Educational Level Of Women Research Articles

Social well-being and adaptation practices of the Tuva population: gender differentiation

The authors have explored the features of the assessing the socio-economic situation in the Republic of Tuva by representatives of the gender groups on the basis of a sociological survey conducted under the guidance of the authors of the article in June-July 2023. They have analyzed social success of the chosen life strategies in terms of social well-being, life expectancy, and work preferences. The authors have found an increased propensity to risk in the male gender group compared to the female, as well as deviant behavior, passivity, and a reduced desire to find one’s own niche in market conditions. The gender contrast in the level of general and individual economic optimism/pessimism is due to a higher education level of women in Tuva and, as a result, corresponding socio-professional status and income. A low social activity of men arises out the high unemployment rate in Tuva, low rate of creative high-tech, well-paid jobs. The lag of men in these areas is a cause of insecurity, anxiety and fears for the economic situation of the families. Tuvan men have a slightly lower level of optimism than women, what does not coincide with the trends in modern development. We conclude that men choose less socially successful adaptation practices, which, along with genetic trends in female longevity, leads to a lower life expectancy and a reduced level of social well-being.

Utilization of modern contraception and determinants among HIV positive women in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe burden of pediatric HIV/AIDS, mother-to-child transmission rate, and unintended pregnancy among HIV-positive women remain high in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Provision of contraceptives is an undeniable strategy to overcome the risks. However, pooled data to provide informed decisions on modern contraceptive use among HIV-positive women attending ART clinics in Ethiopia are meager. Hence, this review aimed to estimate the magnitude of modern contraception, and revisable long act contraceptives methods (RLCM) use and associated factors among HIV positive ART clinic attending women.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using PubMed, Google, Cochrane library, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus database. A funnel plot and Egger’s regression test were used to assess publication bias. Heterogeneity of studies was assessed using I-square statistics and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality assessment tool was applied to ensure the quality of the included articles. We employed a random-effect model to pool the national utilization of modern contraceptives and the effect size of associated factors. We conducted sub-group analysis by regions to control heterogeneity and to detect variation.ResultsA total of 21 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The magnitude of pooled utilization of modern contraceptive and RLCM was 60% [95% CI: 52–68] and 11%, [95% CI: 8–14], respectively. In the random effect model, young women [OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.78–3.13], attending secondary school and above [AOR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.06–1.69], having two or more live children [AOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.46–2.34], discussion with a husband [AOR = 2.92, 95% CI: 2.39–3.57], CD4 > 250cells/mm3 [AOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.08–2.33], and using HAART [AOR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.35–2.15] increased odds of modern contraceptive methods utilization.ConclusionOverall the utilization of RLCM among modern contraceptive users HIV positive women is low. Therefore, to improve the uptake of RLCM among modern contraceptive users HIV positive women, policymakers and program designers need to take into account age and educational levels of women and programs which enhance reproductive health consultation habit between couples. Moreover, integration of family planning services to ART clinics needs to be strengthened.

Individual and community level determinants of minimum meal frequency among breastfeeding children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis of 2019 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey data.

Minimum meal frequency (MMF) is a vital indicator of whether a child's energy needs are being met. Previous studies in Ethiopia on MMF have primarily focused on individual factors, often using basic logistic regression models with limited scope and small sample sizes. In contrast, this study aims to identify the key determinants of MMF among breastfed children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia, examining both individual and community-level factors through multilevel logistic regression analysis, utilizing nationally representative data. The study utilized a community-based cross-sectional design with a sample of 1,245 6-23 month breastfed children in Ethiopia, using data from the 2019 Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey. Mixed effect logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with MMF. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were used to assess variable associations, while Intra-cluster correlation (ICC), median odds ratio (MOR), and proportional change in variance (PCV) were employed to gauge random variation. The proportion of 6-23-month breastfeeding children with MMF was found to be 55.9% (95% CI: 53.2, 58.6). In mixed effect logistic regression; breastfeeding initiation time within days after birth [AOR = 0.44; 95%CI: (0.24, 0.80)], maternal primary educational level [AOR = 1.46; 95%CI: (1.03, 2.05)], maternal higher level education [AOR = 2.43; 95%CI: (1.22, 4.81)] and children from wealthiest household wealth index [AOR = 2.13; 95%CI: (1.04, 4.33)] were individual-level factors and children from city-based regions [AOR = 1.75; 95%CI: (1.10, 2.77)] was community level factors significantly associated with MMF. The final model indicates that 50.8% of the variation in MMF was explained by combined factors at both individual and community levels and also the variation across clusters remained statistically significant (ICC = 8.1% and variance = 0.29 with p < 0.001). Minimum meal frequency is a proxy for meeting energy requirements and it is a key indicator of infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practice. According to this study finding, the prevalence of MMF among 6-23-month children in Ethiopia was found to be low. The study also suggest that time of breastfeeding initiation, women's educational level, household wealth index, and contextual region were factors significantly associated with MMF. It is recommended that IYCF strategies should be implemented widely through women's education and empowerment and promoting early initiation of breast feeding to increase the proportion of children to be fed with MMF appropriate for their age.

