Domestic Violence Against Women: Its Determinants and Implications for Gender Resource Allocation

Using data from a survey of Bangladeshi households, this paper explores the determinants of domestic violence against women as well as its implications for the resources allocated to women. The findings reveal that higher education of women and that of their husbands, and better socioeconomic status of households are crucial in reducing the risk of violence, while, contrary to general perceptions, women?s involvement in income generating activities and participation in NGO programmes do not have any similar effects. When resources allocated to women with and without the experiences of domestic violence are compared, no statistically significant difference between the mean calories consumed by the two groups can be found. However, there is robust evidence of women subject to domestic violence receiving significantly lower calories from the preferred food items such as, fish, meat, eggs, drinks and dairy products. Furthermore, this group of women is allocated significantly lower amounts of household food and non-food expenses compared to their counterparts who do not report domestic violence against them.domestic violence, intra-household distribution, Bangladesh

Common interests, private gains: a study of co-operative floodplain aquaculture

In recent years a number of floodplain aquaculture projects have sprung up in the Daudkandi area of Comilla District. Key to this development are a number of unique organisational and financing arrangements which facilitate the development of necessary infrastructure through issuing shares to farmers who have land in the targeted floodplain area. In February 2007, a short review was carried out to better understand how floodplain aquaculture was affecting a range of local social, economic and environmental issues.Fishery management, Flood plains, Aquaculture

Does Women?s Status Matter for Food Security? Evidence from Bangladesh

Using data from a survey of Bangladeshi households, this paper investigates the link between female status and food security. Employing three different indicators of female status ? husband?s and wife?s assets brought at marriage, female share of household income and a composite index of women empowerment, the paper finds evidence of women?s status influencing food security. By raising the level of food security for some disadvantaged women?s groups female status is also found to be instrumental in mitigating the extent of gender-based within-household discrimination. The findings reveal that inferences drawn about food security by observing the changes in various non-food budget shares could be misleading or overemphasized.food security, women?s status, intra-household distribution, gender discrimination, Bangladesh

Does women's status matter for food security? Evidence from Bangladesh

Using data from a survey of Bangladeshi households, this paper investigates the link between female status and food security. Employing three different indicators of female status – husband’s and wife’s assets brought at marriage, female share of household income and a composite index of women empowerment, the paper finds evidence of women’s status influencing food security. By raising the level of food security for some disadvantaged women’s groups female status is also found to be instrumental in mitigating the extent of gender-based within-household discrimination. The findings reveal that inferences drawn about food security by observing the changes in various non-food budget shares could be misleading or overemphasized

Domestic violence against women: Its determinants and implications for gender resource allocation

Using data from a survey of Bangladeshi households, this paper explores the determinants of domestic violence against women as well as its implications for the resources allocated to women. The findings reveal that higher education of women and that of their husbands, and better socioeconomic status of households are crucial in reducing the risk of violence, while, contrary to general perceptions, women’s involvement in income generating activities and participation in NGO programmes do not have any similar effects. When resources allocated to women with and without the experiences of domestic violence are compared, no statistically significant difference between the mean calories consumed by the two groups can be found. However, there is robust evidence of women subject to domestic violence receiving significantly lower calories from the preferred food items such as, fish, meat, eggs, drinks and dairy products. Furthermore, this group of women is allocated significantly lower amounts of household food and non-food expenses compared to their counterparts who do not report domestic violence against them

Factors associated with delays in treatment initiation after tuberculosis diagnosis in two districts of India.

BACKGROUND: Excessive time between diagnosis and initiation of tuberculosis (TB) treatment contributes to ongoing TB transmission and should be minimized. In India, Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) focuses on indicator start of treatment within 7 days of diagnosis for patients with sputum smear-positive PTB for monitoring DOTS implementation. OBJECTIVES: To determine length of time between diagnosis and initiation of treatment and factors associated with delays of more than 7 days in smear-positive pulmonary TB. METHODS: Using existing programme records such as the TB Register, treatment cards, and the laboratory register, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients with smear-positive pulmonary TB registered from July-September 2010 in two districts in India. A random sample of patients with pulmonary TB who experienced treatment delay of more than 7 days was interviewed using structured questionnaire. RESULTS: 2027 of 3411 patients registered with pulmonary TB were smear-positive. 711(35%) patients had >7 days between diagnosis and treatment and 262(13%) had delays >15 days. Mean duration between TB diagnosis and treatment initiation was 8 days (range = 0-128 days). Odds of treatment delay >7 days was 1.8 times more likely among those who had been previously treated (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-2.3) and 1.6 (95% CI 1.3-1.8) times more likely among those diagnosed in health facilities without microscopy centers. The main factors associated with a delay >7 days were: patient reluctance to start a re-treatment regimen, patients seeking second opinions, delay in transportation of drugs to the DOT centers and delay in initial home visits. To conclude, treatment delay >7 days was associated with a number of factors that included history of previous treatment and absence of TB diagnostic services in the local health facility. Decentralized diagnostic facilities and improved referral procedures may reduce such treatment delays

NON-INVASIVE IMAGE DENOISING AND CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR RETINAL FUNDUS IMAGES

The analysis of retinal vasculature in digital fundus images is important for diagnosing eye related diseases. However, digital colour fundus images suffer from low and varied contrast, and are also affected by noise, requiring the use of fundus angiogram modality. The Fundus Fluorescein Angiogram (FFA) modality gives 5 to 6 time’s higher contrast. However, FFA is an invasive method that requires contrast agents to be injected and this can lead other physiological problems. A reported digital image enhancement technique named RETICA that combines Retinex and ICA (Independent Component Analysis) techniques, reduces varied contrast, and enhances the low contrast blood vessels of model fundus images

India's Tipaimukh dam and Bangladesh's policy response: an analysis

India has undertaken the Tipaimukh project on the Barak River. This river is very important for the north-eastern region of the country. Once built, this project will have various adverse impacts on Bangladesh. Though India has repeatedly said that she will not do anything that is damaging for Bangladesh, the project has only been deferred temporarily. This paper analyzes all the policy alternatives that Bangladesh has at her disposal and argues that the only feasible option that the country has is to ask India for the closure of the project

The context specific factors affecting women empowerment and empowerment's implications for resource allocation, awareness and fertility: an econometric analysis

Using data from a survey of Bangladeshi households, this paper constructs an index of women empowerment and explores both the determinants of empowerment of married women and the impacts that empowerment has on various aspects of a woman's life. The findings reveal that female education, her involvement in income generating activities (both formal and informal) and the structure of the household (unit or extended) are important determinants. As regards the impacts of empowerment on the female's life, the paper finds that empowerment affects her food intake and expenditure patterns in quantitative and qualitative terms - it positively impacts women's nutritional status and health care and confers positive impacts on taking family planning measures. Also empowered women’s behavior is less discriminating when it comes to serving food among family members