J Biosoc Sci [JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Relationship between educational assortative mating and reproductive healthcare utilization in Nigeria.
Alawode OA
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40123430 · Publisher ↗
Reproductive health indicators in many developing countries including Nigeria are poor, and this is due to the less-than-optimum utilization of reproductive healthcare that has been linked to numerous factors including t...
Reproductive health indicators in many developing countries including Nigeria are poor, and this is due to the less-than-optimum utilization of reproductive healthcare that has been linked to numerous factors including the educational attainment of women and their partners. In societies like Nigeria, marriage is nearly universal and upheld by patriarchal practices, while education is one of the determining factors for the choice of partner in the marriage market, as it also influences household power dynamics. Despite the plethora of studies investigating the link between education and utilization of these services, there is a paucity of research examining educational assortative mating (EAM) and its link to reproductive healthcare utilization. Hence, this study investigated EAM and explored its association with reproductive healthcare utilization from the perspective of family systems theory. Data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey ( = 19,950) was analysed with frequencies presented and binary logistic regression models fitted. The result showed that high-education (34%) and low-education (46%) homogamy are the most prevalent types of EAM, while 40% of the partnered women reported facility delivery, 11% used modern contraceptives and 20% reported 8+ antenatal care visits. The multivariate analysis showed that compared to women in hypergamy, women in both high-education homogamy and hypogamy are more likely to deliver at a health facility but women in low-education are less likely. Women in both high-education homogamy and hypogamy are more likely, but those in low-education homogamy are less likely to use modern contraceptives. For antenatal care, only women in high-education homogamy are more likely to have 8 or more visits during pregnancy compared to women in hypergamy, while women in low-education homogamy and hypogamy are less likely. These findings provide evidence of the importance of an indicator of social stratification for important family decisions like healthcare utilization.
Assessing the spatio-temporal pattern and determinants of child marriage in Nigeria.
Oyebisi RT, Dawodu OA, Gayawan E
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40091201 · Publisher ↗
Millions of young girls in Nigeria have continued to suffer the negative consequences of early marriage such as discontinuation of education and restricting them from achieving their full potential. Successive Nigerian g...
Millions of young girls in Nigeria have continued to suffer the negative consequences of early marriage such as discontinuation of education and restricting them from achieving their full potential. Successive Nigerian governments have therefore deployed different strategies over the years to mitigate the practice, particularly in the northern part of the country. This study analysed the changes in the pattern of child marriage across space-time in Nigeria using a dataset obtained from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey conducted between 2003 and 2018 at a consecutive interval of 5 years. A Bayesian spatio-temporal random effect model with inference based on integrated nested laplace approximation was considered. Whereas the findings demonstrate a reduction in the practice of child marriage over time everywhere in the country, the prevalence remains highest in States such as Kogi, Niger, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Taraba, and Kaduna, all in the northern part of the country despite the policies, program and interventions by international organisations, Child Right Acts, and Non-governmental organisations. Over the fifteen years, only slight changes were recorded in the Southwest region. Furthermore, higher levels of education, urban residency, household wealth, being a Yoruba, or belonging to a Christian religious group were found to lower the chances of child marriage. State-specific strategic planning would be useful in deploying suitable local solutions to reduce child marriage in Nigeria.
Are internal migrants (head porters) sexually vulnerable due to the coronavirus pandemic? A qualitative study of the situation in Ghana.
Dun-Dery EJ, Dun-Dery F, Ashinyo ME … +1 more , Avoka J
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40071434 · Publisher ↗
Head porterage, popularly known in Ghana as Kayayei, has been an old economic venture for young girls and women who migrate from the northern to the southern part of the country. Even though Head Porters view Kayayei as...
