J Biosoc Sci [JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
A post bellum paradox: net nutrition variation by socioeconomic status, gender and race using 19 and 20 century US prison records.
Carson SA
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40815065 · Publisher ↗
When traditional measures for material conditions are scarce or unreliable, body mass, height, and weight are complements to standard income and wealth measures. A persistent question in welfare studies is the 19 century...
When traditional measures for material conditions are scarce or unreliable, body mass, height, and weight are complements to standard income and wealth measures. A persistent question in welfare studies is the 19 century's 2 and 3 quarter's stature diminution, a pattern known as the antebellum paradox. However, the question may not be well stated nor experienced equally by women and non-white male samples. The late 19 century's political Granger, Greenback, and Populist movements may have affected farmer and non-farmer's net nutrition. Despite 19 and early 20 century US political movements, farmers had greater BMIs, taller statures, and heavier weights than non-farmers. From the 1870s through 1890s, women's body mass, height, and weight increased relative to men. Individuals of African or mixed European-African descent had heavier weights and greater BMIs than their taller, European-white counterparts, indicating that the traditional antebellum paradox needs to include women and non-European males and weight measures.
Pandemic futures, future preparedness: diverse views in the wake of Covid-19.
MacGregor H, Leach M, Desclaux A … +5 more , Parker M, Grant C, Wilkinson A, Sams K, Sow K
J Biosoc Sci · 2026 Mar · PMID 40702682 · Publisher ↗
The deliberations for the Pandemic Accord have opened an important moment of reflection on future approaches to pandemic preparedness. The concept had been increasingly prominent in global health discourse for several ye...
The deliberations for the Pandemic Accord have opened an important moment of reflection on future approaches to pandemic preparedness. The concept had been increasingly prominent in global health discourse for several years before the pandemic and had concretised into a set of standardised mainstream approaches to the prediction of threats. Since 2019, the authors and the wider research team have led a research project on the meanings and practices of preparedness. At its close, the authors undertook 25 interviews to capture reflections of regional and global health actors' ideas about preparedness, and how and to what extent these were influenced by Covid-19. Here, an analysis of interview responses is presented, with attention to (dis)connections between the views of those occupying positions in regional and global institutions. The interviews revealed that preparedness means different things to different people and institutions. Analysis revealed several domains of preparedness with distinct conceptualisations of what preparedness is, its purposes, and scope. Overall, there appear to be some changes in thinking due to Covid-19, but also strong continuities, especially with respect to a technical focus and an underplaying of the inequities that became evident (in terms of biosocial vulnerabilities but also global-regional disparities) and, related to this, the importance of power and politics. Here, the analysis has revealed three elements, cutting across the domains but particularly strong within the dominant framing of preparedness, which act to sideline direct engagement with power and politics in the meanings and practices of preparedness. These are an emphasis on urgent action, a focus on universal or standardised approaches, and a resort to technical interventions as solutions. A rethinking of pandemic preparedness needs to enable better interconnections across scales and attention to financing that enables more equitable partnerships between states and regions. Such transformation in established hierarchies will require explicit attention to power dynamics and the political nature of preparedness.
'Fear of threats': a mixed-method study among Malaysian women with gestational diabetes mellitus.
Mohd-Adli AK, Rohana AJ, Sukeri S … +2 more , Ahmad MH, Awang H
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Sep · PMID 40693508 · Publisher ↗
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common medical condition during pregnancy and is linked to short- and long-term complications for both mothers and offspring. However, there is limited information regarding poor...
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common medical condition during pregnancy and is linked to short- and long-term complications for both mothers and offspring. However, there is limited information regarding poor glycaemic control in Malaysia. This study aims to determine the predictors of poor glycaemic control among women with GDM and to explore women's perceptions and experiences in self-managing glycaemic control. An explanatory sequential mixed methods study was conducted among women with GDM in Northern Terengganu. A proportional-to-size stratified sampling method was used in quantitative research to obtain 238 samples. Logistic regression was applied to determine associations between factors and poor glycaemic control. Then, purposive sampling was done in qualitative inquiry to obtain 12 samples. Thematic analysis was applied to identify recurring themes. The data from both quantitative and qualitative inquiry were then combined to answer research questions. Dietetic counselling (AOR = 2.95; 95% CI: 1.41, 6.17; -value=0.004) and diet self-efficacy (AOR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.98; -value=0.040) were associated with poor glycaemic control. Six themes that emerged from the interviews were: fear and worry; knowledge and motivation; dietary preferences and beliefs; family factors; occupational factors; and availability and affordability. The findings provide useful evidence for healthcare providers in delivering comprehensive health education and providing care for women with GDM.
