J Biosoc Sci [JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Association between female genital mutilation and girl-child marriage in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ahinkorah BO, Hagan JE, Seidu AA … +6 more , Bolarinwa OA, Budu E, Adu C, Okyere J, Archer AG, Schack T
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 35129104 · Publisher ↗
Two commonly linked harmful practices that negatively impact the health of girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa, and threaten their development and quality of life, are female genital mutilation and girl-child marriage....
Two commonly linked harmful practices that negatively impact the health of girls and women in sub-Saharan Africa, and threaten their development and quality of life, are female genital mutilation and girl-child marriage. The central focus of the study was to investigate the association between female genital mutilation and girl-child marriage in sub-Saharan Africa. Data from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys of twelve sub-Sahara African countries were pooled. A total of 14,748 women aged 20-24 were included in the study. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was employed, with reported adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The overall prevalence of FGM in the twelve countries was 52.19%, with the highest prevalence in Guinea (97.17%). The overall prevalence of girl-child marriage in the twelve countries was 57.96%, with the highest prevalence in Chad (78.06%). Women who had never experienced female genital mutilation were less likely to experience girl-child marriage (aOR=0.76, CI=0.71-0.82) compared with those who had ever experienced female genital mutilation. Age 24 (aOR=0.47, CI=0.43-0.52), secondary/higher level of education (aOR=0.31, CI=0.28-0.35), richest wealth quintile (aOR=0.56, CI=0.47-0.66), exposure to mass media (aOR=0.81, CI=0.74-0.88) medium community literacy level (aOR=0.63, CI=0.57-0.69) and low community socioeconomic status (aOR=0.67, CI=0.49-0.92) were found to be protective against girl-child marriage. The findings reveal that female genital mutilation is associated with girl-child marriage in sub-Saharan Africa. The continued practice will adversely affect the reproductive health outcomes of girls in the sub-region. Policies aimed at eliminating female genital mutilation and girl-child marriage should focus on compulsory basic education, poverty alleviation and increasing access to mass media. Further, campaigns should cover more communities with lower literacy levels and medium socioeconomic status.
The effects of sex, nation, ethnicity, age and self-reported pubertal development on participant-measured right-left 2D:4D (Dr-l) in the BBC internet study.
Manning JT, Fink B, Mason L … +2 more , Kasielska-Trojan A, Trivers R
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Mar · PMID 35088686 · Publisher ↗
Digit ratio (2D:4D) - a proxy for prenatal sex steroids - shows sex, nationality and ethnic differences and is linked to pubertal onset. It is unclear whether right-left 2D:4D (Dr-l) also correlates with prenatal sex ste...
Digit ratio (2D:4D) - a proxy for prenatal sex steroids - shows sex, nationality and ethnic differences and is linked to pubertal onset. It is unclear whether right-left 2D:4D (Dr-l) also correlates with prenatal sex steroids, as evidence of these differences has been less conclusive. The present study examined the effects of sex, nation, ethnicity, age and self-reported pubertal development (i.e. the rate of physical development and age at menarche [females] or first shave [males]) on Dr-l in a large online study (the BBC internet study). Digit lengths were self-measured in 201,865 adults (110,955 males) and the sample of nations included 41 countries. Participants reported the self-perceived rate of physical pubertal development on a five-point scale (from very slow to very fast) and provided information on the age at menarche or first shave. Adult (>17 years) males had lower Dr-l than females with weak effect size across 41 nations (males-females; = -.065, < .0001). There were sex and ethnicity effects on Dr-l across seven ethnic groups with males < females and lower Dr-l in Whites and Middle/Near Eastern participants compared to Asian, Black and Chinese respondents. Considering age effects, the authors focused on participants >12 years; there were stable sex differences and a weak positive effect of age on Dr-l. Dr-l showed a positive relationship with the rate of physical development and a negative relationship with age at menarche or first shave. Relationships were present in males and females with stronger effects in the latter. It is concluded that Dr-l shows a weak sex difference (males < females) independent of nation, ethnicity and age, and suggest that Dr-l is a proxy for prenatal sex steroids.
Overweight and obesity in preschool children in Turkey: A multilevel analysis.
