Factors associated with fertility limiting intention and contraceptive use among currently married men in India

Family planning methods are generally considered as women’s responsibility in India. The volumes of research done so far in the family planning methods and reproductive behaviors have kept women at the center of the matter. Consequently, the research on the men’s perspective on the same is generally being neglected. The present study intends to address intention of fertility stopping or fertility limiting and contraception behaviors and their associated factors among currently married men aged 20-49 years in India who had at least one living child. The fourth round of the National Family Health Survey in 2015-2016 was used to achieve the study objectives. Descriptive statistics and binary and multinomial logistic regression models were applied to more than 48,000 men who met the requirement. The findings of the analysis indicate that more than three-fourths currently married men did not want another child, and the fertility stopping intention significantly varies by demographics (i.e., men’s age, number of children, and sex composition of children), socio-economic characteristics, residence, geographic region, and religion of the respondents together with type of caste and social media exposure. The men’s fertility stopping intention was also linked with geographic region, types of religion and castes, and exposure of social media. Result further reveals that only <30% of men who did not want to have another child were using a contraceptive method at the time survey. Among users, female sterilization was the most popular method among married couples in India. Demographic factors, socio-economic characteristics, region and culture, and exposure of social media were all associated with use or not-using and use of a specific conceptive method. Overall, the findings suggest men’s fertility stopping intention and their use of contraception are complicated, and it needs to consider men as a target group in fertility regulation interventions. The reproductive health programs aiming to increase uptake of modern contraceptives by sexually active men in India should consider the importance of sex education and ensure access to mass media.

Correlates of internet use among African American older adults: Gender and age differences

This study aimed to compare internet use among African American older adults by gender and age group and investigate correlates of internet use by gender and age group. A total of 1117 African American older adults aged over 50 from the 2016 Wave of the Health Retirement Study were included in the study. Sequential ordinal logistic regressions were conducted to investigate correlates of internet use among older African Americans by gender and age group. Significant gender and age differences were identified in internet use frequency. Gender differences on correlates were revealed: being old-old and limitations on activities of daily living were only associated with decreased odds of more frequent internet use among women. In addition, higher depression was only associated with reduced odds of more frequent internet use among men. Age differences on correlates indicated that education and cognition were the only two significant factors pertinent to internet use among the old-old. By contrast, for young-old adults, retirement, poverty, education, cognition, and depression were also predictive. Practitioners should consider these gender and age differences when promoting internet use among older African Americans. The results presented in this study might also inform the design of future gender- and age-tailored interventions.

Influence of the Olympic winter games PyeongChang 2018 on the Korean Wave: Comparison of perceptions between Koreans and Americans

This study was designed to investigate the effects of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 on South Koreans’ and Americans’ perceptions of the “Korean Wave,” or Hallyu. To achieve this purpose, a survey that included questions about the awareness of Hallyu among South Koreans and Americans was conducted before and after the Olympics. The results show that the Olympics positively influenced Hallyu and that the effect was greater for Koreans than for Americans. After watching the Olympics, Koreans had a greater sense of cultural soft power and their perception of Hallyu’s influence on the United States than before they watched the Olympics. However, for American participants, enduring involvement with Hallyu was the only factor that reflected a positive influence. This study demonstrates the relationship between international mega-sport events and a host country’s perceived cultural values.

COVID-19 and socioeconomic development in Africa: The first 6 months (February 2020-August 2020)

The study covers the first 6 months of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemics in 56 African countries (February 2020-August 2020). It links epidemiological parameters (incidence, case fatality) with demographic parameters (population density, urbanization, population concentration, fertility, mortality, and age structure), with economic parameters (gross domestic product [GDP] per capita, air transport), and with public health parameters (medical density). Epidemiological data are cases and deaths reported to the World Health Organization, and other variables come from databases of the United Nations agencies. Results show that COVID-19 spread fairly rapidly in Africa, although slower than in the rest of the world: In 3 months, all countries were affected, and in 6 months, approximately 1.1 million people (0.1% of the population) were diagnosed positive for COVID-19. The dynamics of the epidemic were fairly regular between April and July, with a net reproduction rate R0 = 1.35, but tended to slow down afterward, when R0 fell below 1.0 at the end of July. Differences in incidence were very large between countries and were correlated primarily with population density and urbanization, and to a lesser extent, with GDP per capita and population age structure. Differences in case fatality were smaller and correlated primarily with mortality level. Overall, Africa appeared very heterogeneous, with some countries severely affected while others very little.

Understanding the resilience and mental health impacts of natural disasters in India: A narrative review

The purpose of this study is to understand the linkages between natural disasters and their impact on the mental health of people as well as associated resilience mechanisms in India. Natural disasters affect not only the physical environment but also the economy, social life, and well-being of the population. In addition to the loss of precious lives and economic losses, disasters affect the natural growth and mental health of the affected populations to a great extent. It is extremely challenging to quantify the true scale of damage caused by a disaster because physical damage is visible, but hidden impacts could be much more severe and have catastrophic effects on the socioeconomic growth of the affected families and areas. Against this background and with the limited available evidence, this study has tried to understand how disasters lead to poor mental health among the affected populations around the globe and tried to conceptualize this in the Indian context. Our review documents the different pathways for disasters to adversely affect mental health, particularly among vulnerable populations. The review also highlights how an increased frequency of disasters with climate change can lead to a post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and depression. Changes in climate and global warming may require populations to migrate, which can lead to acculturation stress. It can also lead to increased rates of physical illnesses, which secondarily would be associated with psychological distress. This research is an initial step in bringing this important issue forward in the context of Sustainable Development Goals and outlining that better policies need to be designed for prevention, services, and psychological counseling of mental health problems due to disasters. This study also suggests for more longitudinal research to understand the development of disaster-related mental health problems and to develop adequate mitigation strategies.

