Anu Susan sam - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Anu Susan sam

Social sciences & humanities open, 2022

The spread of COVID-19 caused wide scale disruptions in the educational sector across the globe. ... more The spread of COVID-19 caused wide scale disruptions in the educational sector across the globe. Digital education, which involves the use of digital tools, virtual platforms and online learning, is seen as one of the viable alternatives to continue academic activities in such an environment. Higher education institutions have largely switched to this new mode of learning and continue to rely on digital mode in many parts of the world, due to the ongoing pandemic threat. However, learners' competency to effectively engage in online courses and the impact of their socioeconomic background on this competency has not been adequately addressed in the literature. The present study was an attempt to explore these aspects, as they are crucial to the success of digital education. The study was conducted with 833 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students from an agricultural university to assess their digital competencies and factors that influence effective participation in online courses. The Digital Competence Framework 2.0 of EU Science Hub (DIGCOMP) was adapted and used for this study. Our findings suggest that the learners have a satisfactory level of competence in most of the aspects of digital competence. Majority of the participants were relying on smart phones both as the device for accessing internet as well as for their learning activities. The results of a Tukey's difference in the mean test reveals that learners' digital competence varies significantly by gender, economic profile, and academic level. This finding can be attributed to the difference in their socioeconomic background, which confirms digital divide among learners. Our findings have implications for the design of digital higher education strategies and institutional management to ensure effective learner participation, especially for higher education institutions in developing countries.

This study investigates the major environmental and socio-economic impacts of an increase in the ... more This study investigates the major environmental and socio-economic impacts of an increase in the area of rubber plantations and the changing patterns of drivers of land use changes by combining geospatial technologies and socio-economic methods. Using a combination of geospatial techniques and socio-economic methods, we mainly analysed the rate of increase in area under rubber plantations, major impacts of land use changes and the changing drivers of land use changes. Our results shows that the area under rubber plantations has increased significantly within the study area, with the area under rubber plantations increasing from 30–74% of the total area within five decades. Impact assessment of land-use changes based on household surveys showed significant improvement in socio-economic conditions of the farmers however at the expense of severe environmental degradation. Our results also indicate that while areas under rubber plantations continue to increase, the drivers of land use c...

CRC Press eBooks, Oct 13, 2022

CRC Press eBooks, Oct 13, 2022

Agrotechnology, Jul 7, 2013

Theoretical and Applied Climatology

Agricultural Systems

Abstract Context Increasing salinity levels demand adaptative and transformative changes in farmi... more Abstract Context Increasing salinity levels demand adaptative and transformative changes in farming systems in regions affected by saltwater intrusion intensified by global climate change. The study area, a narrow delta affected by salinity intrusion due to rising sea levels as well as by diminishing rainfall during the dry season in north-central coastal region of Vietnam represents this global challenge. Apart from the level of salinity, farmer characteristics, legal framework and the expected returns to investment on the available choices shape the future trajectories of these farming systems. Nevertheless, relatively less research efforts are focused on understanding these choices and the trade-offs. Objective The study focus on identifying and determining the acceptability of adopting stress tolerant rice varieties, changes in cropping sequences, or a transformative shift to aquaculture conditional to the degree of saltwater intrusion as well as gaining insight into required policy changes to facilitate the adaptation and transformation in rice farming deltas. Methods The current study reports a novel choice experiment (CE) approach to analyse the roles of risk attitude, expected returns, production costs, effort levels and legal restrictions on the preferences for adaptation alternatives and their interactions with salinity levels using random parameter models. Results and conclusions The results reveal the role of perceived risks and labour efforts in adaptative choices and highlight the need for risk offset mechanisms as well as labour-saving interventions. The simulations using the estimated random parameter models predict farmers affected by salinity below the critical threshold of 4 dS/m of electrical conductivity (EC) will have a 34.4% adoption rate for traditional rice and a 43.6% rate for salinity-tolerant rice varieties, which will drop by 2 to 3 percentage points when the current legal restrictions on conversion to aquaculture are waived. In the case of farmers facing higher salinity levels, aquaculture would likely become the dominant option, with 40% of the cohort of farmers adopting aquaculture (17.2% adopting shrimp and 22.4% adopting polyculture), followed by saline-tolerant rice (36% to 38%). Significance The results reveal the need for increased investment in rice breeding for salinity tolerance, market development for alternative crops, introduction of risk offset mechanisms and a planned shift to transformative alternatives such as aquaculture. The findings of this study call for a balanced effort for adaptative and transformative options for rice farmers, infrastructural options preventing salinity intrusion and enhanced global mitigation efforts to reduce the possible rise in sea levels and limit salinity intrusion.