Görçin Karaketir Ş, Lüleci NE, Eryurt MA … +3 more , Emecen AN, Haklıdır M, Hıdıroğlu S
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Mar · PMID 35086578 · Publisher ↗
Childhood obesity/overweight is a worldwide concern and its prevalence is increasing in many countries. The first aim of this study is to analyse the trends in overweight and obesity among children under the age of five...
Childhood obesity/overweight is a worldwide concern and its prevalence is increasing in many countries. The first aim of this study is to analyse the trends in overweight and obesity among children under the age of five in Turkey based on the new World Health Organization (WHO) standards, using data from the 'five-round of the Turkey Demographic and Health Surveys' (TDHSs). The second aim is to examine whether or not the maternal/household and individual-level factors are associated with overweight/obesity using TDHS 2003, 2008, and 2013 datasets. A total sample of 14,231 children under the age of five were extracted from the TDHS in 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013 to determine the prevalence of the trend. Pooled data from 8,812 children were included in the analysis to examine factors associated with overweight/obesity. Taking into account the clustered data structure, multilevel logistic regression models were utilised. In 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013 the prevalence of overweight children was 5.3%, 4.9%, 10.0%, 11% and 11.6%, respectively. The factors that were independently associated with overweight/obesity were as follows: living in single-parent households (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.27, 95%CI = 1.21-4.26), compared to living in dual-parent households; having an obese mother (aOR = 4.25, 95%CI = 1.73-10.44), overweight mother (aOR = 3.15, 95%CI = 1.29-7.69), and a normal-weight mother (aOR = 2.70, 95%CI = 1.11-6.59) compared to having an underweight mother; being aged between 13-24 months (aOR = 1.72, 95%CI = 1.30 to 2.27), compared to being aged 0-12 months; male gender (aOR = 1.30, 95%CI = 1.11 to 1.53); being stunted (aOR = 2.18, 95%CI = 1.74 to 2.73); high birth weight (aOR = 1.55, 95%CI = 1.08 to 2.23) compared to low birth weight. In addition, overweight was higher in children of mothers who had completed primary school (aOR = 1.21, 95%CI = 1.01 to 1.59) than children of mothers who had not completed primary school. These findings reveal that, over the years, there has been a substantial increase in obesity/overweight among children which demonstrates the importance of evaluating the overweight indicators at the maternal/household level.
Weight gain is associated with shorter lifespan: a longitudinal study of New Zealand soldiers serving in both world wars.
Miecznikowski M, Roberts E
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Mar · PMID 35045909 · Full text
Obesity is an increasing public health concern with important mortality consequences. Weight gain or maximum adult BMI, not BMI at one point in time, has been shown to be an important risk factor in cohorts studied recen...
Obesity is an increasing public health concern with important mortality consequences. Weight gain or maximum adult BMI, not BMI at one point in time, has been shown to be an important risk factor in cohorts studied recently during an era of rapid increase in population levels of overweight and obesity. However, there is limited evidence on individual weight trajectories from cohorts born before the mid-twentieth century. Archival world war military personnel files from New Zealand are freely available online, and identify service in both wars. A pilot study of 316 soldiers confirmed the files contain sufficient information to examine health trajectories and lifespan. Because this cohort are now entirely deceased, nearly the entire sample can be found in death records to estimate the impact of weight increases on lifespan. Weight change over 20-30 years and its relationship with lifespan is examined using ordinary least squares regression. The study demonstrates that military records are a feasible source for collecting data on adult weight and health trajectories in the first half of the twentieth century. Although this sample is likely to be composed of men fitter than average, there is a clear pattern of increasing weight from early to mid-adulthood. Weight gain from early adulthood to middle-age was found to be more strongly associated with mortality than weight in early adulthood. A one unit increase in BMI over the inter-war period was found to be associated with an 8 month decline in lifespan. These results confirm that weight gain in adulthood has an important impact on mortality in an earlier birth cohort than previously studied, and that data exist to measure any changes more precisely over time.
Critical medical ecology and intersectionality perspectives in schistosomiasis prevention and control in selected communities in Mindanao, the Philippines.