Trends in spousal age difference at first marriage in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Kyei PS, Agyei-Mensah S, Casterline JB … +1 more , Bawah AA
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40562715 · Publisher ↗
Spousal age differences are highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, where trends in age at first marriage indicate an increase for both men and women. However, the net outcome for spousal age difference is difficult to predict wi...
Spousal age differences are highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, where trends in age at first marriage indicate an increase for both men and women. However, the net outcome for spousal age difference is difficult to predict without explicit analysis of these distributions. This study examines differentials in spousal age for women in first union. Further, it examines differences within population sub-groups and across countries, focusing on the influence of age at marriage and educational attainment. The analysis pools 144 survey datasets from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) conducted between 1980 and 2020 in 34 countries. OLS regression analysis was used to predict the spousal age difference at marriage with five-year cohorts used to study time trends. The analysis finds a decline of 1.7 years in the spousal age difference at first marriage between the earliest (1980-1984) and most recent (2014-2019), indicating that there has been minimal reduction in age at first marriage over four decades, despite rising ages at marriage for females. Increasing age at first marriage and educational attainment of women partly explain the decline observed over time.
Perceptions of preconception health messaging and responsibility: engaging with 'health helpers' in the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative-South Africa trial.
Gardiner CV, Mohlomi L, Draper CE … +7 more , Hlungwani T, Lye SJ, Norris SA, Muller-Kluits N, Torres N, Watson D, Pentecost M
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40552452 · Publisher ↗
Premised on the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease theory and on the limited effectiveness of antenatal interventions, interventions in the preconception period are being conducted to potentially improve interge...
Premised on the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease theory and on the limited effectiveness of antenatal interventions, interventions in the preconception period are being conducted to potentially improve intergenerational health and non-communicable disease burdens. The Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) is an international health research consortium primarily investigating the intergenerational effects of behavioural interventions on obesity via a complex four-phase intervention initiated preconceptionally, through pregnancy, and into early childhood. HeLTI, in partnership with the World Health Organization, aims to generate evidence that will shape health policy focused on preconception as part of a life course approach to population health. It is necessary to ensure that a renewed public health focus on preconception prioritises justice and equity in its framing. This article presents collaborative interdisciplinary work with HeLTI-South Africa. It applies a feminist bioethics methodology, which is empirical, situated, intersectional, and fundamentally concerned with justice, to investigate what South African HeLTI community health workers, or 'Health Helpers', who deliver the complex behavioural intervention, think about preconception health and responsibility. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with HeLTI-SA Health Helpers, and data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Our findings show that Health Helpers' perceptions of preconception health and related responsibility were significantly gendered, heteronormative, and concerned with child-bearing intentionality and desires. These themes were inflected with Health Helpers' perceptions about how attributions of responsibility are shaped by culture, demonstrating the situated nature of epistemologies. Their ideas also highlight how preconception health knowledge can distribute responsibility unjustly. Understanding the contextual impact and relevance of values around responsibility is critical to prospectively design preconception health interventions that promote equity and fairness. This understanding can then be used for effective policy translation, with the goal that public health policy is founded upon contextual responsivity and justice for the public it aims to serve.
Pandemic preparedness and pandemic arrival: an ethnographic observation.
Kamara FM
J Biosoc Sci · 2026 Mar · PMID 40519039 · Full text
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Beyond household and individual factors: examining the association between ambient air pollution and birth outcomes in India.
Bera T, Rout NR, Pradhan J
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40509534 · Publisher ↗
Low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB) are primary factors contributing to morbidity and mortality among children aged under 5, resulting in a range of short- and long-term health consequences worldwide. Among th...
