Journal of cross-cultural gerontology, Jan 15, 2016
The rapid growth of the older population in India draws attention to the factors that contribute ... more The rapid growth of the older population in India draws attention to the factors that contribute to their changing health realities. However, there has hardly been any study in India that has looked at the effects of specific social networks with children, relatives, friends and confidant on depression among older adults. The objective of the study is to investigate the association between social network and depression among the rural elderly. The study population comprised over 630 older adults (aged 60 and above) from the rural areas of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. We adopted Berkman's theoretical model of the impact of social relations on depression among the elderly in the Indian context. Results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) demonstrated that the four specific social network types: children, relatives, friends and confidant were tenable. The results showed that a better social network with 'friends/neighbours' was protective against depression among the rura...
Exclusive breastfeeding up to six months is considered to be beneficial for the health and wellbe... more Exclusive breastfeeding up to six months is considered to be beneficial for the health and wellbeing of infants and mothers. To guide policy makers in the development of targeted breastfeeding promotion strategies, changes in the effect of predictor variables on exclusive breastfeeding practices in India were examined. Data from two rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) carried out in India during 1992-93 (NFHS-1), and 2005-06 (NFHS-3) were analysed. A total of 34,176 and 25,459 births under three years of age in NFHS-1 and NFHS-3 respectively comprised the sample. Exclusive breastfeeding was defined as infants zero to five months of age who received only breast milk in previous 24Â h. The practice of exclusive breastfeeding was examined at different ages (1, 4 and 6Â months) against a set of predictor variables using bivariate and multinomial logistic regression in conjunction with the multiple classification analysis. Overall 46.3 per cent and 48.6 per cent of infants u...
The level of infant and child mortality is high among Scheduled Tribes particularly those living ... more The level of infant and child mortality is high among Scheduled Tribes particularly those living in rural areas. This study examines levels, trends and socio-demographic factors associated with infant and child mortality among Scheduled Tribes in rural areas. Data from the three rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) of India from 1992 to 2006 were analysed to assess the levels and trends of infant and child mortality. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were used to understand the socio-economic and demographic factors associated with mortality during 1992-2006. Significant change was observed in infant and child mortality over the time period from 1992-2006 among Scheduled Tribes in rural areas. After controlling for other factors, birth interval, household wealth, and region were found to be significantly associated with infant and child mortality. Hazard of infant mortality was highest among births to mothers aged 30 yr or more (HR=1.3, 95% CI=1...
The purpose of this study is to examine gender difference in self-rated health among older popula... more The purpose of this study is to examine gender difference in self-rated health among older population in India. Data from the 60th round of National Sample Survey Organization on 34,831 older persons are used. The present study measured self-rated health categorized as "poor" and "good." We used bivariate and binary logistic regression model to investigate differences and factors that best explain and predict the self-rated health among older persons. Results show that poor self-rated health was more common among women than men. Furthermore, the poor self-rated health was higher among Muslims, Scheduled Castes, and women residing in rural areas. Findings suggest a clear need for gender-sensitive health interventions.
Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 is one of the best studied cyanobacteria and an important model organis... more Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 is one of the best studied cyanobacteria and an important model organism for our understanding of photosynthesis. The early availability of its complete genome sequence initiated numerous transcriptome studies, which have generated a wealth of expression data. Analysis of the accumulated data can be a powerful tool to study transcription in a comprehensive manner and to reveal underlying regulatory mechanisms, as well as to annotate genes whose functions are yet unknown. However, use of divergent microarray platforms, as well as distributed data storage make meta-analyses of Synechocystis expression data highly challenging, especially for researchers with limited bioinformatic expertise and resources. To facilitate utilisation of the accumulated expression data for a wider research community, we have developed CyanoEXpress, a web database for interactive exploration and visualisation of transcriptional response patterns in Synechocystis. CyanoEXpress currently comprises expression data for 3073 genes and 178 environmental and genetic perturbations obtained in 31 independent studies. At present, CyanoEXpress constitutes the most comprehensive collection of expression data available for Synechocystis and can be freely accessed.