Dalisay SNM, Belizario VY, Joe JAS … +2 more , Lumangaya CR, Cruz RD
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Mar · PMID 35022107 · Publisher ↗
remains a public health concern in many areas of the Philippines. Periodic Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to at-risk populations is the main strategy for morbidity control of schistosomiasis. Attaining MDA coverage targe...
remains a public health concern in many areas of the Philippines. Periodic Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to at-risk populations is the main strategy for morbidity control of schistosomiasis. Attaining MDA coverage targets is important for the reduction of morbidity and prevention of complications due to the disease, and towards achieving Universal Health Care. The study employed a qualitative case study design. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted to provide in-depth and situated descriptions of the contexts surrounding the implementation of MDA in two selected villages in known schistosomiasis-endemic provinces in Mindanao in the Philippines. Data analysis was done using the Critical Ecology for Medical Anthropology (CEMA) model coupled with the intersectionality approach. It was found that within various areas in the CEMA model, enabling as well as constraining factors have been encountered in MDA in the study settings. The interplay of income class, geographical location, gender norms and faith-based beliefs may have led to key populations being missed during the conduct of MDA in the study sites. The constraints faced by the target beneficiaries of MDA, as well as programme implementers, must be addressed to enhance service delivery and to control morbidity due to schistosomiasis. Improving compliance with MDA also requires a holistic, integrated approach to addressing barriers to participation, which are shaped by wider socio-political and power structures.
Safer sex negotiation and parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa.
Adu C, Frimpong JB, Mohammed A … +4 more , Tetteh JK, Budu E, Ahinkorah BO, Seidu AA
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 34986926 · Publisher ↗
Women's ability to negotiate for safer sex has effects on their sexual and reproductive health. This study investigated the association between safer sex negotiation and parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The data...
Women's ability to negotiate for safer sex has effects on their sexual and reproductive health. This study investigated the association between safer sex negotiation and parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The data were sourced from the Demographic and Health Surveys of 28 sub-Saharan African countries conducted from 2010 to 2019. A total of 215,397 women aged 15-49 were included in the study. Multilevel logistic analysis was conducted to examine the association between safer sex negotiation and parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and the significance level set at <0.05. The overall prevalences of safer sex negotiation and high parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa were 82.7% and 52.1%, respectively. The prevalence of high parity ranged from 32.3% in Chad to 72.1% in Lesotho. The lowest prevalence of safer sex negotiation was in Chad (16.8%) while the highest prevalence was recorded in Rwanda (99.7%). Women who had the capacity to negotiate for safer sex were less likely to have high parity compared with those who had no capacity to negotiate for safer sex (aOR = 0.78, CI: 0.75-0.81). Other factors that were associated with high parity were age, educational level, marital status, exposure to media, contraceptive use, religion, wealth quintile, sex of household head, and place of residence. The study identified significant association between safer sex negotiation and high parity among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa. It is worth noting that women's ability to negotiate for safer sex could reduce high parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, policies and programmes aimed at birth control or reducing high parity among women could be targeted at improving their capacity to negotiate for safer sex through education.
Cross-national data on informal caregivers of older people with long-term care needs in the European population: time for a more coordinated and comparable approach.
Tur-Sinai A, Teti A, Rommel A … +3 more , Hlebec V, Yghemonos S, Lamura G
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Mar · PMID 34986919 · Publisher ↗
To promote long-term care policies for older adults, accurate mapping of the often invisible and insufficiently recognized role of their informal caregivers is needed. This paper measures the prevalence of informal careg...
To promote long-term care policies for older adults, accurate mapping of the often invisible and insufficiently recognized role of their informal caregivers is needed. This paper measures the prevalence of informal caregivers in the European population, illustrates current difficulties in gathering unequivocal information on this topic and deals with the scientific and policy implications of the problem. Using the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) and the Study on Health and Ageing in Europe (SHARE), the current difficulties in gathering unequivocal information on this topic are illustrated. In most countries, the share of informal caregivers varies, sometimes markedly, among the three surveys. As for the sex of caregivers, while confirming the well-known higher prevalence of caregivers among women than among men, large variations emerge across the three surveys in most countries in respect of the two sexes. The takeaway message of the paper is that it is urgent to promote international concerted action in gathering comprehensive informal caregiving information and/or exploring in greater depth the different intercultural understandings of informal care itself.