Low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB) are primary factors contributing to morbidity and mortality among children aged under 5, resulting in a range of short- and long-term health consequences worldwide. Among the various risk factors, ambient air pollution poses a significant environmental risk and is a key determinant of child health. The prevalence of LBW and PTB among under 5 children sampled from the NFHS-5, 2019-2021, was combined with monthly PM data (2013-2021) obtained from the Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group at Washington University. Multivariable logistic regression models were used, and a stratified analysis was applied to understand the potential effect modifiers in LBW and PTB. Further, the geographical variation of LBW and PTB spatial autocorrelation (Moran's I) was used. Geographically weighted regression and ordinary least square spatial regression were used to identify the spatial heterogeneity associated with selected variables. The study comprises a total of 208,181 under 5 children. Out of these children, the LBW rate was 17.41%, and the rate of PTB was 12.42%. The in-utero exposure to the mean concentration of PM was 56.01 μg/m. The odds of suffering from LBW showed a non-linear shift when PM levels rose from the first octile (<28.02 μg/m) to the last octile (>93.84 μg/m) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12). While comparing the first octile of exposure to PM (>93.84 μg/m) to the last octile, there was a 52% more likelihood of having PTB (AOR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.43-1.61) after accounting for all relevant factors. These findings highlight the urgent need for a thorough strategy to control the air quality in India. Further, to reduce adverse birth outcomes, longitudinal studies and other co-pollutants can consider assessing the possible mechanisms mediating the relationship between maternal exposure and ambient air pollution.
Self-reported health experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the 2021 Australian population census.
Yusuf F, Leeder S, Dickson M … +1 more , de Meyrick J
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jul · PMID 40443137 · Publisher ↗
For the first time, a question relating to certain long-term health conditions was asked in the 2021 Australian population census. The conditions included arthritis, asthma, cancer (including remission), dementia (includ...
For the first time, a question relating to certain long-term health conditions was asked in the 2021 Australian population census. The conditions included arthritis, asthma, cancer (including remission), dementia (including Alzheimer's), diabetes (excluding gestational diabetes), heart disease (including heart attack or angina), kidney disease, lung condition (including COPD or emphysema), mental health condition (including depression or anxiety), and stroke. Respondents could indicate either none or any number of these conditions. In this paper, the data on these conditions have been analysed to compare the self-reported prevalence of diseases among the 23.4 million Australians who responded to this question (median age 39 years), of whom 3.2% were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (median age 24 years). Standardised Morbidity Ratios for each disease were calculated for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by using the relevant age-disease specific morbidity rates for the total population as the 'standard'. Findings of this research revealed that the prevalence of diseases was much higher among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples compared to the total population. The only exception was cancer, where the rates for the two groups were not much different. Gaps in prevalence of diseases in the two groups generally increased with age. The higher rates among the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples emphasise the need for continued action on health equity and the development of more nuanced and focused initiatives to reduce the gaps between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples the total population of Australia. Findings in this paper were consistent with similar studies (albeit largely surveys) on health of the Indigenous peoples in Canada and the Maoris in New Zealand.
Mediating practices in theory and action: apprehending and creating interdisciplinary data in biosocial birth cohort research.
Boudart Z, Arboleda Merino L, Cole F … +1 more , Borra C
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 May · PMID 40415571 · Publisher ↗
Biosocial birth cohort studies are uniquely positioned to be novel sites of interdisciplinary research. Their enduring commitment to specific field sites and populations, recurring grant renewal cycles, ability to ask pr...
Biosocial birth cohort studies are uniquely positioned to be novel sites of interdisciplinary research. Their enduring commitment to specific field sites and populations, recurring grant renewal cycles, ability to ask prospective questions while drawing on long-standing data repositories, and more ensure ongoing collaboration and allow research to remain responsive to the evolving needs and timelines of multiple disciplines. However, it is widely recognised that interdisciplinary work is often easier imagined than achieved, and additional conditions are required to facilitate it beyond assembling teams of varied experts. This piece offers as a concept that refers to the practical, multi-directional, and relational processes that attempt to resolve tensions that interdisciplinary teams often confront. Mediating practices bridge gaps among different disciplines' data and methods, often relying on pragmatic strategies, like re-designing data infrastructures or planning action items after a meeting, to do so. As such, mediating practices are crucial to conducting successful interdisciplinary research. Further, the concept of mediating practices foregrounds the actions of junior team members who often perform these practices, highlighting the need to foster epistemic humility and models of horizontal knowledge production in interdisciplinary teams. Here, the authors discuss their experiences and insights as members of interdisciplinary projects and outline how mediating practices emerged in these projects and enabled interdisciplinary success.