Head porterage, popularly known in Ghana as Kayayei, has been an old economic venture for young girls and women who migrate from the northern to the southern part of the country. Even though Head Porters view Kayayei as a source of livelihood, conditions such as the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) further worsened their sexual vulnerabilities, as well as their autonomy to make decisions on contraceptive use. Head Porters, as a term defined in this study, refers to women aged 15 years or older who carry loads from one point of the town to another for a fee. The study is qualitative and used both purposive and simple random sampling in recruiting 120 Head Porters for focus group discussions. The study was planned and implemented in three zones in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital of Ghana, during the lockdown period (between March and April 2020). Factors such as access to contraceptives, self-reported sexual desire, and partner desire to use condoms, sexual demands, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on contraceptive access were assessed. Sexual demands increased during the COVID-19 period, with most Head Porters indicating they used fewer condoms and contraceptives during the same period. The desire to use a condom was limited among both Head Porters and their partners, and access to contraceptives was hampered by fear of getting infected by COVID-19 from a health worker at family planning clinics. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the sexual and economic vulnerabilities of Head Porters in Ghana and impacted their access to family planning services. Governmental and international organizations need to start developing intervention programs for vulnerable populations such as Head Porters before future disease outbreaks.
Impact of Covid-19 on antenatal care: evidence from Madagascar Demographic and Health Survey.
Magadi MA, Obare FO, Kaseje N … +1 more , Wu P
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40071331 · Publisher ↗
Despite the growing literature on the impact of Covid-19 on antenatal care (ANC) and maternal/neonatal and child health outcomes globally, substantial knowledge gaps remain about the population-level impact in sub-Sahara...
Despite the growing literature on the impact of Covid-19 on antenatal care (ANC) and maternal/neonatal and child health outcomes globally, substantial knowledge gaps remain about the population-level impact in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Existing evidence on the ANC impact of Covid-19 in SSA is largely based on health facility or small-scale qualitative research, which are limited in providing population-level understanding. This paper examines the extent to which Covid-19 impacted ANC service utilisation and identifies what population sub-groups were most adversely impacted. It is based on a secondary analysis of the Madagascar Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), the first DHS in SSA released following the Covid-19 pandemic. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the net effect of Covid-19 on ANC and identify the most at-risk population sub-groups. The findings show that all ANC measures considered (no ANC, early ANC, adequate ANC visits) were significantly affected by Covid-19 (p<0.05). On average, Covid-19 was associated with a 42% increase in the odds of having no ANC, a 22% reduction in the odds of starting early ANC during the first trimester, and a 22% reduction in the odds of receiving adequate ANC (at least four visits, starting during the first trimester). Births to older mothers and to mothers with no education were disproportionately affected during Covid-19. Although youth aged 15-24 had poorer ANC compared to older women before the pandemic, the pattern was reversed during the pandemic. Also, the protective effect of education was stronger during than before the pandemic. These findings underscore the importance of Covid-19 impact mitigation strategies targeting the most at-risk groups (e.g. older mothers). Furthermore, essential information/education during pandemics should be in formats accessible to non-literate women. This paper advances understanding of the population-level impact of Covid-19 on ANC and emphasises the need for further research to better understand the population-level impact of Covid-19 across countries of SSA.
Health system mistrust, ultra-orthodox Jews in the US, and vaccine hesitancy.
Berger Z
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40062766 · Publisher ↗
A minority of ultra-Orthodox (Charedi) Jews choose not to be vaccinated, and their refusal has assumed significant importance from a variety of perspectives. Clinicians often encounter patients whose beliefs are differen...
A minority of ultra-Orthodox (Charedi) Jews choose not to be vaccinated, and their refusal has assumed significant importance from a variety of perspectives. Clinicians often encounter patients whose beliefs are different from their own. Vaccine hesitancy within the US Charedi Jewish community is a factor contributing to outbreaks of disease, reflecting a growing mistrust between communities and arms of the State played out on the terrain of bodies and societies. Clinicians need to be aware of and understand this broader context as a foundation of empathetic listening and epistemic humility that might lead to improved health for the Charedi community based on reinforced trust.
Excavating LGBTQ+ lives in the birth cohort: an exploration of pen portraits and data storytelling.
Tabor E, Carpentieri JD
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40062746 · Publisher ↗
Birth cohort studies provide invaluable data on topics across the lifecourse, including health, education, socioeconomic conditions, and well-being. As a result, they are an important resource for biosocial researchers t...