Caesarean deliveries, subsequent reproductive behaviour and children ever born in India.
Mishra R, Goli S, Chakravorty S … +1 more , Rammohan A
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Mar · PMID 34986914 · Publisher ↗
Against the backdrop of the alarming rise in Caesarean section (C-section) births in India, this study aimed to examine the association between C-section births, fertility decline and female sterilization in the country....
Against the backdrop of the alarming rise in Caesarean section (C-section) births in India, this study aimed to examine the association between C-section births, fertility decline and female sterilization in the country. A cross-sectional design was used to investigate the association between C-section delivery and subsequent reproductive behaviour in women in India. Data were from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4). The study sample comprised 255,726 currently married women in the age group of 15-49 years. The results showed a strong positive relationship between C-section births and female sterilization. The predicted probabilities (PP) from the multivariate regression model indicated a higher chance of female sterilization in women with C-section births (PP = 0.39, <0.01) compared with those with non-C-section births (PP = 0.20, <0.01). Both state-level correlation plots and Poisson regression estimates showed a strong negative relationship between C-section births and mean children ever born (CEB). Based on the results, it may be concluded that the use of C-sections and sterilization were strongly correlated in India at the time of the NFHS-4, thus together contributing to fertility decline. A strong negative association was found between the occurrence of C-sections and CEB. The increased and undesired use of C-section births and consequent female sterilization is a regressive socio-demographic process that often violates women's rights. Fertility decline should happen through informed choice of family planning and must protect the reproductive rights of women.
Non-use of modern contraceptives among women in humanitarian contexts: evidence from a qualitative study in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Ononokpono DN, Usoro NA, Akpabio EM
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Mar · PMID 34986907 · Publisher ↗
The continuing conflict situation in Nigeria have created over 2 million displaced persons. In 2019, women and children accounted for about 80% of the internally displaced population in the country. Displacement increase...
The continuing conflict situation in Nigeria have created over 2 million displaced persons. In 2019, women and children accounted for about 80% of the internally displaced population in the country. Displacement increases the need for reproductive health services. This study explored the reasons for non-use of modern contraceptives among forcibly displaced Bakassi women in Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria. Focus group discussions were used to collect data from a convenience sample of 40 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in two makeshift resettlement camps in the region in January and February 2020. Data were analysed using a qualitative inductive approach, with thematic organization and analysis of the transcribed responses from the focus group discussions. The findings revealed that many of the women were not using modern contraceptives at the time of the study, and the major reasons they gave for non-use were misconceptions, costs, religious beliefs, desire for more children and the inaccessibility and unavailability of contraceptive services. The use of family planning services can be a life-saving intervention in unstable, crisis environments. Programme implementation to address non-use of contraceptive services among women in crisis contexts should target social norm change, reproductive health education, empowerment programmes and health service provision.
Missing men in family planning: understanding the socio-spatial differentials in male sterilization and male spacing methods of contraception in India.
Prusty RK, Begum S
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 34927580 · Publisher ↗
Male involvement in family planning results in improved reproductive health and gender outcomes for women. In India, the use of family planning methods remains largely female-dominated. Recent media reports have indicate...
Male involvement in family planning results in improved reproductive health and gender outcomes for women. In India, the use of family planning methods remains largely female-dominated. Recent media reports have indicated a rapid decline in male sterilization use in the past few years. This study aimed to assess the trends in, patterns of and factors associated with the use of male sterilization and male spacing methods in India using data from four rounds of the National Family Health Survey, conducted from 1992 to 2016. Bivariate analysis was done to see the trends in, and patterns of, male sterilization and spacing methods, while multinomial logistic regression was used to understand the factors associated with male spacing methods and sterilization. The results show a marked decline in the prevalence of male sterilization from 1992-93 (3.5%) to 2015-16 (0.3%) in India. Of the 640 districts, only 21 had a more than 2% prevalence of male sterilization. Scheduled tribe couples were two times more likely to use male sterilization than other (upper/no caste) groups. Couples from the northern region were significantly more likely to use male sterilization (aOR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.43-1.97) compared with those from the south. There was a regional disparity in male condom use, with a very small proportion of couples in the southern (1.1%), north-eastern (2.4%) and eastern (3.3%) regions using the method compared with couples from the northern region (9.7%). Couples from the northern (aOR: 8.89, 95% CI: 8.44-9.38), north-eastern (aOR: 11.37, 95% CI: 10.62-12.18), eastern (aOR: 6.96, 95% CI: 6.60-7.34), western (aOR: 4.65, 95% CI: 4.40-4.92) and central (aOR: 10.89, 95% CI: 10.35-11.46) regions were also significantly more likely to use male spacing methods than those from southern India. Therefore, a greater focus on increasing the use of male sterilization and condoms is required in India to reduce the gender disparity in the use of family planning methods.