Background: An ongoing social catastrophe of very poor performance in maternal health coupled wit... more Background: An ongoing social catastrophe of very poor performance in maternal health coupled with an unacceptably high number of maternal deaths is evident in Nigeria, especially among adolescent women. This study examines the factors associated with selected maternity servicesdmarried adolescent women who have had at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits, those who have undergone safe delivery care, and those who received postnatal care within 42 days of delivery. Methods: Data from Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 2008, were used. An eligible sample of 2,434 married adolescent (aged 15-19 years) women was included in the analysis. Pearson chi-square test and binary logistic regression were performed to fulfill the study objective. Results: It was found that about 35% of adolescent women had at least four ANC visits, a little over 25% had undergone safe delivery care, and nearly 32% received postnatal care within 42 days of delivery. Women's education, husband's education, wealth quintile, and region of residence were documented as the most important factors associated with maternal healthcare service utilization. The ANC visit was found to be vital in the utilization of safe delivery and postnatal care. Conclusion: Findings indicate that programs to improve maternal healthcare have not succeeded in overcoming the socioeconomic obstacles in the way of adolescents' utilizing maternity services. In the long run, the content and service delivery strategy of maternity programs must be designed in keeping with the socioeconomic context with special attention to adolescent women who are uneducated, poor, and residing in rural areas.
Background: Coupled with the largest number of maternal deaths, adolescent pregnancy in India has... more Background: Coupled with the largest number of maternal deaths, adolescent pregnancy in India has received paramount importance due to early age at marriage and low contraceptive use. The factors associated with the utilization of maternal healthcare services among married adolescents in rural India are poorly discussed.
Background: India, with a population of more than 1.21 billion, has the highest maternal mortalit... more Background: India, with a population of more than 1.21 billion, has the highest maternal mortality in the world (estimated to be 56000 in 2010); and adolescent (aged 15-19) mortality shares 9% of total maternal deaths. Addressing the maternity care needs of adolescents may have considerable ramifications for achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG)-5. This paper assesses the socioeconomic differentials in accessing full antenatal care and professional attendance at delivery by adolescent mothers (aged 15-19) in India during 1990India during -2006 Methods and Findings: Data from three rounds of the National Family Health Survey of India conducted during 1992-93, 1998-99, and 2005-06 were analyzed. The Cochran-Armitage and Chi-squared test for linear and non-linear time trends were applied, respectively, to understand the trend in the proportion of adolescent mothers utilizing select maternity care services during 1990-2006. Using pooled multivariate logistic regression models, the probability of select maternal healthcare utilization among women by key socioeconomic characteristics was appraised. After adjusting for potential socio-demographic and economic characteristics, the likelihood of adolescents accessing full antenatal care increased by only 4% from 1990 to 2006. However, the probability of adolescent women availing themselves of professional attendance at delivery increased by 79% during the same period. The study also highlights the desolate disparities in maternity care services among adolescents across the most and the least favoured groups.
Background: Although the urban health issue has been of long-standing interest to public health r... more Background: Although the urban health issue has been of long-standing interest to public health researchers, majority of the studies have looked upon the urban poor and migrants as distinct subgroups. Another concern is, whether being poor and at the same time migrant leads to a double disadvantage in the utilization of maternal health services? This study aims to examine the trends and factors that affect safe delivery care utilization among the migrants and the poor in urban India.
Despite high rates of early childbearing, maternal mortality, and under-five mortality, little is... more Despite high rates of early childbearing, maternal mortality, and under-five mortality, little is known about factors that affect access of teenage mothers to maternal and child health (MCH) services in Niger. This paper explores potential factors associated with the utilization of MCH care services by adolescent mothers. Using the third wave of the Niger demographic and health survey (NDHS) 2006, we estimate three multivariate logistic regression models to assess individual characteristics associated with the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and safe delivery care services among adolescent women, as well as full immunization received by children born to adolescent mothers. The analytical sample includes 934 adolescent mothers out of 1,835 respondents aged 15-19, and within this group, 493 mother-child dyads for children aged 12-59 months. Possessing any level of education was found associated with the increased use of all three selected MCH services, while urban residence and higher income were associated with the increased use of two of three MCH services studied. Higher birth order plus a birth interval more than 2 years for the most recent birth appeared associated with the lower probability of antenatal care visits and safe delivery care. This study finds that women who attended at least four ANC visits were more likely to experience safe delivery care, and the children whose mothers had safe delivery care were more likely to receive full immunization. Therefore, an effective program should be designed to promote a continuum of MCH care with special attention to adolescent women who are uneducated, poor and residing in rural areas.