Birth cohort studies provide invaluable data on topics across the lifecourse, including health, education, socioeconomic conditions, and well-being. As a result, they are an important resource for biosocial researchers to answer numerous complex research questions. However, despite being positioned as representative of their national or regional context, cohort studies often fail to capture the experience of marginalised groups.One such group is sexual and gender minority (or LGBTQ+) people who, until very recently, have been largely invisible in birth cohorts. This is despite huge social and attitudinal changes in the last fifty years and clear evidence of the social, political, economic, and health and well-being disparities experienced compared to heterosexual cisgender people. However, due to small numbers, opportunities for quantitative analysis are limited and result in the neglect of LGBTQ+ data even when it is captured.This article presents a brief overview of how queer lives have (and have not) been captured by standard data collection and analysis techniques in the British birth cohort studies. Then, using a cohort born in 1970, the authors explore the possibilities of person-centred mixed-method pen portraits to improve understanding of this group's life trajectories.
Navigating the biosocial: perspectives of early career researchers working with birth cohorts.
Borra C, Tabor E, Cole F … +1 more , Stock S
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Feb · PMID 40017106 · Publisher ↗
In recent years, there have been increasing calls for the development and growth of the biosocial as a paradigm through which to tackle complex problems. The use of birth cohorts, mixed methods frameworks, and interdisci...
In recent years, there have been increasing calls for the development and growth of the biosocial as a paradigm through which to tackle complex problems. The use of birth cohorts, mixed methods frameworks, and interdisciplinary work are common in biosocial research. However, these practices are also theoretically and practically complex due to epistemic, methodological, and academic challenges - particularly for early career researchers (ECRs) who face time constraints, funding limitations, and disciplinary expectations.This paper draws on lessons from the experiences of ECRs in biosocial research by reflecting on theoretical heterogeneity, the necessity of translation and negotiation across disciplines and methodologies, and the practicalities of funding, collaboration, and dissemination. Throughout, the paper discusses strategies to overcome common challenges and provide suggestions for fellow ECRs and those interested in biosocial ECR training and development. The paper highlights the importance of strong networks with senior biosocial researchers and peers, the value of practical support, and the importance of formal and informal learning opportunities. The authors call for the enthusiasm for biosocial research to be matched with investment in the development and support for ECRs.
Identifying the reasons why men marry teenage girls: a qualitative study from the perspective of men in western Iran.
Yoosefi Lebni J, Ahmadi A, Irandoost SF … +1 more , Saki M
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jan · PMID 40012314 · Publisher ↗
Marriage with teenage girls is an important health and social challenge, which is caused by various factors. Considering that no research has been done to show the reasons for men's desire to marry teenage girls, this re...
Marriage with teenage girls is an important health and social challenge, which is caused by various factors. Considering that no research has been done to show the reasons for men's desire to marry teenage girls, this research was conducted with the aim of identifying the reasons why men marry teenage girls in western Iran. This qualitative research was conducted with the conventional content analysis approach among 37 men in western Iran who married to girls under the age of 18. Targeted, theoretical, and snowball sampling methods were used to reach the participants. To collect data, semi-structured interviews were used both in-person (20 people) and online (17 people). Data analysis was done with Graneheim and Lundman approach and checking the accuracy and strength of the results with Guba and Lincoln criteria. One core category, 9 subcategories, and 88 initial codes were obtained from the data analysis. The core category, foresight along with desired upbringing, included the subcategories of getting sure of purity, to bring up the girl, seeking sexual pleasure, dominating the wife, low expectations, appropriate fertility, encouragement of social organizations and families, following models, and cultural beliefs. The reasons for men marrying teenage girls are rooted in personality traits, family encouragement, and the cultural and social context of the society. Marriage with teenage girls can be prevented by intervening at different levels and taking measures such as training and raising men's awareness about the consequences of marrying teenage girls, changing men's cultural and gender beliefs, raising the awareness of parents and social organizations about the adverse effects of child marriage, and establishing appropriate laws.
Cultural persistence in health-seeking behaviour: a mixed-method study of traditional healing practices among Garo tribal women in Meghalaya, India.
