Asian Journal of Population Sciences

Infographics of Review Process

Vijay Aryal — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

No abstract available.

Social Health Insurance Policy of Nepal: Issue of Equity and Equality

Rabindra Ghimire, Jitendra Kumar Singh, Devaraj Acharya — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Government of Nepal implemented a social health insurance program (SHIP) in 2016 to achieve Universal Health Coverage. The objective of this paper is to obtain the opinion of the respondents towards the existing premium rate that has been charged to the members of the social health insurance program. The study followed a cross-sectional descriptive study designed. Information was collected from 360 households using the purposive sampling method. The sample was selected among the households who were interested in buying SHIP within a year but till they have not purchased the health insurance policy. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the opinions of the respondents and Chi Square was used to examine the association between the variables. The study concludes that the opinion of respondents towards the equity of premium for SHI is significantly associated with education and profession but not associated with gender, age, caste, health-related training, life insurance policy, agriculture insurance policy, and commercial health insurance. The majority of respondents opined that the premium should be based on the income of the household, as opposed to being equal among those with disparate incomes. The majority of respondents concurred that the current practice of imposing equal premiums on families having dissimilar incomes is unfair.

Female-headed household characteristics and poverty levels in Namibia: An ordinal probit analysis of the 2015/16 Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey

Opeoluwa Oyedele, Rhona Haifene — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Poverty incidence in Namibia is higher amongst female-headed households (46%) compared to male-headed households (41%). However, this situation is further worsened by females in households increasingly being forced to play multiple, conflicting roles after losing their spouses, and to work in marginal, part-time, informal and low-income jobs due to their lack of access to high-paying jobs, while having to take care of children, siblings and sometimes parents with no form(s) of assistance. In this study, a cross-sectional quantitative study design of the 2015/16 NHIES and an ordinal probit model was used to examine the household characteristics that contribute to poverty among female-headed households in Namibia, as well as their effects on the households’ poverty levels. Results from this study showed that characteristics such as region (p<0.001), main language spoken at home (p<0.001), main source of income (p=0.009), location (p=0.016), and highest level of education (p=0.005) had significant associations with the household poverty levels. Additionally, female-headed households in the urban areas in the Hardap, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi regions, whose main languages spoken were English, German, Zambezi and other languages, with tertiary education and main source of income from commercial farming and other sources were less likely to be severely poor and more likely to be not-poor. Therefore, it is recommended that the Namibian government and policymakers further improve the livelihood of women, especially those heading households in other regions, in terms of a comprehensive social development strategy that covers the immediate needs for short-term and long-term needs of these women.

Transformations of Parental Socio-economic Characteristics into the Married Couple in Rural Nepal

Badri Aryal — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study is about the attributes of different households which together come into the married couples to unite into their wedlock. The purpose of the study was to trace out the carry-over of the wife and husband side parental attributes into the household socio-economic situation of married couples. A total of seventy-five married couples and their either side parents’ (wife side and husband side) socio-economic and demographic information were taken using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were collected in Thakre Rural Municipality of Dhading district of Nepal from February to April of 2022 from the conveniently selected respondents using face-to-face interviews. The data were analyzed in terms of frequency, mean and other descriptive statistics. The study revealed that there is a growing trend of inter-caste marriage and love marriage in the younger generations compared to their parents, however, inter-religious marriages are still very few in Nepalese rural society. Findings of the study also revealed that the male counterparts were older in age structures on all three sides while the wife side parents were better off in terms of level of wealth and income. The study further unveiled that the husbands have been able to marry with the wives whose parents have higher economic status than their parents. This finding is useful in understanding the current pattern of marriage as well as the socio-economic transfer brought together by the married couple as a carryover from their respective parental houses.

The Potential Impact of Demographic Changes in Geopolitical Landscape

Manish Jung Pulami, Sandhya Nepal — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In an era marked by swift demographic changes, the population of a country emerges as a crucial source of power and progress, shaping the future geopolitical landscape. This paper explores the dynamic interplay between evolving demographic elements and their intricate relationship with geopolitics. Through a synthesis of compelling cases and data-driven analysis, the paper provides fresh perspectives on the geopolitical ramifications of demographic transitions. The research incorporates a literature review, establishing the significance of population as a determinant of national power, offering a comprehensive overview of global demographic changes, and presenting an empirical analysis that underscores the role of demographic shifts as catalysts for geopolitical consequences. The study, grounded in political demography theory, integrates demographic aspects with geopolitical implications. Employing qualitative analysis, the research utilizes both numerical and non-numerical data from secondary sources to establish connections among variables. Overall, the discussion underscores that demographic shifts, ranging from declining population growth in certain nations to youth bulges in others, will exert profound impacts on the worldwide geopolitical landscape. It emphasises the necessity for nations to proactively address demographic challenges, through strategic policies that prioritize workforce development, social welfare, and international alliances. This proactive approach is deemed essential for ensuring sustained economic and military capabilities amidst the evolving geopolitical scenario.

Family's Perception of Death of Foreign Labour Migrants and Its Impact on Their Economy

Govinda Prasad Adhikari — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the perceptions of families of foreign labour migrants who have experienced an increasing number of deaths in their workplaces. Nearly one thousand foreign labour migrants died in their workplace in the year 2019, this number is increasing day by day. This study analyzed the family’s perceptions of the death of foreign labour migrants and its impact on their families. It uses a sequential mixed method to show the experiences of schooling children (age 8–18 years). Purposive sampling was used to choose the Bagmati province and districts, while simple random sampling was used to choose schools and students. The reason for selecting the province and districts was the higher foreign labour migration in 2019. About 77 respondents were selected by using simple random sampling, and a semi-structured questionnaire was used for quantitative data collection. The death of parents in foreign labour migration raises many difficulties for the persons left behind at home. Nearly thirty per cent of families, including children, were suffering sensitively from the loss of parents. Missing remittance from the death of the breadwinner hurt the family's food consumption, accommodation, and health facilities. Some families could not get government support and insurance due to the loss of legal documents. Parental death also impacts children's schooling like attendance and academic achievement. It also raises family complications like remarriage, separation, and divorce. The demise of a family member increases the social and economic burden on the migrant community. It negatively impacts family harmony and child education. To support family migrants, an awareness programme is recommended to slow down the psychological stress on families, and a special support mechanism is recommended for orphan children’s education.

