Suicide methods in South Asia over two decades (2001–2020)

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110157
Author(s):  
S M Yasir Arafat ◽  
Syeda Ayat-e-Zainab Ali ◽  
Vikas Menon ◽  
Fahad Hussain ◽  
Daniyal Shabbir Ansari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
English Language ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Pubmed Central ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Quantitative Studies

Background: Suicide is a global preventable public health problem. About a quarter of all suicides in the world occur in South Asia. As means restriction is an important suicide prevention strategy, gaining knowledge of the common suicide methods and their changing trends in each country and region is crucial. Aims: We aimed to assess the suicide methods in South Asian countries over the last two decades. Methods: A search was performed in PubMed, PubMed Central, Scopus, and Google Scholar with the search terms. Original articles of quantitative studies, published in the English language, from 2001 to 2020, with full-accessible text, that rank different methods of suicide in eight South Asian countries, were included. Results: A total of 68 studies were found eligible for review. The Maximum number of studies were found from India ( n = 38), followed by Bangladesh ( n = 12), Pakistan ( n = 9), Sri Lanka ( n = 6), and Nepal ( n = 3). Hanging ( n = 40, 55.8%) and poisoning ( n = 24, 35.3%) were the two most common suicide methods reported, in that order. Hanging followed by poisoning were the commonest suicide methods in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan while in Sri Lanka, poisoning was the preferred method to hanging. There is a decline in suicide by poisoning and an increase in suicide by hanging in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and India. Although hanging is still the commonest method in Pakistan, the use of firearms is growing in recent years (2011–2020). Conclusions: There is a steady decline in the incidence of suicides by poisoning following pesticide regulations in South Asian countries. However, there is heterogeneity of study methods, probable under-reporting of suicide, and lack of robust suicide data.

Financial Market Regulatory Structure in South Asia

2016 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Amit Kumar Kashyap ◽  
Anchit Bhandari ◽  
Urvashi Jaswani
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Financial Market ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Regulatory Structure ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Complete Study ◽  
South Asian Region

South Asian region is comprising of countries Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan & Maldives. The different countries are with different values, market standards & different investors. But one thing is very clear that the south Asian countries are having diversified markets. The presence of different types of the investors make it imperative to study the markets very closely. Without the complete study of the markets it is impossible to advice the investment at all. This chapter is dedication to the brief overview of financial market regulatory structure in all major south Asian countries in SAARC region.

HIV/AIDS Politics and Policy in South Asia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayani Rajapaksha ◽  
Chrishantha Abeysena
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Asian Country ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Transgender People ◽  
South Asian Country ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Aids

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major global public health issue. In 2019, an estimated 38 million people worldwide were living with HIV. Of these, two to three million HIV cases were estimated to be in the South Asia region. In South Asia, India has the largest population (1.366 billion), whereas the Maldives has the smallest (0.54 million) population. In line with global strategies, most of the countries adapt strategies to end HIV in 2030. The rights-based approach is a guiding principle of HIV policy in most countries. Integrated HIV testing and counseling services are implemented through facility-based and community-based services. The percentage of people who are on Anti-Retroviral Treatment among the diagnosed, is highest (81%) in Nepal. The Maldives and Sri Lanka achieved elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in 2019. Coverage for preventive programs is low in all the countries. Condom usage is low in all the key population groups in the region except India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Sex education is integrated into the school curriculum in Nepal and Sri Lanka. Knowledge of HIV prevention among the young population is low in all the countries. India, Nepal, and Pakistan provide both needle and syringe programs and opioid substitution therapy. A high percentage of people who are injecting drug users (IDUs) have safe injecting practices in all the countries. The prevalence of HIV is low in all the countries, but concentrated epidemics continue in some countries. A higher prevalence of HIV is reported among IDUs in all the countries except Bhutan. The prevalence of HIV is also higher among transgender people in Nepal and Pakistan. Since 2010, a declining trend in new HIV infections has been observed in Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and an increasing trend has been observed in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Some South Asian countries have many punitive laws, while others have introduced legal protection for key populations. Sex work is criminalized in all the countries. In Bhutan, when men who have sex with men and IDUs seek health services, the health worker is obliged to report them to the police. Nepal became the first South Asian country to identify the existence of “sexual and gender minorities” in its constitution. There is a protective legal environment for homosexuality in Nepal. India also has several laws protecting homosexuals, transgender people, and IDUs, and laws against sexual harassment in the workplace. India has become the first South Asian country to implement special protective laws on HIV/AIDS. India has criminalized discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. The presence of stigma and discrimination is a major critical factor for the national approach to HIV prevention in all South Asian countries. Stigma and discrimination are observed in healthcare facilities, within families, in employment, and in educational institutions, and many countries have developed antidiscrimination policies in response. Throughout the region, poverty, low literacy, outbound migration, tourism, internal displacement, disasters, poor infrastructure of healthcare systems, population size, and social and cultural values have hampered the response to HIV.

