BackgroundChildhood stunting (height-for-age z-scores below − 2), a form of chronic undernutrition, remains a global health burden. Although a growing literature has examined the association between mothers’ autonomy and childhood stunting, these studies have been limited to countries in South Asia or Sub-Saharan Africa where women have relatively lower social status than do men. Little research has analyzed the effect of mothers’ autonomy on childhood stunting in Lao PDR, where women’s social status is relatively high compared to that in other countries.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire and body scale measurement targeting 100 mothers and their 115 children (<5 years old) from semi-urban communities in Lao PDR, which is the country with the highest prevalence of childhood stunting in the Indochina region. As dimensions of women’s autonomy, we measured self-esteem, self-efficacy, decision-making power, freedom of mobility, and control of money. We then analyzed how each dimension was associated with the likelihood of childhood stunting.ResultsThe likelihood of childhood stunting was significantly lower if mothers had higher self-efficacy for health care (OR = 0.15, p = 0.007), self-esteem (OR = 0.11, p = 0.025), or control of money (OR = 0.11, p = 0.041). In contrast, mothers’ decision-making power and freedom of mobility were not significantly associated with childhood stunting.ConclusionsWe clarified which dimensions of women’s autonomy were associated with childhood stunting in Lao PDR. A closer examination of mothers’ autonomy will aid proper understanding of the determinants of childhood stunting.
BackgroundThe global coverage rate of birth registration is only around 65% for the population of children under five although birth registration secures protection and access to health services that are fundamental rights for all babies. This study aimed to perform a basic analysis of the accessibility to birth registration to better understand how to improve the birth registration system in the Lao PDR.MethodsFor the analysis of birth registration and related socioeconomic factors, 9576 mother-child pairs were chosen from the data set of The Lao Social Indicator Survey 2011–12. After bivariate analysis with statistical tests including the chi-square test were conducted, logistic regression was performed to determine the variables that statistically influence accessibility to birth registration.ResultsEthno-geographic factors and place of delivery were observed to be the factors associated with birth registration in this analysis.ConclusionMany mothers in the Lao PDR deliver in their local communities. Therefore, capacity development of various human resources, such as Skilled Birth Attendant, to support the local administrative procedure of birth registration in their communities could be one option to overcoming the bottlenecks in the birth registration process in the Lao PDR.
RAPID growth in the population of Japan occurred after the end of World War n. This was caused by the repatriation of 6,000,000 citizens from abroad, by a marked increase in the birth rate, and by the sudden decrease in the death rate made possible by antibiotics and the applica tion of public health measures of the Western type. Recognizing the threatening imbalance between population and resources, the Japanese Government appointed a Popula tion Council. This body, in 1949, recommended that the Gov ernment should promptly make possible the control of family size, not by induced abortion, by conception control (1). Since it was not known at that time which methods would be more acceptable and effective in Japan or how the needed instruction and supplies could best be distributed, we undertook a study to learn how the recommendation of the Population Council could best be carried out. The results after two years were reported in the Japanese Medical Journal (2) and the Archives of Population (3) and, after five years, at the World Population Conference, held at Rome in 1954, and at the Fifth International Conference on Family Planning, held at Tokyo in 1955 (4) (5). This article tells of the progress through seven years. T he V illages Chosen At the beginning of this work we selected three villages of different types. 1. Kamifunaka-Mura, a rice-cultivating village in the irri
Objectives: Health care providers need to receive effective supervision by limited health care staff to implement health activities because of the lack of them in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao P.D.R.). The purpose of this research was to identify factors affecting recognition of the supervision of health care workers at health centers by the district health office and to consider how to increase such recognition of supervision. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 132 health care workers at health centers in the capital of the Lao P.D.R. The questionnaire examined personal data, supervision experience, and recognition of supervision. Recognition of supervision was examined by a question based on the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire, and responses were given on a 5-point Likert scale. Each response was scored and labeled as the health care worker's "recognized support score." A high score indicated that the health care worker recognized more support from his or her supervisors. Results: Data were analyzed for 125 respondents. The results of logistic regression analysis with recognized support scores as dependent variables show that the number of supervisors (P<0.001), amount of feedback to supervisors (P=0.037), and number of divisions that attempted to solve problems related to health work (P=0.007) were significantly associated with recognized support scores. Conclusions: It is critical that the district health offices as supervisors implement educational, creative methods of supervision using feedback, advice about solving problems, and more opportunities for supervision to be recognized by providing more support.
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