Trends, Causes, Morbidity, and Mortality Analysis of Road Traffic Accidents in Karnali Province, Nepal: A Three-Year Retrospective Study

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Globally, Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Low and middle-income countries account for more than ninety per cent of the total global RTA deaths. Early response and prompt rescue can prevent mortality and morbidity. Nepal's accidents arise from substandard roads, vehicle safety, and reckless driving. This study aimed to examine trends, causes, morbidity, and mortality from RTA in Karnali province, Nepal. Secondary data analysis encompassed ten Karnali districts, utilizing records from the Province Traffic Police between July 17, 2019, and July 16, 2022. Motorcycles/scooters, constituting 77.27 per cent (13,127) of registered vehicles, dominated with 932 RTAs during the study, causing 1,200 minor injuries, 719 major injuries, and 392 fatalities. Males constituted 70.87 per cent of fatalities (6.86% <16 years), and females accounted for 21.15 per cent (1.09% <16 years). The age group 20-25 years accounted for 163 (17.19%) of the deaths, followed by 25-30 years 168(17.72%). Non-license holders were involved in 363(33.83%) of accidents within the study period. In Karnali, the overall count of RTAs, injuries, and fatalities increased, driven mainly by high speed and mechanical errors. Surprisingly, while two-wheeler accidents were common, bus accidents resulted in a significant number of deaths, impacting individuals aged 20-30 and children.

Effect of Internal Migration of Families on the Educational Achievement of their Children

Sudesh Pandit, Ramesh Adhikari — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the effects of the internal migration of parents with children on their children's educational achievement. PubMed and HINARI search engines perform advanced searches with specific keywords such as children, migration and educational achievement to extract relevant articles. During the review, 14 articles were identified by using the PRISMA flow diagram for the process of conducting a systematic review. The inclusion criteria specified internal migrant children with their parents and educational outcomes associated with them, with a publication date after within ten years. The search process yielded 8 articles that met the inclusion criteria for the final review. Positive effects are observed on educational achievement for children migrating with parents. Socioeconomic status, education level, and duration of migration influence the educational outcomes of children. Family and community support are important in coping with the difficulties of children's education. Policymakers and educators should address the challenges faced by internal migrant children.

Sexual Harassment and its Effects in Nepalese Society - A Systematic Review

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Sexual harassment (SH) is a form of illegal, unwelcome sexual act, and other verbal and physical conduct of a sexual nature in the workplace and other environments. This paper aims to analyze the situation and its effect on Nepalese society. The systematic review procedures were followed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. This paper has covered to eligible and inclusion of all articles and search databases published on Nepjol, ResearchGate, Taylor and Francis, Mind and Society between 2019 and May 2023, to be written in English, specially, survey relating to the topic of sexual harassment in those open access journal articles. The initial trial and error method was used to select the sample articles at different times, titles and contents. Most of the sexual harassment study was found in Kathmandu Valley targeting the higher school level of female students. The study found that the majority of victims were female, with girls being the most affected by males. The systematic review revealed that the targeted participants were female rather than male. However, there was a sample bias, non-probability sampling techniques, and a lack of inferential research. The findings support that the systematic review identified the common types of it, various perpetrators, and physical, verbal, and non-verbal effects on the victim. Sexually, the majority of victims were female. A systematic review and descriptive research design are limited, with inferential analysis lacking. Policy reviews and surveys are lacking. Future research should focus on preventive measures, policy formulations, and exploring more areas to address sexual harassment and its effects on individuals and society.

Retaining the returnee migrant workers: Lessons learned from COVID-19

Padma Prasad Khatiwada — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper presents facts and figures of returnee migrant workers in Nepal during the COVID-19 crisis. Nepal, affected by the coronavirus pandemic late after the fourth week of March 2020, the government decided to lockdown due to the appearance of two incidences of infection crossed over one million. Using secondary sources of literature, the paper mainly analyses the facts and figures concerning the COVID-19 crisis and migrant workers' issues. During this period, a severe crisis affected the country with a 75 per cent fall in remittance from the already counted 25 per cent of total gross domestic product. In the beginning, around 1.5 million migrant workers were expected to return by losing jobs in major destinations - India, the Middle East and Malaysia - which is over one-fifth of the total migrant workers abroad. This rate of return however was not recorded to that number. The growing tension of the virus was not limited to the state level only but basically, the individuals losing jobs, killing hopes of getting involved in new jobs and remaining unattended by the state authorities for a longer time amid confusion and dilemma of policies and programmes. Those involved in the informal sectors, particularly the women and other marginalised communities were severely affected when they could not collect food for their families, pay back rents or survive in the place. Reducing the impact of the pandemic, all the stakeholders needed to resume their work by getting proper knowledge and information on the impact of COVID-19. It necessitated concentrating on the immediate priorities such as current living conditions and utilising best practices available and possible in the local communities for reintegration by adopting the tight of the migrant workers. Although the government announced packages to retain nearly one million returnees, this could not properly happen and with dismay, the returned migrants opted to work and jobs abroad.