Banadakoppa M Ramesh
Biographic Data
| ID | 4861130 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Banadakoppa M Ramesh |
| GIVEN NAMES | Banadakoppa M |
| FAMILY NAME | Ramesh |
| SIGNATURE | RAMESH B M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Karnataka Health Promotion Trust |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3038-4415 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 16 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 22 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2004 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Essential newborn care practices in selected public health facilities using observation of 2603 normal deliveries in Uttar Pradesh, India
INTRODUCTION: Essential newborn care (ENBC) practices are recommended for all births to improve neonatal survival. This paper aims to understand the facility-level variations and factors associated with the essential newborn care practices by providers in higher-level public health facilities in 25 high priority districts (HPDs) of Uttar Pradesh (UP). METHODS: We used observational cross-sectional quantitative data from 48 selected public health …
Making the health system work for over 25 million births annually: Drivers of the notable decline in maternal and newborn mortality in India
INTRODUCTION: India's progress in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality since the 1990s was faster than the regional average. We systematically analysed how national health policies, services for maternal and newborn health, and socioeconomic contextual changes, drove these mortality reductions. METHODS: The study's mixed-methods design integrated quantitative trend analyses of mortality, intervention coverage and equity since the 1990s, using…
A tale of two exemplars: The maternal and newborn mortality transitions of two state clusters in India
BACKGROUND: India's progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality since the 1990s has been exemplary across diverse contexts. This paper examines progress in two state clusters: higher mortality states (HMS) with lower per capita income and lower mortality states (LMS) with higher per capita income. METHODS: We characterised state clusters' progress in five characteristics of a mortality transition model (mortality levels, causes, health in…
Facilities are substantially more influential than care providers in the quality of delivery care received: A variance decomposition and clustering analysis in Kenya, Malawi and India
INTRODUCTION: Improving the quality of care during childbirth is essential for reducing neonatal and maternal mortality. One barrier to improving quality of care is understanding the appropriate level to target interventions. We examine quality of care data during labour and delivery from multiple countries to assess whether quality varies primarily from nurse to nurse within the same facility, or primarily between facilities. METHODS: To assess …
Closing the gap on institutional delivery in northern India: A case study of how integrated machine learning approaches can enable precision public health
INTRODUCTION: Meeting ambitious global health goals with limited resources requires a precision public health (PxPH) approach. Here we describe how integrating data collection optimisation, traditional analytics and causal artificial intelligence/machine learning (ML) can be used in a use case for increasing hospital deliveries of newborns in Uttar Pradesh, India. METHODS: Using a systematic behavioural framework we designed a large-scale survey …
Pornography, Sexual Enhancement Products, and Sexual Risk of Female Sex Workers and their Clients in Southern India
An Exploration of Decision-Making Processes on Infant Delivery Site from the Perspective of Pregnant Women, New Mothers, and Their Families in Northern Karnataka, India
Relationship between exposure to the Avahan intervention and levels of reported condom use among men who have sex with men in southern India
Direct contact with Avahan program staff is associated with increased reported condom use among men who have sex with men in Bangalore. Reported consistent condom use and condom use at last sex act are associated with contacts involving demonstrations of correct condom use, and with receiving condoms, respectively
Community Mobilization and Empowerment of Female Sex Workers in Karnataka State, South India: Associations With HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk
Objectives. We examined the impact of community mobilization (CM) on the empowerment, risk behaviors, and prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infection in female sex workers (FSWs) in Karnataka, India. Methods. We conducted behavioral–biological surveys in 2008 and 2011 in 4 districts of Karnataka, India. We defined exposure to CM as low, medium (attended nongovernmental organization meeting or drop-in centre), or high (member of collectiv…
Community mobilization, empowerment and HIV prevention among female sex workers in south India
These findings support the hypothesis that community mobilization has benefits for empowering FSWs both individually and collectively. HIV prevention is strengthened by improving their ability to address different psycho-social and community-level sources of their vulnerability. Future challenges include the need to develop social, political and legal contexts that support community mobilization of FSWs, and to prospectively measure the impact of…
The feasibility of using mobile phone technology for sexual behaviour research in a population vulnerable to HIV: A prospective survey with female sex workers in South India
Sexual behaviour studies are often challenged by sampling, participation and measurement biases, and may be unacceptable to participants. We invited 293 randomly selected female sex workers (FSWs) in Bangalore, India, to participate in a telephone survey, with condom breakage as the main outcome. Free cell phones were supplied and trained interviewers telephoned FSWs daily to ask about all sex acts the previous day. Later, we undertook focus grou…
