Urbanization Sans Development?

From a theoretical standpoint, the question has to be asked whether or not the census should retain its present definition of urban areas. There is a need for a more meaningful integration of the structural, institutional and demographic criteria, if the term is to hold substantive meaning. In this light, this paper proposes that a two-tier urban definition be employed. The old definition should be retained for trend analysis purposes while a new definition that incorporates socioeconomic purposes should be instituted.urban management, population and family relation, urbanization, data and statistics

Urbanization Sans Development?

From a theoretical standpoint, the question has to be asked whether or not the census should retain its present definition of urban areas. There is a need for a more meaningful integration of the structural, institutional and demographic criteria, if the term is to hold substantive meaning. In this light, this paper proposes that a two-tier urban definition be employed. The old definition should be retained for trend analysis purposes while a new definition that incorporates socioeconomic purposes should be instituted.urban management, population and family relation, urbanization, data and statistics

A Better Start in Life: Evaluation Results from an Early Childhood Development Program

Informed by a growing body of research showing that investments in early childhood health, nutrition, and cognitive and psychosocial development have immediate and long-term benefits on children, the Philippine government undertook a five-year pilot Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project. The project was implemented in Regions 6, 7, and 12 to improve the survival and developmental potential of children in the most vulnerable and disadvantaged areas, and thus to help them escape poverty and deprivation. This study evaluates the impact of this ECD Project based on selected indicators of (1) EDC service utilization, and (2) child health, nutrition, and cognitive and psychosocial development. The study, which followed a sample of children over four years, uses difference-in-difference method of estimating impact, adjusted for duration of program exposure, which compared changes over time in the project areas of Regions 6 and 7, and in the control areas in Region 8. The sample included over 6,000 children of age 0-4 years at the start of the study. Results show mixed positive impact of the project over the period.early childhood development, child health, nutrition

A Better Start in Life: Evaluation Results from an Early Childhood Development Program

Informed by a growing body of research showing that investments in early childhood health, nutrition, and cognitive and psychosocial development have immediate and long-term benefits on children, the Philippine government undertook a five-year pilot Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project. The project was implemented in Regions 6, 7, and 12 to improve the survival and developmental potential of children in the most vulnerable and disadvantaged areas, and thus to help them escape poverty and deprivation. This study evaluates the impact of this ECD Project based on selected indicators of (1) EDC service utilization, and (2) child health, nutrition, and cognitive and psychosocial development. The study, which followed a sample of children over four years, uses difference-in-difference method of estimating impact, adjusted for duration of program exposure, which compared changes over time in the project areas of Regions 6 and 7, and in the control areas in Region 8. The sample included over 6,000 children of age 0-4 years at the start of the study. Results show mixed positive impact of the project over the period.early childhood development, child health, nutrition

Trends in female and male age at marriage and celibacy in Asia

For more about the East-West Center, see http://www.eastwestcenter.org/This paper examines trends across Asia in the female and male mean ages at entrance to marriage. The female singulate mean age at marriage (SMAM) has been the object of considerable attention, while the male age at marriage has not. We show that with few exceptions the long-term trend to later female marriage continued into the 1980s and in many countries has produced quite high percentages of singles among the young. With the exceptions noted, there is no indication that the trend has abated. Trends for males are in sharp contrast. There has been less change and the pace of change has been slower. In fact, the underlying components of change have been different for females and males. The essential difference is that female ages at marriage have become more diverse, while there has been a homogenization of male marriage ages. A research agenda is offered stressing examination of differences among countries and between the sexes and how these differences reflect the disparate trends in economic growth that have been experienced

Gendered Differences in the Predictors of Sexual Initiation Among Young Adults in Cebu, Philippines

PurposeSocial environment and family context exert substantial influence on adolescent sexual behaviors. These influences are especially important to examine in countries undergoing rapid demographic and social change. This study employs unique, intergenerational and longitudinal data (1998-2009) to examine the effects of parental, peer, and household influences on sexual initiation among young adults in Cebu, Philippines.MethodsIntergenerational and longitudinal cohort data from the 1998 Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) are analyzed to examine the effects of household, peer, family, and young adults' sexual attitudes on age at first sex by 2009 among young men and women. Gender-stratified Cox proportional hazards models and Cox regression models are used to model time to first sex.ResultsHousehold, family, peer, and individual characteristics have disparate influences on sexual initiation among Filipino boys and girls. Boys' sexual initiation was positively associated with urbanicity, household wealth, and the presence of a family member working abroad, whereas for girls, these variables had no significant effects. Unique effects were also found for girls-mother's education was negatively associated, and girls' number of siblings was positively associated, with higher hazards of sex. Additionally, the effects of some variables on the occurrence of first sex differed across time, indicating that boys and girls may be differentially influenced by contextual characteristics across adolescence.ConclusionsAmid substantial sociodemographic changes and persistence of traditional gender norms, this study highlights the importance of examining the unique influences and intersections of gender and context on sexual initiation in the Philippines

Gendered Differences in the Predictors of Sexual Initiation Among Young Adults in Cebu, Philippines

PURPOSE: Social environment and family context exert substantial influence on adolescent sexual behaviors. These influences are especially important to examine in countries undergoing rapid demographic and social change. This study employs unique, intergenerational and longitudinal data (1998–2009) to examine the effects of parental, peer, and household influences on sexual initiation among young adults in Cebu, Philippines. METHODS: Intergenerational and longitudinal cohort data from the 1998 Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) are analyzed to examine the effects of household, peer, family, and young adults’ sexual attitudes on age at first sex by 2009 among young men and women. Gender-stratified Cox proportional hazards models and Cox regression models are used to model time to first sex. RESULTS: Household, family, peer, and individual characteristics have disparate influences on sexual initiation among Filipino boys and girls. Boys’ sexual initiation was positively associated with urbanicity, household wealth, and the presence of a family member working abroad, whereas for girls, these variables had no significant effects. Unique effects were also found for girls - mother’s education was negatively associated, and girls’ number of siblings was positively associated, with higher hazards of sex. Additionally, the effects of some variables on the occurrence of first sex differed across time, indicating that boys and girls may be differentially influenced by contextual characteristics across adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: Amid substantial sociodemographic changes and persistence of traditional gender norms, this study highlights the importance of examining the unique influences and intersections of gender and context on sexual initiation in the Philippines