Old Indian Woman Research Articles

Sandwiched between groups: Upward career experiences of South African Indian women

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the challenges Indian women managers face in their career ascendancy.Design/methodology/approach: Using a qualitative approach, to gain an in-depth understanding of the intersectional issues and challenges younger and older Indian women managers face in their career progress towards senior- and top-managerial positions.Findings/results: The results indicate that the intersection of the socio-historical-political contexts, together with racial, gender, cultural and workplace impediments, produces both different and converging outcomes for older and younger Indian women managers in their upward career mobility. Compared with their older counterparts, the career ascendancy of younger participants is more challenging, as they have to compete against a bigger pool of qualified black candidates. A research limitation is that the study did not compare the experiences of Indian women with Indian men regarding their career ascendency.Practical implications: Practical implications include managers needing to implement targeted succession planning, eradicate sexism and patriarchy and introduce formal mentorship, coaching and networking programmes.Originality/value: The article compares the experiences of younger and older Indian women managers in a changing political landscape. The findings of the study indicate that the experiences of women across generations differ, as their career ascendancy is dissimilar.

Health disparities among older women in India during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeOlder women in India continually experience disparities in health. The legally enforced lockdown in India has impacted both physical and psychosocial well-being of the populace. Amid the restrictions on mobility during the lockdown, older adults are presented with challenges such as impaired access to healthcare services, nonavailability of attendants and prolonged social isolation. Due to these challenges, disparities related to gender and age may considerably widen. The potential health threats may particularly afflict older women, who bear a disproportionate threat to illnesses, compared to their male counterparts.Design/methodology/approachThis commentary explores how health threats among older Indian women may have worsened during the lockdown. The authors also propose recommendations for expanding health and social care to older women in India.FindingsApproaches aimed at strengthening gerontological social work must be duly adopted, especially during the ongoing pandemic. Public institutions and development partners should utilize and if needed, overhaul existing resources and policies to adequately serve this marginalized group. Older women, especially those residing in unbearable circumstances, should be identified and brought under comprehensive care coverage within the social landscape.Originality/valueThis article proposes recommendations to foster gerontological social work among older Indian women.

A Curious Case of Sweet Smelling Urine

Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism characterized by decreased enzymatic activity of branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase which leads to an inability to break down branched chain amino acids. It is critical for physicians to make a prompt diagnosis of metabolic disorders to decreased metabolic decompensations and mitigate long-term complications A 33 year old G2 P2 Indian woman with no known family history of MSUD gave …

The Asia-Pacific Regional Audit-Epidemiology, Costs, and Burden of Osteoporosis in India 2013: A report of International Osteoporosis Foundation.

The Asia-Pacific Regional Audit-Epidemiology, Costs, and Burden of Osteoporosis in India 2013: A report of International Osteoporosis Foundation.

Autonomic Modulation in Different Phases of Menstrual Cycle in Younger and Older Indian Women

Background: The menstrual cycle is an integral part of a major portion of a woman’s life, associated with significant changes in multiple neurohumoral homeostatic mechanisms. In the present study, autonomic modulation in different phases of menstrual cycle in young adult and older adult women’s was assessed. Methods: About 90 subjects were recruited and were divided between 2 groups and their HRV was recorded in 3different phases and compared between young adults and older adult women. The HRV evaluation was done in the frequency domain using the software Version1.1, AIIMS, New-Delhi. The data was analyzed using students‘t’ test followed by Mann Whitney-U test and P< 0.05 was considered the level of significance. Result: HRV was analyzed using LF in three phases of menstrual cycle in two sub groups did not show any significant variations. In HF Component in Group-I when compared the menstrual with follicular, luteal phases, the menstrual phase showed significantly higher values. Comparison of LF/HF ratio between menstrual and follicular phase in Group-I showed significantly high variation between menstrual and luteal phases. Conclusion: We conclude that a slow and steady decline in autonomic modulation with age, may have a close interaction with hormonal activity.

The prevalence of and risk factors for radiographic vertebral fractures in older Indian women and men: Delhi Vertebral Osteoporosis Study (DeVOS)

High prevalence of vertebral fractures (17.9% over all; 18.8% male and 17.1% female) was observed in 808 free-living residents of Delhi, India, aged more than 50years. The prevalence rates were comparable to that reported in Caucasian populations. While there was an increase in fracture prevalence with age in females, the same was not observed in males. The aim of this paper is to study the prevalence of and risk factors for morphometric vertebral fractures in elderly Indian men and women over 50years of age. We recruited 808 healthy subjects aged 50years or more, residing in three residential colonies in Delhi, India who voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. All subjects underwent lateral X-rays of the lumbar and thoracic spine according to a standardized protocol. All X-rays were blindly evaluated by a single trained person using an advanced semi-automated software (Optasia Medical) based on Genant's semiquantitative method. Recruited subjects underwent anthropometric, biochemical, and hormonal evaluation. With a mean age of 64.9 (±6.7) years, 345 males and 415 females were evaluated. Vertebral fractures were present in 17.9% (95% CI 15.2, 20.6) subjects [males, 18.8% (95% CI 14.6, 23), females 17.1% (95% CI 13.5, 20.8)]. Prevalence of vertebral fractures increased with age in females from 14.7% in 50-59years age group to 22.4% in those ≥70years, but not in men. Overweight subjects had significantly lower risk [OR, 0.63 (95% CI 0.41, 0.97), p = 0.035] of vertebral fractures. Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels, intake of calcium and vitamin D, or history of previous fractures were not statistically different between patients with or without prevalent vertebral fractures. The prevalence of vertebral fractures among older Indians was comparable to that reported in Caucasian populations. Prevalence of vertebral fractures increased with age in females, but not in males. Overweight individuals were protected against vertebral fractures.

The Use of Inpatient Psychiatric Care by Immigrants in a London Borough

The prevalence of admission to psychiatric inpatient care in the major immigrant groups in the London Borough of Newham in 1982 is surveyed and results discussed with reference to relevant published literature. High admission rates were found among young West Indian men and older West Indian women, Pakistani men, older Indian women, Irish women and women from the West African new commonwealth. Women from the East African new commonwealth had a low admission rate. The diagnostic mixture found in patients from the various groups is discussed.