Cent Of Women Research Articles

THE LINK BETWEEN WORK RESOURCES AND THE FULFILMENT OF FAMILY DEMANDS: MEDIATION ANALYSIS

This study aims to analyze the relationship between work resources and the fulfilment of family demands and to test the mediation effect of work-family enrichment self-efficacy on this relationship. Previous studies focus more on the antecedents and outcomes of work-family enrichment, while the psychological mechanism of work-family enrichment stays under research. The Work-home resources model was used to looked deeper in the mechanism. A convenience sample of 233 Lithuanian employees participated in the study (85.4 per cent of women; average age 39.63 years). The scales of work resources and the scale of fulfilment of family needs have been developed on the basis of the Work-home resources model. In addition, a work-family enrichment self-efficacy scale and demographic questions were used. The results showed positive correlations between all variables tested. Work resources predict a higher level of work-family self-efficacy and the fulfilment of family demands. Meanwhile, the results showed a significant mediation effect. Study revealed that work-family enrichment self-efficacy is an important mediator that helps to better understand the mechanism of work-family enrichment.

Physiotherapy management of acute perineal trauma: a patient satisfaction survey

Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training is recommended in the immediate postpartum period because it can restore PFM function and prevent pelvic floor dysfunction. There are no national physiotherapy guidelines on how to deliver this intervention in the acute period. There is also no consensus on the need for outpatient follow-up to treat pelvic floor dysfunction that arises from perineal trauma, or as a preventative strategy in the long term. The aim of this study was to evaluate a current service provided for women with acute perineal trauma. The authors assessed patient satisfaction and compliance with physiotherapy advice, and identified preferences for future service development. One hundred and thirty patients completed satisfaction questionnaires after receiving inpatient physiotherapy treatment. Thirty consented to completing a retrospective telephone consultation about their care at 6–8 weeks postpartum. The questionnaire found high levels of satisfaction, and recorded a National Health Service Friends and Family Test score of 93. In the telephone consultation, 87% of the women reported that they were complying with ongoing PFM training. Eighty-five per cent of women who completed the questionnaire suggested that outpatient physiotherapy follow-up would be useful. Fifty per cent stated that options inclusive of outpatient follow-up would be useful for onward service development. Because of the high levels of satisfaction recorded and high compliance with the information provided in the acute postpartum period, it was concluded that the service should continue as it is. It is hoped that this service evaluation can be utilized as a benchmark for other acute and outpatient pelvic health physiotherapy services.

Gender Differences in Intra-Household Efficiency: Evidence from an Investment Game Between Spouses in India

In this paper, I test for gender differences in intra-household allocative efficiency through a laboratory experiment with established married couples in India. The experiment presents the couple with the opportunity to earn 50 per cent of daily household expenditure. Spouses played an investment game where one spouse was randomly assigned to the role of sender and the other to receiver. The setting of the game is unique in several ways. There is perfect information over strategies, actions, and final payoffs. Second mover spouses can react to the first movers’ actions, which is rare in intra-household experiments. The unitary and cooperative models of the household are rejected as only 5 per cent of men and 2 per cent of women in the sender role play the household earnings maximising strategy. Women send significantly less money than their male counterparts. Women (senders) who keep more money are those in households where husbands’ tobacco consumption is largest costing households the equivalent of 30 per cent of daily household expenditure. The results indicate that households operate under non-cooperative bargaining contracts where women are willing to incur costs to maintain control over money.

Symptom flares in women with chronic pelvic pain: Questionnaire study within a cohort study (translational research in pelvic pain (TRiPP)).

To quantify the variation, triggers and impact on quality of life of symptom flares in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Cross-sectional questionnaire within the Translational Research in Pelvic Pain clinical cohort study. Women with CPP, with subgroups of women with endometriosis (EAP), interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (BPS), comorbid endometriosis and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (EABP), and those with pelvic pain without endometriosis or interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (PP). A total of 100 participants. Descriptive and comparative analysis from flares questionnaire. The prevalence, characteristics and triggers of short, medium and long symptom flares in CPP. We received 100 responses of 104 questionnaires sent. Seventy-six per cent of women with CPP have ever experienced symptom flares of at least one length (short, medium and/or long). Flares are associated with painful and non-painful symptoms. There is large variation for the frequency, duration, symptoms and triggers for flares. Over 60% of participants reported flares as stopping them from doing things they would usually do, >80% reported thinking about symptoms of flares and >80% reported flares being bothersome. Flares are prevalent and clinically very important in CPP. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and characteristics underlying flares. Clinical practice should include an enquiry into flares with the aim of finding strategies to lessen their burden.