Differences Between Seven Measures of Self-Reported Numbers of Clients of Female Sex Workers in Southern India: Implications for Individual- and Population-Level Analysis
Personal, interpersonal and structural challenges to accessing HIV testing, treatment and care services among female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgenders in Karnataka state, South I…
BACKGROUND: Despite high HIV prevalence rates among most-at-risk groups, utilisation of HIV testing, treatment and care services was relatively low in Karnataka prior to 2008. The authors aimed to understand the barriers to and identify potential solutions for improving HIV service utilisation. METHODS: Focus group discussions were carried out among homogeneous groups of female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgenders, and programm…
A dose-response relationship between exposure to a large-scale HIV preventive intervention and consistent condom use with different sexual partners of female sex workers in southern India
Study findings suggest that exposure to a large-scale HIV intervention for FSWs was associated with increased CCU with commercial clients. Moreover, there were dose-response relationships between CCU with clients and increased duration since first contacted by staff, times contacted by staff and number of condom demonstrations. Additional program effort is required to increase condom use with non-commercial partners
Evaluation of Stepping Stones as a tool for changing knowledge, attitudes and behaviours associated with gender, relationships and HIV risk in Karnataka, India
The qualitative part of this study reflects other studies in different settings, in that SS participants gained immensely from the training. Wider behaviour change is a challenging goal that many programmes fail to attain, with most interventions too limited in scope and intensity to produce larger community effects. This may have contributed to the fact that we observed few differences between interventions and non-intervention villages in this …
Prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among clients of female sex workers in Karnataka, India: A cross-sectional study
This study fills in important gaps in knowledge regarding clients in southern India. The strong association between HIV and HSV-2 infections highlights the complications in designing effective prevention, intervention and management programs of this well-hidden population
Condom use within non-commercial partnerships of female sex workers in southern India
This study revealed important patterns and interpersonal determinants of condom use within non-commercial partnerships of FSWs. Integrated structural and community-driven HIV/STI prevention programs that focus on gender and reduce sex work stigma should be investigated to increase condom use in non-commercial partnerships
Heterogeneity of the HIV epidemic in the general population of Karnataka state, south India
The HIV epidemic in Karnataka shows considerable heterogeneity, and there appears to be an increasing gradient in HIV prevalence from south to north. The sex work structure in the northern districts may explain the higher prevalence of HIV in northern Karnataka. The higher prevalence of HIV and HSV-2 and lower prevalence of curable STIs in Belgaum suggests a later epidemic phase. Similarly, higher prevalence of curable STIs and lower HIV and HSV-…
Polling Booth Surveys: A Novel Approach for Reducing Social Desirability Bias in HIV-Related Behavioural Surveys in Resource-Poor Settings
Use of Rapid Ethnographic Methodology to Develop a Village-Level Rapid Assessment Tool Predictive of HIV Infection in Rural India
In rural India, with hundreds of thousands of villages, a priority from a programmatic perspective is to efficiently determine which villages are at highest risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. The authors first report on the use of a rapid ethnographic approach in 10 rural villages of Karnataka, India, to develop a domains and indicators framework of village-level HIV/AIDS risk and a subsequent rapid assessment tool. They then analyze the rapid ethnog…
The role of collectives in STI and HIV/Aids prevention among female sex workers in Karnataka, India
This paper evaluates the role of female sex worker (FSW) collectives in the state of Karnataka, India, regarding their facilitating effect in increasing knowledge and promoting change towards safer sexual behaviour. In 2002 a state-wide survey of FSWs was administered to a stratified sample of 1,512 women. Following the survey, a collectivization index was developed to measure the degree of involvement of FSWs in collective-related activities. Th…
Coping with Time: Using a Local Time-Path Calendar to Reduce Heaping in Durations
Reproductive health surveys often face difficulties in measuring age and durations. Heaping is the phenomenon that certain dates, ages or durations are over-or underrepresented. Following the calendar method used in several Demographic and Health Surveys, the current research proposes the use of a local timepath calendar, based on time perceptions of women in South India. The objective of the calendar is to reduce heaping in the durations of post…
Personal, interpersonal and structural challenges to accessing HIV testing, treatment and care services among female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgenders in Karnataka state, South I…
BACKGROUND: Despite high HIV prevalence rates among most-at-risk groups, utilisation of HIV testing, treatment and care services was relatively low in Karnataka prior to 2008. The authors aimed to understand the barriers to and identify potential solutions for improving HIV service utilisation. METHODS: Focus group discussions were carried out among homogeneous groups of female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgenders, and programm…
Use of Rapid Ethnographic Methodology to Develop a Village-Level Rapid Assessment Tool Predictive of HIV Infection in Rural India