Mal P, Saikia N
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40012306 · Publisher ↗
The Garo tribe, one of a major indigenous communities of Meghalaya, India, relies heavily on their traditional health practices. This research investigates the healthcare-seeking behaviour of Garo women, their health con...
The Garo tribe, one of a major indigenous communities of Meghalaya, India, relies heavily on their traditional health practices. This research investigates the healthcare-seeking behaviour of Garo women, their health concerns, their indigenous medical knowledge, and their reasons for preferring traditional over modern medicines. Conducted in East Garo Hills, Meghalaya, quantitative data (N = 96) were randomly collected from Garo women aged 15-49 through interviews to understand their health-seeking behaviour. Following a preliminary analysis, qualitative data (N = 12) were gathered through in-depth interviews to identify common illnesses, dimensions of traditional medicines, and reasons for dependency on them. Thematic analysis was performed using Atlas Ti. The result shows that almost 84% of Garo women (N = 86) seek treatment from (traditional healer) for (traditional) medicine, with only 6% using modern health facilities and 10% relying on herbal home remedies. Garo women rely on their age-old traditional remedies for health issues, irrespective of their educational or economic status. From the qualitative findings, this study explores the Garo tribe's unique traditional medicine, known as ' medicine', prepared through local herbs and plants, and is disseminated by traditional healers, or ', whose knowledge is generational. Moreover, every Garo household possesses medicinal plants, and all are knowledgeable about their use. Major health issues faced by Garo women are menstrual disorders, post-delivery weakness, fever with severe headache and jaundice. Reasons for using medicines are more effectiveness than modern medicines, cultural identity, preference for natural remedies, efficiency of , availability, accessibility, and affordability of . Meanwhile, the reasons for using limited use of modern healthcare facilities are poor quality of service and remote location. This study underscores the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge systems and respecting cultural heritage while ensuring the well-being of marginalised communities. Additionally, it highlights the need to improve modern healthcare quality and public transportation in the region.
Critical theory and cultural competency in medical QI projects: lessons from Pacific Islander communities.
Martorana A, Katta S, Huynh H … +2 more , Ulger E, Andrion J
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 40012300 · Publisher ↗
This reflection explores the transformative power of critical theory through a quality improvement (QI) project creating culturally relevant dietary resources for Pacific Islander communities in Washington State, USA. Fo...
This reflection explores the transformative power of critical theory through a quality improvement (QI) project creating culturally relevant dietary resources for Pacific Islander communities in Washington State, USA. Food injustice and lack of food sovereignty are examined as manifestations of modern-day colonialism perpetuated by capitalist-driven social structures. The methodology employed critical reflection, defined as the process of examining assumptions and power relations that shape practice, central to critical theory. Iterative group discussions aimed to understand the impact of individual and collective assumptions, power dynamics, and oppression on the project's conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation.Specific recommendations are integrated into the discussion to aid those replicating similar protocols, emphasizing actionable steps such as engaging with the community at all project stages. The research team, composed of osteopathic medical students and a critical theory expert, engaged in reflexivity to understand how social locations and lived experiences influenced perceptions. Despite the goal of fostering cultural inclusivity, limitations in engaging the Pacific Islander community throughout the project lifecycle highlighted the need for cultural humility and participatory action methodology.This study underscores the importance of understanding the history and socio-political context of marginalized communities to avoid perpetuating colonial practices and trauma. It emphasizes the necessity for medical schools to incorporate sociological theories into curricula to promote compassionate, culturally appropriate care and research. By critically examining positionality and engaging in transformative learning, the group advocates for systemic changes towards a more equitable global healthcare system.Through critical reflection, the group has come to understand how lived experiences have shaped perceptions of oppression, which are entrenched within and perpetuated by social institutions. Actionable items from these reflections are presented to help future practitioners and educators apply cultural humility, community empowerment, and critical theory in QI projects.
Covert contraceptive use among women with a previous unintended pregnancy in Nigeria: A multilevel investigation of individual- and contextual-level factors.
