Saswata Ghosh
Biographic Data
| ID | 3696856 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Saswata Ghosh |
| GIVEN NAMES | Saswata |
| FAMILY NAME | Ghosh |
| SIGNATURE | GHOSH S |
| AFFILIATIONS | Institute of Development Studies |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9337-683X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 26 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 16 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 26 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2004 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
The role of social networks on fertility
This paper examined the influence of social networks on fertility behaviour across high- and low-fertility states in India. Drawing on the diffusion hypothesis and using data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21), the study explored a range of both direct and indirect social network variables. Household structure as a direct indicator reflected the influence of kin-based networks. Indirect indicators, representing social inform…
(Wl-940) ‘Determinants’ of Fertility Transition in West Bengal
,
Prevalence of depression and associated factors among adolescents in Uttar Pradesh, India
Responsibility, social aspirations, and contemporary low fertility
West Bengal, a middle-ranking Indian state in terms of development indicators with more than two-thirds rural population, is on the verge of becoming a lowest low fertility zone. While the rural TFR (Total Fertility Rate) of West Bengal (1.6 births/woman) is on par with many developed countries (Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, etc.), its developmental stage is not—which poses a paradox. Using data from a primary survey of 405 mothers aged …
Cash transfers versus food subsidies during Covid-19
This study examines the coverage and effect of cash transfers and food subsidies in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is based on a primary survey of rural women in the state of Bihar – an underdeveloped state with poor public delivery systems – undertaken in January–March and September–November 2020. Although the coverage of cash transfers was wider than that of food subsidies, respondents receiving cereals and pulses under the Public Distr…
Is consanguineous marriage related to spousal violence in India? Evidence from the National Family Health Survey, 2015–16
Violence against women is a global phenomenon, and intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence faced by women in the world. Around 30% of women in the world, on average, and 33% in India experience intimate partner violence during their lifetime. The main aim of this study was to investigate whether consanguinity protects women from spousal violence. National Family Health Survey 2015–16 (NFHS-4) data were used. The study sample…
Changes in dietary practices of mother and child during the Covid-19 lockdown
Prevalence and determinants of consanguineous marriage and its types in India
The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence and examine the determinants of consanguineous marriage types in India. Data for 456,646 ever-married women aged 15–49 years were analysed from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 conducted in 2015–16. The overall prevalence of consanguineous marriage was 9.9%; the South region (23%) and North-East region (3.1%) showed the highest and lowest prevalences, respectively. Muslims had …
Rural–Urban Fertility Convergence, Differential Stopping Behavior, and Contraceptive Method Mix in West Bengal, India
The present study attempts to understand how the interplay between differential stopping behavior and contraceptive use dynamics may have resulted in the convergence of rural-urban fertility in West Bengal, India. Using data from the National Family Health Surveys and employing sequential logit regressions, we were able to confirm that differential stopping behavior, particularly among the rural women—by adopting contraception at first parity aft…
Deciphering disparities in childhood stunting in an underdeveloped state of India
The state must focus on intersectoral convergence of different schemes in the form of state nutrition mission, and, strengthen nutrition-centric policy processes and their political underpinnings to harness better dividend
Fertility behaviour in linguistic zones
This study compares fertility-related behaviour in the adjacent regions of West Bengal (a state in eastern India) and Bangladesh. The starting premise of the paper is that common history and language has led to diffusion of fertility practices from West Bengal to Bangladesh. This is hypothesised to create a homogenous pattern of fertility behaviour in the bordering districts of both political regions. The study uses Demographic Health Survey (DHS…
Hindu–Muslim Fertility Differentials in India
This article estimates the total fertility rate (TFR) for the overall population in major Indian states by employing Arriaga variation of the P/F ratio method and the relational Gompertz model. The article uses the 2011 Census data on average parity and the current fertility schedule. Estimation of TFRs at the state level by employing Arriaga variation of the P/F ratio method strongly corresponds with Sample Registration System (SRS) compared to …
Urbanization of Muslim Community in India—A Metaphor for Development? Evidences from States of West Bengal and Kerala