What Does Gravity Model Reveal About SAFTA?

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-197
Author(s):  
Renu Verma ◽  
Jaidev Dubey
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
The South ◽  
Regional Trade ◽  
Multilateral Trade

During last decade, the stalemate in multilateral trade negotiations under the framework of World Trade Organization (WTO) regime has provided impetus to the signing of regional trade agreements world over .South Asia is not an exception to this trend and has been involved in setting up its own bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs). Most commonly cited cooperation agreements are Agreement on Trade and Commerce between India and Bhutan(1972), India-Nepal Bilateral Trade and Transit Treaties(1991), India–Sri Lanka Bilateral Free Trade Area(1998) Bangkok Agreement (1975),  Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand Economic Cooperation (BIMST-EC-2004) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association of Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC-1997). One of  the most significant steps  towards regional economic cooperation in the history of South Asian countries, was taken with signing of The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) formed in 1985 with the objective of exploiting “accelerated economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region” for the welfare of the peoples of South Asia. And then seven South Asian countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka—initiated a framework for region-wide integration under the South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) in 1995. In order to further cement the regional economic relations and overcome some impediments of SAPTA, the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) was signed in early 2004, which came into force on 1st July 2006. The SAFTA is a parallel initiative to the multilateral trade liberalization commitments of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries. SAFTA aims to reduce tariffs for intraregional trade among the seven SAARC member countries. It has been agreed that for the South Asian countries, Pakistan and India will eliminate all tariffs by 2012, Sri Lanka by 2013 and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal by 2015. The current paper is an attempt in assessing the potential trade in the region with latest dataset  with Gravity model approach.

scholarly journals Buffaloes for dairying in South Asia: potential, challenges and way forward

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-239
Author(s):  
MNA Siddiky ◽  
MO Faruque
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Production System ◽  
Buffalo Milk ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
The South ◽  
Low Input ◽  
Total Milk