Surnames in south-eastern France: structure of the rural population during the 19th century through isonymy.
Kamel C, Saliba-Serre B, Lizee MH … +2 more , Signoli M, Costedoat C
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 34907866 · Publisher ↗
An analysis of the distribution of surnames through time and space allows us to understand the structure of human groups, their exchanges or even their possible isolation. The French population has already been studied t...
An analysis of the distribution of surnames through time and space allows us to understand the structure of human groups, their exchanges or even their possible isolation. The French population has already been studied through surnames and it has been shown that the Sud-Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region differed from the rest of France in both the 20th and 21st centuries (Mourrieras , ; Scapoli , ). The objective of this study was to understand the population evolution and particularities of the Sud-Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region through an analysis of the distribution of surnames over an earlier period: the 19th century. For this work, 806,069 birth records from 521 communes between 1810 and 1890 were recorded and a total of 23,340 surnames were collected. The estimation of various isonymic parameters has allowed a description of this corpus never exploited before. In order to appreciate the population evolution, the data set was divided into three periods of 25 years. The canton was the geographical unit of this study, and similarities and differences between each of them were evaluated using Lasker distances, which allow the construction of dendrograms. A positive and significant correlation (<0.0001) was found between Lasker distances and geographical distances using the Mantel test. The lowest inbreeding estimates were found in the Durance Valley. Migration, estimated from the -index of Karlin and McGregor (), showed higher values in the south-western quarter of the region. The decrease in values across the three periods is consistent with a homogenization of the patronymic between the cantons. This three-period approach showed a population evolution influenced by linguistic, cultural, historical and migratory phenomena since the Middle Ages, disrupted by the socioeconomic changes of the 19th century.
Ideal body image for the opposite sex and its association with body mass index.
Ibáñez-Zamacona ME, Poveda A, Rebato E
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 34886917 · Publisher ↗
This research studied the preferences reported by women and men about their Ideal Body Image for the Opposite Sex (IBIOS), and its association with body mass index (BMI). It also analysed the preferences of each sex for...
This research studied the preferences reported by women and men about their Ideal Body Image for the Opposite Sex (IBIOS), and its association with body mass index (BMI). It also analysed the preferences of each sex for a woman's ideal body image (W-IBI) and a man's ideal body image (M-IBI). A total of 450 participants aged 18-70 years with different weights were studied. Their IBIOS was assessed using standard figural stimuli. The sample was divided in four groups by sex and age (<45 years; ≥45 years). Sex and age differences in IBIOS, as well as sex differences in the preferences for a woman's ideal body image (W-IBI) and a man's ideal body image (M-IBI), were tested using a non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. The association between IBIOS and BMI was analysed using Spearman's correlation. In all groups, the most chosen silhouette as IBIOS was number 4. In the under-45 years group, women chose bigger silhouettes for the opposite sex than men did (<0.05). In this age group women chose as ideal smaller silhouettes for the female body than men did (<0.01). In addition, women and men in the younger age group and with normal weight chose smaller silhouettes, while those who were overweight or obese selected larger silhouettes (<0.001). Age was found to be a relevant factor in IBIOS preferences, and in the association between IBIOS and nutritional status as measured by BMI, which was only observed to be significant in the younger age group.
The prevailing trend of consanguinity in the Arab society of Israel: is it still a challenge?
Sharkia R, Khatib M, Sheikh-Muhammad A … +2 more , Mahajnah M, Zalan A
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 34866563 · Publisher ↗
The aim of this study was to determine the trend of consanguineous marriage among the Arab population in Israel. Socio-demographic data for the Arab population were extracted from national health surveys conducted in Isr...
