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Abstract: The prevalence of use of modern contraceptive has remained persistently low in Nigeria despite huge investments aimed at accelerated progress. Studies have indicated the existence of north-south divide in usage but the analysis at state levels conceals local variations since each Nigerian state is made of people holding different cultural and religious ideologies that shape their behaviour. We undertake a spatio-temporal mapping, at continuous spatial scale, of the prevalence of use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in Nigeria using data from four waves of the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (2003, 2013, 2018) with a view of identifying the prevalence across smaller spatial units of the country. We also compute the exceedance probability maps at different threshold values. The findings indicate that by 2003, the majority of locations in northern part of the country have lower chances of exceeding 10% prevalence but by 2018, the highest prevalence in any small area within the country revolves around 50% with the prevalence exceeding 10% in many locations, extending to places in northern part of the country hitherto with low prevalence. The findings could guide in the allocation of scare resource and to compare performance across space and over time. PubDate: 2023-06-01
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Abstract: One of the more significant challenges toward achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is in overcoming the resistance of other members in the community, especially men, to social change. So often, men have stood as the gatekeepers of such change as they hold positions of authority and control over both public and domestic spaces. Men therefore have abundant influence on gender norms, and by extension on the measure of success of a women’s empowerment intervention. Unfortunately, conventional program strategies have not accounted for men’s support or rejection of new social behaviors, nor included mechanisms to inspire positive changes in men as well as empower women. This is largely because there is a lack of research on how men perceive women’s empowerment, how these perceptions form, and the factors that influence a decision-making calculus in determining whether or not men will support such social changes. This paper takes up this issue and presents the findings of a descriptive phenomenological study of the experiences of men whose wives recently graduated from a women’s empowerment project. The structure of their experience is explored using phenomenological analysis methods, and a set of important themes are defined that can be used to improve future interventions in a similar context. Notable themes identified include men’s ability to acknowledge injustices faced by women and the level of understanding of and beliefs around women's role in society. This approach is a promising practice that can serve other contexts where similar challenges are faced. PubDate: 2023-06-01
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Abstract: Purpose The rates of family and domestic violence (FDV) remain significantly high in Australia, and to address this, we need to ensure that victim-survivors of FDV are at the centre of these efforts. The research objective was to determine priority issues for future research and policy in FDV as determined by victim-survivors of FDV, providers of FDV services and informal support people. Methods A survey was made available online and a recruitment email sent out to FDV service providers, victim-survivor support groups and professional networks for the survey recruitment of victim-survivors, informal support people and workers within FDV services. Survey questions asked for demographic information and an open-ended question to identify priority issues for research and translation in FDV. It was completed by 150 respondents in Western Australia with 70% identifying as victim-survivors and heavily biased towards women (94%). Qualitative content analysis was utilised to code participant responses into themed areas. Results A range of priority areas were identified for research and translation including non-physical abuse, justice system reforms, accommodation, mental health of victim-survivors, children’s health and wellbeing, education and prevention and perpetrator accountability. Conclusions Victim-survivors, FDV service providers and informal support people identified a number of priority issues for research and translation into policy and practice. It is essential that victim-survivors are given opportunities to provide their views, knowledge and recommendations to develop research agendas, policy, practice and strategies aimed at reducing FDV in the community. PubDate: 2023-06-01
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Abstract: Human thermal comfort representing the satisfaction of mind with ambient air conditions has significant effects on socioeconomic activities. Climate change is affecting thermal comfort conditions (TCCs) negatively. Therefore, it is important to estimate their past and future trends to take accurate measures for mitigation and adaptation efforts in especially urban areas. However, it is difficult to calculate TCCs for the future since they are the combined effect of several meteorological parameters on a person outdoor together with her/his own physiological characteristics, which must be evaluated individually. This study is aimed at determining the TCCs trends in the past compared to the present whilst estimating the future conditions using a new methodology in the case of Kayseri city in the Interior Anatolia Region of Turkey. As the result of the study, all the change trends considering temporal and spatial results show that thermal comfort conditions signal warmer and higher heat stress in the past and future trends. This means human thermal sensation ranges (e.g., very cold) have replaced with the next warmer range, and their spatial distribution in percentage has also changed towards warmer. Increase in the prevalence of unfavourable thermal comfort conditions causes the decrease in the liveability indicators in especially urban areas, including serious economic loses based on energy consumption, health care expenses, and efficiency of activities. It is required that both past and expected future trends be considered in the planning and design works to make cities resilient and have higher adaptive capacity to climate change. PubDate: 2023-05-25