Buffalo is considered the dairy animal for 21st century due to its higher adaptability and productivity in the changing climatic conditions. There is a large diversity in the buffalo genetic resources and South Asia is home of high yielding source promising buffalo breed of Murrah and Nail Ravi. South Asia is inhabitant of 151.49 million buffalo populations out of 194.29 million of global populations. Besides, about 79.74 % of Asia and 77.9 % of world buffalo populations are inhabitant in South Asian countries. During the last decade, the world buffalo population has been increased by approximately 1.49% annually. South Asia is currently producing 100.74 million metric tons of buffalo milk which is about 96.05 % of Asia and 93.19 % of world buffalo milk production. The share of buffalo milk is around 51.07% of the total milk production of the South Asia. The contribution of buffalo milk in India, Nepal and Pakistan are 51.2%, 66.6% and 59.5% respectively in total milk production. Among the South Asian countries, maximum milk is produced by India followed by Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The productivity of buffalo has been recorded 410 kg-1buffalo-1year, 1880 kg-1buffalo- 1year, 1934 kg-1buffalo-1year and 867 kg-1buffalo-1year, 508 kg-1buffalo- 1year in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka respectively. Although most of the buffaloes are non-descript indigenous types and their production potential is not satisfactory. There are different production systems are prevailing such as zero input-low output, low input-medium output and high input-high output. Moreover, selective breeding for buffalo with the same breed under low input-medium output production system and grading up of non-descript buffaloes using improver breed/s under zero input-low output production system has been commonly practiced. The demand of milk has been increasing due to economic solvency and rapid pace of urbanization but most of the countries are deficit in production even it is challenging to meet the projected demand to achieve the SDG by 2030. To increase the productivity through genetic improvement of buffaloes could be important thrust areas to obtain projected demand of milk. Productive and reproductive efficiency can only be improved by adopting suitable breeding policies and good management practices.SAARC J. Agri., 15(2): 227-239 (2017)

scholarly journals Fragmentation Trade and Vertical Specialisation: How Does South Asia Compare with China

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-128
Author(s):  
C. Veeramani
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Unskilled Labor ◽  
Production Networks ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Global Production Networks ◽  
Degree Of Participation

This article analyses the trends and patterns of export and fragmentation trade by South Asian countries—Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. To place the discussion in a comparative perspective, the analysis also covers China. Experience of China and other East Asian countries shows that export-led industrialisation and a high degree of participation in global production networks/value chains, based initially on specialisation in labor-intensive activities, are crucial for sustained employment generation and poverty reduction. However, exports have not become a major engine of growth in South Asian countries. An important reason for this is that South Asia has been locked out of the global production networks/value chains in several industries, except Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in readymade garments and India in automobiles. India’s export basket is biased towards capital- and skill-intensive products, which is an anomaly as the country’s true comparative advantage lies in unskilled labor-intensive activities. We argue that India’s labor laws have had the unintended consequence of discouraging specialisation in labor-intensive stages of the production process in manufacturing industries. Greater integration of domestic industries with global production networks/value chains will accelerate the process of shifting the surplus labor from agriculture to manufacturing. JEL Codes: F10, F15, F40

scholarly journals Charity and Philanthropy in South Asia: An introduction

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
FILIPPO OSELLA
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
West Bengal ◽  
South Asians ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Charitable Donations ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
Social Causes

There are no reliable figures to help us measure the volume of charitable donations in South Asia but, according to the 2014 World Giving Index, Sri Lanka is ranked ninth in the world for the charitable efforts of its citizens, while other South Asian countries figure in the top 75 out of 135 countries surveyed. According to the same index, India comes first in the world for the overall number of people donating money to charities and volunteering for social causes; Pakistan is ranked sixth for the number of charitable donations; India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are within the top ten countries for the number of people who have ‘helped a stranger’ in the 12 months prior to the survey. According to a 2001 survey by the Sampradaan Centre for Indian Philanthropy, among members of the A–C socio-economic classes, 96 per cent of respondents donated annually an average of Rs 1,420. The total amount donated was Rs 16.16 billion. Two surveys conducted in West Bengal and Sri Lanka suggest that South Asians across the social spectrum contribute readily to charity.

SDG Gender Index and the Status of Women

2022 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Soma Dhar
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
The Status

Equal Measures 2030 introduces the 2019 SDG Gender Index in the global report that highlights the power of data for gender equality. The Index is the complete mechanism known to investigate the state of gender equality across 129 countries, 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and 51 targets correlated to issues innate in the SDGs. This study explores the progress of gender equality in South Asian countries, comprising Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. The study indicates the poorer performance of South Asian countries in the SDG Gender index. It draws attention to the SDG-4 performances of South Asian countries as it has a strong gender perspective, grounded in evidence on the close links between girls’ education and social and economic development, including poverty reduction. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the study explores SDG 2020 projections and assesses the performance and rate of progress and acceleration timespan for South Asian countries toward gender equality by 2030. The overall comparison confirms that the performance of no country has been satisfactory in the SDG Gender Index. Sri Lanka is leading, ranked 1st in South Asia, and 15th in Asia and the Pacific region. Bangladesh and Pakistan are the worst performers in South Asia. Equal Measures 2030 serve to enhance girls' and women’s status, champion their abilities, and advocate their equality through policies and actions at the ground level.

