Pregnancy Outcomes among Adolescent Tribal Women: Insights from South-East Rajasthan, India

Background: Adolescent pregnancy has been common in India and it hosts to several health consequences to the mothers and children. A detailed investigation of the prevalence and consequences of adolescent pregnancy is required. Objective: This study, thus, examines the association of pregnancy outcomes among adolescent women with various socio-cultural, economic and demographic backgrounds. Material & Methods: This study is based on primary data collected from ever married tribal women of south-eastern districts of Rajasthan, India. The birth outcomes of first order pregnancy have been considered to highlight the adolescent pregnancy. Analyses have been done by employing SPSS 16.0. Results: 9.7 percent of the total pregnancies conceived ever by the all respondents and 15.4 percent of total first order pregnancies have been reported to have terminated into non-live births. Women who experienced their first pregnancy at age 20 and above are 3.889 times (p<0.01) more likely tohave live birth outcome than to women of 16 years. Meena women are 1.95 times (p<0.05) more likely to experience live pregnancy outcome than counterpart Bhil women. Women belonging to rich wealth index are significantly 4 times (p<0.01) more likely to give live births. Conclusion: results demonstrate that considerable share of pregnancies among adolescent women turn into miscarriages and this prevalence is more likely among young, rural, uneducated and poor women than their counterpart women. Hence, it is an urgent need to enhance the awareness and improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal women for better health outcomes of mothers and children. &nbsp

Livelihood Diversification in Rural India

This study aims to ascertain the level of livelihood diversification and examines the socio-economic contexts of livelihood diversification in rural India. Employing data from India Human Development Survey (IHDS-II), 2011-12, an Inverse Herfindhal-Harschman Diversity Index (IHHDI) was calculated incorporating eleven income sources (livelihood strategies). In addition, the contribution of each strategy in households’ total income has been calculated. Furthermore, binary logistic regression was applied to predict the households’ engagement in each livelihood strategy and the likelihood of high IHHDI. Results indicate that the higher livelihood diversifications were found among the households with large size, high dependency, lower social groups, low educated, landless, marginal and small farming, and economically poor. This study also highlights the significance of diversification strategies in raising households’ income. It is suggested that broadened policy support is required to promote diversification for economic development in rural India

Comparison of Evolutionary Algorithms for Synthesis of Non-Uniformly Spaced Linear Array of Unequal Length Parallel Dipole Antennas for Impedance Matching with low side lobe level

This work presents a comparative study of three evolutionary algorithms such as quantum particle swarm optimization (QPSO), firefly algorithm (FA) and cuckoo search algorithm (CS) for synthesis of linear array of non-uniformly spaced parallel unequal length very thin dipole antennas for impedance matching of all the antenna elements of an array with low side lobe level. Performance of the above three algorithms for impedance matching are compared here in terms of side lobe level as well as statistical parameters such as global best fitness value, worst fitness value, mean and standard deviation. Mutual coupling effect exists between the parallel dipole antennas and it is analyzed by induced electro-motive force (EMF) method, assuming Current distribution on each dipole to be sinusoidal. In addition to it, the obtained results from simulation of the entire optimization algorithm on Matlab is also validated by results obtained from FEKO analysis. One example is presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Moreover the applied method seems very effective for a linear array of dipole antennas; however, the principle can easily be extended to other type of arrays

Revisiting Urbanisation Pattern amid COVID-19 Pandemic in India

The COVID-19 pandemic, from its beginning in India on 30 January 2020, has caused over 3.7 million cases of illness and claimed over 66 thousand deaths as of 1 September2020. The large metropolitan cities have been the major hotspots of COVID-19 pandemic. The peculiar urbanisation patterns are crucial in spreading COVID-19 in India. This study attempts to highlight how urbanisation patterns increase the vulnerability of COVID-19 spread in India. The higher density, urban sprawl and associated intra-urban commuting, large slum population, inadequate water, sanitation and housing conditions along with homelessness are found to catalyse the vulnerability of COVID-19 spread in urban areas. The existing public health infrastructure in the country is found to be inadequate with respect to the increasing demand. Efforts to contain the spread are being made; nonetheless, the rapid increase in the cases of illness and deaths from COVID-19 has inflated the challenges for administration and citizens. Rapid enhancement in health infrastructure and health personnel must be made along with strict adherence to the measures of quarantine, social distancing and hygiene for the citizens are of utmost response to the decrease the spread

A Comparative Analysis of Evolutionary Algorithms for Synthesis of Scanned Linear Array of Mutually Coupled Parallel Dipole Antennas