A review of disasters in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh region in India

India has always been a disaster-prone country, with multiple states afflicted by different types of disasters. The impact of these disasters is exacerbated when an area is prone to multiple types of disasters. This study attempts to understand the impact of natural and man-made disasters on the people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh region in India as well as it also examines the resilience mechanisms adopted by the people, and identifies measures taken by the government in response to these disasters. To understand these disasters’ dynamics, we conducted both offline and online desk reviews for this study. The review suggests that J&K and Ladakh region is afflicted not only by multiple natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, avalanches, and landslides but also by the terrorism and violence, which has caused unparalleled death and destruction. These natural and man-made disasters have adversely affected most aspects of life and development in the region. To mitigate the risks, effective disaster risk reduction and management systems, early warning systems and infrastructure need to be strengthened. In addition, community engagement needs to be enhanced with the goal of addressing the grievances of the population and engaging them in the design and implementation of sustainable development programs.

Maternal characteristics and the risk of neonatal mortality in Brazil between 2006 and 2016

Neonatal deaths account for more than 60% of infant deaths and are a major concern in Brazil. The reduction of the occurrence of these events appears to be more challenging than post-neonatal deaths, as such a reduction depends more on factors related to the pregnancy and childbirth than sanitary and health conditions. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of maternal factors (schooling, marital status, and age) on the risk of neonatal mortality in Brazil between 2006 and 2016. Data were collected from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics as well as two information systems of the public health-care system: Mortality Information System and Live Birth Information System. The total valid sample size was 28,362,359 children. Visualization and classification methods were performed. The results revealed a considerably higher risk of neonatal deaths when the mothers were unmarried, had a low level of schooling, and were outside the 20-34-year-old age group. Different demographic profiles in Brazil exert an influence on neonatal health. The identification of the risk factors of neonatal mortality can assist in ensuring pregnancy, delivery, and a neonatal period of greater quality.

Values, environmental vulnerabilities, and implications on adaptation: Evidence from an indigenous Raika community in Rajasthan, India

Global environmental change has exacerbated the vulnerabilities of pastoral communities in India, who have already been sidelined in the current development and modernization discourse. The Raikas are one of the largest groups of indigenous nomadic pastoralists residing in the semi-arid regions of Northwest India. They are facing the brunt of shrinking grazing areas, social marginalization, and economic pressures. The past two decades have witnessed additional challenges, such as water scarcity and rainfall variability, which have pushed them beyond their adaptive threshold. These churnings have led to a radical shift in their values and climate adaptation strategies. However, the role and importance of social values in shaping their response to environmental change are not well understood. This study conducted life history interviews and focus group discussions with community members to examine social values and their linkages with climate adaptation decision-making in Raikas. The findings demonstrate that the community’s livelihood, health, and social cohesion are severely affected by environmental change, entwined with social, economic, and political stressors. There is a parallel change taking place in their social values. Their values related to esteem, self-actualization, safety, and belongingness have witnessed shifts, leading them away from pastoralism. This has ramifications on their adaptation decision-making. Their time-tested and preferred choice of adaptation in the face of drought and water scarcity – seasonal livestock migration – is no longer desirable. New adaptation options, such as urban migration, have emerged, while traditional measures have declined in popularity. There is an urgent need to understand and engage with a broader set of methodologies and literature to facilitate the integration of social values in vulnerability and adaptation assessments. The inclusion of social values presents an opportunity to understand the subjective limits of adaptation better as well as to expand adaptation pathways.

Risk factors and socioeconomic inequalities in undernutrition among children 0-59 months of age in India

In the majority of low- and middle-income counties, child health-care dissimilarities are further aggravated by nutritional status (i.e., stunting, underweight, and wasting). In India, child malnutrition is the most important contributor to disease burden. The present study uses data from the 4th round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), conducted in 2015-2016. We considered anthropometric indicators of unit-level data of 2, 48, and 174 children aged 0-59 months. This study examines the socio-economic inequality in nutritional status and their determinants among under-5 year children. The factors considered in the analysis were categorized as child age in months, mother’s educational status, mother’s nutritional-status, type of caste, wealth index, birth order, and size of a child at birth. In this study, multivariate logistic regression and concentration index (CI) have been employed to explore the effect of various factors on the child’s nutritional status. The binary logistic analysis has demonstrated a significant association between child nutritional status and mother’s education, mother’s nutritional status, type of caste, wealth index, birth order, and size of a child at birth. The results show that the CI for stunting, underweight, and wasting were −0.14, −0.16, and −0.08. Therefore, these factors were significantly high in poorer households. Our study suggests that the nutrition-specific programs to encourage nutritional adequacy, diversity, reduces the nutritional burden, and growth of child’s in India.