Climate Change and Community Resilience, 2021

The chapter presents three case studies on resilience initiatives adopted by communities in respo... more The chapter presents three case studies on resilience initiatives adopted by communities in response to water scarcity and severe floods exacerbated by climate change in the southern Indian state of Kerala. The post-flood management strategies undertaken by farmer collectives supported by a strong presence of the state resulted in sustainable outcomes. On the contrary, the resilience mechanisms to adapt to water scarcity have proved to be environmentally unsustainable and socially undesirable resulting in resource depletion and loss of social welfare. The participation of state and collective action was absent in the latter case. The study reiterates the importance of cohesive action from the government and local communities to generate sustainable community resilience programmes.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2021

Abstract The food security situation in India has improved due to economic growth, increased agri... more Abstract The food security situation in India has improved due to economic growth, increased agricultural productivity, public policies and hunger eradication programmes. Nevertheless, much of India's population still suffers from hunger and poverty. Floods obstruct agricultural production; destroy infrastructure; and disrupt livelihoods, normal services, health care, etc. In this way, floods ultimately affect households' food security. We examined household food security in flood-prone rural areas of India in a more extensive way than in previous studies by constructing an index that incorporates various factors of the food security dimensions. Factors determining the level of flood-prone households' food security were also analyzed. By polychoric principal component analysis, an aggregate food security index was constructed. The food security score was regressed on different explanatory variables to evaluate their effect on the overall food security situation in the study area. Our results showed that three-fourths of the respondent households faced food security issues to varying degrees. Family type, physical assets and employment scheme showed positive impacts on the level of food security of the respondents. In contrast, households with female household heads and those suffering losses of property due to floods were adversely affected in terms of negative impacts on overall food security. The results suggest the need for the adoption of integrated strategies to effectively address food security issues amidst the increased severity of flood events. The study findings are useful for policy makers in India and countries with similar backgrounds to tackle the food insecurity brought about by flood hazards.

Climate change and consequent variations in temperature pose a significant challenge for sustaini... more Climate change and consequent variations in temperature pose a significant challenge for sustaining wheat production systems globally. In this study, the potential impact of rising temperature on wheat yield in the north Indian plains, India's major wheat growing region, was analyzed using panel data from the year 1981 to 2009. This study deviates from the majority of the previous studies by including non-climatic factors in estimating the impact of climate change. Two temperature measures were used for fitting the function, viz., Growing Season Temperature (GST) and Terminal Stage Temperature (TST), to find out the differential impact of increased temperature at various growth stages. Analysis revealed that there was a significant rise in both GST as well as TST during the study period. The magnitude of the annual increment in TST was twice that of GST. Wheat yield growth in the region was driven primarily by increased input resources such as fertilizer application and technolo...