The gender gap in lifetime earnings: A microsimulation approach

AbstractTo obtain a more complete understanding of the persisting gender earnings gap in Germany, this paper investigates both the cross‐sectional and lifetime dimension of gender inequalities. Based on a dynamic microsimulation model, we analyse how gender differences accumulate over work lives to examine the lifetime dimension of the gender gap. We estimate an average gender gap in lifetime earnings of 51.5 per cent for birth cohorts 1964–72. We show that this unadjusted gender lifetime earnings gap increases strongly with the number of children, ranging from 17.3 per cent for childless women to 68.0 per cent for women with three or more children. Results from a counterfactual analysis approach show an adjusted gender gap in lifetime earnings of around 10 per cent, suggesting that the gender gap in lifetime earnings is rather driven by gender differences in observable characteristics than by differences in rewards.

Socio-economic and Demographic Factors Influencing the Nutritional Status of Lactating Mothers in Delhi, India

Nutrition deficiency is commonly observed in lactating mothers and is a rising trend in India due to improper dietary patterns, physiological factors, socio-economic and demographic factors. The aim was to study the nutritional status and its related factors among lactating mothers in the urban areas of Delhi region, India. A structured, pre-tested and validated questionnaire was used to capture the socio-demographic information, including economical and medical conditions, of 150 lactating women in Delhi, India. Pearson correlation coefficient and association of various factors were determined. 72.5 per cent of women were in the age bracket of 20–25 years and in low-income group (70 per cent). The prevalence of underweight was 21.33 per cent, and the mean and SD of body mass index (BMI) of mothers were 19.17 ± 2.1 and 20.70 ± 2.3 for sedentary and moderate workers, respectively. There were significant correlations found between BMI, energy, carbohydrates, fat and protein intake ( p < .05). Multivariate regression model was used to associate the nutrition of participants’ income group, education, type of work, age of mothers and frequency of meals. Based on the results, intervention programmes for dietary correction and the effect of nutrition on the body have to be emphasised to lactating mothers for better health and nutritional outcomes.

Ayurvedic Approach to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a systemic, endocrinal and also a metabolic disorder and it is the most common cause of hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation occurring in reproductive age group. Approximately 75 percent of anovulatory women of any cause have polycystic ovaries and 20 to 25 per cent of women with normal ovulation demonstrate ultrasound findings typical of polycystic ovaries. In Ayurvedic literature, Acharya Kashyapa mentioned about Pushpagni jataharini, it bears some resemblance with symptoms of PCOS. Most of the symptoms seen in PCOS are related to the Artavavaha srotas. In Bhaishajya Ratnavali, it is mentioned that Patoladi Kwatha is Hitakara for Andadhara roga in Andadhaara roga chikitsa adhyaya. In Chakradutta, in Sthoulya chikitsa adhyaya he mentioned that Navaka guggulu is good for Kapha medoja roga. In this case study, patient aged 23 years came to the OPD with the complaints of irregular menstruation and scanty bleeding during menstruation since 1 year. She was known case of PCOS and her symptoms got relieved after the administration of Patoladi kwatha along with Navaka guggulu for 3 months.

Point-of-care testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among pregnant women in South Africa, 2021–2022: randomised controlled trial

ObjectivePregnant and postpartum women (PPW) in Southern Africa are at increased risk of acquiring HIV and curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is safe and effective to...

Violence against Deaf Women from an Intersectional Framework in Mexico

This research aimed to analyse the association between violence with linguistic knowledge in Mexican Sign Language (LSM) and sociodemographic data of Mexican Deaf women. To collect data from an intersectional framework, this study applied an opportunistic and chain sampling of 46 Deaf women from different areas of Mexico. Methods included in-person and remote interviews. Forty-one per cent of women indicated that they had been victims of abuse by their partner. In comparison, 73.9% of women had suffered some abuse in schools, and 39% of women had been victims of sexual abuse. The analyses with Spearman bivariate correlation showed that as the LSM learning age of the Deaf women increased, the levels of labour abuse (rs = .50, p < .0001), violence in a bank (rs = . 51, p < .0001), violence in school (rs = .56, p < .0001), and violence by an interpreter (rs = .45, p < .01) increased too. Results also revealed that a more excellent LSM family knowledge of LSM is moderately related to less labour abuse (rs = -.53, p < .0001), violence in a bank (rs = -.45, p < .01), violence in school (rs = -.43, p < .01), violence by an interpreter (rs = -.39, p < .01), and with lower magnitude to institutional violence (rs = -.37, p < .05).