Historically, the religious affiliation of urbanization in India has always rendered a relative advantage for Muslim Community. During 2000–2011, in situ urbanization process has strengthened this popular belief. This trend is more pronounced in the states of Kerala and West Bengal, perhaps due to the colossal escalation of new Census Towns (CTs). This present study is an endeavour to understand whether recent upsurge of urbanization among Muslim…
Role of Community and Context in Contraceptive Behaviour in Rural West Bengal, India
Studies examining the influence of community-level interactions and contextual/supply-side factors in determining contraceptive choices have yielded mixed results in the context of rural India. Using small-scale survey data of 1348 women from rural West Bengal and by employing multilevel multinomial logit models, this study tested the influence of these factors after controlling for various socio-demographic and individual-level socioeconomic fac…
Religion, Contraceptive Method Mix, and Son Preference Among Bengali-Speaking Community of Indian Subcontinent
Second demographic transition or aspirations in transition
Fertility transition occurred during the 1970s in Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta), capital of the state of West Bengal, India, and has remained persistently at the low fertility level. Fertility rate in Kolkata attained its lowest-low level in the beginning of the present century. It currently has the lowest fertility rate (TFR 1.2) in India. This could be a case of second demographic transition (SDT) or pertains to changing dynamics in childbearing…
Determinants of Skilled Delivery Assistance in a Rural Population
Influence of Son Preference on Contraceptive Method Mix
Although the people of Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal in India share common cultural practices, they differ in contraceptive adoption and practice. The use of modern contraceptive methods among women and couples of the two Bengals differ from each other. The use of natural method is significantly higher among women and couples in West Bengal compared to that of their counterparts in Bangladesh. The study analyses data from Demographic an…
Maternal Deaths in India
Ultramodern Contraception’ Re-Examined
The family planning literature considers behavioural family planning methods 'ineffective' because their users are not motivated to control their fertility. While this is true for the initial stages of fertility transition, studies report that urban, educated, and affluent women—propelled by a reaction against the medicalisation of the female body by Western technology—mainly use behavioural family planning methods. This elite group has the skill…
Is Health Status of Elderly Worsening in India? A Comparison of Successive Rounds of National Sample Survey Data
The increasing greying of India's population raises concerns about the welfare and health status of the aged. One important source of information of health status of the elderly is the National Sample Survey Rounds on Morbidity and Health Care Expenditure. Using unit-level data for 1995–96 and 2004, this paper examines changes in reported health status of the elderly in India and analyses their relationship with living arrangements and extent of …
Exploring Socioeconomic Vulnerability of Anaemia Among Women in Eastern Indian States
The present study investigates the socioeconomic risk factors of anaemia among women belonging to eastern Indian states. An attempt has been made to find out differences in anaemia related to social class and place of residence, and age and marital status. It was hypothesized that rural women would have a higher prevalence of anaemia compared with their urban counterparts, particularly among the poorest social strata, and that ever-married women …
Fertility transition in West Bengal
Health and Society in Bengal
Burden of diseases, healthcare priorities and role of state in India
The increasing abdication of the state's role in the health sector in favour of private institutions has made healthcare more inaccessible to the masses, especially the rural and tribal segments. Health services need to be prioritised throughout the country, introducing more effective control strategies and comprehensive surveillance systems for communicable diseases. The state must step up its involvement in healthcare, with greater responsivene…
Second demographic transition or aspirations in transition
Fertility transition occurred during the 1970s in Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta), capital of the state of West Bengal, India, and has remained persistently at the low fertility level. Fertility rate in Kolkata attained its lowest-low level in the beginning of the present century. It currently has the lowest fertility rate (TFR 1.2) in India. This could be a case of second demographic transition (SDT) or pertains to changing dynamics in childbearing…
Influence of Son Preference on Contraceptive Method Mix
Although the people of Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal in India share common cultural practices, they differ in contraceptive adoption and practice. The use of modern contraceptive methods among women and couples of the two Bengals differ from each other. The use of natural method is significantly higher among women and couples in West Bengal compared to that of their counterparts in Bangladesh. The study analyses data from Demographic an…
Ultramodern Contraception’ Re-Examined