Science of The Total Environment, 2021

The Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP) was launched in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provin... more The Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP) was launched in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan to conserve existing forests and to increase the area under forest cover. It also aimed to restore environmental conditions, promote rural livelihoods and reduce poverty. To improve the effectiveness of afforestation projects, it is essential to know the role of various factors and their impacts on community participation in landscape restoration. However, these factors and their impacts remain unexplored for the BTAP. This study identifies the factors that influenced rural household participation in the BTAP in Pakistan. The data were collected from participants and nonparticipants in the BTAP as well as from various officials. We employed both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the data. The results of the focus group discussions and the professional evaluation of the BTAP revealed that participant farmers enjoyed all the benefits of the project at the individual and community levels. However, the project provided only partial benefits to nonparticipant farmers at both levels. The household-level results showed that age, income from forest resources, a friendly relationship with forest department staff, a risk-bearing attitude and membership or involvement in village development committee activities had positive and significant effects on farmer participation, while disputes over land and forest resources, household size and experience with/dependence on livestock farming had negative and significant impacts on farmer participation in the BTAP. Our results suggest that policymakers and project designers should pay more attention to the factors that hindered farmer participation in the BTAP. The participation of landless and disadvantaged groups in the 10-BTAP should be increased to ensure equal and widespread benefits for all users and to ensure a win-win situation of sustainable management of the forest, the environment and livelihood opportunities for all types of forest users.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2019

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Social Indicators Research, 2018

In spite of green revolution and rapid economic growth, India's vast population still suffers fro... more In spite of green revolution and rapid economic growth, India's vast population still suffers from hunger and poverty, especially in the rural areas. Moreover, drought adversely affects India's economy by declining agricultural production and purchasing power. It also escalates rural unemployment which ultimately affects household food security. Our study investigated the food security of drought prone rural households in a broader context by linking the dimensions of food security with dimensions of climate change vulnerability. We used the primary data of 157 drought prone rural households of Odisha state in India for analysis. This study employed polychoric principal component analysis to construct an aggregate food security index. An ordered probit model was used to estimate the determinants of food security. The FSI showed that three-fourth of the respondents were facing food security issues with varying degrees. The estimates of ordered probit model indicated that joint family, education, migration and health insurance are key variables that determine food security, whereas drought adversely affected food security of rural households. Overarching strategies are required to effectively address food

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 2017

BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system. Risk o... more BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system. Risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, but the rate of increase slows after the menopause. Tubal ligation confers long-term protection against ovarian cancer. This observational study examines the factors affecting the ovarian cancer risk and also studies the correlation between ovarian cancer risks with reproductive experiences.

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 2017

BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system. Risk o... more BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system. Risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, but the rate of increase slows after the menopause. Use of contraceptives confers long-term protection against ovarian cancer. This observational study examines the correlation between ovarian cancer risks with different contraceptive methods.

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 2017

BACKGROUND Missed miscarriage is one of the common cases encountered by the practicing obstetrici... more BACKGROUND Missed miscarriage is one of the common cases encountered by the practicing obstetricians all over the world. Diagnosis is made early due to increased use of ultrasound. Medical management is as effective as surgical management, but many still resort to surgical management due to concerns about adherence of products to uterine wall. This may result in complications like perforation, infection, cervical injury and may affect future fertility. Mifepristone followed by misoprostol is well accepted in medical abortion. Misoprostol alone is as efficient as the combination in missed miscarriage. In India, studies with misoprostol alone are limited. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of medical management in patients with first trimester miscarriage with misoprostol alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS After approval of Institutional Review Board, a total of 100 women with first trimester miscarriage were recruited for the study after satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria. After necessary investigations and consent, they were treated with 800 micrograms of vaginal misoprostol followed by 600 micrograms after 3 hours. Main outcome measured was successful resolution without surgical intervention. Secondary outcomes measured were the induction delivery interval, incidence of pain, excess vaginal bleeding, infection, pyrexia and other gastrointestinal side effects. RESULTS Complete expulsion occurred in 89% patients and surgical evacuation needed in 11%. Mean induction delivery interval was 6-12 hours. Incidence of complete expulsion was more among primigravida than multigravida. In multi, complete expulsion was observed in patients with previous normal delivery than caesarean. Majority of patients had bleeding for less than 7 days. None of them had major side effects like sepsis or heavy bleeding. Minor side effects were fever, nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. CONCLUSION Medical management with misoprostol is efficient, acceptable and cost-effective method for first trimester miscarriage.