Ujah OI, Salemi JL, Rapkin RB … +3 more , Sappenfield W, Daley EM, Kirby RS
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 39995011 · Publisher ↗
Covert contraceptive use is a strategy to avoid unintended pregnancy. However, evidence regarding the multilevel factors linking past experiences of unintended pregnancy with covert contraceptive use is limited. The obje...
Covert contraceptive use is a strategy to avoid unintended pregnancy. However, evidence regarding the multilevel factors linking past experiences of unintended pregnancy with covert contraceptive use is limited. The objective of this study was to identify the compositional and contextual factors associated with covert contraceptive use among women with a prior unintended pregnancy. Framed by the socio-ecological model, a cross-sectional study was conducted using data from Round 5 of the Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 project in Nigeria. Non-pregnant women aged 15-49 years who reported a previous mistimed or unwanted pregnancy were included (N = 1631). Multilevel logistic regression models with random intercepts were specified to investigate the relationship between covert contraceptive use and compositional and contextual factors. Approximately 4.54% (95% CI = 3.28-6.25) of women reported covert contraceptive use. At the individual level, having less than secondary education (aOR = 5.88, 95% CI = 1.20-28.72) and being single (aOR = 11.29, 95% CI = 2.93-43.56) were associated with higher odds of covert contraceptive use. There was no significant association between covert contraceptive use and the type of unintended pregnancy (mistimed: aOR = 3.13, 95% CI = 0.88-11.13). At the community level, living in a community with average poverty levels (aOR = 6.18, 95% CI = 1.18-32.55) and high exposure to family planning mass media (aOR = 6.84, 95% CI = 1.62-29.11) were associated with higher odds of covert contraceptive use. Measures of variation showed significant variation in covert contraceptive use across communities. Further research is warranted to better understand the underlying mechanisms in these observed associations and variations in covert contraceptive use among women following the experience of an unintended pregnancy. Additionally, there is a need to design family planning strategies that integrate community-level structures.
Flushed with success: how participation in social schemes influences toilet adoption in rural India.
Tyagi M, Kumar D, Hussain MA … +1 more , Khan MT
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 39973143 · Publisher ↗
Despite significant public health investments, rural India's sanitation challenges persist, raising questions about effective intervention strategies. This study investigates the influence of participation in social sche...
Despite significant public health investments, rural India's sanitation challenges persist, raising questions about effective intervention strategies. This study investigates the influence of participation in social schemes on household sanitation behaviours, specifically toilet adoption and soap usage. Using panel data from the India Human Development Survey (2004-05 and 2011-12), a Linear Probability Model with Propensity Score Matching is employed to address potential selection bias. Results indicate that scheme participation increases toilet adoption by 45.5% and soap usage by 13.8%, with effects varying by socio-economic status, demographic characteristics, and local infrastructure. Particularly strong impacts are observed among historically disadvantaged communities, suggesting that social schemes can effectively reduce sanitation inequities. The spillover effect on soap usage indicates these interventions may catalyse broader hygiene behaviour changes. The findings highlight the value of social schemes in improving rural sanitation practices and offer insights for future programme design.
Menarche and pubertal progression: a cross-sectional analysis of timing and influencing factors in North-Eastern Ghana.
Alatiah GA, Azupogo F, Atosona A … +3 more , Vuvor F, Steiner-Asiedu M, Brouwer ID
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jan · PMID 39924306 · Publisher ↗
Menarche and pubertal onset vary across populations but understanding age-at-menarche (AAM) and pubertal growth tempo is limited in low-income settings. Identifying factors influencing pubertal development is vital for c...