The family planning literature considers behavioural family planning methods 'ineffective' because their users are not motivated to control their fertility. While this is true for the initial stages of fertility transition, studies report that urban, educated, and affluent women—propelled by a reaction against the medicalisation of the female body by Western technology—mainly use behavioural family planning methods. This elite group has the skill…
Fertility behaviour in linguistic zones
This study compares fertility-related behaviour in the adjacent regions of West Bengal (a state in eastern India) and Bangladesh. The starting premise of the paper is that common history and language has led to diffusion of fertility practices from West Bengal to Bangladesh. This is hypothesised to create a homogenous pattern of fertility behaviour in the bordering districts of both political regions. The study uses Demographic Health Survey (DHS…
Cash transfers versus food subsidies during Covid-19
This study examines the coverage and effect of cash transfers and food subsidies in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is based on a primary survey of rural women in the state of Bihar – an underdeveloped state with poor public delivery systems – undertaken in January–March and September–November 2020. Although the coverage of cash transfers was wider than that of food subsidies, respondents receiving cereals and pulses under the Public Distr…
Changes in dietary practices of mother and child during the Covid-19 lockdown
Socio-economic factors influencing utilisation of maternal health care in Uttar Pradesh
Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2), 1998-99, analysed in this paper with multivariate logistic regressions, indicate that educational attainment of women is the most important factor in determining utilisation of maternal health care in rural, and, more pronouncedly, in urban areas, after controlling for all other socioeconomic factors. Standard of living (proxy for household economic status) too was found to be a significant de…
Burden of diseases, healthcare priorities and role of state in India
The increasing abdication of the state's role in the health sector in favour of private institutions has made healthcare more inaccessible to the masses, especially the rural and tribal segments. Health services need to be prioritised throughout the country, introducing more effective control strategies and comprehensive surveillance systems for communicable diseases. The state must step up its involvement in healthcare, with greater responsivene…
Health and Society in Bengal
Fertility transition in West Bengal
Exploring Socioeconomic Vulnerability of Anaemia Among Women in Eastern Indian States
The present study investigates the socioeconomic risk factors of anaemia among women belonging to eastern Indian states. An attempt has been made to find out differences in anaemia related to social class and place of residence, and age and marital status. It was hypothesized that rural women would have a higher prevalence of anaemia compared with their urban counterparts, particularly among the poorest social strata, and that ever-married women …
Is Health Status of Elderly Worsening in India? A Comparison of Successive Rounds of National Sample Survey Data
The increasing greying of India's population raises concerns about the welfare and health status of the aged. One important source of information of health status of the elderly is the National Sample Survey Rounds on Morbidity and Health Care Expenditure. Using unit-level data for 1995–96 and 2004, this paper examines changes in reported health status of the elderly in India and analyses their relationship with living arrangements and extent of …
Ultramodern Contraception’ Re-Examined
The family planning literature considers behavioural family planning methods 'ineffective' because their users are not motivated to control their fertility. While this is true for the initial stages of fertility transition, studies report that urban, educated, and affluent women—propelled by a reaction against the medicalisation of the female body by Western technology—mainly use behavioural family planning methods. This elite group has the skill…
Maternal Deaths in India
Determinants of Skilled Delivery Assistance in a Rural Population
Influence of Son Preference on Contraceptive Method Mix
Although the people of Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal in India share common cultural practices, they differ in contraceptive adoption and practice. The use of modern contraceptive methods among women and couples of the two Bengals differ from each other. The use of natural method is significantly higher among women and couples in West Bengal compared to that of their counterparts in Bangladesh. The study analyses data from Demographic an…
Second demographic transition or aspirations in transition
Fertility transition occurred during the 1970s in Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta), capital of the state of West Bengal, India, and has remained persistently at the low fertility level. Fertility rate in Kolkata attained its lowest-low level in the beginning of the present century. It currently has the lowest fertility rate (TFR 1.2) in India. This could be a case of second demographic transition (SDT) or pertains to changing dynamics in childbearing…
Role of Community and Context in Contraceptive Behaviour in Rural West Bengal, India