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 2017

BACKGROUND Maternal overweight/obesity causes many complications during pregnancy and delivery. I... more BACKGROUND Maternal overweight/obesity causes many complications during pregnancy and delivery. It can also increase neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality. BMI is an important measure of under/overweight. This observational study examines the correlation between maternal Body Mass Index (BMI) with maternal outcome in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, for a period of one year. A sample of 300 pregnant women with intrauterine pregnancy of gestational age <12 weeks at first visit was taken for this study with an age between 18 and 35 years with singleton pregnancy. BMI of these women were calculated and they were classified into two categories (BMI <23 kg/m 2 and BMI ≥23 kg/m 2). The Chi-square test was done to find the association of BMI and various maternal outcomes. RESULTS In the sample of 300 pregnant women, 39% were having BMI <23 kg/m 2 and 61% were having BMI ≥23 kg/m 2. Pregnant women with BMI ≥23 kg/m 2 were found to have significantly increased risk of developing gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes and macrosomia. We found that a significantly increased need of induction and increased risk of developing intrapartum and postpartum complications in those with BMI ≥23 kg/m 2. Our study also found out that an increased incidence of elective as well as emergency caesareans and increased risk of neonatal complications in women whose BMI ≥23 kg/m 2. CONCLUSION Adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes are significantly related to extremes of BMI categories and least complications were seen in normal BMI group. Therefore, it is ideal to reduce the body weight to an optimal level so that the complications, which are attributed to overweight and obesity can be reduced. We recommended future research on the association of BMI and maternal outcomes involving large samples comparable to those done in developed countries.

Climate Change Challenge (3C) and Social-Economic-Ecological Interface-Building, 2016

India faces considerable threat from changing climatic conditions locally and globally. Drought r... more India faces considerable threat from changing climatic conditions locally and globally. Drought risk is one such threat which is projected to increase in frequency and intensity under such changing conditions. Many households are expected to suffer from these changes and associated risks such as drought. These risks may expose many vulnerable households in the absence of effective mitigation and adaptation measures. This study analyses climate change and drought risk vulnerability of marginal households exposed to such hazards. For this purpose, a field survey of 220 households in Balangir district of Odisha state in India was carried out using multistage random sampling technique. Using Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) and other indicators of vulnerability to socioeconomic domains defined by IPCC, the current level of household’s exposure and coping capacity is evaluated. Results indicate that vulnerability is a function of both climatic and non-climatic factors. The socio demographic characters like low literacy rates, resource availability and accessibility, social structure, etc., make people more vulnerable whereas access to social networks plays a significant role in uplifting the poor rural households. The research concludes that the impacts of climate change and drought risk expose those households disproportionately who are already vulnerable due to poverty, inequality and marginalisation. Moreover, a need to formulate policies based on regional and local estimates of vulnerability and coping capacity is emphasised for an effective mitigation to climate change and drought risk.

Climate and Development, 2016

Drought is a complex, slow-onset phenomenon that imposes serious challenges on human beings and e... more Drought is a complex, slow-onset phenomenon that imposes serious challenges on human beings and ecosystems. The vulnerability associated with drought may vary at different social, geographical and temporal scales. These differences emphasize the need for regional-level vulnerability assessments, which in turn helps to formulate efficient adaptation policies and strategies that are suitable for the region to mitigate the drought risk. The objective of this paper is to quantify the livelihood and socioeconomic vulnerability of rural households that are affected by drought in rural India. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index and Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index were applied to analyse the vulnerability of rural households. A sample size of 157 rural households from the state of Odisha in India was surveyed in 2015. Sociodemographic characteristics such as low literacy rates, high dependency ratios and weak housing structures make people more vulnerable, whereas access to social networks plays a significant role in supporting poor rural households. The research concludes that the impacts of drought make people who are already vulnerable due to poverty, inequality and marginalization even more vulnerable. The outcomes of this study may be considered in formulating effective coping strategies and policies that may help mitigate the drought risk. The findings and recommendations of this study will find applicability in other rural, natural resource-dependent countries with similar socioeconomic profiles such as other south Asian countries.