scholarly journals Prevalence of antenatal depression in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Mahendran ◽  
S Puthussery ◽  
M Amalan
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Antenatal Depression ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Pooled Prevalence

Abstract Background Antenatal depression carries significant adverse implications for the health and well-being of women, babies and their families. While prevalence of perinatal mental disorders in low-and lower-middle-income countries tends to be higher compared to high-income countries, rates tend to vary widely among countries in certain regions such as South Asia. This study estimated the pooled prevalence of antenatal depression in South Asia and examined variations in individual countries. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. A comprehensive search was conducted on thirteen electronic databases and grey sources for articles published between 1·1·2007 and 31·5·2018 from South Asian countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Studies reporting quantitative prevalence estimates of antenatal depression using a validated diagnostic/ screening tool identified, screened and appraised using a two-stage process. A meta-analysis was conducted using the proportion (%) of pregnant women identified as having antenatal depression as the primary outcome. Results Thirty-three studies involving 13,087 pregnant women were included in the meta-analysis. Overall pooled prevalence was 24·57% (95% CI: 19·34, 30·69). Prevalence rates for India (17·74%, 95% CI: 11·19, 26·96) and Sri Lanka (15·87%, 95% CI: 14·04, 17·88) were lower compared to the overall prevalence whereas the rates for Pakistan (32·2%, 95% CI: 23·11, 42·87) and Nepal (50%, 95% CI: 35·64,64·36) were higher. Conclusions While robust prevalence studies are sparse in most South Asian countries, one in four pregnant women is likely to experience antenatal depression in the region. The issue needs to be recognised in health policy and practice for resource allocation and capacity building at regional and national levels for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Key messages One in four pregnant women is likely to experience antenatal depression in South Asia region. Targeted efforts are needed at national and regional levels for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

scholarly journals Sub-Nationalism and the Case for Intrastate Re-Demarcation in South Asia

2020 ◽  
Vol V (III) ◽  
pp. 184-192
Author(s):  
Azhar Mahmood Abbasi ◽  
Muhammad Shoaib Malik
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Ethnic Politics ◽  
Social Identities ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Policy Decisions ◽  
Important Policy ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Constant Source

The demographic make-up of South Asia has helped reinforce ethnic politics in each country in the region. South Asia is a diverse and vibrant region ethically, culturally, lingual and religiously. The diversity has its own downside in the region as it has been a constant source of tension and strife as well. Sub-nationalism largely revolves around ethnicity, and all-important policy decisions mainly reflect the ethnolinguistic diversity of any society. Various South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka Nepal, Bangladesh, and have practised many sub-nationalist movements, most of them acquired separate political and social identities, and others are still persisting in certain forms. This article seeks to analyze the discourse around subnationalism, ethnic politics, ethnonationalism, and the creation of new federating units in South Asia.

Quantifying Social Capital in Central and South Asia: Are There Democratic, Developmental, and Regionalizing Potentials?

2006 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
TAKASHI INOGUCHI ◽  
ZEN-U LUCIAN HOTTA
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asia ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Asian Countries

This paper aims to apply the methodology used in Inoguchi's former paper (2004c) and build on to the findings concerning social capital in Asia. The previous paper used ten Asian countries from the AsiaBarometer 2003 survey; this time we are using the 14 Central and South Asian countries – Kazakhstan, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan – from the AsiaBarometer 2005 survey.

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