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Abstract: Background The prevalence of anemia among children in India has increased by 8.5% from 2015–2016 to 2019–2021. This study examines the district-wise spatiotemporal distribution of anemia among children in India and also emphasizes the association of childhood anemia with maternal socio-demographic and health characteristics and nutritional dietary intake behaviors. Methods Data were extracted from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey, held in 2019–2021. A total of 183,855 children were included in this present study. Description of data, the test of association, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to find out the association. Thematic maps and appropriate cartographic techniques were used to illustrate the state-wise and district-wise prevalence of anemia in children. Result The spatial distribution of anemic children shows that the highest prevalence of anemia in children was found in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, while the least prevalence was recorded in Meghalaya and Kerala. Mothers who did not have the habit of consuming fruits (AOR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.05–1.26; P < 0.001) and fish (AOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.15–1.21; P < 0.001) were more likely to give birth to anemic children than mothers who consumed occasionally. Higher odds of anemic children were found among mothers who habitually consumed soft drinks (AOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06–1.19; P < 0.001). Conclusion The findings suggest that a priority-based comprehensive health program should be implemented to reduce the prevalence of childhood anemia, with a focus on states with higher prevalence rates such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab. Several measures should be adopted, including conducting education and awareness campaigns to educate mothers about the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet. PubDate: 2023-05-23
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Abstract: This study aims to quantify the impact of mobile money services on financial inclusion, focusing on EVC-PLUS services in Somalia. Access, quality, usage, and welfare of financial services are measured in financial inclusion. A sample of 385 respondents was examined, and regression methods were employed to estimate the model parameters. The strength and stability of the model are examined to confirm the ability of the model to estimate the relationship between mobile money and the financial inclusion. This study discovered that mobile money directly and positively impacts financial inclusion in Somalia. Access, quality, usage, and welfare indicators are positively and substantially associated with financial inclusion. Mobile money facilitates access to bank accounts and enhances the quality of financial services, including savings mechanisms and loan availability. EVC-PLUS further enhanced the usability of the financial service by enabling its customers to access banking services at convenient times and regularly. The study found that mobile money usage reduced the gender gap, where women have the same financial inclusion privileges as men. This paper suggests that government institutions should adopt a policy framework encouraging financial inclusion through mobile money services. PubDate: 2023-05-13
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Abstract: Objective The prevalence of low cognitive ability among older adults is a growing concern worldwide, particularly in developing countries like India. This study intended to examine the complex relationship between social capital and relevant factors affecting cognitive impairment among older adults in India using data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) conducted in 2017–2018. Methods The LASI dataset included a nationally representative sample of 65,562 older adults aged 45 years and above. Cognitive health was measured using cognitive impairment index (CII), derived from the Michigan University of Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out to analyze the association between social capital and the decline of cognitive abilities. Additionally, dominance analysis was used to quantify the contribution of selected factors to cognitive impairment. Results The overall prevalence of low cognitive ability was 5.6% in the 45–59 age group and 15.0% in the 60 + age group. Individuals living with spouses have a higher social capital. The overall prevalence of cognitive impairment was higher in older adults aged 60 + . Further results showed that increased social capital reduces the risk of cognitive impairment. However, the dominance analysis showed that social capital had the highest contribution to the total explained variation for both age groups. Conclusion The findings of this study revealed the significant contribution of social capital on cognitive decline among individuals aged 45 years and above. Our study presents evidence-based results advocating a positive sense of social capital, healthy living arrangements, and physical activeness among older adults in India for better cognitive health. Further longitudinal research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms of this association for better management of cognitive impairments. PubDate: 2023-05-12