This paper presents a comparative analysis of threeevolutionary algorithms, namely, Backtracking Search Algorithm,Cuckoo Search Algorithm and Artificial Bee Colony Algorithms forsynthesis of a scanned linear array of uniformly spaced parallel halfwavelength dipole antennas. Here, antenna parameters, namely SideLobe Level, reflection coefficient and wide null depth are taken intoconsideration for comparison between algorithms. In addition to it,statistical parameters, namely best fitness value, mean and standarddeviation of the fitness values obtained from algorithms are compared.Mutual coupling that exists among the antenna elements is included inobtaining radiation patterns and the self-impedances along with themutual impedances are calculated by induced Electro-Motive Forcemethod. Two different examples are shown in this paper to validate theeffectiveness of the utilized approach. Although, this approach is appliedto a linear array of dipole antennas; this can be utilized for other arraygeometries as well

Synthesis and Failure Correction of Flattop and Cosecant Squared Beam Patterns in Linear Antenna Arrays, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2017, nr 4

This paper deals with the synthesis of flattop and cosecant squared beam patterns using the firefly algorithm which is based on metaheuristics. This synthesis is followed by the correction of the radiation patterns when unfortunate malfunctioning of the individual elements in the array occurs. The necessary attention is given to the recovery process, with due emphasis on reduction of side lobe level, ripple and the reflection coefficient. Simulation in Matlab shows a successful employment of the firefly algorithm in producing voltage excitations of the good elements necessary for the recovered patterns. The performance of the firefly algorithm in failure correction is validated by duly comparing it with a standard benchmark

Failure Correction of a Linear Array of Coupled Parallel Vertical Dipole Antennas, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2020, nr 1

In this paper, a cuckoo search algorithm based on the combined characteristics of the brood parasite behavior and Levy flights is applied to correct the radiation pattern of a linear antenna array composed of parallel dipoles with faulty elements. An effort is made to restore the radiation pattern similar to one without any faulty elements, and the difference in the values of side lobe level and wide null depth of both patterns, as well as the voltage standing wave ratio obtained from the new voltage excitations become diminished. The examples presented in this paper show the effectiveness of this algorithm in correcting the radiation pattern of a linear array of 36 and 120 dipole antennas with four and ten failed elements, respectively. The results show that the matching condition and the wide null control produced by Cuckoo Search algorithm are more efficient in comparison with the benchmark failure correction algorithm. The approach adopted herein may be applied to other array configurations as wel

Women's Empowerment and Fertility Behaviour among the Tribals of Rajasthan, India

Fertility has declined in India during the last few decades because of socio-economic development. Women's empowerment has been identified as an important determinant for demographic change. Tribals in India have relatively high fertility because of their traditional socio-cultural practices and poor economic condition. This study aims to examine the role of women's empowerment on fertility behaviour by utilising primary data collected from ten tribal dominated districts of Rajasthan. These tribal communities belong to the Bhils, the Meenas and the Saharias. Results reveal that women's empowerment is negatively associated with fertility behaviour. Women's education, employability, participation in decision-making, exposure to media and spousal communication bear significant impact on fertility behaviour. This study may have some implications for future studies and policy makers for regulating fertility

Understanding trimester-specific miscarriage risk in Indian women: insights from the calendar data of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21

Abstract Background The primary public health issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries, is early pregnancy loss driven by miscarriage. Understanding early pregnancy losses and the characteristics of mothers who have miscarriages is essential to creating effective reproductive health strategies. Thus, this study’s primary goal is to delve into the factors which impact miscarriages that take place prior to and following the first 12 weeks of gestation. Methods The bivariate analysis was employed to determine the frequency of miscarriages. The factors associated with miscarriages in the first (≤12 weeks) and second & above (> 12 weeks) trimesters of pregnancy were then examined using a generalised linear regression model, with 95% confidence intervals. Finally, we use ArcGIS to illustrate the prevalence of miscarriage in the districts of India. Results Our result shows that miscarriages occur often in India (4.9%), with 23% of cases occurring in the first trimester (≤12 weeks). In our bivariate analysis, we identified several factors associated with a higher prevalence of miscarriages in India. It was found that mothers aged thirty years or older, residing in urban areas, with less than ten years of education, belonging to the richest wealth quantile, expressing a desire for more children, having no demand for contraception, and possessing no parity experienced a higher prevalence of miscarriage in total pregnancies in India. On the other hand, the generalised linear model’s findings show that mothers who are thirty years of age or older, practise other religions, live in urban areas, are members of other castes, want more children, marry before the age of eighteen, and meet their contraceptive needs are more likely to have miscarriages in total pregnancy. However, there is a larger likelihood of miscarriage in the first trimester (≤12 weeks) for mothers who follow other religions, live in urban areas, are from Other Backward Class (OBC), get married before the age of eighteen, and fall into the middle and upper wealth quantiles. A mother is more likely to miscarriage in the second & above (> 12 weeks) trimesters if she is older than thirty, from other castes, wants more children, has moderate media exposure, marries before turning eighteen, meets her contraceptive needs, and does not feel the need for contraception. After accounting for socioeconomic characteristics, all results were statistically significant. Conclusions Given the substantial number of miscarriages in India, police need to improve planning and guidance in order to lower pregnancy loss due to miscarriage. Miscarriage rates may be significantly decreased by enhancing the availability and quality of reproductive health care infrastructure, particularly in rural areas