Mapping the prevalence and covariates associated with home delivery in Bangladesh: A multilevel regression analysis.

Bangladesh has made an intense effort to improve maternal healthcare facilities including facility delivery, but the number of home deliveries is still very high. Therefore, this study aims to find out district-wise prevalence and determine the individual and community-level predictors of home delivery among women in Bangladesh. Data were derived from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019, a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Bangladesh. A final sample of 9,166 (weighted) women who gave birth in the two years preceding the survey were included in this study. Considering the two-stage cluster sampling strategy adopted by MICS, we used multilevel (2-level) logistic regression analysis to find out the correlates of home delivery. The overall weighted prevalence of home delivery was 46.41% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 45.39-47.43). The highest prevalence was observed in Bandarban district (84.58%), while the lowest was found in Meherpur district (6.95%). The intercept-only regression model demonstrates that the likelihood of women from various clusters having home delivery varied significantly (variance: 1.47, standard error [SE]: 0.117), indicating the applicability of multilevel regression modeling. The multilevel regression analysis showed that women with higher education, wealth status and ANC visit, and those aged >18 years at first marriage/union were associated with lower odds of delivering child at home compared to their counterparts. While women from age group of 35-49 years, whose last pregnancy was unintended were more likely to deliver child at home. In addition, those respondents belonging to a community that had higher wealth status, women's education level, and exposure to media showed lower odds of having delivery at home. The finding indicates that delivery at home is still high in Bangladesh. Targeted interventions to reduce home delivery are urgently needed in Bangladesh to tackle adversities during deliveries and save mothers from the consequences.

Determinants of Caesarean Deliveries in Bangladesh: A Multilevel Analysis of a Nationwide Population-Based Survey

Caesarean section, a frequently conducted surgical procedure in obstetrics, is instrumental in safeguarding the well-being of both mothers and infants by addressing complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. While it significantly contributes to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, its overuse can pose serious health risks. The prevalence of caesarean deliveries has surged globally, including in Bangladesh. This rise in caesarean deliveries has prompted this research to investigate the prevalence and various associated factors in the country. To achieve the study objectives, data were extracted from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) conducted from 2017 to 2018. After preprocessing the data, a total of 4,884 women were included in the study. Frequency analysis was conducted to illustrate the distribution of sociodemographic characteristics among Bangladeshi women. Chi-square tests were performed to assess their association with caesarean delivery. Furthermore, multi-level logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the variables that have a significant impact on the likelihood of caesarean delivery. The study revealed that in Bangladesh, the prevalence of caesarean section deliveries was approximately 33.1%, with the majority of these occurring in the Dhaka division, accounting for approximately 25.3%. Women aged 20 or older were 1.62 times more likely to opt for a C-section during childbirth (OR 1.62, [1.38-1.89]) compared to those under 20. Overweight or obese women had twice the likelihood of delivering via C-section. Higher socioeconomic status also increased the probability of choosing a caesarean delivery. Women who had exposure to any form of media were 57% more likely to opt for a caesarean delivery (OR 1.57 [1.31-1.87]), while not working women had a 48% higher likelihood of having a C-section. Additionally, the study found that the use of caesarean delivery was positively associated with the husband's education level, the number of children previously born, and the number of antenatal care visits. The study revealed that the rate of C-sections in Bangladesh surpasses WHO recommendations significantly. It also identified various factors driving this trend, including women's education levels, socioeconomic status, media exposure, female obesity, age at first childbirth, and husband’s education. These insights may serve as a foundation for developing strategies to regulate the caesarean delivery rate. Urgent policy directives are essential within Bangladesh's healthcare system, coupled with vigilant monitoring of clinical indications for C-sections, to mitigate the adverse effects of unnecessary procedures. Jagannath University Journal of Science, Volume 11, Number 1, June 2024, pp. 31−44

Less than one in five teenage women in Ethiopia know about emergency contraception.