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Abstract: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of India is one of the most extensive social safety nets programs in the developing world. The initiative attempts to enhance rural livelihoods in India by lowering rural poor vulnerability and misery. The program’s nature and extent of execution vary from state to state. Using panel data sets from the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS), which covering India for two waves, 2004–05 and 2011–12. We used a quasi-experimental approach, such as the difference-in-difference technique of effect evaluation, to quantify the program’s influence on rural families’ credit and debt structures. The empirical analysis shows evidence of changing the behavior of taking loans from formal sources among non-poor households actively participating in the MGNREGA program. But the difference-in-difference results shows that among poor households participating in the MGNREGA scheme, the tendency to depend on formal sources to take loans is still insignificant. That means informal lending sources are still more prevalent among poor people. This tendency has not changed even after the initiation of this program. The article finishes with policy recommendations for successfully targeting the program, notably the social safety net benefits to disadvantaged households in India. PubDate: 2023-05-09
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Abstract: The promotion of cash crop production to address food insecurity and hunger presents one of the main agenda in developing countries. This paper sought to examine whether sugarcane cultivation improves food security among smallholder sugarcane growers in Kilombero, Tanzania. The study recruited 186 smallholder sugarcane out-growers from two villages, namely, Kitete and Kidogobasi. An instrument variable estimation technique was applied to examine the role of sugarcane farming in improving food security. The results show that income from sugarcane cultivation does not improve food security among smallholder sugarcane out-growers in the study area. Similarly, household food insecurity was at 18.3% prevalence among sugarcane out-growers, while 20.43% of the entire sugarcane out-growers experienced severe food insecurity. The paper recommends for policies and agriculture initiatives to encourage the use of mixed agriculture practices under which the smallholder farmers cultivate both food and cash crops to reduce household food shortage and improve their welfare. PubDate: 2023-05-08
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Abstract: Background and Objective In 2011, nearly half of the households in India had not accessed drinking water sources in their household premises. In this context, the question arises: who is playing an important role (a male or female household member) in fetching drinking water in those households where the availability of drinking water is inadequate' Is there any gender difference in this practice' Against this backdrop, the study aims to outline the proportion of households from various sociodemographic, economic, and regional backgrounds where women are playing the main role of collecting water. The study also focuses on identifying the backgrounds determining the role of women as household water collectors in India. Methodology We used the 69th round of NSS (National Sample Survey 2012) data for this study. We employed the chi-square test to access the heterogeneity in the proportion of households where women are responsible for water collection among different sociodemographic, community-level, and regional backgrounds. Besides, we used a binary logistic regression model to outline the impact of different backgrounds on women’s responsibility for collecting drinking water in India. Results The results showed women fetch drinking water in more than 80% of the households that did not have drinking water sources within their premises. We outlined the significant role of social groups, the education level of male household members, the principal occupation of the households, the distance to the drinking water sources, the household head’s gender, land ownership, and place of residence as the determinants of this responsibility of women in India. Conclusion We propose constructing the necessary infrastructure to ensure that everyone has access to safe drinking water. This will not only reduce the issues of the water crisis (SDG 06) and the enormous burden in Indian women (SDG 5). PubDate: 2023-04-28
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Abstract: This study examines the inequality-well-being nexus in 66 developing countries spanning from 2006 to 2017. Well-being is approached through the subjective well-being perspective, while inequality is considered in terms of differences in income distribution. The findings obtained using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and the IV-Tobit strategies reveal that inequality proxied by the Gini index, the Palma ratio and the Atkinson ratio, hurts subjective well-being proxied by the Life Ladder index. The findings of the study suggest policymakers should formulate policies that will help reduce income inequality to improve the well-being of the citizens. This is in line with the setting of international policy objectives toward the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at reducing extreme poverty and inequality. One way of achieving this is through the creation of decent employment for all. PubDate: 2023-04-13