Association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and postpartum depression: a study on low- and middle-income countries with insights from Ghanaian healthcare professionals.
Mari Addo K, Khan HTA, Ohl M
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 May · PMID 40357736 · Publisher ↗
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and postpartum depression (PPD) are significant global health challenges affecting maternal and child well-being. HDP, including pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and chro...
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and postpartum depression (PPD) are significant global health challenges affecting maternal and child well-being. HDP, including pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and chronic hypertension, complicate up to 10% of pregnancies worldwide, with profound implications for maternal mortality, particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) like Ghana. The incidence of HDP is rising globally, contributing substantially to maternal deaths and severe perinatal outcomes such as stillbirth and low birth weight. Concurrently, perinatal mental health issues, including PPD, affect a significant proportion of women globally, with higher prevalence rates observed in LMICs. Despite the known physiological impacts of HDP, their association with maternal mental health remains underexplored, especially in LMIC contexts. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to explore the association between HDP and PPD in LMICs, focusing on available literature and studies from diverse global settings. Additionally, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with healthcare professionals in Ghana to gather insights into local perspectives and experiences regarding this association. The systematic review revealed a consistent association between HDP and increased risk of PPD across various LMIC settings. Meta-analysis findings indicated a significant pooled odds ratio, highlighting a robust statistical linkage between HDP severity and subsequent PPD risk. Qualitative data underscored healthcare professionals' observations of heightened psychological distress among women with HDP, emphasizing the complex interplay between physiological complications and maternal mental health outcomes in the Ghanaian context. The study findings underscore the critical need for integrated maternal health strategies that address both physical and psychological aspects of pregnancy complications like HDP. By elucidating these connections, the study contributes to advancing evidence-based interventions and support systems tailored to LMIC settings, aiming to mitigate adverse maternal mental health outcomes and improve overall perinatal care in Ghana and similar contexts worldwide. These insights are pivotal for informing policy decisions, guiding healthcare practices, and fostering targeted interventions that enhance maternal well-being during the vulnerable perinatal period.
Association between HIV-related knowledge and attitudes towards persons living with HIV in northern Kosovo: the quantile regression approach.
Milic M, Gazibara T, Stevanovic J … +5 more , Patil KH, Mitic K, Subaric Filimonovic J, Milosavljevic M, Dotlic J
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 May · PMID 40337839 · Publisher ↗
Knowledge about HIV and level of HIV-related stigma have been considered the main indicators of the community's readiness to combat and bring the HIV epidemic to an end. Of all Serbia, the northern Kosovo province is esp...
Knowledge about HIV and level of HIV-related stigma have been considered the main indicators of the community's readiness to combat and bring the HIV epidemic to an end. Of all Serbia, the northern Kosovo province is especially vulnerable to the HIV spread because the infrastructure and the entire regulatory system had to be rebuilt after the ethnic conflict. The study objective was to examine the association between HIV-related knowledge level and attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLHIV) among university students from northern Kosovo using the quantile regression. A total of 1,017 students filled in an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire examined socio-demographic characteristics, HIV-related knowledge, attitudes towards PLHIV, sources of information about HIV, past experiences with PLHIV, and health behaviours. The dependent variable in the model was the attitude score (ATS) divided into quantiles (Q) in quantile regression analysis: Q0.10, Q0.25, Q0.50, Q0.75, and Q0.90. The independent variable was the knowledge score (KNS). The model was adjusted for relevant covariates. The majority of students had adequate HIV-related knowledge (89.6%) and 10.4% had lower knowledge. Most students also had a positive attitude (83.9%), while 16.1% were indecisive towards PLHIV. No students exhibiting wrong knowledge and negative attitudes were observed. The KNS and ATS significantly correlated with one another ( = 0.383; = 0.001). The quantile regression model adjusted for variables associated with both KNS and ATS showed a negative association between KNS and ATS in the lowest quantile (Q0.10) of the ATS. In all other quantiles (Q0.25-Q0.90), a higher KNS was associated with having stronger positive attitudes towards PLHIV. This study confirmed that higher knowledge about HIV was associated with stronger positive attitudes towards HIV. Still, some students remain indecisive despite being knowledgeable about HIV. These students could benefit the most from continuing educational programmes to reduce the HIV-related stigma.