Teenage women's fertility health faces significant challenges from unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. Using an emergency contraception within a defined time period could prevent unintended pregnancy and its damaging consequences, like unintended childbirth and unsafe abortion. Despite it being an appropriate contraception, the knowledge of teenage women about emergency contraception is lower among women in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the magnitude of emergency contraception knowledge and its associated factors among teenage women in Ethiopia. Data for this study was obtained from the recent Demographic and Health Surveys. A total weighted sample of 3,381 teenage reproductive women were included. The significant associated factors with emergency contraception knowledge among teenage reproductive women were determined by fitting a multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression model. Finally, Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval and a P value of less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. In Ethiopia, the magnitude of teenage women who knew about emergency contraception was 19.47% (95%CI: 18.17, 20.84). Age 17 years (AOR = 1.76, 95%CI, 1.24, 2.48) and age 19 years (AOR = 2.18, 95%CI, 1.47, 3.22), primary education level (AOR = 2.76, 95%CI, 1.60, 4.76), secondary and above educational level (AOR = 4.70, 95%CI, 2.62, 8.44), being protestant followers (AOR = 0.63, 95%CI, 0.45, 0.87), being muslim followers (AOR = 0.68, 95%CI, 0.49, 0.93), media exposure (AOR = 3.36, 95%CI, 2.59, 4.34), rural residence (AOR = 0.45; 95%CI: 0.22, 0.86), and high community level education (AOR = 140, 95%CI: 1.32, 2.00) were factors significantly associated with knowledge of emergency contraception among teenage women. This finding concluded that less than one in five teenage women knew about emergency contraception in Ethiopia. The knowledge of emergency contraception among teenage women in Ethiopia was substantially associated with women's age, education level, religion, media exposure, residency and community-level education. Hence, there is a need to implement comprehensive awareness programs and promotion of emergency contraception as a way of curbing cases of unintended pregnancies among teenage women. Government and non-governmental organizations should design targeted educational initiatives and media campaigns to improve emergency contraception knowledge among young teenagers, women with lower educational backgrounds, and rural teenagers.

Determinants of Fertility Intentions among South Koreans: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background/objectives: This study aims to systematically review and conduct a meta-analysis of factors influencing fertility intentions among South Koreans. This research is crucial given South Korea's lowest-in-the-world fertility rate of 0.72 in 2023, necessitating rapid and effective policies to address this demographic challenge; (2) Methods: Articles published from database inception through April 2024 were collected from five Korean databases using keywords based on the PEO (Population, Exposure, Outcome) framework. Following PRISMA guidelines, 35 articles were selected. The effect sizes and network of predictors related to fertility intention were analyzed using the R statistical package; (3) Results: A meta-analysis of the effect sizes of factors influencing fertility intentions revealed that the husband's involvement in parenting (ESr = 0.131), women's education level (ESr = 0.127), socioeconomic status (ESr = 0.116), and the expected gender of the child (ESr = 0.068) showed statistically significant positive effects. Conversely, women's age (ESr = -0.175), parental stress (ESr = -0.146), and household labor ratio (ESr = -0.117) showed statistically significant negative effects. The network analysis further elucidated the complex interrelationships among these factors; (4) Conclusions: This study suggests the need for multifaceted policy approaches to address Korea's low fertility, emphasizing promoting men's participation in parenting, supporting women's education and career development, reducing parenting stress, supporting work-family balance, and ensuring economic stability. These findings provide important insights for policymakers and researchers addressing the complex issue of low fertility in South Korea and may inform more effective interventions to boost fertility rates.

Reducing farmland abandonment by raising women’s education levels: Evidence from China

With the rapid industrialization and the growing demand for male labor in urban industries, agricultural production in many developing countries presents obvious feminization features. Accordingly, improving the education level of rural women is the key to increasing farmland return and reducing farmland abandonment. Using data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), this study examines the effect of rural women’s education on farmland abandonment. The results reveal that for each increase in the education level of a hostess in a rural household, the abandoned farmland of that household decreases by 40 m2. The increase in women’s education level can promote the use of the Internet, help households access credit, and better control the costs of agricultural production, thus curbing farmland abandonment. In addition, women’s education can play a stronger role in reducing farmland abandonment for rural areas where the land rental market is well developed, as well as for families whose male hosts go out to join non-farm work.

