Taxation (Module B)

Exam paper for second semeste

The effect of the Mid-Day Meal programme on the longitudinal physical growth from childhood to adolescence in India

This is the final version. Available on open access from Public Library of Science via the DOI in this recordData Availability: The Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) data repository retains all the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) datasets that were utilised in this study. The data can be accessed at https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/DSDR/series/507. Additional information about the IHDS project is available on the https://ihds.umd.edu website.The study aims to examine the effect of the world's largest school-feeding programme, the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) programme, on the changes in the underweight prevalence among school-children in India. Data from the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) Rounds 1 (2004-05) and 2 (2011-12) were utilized. The sample included individual-level information of children aged 6 to 9 years in IHDS-1 who then turned 13 to 16 years in IHDS-2. The sample was categorised into four groups based on their MDM consumption history (Group 1: no MDM support in IHDS-1 and IHDS-2, Group 2: MDM support in IHDS-1, Group 3: MDM support in IHDS-2, Group 4: persistent MDM support in IHDS-1 and IHDS-2). The dependent variable was underweight status as defined by the World Health Organisation Child Growth Standards Body Mass Index for age (BMI Z-score) < -2 SD of the median. Bivariate analysis was used to examine the prevalence of underweight and establish associations between underweight status and socio-demographic characteristics. Logistic regression was performed to assess the strength of the association of socio-demographic characteristics and MDM consumption patterns with underweight across poor and non-poor asset groups. The findings suggest that early and persistent MDM support among respondents reduced the likelihood of low BMI Z-scores compared to those without MDM support. Respondents from the poor asset group who received MDM support in at least one of the two survey rounds had higher odds of being underweight in comparison with those who did not receive MDM support at all. Girls and adolescents residing in the Eastern region of India were less likely to be underweight. The study shows that the MDM programme was effective in reducing the rate of underweight among school children. However, continuous programme upscaling with a special focus on children from poor households will significantly benefit India's school-aged children.UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)UKRIIndian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)British Counci

Integrated multisectoral strategy to improve girls' and women's nutrition before conception, during pregnancy and after birth in India (Swabhimaan): protocol for a prospective, non-randomised controlled evaluation

INTRODUCTION: Swabhimaan is a community-based programme to improve adolescent girls’ and women’s nutrition in the rural areas of three Indian states—Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha with high prevalence of undernutrition. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Swabhimaan has a nested prospective, non-randomised controlled evaluation. Since 2017, five intervention sites receive community-led interventions through national government’s livelihood mission supported women’s self-help group federations and five control sites will initiate these activities 36 months later, in 2020. Community-led activities aim to improve coverage of 18 interventions including adequacy of food consumed, prevention of micronutrient deficiencies, access to basic health services and special care of nutritionally ‘at risk’ girls and women, improving hygiene and access to water and sanitation services and access to family planning services. The evaluation includes baseline (2016–2017), midline (2018–2019) and endline (2020–2021) surveys covering 6638 adolescent girls, 2992 pregnant women and 8755 mothers of children under 2. The final impact analysis will be by intention to treat, comparing primary and secondary outcomes in five intervention areas and five control areas. The primary outcomes are: (1) a 15% reduction in the proportion of adolescent girls with a body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m2; (2) a 15% reduction in the proportion of mothers of children under two with a BMI <18.5 kg/m2 and (3) and a 0.4 cm improvement in mean mid-upper arm circumference among pregnant women. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: All procedures involving human subjects were approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha and in compliance with guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki. Evidence will inform maternal and preconception nutrition policy at national and state level. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 58261b2f46876 and CTRI/2016/11/007482; Pre-results

Book Review: ‘Missing Girls’: Many Approaches to an Understanding

Review of Sex- Selective Abortion in India –Gender, Society, and New Reproductive Technologies by Tulsi Patel; Sage Publications, New Delhi, 2007.sex selection, sex-selective abortion, new reproductive technologies, abortion, gender bias, missing girls, female foeticide, gender, patriarchy, Women Studies, Population Studies, Demography

Retroviral Disease and Smoking – A Sinister Combination causing Hyperkeratotic Laryngeal Papilloma

Introduction Otorhinolaryngologic manifestations account for almost 80% of the various manifestations of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, of which Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) associated laryngeal papilloma and laryngeal malignancy are the most common pertaining to larynx. Case Report A 55year old male patient on Antiretroviral treatment since 10 years who was a chronic smoker, presented with difficulty in breathing and hoarseness of voice. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed a white, horny, wide based keratotic lesion completely covering rima glottidis resulting in obstruction of airway and stridor. Tracheostomy was done followed by        endoscopic excision of the lesion. Histopathologic examination showed features of hyperkeratotic papilloma and lesion was tested negative for HPV. Discussion We report this case to emphasize on the differential diagnosis of laryngeal papillomatous lesion. A hyperkeratotic papilloma, with a dual aetiology of retroviral disease  and smoking, presenting with stridor, the lesion being negative for HPV infection makes it uncommon from other laryngeal lesions