The aim of this study was to determine the trend of consanguineous marriage among the Arab population in Israel. Socio-demographic data for the Arab population were extracted from national health surveys conducted in Israel in 2007 and 2017. The prevalence of consanguineous marriage among the Arab population in Israel increased significantly from 36.3% to 41.6% in the decade from 2007 to 2017. First-cousin and closer marriages constituted about 50% of total consanguineous marriages in the two periods surveyed. Consanguinity was found to be significantly related to religion and place of residence. Thus, the prevalence of consanguineous marriage remains high among the Arab population in Israel, similar to other Arab societies. These findings affect the health of future generations and impose a challenge for health care professionals.
Is consanguineous marriage related to spousal violence in India? Evidence from the National Family Health Survey, 2015-16.
Rahaman M, Sen S, Rana MJ … +1 more , Ghosh S
J Biosoc Sci · 2022 Nov · PMID 34847974 · Publisher ↗
Violence against women is a global phenomenon, and intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence faced by women in the world. Around 30% of women in the world, on average, and 33% in India experience inti...
Violence against women is a global phenomenon, and intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence faced by women in the world. Around 30% of women in the world, on average, and 33% in India experience intimate partner violence during their lifetime. The main aim of this study was to investigate whether consanguinity protects women from spousal violence. National Family Health Survey 2015-16 (NFHS-4) data were used. The study sample comprised 60,824 currently married women aged 15-49 years. The results of the logistic regression model showed that the likelihood of all types of spousal violence against women was higher among consanguineous unions compared with non-consanguineous unions in India. The association between consanguineous marriage and spousal violence was found to be positive and significant in the southern and eastern regions of India and among Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The association was not significant among Muslims. Differences in socio-cultural norms and practices across the regions of India, and among different socio-cultural groups, can perhaps explain these variations. Women belonging in higher age groups, from Other Backward Castes, those who were working and those with a low level of educational attainment and socioeconomic standing had a higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence. Couples in a consanguineous marriage should be given adequate counselling to reduce intimate partner violence in India, and similarly culturally diverse countries. This would also help reach Target 5.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Factors associated with reporting good maternal health-related knowledge among rural mothers of Yemen.
Hyzam D, Zou M, Boah M … +3 more , Basaleem H, Liu X, Wu LJ
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 34839844 · Publisher ↗
Increasing women's knowledge about maternal health is an important step towards empowering them and making them aware of their rights and health status, allowing them to seek appropriate health care. In Yemen, the ongoin...
Increasing women's knowledge about maternal health is an important step towards empowering them and making them aware of their rights and health status, allowing them to seek appropriate health care. In Yemen, the ongoing conflict has hampered the delivery of health information to women in public health facilities. This study examined rural women's knowledge of, and attitude towards, maternal and child health in Yemen and identified the factors associated with good maternal health knowledge. The study was conducted between August and November 2018. A sample of 400 women aged 15-49 years who had delivered in the 6 months prior to the survey were systematically selected from selected public health facilities in Abyan and Lahj. Women were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to gather data on their demographic and economic characteristics, obstetric history and responses to health knowledge and attitude questions. Women's knowledge level was assessed as poor or good using the mean score as a cut-off. Chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to identify statistically significant factors associated with good maternal health knowledge. The percentage of women who had good knowledge was 44.8% (95% CI: 39.8-49.8). Women's attitude towards maternal health was negative in the areas of early ANC attendance, managing dietary regime and weight during pregnancy, facility delivery, PNC visits, cord care and mother and child health management. Women with primary education, whose husbands had received no formal education, who had their first ANC visit from the second trimester of pregnancy and who had fewer than four ANC visits were more likely to have poor health knowledge. Conversely, those with higher household income and only one child were more likely to have good maternal health knowledge. Overall, women's knowledge on maternal and child health care in rural areas of Yemen was low. Strategies are needed to increase rural women's knowledge on maternal and child health in this conflict-affected setting.
Association between women's empowerment and diarrhoea in children under five years: evidence from the 2017/18 Benin Demographic and Health Survey.
Zegeye B, Idriss-Wheeler D, Yaya S
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 34814972 · Publisher ↗
Globally, diarrhoea is the third leading cause of death for under five-children. Women's empowerment can significantly reduce under-five mortality due to diarrhoea. This study investigated the association between women's...
