Share research - India

Frequency and determinants of health care utilization for symptomatic reproductive tract infections in rural Indian women: A cross- sectional study

shareadmin — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 07:10:55 +0000

This paper published in PLOS One by Kinkor et al. (2019) explores healthcare practices of rural Indian women in Odisha with symptomatic reproductive tract infections (RTIs). Health care seeking behaviour for RTIs among rural Indian women is often poor, meaning the issue is often not properly addressed. There are also gaps in our knowledge around why health care seeking behaviour is low; and this is what this study aimed to determine. Using data from a cross-sectional, population-based surveillance survey among rural, non-pregnant women in Odisha, the researchers examined the degree to which different determinants are associated with a woman's likelihood to seek RTI treatment. They found that married women were significantly more likely to seek healthcare for RTI symptoms whilst unmarried adolescents were less likely to seek treatment. There was no association between RTI health care seeking with education level, belief about whether symptoms can be treated, or poverty. The majority (73.8%) of women who did not seek treatment for RTI symptoms reported not seeking treatment because they did not know treatment was needed. Better understanding of health care seeking behaviour for RTIs will aid the design of future interventions that promote RTI care seeking behaviour.

Download (300.14 KB) Marni Brennan India

Association between unhygienic menstrual management practices and prevalence of lower reproductive tract infections: a hospital-based cross-sectional study in Odisha, India

shareadmin — Fri, 31 May 2019 13:43:02 +0000

This study, carried out in Odisha, India, and published in BMC Infectious Diseases by Torondel et al. (2018), explores association between unhygienic menstrual management (MHM) practices and prevalence of lower reproductive tract infections (RTIs). Three common RTIs were the focus of the study: Bacterial vaginosis (BV), Candida, and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and the method of the study involved using a questionnaire to collect information on MHM practices, clinical symptoms for the three infections and socio-economic and demographic information. Vaginal fornix specimens were also taken for diagnosis of infections. 558 women were recruited for the study; 62.4% of whom were diagnosed with at least one of the three tested infections. Women diagnosed with these infections were more likely to exhibit a range of unhygienic MHM practices, such as reusing absorbent material or having a low frequency of personal washing.

Download (689.39 KB) Marni Brennan India

Behaviour Change for WASH: Policy Brief

shareadmin — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 15:35:12 +0000

Since 2010, the SHARE Consortium has prioritised behaviour change in WASH interventions, championing the importance of identifying novel and creative approaches to changing behaviours across many countries. This policy brief documents SHARE’s contribution to understanding behaviour change and associated health impacts. It provides recommendations for researchers and intervention implementers, policy makers and funders.

Download (473.23 KB) Choose Soap Integrating WASH and Food Hygiene in Malawi Mikono Safi Safe Start San-Dem SuperAmma Weaning Food Hygiene - Bangladesh Weaning Food Hygiene - Mali Weaning Food Hygiene - Nepal Weaning Food Hygiene - The Gambia Sophie Durrans Bangladesh India Kenya Malawi Mali Nepal Tanzania The Gambia Zambia

From menarche to menopause: A population-based assessment of water, sanitation, and hygiene risk factors for reproductive tract infection symptoms over life stages in rural girls and women in India

shareadmin — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 12:04:10 +0000

This study by Baker et al. (2017) published in PLOS ONE found that women face greater challenges than men in accessing WASH resources to address their daily needs, and may respond to these challenges by adopting unsafe practices that increase the risk of reproductive tract infections (RTIs). WASH practices may change as women transition through socially-defined life stage experiences, like marriage and pregnancy. Thus, the relationship between WASH practices and RTIs might vary across female reproductive life stages. This cross-sectional study conducted by Baker et al. assessed the relationship between WASH exposures and self-reported RTI symptoms in 3,952 girls and women from two rural districts in India, and tested whether social exposures represented by reproductive life stage was an effect modifier of associations.

Download (975.84 KB) Belen Torondel India

WASH and Women: A Story of Change

shareadmin — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 15:19:21 +0000

Stories of Change investigate how inputs have contributed to achieving specific outcomes through pathways of expected or unexpected change. This Story of Change focuses on SHARE’s contribution to research, policy and practice change related to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) and gender based violence (GBV) as well as the linked theme of psychosocial stress. SHARE-funded research and resources have had broad sectoral uptake and have influenced national policies and emergency responses in Fiji, India and the Solomon Islands.

Download (981.4 KB) Menstrual Hygiene Management in Schools Menstrual Hygiene Matters Menstrual Hygiene Systematic Review MHM Absorbents in Malawi Psychosocial Impact of Limited Access Sanitation & Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Violence, Gender & WASH Toolkit WASH Coping Strategies Women's Sanitation Vulnerabilities Emily Balls India Malawi Tanzania

Hygiene on maternity units: lessons from a needs assessment in Bangladesh and India

shareadmin — Fri, 16 Jun 2017 10:01:00 +0000

This study by Cross et al. (2016), published in Global Health Action, details a needs assessment that was conducted in seven maternity units in Gujarat, India, and eight in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. The findings and conclusions include that visual assessment of cleanliness and hygiene is an inadequate marker for ‘safety’ in terms of the presence of potential pathogens and associated risk of infection.

Download (845.15 KB) WASH & CLEAN Bangladesh India

Women's role in sanitation decision making in rural coastal Odisha, India

shareadmin — Fri, 26 May 2017 13:25:49 +0000

This paper, by Routray et al. (2017) published in PLOS ONE, detailed a mixed-method study exploring the association between women's decision-making autonomy and latrine construction in rural areas of Odisha, India.

Download (840.43 KB) Parimita Routray India

Processes and challenges of community mobilisation for latrine promotion under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan in rural Odisha, India

shareadmin — Thu, 18 May 2017 14:44:40 +0000

Despite efforts to eradicate it, open defecation remains widely practiced in India, especially in rural areas. This study by Routray et al (2017), and published in BMC Public Health, observed and asssess the Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan's (NBA) community mobilisation activities against the programme's theory of change in 10 randomly selected programme villages from start to finish.

Download (1.12 MB) Parimita Routray India

Microfinance for Sanitation Policy Brief

shareadmin — Thu, 04 May 2017 08:47:31 +0000

This policy brief highlights the SHARE Consortium’s contribution to the knowledge base on microfinance for sanitation. The brief defines sanitation microfinance and summarises research conducted in India and Tanzania. It then discusses the research gaps that still exist and provides recommendations for improving policies and programmes on microfinance for sanitation globally.

Download (408.21 KB) Microfinance for Sanitation Sophie Durrans India Tanzania

Understanding Gendered Sanitation Vulnerabilities: A Study in Uttar Pradesh

shareadmin — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 12:44:35 +0000

This report details a SHARE-funded study that aimed to understand rural women and girls' age-specific experiences of using and accessing sanitation in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Download (5.69 MB) Sanitation Vulnerability India