Cohort profile: the Pregnancy Risk Infant Surveillance and Measurement Alliance (PRISMA) – Pakistan

PurposePakistan has disproportionately high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. There is a lack of detailed, population-representative data to provide evidence for risk factors, morbidities and mortality among pregnant women...

Profiling of Livelihood Assets of Rural Households in gumla District of Jharkhand

"This paper investigates the livelihood asset profile of the rural poor families of Gumla district of Jharkhand. This study was conducted in two villages of Gumla district, viz Hutar from Albert Ekka block and Bartoli from Dumri block, which was selected using simple random sampling. Complete enumeration (95 households) was done through a well-structured questionnaire in ODK platform. The study primarily identified the profile of livelihood assets owned by the rural households of Gumla district based on the sustainable livelihood framework of DFID. The study tried to explain the profile of various livelihood assets on sustainability, namely human, social, financial, physical, and natural capital. The study revealed that 95.79 per cent of the people belonged to the below poverty line. In this study, we also found that 88 per cent of the households from both villages had not availed any type of skill development training facilities, and almost 87 per cent of the households did not have access to the formal credit facility due to lack of knowledge about the formal financial system. Whereas, in both villages, 70 per cent of women were attached to different social institutions, especially Self-help Groups, and availed loans for various economic activities like the establishment of grocery shops, and enhancement of physical assets etc. to support their livelihood. Despite having abundant access to natural resources like forests and rivers, lack of human assets exceptionally skilled labour and unavailability of financial support were creating hindrances in the livelihood strategy formation at the village level. Hence, it is recommended that rural households should focus on the improvement of their human and financial assets to increase sustainability."

Exploring the Role of Political Parties in the Enhancement of Women Representation in Parliament, Zambia: A phenomenological perspective

This study aimed at exploring the role of political parties in the enhancement of women representation in Parliament of Zambia. The continued underrepresentation of women in the Zambian National Assembly prompted undertaking this study. The Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the 2016 general elections were the main focus of the study. 
 This study was qualitative and a case study research design based on two major political parties, studied in depth using twenty six party officials, at different levels of party hierarchies who were purposefully selected. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, narratives and unstructured questionnaires from the two political parties and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) documents. 
 The study used an interpretive phenomenological theoretical framework based on discussions and reflections of direct sense perception and experiences of the role of political parties in enhancing women representation in the national assembly of Zambia. The starting point for using an interpretive phenomenology for this study was our ability to approach this study oblivious of a priori assumptions. Phenomenological theoretical framing was used as a broad and loose name for various types of analysis, which lay emphasis on experiences, interpretations, semiotics, narrative and discourse based on the phenomenological orientation of the Philosophy of social sciences.
 Data was analysed and presented by the thematic approach as well as through frequency tables. The study found that both political parties had put in place strategies and mechanisms to enhance the representation of women in parliament and these included; having at least 30 percent women in decision-making positions, the adoption of the women’s wing concept, training and sensitisation, adoption of women in political party strongholds and relaxing of adoption requirements for women. Following the 2016 General elections, the PF made a pronouncement that the party would adopt 40 per cent women as parliamentary candidates. Nevertheless, the study found that the two political parties failed to meet their own regional and international targets on the number of women adopted to contest parliamentary seats. Thus, the study concluded that the lack of affirmative action, Nolle prosequi, Corruption and ignoring women voices taking place in political parties perpetuates women under representation in parliament in Zambia. This shows that political parties have a role to play to strengthen women representation in parliament through affirmative action in all party structures. The study urges political parties to seriously consider employing practical deliberate strategies and mechanism to increase the number of women in parliament since Zambia does not have a legislated quota. 
 Keywords: Phenomenology, Affirmative action, gender mainstreaming, Corruption, Nolle prosequi.

Sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape by colleagues in the surgical workforce, and how women and men are living different realities: observational study using NHS population-derived weights.