Menstrual hygiene practices, determinants, and association with reproductive tract infection in India: a large repeated cross-sectional analysis (2015-2021).
Zode M, Sodhi B, Basu S
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 May · PMID 40336253 · Publisher ↗
The promotion of menstrual health and hygiene globally, especially in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), is a major public health imperative. The primary study objective was to ascertain the change in the patterns of...
The promotion of menstrual health and hygiene globally, especially in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), is a major public health imperative. The primary study objective was to ascertain the change in the patterns of menstrual hygiene practices and their sociodemographic determinants amongst adolescent girls and young women in India. The present study analyses data from the Indian National Family and Health Survey (NFHS), round 4 (2015-2016) and round 5 (2019-21). Women in the age group 15-24 years (n = 241,180) were interviewed regarding their menstrual hygiene practices. The proportion of women using sanitary napkins as absorbent during menstruation increased from 41.8% (NFHS-4) to 64.1% (NFHS-5), with more than six in ten adolescent girls and young women in India using sanitary pads during menses, although the socioeconomically vulnerable more likely to lack access. The higher age group (20-24 years), rural residence, lower wealth quintile, absence of schooling, absence of flush toilets, and lack of exposure to media were factors that were independently associated with the use of cloth as menstrual absorbent. Vaginal discharge was reportedly higher among women using unhygienic products, however, on adjusted analyses, no statistically significant association was observed with the type of absorbent used. The transition from cloth to sanitary pads has nearly doubled on average in the states implementing free and subsidised government pad distribution schemes during the same period.
Effect of 'losses' and other secondary stressors on the association between flooding and psychological health outcomes: a cross-sectional study in Bongaigaon District, India.
Borah G, Saikia N
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 May · PMID 40231457 · Publisher ↗
Fluvial flooding is a recurring event in the Aie River basin in Assam, India. On August 14, 2021, floodwater breached a large stretch of embankment in the Bongaigaon District and inundated several villages. Using a cross...
Fluvial flooding is a recurring event in the Aie River basin in Assam, India. On August 14, 2021, floodwater breached a large stretch of embankment in the Bongaigaon District and inundated several villages. Using a cross-sectional design to conduct household surveys in February and March 2022, the study investigates responses six to seven months following the August 2021 flood disasters. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and risk factors of four psychological health outcomes. Being flooded is strongly and adversely associated with each of these mental health outcomes. After adjusting for the potential confounders, the strength of the relationships is reduced to four times (adjusted OR 4.62 [95% CI 2.63-8.1]; < 0.01) for PTSD, five times (adjusted OR 5.28[95% CI 3.38-8.26]; < 0.01) for anxiety, and three times (adjusted OR 3.45[95% CI 2.24-5.33]; < 0.01) for depression, and 21 times for comorbid PTSD, anxiety, and depression (adjusted OR 21.68[95% CI 7.38-63.74]; < 0.01). The robustness of flood exposure is checked in an extended model. It includes variables that indicate the severity of flooding and various secondary stressors. The present study also explores the effects of 'loss stressors' such as crop loss, workday loss, livestock loss, and damage to infrastructure. Located in a resource-constrained setting, the effects of these factors add value to the study. Longer duration of floodwater in the house premise increases the odds of developing anxiety (adjusted OR 1.69[95% CI 1.04-2.75]; < 0.05) and depression (adjusted OR 1.9[95% CI 1.15-3.12]; < 0.05). Similarly, deeper floodwater inside the house increases the odds of depression (adjusted OR 1.87[95% CI 1.07-3.28]; < 0.05). Among all the 'loss' stressors, damage to houses and the cost of repairing is significantly associated with PTSD (adjusted OR 2.04[95% CI 1.09-3.82]; < 0.05), depression (adjusted OR 2.17[95% CI 1.22-3.87]; < 0.01) and comorbid PTSD, anxiety and depression (adjusted OR 2.16[95% CI 1.07-4.36]; < 0.05).
