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Background: Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years in Malawi, and especially among those from rural areas of central Malawi. The goal of this study was to examine the prevalence and determinants of malaria infection among children in rural areas of Dowa district in central Malawi. Methods: A multistage, cross-sectional study design was used to systematically sample 523 child-mother dyads from postnatal clinics. A survey was administered to mothers and a rapid malaria infection diagnostic test was administered to children. The main outcome was positive malaria diagnostic tests in children. Logistic regressions were used to determine risk factors associated with malaria among children aged 2 to 59 months. Results: The prevalence of malaria among children under 5 years was 35.4%. Results suggest that children of mothers who experienced recent intimate partner violence (IPV) were more likely to be diagnosed with malaria (AOR: 1.88, 95% CI 1.19-2.97; P = 0.007) than children of mothers who did not. Children of mothers who had no formal education were more likely to be diagnosed with malaria (AOR: 2.77, 95% CI 1.24-6.19; P = 0.013) than children of mothers who had received secondary education. Children aged 2 to 5 months and 6 to 11 months were less likely to be diagnosed with malaria (AOR: 0.21, 95% CI 0.10-0.46; P = 0.000 and AOR: 0.43; 95% CI 0.22-0.85; P = 0.016, respectively) than children aged 24 to 59 months. Conclusion: The prevalence of malaria infection among children in the study area was comparable to the national level. In addition to available malaria control programmes, further attention should be paid to children whose mothers have no formal education, children aged 24 to 59 months, and children of mothers that are exposed to IPV in the area.

In this study, we examined (1) the effect of changes in outstanding student debt on trajectories of subjective financial well-being (SFWB) over time and (2) how these trajectories vary according to family socioeconomic and emerging adult financial factors. We used three waves of longitudinal data from the Arizona Pathways to Life Success for University Students (APLUS) study and used growth curve models to analyze the data. Net of family socioeconomic and emerging adult financial factors, student debt was significantly and negatively associated with SFWB across the emerging adult period. Trajectories of SFWB varied slightly in relation to changes in student debt. Between-person differences in debt mattered more for trajectories of SFWB relative to within-person changes in debt over time. Family socioeconomic factors had a strong influence on SFWB trajectories. Findings illustrate how student debt may suppress postsecondary education’s impact as an inequality reducing mechanism. They also suggest the need for both individual- and policy-level intervention.

To understand the relationship between financial knowledge and financial behaviors, it is important to understand the financial knowledge gap -the distance between objectively and subjectively measured financial knowledge. Overestimating one's financial knowledge can lead to risky financial behaviors and economic vulnerability. To date, limited empirical work has examined how the gap between one's perception of their own financial knowledge and their actual knowledge varies across the life course. We analyze the size and nature of the financial knowledge gap and its variation across the life course. We use nationally representative data from the Canadian Financial Capability Survey (CFCS) and find robust evidence that older adults overestimate their financial knowledge. Social workers can assess the financial knowledge gap and inform and educate their clients to protect from financial fraud, exploitation, and, abuse.Furthermore, social workers can offer informational seminars, workshops, and financial planning and counseling sessions.

Background: Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children under five in Malawi. Children from rural areas of central Malawi have a high burden of malaria morbidity compared to other regions. The goal of this study was to examine the prevalence and determinants of malaria infection among children in rural areas of the Dowa district in central Malawi.Methods: A multistage cross-sectional study design was used to systematically sample 523 child‑mother dyads from postnatal clinics. A survey was administered to mothers to collect quantitative data, and rapid diagnostic tests were used to test for malaria infection in children. The main outcome was positive malaria diagnostic tests in children. Logistic regressions were used to determine risk factors associated with malaria among children aged 2 to 59 months.Results: The prevalence of malaria among children under five years was 35.4%. The results of the multivariate analyses showed that children of mothers who experienced recent intimate partner violence (IPV) were more likely to be diagnosed with malaria (AOR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.19–2.97; P = 0.007) than children of mothers who did not. Children of mothers who had no formal education were more likely to be diagnosed with malaria (AOR: 2.77, 95% CI: 1.24–6.19; P = 0.013) than children of mothers who had received secondary education. In addition, children in the age ranges of 2 to 5 months and 6 to 11 months were less likely to be diagnosed with malaria (AOR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.10–0.46; P = 0.000 and AOR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.22–0.85; P = 0.016, respectively) than children in the age range of 24 to 59 months. Conclusion: The study found that the prevalence of malaria infection among children in the study area was comparable to the national level. We propose that in addition to available malaria control programs, further attention should be paid to children whose mothers have no formal education, children aged 24 to 59 months and mothers that are exposed to IPV in the area.