Social sciences & humanities open, 2022

The spread of COVID-19 caused wide scale disruptions in the educational sector across the globe. ... more The spread of COVID-19 caused wide scale disruptions in the educational sector across the globe. Digital education, which involves the use of digital tools, virtual platforms and online learning, is seen as one of the viable alternatives to continue academic activities in such an environment. Higher education institutions have largely switched to this new mode of learning and continue to rely on digital mode in many parts of the world, due to the ongoing pandemic threat. However, learners&#39; competency to effectively engage in online courses and the impact of their socioeconomic background on this competency has not been adequately addressed in the literature. The present study was an attempt to explore these aspects, as they are crucial to the success of digital education. The study was conducted with 833 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students from an agricultural university to assess their digital competencies and factors that influence effective participation in online courses. The Digital Competence Framework 2.0 of EU Science Hub (DIGCOMP) was adapted and used for this study. Our findings suggest that the learners have a satisfactory level of competence in most of the aspects of digital competence. Majority of the participants were relying on smart phones both as the device for accessing internet as well as for their learning activities. The results of a Tukey&#39;s difference in the mean test reveals that learners&#39; digital competence varies significantly by gender, economic profile, and academic level. This finding can be attributed to the difference in their socioeconomic background, which confirms digital divide among learners. Our findings have implications for the design of digital higher education strategies and institutional management to ensure effective learner participation, especially for higher education institutions in developing countries.

This study investigates the major environmental and socio-economic impacts of an increase in the ... more This study investigates the major environmental and socio-economic impacts of an increase in the area of rubber plantations and the changing patterns of drivers of land use changes by combining geospatial technologies and socio-economic methods. Using a combination of geospatial techniques and socio-economic methods, we mainly analysed the rate of increase in area under rubber plantations, major impacts of land use changes and the changing drivers of land use changes. Our results shows that the area under rubber plantations has increased significantly within the study area, with the area under rubber plantations increasing from 30–74% of the total area within five decades. Impact assessment of land-use changes based on household surveys showed significant improvement in socio-economic conditions of the farmers however at the expense of severe environmental degradation. Our results also indicate that while areas under rubber plantations continue to increase, the drivers of land use c...

CRC Press eBooks, Oct 13, 2022

CRC Press eBooks, Oct 13, 2022

Agrotechnology, Jul 7, 2013

Theoretical and Applied Climatology

Agricultural Systems

Abstract Context Increasing salinity levels demand adaptative and transformative changes in farmi... more Abstract Context Increasing salinity levels demand adaptative and transformative changes in farming systems in regions affected by saltwater intrusion intensified by global climate change. The study area, a narrow delta affected by salinity intrusion due to rising sea levels as well as by diminishing rainfall during the dry season in north-central coastal region of Vietnam represents this global challenge. Apart from the level of salinity, farmer characteristics, legal framework and the expected returns to investment on the available choices shape the future trajectories of these farming systems. Nevertheless, relatively less research efforts are focused on understanding these choices and the trade-offs. Objective The study focus on identifying and determining the acceptability of adopting stress tolerant rice varieties, changes in cropping sequences, or a transformative shift to aquaculture conditional to the degree of saltwater intrusion as well as gaining insight into required policy changes to facilitate the adaptation and transformation in rice farming deltas. Methods The current study reports a novel choice experiment (CE) approach to analyse the roles of risk attitude, expected returns, production costs, effort levels and legal restrictions on the preferences for adaptation alternatives and their interactions with salinity levels using random parameter models. Results and conclusions The results reveal the role of perceived risks and labour efforts in adaptative choices and highlight the need for risk offset mechanisms as well as labour-saving interventions. The simulations using the estimated random parameter models predict farmers affected by salinity below the critical threshold of 4 dS/m of electrical conductivity (EC) will have a 34.4% adoption rate for traditional rice and a 43.6% rate for salinity-tolerant rice varieties, which will drop by 2 to 3 percentage points when the current legal restrictions on conversion to aquaculture are waived. In the case of farmers facing higher salinity levels, aquaculture would likely become the dominant option, with 40% of the cohort of farmers adopting aquaculture (17.2% adopting shrimp and 22.4% adopting polyculture), followed by saline-tolerant rice (36% to 38%). Significance The results reveal the need for increased investment in rice breeding for salinity tolerance, market development for alternative crops, introduction of risk offset mechanisms and a planned shift to transformative alternatives such as aquaculture. The findings of this study call for a balanced effort for adaptative and transformative options for rice farmers, infrastructural options preventing salinity intrusion and enhanced global mitigation efforts to reduce the possible rise in sea levels and limit salinity intrusion.