Pandemic preparedness: what difference does experience make?
Nyakoi M
J Biosoc Sci · 2026 Mar · PMID 40211755 · Full text
This ethnographic study, conducted as part of the Pandemic Preparedness Project, explores the pandemic preparedness of communities in NG and its satellite settlements within Kailahun District, Eastern Province, Sierra Le...
This ethnographic study, conducted as part of the Pandemic Preparedness Project, explores the pandemic preparedness of communities in NG and its satellite settlements within Kailahun District, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone. The research site was particularly significant due to its history as one of the hardest-hit areas during the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak. NG is served by a Peripheral Health Unit (PHU) that provides health services to seven villages, as well as one distant village far from its designated facility. The study employed long-term observational research methods, where the researcher lived within the community, becoming an integrated observer familiar with local customs and daily life. This ethnographic approach aimed to understand the health-seeking behaviors of residents following the Ebola crisis. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic during the study period shifted the focus to examine how the community understood and responded to a new pandemic threat. Additionally, the study reflects on the challenges faced by female social scientists in Sierra Leone, where few are trained in ethnographic methods. This article offers insights into the process of conducting ethnographic research in a challenging context, providing valuable guidance for other female researchers seeking to engage in similar bio-social studies.
Evolution of infant mortality and family-based risk factors in a preindustrial Austrian population: 1630-1908.
Gavrus-Ion A, Esparza M, Sjøvold T … +3 more , Hernández M, Martínez-Abadías N, Esteban E
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 May · PMID 40159902 · Publisher ↗
Infant mortality, a reflection of socioeconomic and health conditions of a population, is shaped by diverse factors. This study delves into a pre-industrial population, scrutinizing neonatal and post-neonatal deaths sepa...
Infant mortality, a reflection of socioeconomic and health conditions of a population, is shaped by diverse factors. This study delves into a pre-industrial population, scrutinizing neonatal and post-neonatal deaths separately. Family factors such as mortality crises, religion, and legitimacy are also explored. Data of 9,086 people obtained through multigenerational information from ecclesiastic records from 1603 to 1908 were analysed by means of a joinpoint regression analysis. Death risk was assessed with univariate and multivariate Cox Proportional Hazard models. Early neonatal mortality was 5.6% of births and showed a gradual and steady increase from 1630 to 1908, with no substantial improvement over the three centuries analysed. Late neonatal (4.3% of births) and post-neonatal mortality (18.7% of births) shared a different pattern, showing a decline between the mid-18th and mid-19th centuries, and an increase by the 20th century that could be caused by socioeconomic factors and the impact of several epidemics. In the historical population of Hallstatt, infant survival was influenced by the sex of the newborn, the death of the mother and the precedent sibling, and by the birth interval. Environmental and cultural factors, such as mortality crises and religion, influenced late neonatal and post-neonatal mortality, but not early neonatal mortality. The results highlight the need to independently assess early neonatal mortality in studies of infant mortality in historical populations, and to use as complete time periods as possible to capture differences in mortality patterns.
Unravelling biosocial dynamics? The placenta as a postgenomic bio-object in environmental epigenetic research on air pollution.
Rossmann S, Müller R
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40143771 · Publisher ↗
Air pollution exposure and its health effects are a central concern of environmental epigenetic research with birth cohorts. This article explores why researchers have turned to the placenta as a research object to study...