Chinese women's years of education and subjective well-being: an empirical analysis based on ordered Logit model and coupling coordination model.

In modern society, the improvement of women's education level has become one of the important indicators of national development and social progress. Although there are many useful explorations on the relationship between education and subjective well-being, the research on women's years of education and subjective well-being is very limited. The article focuses on women's years of education to determine whether and how to affect subjective well-being. This study is based on the China general social survey in 2021. The ordered Logit model was used to analyze the impact of women's years of education on subjective well-being, and a binary coupling coordination model was constructed to test the above two variables. The results show that the longer the education years of women, the stronger the subjective well-being. The benchmark regression results show that women's years of education have positive and negative effects on subjective well-being through economic status, physical and mental health, ecological environment, social cognition and personal cognition. The analysis of coupling coordination degree shows that the coupling between the years of education and subjective well-being of women in coastal areas and economically developed areas is the strongest, and the subjective well-being is better realized by increasing the years of education. Based on the above research results, this paper provides some practical suggestions for improving women's subjective well-being, and provides some valuable references for women to effectively balance husband-wife relationship, family relationship and work relationship, improve women's years of education and better obtain happiness.

Inequalities in the demand and unmet need for contraception among women in four regions of Ethiopia.

Unmet need for family planning is a major cause of unwanted pregnancies, which may contribute to the death of mothers and children. The aim of this study is to examine inequalities in the demand and unmet need for contraception among women in four regions (i.e., Afar, Benishangul-Gumzu, Gambela and Somali regions) of Ethiopia. The study utilized data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS), collected from 3,343 women of reproductive age 15-49 years situated in these study regions. Multilevel binary and multivariable logistic regression analysis, concentration index, and multivariate decomposition analysis were employed. The study revealed that women's employment status, education level, household wealth index, total number of children ever born, and husband's working status had a statistically significant association with the demand for contraception. Furthermore, women's educational level, household size, wealth index and husband's working status had statistically significant association with unmet need for contraception. The results of the concentration index indicated that illiteracy among respondents (56%), being in the richest economic status/ wealth index (41%) and non-working status of respondents (21%) contributed substantially to the inequality in the demand for contraception use. Illiteracy of the husband (197%) and the household size less than or equal to five (184%) contributed positively, but illiteracy of respondent (-249%) and unemployment status of respondents (-119%) contributed negatively to the existing inequality in unmet need for contraception. The findings of this study highlight the presence of unacceptably high inequality in the demand and unmet need for contraception among women in the four study regions. Policymakers should give due attention to reducing existing socio-economic inequality to address the high unmet need for family planning and increase demand for contraception in these regions. The study strongly recommends implementing multidimensional and multisectoral approaches, which will significantly reduce inequalities in the outcome variables.

Analysis of determining factors of fertility rate in Karangasem District

The purpose of this study is to analyze the simultaneous and partial influences of the ideal number of children, women's employment status, family perceptions of male children, age at first marriage, and women's education level on fertility rates in the Karangasem District, as well as to analyze the role of women's education level in moderating the impact of age at first marriage on fertility rates in the Karangasem District. This study employs a quantitative method with an associative approach. It utilizes Snowball Sampling and Accidental Sampling techniques for sampling. Data collection was conducted using observation, structured interviews, and in-depth interviews with a sample size of 99 Couples of Reproductive Age (CRA). The data analysis technique used is moderation regression analysis. The results of this study indicate: 1) The ideal number of children, women's employment status, family perceptions of male children, age at first marriage, and women's education level have a simultaneous and significant effect on fertility rates; 2) Age at first marriage and women's education level have a negative and significant impact on fertility rates; 3) The ideal number of children and family perceptions of male children have a positive and significant impact on fertility rates; 4) Women working in the formal sector have lower fertility rates than those in the informal sector; 5) Women's education level as a moderating variable strengthens the influence of age at first marriage on fertility rates.