Climate Change and Community Resilience, 2021

The chapter presents three case studies on resilience initiatives adopted by communities in respo... more The chapter presents three case studies on resilience initiatives adopted by communities in response to water scarcity and severe floods exacerbated by climate change in the southern Indian state of Kerala. The post-flood management strategies undertaken by farmer collectives supported by a strong presence of the state resulted in sustainable outcomes. On the contrary, the resilience mechanisms to adapt to water scarcity have proved to be environmentally unsustainable and socially undesirable resulting in resource depletion and loss of social welfare. The participation of state and collective action was absent in the latter case. The study reiterates the importance of cohesive action from the government and local communities to generate sustainable community resilience programmes.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2021

Abstract The food security situation in India has improved due to economic growth, increased agri... more Abstract The food security situation in India has improved due to economic growth, increased agricultural productivity, public policies and hunger eradication programmes. Nevertheless, much of India's population still suffers from hunger and poverty. Floods obstruct agricultural production; destroy infrastructure; and disrupt livelihoods, normal services, health care, etc. In this way, floods ultimately affect households' food security. We examined household food security in flood-prone rural areas of India in a more extensive way than in previous studies by constructing an index that incorporates various factors of the food security dimensions. Factors determining the level of flood-prone households' food security were also analyzed. By polychoric principal component analysis, an aggregate food security index was constructed. The food security score was regressed on different explanatory variables to evaluate their effect on the overall food security situation in the study area. Our results showed that three-fourths of the respondent households faced food security issues to varying degrees. Family type, physical assets and employment scheme showed positive impacts on the level of food security of the respondents. In contrast, households with female household heads and those suffering losses of property due to floods were adversely affected in terms of negative impacts on overall food security. The results suggest the need for the adoption of integrated strategies to effectively address food security issues amidst the increased severity of flood events. The study findings are useful for policy makers in India and countries with similar backgrounds to tackle the food insecurity brought about by flood hazards.

Climate change and consequent variations in temperature pose a significant challenge for sustaini... more Climate change and consequent variations in temperature pose a significant challenge for sustaining wheat production systems globally. In this study, the potential impact of rising temperature on wheat yield in the north Indian plains, India's major wheat growing region, was analyzed using panel data from the year 1981 to 2009. This study deviates from the majority of the previous studies by including non-climatic factors in estimating the impact of climate change. Two temperature measures were used for fitting the function, viz., Growing Season Temperature (GST) and Terminal Stage Temperature (TST), to find out the differential impact of increased temperature at various growth stages. Analysis revealed that there was a significant rise in both GST as well as TST during the study period. The magnitude of the annual increment in TST was twice that of GST. Wheat yield growth in the region was driven primarily by increased input resources such as fertilizer application and technolo...

