Measuring effectiveness of social capital in microfinance: A case study of urban microfinance programme in India

Creation and use of social capital is considered to be one of the emerging tools of development programmes. It is valued as one of the vital link to replace physical capital with social intermediation in microfinance. The paper analyses the meaning and role of social capital with specific reference to microfinance programme and tries to measure its impact on social empowerment of women with the help of empirical findings. The paper is based on primary data collected of 217 women Self Help Group (SHG) members by using random sample method from the SHGs organized by Forbes Marshall Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturing company in Pune, Maharashtra, India as an initiative of corporate social responsibility. A Likert scale is used to find the perceptions of SHG members about the changes which microfinance programme has brought out in their lives with respect to 15 parameters related to awareness building, capacity building and active and collective participation in social and political life to bring out desirable changes. The paper concludes that microfinance programme implemented by the organization has created a social capital which has an empowering effect on SHG members. The paper suggests that creation of social capital is not an automatic outcome and the organizations have to create and nurture it deliberately by implementing specific policies such as capacity building programmes, developing decision making abilities, etc

Preface: Special Issue of the 1st International Conference in Healthcare Management

We are very happy to present the special issue coming out of our 1st International Conference in Healthcare Management 2021in collaboration with Asia Pacific Journal of Healthcare Management. The theme of the conference was “Future of Healthcare Post COVID-19”. The conference intended to cover the challenges and issues posed by COVID 19 on economies, and particularly healthcare sector. It also focused on identifying and capturing the changes brought out by new technologies and new business models which emerged in post COVID scenario. The papers presented covered diverse topics such as digital healthcare, mental health, public health and health economics as well as healthcare marketing and health caregiving. Few selected papers are getting published in this special issue

How Socioeconomic and Demographic Factors Affect Health Literacy? Assessment of health literacy level in different socioeconomic classes in India

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess the impact of socioeconomic status based on gender, age group, education, and income level of the people on the level of health literacy. Design and setting: The study uses the primary data of 380 respondents belonging to varied socio-economic classes. It is a cross-sectional study. Results: The study shows that the level of health literacy is significantly affected by the educational and income level of the respondents. Health literacy is also uniquely affected by age groups. Few of the nine parameters of health literacy are affected positively by rising age groups and few are affected negatively by rising age-group. The study finds that health literacy is not affected by gender differences. Conclusion: Health literacy plays a vital role in building the health status of people and helping the effective utilization of healthcare services. It is found that level of health literacy is affected by the socio-economic status of the people. It is the need of the hour to build health literacy in the weaker section of society with the help of policy tools

Impact of Socio-economic Factors in Reducing Malnutrition among Children: A comparative study of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

Objective: To assess the impact of economic and gender factors on malnutrition among children below 5 years age by making a comparative study between India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Design and setting: The study uses data and information on economic and gender status parameters taken from the secondary sources for three South Asian Countries between the years 2000 to 2018. The study uses ANOVA, Post Hoc test and Fixed Effects Panel Regression analysis to arrive at the conclusions. Results: Comparative analysis between the three countries shows that the extent of malnutrition among children is lowest in Sri Lanka and highest in India. The study finds that economic factors such as domestic government’s expenditure of healthcare as percentage of total health expenditure and gender factors measured in terms of female labour force participation, and school enrolment of girls at secondary level significantly impact the level of malnutrition among children. Conclusion: Malnutrition among children is a complex challenge which cannot be solved by emphasizing on only economic growth. Policies emphasising on gender parity and empowerment integrated in healthcare policies will positively impact nutritional level of children.