In rural India, with hundreds of thousands of villages, a priority from a programmatic perspective is to efficiently determine which villages are at highest risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. The authors first report on the use of a rapid ethnographic approach in 10 rural villages of Karnataka, India, to develop a domains and indicators framework of village-level HIV/AIDS risk and a subsequent rapid assessment tool. They then analyze the rapid ethnog…
Community Mobilization and Empowerment of Female Sex Workers in Karnataka State, South India: Associations With HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk
Objectives. We examined the impact of community mobilization (CM) on the empowerment, risk behaviors, and prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infection in female sex workers (FSWs) in Karnataka, India. Methods. We conducted behavioral–biological surveys in 2008 and 2011 in 4 districts of Karnataka, India. We defined exposure to CM as low, medium (attended nongovernmental organization meeting or drop-in centre), or high (member of collectiv…
Coping with Time: Using a Local Time-Path Calendar to Reduce Heaping in Durations
Reproductive health surveys often face difficulties in measuring age and durations. Heaping is the phenomenon that certain dates, ages or durations are over-or underrepresented. Following the calendar method used in several Demographic and Health Surveys, the current research proposes the use of a local timepath calendar, based on time perceptions of women in South India. The objective of the calendar is to reduce heaping in the durations of post…
The role of collectives in STI and HIV/Aids prevention among female sex workers in Karnataka, India
This paper evaluates the role of female sex worker (FSW) collectives in the state of Karnataka, India, regarding their facilitating effect in increasing knowledge and promoting change towards safer sexual behaviour. In 2002 a state-wide survey of FSWs was administered to a stratified sample of 1,512 women. Following the survey, a collectivization index was developed to measure the degree of involvement of FSWs in collective-related activities. Th…
Use of Rapid Ethnographic Methodology to Develop a Village-Level Rapid Assessment Tool Predictive of HIV Infection in Rural India
In rural India, with hundreds of thousands of villages, a priority from a programmatic perspective is to efficiently determine which villages are at highest risk of HIV/AIDS transmission. The authors first report on the use of a rapid ethnographic approach in 10 rural villages of Karnataka, India, to develop a domains and indicators framework of village-level HIV/AIDS risk and a subsequent rapid assessment tool. They then analyze the rapid ethnog…
A dose-response relationship between exposure to a large-scale HIV preventive intervention and consistent condom use with different sexual partners of female sex workers in southern India
Study findings suggest that exposure to a large-scale HIV intervention for FSWs was associated with increased CCU with commercial clients. Moreover, there were dose-response relationships between CCU with clients and increased duration since first contacted by staff, times contacted by staff and number of condom demonstrations. Additional program effort is required to increase condom use with non-commercial partners
Evaluation of Stepping Stones as a tool for changing knowledge, attitudes and behaviours associated with gender, relationships and HIV risk in Karnataka, India
The qualitative part of this study reflects other studies in different settings, in that SS participants gained immensely from the training. Wider behaviour change is a challenging goal that many programmes fail to attain, with most interventions too limited in scope and intensity to produce larger community effects. This may have contributed to the fact that we observed few differences between interventions and non-intervention villages in this …
Prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among clients of female sex workers in Karnataka, India: A cross-sectional study
This study fills in important gaps in knowledge regarding clients in southern India. The strong association between HIV and HSV-2 infections highlights the complications in designing effective prevention, intervention and management programs of this well-hidden population
Condom use within non-commercial partnerships of female sex workers in southern India
This study revealed important patterns and interpersonal determinants of condom use within non-commercial partnerships of FSWs. Integrated structural and community-driven HIV/STI prevention programs that focus on gender and reduce sex work stigma should be investigated to increase condom use in non-commercial partnerships
Heterogeneity of the HIV epidemic in the general population of Karnataka state, south India
The HIV epidemic in Karnataka shows considerable heterogeneity, and there appears to be an increasing gradient in HIV prevalence from south to north. The sex work structure in the northern districts may explain the higher prevalence of HIV in northern Karnataka. The higher prevalence of HIV and HSV-2 and lower prevalence of curable STIs in Belgaum suggests a later epidemic phase. Similarly, higher prevalence of curable STIs and lower HIV and HSV-…
Polling Booth Surveys: A Novel Approach for Reducing Social Desirability Bias in HIV-Related Behavioural Surveys in Resource-Poor Settings
The feasibility of using mobile phone technology for sexual behaviour research in a population vulnerable to HIV: A prospective survey with female sex workers in South India
Sexual behaviour studies are often challenged by sampling, participation and measurement biases, and may be unacceptable to participants. We invited 293 randomly selected female sex workers (FSWs) in Bangalore, India, to participate in a telephone survey, with condom breakage as the main outcome. Free cell phones were supplied and trained interviewers telephoned FSWs daily to ask about all sex acts the previous day. Later, we undertook focus grou…