Соціальні особливості безробітних жінок

Unemployment is an urgent problem for Ukraine, especially in the conditions of martial law. In addition to socio-economic, it has a number of social problems that need to be solved. The purpose of the study was to analyze the social characteristics of unemployed women. Research task: analysis of social characteristics of unemployed women (educational level, motivation for leaving the previous job, motivation for acquiring a new position or profession, level of material harassment); analysis of the significance of differences in social characteristics of age groups of unemployed women of different ages. A survey of women who are registered at the Belotserki branch of the Kyiv Regional Employment Center showed that almost all of the respondents have been registered with the employment service for up to 1 year, most of them are middle-aged, with a higher education, and left their previous job due to low wages, so want to receive wages at the level of 10-20 thousand UAH. per month, but at the same time they do not want to acquire a new profession or specialty, but if necessary, they are ready to do it at the expense of the state. Among the interviewed young women, the majority are persons with a professional (vocational and technical) education, who lost their job less than a year ago, are dissatisfied with the offered vacancies due to low wages, want to change their profession at the expense of the state, but claim a salary of 10-20 thousand hryvnias. month. Among the surveyed middle-aged women, almost all of them lost their jobs less than a year ago, among whom there is a predominance of people with higher education, whose main reason for leaving their previous place of employment was dissatisfaction with wages, which is also the main reason for dissatisfaction with the offered vacancies. Most of them claim a salary of 10-20 thousand hryvnias. per month, but only a few want to acquire a new profession at the expense of the state. Among the surveyed women of pre-retirement age, almost all of them lost their jobs less than a year ago, most of them with higher education, who left their previous place of work due to low wages, which is also the main reason for their dissatisfaction with the jobs offered to them. The vast majority of them claim a salary of 10-20 thousand hryvnias. month. Significant differences were found between the age groups of unemployed women according to the following indicators: level of education, reasons for dismissal from the previous place of employment, reason for refusing the offered vacancies, desire to acquire a new profession or specialty. No significant differences were found between the age groups of unemployed women on other indicators: the time that passed after dismissal from work, the level of the desired salary, the level of readiness to acquire a new profession or specialty.

Optimizing Women's Entrepreneurship to Enhance Family Domestic Income: A Case Study of Female Entrepreneurs in BatamThis study examines the role of women's entrepreneurship in enhancing domestic family income in Batam, a special economic zone with unique

This study examines the role of women's entrepreneurship in enhancing domestic family income in Batam, a special economic zone with unique socio-economic characteristics. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative designs to understand the factors influencing women's entrepreneurship and to develop optimization strategies. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 200 female entrepreneurs across 12 districts in Batam, while qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), and participant observations. Data analysis was conducted using variance-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and NVIVO software to analyze the complex relationships between variables. The results of the study indicate that women's education level, access to capital, and family support are critical factors influencing the success of entrepreneurship. Access to capital is proven to be a significant challenge, with barriers such as high interest rates and complex procedures. Additionally, the increase in family income derived from women's businesses contributes to improving family welfare, including children's education, health, and financial stability. Based on these findings, the study recommends the need for improved access to capital, the development of relevant entrepreneurial training programs, and supportive government policies to strengthen the role of women's entrepreneurship in Batam. This study is expected to contribute meaningfully to the literature on women's entrepreneurship and provide a foundation for the development of more effective policies in the future.

Double burden of malnutrition in 115 Latin American cities: An ecological analysis

AbstractBackgroundUsing harmonized aggregated data on health and socioeconomic environments in Latin American cities (from the Salud Urbana en América Latina (SALURBAL) study), we assessed the association of city‐level contextual factors with the prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition (DBM) in urban settings.MethodsThis ecological study used aggregated survey data from 115 Latin American cities within five countries (Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru) collected between 2008 and 2016. DBM was defined as the coexistence of stunting in children under 5 years and overweight/obesity among adult women at the city‐level. We ran ordinal logistic regression models to examine macrolevel contextual factors that might explain the city‐level DBM. Independent variables were city‐level socioeconomic development index, women educational attainment and women labor force.ResultsOut of 115 Latin American cities, 19 cities from five countries were experiencing a moderate to high burden of stunting and simultaneously a very high burden of overweight/obesity in adult women. All cities had overweight/obesity prevalence above 40%. A poor social environment, higher levels of women education and greater women labor force at the city level were associated with greater levels of DBM.ConclusionSome Latin American cities are still facing moderate and high DBM, while all cities are experiencing an alarming high burden of overweight/obesity. Social macro‐level factors such as poor social environment, high women education and high women labor force were associated with the coexistence of stunting in children and overweight/obesity in adult women.

