in English. mathematics, science, and social studies. This study also examined the effects of socioeconomic status as measured by the percentage of students receiving free and reduced price lunches.There was a significant positive relationship between overall school climate and third grade performance on the mathematics SOL test and fifth grade performance on the social studies SOL test. Socioeconomic status was significantly negatively correlated with SOL scores in third grade math, science, and social studies and all fifth grade tests except mathematics.Further regression analyses of the aspects of climate measured by the OHI-E (Institutional Integrity, Collegial Leadership, Resource Influence, Teacher Affiliation, and Academic Emphasis) indicated that Academic Emphasis had a significant independent effect on third grade English and mathematics SOL scores as well as fifth grade English, science, and social studies SOL scores. There was a negative correlation between Institutional Integrity and English SOL scores in both the third and fifth grade. This negative correlation shows that when teachers perceive that the school is vulnerable to outside interference, English scores tend to be higher.

Nearly 60 years after the Supreme Court Decision in Brown, segregation is still an ingrained facet of American public education. This study investigated the extent to which these continued patterns of segregation influenced graduation rates from high school. The study used data provided by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) on the 2011 graduating cohorts in 302 public high schools across the state. The results indicate that graduation rates for all students vary significantly as a function of the overall socioeconomic and racial composition of high schools. In addition, low-income students are significantly more likely to graduate in low-poverty high schools and minorities are significantly more likely to graduate in high schools that are not highly segregated by race. Finally, school level demographic variables explain a significant, independent share of the variance in graduation rates among high schools. These results lend weight to policies designed to integrate high schools as a way to equalize educational opportunity.

At present, Richmond, Virginia only has bus transit services provided by the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) and primarily concentrated within the boundary of Richmond City. GRTC is impacted by both supply-side and demand-side factors, notably socioeconomic characteristics of bus riders, bus ridership is unevenly distributed across different bus stops. This thesis will conduct statistical and geographical analysis on the impacts of socioeconomic characteristics on bus-stop daily boarding in Richmond City. The statistical analysis includes both correlation analysis and regression analysis, assuming one dependent variable (bus-stop daily boarding) and fourteen independent variables (most of which describe socioeconomic characteristics of bus riders) at aggregated census block group levels. The research concentrates on local bus routes and the block groups with local bus stops in Richmond. This empirical study aims to identify the significant factors impacting bus ridership and assess the bus service situation for affected block groups (under-served or over-served). The study outcomes, such as the number of bus lines as the most important factor impacting ridership, will have important implications for Richmond’s local transit planning and decision-making.

The role of urbanization in the history of civilization is a profound and intricate part of human geography. By utilizing socioeconomic data and then integrating it with more technological innovations, such as remote sensing, the spread of sprawl and the urban corridor can better be mapped and quantified by researchers. Many different types of socioeconomic data were implemented in addition to the remotely sensed data. In this paper, six Landsat 5 TM images were used to create land cover classification maps of the developed or built-up land in St. Tammany Parish from 1984 to 2008. It was found that, in addition to St. Tammany expanding in population, the urban areas are becoming denser using a method called the"remote method." This method is an advanced function of density that allows researchers to estimate consumption of the developed land.

Thesis advisor: Karen D. Arnold / "Parental involvement," a term long part of the K-12 lexicon is now included in the higher education vocabulary. Many college administrators today associate "parental involvement" with a certain pattern of behavior and describe the contemporary traditional-aged student-parent relationship with negative examples. Dubbed by the media as "helicopter parents," this sub-population of overly involved mothers and fathers has come to represent all parents of college students, even though these examples are largely socioeconomic class-based. This qualitative phenomenological study considered the lived experience of the relationship between working class and low-income students and their parents during the first semester of college. All students in the sample were enrolled at four-year colleges and had attended an alternative high school where parental involvement was supported and encouraged. Students (n=6) participated in three open-ended, qualitative interviews and their parents (n=7) participated in two. What constitutes "parental involvement" for working class and low-income students and parents in the context of higher education? This study found that the parents had positive, emotionally supportive relationships with their students. Students were autonomous and functionally independent, but emotionally interdependent with parents. Parents in the study did not have a direct connection to their child's college or university; students served as intermediaries in this parent-institution relationship. Therefore, this sample did not fit the current definition of parental involvement in higher education. As colleges and universities implement parent services as a reaction to the phenomenon of parental involvement, they need to consider alternative pathways for communicating with parents from lower socioeconomic groups, many of whom have not attended college. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Administration and Higher Education.

Thesis advisor: Paul Gray / This study aims to determine the various sociological factors that play a role in determining the post-graduate career plans of Boston College seniors. Post-graduate options explored include (1) Entering the work force, (2) Continuing schooling, (3) Volunteering, (4) Traveling, (5) Other. Emphasis has been placed on the study of socioeconomic background, influence of others in the decision-making process, and the influence of the Jesuit education. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Sociology Honors Program. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: Sociology.