This observational study, paired with National Health Service (NHS) workforce population data, examined gender differences in surgical workforce members' experiences with sexual misconduct (sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape) among colleagues in the past 5 years, and their views of the adequacy of accountable organizations in dealing with this issue. This was a survey of UK surgical workforce members, recruited via surgical organizations. Some 1704 individuals participated, with 1434 (51.5 per cent women) eligible for primary unweighted analyses. Weighted analyses, grounded in NHS England surgical workforce population data, used 756 NHS England participants. Weighted and unweighted analyses showed that, compared with men, women were significantly more likely to report witnessing, and be a target of, sexual misconduct. Among women, 63.3 per cent reported being the target of sexual harassment versus 23.7 per cent of men (89.5 per cent witnessing versus 81.0 per cent of men). Additionally, 29.9 per cent of women had been sexually assaulted versus 6.9 per cent of men (35.9 per cent witnessing versus 17.1 per cent of men), with 10.9 per cent of women experiencing forced physical contact for career opportunities (a form of sexual assault) versus 0.7 per cent of men. Being raped by a colleague was reported by 0.8 per cent of women versus 0.1 per cent of men (1.9 per cent witnessing versus 0.6 per cent of men). Evaluations of organizations' adequacy in handling sexual misconduct were significantly lower among women than men, ranging from a low of 15.1 per cent for the General Medical Council to a high of 31.1 per cent for the Royal Colleges (men's evaluations: 48.6 and 60.2 per cent respectively). Sexual misconduct in the past 5 years has been experienced widely, with women affected disproportionately. Accountable organizations are not regarded as dealing adequately with this issue.

Digital competence landscape in public libraries: examining the role of age and gender in the development of digital skills

PurposeAs part of the EFOP-3.3.3-VEKOP-16–2016-00001 “Museum and Library Development for All” project, a national representative digital literacy survey was conducted in Hungary's public libraries at the end of 2019. The aim of the present study is to provide a deeper analysis of the data collected during the survey to answer the question of the role of gender and age in the development of digital skills amongst librarians working in public libraries. This study was designed to answer the following four research questions: Are there levels of proficiency defined by DigComp 2.1 that are more specific to men or more specific to women? Are there areas of competence and competences that are clearly perceived as stronger or weaker for men or women? Are there areas of competence that are clearly influenced by age and others that are not or only moderately influenced by age? Which competences are clearly age-related, and which are not or only slightly affected by age?Design/methodology/approachThe main target group of the study were library professionals working in county libraries. The survey, based on the DigComp 2.1 (Gomez et al., 2017) framework, was conducted using an online questionnaire in the form of a self-assessment and explored four levels of digital literacy. A 30-question questionnaire was completed by 1,868 respondents. The sampling procedure was essentially stratified sampling. The large number of respondents and the sampling procedure combined with the representativeness of the sample meant that the results of the survey can be considered as generalisable to the whole Hungarian public library sector.FindingsOf the five competency areas assessed by the DigComp framework, librarians were found to be most competent in information and data literacy, and least competent in content development, according to the proportion of those with basic skills. 32 percent of women and 22 percent of men working in libraries rated their digital skills as basic, and both groups were weak or less weak in the same skills, with a few exceptions. At the intermediate level, there is a predominance of women. In the information and communication competency areas and in the content development and integrating and re-elaborating digital content in the content creation area, a high proportion of women consider their digital skills to be medium. Relatively few men rate their own competence in these areas as average. They are most likely to have advanced and highly specialised skills. The advanced level in DigComp2.1 implies, in addition to strong digital skills, the willingness and ability to help others, while the highly specialised level requires innovative and creative use of digital technology and knowledge transfer. These top two skill levels are more common amongst men. 34 per cent of men and 27 per cent of women have advanced skills, while 13 per cent of men and 6 per cent of women have highly specialised’s level. The age of librarians has only a minimal influence in certain areas of competence and for certain competences. Skills in the information and data literacy competency area are less age sensitive. For the data management competency, which requires more technological skills, a stronger correlation between age and skill levels is observed, especially for basic and highly specialised skills. In the communication competence area, the youngest age group of librarians has the highest percentage of advanced and the lowest percentage of basic level. The proportion of advanced learners decreases steadily as age groups progress and the proportion of basic learners increases at a similar steady rate. The effect of age on the content creation is much more modest than expected. Age clearly has an impact on the safety competence area. As age increases, the proportion of those at advanced level decreases and the proportion at basic level increases. Age also has a significant effect on the problem-solving competence area. One in two librarians in the 50 and 60s have only basic level skills, compared to one in four in the youngest age group and one in three in the 40s.Originality/valueUsing the DigComp 2.1 framework, a digital competence survey of a whole professional group of library professionals working in public libraries in Hungary was carried out. The study provides new insights into the impact of gender and age as variables on digital competence.