Self-management interventions for gestational diabetes in Africa: a scoping review

BackgroundGestational diabetes (GD) can threaten the health of both the mother and the foetus if it is not effectively managed. While there exists a growing body of research on self-management interventions for GD, there is a lack of reviewed studies regarding the various self-management interventions in Africa. The purpose of this review is to map the evidence of self-management interventions for GD in Africa.MethodsSearches for records were conducted in four major databases, including PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct and Journal Storage. Additional documents from Google and Google Scholar were also added. The guidelines for conducting scoping reviews by Arksey and O’Malley were followed.ResultsThe results revealed that intermittent fasting, education on diet, insulin injection, blood glucose monitoring, physical activities, lifestyle modification and foot care were the available self-management interventions for GD in Africa. Most of the reviewed studies reported intermittent fasting and patient education as effective self-management interventions for GD in Africa. The barriers identified in the reviewed studies were either patient-related or facility-related. Patient-related barriers included lack of awareness, and negative attitude, while facility-related barriers included lack of access to education on GD, especially, face-to-face educational interventions.ConclusionIt is crucial to consider the cultural and personal needs, as well as the educational level of women with gestational diabetes when creating an effective self-management intervention. Optimal results can be achieved for self-management of gestational diabetes by integrating multidisciplinary approaches.

Investigation of the effect of women’s employment indicators on women’s health indicators by panel data analysis method

With the increase in the education level of women, their level of representation in the professional professions and their presence in business life has increased. It has been inevitable that this situation would affect the socio-economic structure of societies and the health indicators of employed women. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of women’s employment indicators on women’s health indicators using the panel data analysis method. Two different econometric models were developed in the study. Model-1 predicts that a possible 1% increase in the female unemployment rate would result in a 0.06% decrease in the fertility rate. Model-2 estimates that a possible 1% increase in the female unemployment rate would lead to a 0.04% decrease in female-specific average life expectancy. Also, it is predicted that a possible increase of 1% in the total labor force participation rate of women can provide an increase of 0.04% in the average life expectancy of women. The results of the study indicate that the presence of women in the workforce directly impacts women’s health indicators, particularly socio-economic indicators. Thus, there is a need to develop employment policies based on women’s health in the employability of women.

Where have I got to? Associations of age at marriage with marital household assets in educated and uneducated women in lowland Nepal.

Women's underage marriage (<18 years) is associated with adverse maternal and child health outcomes. Poverty in the natal household has been widely considered to be a key risk factor for underage marriage, but the evidence base is unreliable. When investigating this issue, most studies use marital wealth inappropriately, as a proxy for wealth in the natal household. In contrast, we investigated whether the timing of women's marriage was associated with the wealth of the households they marry into, and how this may vary by women's education level. This approach allows us to explore a different set of research questions which help to understand the economic value placed on the timing of women's marriage. We used data on 3,102 women aged 12-34 years, surveyed within 1 year of marriage, from the cluster-randomized Low Birth Weight South Asia Trial in lowland rural Nepal. Linear mixed-effects regression models investigated independent associations of women's marriage age and education level with marital household wealth, and their interactive effects. Models adjusted for marital household traits. We analysed the full sample, and then only the uneducated women, who comprised a substantial proportion in our sample. In the full sample, we found that each later year of women's marriage was associated with 1.5% lower asset score for those with primary education, and with 0.3% and 1.3% higher asset score for those with lower secondary or secondary/higher education, respectively. For uneducated women, relative to marrying ≤14 years, marrying at 15, 16, 17 and ≥18 years was associated with 1.5%, 4.4%, 2.4% and 6.2% greater marital asset score respectively. On average, marrying ≥18 years was associated with greater marital assets for secondary-educated women. There were only very modest benefits in terms of marital household wealth for delaying marriage beyond 16 years for uneducated women or those with low education. These findings elucidate potential trade-offs faced by families, including decisions over how much education, if any, to provide to daughters. They may help to understand the economic rationale underpinning the timing of marriage, and why early marriage remains common despite efforts to delay it.