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Abstract: Background Violence against women is a public priority issue for epidemiological and public health sciences. Severe consequences of violence affect the quality of life of women victims. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact in the quality of life of the strengthening group in women victims of intimate partner violence who attend a reference violence center in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. Method Quasi-experimental before and after the study was designed. The danger assessment and WHOQOL-BREF scales were applied at admission, after 3 and 6 months. Descriptive and statistical analysis of the variables was carried out to verify the difference between the measurements in the quality of life domains. Results Seventy-eight victims of intimate partner violence participated in the study. The most prevalent violence was psychological (96.2%), physical (79.5%), and moral (67.7%). Three months after participating in the strengthening group, there was an improvement in the 4 domains of quality of life, significantly in the psychological ( \(p = 0.032\) ) and physical ( \(p = 0.006\) ) domains. More than half of the participants were classified at the extreme level of risk of femicide (51.3%). The study was stopped early because of the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion With the available data collected, the strengthening group proved to be a strategy that positively impacts the quality of life of women victims of intimate partner violence. PubDate: 2023-04-10
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Abstract: In large food establishments, food is handled by many individuals, thereby increasing the chances of contamination leading to foodborne illness. Foodborne illness is a major public health problem worldwide. Improper practice, a poor attitude, and a lack of knowledge by food handlers are its contributing factors. The purpose of this study was to assess food handlers’ knowledge, attitude, and practice of food safety, as well as the microbiological quality of food served in food service establishments in Mohoni District, Southern Tigray, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 343 randomly selected participants from January to May 2020. Data were collected through an interviewer-administered, pretested questionnaire and through observation. The quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science Software Version 25. Furthermore; forty-one (41) food samples were aseptically collected from 10% of the total food establishments included in the present study and tested for their microbiological quality. Food handlers had a good level of knowledge (73.8%) and a positive attitude (64.4%) but poor hygienic practices (57.7%). Sex (AOR = 3.812, 95% CI = 2.184–6.6530), secondary education (AOR = 4.472, 95% CI = 1.318–17.053), and diploma and above levels (AOR = 8.672, 95% CI = 2.239–33.592) were associated with the knowledge of study participants toward food safety. Work experience of at least 4 years (AOR = 2.094, CI = 1.286–3.409) was also significantly associated with food handlers’ attitudes toward food safety. There were significant associations between sex (AOR = 6.477, 95% CI = 3.692–11.362), marital status (AOR = 0.257, 95% CI = 0.085–0.773), secondary education level (AOR = 4.947, 95% CI = 1.108–22.086), and diploma and higher education level (AOR = 13.126, 95% CI = 2.799–61.567), and the level of food handling practices. Furthermore, the microbial count of food samples was generally higher than the permissible limits of food safety standards. Food handlers’ food safety knowledge and attitude did not result in good food safety practices, which resulted in unacceptable food quality. Thus, due attention should be given to improve food handling practices through regular supervision of the food establishments and providing continuous training for food service employees. PubDate: 2023-03-30 DOI: 10.1007/s40609-023-00284-9
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Abstract: In response to a series of social policies on child development, this paper investigates the following research questions: first of all, how do sports’ activity and frequency affect children’s nutrient intake' Secondly, how do dietary habits such as having soft drinks and fast-food affect nutrient intake' How do the intakes of fruit and vegetables affect nutrient intake' Thirdly, how do sports and dietary habits affect children’s nutrient intake if other key factors are being controlled such as age, gender, regions, household income and parents’ educational levels' This paper is going to address the above research questions by analysing the China Health and Nutrition Survey Dataset and the multivariate regression method is used to investigate relationships between different variables. Firstly, our results show participation in sports significantly increases children’s intake of energy, fat and protein and higher frequency in sports significantly benefit children’s energy and fat intake. This indicates the benefit of sports and physical exercise for children’s nutrient intake and growth. It is a necessity to encourage children to have more sports activity. Secondly, the results show the significant effects of dietary habits on children’s energy, carbohydrate and fat intake. It is healthier for the obese children to reduce soft drink and fast food consumption and frequently eat fruit and vegetables in order to reduce calories’ intake and stay normal weight. In addition, our results show that children from poor households are less likely to have enough nutrient intake compared with the rich children. Compared with the urban children, rural children are also the disadvantaged group in nutrient intake. This finding again shows the importance of helping the disadvantaged children to acquire more nutrients for their healthy development. PubDate: 2023-03-29 DOI: 10.1007/s40609-023-00285-8