Menarche and pubertal onset vary across populations but understanding age-at-menarche (AAM) and pubertal growth tempo is limited in low-income settings. Identifying factors influencing pubertal development is vital for creating targeted health and education programmes supporting adolescent girls' well-being. Baseline data ( = 1045) from the Ten2Twenty-Ghana study were analysed to examine menarche attainment, pubertal development, AAM, and the associated factors among girls aged 10-17 years in the Mion district, Ghana. The data collection methods included anthropometry, body composition, haemoglobin status, a qualitative 24-hour dietary recall, a food frequency questionnaire, and a pubertal development score (PDS). Binary logistic and linear regression analyses were used to model odds ratios for menarche attainment and regression coefficients for AAM and PDS. About 19.9% of the girls had experienced menarche, with a mean AAM of 13.4 ± 1.5 years. Among post-menarche girls (n = 205/1045), 12.2% and 15.1% experienced early (AAM < 12 years) and late menarche (AAM < 15 years), respectively. The mean PDS was 1.8 ± 0.7 out of 4. Among the adolescent girls, 36.2% were prepubertal, 17.0% early -pubertal, 18.6% mid-pubertal, 27.9% late pubertal, and less than 1% were in the post-pubertal stage. An increase in fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), height-for-age-z-score (HAZ), and body mass index-for-age-z-score (BAZ) was observed with puberty progression, but a steep decline in HAZ was noticed for girls in late puberty, increasing again post-puberty. Being older (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.06, 95% C.I.: 1.83, 2.31), stunted (AOR= 0.20, 95% C.I.: 0.10, 0.40), thin (AOR = 0.30, 95% C.I.: 0.11, 0.80), and overweight/obese (AOR = 7.29, 95% C.I.: 2.60, 20.43) were the significant predictors of menarche attainment. Being older (β = 0.39, < 0.0001), stunted (β= -0.92, = 0.01), thin (β = 1.25, = 0.01), and having a literate mother (β = -0.72, = 0.03) were significantly associated with AMM. A higher HAZ, FM, FFM, age, and Konkomba ethnicity were positively associated with higher PDS. This study highlights the complexity of factors influencing menarche and pubertal development. These insights are essential for developing targeted health and educational programmes that address nutritional and socio-demographic disparities to promote adolescent girls' well-being and healthy pubertal development.
Navigating the currents: understanding awareness, attitudes, and menstrual hygiene management challenges in Bangladesh's Haor Region.
Basit A, Antu OS, Mithun M … +1 more , Islam MS
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jan · PMID 39901581 · Publisher ↗
Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is an important but often neglected aspect of women's health worldwide, especially in developing and disaster-prone countries, such as Bangladesh. This qualitative study aimed to invest...
Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is an important but often neglected aspect of women's health worldwide, especially in developing and disaster-prone countries, such as Bangladesh. This qualitative study aimed to investigate awareness, attitudes, and practices related to MHM among girls in the Haor region, particularly during floods. The study adopts a phenomenological approach, and data were collected using purposive sampling from 33 women aged 15 years and above who resided in the Haor region. Thematic analysis was employed to identify the patterns, themes, and subthemes within the qualitative data. The study reveals a significant lack of widespread knowledge about menstruation among girls in the Haor area, which is associated with unfavourable family and social attitudes, and stigma or taboos. Natural hazards, cultural barriers, access to the market, economic incapacity, and inadequate infrastructure make it very difficult to manage menstruation, which is especially aggravated during floods due to displacement and shelter on the roadside, primary schools, and other people's houses. This research emphasises the need for tailored MHM programmes from the government to address the unique challenges faced by women in Haor regions. Provision of sanitary napkins and essential medicines, maintaining stock in shelters, and equipping community clinics with MHM-related healthcare services are essential. Finally, NGOs should prioritise MH within their scope of work.
Exploring the lived experience of economic insecurity and health among people accessing charity-run food provision services in Bristol, UK.
Stone G, Papadaki A
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jan · PMID 39895221 · Publisher ↗
The UK has experienced alarming increases in the number of individuals living with food insecurity as a result of the rise in the cost of living. The mechanisms linking household economic insecurity to food insecurity, a...