Impact of mentoring on the likelihood of getting jobs in the agricultural sector in Benin

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the impact of mentoring programs on the likelihood of getting a job in the agricultural sector after a one-year experiment conducted in Benin. The program provides graduates in agriculture-related fields with capacity building (digital skills, job search skills, and interpersonal skills) – as well as the support of a professional who is either a junior (junior model) or a senior (senior model) – as they seek jobs. The evaluation framework followed a mixed-methods design that incorporated survey data and qualitative data. The findings from the randomised controlled trial (RCT) showed a positive impact of the senior mentoring model, which increased the likelihood of getting a job in the agricultural sector by 16.4 per cent. In addition, the senior mentoring model had more impact on the likelihood of getting a job for both genders with an increase of 18.7 per cent for men and 11.9 per cent for women. Furthermore, mentees valued receiving practical career-related assistance, a realistic perspective on the workplace, and psychological and emotional support. The study suggests the need for a comprehensive policy package by policymakers and the institutionalisation of a formal mentoring program by youth-serving organisations based on the senior model.

Nutritional Assessment of Farm Women under Nutri-Smart Village Programme

The objectives of the programme were to promoting nutritional awareness, education and behavioural change in rural area involving farm women and school children, harnessing traditional knowledge through local recipe to overcome malnutrition and implementing nutrition sensitive agriculture through homestead agriculture and nutri-garden. For this study, All India Coordinated Research Project on Women in Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur adopted five villages of Badgaon Panchayat Samiti to make Nutri Smart Villages i.e. Madar, Thoor, Brahmano ki hunder, Feniyon ka guda and Loyra. Regarding nutritional, health and hygiene practices, 57.07 per cent of the respondents followed poor practices. Majority of the rural women were vegetarian. Regarding BMI of respondents, 40.53 per cent women were pre-obese and18.12 per cent were obese. Awareness generation is required regarding importance of good nutrition.

Menstrual Hygiene Issues And Reproductive Tract Infections In Flood Affected Victims.

Menstruation, a physiological phenomenon, is still considered a stigmatized subject in 3rd world countries like Pakistan, leading to incorrect and incomplete knowledge, resulting in unhealthy practices (1). In lower socioeconomic classes, menstrual hygiene management(MHM) can be unhygienic and inconvenient for women (2). According to research in Karachi, at menarche, only 28.4 per cent of the general population had an idea of menses and proper placement of absorbent (1). Another study found a statistically significant association between reproductive morbidity and unhygienic menstrual practices (3). Unhygienic practices lead women to Reproductive tract infections, and many women have Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). According to research, 76.7 per cent of women who came to health clinics had Reproductive tract infections (RTIs), and 14.7 per cent had PID (4). Reproductive tact infections is also a significant reason for secondary infertility (5). In rural areas, women do not have access to and knowledge about sanitary products (6). Recently, floods have inundated one-third of Pakistan. As a result, 33 million people were displaced, and 660,000 people live in relief camps (7), of which 8 million women are of reproductive age. Along with all other issues, women are facing problems regarding menstrual hygiene. Some women in Baluchistan were reported to be using tree leaves instead of pads (7). According to a study by AKU, women in Dadu (an area affected by flood from 2019-2021) were not using sanitary products, instead repeatedly changing out of and washing their stained clothes(7) During the evacuation from flood-affected areas, menstrual products have been unavailable for extended use of soiled products or bloodstained clothing (8). These unhygienic practices will cause Reproductive tract infections in these women, which may complicate PID or even secondary infertility. Paying attention to this problem is the need of the hour. Destigmatizing menstruation, educating women and ensuring the availability of low-cost menstrual hygiene products should be prioritized. These interventions will lead to decreased number of urogenital infections. Along with providing MHM products, women should be educated about proper disposal & waste management. Incineration could be used for this. Plastic pads will cause more water pollution in the flood-affected areas, and cloth towels need to be washed with clean water, which is unavailable in those areas. So natural sanitary products from bamboo fibre, banana fibre or sea sponges can be used (4). Women should be educated about stitching pads from cheap absorbent clothes available locally. ---Continue

Maternal mortality in Bangladesh: Who, when, why, and where? A national survey-based analysis.

