The Impact of Social Capital on Socioeconomic Condition of Ckdu Patients in Sri Lanka: An Empirical Investigation

Abstract

Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain aetiology (CKDu) has been the cause of devastation on patients, their families and the society alike in rural Sri Lanka. CKDu patients’ best hope for help lies in informal support of social mechanisms, due mainly to the absence of formal support mechanisms. Hence, this study attempted to explore how social capital affect the socio-economic condition of CKDu patients. Study mainly employed the survey method to gather data collected from 132 CKDu patients living in two villages in Rideemaliyadda. Data were collected using structural questionnaire having face-to-face interviews and analysed using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling. Results revealed that relational social capital (RSC) plays a dominant role on the improvement of socio-economic conditions of CKDu patients. RSC has a positive significant impact on the flow of information and resources, which facilitate to improve socio-economic condition of CKDu patients. However, structural social capital (SSC) has no significant impact on the flow of information and resources, which affect the socio-economic condition of CKDu patients. Thus, this study conclude that social capital, especially RSC has a significant impact on the flow of information and resources and thereby improve the socio-economic condition of the CKDu patients in Sri Lanka.

Identification of Social and Occupational Risk Factors Associated with CKDu Patients in an Agricultural Community in Kebithigollewa, Sri Lanka

“…The personal life of a person, family, education and work are greatly interconnected to each other that each will inherently in uence the other and such these socioeconomic conditions are required in maintenance of a minimum living condition. Hence, the socioeconomic status of a person is best represented by education, occupation and income (Premadasa, Priyanath and Walpita, 2020). For example, lacking of proper education will prevent a person being able to have a job with less labour and high income, leading to poverty and unhealthy life (Kumarasinghe et al, 2019).…”

“…The research is focused on the least studied socioeconomic aspect of CKDu in Sri Lanka (Premadasa, Priyanath and Walpita, 2020) with the main aim to identify the social and occupational risk factors associated with CKDu patients living in an agricultural community in Kebithigollawa, which is a village in the highest CKDu prevalent NCP's Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. Since CKDu has become a major health burden of the country, this research would be important in identifying risk factors associated with the disease and would be supportive for the ongoing researches on CKDu.…”

Identification of Social and Occupational Risk Factors Associated with CKDu (Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology) Patients Living in an Agricultural Community in Kebithigollewa, Sri Lanka

“…The personal life of a person, family, education and work are greatly interconnected to each other that each will inherently influence the other and such these socioeconomic conditions are required in maintenance of a minimum living condition. Hence, the socioeconomic status of a person is best represented by education, occupation and income [20]. For example, lacking of proper education will prevent a person being able to have a job with less labour and high income, leading to poverty and unhealthy life [13].…”

“…The research is focused on the least studied socioeconomic aspect of CKDu in Sri Lanka [20] with the main aim to identify the social and occupational risk factors associated with CKDu patients living in an agricultural community in Kebithigollawa, which is a village in the highest CKDu prevalent NCP's Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. Since CKDu has become a major health burden of the country, this research would be important in identifying risk factors associated with the disease and would be supportive for the ongoing researches on CKDu.…”

Synergic Origin and Evolution of TDS, Mg and Fluoride in Groundwater as Relative to Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka

“…Over past few decades, multidisciplinary research studies were carried out focusing on environmental [3,15], genetic [16], occupational, and socio-economic [2,3,17] disciplines to discover the possible risk factors for CKDu. Unfortunately, none of the risk factors alone could logically explain the existence of the disease.…”