Science of The Total Environment, 2021

The Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP) was launched in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provin... more The Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP) was launched in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan to conserve existing forests and to increase the area under forest cover. It also aimed to restore environmental conditions, promote rural livelihoods and reduce poverty. To improve the effectiveness of afforestation projects, it is essential to know the role of various factors and their impacts on community participation in landscape restoration. However, these factors and their impacts remain unexplored for the BTAP. This study identifies the factors that influenced rural household participation in the BTAP in Pakistan. The data were collected from participants and nonparticipants in the BTAP as well as from various officials. We employed both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the data. The results of the focus group discussions and the professional evaluation of the BTAP revealed that participant farmers enjoyed all the benefits of the project at the individual and community levels. However, the project provided only partial benefits to nonparticipant farmers at both levels. The household-level results showed that age, income from forest resources, a friendly relationship with forest department staff, a risk-bearing attitude and membership or involvement in village development committee activities had positive and significant effects on farmer participation, while disputes over land and forest resources, household size and experience with/dependence on livestock farming had negative and significant impacts on farmer participation in the BTAP. Our results suggest that policymakers and project designers should pay more attention to the factors that hindered farmer participation in the BTAP. The participation of landless and disadvantaged groups in the 10-BTAP should be increased to ensure equal and widespread benefits for all users and to ensure a win-win situation of sustainable management of the forest, the environment and livelihood opportunities for all types of forest users.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2019

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Social Indicators Research, 2018

In spite of green revolution and rapid economic growth, India's vast population still suffers fro... more In spite of green revolution and rapid economic growth, India's vast population still suffers from hunger and poverty, especially in the rural areas. Moreover, drought adversely affects India's economy by declining agricultural production and purchasing power. It also escalates rural unemployment which ultimately affects household food security. Our study investigated the food security of drought prone rural households in a broader context by linking the dimensions of food security with dimensions of climate change vulnerability. We used the primary data of 157 drought prone rural households of Odisha state in India for analysis. This study employed polychoric principal component analysis to construct an aggregate food security index. An ordered probit model was used to estimate the determinants of food security. The FSI showed that three-fourth of the respondents were facing food security issues with varying degrees. The estimates of ordered probit model indicated that joint family, education, migration and health insurance are key variables that determine food security, whereas drought adversely affected food security of rural households. Overarching strategies are required to effectively address food

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 2017

BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system. Risk o... more BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system. Risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, but the rate of increase slows after the menopause. Tubal ligation confers long-term protection against ovarian cancer. This observational study examines the factors affecting the ovarian cancer risk and also studies the correlation between ovarian cancer risks with reproductive experiences.

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 2017

BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system. Risk o... more BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the most lethal malignancy of the female reproductive system. Risk of ovarian cancer increases with age, but the rate of increase slows after the menopause. Use of contraceptives confers long-term protection against ovarian cancer. This observational study examines the correlation between ovarian cancer risks with different contraceptive methods.

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 2017

BACKGROUND Missed miscarriage is one of the common cases encountered by the practicing obstetrici... more BACKGROUND Missed miscarriage is one of the common cases encountered by the practicing obstetricians all over the world. Diagnosis is made early due to increased use of ultrasound. Medical management is as effective as surgical management, but many still resort to surgical management due to concerns about adherence of products to uterine wall. This may result in complications like perforation, infection, cervical injury and may affect future fertility. Mifepristone followed by misoprostol is well accepted in medical abortion. Misoprostol alone is as efficient as the combination in missed miscarriage. In India, studies with misoprostol alone are limited. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the outcome of medical management in patients with first trimester miscarriage with misoprostol alone. MATERIALS AND METHODS After approval of Institutional Review Board, a total of 100 women with first trimester miscarriage were recruited for the study after satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria. After necessary investigations and consent, they were treated with 800 micrograms of vaginal misoprostol followed by 600 micrograms after 3 hours. Main outcome measured was successful resolution without surgical intervention. Secondary outcomes measured were the induction delivery interval, incidence of pain, excess vaginal bleeding, infection, pyrexia and other gastrointestinal side effects. RESULTS Complete expulsion occurred in 89% patients and surgical evacuation needed in 11%. Mean induction delivery interval was 6-12 hours. Incidence of complete expulsion was more among primigravida than multigravida. In multi, complete expulsion was observed in patients with previous normal delivery than caesarean. Majority of patients had bleeding for less than 7 days. None of them had major side effects like sepsis or heavy bleeding. Minor side effects were fever, nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. CONCLUSION Medical management with misoprostol is efficient, acceptable and cost-effective method for first trimester miscarriage.