Este estudo mostrou uma forte influência dos fatores socioeconômicos e ambientais na prevalência da cárie dentária. Vinte e duas variáveis socioeconômicas e ambientais foram relacionadas a um indicador de saúde bucal. Este indicador consiste na soma dos índices CPO-D e ceo-d nos grupos de alunos de 5 a 12 anos para os 131 municípios que fizeram parte do Levantamento de Saúde Bucal do Estado de São Paulo em 1998. Destes 131 municípios estudados, 9% apresentaram Indicador baixo (&#61603; 2,6); 55% dos municípios, Indicador moderado (2,7 - 4,4); 34% dos municípios, Indicador considerado alto (4,5 - 6,5) e 2% apresentaram indicador muito alto (> 6,6). A prevalência de cárie dentária no Estado de São Paulo para esta faixa etária de 5 a 12 anos, medida por meio do Indicador, mostrou correlação significativa (p<0,05) com 17 das variáveis utilizadas. O modelo de regressão multifatorial mostrou correlação direta de 63% com três fatores principais: presença de flúor na água de abastecimento público, porte populacional do município e Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano Municipal para Educação. Este modelo final pode explicar 38% da variação da prevalência da cárie dentária no Estado de São Paulo em 1998. Em relação aos aspectos geográficos, a epidemiologia espacial evidenciou que os maiores índices de cárie dentária encontraram-se nas regiões Sudoeste, Central e Nordeste do Estado de São Paulo. Os resultados mostraram que condições socioeconômicas e ambientais satisfatórias podem contribuir de maneira importante para a saúde bucal. Mostraram, também, que o emprego da epidemiologia espacial pode contribuir para a identificação de áreas com maior necessidade de cuidados odontológicos e preventivos. / The result of this study showed a strong influence of socioeconomic and environmental background in the dental caries. Twenty-two socioeconomic and environmental variables were correlated to an oral health indicator. This indicator consisted of the sum of the DMFT and dmft indices in students from 5 to 12 years old in 131 cities, which were participants in the Epidemiological Survey of Oral Health in São Paulo State in 1998. Out of the 131 cities studied, 9% had a low indicator (&#61603; 2,6); 55% had a medium indicator (2,7 - 4,4); 34% had a considerable high indicator (4.5 - 6.5) and 2% had a very high indicator (> 6.6). The indicators showed that the prevalence of dental caries in the Sao Paulo State for this age range is significantly related (p<0.05) to 17 of the variables used. The regression multifactor model showed direct correlation of 63% with three main factors: the presence of fluoride in public water, population size of each city and Municipal Human Development index in education. This final model could explain 38% of the variation of the presence of dental decay in the São Paulo State in 1998. With regard to the geographical aspects, spatial epidemiology pointed out that the higher dental caries indices are located in the southwest, central and northwest areas of the studied State. The results showed that the socioeconomic and environmental conditions might greatly contribute to the dental health. In addition to this, the use of spatial epidemiology can contribute to identify the areas in need of oral health promotion and dental care.