Aim This study examines the factors associated with the utilisation of maternal healthcare servic... more Aim This study examines the factors associated with the utilisation of maternal healthcare services by married adolescent women in the age group 15-19. Subjects and methods Using the nationally representative cross-sectional data from the fourth wave of Mali Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS), 2006, the present study tries to demonstrate the factors associated with the indicators of maternal healthcare service utilisation among women who had the experience of childbirth in their adolescence (age 15-19) during the 5 years preceding the survey date. Three indicators were measured: adolescent women who had at least four antenatal care visits, those who had undergone safe delivery care, and those who had received post natal care after delivery. Bivariate analyses including chisquare tests to determine the difference in proportion, and logistical models to understand the net effect of explanatory variables on selected outcomes were applied. Results Results show the poor performance in maternal healthcare utilisation in Mali. Factors such as women's education, husband's education, women's personal barrier index, mass media exposure, place of residence and previous delivery services used appeared to be the most significant factors associated with the utilisation of maternity services by Malian adolescents. Conclusion The present study indicates that a strong community based campaign is necessary to raise awareness about the adverse effects of early marriage and childbearing. It is important to tailor programs to meet the unique needs of the varied teen populations and take into consideration how the family environment and relationships influence decision making about sex, contraception and childbearing.
The consequences of pre-marital sex have been the subject of common concern for the public health... more The consequences of pre-marital sex have been the subject of common concern for the public health professionals and policy makers. In India, despite strict societal sanctions, the prevalence of pre-marital sex has been repeatedly documented across literatures. It is ...
The increased reach of health programs in India during the past few decades has contributed to a ... more The increased reach of health programs in India during the past few decades has contributed to a decline in postnatal mortality including infant and child mortality; however, reduction in neonatal mortality remained negligible. About seven out of ten neonatal deaths take place within a week after birth. The progress in reduction as well as dimension along which early neonatal mortality is patterned in India remains unclear. We examine the trend in early neonatal mortality and its possible demographic and socioeconomic predictors using nationally representative data. Data from the three cross-sectional rounds of the National Family Health Survey of India from 1992 to 1993, 1998 to 1999 and 2005 to 2006 were analyzed. Early neonatal mortality rate was estimated for selected demographic and socioeconomic population groups and for major states in India using information on births and deaths during the 3 years preceding the respective surveys. Using the multivariate logistic regression model, we assessed proximate determinants of early neonatal deaths during 1990-2006. Sex of the child, child's birth size, birth order and interval, type of child's birth, mother's age at child's birth, mother's educational status, religion, household economic status and region of residence emerged as significant predictors of early neonatal deaths. The adjusted multivariate analysis indicates that majority of the socio-demographic predictors reveal a negligible decline in the probability of early neonatal deaths during 1990-2006. Moreover, based on comprehensive reviews of scientific literature on…
This study examines the association between age cohort and utilization of maternal health care se... more This study examines the association between age cohort and utilization of maternal health care services in India, before and after adjusting for individual, household and contextual factors. Using data from the Demographic and Health Survey 2005-06, women were classified into three distinct age cohorts based on their age at childbirth: 15-24, 25-34 and 35-49 years. Binary logistic regression models were applied to assess the influence of women's age cohort on receiving full antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth attendance (SBA). The analytical sample included the women who delivered their most recent birth at any time in the 5 years preceding the survey. Women belonging to the younger age cohort were found to be disadvantaged in receiving full ANC, whereas increasing age of women was negatively associated with receiving SBA. Low level of education, low mass media exposure, low autonomy, belonging to deprived social groups, poor economic status and residence in the central region were found to be major constraining factors in receiving full ANC and SBA for women in India. The findings support the need for 'age-sensitive' interventions that tailor programmes and incentives to women's health care needs through the reproductive life-stage. Urgent efforts are needed to ensure that women who are illiterate and those belonging to low autonomy and low socioeconomic groups receive the recommended maternal health care benefits.
