This project investigates characteristics of the social environment that may be drivers of depression and loneliness among older adults, using harmonized data from large aging cohort studies that encompass information from a wide range of high and low- and middle-income countries. This project is in collaboration with partners at Columbia University and Universidad Mayor (Chile).
Through receipt of a K99/R00 grant through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, this work investigates the effect of two social policies – domestic violence legislation and an unconditional cash transfer program – on intimate partner violence and the health of children under five years of age across a range of low- and middle-income countries. Historically, intimate partner violence prevention efforts have primarily focused on interventions that target individuals, households, or communities. The effect of broader societal factors, such as social policies, is not well understood. This research will help fill this evidence gap.
Specifically, this work will:
Evaluate the effect of adoption of national-level IPV prevention legislation in LMICs on changes in (1) maternal exposure to IPV, household decision-making, and beliefs about the acceptability of IPV, and (2) the health of children under 5 years of age, including uptake of vaccinations, impaired growth, and mortality.
Evaluate the effect of availability of a child support grant at the community (district) level in South Africa on changes in (1) IPV-related factors, including maternal household decision-making and perceived prevalence of IPV, and (2) the health of children under 5 years of age, including recent illness, caregiver-rated health status, and impaired growth.
Evaluate the effect of the degree of state-level implementation of IPV prevention legislation in India on (1) maternal household decision-making and freedom to travel outside the home, and (2) recent illness, uptake of vaccinations, impaired growth, and mortality among children under 5 years of age.