Globally, diarrhoea is the third leading cause of death for under five-children. Women's empowerment can significantly reduce under-five mortality due to diarrhoea. This study investigated the association between women's empowerment and childhood diarrhoea in Benin using data from the 2017/18 Benin Demographic and Health Survey. A total of 7979 currently married women were included in the study. A logistic regression model was used to control for possible confounders. The prevalence of diarrhoea among children under five years of age was 13.6%. About 36.3% of the currently married women decided either alone or together with their husband on their own health, purchase of large household items and visiting family/relatives. Close to 65.4% of currently married women disagreed with all five reasons to justify wife-beating. The children of mothers who had decision-making power were less likely to have diarrhoea (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.57-0.96) than the children of mothers who had no decision-making power. Moreover, the children of mothers who disagreed with all five reasons to justify wife-beating (aOR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.65-0.96) were less likely to have diarrhoea than the children of mothers who accepted wife-beating as a part of life. Women's age, educational level, wealth index and region were associated with childhood diarrhoea in Benin. The role of women's empowerment, as determined by decision-making power and wife-beating attitude, was found to be significantly associated with the risk of childhood diarrhoea in Benin, after adjusting for other variables. Therefore, it is essential for policymakers in Benin to reinforce strategies and interventions focusing on women's empowerment to avert childhood mortality caused by diarrhoea. This includes improving household economic status, women's education and decision-making power and enhancing awareness of women's human and democratic rights.
Age-appropriate feeding practices and their association with undernutrition among children aged 6-23 months in aspirational districts of India: a multinomial analysis.
Pradhan I, Kandapan B, Pradhan J
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 34749840 · Publisher ↗
'Health and nutrition' is one among the five areas covered by the Aspirational District Programme in India, which aims to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The reduction of undernutrition in under-five ch...
'Health and nutrition' is one among the five areas covered by the Aspirational District Programme in India, which aims to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The reduction of undernutrition in under-five children has remained a major focus of the SDGs, especially at the ages of 6-23 months as this affects child development. This study used National Family Health Survey 2015-16 data to examine appropriate feeding practices and their associations with undernutrition among children aged 6-23 months in the 124 aspirational districts of India. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association between feeding practices and undernutrition, adjusting for covariates. A total of 13,851 children aged 6-23 months were included in the analysis. Child nutritional outcomes, and children receiving the recommended minimum dietary diversity (MDD), minimum meal frequency (MMF) and minimum acceptable diet (MAD), were poorer in the aspirational compared with non-aspirational districts. However, the proportions of children who continued to breastfed, i.e. currently breastfeeding and the proportion of children who were receiving appropriate breastfeeding, i.e. receiving complementary feeding, in addition to breast milk, were higher in the aspirational districts. Appropriate breastfeeding and MDD were found to be associated negatively with undernutrition. While the continuation of breastfeeding increased the odds of children being undernourished, appropriate breastfeeding lowered the odds. The significant predictors of undernourishment among the study children were the child being male, of higher birth order, older and of smaller than average birth size; mother's lower educational level, mother's lower BMI of mothers and being a teenage mother; and poor household drinking water, sanitation facilities and lower economic status. This study suggests that educating mothers, especially illiterate and poor mothers, about appropriate breastfeeding and dietary diversity could help prevent and reduce child undernutrition in the aspirational districts of India.
Socio-ecological determinants of under-five mortality in Nigeria: exploring the roles of neighbourhood poverty and use of solid cooking fuel.
Imo CK, Wet-Billings N
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 34743767 · Publisher ↗
Globally, despite the decline in under-five mortality rate from 213 per 1000 live births in 1990 to 132 per 1000 live births in 2018, the pace of decline has been slow, and this can be attributed to poor progress in chil...