This study explores the prevalence and factors associated with the utilization of maternal and ch... more This study explores the prevalence and factors associated with the utilization of maternal and child health care services among married adolescent women in India using the third round of the National Family Health Survey (2005-06). The findings suggest that the utilization of maternal and child health care services among adolescent women is far from satisfactory in India. A little over 10% of adolescent women utilized antenatal care, about 50% utilized safe delivery services and about 41% of the children of adolescent women received full immunization. Large differences by urban-rural residence, educational attainment, religion, economic status and region were evident. Both gross effect and fixed effect binary logit models yielded statistically significant socioeconomic and demographic factors. Women's education, wealth quintile and region are the most important determinants for the utilization of maternal and child health care services. Health care programmes should focus more on educating adolescents, providing financial support, creating awareness and counselling households with married adolescent women. Moreover, there should be substantial financial assistance for the provision of delivery and child care for married women below the age of 19 years.
The poor maternal health care service utilization among adolescent women remains an intimidating ... more The poor maternal health care service utilization among adolescent women remains an intimidating challenge in Malawi. This study examines the factors associated with the utilization of selected maternal health care services among married adolescent women (aged 15-19 years) using data from the Malawi Demographic and Health Survey, 2010. Maternal age, household economic status, and status of the child were found to be significant factors associated with at least four antenatal care visits; whereas personal barriers, birth order and interval, religion, and ethnic group explain the variation in the utilization of postnatal care within 42 days of delivery.
Journal of cross-cultural gerontology, Jan 15, 2016
The rapid growth of the older population in India draws attention to the factors that contribute ... more The rapid growth of the older population in India draws attention to the factors that contribute to their changing health realities. However, there has hardly been any study in India that has looked at the effects of specific social networks with children, relatives, friends and confidant on depression among older adults. The objective of the study is to investigate the association between social network and depression among the rural elderly. The study population comprised over 630 older adults (aged 60 and above) from the rural areas of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. We adopted Berkman's theoretical model of the impact of social relations on depression among the elderly in the Indian context. Results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) demonstrated that the four specific social network types: children, relatives, friends and confidant were tenable. The results showed that a better social network with 'friends/neighbours' was protective against depression among the rura...
Exclusive breastfeeding up to six months is considered to be beneficial for the health and wellbe... more Exclusive breastfeeding up to six months is considered to be beneficial for the health and wellbeing of infants and mothers. To guide policy makers in the development of targeted breastfeeding promotion strategies, changes in the effect of predictor variables on exclusive breastfeeding practices in India were examined. Data from two rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) carried out in India during 1992-93 (NFHS-1), and 2005-06 (NFHS-3) were analysed. A total of 34,176 and 25,459 births under three years of age in NFHS-1 and NFHS-3 respectively comprised the sample. Exclusive breastfeeding was defined as infants zero to five months of age who received only breast milk in previous 24Â h. The practice of exclusive breastfeeding was examined at different ages (1, 4 and 6Â months) against a set of predictor variables using bivariate and multinomial logistic regression in conjunction with the multiple classification analysis. Overall 46.3 per cent and 48.6 per cent of infants u...