Introdução: Vários fatores podem interferir na adesão ao tratamento dos hipertensos e conseqüentemente no controle da doença. Dentre estes se destaca o contexto socioeconômico em que vivem os hipertensos. Objetivos: Caracterizar hipertensos atendidos em unidades básicas de saúde de acordo com o nível socioeconômico em relação às variáveis biossociais, econômicas, crenças, atitudes, conhecimento sobre a doença e tratamento, falta e interrupção do tratamento; e associar o nível socioeconômico com essas variáveis. Casuística e método: O estudo foi realizado em três unidades básicas de saúde na região oeste da cidade de São Paulo. Para avaliação econômica foi feito o cálculo do índice de bens acumulados, por meio da somatória de preços de eletrodomésticos constantes na residência do paciente, dividido este por doze e posteriormente pelo valor do salário mínimo para equivalência do poder aquisitivo mensal. Os dados foram processados no sistema SPSS v.7.5. O nível de significância adotado foi de 0,05. Resultados: Foram estudados 440 hipertensos. A maioria era do sexo feminino (66%), cor branca (51%), casados (56,8%), com ensino fundamental (52%), índice de massa corporal 29,99±6,0 kg/m², idade de 57±12 anos e renda mensal familiar de 1 a 3 salários mínimos (43,6%). Do total de hipertensos estudados que interromperam o tratamento (34,8%), verificou-se que interrompeu menos de forma significativa (p<0,05) quem possuía mais televisão a cores. Em relação a faltar às consultas médicas houve associação significante (p<0,05) com geladeira duplex, verificou-se que aqueles com maior posse desse eletrodoméstico faltavam menos às consultas. Os hipertensos que não concordaram com a crença de que “não há nada que se possa fazer para evitar a pressão alta“ apresentaram índice de bens acumulados com valores significativamente mais elevados (1,25± 0,36 vs 1,17±0,35, p<0,05). Em relação às atitudes frente ao tratamento, os hipertensos que afirmaram nunca chegarem atrasados às suas consultas apresentaram índice de bens acumulados com valores significativamente mais baixos (1,20±0,3 vs 1,31± 0,32, p<0,05). Na avaliação de como os pacientes “se sentiam em relação a sua vida como um todo", a referência de tristeza se associou com índice de bens acumulados com valor significativamente mais baixo (0,98 ± 0,35 vs 1,28 ± 0,36 e 1,25±0,32, p< 0,05). Conclusão: A condição econômica dos hipertensos se associou com alguns aspectos relativos à adesão ao tratamento. / Introduction: A lot of factors can interfere at the adherence in the treatment and consequently control of the disease and detached among them the socioeconomic context where the hypertension people living. Objectives: To make up the people with the hypertension attending in the health basic units in agree with the socioeconomic level and the biosocial economics variables such as believes, attitudes, knowledge about the disease and treatment, lack and interruption of the treatment; and associating the socioeconomic level with these variables. Casuistic and Methods: The study was realized on three health basic units in the west region of Sao Paulo city. To economic survey was done a calculating of the accumulated capital assets from the sum up of the domestics appliances prizes in the patient residence divided for twelve and on the minimum salary value for equivalence of the monthly acquisitive power. The data were processed in the system of significance adopted were 0.05. Results: Were studied 440 hypertensive patients. The great majority were females (66%), white colour (51%), married (56,8%), with fundamental degree (52%), body mass index 29,99±6,0 kg/ m², 57±12 years of age and familiar income of 1 to 3 minimum salary monthly (43,6%). From the total of studied hypertensive patients with the interrupted the treatment (34,8%) was verified whom less significant way (p<0.05) those with the coloured television. In relationship no attendance to the medical appointment have significant association (p<0.05) with duplex freezer, those who have major posses of theses domestic appliances were less absent the medical consults. The hypertensive patients that have not agreed with the belief that "they can not do anything about the high blood pressure" showed the accumulated capital assets index with the values significantly more elevated (1.25± 0.36 vs 1.17±0.35, p<0.05). About the attitudes to the treatment, the hypertensive patients to referred never were late to a medical appointment showed accumulated capital assets index with lower values (1.20±0.3 vs 1.31± 0.32, p<0.05). In the evaluation of the patients with “How to feel with the life" the reference with sadness have a association with accumulated capital assets index with lower values (0.98 ± 0.35 vs 1.28 ± 0.36 e 1.25±0.32, p< 0.05). Conclusion: The economic situation of the hypertensive patients is linked with some aspects related to the adherence of treatment.

Objetivos. Avaliar a associação entre experiência de cárie dental com fatores socioeconômicos e a influência desses fatores na redução dos índices de cárie em crianças de 12 anos de idade nas capitais brasileiras. Métodos. Dados oficiais sobre a experiência de cárie dental (CPO-D) em cada município foram reunidos a partir dos resultados de levantamentos epidemiológicos a respeito de saúde bucal realizados em âmbito nacional nos anos de 1996 e 2002-2003. Dados censitários e provenientes de publicações governamentais a respeito dos indicadores socioeconômicos foram associados à experiência de cárie em 2002-2003, e ao percentual de redução nos índices CPO-D entre 1996 e 2002-2003 utilizando-se análise de regressão linear múltipla. Resultado. Análise de regressão linear simples indicou associação significante entre experiência de cárie e diferentes indicadores socioeconômicos. Resultados da análise de regressão linear múltipla revelaram que menor experiência de cárie esteve associada positivamente ao índice de desenvolvimento humano do município (IDH) e renda per capita. Capitais com menores desigualdades na distribuição de renda (Coeficiente de Gini), menores índices de CPO-D e maior porcentagem de crianças livres de cárie em 2002-2003 apresentaram maiores níveis de redução de cárie. Conclusão. Municípios com melhores perfis socioeconômicos apresentaram uma menor experiência de cárie dental indicando que estratégias públicas de saúde devem ser direcionadas para esses determinantes. Os resultados também sugerem que redução de cárie dental demanda ações governamentais amplas que busquem diminuir as ineqüidades socioeconômicas. / Objectives. Investigate the association between dental caries and socioeconomic indicators in 12-years-old children from Brazilian capitals. Assess the influence of these socioeconomic indicators to dental caries decrease in this population between 1996 and 2003 Methods. Dental caries experience was estimated by gathering data on DMFT index supplied by two country-wide surveys performed in 1996 and 2002- 2003. Measurements of socioeconomic status at city-level used census data and official publications. Association between socioeconomic status with dental caries experience in 2002-2003 and percentage of reduction in DMFT indexes between 1996 and 2002-2003 were fitted using multiple linear regression analysis. Results. Simple linear regression analysis indicated significant associations between DMFT and different socioeconomic factors. Results from multiple linear regression analysis showed that a lower DMFT index was associated with higher values of human development index (HDI) and income. Capitals with lower levels of income inequalities, lowers values of DMFT and highest percentage of caries-free children in 2002-2003, presented highest percentage of DMFT reduction between 1996 and 2002-2003. Conclusions. Capitals with lower socioeconomic status presented highest levels of dental caries than better-off capitals, indicating that public health strategies should target these determinants. The results also suggest that improvements in dental caries experience demand broad governments actions to reduce socioeconomic inequalities.