The UK has experienced alarming increases in the number of individuals living with food insecurity as a result of the rise in the cost of living. The mechanisms linking household economic insecurity to food insecurity, and perceived health outcomes, are not well understood. The aim of this study was to explore how individuals with lived experience of food insecurity are coping with the rise in the cost of living, the trade-offs they might be making between food and other household expenses, and how these might impact eating behaviours and health outcomes. Using a qualitative inductive approach rooted in hermeneutic phenomenology, nine semi-structured interviews were conducted among individuals using charity-run food provision services in Bristol, UK. Narrative accounts from these interviews were analysed thematically. Almost all participants were recipients of benefits at the time of interviews and were living under high levels of economic insecurity. The rise in the cost of living forced complex budget management strategies, including relying on donated food and shoplifting. It also influenced eating behaviours through altered cooking strategies to save energy, substituting food for cheaper, less-nutritious, alternatives, and rationing meals. Food insecurity was experienced as a form of psychosocial violence, engendering high levels of stress, particularly for individuals with diet-related chronic diseases. There is therefore an urgent need for policies that tackle structural causes of overall household economic insecurity, and improve economic access to adequate nutritious foods, to prevent further entrenching social inequalities.
Association between household air pollution due to solid fuel use and sleep problems among older adults in India.
Rani R, Selvamani Y, Arokiasamy P
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jan · PMID 39895216 · Publisher ↗
Household air pollution (HAP) presents numerous health challenges. The association between HAP and sleep problems has not been extensively studied. This paper examined the effect of HAP due to solid fuel use on sleep pro...
Household air pollution (HAP) presents numerous health challenges. The association between HAP and sleep problems has not been extensively studied. This paper examined the effect of HAP due to solid fuel use on sleep problems among older adults in India. Data from the initial phase of the Longitudinal Aging Study in India, which included 51,060 individuals aged 50 years and older, was utilised. Sleep problems were defined as experiencing difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, or waking up too early at least five times per week and were classified as a binary variable. Exposure to HAP was defined as the use of solid fuel for household purposes. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to assess the association, and additionally, interaction analysis was conducted to explore the potential moderating effects of age, gender, and residence on this association. The prevalence of sleep problems among older adults was around 12.7%. Sleep problems were higher among older adults who used solid fuel for cooking (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.33) and other purposes (OR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.20) in the adjusted model. The place of cooking, ventilation, and type of stove played a significant role in the association between solid fuel use and sleep problems. Individuals over 65, females, and those residing in rural areas were particularly vulnerable to sleep problems due to HAP exposure. The findings highlight the importance of reducing HAP exposure by transitioning to clean fuels as a public health priority within initiatives aimed at promoting healthy aging.
COVID-19 vaccine anxieties: exploring social and political drivers of vaccine attitudes in Kono District, Sierra Leone.
Malcolm LJ, McLean KE
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Mar · PMID 39773779 · Publisher ↗
As COVID-19 spread rapidly during the early months of the pandemic, many communities around the globe anxiously waited for a vaccine. At the start of the pandemic, it was widely believed that Africa would be a significan...
As COVID-19 spread rapidly during the early months of the pandemic, many communities around the globe anxiously waited for a vaccine. At the start of the pandemic, it was widely believed that Africa would be a significant source of infection, and thus, vaccinating African communities became a primary goal among local and global health authorities. However, when the COVID-19 vaccine became available in March 2021 in Sierra Leone, many people viewed it with scepticism and hesitation. While much literature has focused on access and distribution-related challenges for vaccination in the region, a growing number of studies discuss vaccine hesitancy as driving low vaccine uptake. Shifting attention to understanding the determinants of vaccine hesitancy remains fundamental to increasing vaccination rates, as negative vaccine perceptions tend to delay or prevent vaccination. This study sought to do this by assessing, through semi-structured qualitative interviews, vaccine-related attitudes and experiences of residents of Sierra Leone's Kono District. In contrast to studies that utilise "knowledge-deficit" models of belief, however, this study drew upon the vaccine anxieties framework (Leach and Fairhead, 2007), which views vaccines as being imbued with personal, historical, and political meaning. Findings suggest that important bodily, social, and political factors, including fear of side effects, the spread of misinformation prompted by poor messaging strategies, and distrust of government and international actors, influenced people's COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and behaviours. It is hoped that the study's findings will inform future policies and interventions related to vaccine uptake in Africa and globally.
Intergenerational trends in body size among Moscow's young adults: socio-demographic influences of the 20th century.