The level of infant and child mortality is high among Scheduled Tribes particularly those living ... more The level of infant and child mortality is high among Scheduled Tribes particularly those living in rural areas. This study examines levels, trends and socio-demographic factors associated with infant and child mortality among Scheduled Tribes in rural areas. Data from the three rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) of India from 1992 to 2006 were analysed to assess the levels and trends of infant and child mortality. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model were used to understand the socio-economic and demographic factors associated with mortality during 1992-2006. Significant change was observed in infant and child mortality over the time period from 1992-2006 among Scheduled Tribes in rural areas. After controlling for other factors, birth interval, household wealth, and region were found to be significantly associated with infant and child mortality. Hazard of infant mortality was highest among births to mothers aged 30 yr or more (HR=1.3, 95% CI=1...
The purpose of this study is to examine gender difference in self-rated health among older popula... more The purpose of this study is to examine gender difference in self-rated health among older population in India. Data from the 60th round of National Sample Survey Organization on 34,831 older persons are used. The present study measured self-rated health categorized as "poor" and "good." We used bivariate and binary logistic regression model to investigate differences and factors that best explain and predict the self-rated health among older persons. Results show that poor self-rated health was more common among women than men. Furthermore, the poor self-rated health was higher among Muslims, Scheduled Castes, and women residing in rural areas. Findings suggest a clear need for gender-sensitive health interventions.
Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 is one of the best studied cyanobacteria and an important model organis... more Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 is one of the best studied cyanobacteria and an important model organism for our understanding of photosynthesis. The early availability of its complete genome sequence initiated numerous transcriptome studies, which have generated a wealth of expression data. Analysis of the accumulated data can be a powerful tool to study transcription in a comprehensive manner and to reveal underlying regulatory mechanisms, as well as to annotate genes whose functions are yet unknown. However, use of divergent microarray platforms, as well as distributed data storage make meta-analyses of Synechocystis expression data highly challenging, especially for researchers with limited bioinformatic expertise and resources. To facilitate utilisation of the accumulated expression data for a wider research community, we have developed CyanoEXpress, a web database for interactive exploration and visualisation of transcriptional response patterns in Synechocystis. CyanoEXpress currently comprises expression data for 3073 genes and 178 environmental and genetic perturbations obtained in 31 independent studies. At present, CyanoEXpress constitutes the most comprehensive collection of expression data available for Synechocystis and can be freely accessed.
Background: An ongoing social catastrophe of very poor performance in maternal health coupled wit... more Background: An ongoing social catastrophe of very poor performance in maternal health coupled with an unacceptably high number of maternal deaths is evident in Nigeria, especially among adolescent women. This study examines the factors associated with selected maternity servicesdmarried adolescent women who have had at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits, those who have undergone safe delivery care, and those who received postnatal care within 42 days of delivery. Methods: Data from Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 2008, were used. An eligible sample of 2,434 married adolescent (aged 15-19 years) women was included in the analysis. Pearson chi-square test and binary logistic regression were performed to fulfill the study objective. Results: It was found that about 35% of adolescent women had at least four ANC visits, a little over 25% had undergone safe delivery care, and nearly 32% received postnatal care within 42 days of delivery. Women's education, husband's education, wealth quintile, and region of residence were documented as the most important factors associated with maternal healthcare service utilization. The ANC visit was found to be vital in the utilization of safe delivery and postnatal care. Conclusion: Findings indicate that programs to improve maternal healthcare have not succeeded in overcoming the socioeconomic obstacles in the way of adolescents' utilizing maternity services. In the long run, the content and service delivery strategy of maternity programs must be designed in keeping with the socioeconomic context with special attention to adolescent women who are uneducated, poor, and residing in rural areas.
Background: Coupled with the largest number of maternal deaths, adolescent pregnancy in India has... more Background: Coupled with the largest number of maternal deaths, adolescent pregnancy in India has received paramount importance due to early age at marriage and low contraceptive use. The factors associated with the utilization of maternal healthcare services among married adolescents in rural India are poorly discussed.