Despite a notable decline in recent decades, maternal mortality in Bangladesh remains high. A thorough understanding of causes of maternal deaths is essential for effective policy and programme planning. Here we report the current level and major causes of maternal deaths in Bangladesh, focusing on care-seeking practices, timing, and place of deaths. We analysed data from the 2016 Bangladesh Maternal Mortality and Health Care Survey (BMMS), conducted with nationally representative sample of 298 284 households. We adapted the World Health Organization's 2014 verbal autopsy (VA) questionnaire. Trained physicians reviewed the responses and assigned the cause of death based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). We included 175 maternal deaths in our analysis. The maternal mortality ratio was 196 (uncertainty range = 159-234) per 100 000 live births. Thirty-eight per cent of maternal deaths occurred on the day of delivery and 6% on one day post-delivery. Nineteen per cent of the maternal deaths occurred at home, another 19% in-transit, almost half (49%) in a public facility, and 13% in a private hospital. Haemorrhage contributed to 31% and eclampsia to 23% of the maternal deaths. Twenty-one per cent of the maternal deaths occurred due to indirect causes. Ninety-two per cent sought care before dying, of which 7% sought care from home. Thirty-three per cent of women who died due to maternal causes sought care from three or more different places, indicating they were substantially shuttled between facilities. Eighty per cent of the deceased women who delivered in a public facility also died in a public facility. Two major causes accounted for around half of all maternal deaths, and almost half occurred during childbirth and by two days of birth. Interventions to address these two causes should be prioritised to improve the provision and experience of care during childbirth. Significant investments are required for facilitating emergency transportation and ensuring accountability in the overall referral practices.

Restricting diet for perceived health benefit: A mixed-methods exploration of peripartum food taboos in rural Cambodia.

Food taboos encompass food restrictions practiced by a group that go beyond individual preferences. During pregnancy and lactation, food taboos may contribute to inadequate nutrition and poor maternal and infant health. Restriction of specific fish, meat, fruits and vegetables is common among peripartum women in many Southeast Asian countries, but data from Cambodia are lacking. In this mixed-methods study, 335 Cambodian mothers were asked open-ended questions regarding dietary behaviours during pregnancy and up to 24 weeks postpartum. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to characterize food taboos and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of this practice. Participants were 18-44 years of age, all of Khmer ethnicity and 31% were primiparous. Sixty-six per cent of women followed food taboos during the first 2 weeks postpartum, whereas ~20% of women restricted foods during other peripartum periods. Pregnancy taboos were often beneficial, including avoidance of sugar-sweetened beverages, coffee and alcohol. Conversely, postpartum avoidances typically included nutrient-dense foods such as fish, raw vegetables and chicken. Food taboos were generally followed to support maternal and child health. No significant predictors of food taboos during pregnancy were identified. Postpartum, each additional live birth a woman had reduced her odds of following food taboos by 24% (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.76 [0.61-0.95]). Specific food taboo practices and rationales varied greatly between women, suggesting that food taboos are shaped less by a strict belief system within the Khmer culture and more by individual or household understandings of food and health during pregnancy and postpartum.

Structural and relational oppression of women: the association between open defecation and partner violence in Bangladesh

As indicated by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 80 per cent of women in Bangladesh experience partner violence (BBS, 2015). Given this prevalence, it is essential to assess factors, transcending the personal, that precipitate such violence. Using the lens of structural violence and supporting studies showing that violence of one form engenders another, we posit that a lack of sanitation that leads to open defecation also contributes to an increased likelihood of partner violence. This study uses data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey 2007 to explicate the association between open defecation and partner violence among women in Bangladesh. Results show that in our sample of 4466 women, almost 9 per cent reported open defecation, 18.4 per cent reported physical violence, and 10.2 per cent reported sexual violence. In the multivariate analyses, the adjusted prevalence ratios indicate that open defecation is significantly associated with sexual violence by partners (APR=1.30, p<0.05) but not physical violence. Implications are discussed.