Studies examining the influence of community-level interactions and contextual/supply-side factors in determining contraceptive choices have yielded mixed results in the context of rural India. Using small-scale survey data of 1348 women from rural West Bengal and by employing multilevel multinomial logit models, this study tested the influence of these factors after controlling for various socio-demographic and individual-level socioeconomic fac…
Religion, Contraceptive Method Mix, and Son Preference Among Bengali-Speaking Community of Indian Subcontinent
Hindu–Muslim Fertility Differentials in India
This article estimates the total fertility rate (TFR) for the overall population in major Indian states by employing Arriaga variation of the P/F ratio method and the relational Gompertz model. The article uses the 2011 Census data on average parity and the current fertility schedule. Estimation of TFRs at the state level by employing Arriaga variation of the P/F ratio method strongly corresponds with Sample Registration System (SRS) compared to …
Urbanization of Muslim Community in India—A Metaphor for Development? Evidences from States of West Bengal and Kerala
Historically, the religious affiliation of urbanization in India has always rendered a relative advantage for Muslim Community. During 2000–2011, in situ urbanization process has strengthened this popular belief. This trend is more pronounced in the states of Kerala and West Bengal, perhaps due to the colossal escalation of new Census Towns (CTs). This present study is an endeavour to understand whether recent upsurge of urbanization among Muslim…
Deciphering disparities in childhood stunting in an underdeveloped state of India
The state must focus on intersectoral convergence of different schemes in the form of state nutrition mission, and, strengthen nutrition-centric policy processes and their political underpinnings to harness better dividend
Fertility behaviour in linguistic zones
This study compares fertility-related behaviour in the adjacent regions of West Bengal (a state in eastern India) and Bangladesh. The starting premise of the paper is that common history and language has led to diffusion of fertility practices from West Bengal to Bangladesh. This is hypothesised to create a homogenous pattern of fertility behaviour in the bordering districts of both political regions. The study uses Demographic Health Survey (DHS…
Prevalence and determinants of consanguineous marriage and its types in India
The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence and examine the determinants of consanguineous marriage types in India. Data for 456,646 ever-married women aged 15–49 years were analysed from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 conducted in 2015–16. The overall prevalence of consanguineous marriage was 9.9%; the South region (23%) and North-East region (3.1%) showed the highest and lowest prevalences, respectively. Muslims had …
Rural–Urban Fertility Convergence, Differential Stopping Behavior, and Contraceptive Method Mix in West Bengal, India
The present study attempts to understand how the interplay between differential stopping behavior and contraceptive use dynamics may have resulted in the convergence of rural-urban fertility in West Bengal, India. Using data from the National Family Health Surveys and employing sequential logit regressions, we were able to confirm that differential stopping behavior, particularly among the rural women—by adopting contraception at first parity aft…
Is consanguineous marriage related to spousal violence in India? Evidence from the National Family Health Survey, 2015–16
Violence against women is a global phenomenon, and intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence faced by women in the world. Around 30% of women in the world, on average, and 33% in India experience intimate partner violence during their lifetime. The main aim of this study was to investigate whether consanguinity protects women from spousal violence. National Family Health Survey 2015–16 (NFHS-4) data were used. The study sample…
Changes in dietary practices of mother and child during the Covid-19 lockdown
Responsibility, social aspirations, and contemporary low fertility
West Bengal, a middle-ranking Indian state in terms of development indicators with more than two-thirds rural population, is on the verge of becoming a lowest low fertility zone. While the rural TFR (Total Fertility Rate) of West Bengal (1.6 births/woman) is on par with many developed countries (Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, etc.), its developmental stage is not—which poses a paradox. Using data from a primary survey of 405 mothers aged …
Cash transfers versus food subsidies during Covid-19
This study examines the coverage and effect of cash transfers and food subsidies in India during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is based on a primary survey of rural women in the state of Bihar – an underdeveloped state with poor public delivery systems – undertaken in January–March and September–November 2020. Although the coverage of cash transfers was wider than that of food subsidies, respondents receiving cereals and pulses under the Public Distr…
Prevalence of depression and associated factors among adolescents in Uttar Pradesh, India
(Wl-940) ‘Determinants’ of Fertility Transition in West Bengal
,
Economics (18 works) · Socioeconomics (17 works) · Geography (16 works) · Population (16 works) · Sociology (15 works) · Global Maternal and Child Health (14 works) · Demography (13 works) · Economic growth (12 works) · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences (11 works) · Medicine (11 works)