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare, 2017

BACKGROUND Maternal overweight/obesity causes many complications during pregnancy and delivery. I... more BACKGROUND Maternal overweight/obesity causes many complications during pregnancy and delivery. It can also increase neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality. BMI is an important measure of under/overweight. This observational study examines the correlation between maternal Body Mass Index (BMI) with maternal outcome in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Medical College, Kottayam, Kerala, for a period of one year. A sample of 300 pregnant women with intrauterine pregnancy of gestational age <12 weeks at first visit was taken for this study with an age between 18 and 35 years with singleton pregnancy. BMI of these women were calculated and they were classified into two categories (BMI <23 kg/m 2 and BMI ≥23 kg/m 2). The Chi-square test was done to find the association of BMI and various maternal outcomes. RESULTS In the sample of 300 pregnant women, 39% were having BMI <23 kg/m 2 and 61% were having BMI ≥23 kg/m 2. Pregnant women with BMI ≥23 kg/m 2 were found to have significantly increased risk of developing gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes and macrosomia. We found that a significantly increased need of induction and increased risk of developing intrapartum and postpartum complications in those with BMI ≥23 kg/m 2. Our study also found out that an increased incidence of elective as well as emergency caesareans and increased risk of neonatal complications in women whose BMI ≥23 kg/m 2. CONCLUSION Adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes are significantly related to extremes of BMI categories and least complications were seen in normal BMI group. Therefore, it is ideal to reduce the body weight to an optimal level so that the complications, which are attributed to overweight and obesity can be reduced. We recommended future research on the association of BMI and maternal outcomes involving large samples comparable to those done in developed countries.

Climate Change Challenge (3C) and Social-Economic-Ecological Interface-Building, 2016

India faces considerable threat from changing climatic conditions locally and globally. Drought r... more India faces considerable threat from changing climatic conditions locally and globally. Drought risk is one such threat which is projected to increase in frequency and intensity under such changing conditions. Many households are expected to suffer from these changes and associated risks such as drought. These risks may expose many vulnerable households in the absence of effective mitigation and adaptation measures. This study analyses climate change and drought risk vulnerability of marginal households exposed to such hazards. For this purpose, a field survey of 220 households in Balangir district of Odisha state in India was carried out using multistage random sampling technique. Using Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) and other indicators of vulnerability to socioeconomic domains defined by IPCC, the current level of household’s exposure and coping capacity is evaluated. Results indicate that vulnerability is a function of both climatic and non-climatic factors. The socio demographic characters like low literacy rates, resource availability and accessibility, social structure, etc., make people more vulnerable whereas access to social networks plays a significant role in uplifting the poor rural households. The research concludes that the impacts of climate change and drought risk expose those households disproportionately who are already vulnerable due to poverty, inequality and marginalisation. Moreover, a need to formulate policies based on regional and local estimates of vulnerability and coping capacity is emphasised for an effective mitigation to climate change and drought risk.

Climate and Development, 2016

Drought is a complex, slow-onset phenomenon that imposes serious challenges on human beings and e... more Drought is a complex, slow-onset phenomenon that imposes serious challenges on human beings and ecosystems. The vulnerability associated with drought may vary at different social, geographical and temporal scales. These differences emphasize the need for regional-level vulnerability assessments, which in turn helps to formulate efficient adaptation policies and strategies that are suitable for the region to mitigate the drought risk. The objective of this paper is to quantify the livelihood and socioeconomic vulnerability of rural households that are affected by drought in rural India. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index and Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index were applied to analyse the vulnerability of rural households. A sample size of 157 rural households from the state of Odisha in India was surveyed in 2015. Sociodemographic characteristics such as low literacy rates, high dependency ratios and weak housing structures make people more vulnerable, whereas access to social networks plays a significant role in supporting poor rural households. The research concludes that the impacts of drought make people who are already vulnerable due to poverty, inequality and marginalization even more vulnerable. The outcomes of this study may be considered in formulating effective coping strategies and policies that may help mitigate the drought risk. The findings and recommendations of this study will find applicability in other rural, natural resource-dependent countries with similar socioeconomic profiles such as other south Asian countries.