Background: India, with a population of more than 1.21 billion, has the highest maternal mortalit... more Background: India, with a population of more than 1.21 billion, has the highest maternal mortality in the world (estimated to be 56000 in 2010); and adolescent (aged 15-19) mortality shares 9% of total maternal deaths. Addressing the maternity care needs of adolescents may have considerable ramifications for achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG)-5. This paper assesses the socioeconomic differentials in accessing full antenatal care and professional attendance at delivery by adolescent mothers (aged 15-19) in India during 1990India during -2006 Methods and Findings: Data from three rounds of the National Family Health Survey of India conducted during 1992-93, 1998-99, and 2005-06 were analyzed. The Cochran-Armitage and Chi-squared test for linear and non-linear time trends were applied, respectively, to understand the trend in the proportion of adolescent mothers utilizing select maternity care services during 1990-2006. Using pooled multivariate logistic regression models, the probability of select maternal healthcare utilization among women by key socioeconomic characteristics was appraised. After adjusting for potential socio-demographic and economic characteristics, the likelihood of adolescents accessing full antenatal care increased by only 4% from 1990 to 2006. However, the probability of adolescent women availing themselves of professional attendance at delivery increased by 79% during the same period. The study also highlights the desolate disparities in maternity care services among adolescents across the most and the least favoured groups.
Background: Although the urban health issue has been of long-standing interest to public health r... more Background: Although the urban health issue has been of long-standing interest to public health researchers, majority of the studies have looked upon the urban poor and migrants as distinct subgroups. Another concern is, whether being poor and at the same time migrant leads to a double disadvantage in the utilization of maternal health services? This study aims to examine the trends and factors that affect safe delivery care utilization among the migrants and the poor in urban India.
Despite high rates of early childbearing, maternal mortality, and under-five mortality, little is... more Despite high rates of early childbearing, maternal mortality, and under-five mortality, little is known about factors that affect access of teenage mothers to maternal and child health (MCH) services in Niger. This paper explores potential factors associated with the utilization of MCH care services by adolescent mothers. Using the third wave of the Niger demographic and health survey (NDHS) 2006, we estimate three multivariate logistic regression models to assess individual characteristics associated with the utilization of antenatal care (ANC) and safe delivery care services among adolescent women, as well as full immunization received by children born to adolescent mothers. The analytical sample includes 934 adolescent mothers out of 1,835 respondents aged 15-19, and within this group, 493 mother-child dyads for children aged 12-59 months. Possessing any level of education was found associated with the increased use of all three selected MCH services, while urban residence and higher income were associated with the increased use of two of three MCH services studied. Higher birth order plus a birth interval more than 2 years for the most recent birth appeared associated with the lower probability of antenatal care visits and safe delivery care. This study finds that women who attended at least four ANC visits were more likely to experience safe delivery care, and the children whose mothers had safe delivery care were more likely to receive full immunization. Therefore, an effective program should be designed to promote a continuum of MCH care with special attention to adolescent women who are uneducated, poor and residing in rural areas.
Aim This study examines the factors associated with the utilisation of maternal healthcare servic... more Aim This study examines the factors associated with the utilisation of maternal healthcare services by married adolescent women in the age group 15-19. Subjects and methods Using the nationally representative cross-sectional data from the fourth wave of Mali Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS), 2006, the present study tries to demonstrate the factors associated with the indicators of maternal healthcare service utilisation among women who had the experience of childbirth in their adolescence (age 15-19) during the 5 years preceding the survey date. Three indicators were measured: adolescent women who had at least four antenatal care visits, those who had undergone safe delivery care, and those who had received post natal care after delivery. Bivariate analyses including chisquare tests to determine the difference in proportion, and logistical models to understand the net effect of explanatory variables on selected outcomes were applied. Results Results show the poor performance in maternal healthcare utilisation in Mali. Factors such as women's education, husband's education, women's personal barrier index, mass media exposure, place of residence and previous delivery services used appeared to be the most significant factors associated with the utilisation of maternity services by Malian adolescents. Conclusion The present study indicates that a strong community based campaign is necessary to raise awareness about the adverse effects of early marriage and childbearing. It is important to tailor programs to meet the unique needs of the varied teen populations and take into consideration how the family environment and relationships influence decision making about sex, contraception and childbearing.