Differences Between Seven Measures of Self-Reported Numbers of Clients of Female Sex Workers in Southern India: Implications for Individual- and Population-Level Analysis
Personal, interpersonal and structural challenges to accessing HIV testing, treatment and care services among female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgenders in Karnataka state, South I…
BACKGROUND: Despite high HIV prevalence rates among most-at-risk groups, utilisation of HIV testing, treatment and care services was relatively low in Karnataka prior to 2008. The authors aimed to understand the barriers to and identify potential solutions for improving HIV service utilisation. METHODS: Focus group discussions were carried out among homogeneous groups of female sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgenders, and programm…
Community mobilization, empowerment and HIV prevention among female sex workers in south India
These findings support the hypothesis that community mobilization has benefits for empowering FSWs both individually and collectively. HIV prevention is strengthened by improving their ability to address different psycho-social and community-level sources of their vulnerability. Future challenges include the need to develop social, political and legal contexts that support community mobilization of FSWs, and to prospectively measure the impact of…
Relationship between exposure to the Avahan intervention and levels of reported condom use among men who have sex with men in southern India
Direct contact with Avahan program staff is associated with increased reported condom use among men who have sex with men in Bangalore. Reported consistent condom use and condom use at last sex act are associated with contacts involving demonstrations of correct condom use, and with receiving condoms, respectively
Community Mobilization and Empowerment of Female Sex Workers in Karnataka State, South India: Associations With HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk
Objectives. We examined the impact of community mobilization (CM) on the empowerment, risk behaviors, and prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infection in female sex workers (FSWs) in Karnataka, India. Methods. We conducted behavioral–biological surveys in 2008 and 2011 in 4 districts of Karnataka, India. We defined exposure to CM as low, medium (attended nongovernmental organization meeting or drop-in centre), or high (member of collectiv…
An Exploration of Decision-Making Processes on Infant Delivery Site from the Perspective of Pregnant Women, New Mothers, and Their Families in Northern Karnataka, India
Pornography, Sexual Enhancement Products, and Sexual Risk of Female Sex Workers and their Clients in Southern India
Facilities are substantially more influential than care providers in the quality of delivery care received: A variance decomposition and clustering analysis in Kenya, Malawi and India
INTRODUCTION: Improving the quality of care during childbirth is essential for reducing neonatal and maternal mortality. One barrier to improving quality of care is understanding the appropriate level to target interventions. We examine quality of care data during labour and delivery from multiple countries to assess whether quality varies primarily from nurse to nurse within the same facility, or primarily between facilities. METHODS: To assess …
Closing the gap on institutional delivery in northern India: A case study of how integrated machine learning approaches can enable precision public health
INTRODUCTION: Meeting ambitious global health goals with limited resources requires a precision public health (PxPH) approach. Here we describe how integrating data collection optimisation, traditional analytics and causal artificial intelligence/machine learning (ML) can be used in a use case for increasing hospital deliveries of newborns in Uttar Pradesh, India. METHODS: Using a systematic behavioural framework we designed a large-scale survey …
Making the health system work for over 25 million births annually: Drivers of the notable decline in maternal and newborn mortality in India
INTRODUCTION: India's progress in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality since the 1990s was faster than the regional average. We systematically analysed how national health policies, services for maternal and newborn health, and socioeconomic contextual changes, drove these mortality reductions. METHODS: The study's mixed-methods design integrated quantitative trend analyses of mortality, intervention coverage and equity since the 1990s, using…
A tale of two exemplars: The maternal and newborn mortality transitions of two state clusters in India
BACKGROUND: India's progress in reducing maternal and newborn mortality since the 1990s has been exemplary across diverse contexts. This paper examines progress in two state clusters: higher mortality states (HMS) with lower per capita income and lower mortality states (LMS) with higher per capita income. METHODS: We characterised state clusters' progress in five characteristics of a mortality transition model (mortality levels, causes, health in…
Essential newborn care practices in selected public health facilities using observation of 2603 normal deliveries in Uttar Pradesh, India
INTRODUCTION: Essential newborn care (ENBC) practices are recommended for all births to improve neonatal survival. This paper aims to understand the facility-level variations and factors associated with the essential newborn care practices by providers in higher-level public health facilities in 25 high priority districts (HPDs) of Uttar Pradesh (UP). METHODS: We used observational cross-sectional quantitative data from 48 selected public health …
Medicine (22 works) · Environmental health (17 works) · Public health (16 works) · Demography (14 works) · Family medicine (14 works) · Population (12 works) · Sex work and related issues (12 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (11 works) · Nursing (11 works) · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV (9 works)