Globally, despite the decline in under-five mortality rate from 213 per 1000 live births in 1990 to 132 per 1000 live births in 2018, the pace of decline has been slow, and this can be attributed to poor progress in child survival interventions, including those aimed at reducing children's exposure to household pollution. This study examined the influence of neighbourhood poverty and the use of solid cooking fuels on under-five mortality in Nigeria. Data for the study comprised a weighted sample of 124,442 birth histories of childbearing women who reported using cooking fuels in the kitchens located within their house drawn from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Descriptive and analytical analyses were carried out, including frequency tables, Pearson's chi-squared test and multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional regression model. The results showed that the risk of under-five mortality was significantly associated with mothers residing in areas of high neighbourhood poverty (HR: 1.44, CI: 1.34-1.54) and the use of solid cooking fuels within the house (HR: 2.26, CI: 2.06-2.49). Government and non-governmental organizations in Nigeria should initiate strategic support and campaigns aimed at empowering and enlightening mothers on the need to reduce their use of solid cooking fuels within the house to reduce harmful emissions and their child health consequences.
Association of spousal violence and women's empowerment status among the rural women of sub-Saharan Africa.
Anik AI, Towhid MII, Haque MA
J Biosoc Sci · 2023 Jan · PMID 34743765 · Publisher ↗
Spousal violence (SV) is a global problem for women and its elimination is one of the prime targets of Sustainable Development Goal-5. Data from the Demographic and Health Surveys of seventeen countries, representing two...
Spousal violence (SV) is a global problem for women and its elimination is one of the prime targets of Sustainable Development Goal-5. Data from the Demographic and Health Surveys of seventeen countries, representing two sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) regions (East and Southern Africa [ESA] and West and Central Africa [WCA]), were used to examine the relationship between all types of SV and women's empowerment status among rural married women aged 15-49 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore adjusted associations, and a relative index of inequality (RII) and slope index of inequality (SII) were used to measure the inequality in experiencing SV by rural women based on their overall empowerment position. Within the period 2015-2019, the reported rate of SV was higher in the ESA (physical SV: 33.55%; sexual SV: 16.96%; any type of SV: 46.14%) than the WCA countries (physical SV: 27.80%; sexual SV: 7.63%; any type of SV: 40.83%), except for emotional SV (WCA: 31.28% vs ESA: 29.35%). In terms of overall empowerment status, rural WCA women were slightly ahead of their counterparts in the ESA region (46.09% and 44.64%, respectively). For both ESA and WCA countries, women who didn't justify violence and who had access to health care (except physical SV in WCA) showed negative but significant association with all types of SV in the adjusted analysis. Conversely, economic empowerment significantly increased the odds of experiencing physical and any type of SV in both regions. The significant risk ratios obtained from RII, for any SV were 0.83 and 1.09, and the -coefficients from SII were -0.082 and 0.037 units, respectively, in ESA and WCA. Multi-sectoral microfinance-based intervening programmes and policies should be implemented regionally to empower women, especially in the economic, socio-culture, health care accessibility dimensions, and this will eventually reduce all types of spousal violence in rural SSA.
Comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV testing among men in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel modelling.
Tetteh JK, Frimpong JB, Budu E … +4 more , Adu C, Mohammed A, Ahinkorah BO, Seidu AA
J Biosoc Sci · 2022 Nov · PMID 34736542 · Publisher ↗
This study investigated the association between comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV testing among men in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Data were taken from the most recent (2010-2019) Demographic and Health Survey men's...
This study investigated the association between comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV testing among men in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Data were taken from the most recent (2010-2019) Demographic and Health Survey men's recode files of 29 countries in SSA. A total of 104,398 men who had complete information on all the variables of interest were included in the study. The outcome variable was HIV testing. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV testing. The results of the fixed effects model were presented as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The average prevalences of HIV testing and comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among men in SSA were 53.5% and 50.8% respectively. Rwanda and Niger recorded the highest (93.6%) and lowest prevalences (9.8%) respectively. The prevalence of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among men in the 29 countries was 50.8%, with the highest in Rwanda (76.4%) and the lowest in Benin (31.1%). Men who had no comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge were less likely to test for HIV compared with those who had comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge (AOR=0.59, CI: 0.57-0.60). Men who were older than 20 years, married or cohabiting, with at least secondary education, in the richest wealth quintile, exposed to mass media, used condoms and with multiple sexual partners were more likely to test for HIV. To improve HIV testing among men in SSA, this study recommends that policymakers and stakeholders step up comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge sensitization and education using effective tools such as mass media.
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