Air pollution exposure and its health effects are a central concern of environmental epigenetic research with birth cohorts. This article explores why researchers have turned to the placenta as a research object to study the dynamic interactions between in utero exposure to air pollution and future child health. Drawing on Science and Technology Studies, particularly the bio-object concept, this article analyses the transformation of the placenta into a technologically manipulated postgenomic bio-object through scientific discourse and practice. Building on ethnographic fieldwork conducted at an institute of epidemiology and public health in Spain, we analyse how researchers deal with the tension between the placenta's promises for epigenetic research and the practical research realities in postgenomic sciences. First, researchers discursively call upon the placenta as a suitable research object that embodies air pollution exposure and becomes entangled with and responds to this exposure via epigenetic changes. Studying the placenta promises to elucidate the temporally dynamic and environmentally embedded process of disease development as one of postgenomics' core epistemic concerns. Second, in practice, however, accessing and preparing the postpartum placenta for epigenetic analysis defies its promise as a postgenomic bio-object. The constraints of research with birth cohorts, such as only having access to the postpartum placenta at birth, limit what researchers can know about the dynamic process of disease development. Third, we show how researchers deal with these limitations by assembling additional data in and around this organ to recontextualise the epigenetic analysis performed in the postpartum placenta and revive its postgenomic character. We conclude by discussing how ethnographies of epistemic practices provide entry points to collaboratively reflect upon the theoretical and methodological opportunities and challenges in birth cohort research to study biosocial dynamics. We suggest avenues for using qualitative social science perspectives for future biosocial research and collaboration between the social and life sciences.
What is innovative in qualitative methods in birth Cohort studies? A scoping review.
Watson D, Riley T, Tize C … +3 more , Muniz T, Gibbon S, Pentecost M
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40143762 · Publisher ↗
Longitudinal birth cohort research provides a glimpse into the biological and social trajectories of a cohort of people, which helps us to better understand how to improve health and social outcomes. While qualitative lo...
Longitudinal birth cohort research provides a glimpse into the biological and social trajectories of a cohort of people, which helps us to better understand how to improve health and social outcomes. While qualitative longitudinal, ethnographic, and other qualitative research methods are increasingly used to capture complex data in trials and cohort research, they are relatively less common, and they vary greatly within and across cohorts and national contexts. The aim of this scoping review is to provide an overview of the use of qualitative and innovative methods in longitudinal preconception and birth cohort studies. Innovative methods, defined by Mannell and Davis (2019), go beyond standard surveys, interviews, and focus groups. The review summarises the literature of the integration of qualitative methods into birth cohort methodologies. Five databases were searched systematically, using MeSH and free text terms, for articles published in English before October 2022. Two-thirds of titles, abstracts, and full-text papers were screened by independent reviewers. Data extraction followed the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination guidelines and was based on features of qualitative methods from the COREQ checklist. 43 papers were included from the 13909 papers identified from the database search. The majority of the birth cohort studies used 'traditional qualitative methods' such as focus groups and one-to-one interviews. The studies that used 'innovative qualitative methods' included participatory interviews with photovoice, photographs, and using scenario and story cards, and while not a steadfast requirement of innovation, often included coproduction between the researchers and the participants. Although the literature reports challenges in conducting innovative methods within birth studies such as time and power imbalances between researcher and participant, these methods can help us better understand how to improve social and health outcomes.
Prevalence and experience of violence against persons with disabilities in Bangladesh: findings from a nationwide mixed-method study.
Kaiser A, Sultana S, Rashid SF … +1 more , Hasan T
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 May · PMID 40134333 · Publisher ↗
Current prevalence of disability in Bangladesh stands at 7.14%. Due to various misconceptions, stigma, and lack of policies, they are more vulnerable to violence and abuse from perpetrators. However, there is a paucity o...