The consequences of pre-marital sex have been the subject of common concern for the public health... more The consequences of pre-marital sex have been the subject of common concern for the public health professionals and policy makers. In India, despite strict societal sanctions, the prevalence of pre-marital sex has been repeatedly documented across literatures. It is ...
The increased reach of health programs in India during the past few decades has contributed to a ... more The increased reach of health programs in India during the past few decades has contributed to a decline in postnatal mortality including infant and child mortality; however, reduction in neonatal mortality remained negligible. About seven out of ten neonatal deaths take place within a week after birth. The progress in reduction as well as dimension along which early neonatal mortality is patterned in India remains unclear. We examine the trend in early neonatal mortality and its possible demographic and socioeconomic predictors using nationally representative data. Data from the three cross-sectional rounds of the National Family Health Survey of India from 1992 to 1993, 1998 to 1999 and 2005 to 2006 were analyzed. Early neonatal mortality rate was estimated for selected demographic and socioeconomic population groups and for major states in India using information on births and deaths during the 3 years preceding the respective surveys. Using the multivariate logistic regression model, we assessed proximate determinants of early neonatal deaths during 1990-2006. Sex of the child, child's birth size, birth order and interval, type of child's birth, mother's age at child's birth, mother's educational status, religion, household economic status and region of residence emerged as significant predictors of early neonatal deaths. The adjusted multivariate analysis indicates that majority of the socio-demographic predictors reveal a negligible decline in the probability of early neonatal deaths during 1990-2006. Moreover, based on comprehensive reviews of scientific literature on…
This study examines the association between age cohort and utilization of maternal health care se... more This study examines the association between age cohort and utilization of maternal health care services in India, before and after adjusting for individual, household and contextual factors. Using data from the Demographic and Health Survey 2005-06, women were classified into three distinct age cohorts based on their age at childbirth: 15-24, 25-34 and 35-49 years. Binary logistic regression models were applied to assess the influence of women's age cohort on receiving full antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth attendance (SBA). The analytical sample included the women who delivered their most recent birth at any time in the 5 years preceding the survey. Women belonging to the younger age cohort were found to be disadvantaged in receiving full ANC, whereas increasing age of women was negatively associated with receiving SBA. Low level of education, low mass media exposure, low autonomy, belonging to deprived social groups, poor economic status and residence in the central region were found to be major constraining factors in receiving full ANC and SBA for women in India. The findings support the need for 'age-sensitive' interventions that tailor programmes and incentives to women's health care needs through the reproductive life-stage. Urgent efforts are needed to ensure that women who are illiterate and those belonging to low autonomy and low socioeconomic groups receive the recommended maternal health care benefits.
This study explores the prevalence and factors associated with the utilization of maternal and ch... more This study explores the prevalence and factors associated with the utilization of maternal and child health care services among married adolescent women in India using the third round of the National Family Health Survey (2005-06). The findings suggest that the utilization of maternal and child health care services among adolescent women is far from satisfactory in India. A little over 10% of adolescent women utilized antenatal care, about 50% utilized safe delivery services and about 41% of the children of adolescent women received full immunization. Large differences by urban-rural residence, educational attainment, religion, economic status and region were evident. Both gross effect and fixed effect binary logit models yielded statistically significant socioeconomic and demographic factors. Women's education, wealth quintile and region are the most important determinants for the utilization of maternal and child health care services. Health care programmes should focus more on educating adolescents, providing financial support, creating awareness and counselling households with married adolescent women. Moreover, there should be substantial financial assistance for the provision of delivery and child care for married women below the age of 19 years.
The poor maternal health care service utilization among adolescent women remains an intimidating ... more The poor maternal health care service utilization among adolescent women remains an intimidating challenge in Malawi. This study examines the factors associated with the utilization of selected maternal health care services among married adolescent women (aged 15-19 years) using data from the Malawi Demographic and Health Survey, 2010. Maternal age, household economic status, and status of the child were found to be significant factors associated with at least four antenatal care visits; whereas personal barriers, birth order and interval, religion, and ethnic group explain the variation in the utilization of postnatal care within 42 days of delivery.
Uploads
Papers by Lucky Singh