Retroviral Disease and Smoking – A Sinister Combination causing Hyperkeratotic Laryngeal Papilloma

Introduction Otorhinolaryngologic manifestations account for almost 80% of the various manifestations of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, of which Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) associated laryngeal papilloma and laryngeal malignancy are the most common pertaining to larynx. Case Report A 55year old male patient on Antiretroviral treatment since 10 years who was a chronic smoker, presented with difficulty in breathing and hoarseness of voice. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed a white, horny, wide based keratotic lesion completely covering rima glottidis resulting in obstruction of airway and stridor. Tracheostomy was done followed by        endoscopic excision of the lesion. Histopathologic examination showed features of hyperkeratotic papilloma and lesion was tested negative for HPV. Discussion We report this case to emphasize on the differential diagnosis of laryngeal papillomatous lesion. A hyperkeratotic papilloma, with a dual aetiology of retroviral disease  and smoking, presenting with stridor, the lesion being negative for HPV infection makes it uncommon from other laryngeal lesions

Women empowerment through involvement in community-based health and nutrition interventions: Evidence from a qualitative study in India.

Women's empowerment is fundamental for realizing unalienable human rights and is vital to sustainable development outcomes. In India, the SWABHIMAAN intervention program was an integrated multi-sectoral strategy to improve girls' and women's nutrition before conception, during pregnancy, and after childbirth. This study assesses the role of self-help-group (SHGs) in improving the effectiveness of community health interventions and its impact on their self-empowerment. Qualitative data gathered through in-depth interviews (IDI) with community-based SHG members involved as Nutrition Friend (Poshan Sakhi-PS) in the SWABHIMAAN program in 2018 was used for analysis. Informed consent procedures were followed, and only those who voluntarily consented to the interview were interviewed. Twenty-five IDIs of purposively selected PSs in three states (Bihar, n = 9; Chhattisgarh, n = 8; and Odisha, n = 8) were analyzed thematically, according to Braun & Clarke (2006). NVivo 12 software was used for organizing and coding data. Three central themes that emerged to explain women's empowerment were (1) Barriers & redressal mechanisms adopted by PS, (2) PS as a change-maker, and (3) Changes in the life of PS. The study found that women perceive themselves as more empowered through involvement in the SWABHIMAN intervention program, besides improving the community's and their households' nutritional status. The results suggest that policies and programs on health and nutrition interventions need to involve peer women from the community, leading to more effective outcomes. Empowering women and closing gender gaps in employment/work are critical to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals

Role of seasonality variation in prevalence and trend of childhood wasting in India: An empirical analysis using National Family Health Surveys, 2005–2021

Abstract Background Wasting develops over a short period and can be reversed with short‐term interventions. The prevalence of wasting typically varies from season to season—becoming higher during the monsoon (June to September) season as compared to the winter (October to January) and summer (February to May) seasons every year in a cyclical fashion. However, to the best of our knowledge, using nationally representative demographic surveys to extensively study the impact of the timing of the survey on the results and trends around wasting has not been done so far. Objectives The goal of this study is to ascertain whether seasonality has an impact on the trend and levels of wasting between NFHS‐3 (2005–2006) and NFHS‐5 (2019–2021). Methods The analysis was based on data on 51,555, 259,627, and 232,920 children under 5 years included in NFHS‐3, NFHS‐4, and NFHS‐5 respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and the predicted probabilities approach were employed to examine the effect of the months of interview on the prevalence of wasting. The analysis was conducted for 9 states of India which had data for comparable months to compute wasting levels. Results We found that at the national level, wasting increased in India by one per cent from NFHS‐3 to NFHS‐4 but declined by 2% from NFHS‐4 to NFHS‐5. The results show that seasonality significantly influenced the prevalence of wasting. It was observed that compared to January, the odds of wasting were particularly higher in summer and monsoon seasons, especially in the month of August across all three rounds, indicating the influence of seasonality in the prevalence of wasting in the country. Discussion The prevalence of wasting in India needs to be interpreted across seasonal changes as seasonality affects many of the variables intrinsically related to child health and nutritional status

Assisted reproductive technologies in India: the views of practitioners.

BACKGROUND: This article documents the context of Assisted Reproductive Technology/ies (ART) services and providers' perceptions regarding services offered in India. The objective is to facilitate understanding of critical issues and relevant concerns. METHODS: A postal survey conducted with a sample of 470 gynaecologists and in-depth interviews with 39 gynaecologists in four cities. RESULTS: ART clinics have proliferated in cities and towns; they are commercialised and the quality of treatment is variable. Most providers perceived that patients lack knowledge about infertility and ART, costs are high, investigations unnecessarily repeated and success rates low. ART providers do not have clear selection criteria, some lack rigorous specialised training and infrastructure and most are deficient in record-keeping and counselling and lack transparency. Monitoring and regulation by appropriate authorities are also lacking. CONCLUSION: Both providers and regulatory authorities need to look critically at exploitation of patients and commercialisation, excessive costs, lack of information, informed consent, and transparency, counselling, unethical practices, variations in quality of treatment and ensuring proper monitoring and regulation