Current prevalence of disability in Bangladesh stands at 7.14%. Due to various misconceptions, stigma, and lack of policies, they are more vulnerable to violence and abuse from perpetrators. However, there is a paucity of research on the prevalence of emotional, physical, and sexual violence in the country. To address this knowledge gap, the current study aims to estimate the prevalence and explore the experiences of emotional abuse, physical, and sexual violence of persons with disabilities with their coping strategies. This study adopted a mixed-method sequential design comprising qualitative and quantitative components. A total of 5000 persons with disabilities were interviewed during the survey, and mini-ethnographic case studies were conducted with 51 purposively selected persons with disabilities from all eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh. Descriptive and bivariate statistical analysis was performed for quantitative data. Qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis. The study concludes that the lifetime prevalence of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse is 68.9%, 26.6%, and 11.5%, respectively. Male participants were more prone to experience sexual abuse than females for both lifetimes (male: 12.7% & female: 10.3%) and within the last 12 months before the survey (male: 6.6% & female: 5.1%). Neighbours and close family members were found to be perpetrators of emotional and physical violence, whereas immediate family members were the perpetrators of sexual violence. Even though participants shared several coping mechanisms, equal to or less than 0.5% sought help from a counsellor to cope with the trauma. Results from the study correspond to the earlier studies with implications for future research and urgent policy reform. Although women are more vulnerable to experiencing different forms of violence, men with disabilities are no different. However, this remains unseen and unheard. To reduce the prevalence of violence against this marginalised group, a coordinated and collaborative approach is required targeting nationwide sensitisation, easy access to help-seeking centres, and adequate policy implementation.
Perceived economic uncertainties and childbearing intentions among young cohorts in China: a multinomial analysis.
Ni S
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40129374 · Publisher ↗
Economic uncertainties have become the focus of many recent fertility studies. Embedded in and shaping people's forecasts of the future, economic uncertainties refer to the lack of predictability and stability in the eco...
Economic uncertainties have become the focus of many recent fertility studies. Embedded in and shaping people's forecasts of the future, economic uncertainties refer to the lack of predictability and stability in the economic conditions, such as employment status and labour market situations. It is believed that economic uncertainties can impact fertility outcomes and the timing of family transitions through people's perceptions of varying futures, but much is unexplored in Asian countries, particularly when an economic downturn has been observed and is underway recently. This study's objective was to examine the perceptions of economic uncertainties among young people in China and the influence these had on the value attached to the experience of having children. For this, a national sample of young individuals aged 17 to 33 was recruited online through the Credamo platform. Demographic and individual economic factors were controlled, and multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse the association between economic uncertainties and young people's views on having children. The study found a clear association between economic uncertainties and the necessity and planning for having children. More optimistic expectations for the future economy and labour market were associated with higher likelihood of approving of the necessity of childbearing and childrearing, as well as higher fertility intention. The findings also highlighted associations of other demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, such as sex, marital status, and house ownership. The respondents' expectations of an uncertain future shaped their decisions regarding life events, including future fertility. Thus, assisting young people in gaining a sense of security in the face of social uncertainty is critical in future government policy plans if a fertility rebound in China is to be achieved.
Women's narratives of disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth in Kolkata, India.
Roy P, Sivakami M, Shrivastava S
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40123436 · Publisher ↗
Quality of care during childbirth is crucial to maternal health outcomes. Studies from India that report on women's experiences of disrespect and abuse by healthcare providers during facility-based childbirth are limited...
Quality of care during childbirth is crucial to maternal health outcomes. Studies from India that report on women's experiences of disrespect and abuse by healthcare providers during facility-based childbirth are limited to high-fertility states and predominantly focus on public hospitals. However, the quality of maternal care in states with low fertility rates like West Bengal needs further examination. This study aimed to understand women's experiences of disrespect and abuse and their perceptions of facility-based childbirth. The study focused on public, private, and charitable hospitals in Kolkata district of West Bengal that presents a higher institutional birth rate than the national average. The findings derive from a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 17 postpartum women who had facility-based births within one year before data collection in May 2019. Grounded theory approach was used to iteratively code the interview transcripts, identify reappearing categories, and generate themes through abstraction. The participants' narratives revealed experiences of verbal abuse, neglect and abandonment, poor rapport between providers and women, improper conduct of procedures, health facility conditions and constraints, and instances of overlapping forms of disrespect and abuse. The findings demonstrate the nature of disrespect and abuse across different hospital types in a major metropolis of India. Normalisation of poor-quality care manifested in women's lack of expectations of patient education and attention from providers. Health system conditions and constraints can impact the quality of care that problematise the push for institutional deliveries as a panacea for poor maternal health outcomes. The findings add to long-standing calls for improving maternal experiences of birth with an emphasis on promoting autonomy. National and state guidelines related to maternal health need to be aligned with accepted standards of care. West Bengal must establish ways to assess the implementation of such guidelines on the ground.
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