Khafizova AA, Negasheva MA, Movsesian AA
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jan · PMID 39773669 · Publisher ↗
This study aimed to investigate the influence of socio-demographic and epidemiological factors on the secular changes in body size indicators (height, weight, and BMI) among young adults aged 17-22 years in Moscow from t...
This study aimed to investigate the influence of socio-demographic and epidemiological factors on the secular changes in body size indicators (height, weight, and BMI) among young adults aged 17-22 years in Moscow from the early 20th century to the present. Published average anthropometric data from screening surveys conducted from 1880/1925-26 to 2020-21 were analysed (4,823 males and 5,952 females), along with demographic data from the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation. Findings revealed consistent anthropometric trends and strong associations between secular changes in body size of Moscow youth and socio-demographic indicators such as population size, life expectancy, and infant mortality rates. An increase in height and weight was noted against the backdrop of urbanisation, increased life expectancy, and reduced infant mortality. These results indicate that the urbanisation process and the transformation of the epidemiological landscape in 20th-century Russia - marked by enhancements in public health, modernisation of the healthcare system, and medical advancements - have had a significant impact on changes in body size across generations. Notably, from the mid-20th century onwards, with the exception of the final decade, conditions favourable to growth and development were established, culminating in a significant increase in definitive anthropometric parameters across successive generations. The findings underscore the imperative for policymakers to bolster investments in urban development, healthcare, and education. Such strategic investments are essential for sustaining and amplifying the positive physical development trends witnessed.
Child marriage, educational attainment, and comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS: a multi-country analysis.
Onagoruwa A, Wodon Q
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jan · PMID 39763169 · Publisher ↗
Understanding the link between HIV/AIDS knowledge and child marriage is important for designing and planning effective intervention programmes. Despite significant advances in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, it remain...
Understanding the link between HIV/AIDS knowledge and child marriage is important for designing and planning effective intervention programmes. Despite significant advances in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, it remains important to study the impact of child marriage on HIV/AIDS knowledge because HIV/AIDS continues to affect millions globally. This study investigated the association of child marriage with scores on an index measuring comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention. Analysis was conducted on a sample of women aged 18-24 years, using nationally representative DHS household surveys from 18 countries. Findings indicate that there is no direct statistically significant effect of child marriage on women's comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS once controls for other factors affecting knowledge are included in the regression. However, the coefficients for educational attainment are statistically significant in most countries, at least when secondary or higher education is considered. This suggests that child marriage may affect knowledge about HIV/AIDS indirectly through its impact on educational attainment for girls who marry early.
Breathing in danger: unveiling cooking fuel transitions in India and alarming effect of household air pollution on under-five children's health.
Bajpayee PM, Mohanty PC, Yadav MK
J Biosoc Sci · 2025 Jan · PMID 39552421 · Publisher ↗
Air pollution in households is a prime contributor to health issues in developing countries, as in the case of India. According to the latest National Family Health Survey Report 2022, more than half of India's rural pop...
Air pollution in households is a prime contributor to health issues in developing countries, as in the case of India. According to the latest National Family Health Survey Report 2022, more than half of India's rural population and 41 per cent overall still depend on solid or unclean fuel combustions, which may reflect in future health hazards. Thus, it is crucial to understand the issue empirically. To that end, the study traces the transitional pattern of unclean cooking fuel users towards clean fuel over the last 30 years using responses from all five National Family Health Survey rounds. Further, the study uses an adjusted probit model to analyse the determinants that lead to the choice of cooking fuel in a household and a logistic model to examine the association between the choice made and the respiratory health of children under five. The empirical results show that the number of households using unclean fuel has declined over the years, with a slightly higher decline in the last five years. Moreover, it also shows that poverty status and place of residence significantly influence cooking fuel choice. Additionally, children residing in households that use clean fuels are less likely to suffer respiratory infections. In conclusion, the present study provides strong evidence to ameliorate the existing policies in a way that exhorts clean energy use. The authors propose pro-poor, pro-rural policies to expedite the clean energy transition, benefitting the most vulnerable households.
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