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Abstract: Background Girls in their adolescence confront various obstacles regarding menstruation and its effective management. Because of the lack of space and sanitary conditions, adolescent girls living in slums are unable to menstruate and communicate their issues. These circumstances are worsened by societal beliefs, stigmas around menstruation, and discriminatory social standards. Owing to growing concerns, the menstrual hygiene practices and awareness of adolescent girls in the slums of Siliguri city are being evaluated. Methods A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was carried out. Five hundred fifty slum-dwelling adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 19 years were surveyed using multistage random sampling. Bivariate and multivariate logistic analyses were conducted in order to identify the variables responsible for poor menstrual hygiene practices. In the multivariable model, factors with P values of less than 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were included for additional examination. In the final model, a P value less than 0.05 was used as the basis for identifying characteristics that, with 95% confidence, had a statistically significant link with poor menstrual hygiene practices. Findings 77.09% of adolescent girls in the slums of Siliguri city reported having dysmenorrhoea, and 58.55% of girls had irregular menstrual cycles, while 68.73% of them reported a general lack of knowledge regarding sources of menstrual bleeding and 51.09% and 50.18% forbidden from touching others and going into kitchens, respectively, while menstruating. 34.73% of adolescent girls avoided using sanitary pads, and 25.64% used handmade absorbents, while 39.64% used commercially manufactured sanitary pads. 64.91% used water and soap to wash their external genitalia. Only 37.64% of girls disposed their used pads in the dustbin. In general, 61.45% of females were found to maintain poor menstruation hygiene with 95% CL. Conclusion The result of the present study highlights that adolescent girls’ menstrual hygiene behaviours and knowledge about menstruation are positively associated. PubDate: 2023-03-28 DOI: 10.1007/s40609-023-00281-y
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Abstract: In the post-poverty eradication era, it is still important to increase the monitoring of urban and rural residents’ poverty status and succession of poverty alleviation and protection policies. Taking social capital as the entry point, this paper uses the 2018 CFPS database to study the impact of social capital on household poverty, urban–rural heterogeneity, and the moderating effect of economic development, in order to provide a policy reference for further consolidating the results of poverty eradication. The results find that social capital can significantly reduce the probability of household poverty, and the poverty reduction effect on urban households is greater than that on rural households, while the level of economic development has a significant moderating effect on the reduction of relative poverty by social capital. The higher the level of economic development, the stronger the effect of social capital on the reduction of relative poverty of households. Accordingly, this paper proposes to play a leading role of the government, tilt infrastructure resources to rural and central and western regions, cultivate public spirit of urban residents, and create a favorable social media environment to increase social capital of urban and rural households; build official employment service platforms, actively cooperate with third parties, promote information sharing, and broaden employment channels for residents; and develop the economy and make a bigger “cake” to promote the role of social capital in poverty reduction. PubDate: 2023-03-21 DOI: 10.1007/s40609-023-00269-8
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Abstract: The research explored the lived experiences of low-income single mothers, to understand the psychosocial life course pathways that might expose them to chains of risks. Studies have found a high prevalence of co-occurring poverty, single parenthood, unemployment, violence, and multiple life traumas among rural unmarried women. It is important to explore how single mothers are vulnerable to poverty and its many effects and how these factors heighten adverse experiences of unmarried rural women. Fifteen low-income unmarried Botswana mothers were purposively sampled. A narrative approach was used to collect data, allowing participants to share detailed lived experiences from childhood to adulthood. The study used a life course framework to explore the lived experiences, transitions, events, and trajectories of the women’s lives. Women’s narratives conveyed exposure to emotional, physical abuse and neglect in childhood; teenage pregnancy and the poverty connection; exposure to intimate partner violence; and multiple pregnancies and promised and suspended marriage. The study suggests that several life events and experiences have negatively influenced and skewed transitions and trajectories in the lives of low-income women. There is need for establishment of family policy and safety net programmes to cater for low-income mothers’ families. PubDate: 2023-03-11 DOI: 10.1007/s40609-023-00273-y
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Abstract: Empowering rural women is key to sustainable development. Despite substantial research, the existing indices are incomplete and context-specific to measure women’s empowerment. This study aims to develop a comprehensive rural women’s composite empowerment index (RWCEI) and determine individual, household, and community-level factors of RWCEI by using data from 1881 women from the 2013–2014 Pakistan Rural Household Panel Survey. Factor analysis was used to develop RWCEI from nine domains, fourteen sub-domains, and eighty-nine indicators. In the sample, rural women were empowered in free mobility, no domestic violence, and time allocation, while disempowered in education, awareness, and economic domains. Results of multi-level mixed effects ordered logistic regression revealed that the highly empowered status of a rural woman was mainly determined by access to credit, marital status, exposure to mass media, employment, and educated community. Empirical findings suggest a multi-dimensional policy approach focusing on improving all dimensions of women’s empowerment, especially economic independence, and educational attainment. PubDate: 2023-03-09 DOI: 10.1007/s40609-023-00275-w
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