Antenatal Care Visits, Institutional Births, and Associated Risk Factors in Afghanistan: Insights from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2022-2023.

Insufficient use of antenatal care (ANC) services and institutional births services can elevate the maternal mortality risk in limited resource settings. Hence, the key objective of this study was to evaluate the potential association between the frequency of ANC visits and institutional birth services in Afghanistan, while also identifying other sociodemographic factors that may exert influence. Furthermore, we explored factors associated with the attendance of women at ANC visits during their pregnancy. We employed data from the most recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey conducted in Afghanistan in 2022 to 2023 with a total of 8096 women aged 15 to 49. A complex survey weight-adjusted logistic regression model was used to examine factors related to institutional births, and a multinomial logistic regression model was fitted to assess the relationships between sociodemographic factors and ANC visits, adjusting for survey weights, cluster effects, and strata. Approximately 40% of the sample (n = 3247) had undergone 4 or more ANC visits, and 74.4% (n = 6,022) had opted for institutional birth. Women's higher education was found to be associated with ANC visits. The area of residence, wealth index, education levels of women, ownership of mobile phones, number of children, and number of ANC visits were associated with institutional births. Compared with women with no or one ANC visit, those with more than 3 visits had 31% higher odds (adjusted odds ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.10-1.57) of accessing institutional births. Our findings indicate a significant association between ANC visits and use of institutional birth care. These findings carry implications for advancing safe motherhood and childbirth by enhancing women's social status.

Assessment of women perception and attitude towards contraception in Gadaka Town, Fika Local Government Area, Yobe State of Nigeria.

Contraception has become a major strategy of population control both at the national and global level, yet population growth in Nigeria remains high especially in rural areas due to partly lack of adequate knowledge and poor perception about the need to utilize contraception methods. The aim and objectives of this study is to assess the attitude and perception of women toward contraception in Gadaka town, to identify the distance covered in accessing contraception services, to assess the level of women education toward contraception. The study seeks to examine the perception of women and attitude toward contraception in Gadaka town. The study adopted qualitative approach which includes a survey of 100 randomly selected women from the community; the qualitative data were analyzed using contents analysis. The findings reveal that majority of the women interviewed are aware of contraception, the level of practices is higher especially among the educated women and this implies the positive among the education and practices of contraception. The distance covered in accessing contraception services as shown in table indicated that 20 respondents representing 40% are closed to the health center less than (one) 1 km and 13 respondents 26% 1 to 2 km close to the contraception centres. The study also reveals that women perceived contraception as a welcomed strategy to control population and make mother's healthy and strong after child birth. The conclusion to be drawn from this study is, however that of acceptance of contraception that education plays vital role in the perception of women and attitude toward contraception. Finally, to change a society like this with depth of poverty, certain guidelines should be followed to bring about awareness of contraception among the people and reconstruct their attitudes towards birth control programme

Addressing multicollinearity in spatial modelling: A district level spatial analysis of pandemic COVID-19 in India.

This study focuses on conducting spatial analysis of COVID-19 at the district level in India. Leveraging data from www.covidindia.org for confirmed cases and deaths, and integrating population characteristics from the National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-2021) and supplementary sources. The objective is to identify risk factors using spatial modelling techniques while addressing multicollinearity through principal component analysis (PCA). This study utilizes spatial analysis to identify COVID-19 hotspots and coldspots at the district level in India. It highlights highly affected districts such as Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, as well as low affected districts in central and north-eastern regions. The study utilized the spatial lag model (SLM), spatial error model (SEM), geographical weighted regression (GWR), and multiscale geographical weighted regression (MGWR) models to analyse the impact of demographic, socioeconomic, climatic, and comorbidity factors on COVID-19, accounting for spatial proximity. Among these models, MGWR exhibited superior performance. Key risk factors associated with the COVID-19 phenomenon identified, providing insights into the impact of household conditions, educational level of women, tobacco and alcohol consumption rates, number of health centres, and climatic factors. Moreover, the local coefficients estimated by MGWR model furnish detailed information regarding the strength and direction of the relationships between predictors and COVID-19 cases and deaths within each spatial unit. The findings emphasize the significance of addressing multicollinearity in spatial modelling. It is beneficial for accurate parameter estimation, proper interpretation of coefficients, improved spatial analysis, and providing reliable insights to support decision-making in spatial contexts.