Masters Thesis

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF FOOD EXPENDITURE BEHAVIOR OF AN NGO SUPPORTED FARMERS’ FAMILIES IN DINAJPUR: AN APPLICATION OF LA/AIDS MODEL

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF FOOD EXPENDITURE BEHAVIOR OF AN NGO SUPPORTED FARMERS’ FAMILIES IN DINAJPUR: AN APPLICATION OF LA/AIDS MODEL Kumer, Ashim This study analyzed aggregate food expenditure data of marginal and small farmers` families’ collected from the Dinajpur District in the north-western Bangladesh. The Linear Approximate Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) method is used to estimate food expenditure and demand function for aggregating the seven food categories. In order to observe the impact of per capita monthly food expenditure, prices of different commodities, household size, dependency ratio, sex, age, food security status and occupation of the household head on the budget share. The study was based on among the NGO beneficiaries program LRP-45 (ActionAid Bangladesh), Ghorgahat and Katabari union in dinajpur District. The food demand and expenditure behavior analysed by sample of size of 165 household was drawn from the enumerated household of 4936 employing simple random sampling method. The AIDS model fits better for all the items as the adjusted R2 values under consideration the regression through-the -origin model as a solution to the problem of Heteroscedasticity. The results revealed that, the allocation of household total monthly expenditure on food items. The mean budget share for Cereals, Roots and Pulses, Vegetables, Rich foods, Milk & Sugar, Oil & Spices and Drugs & Other Luxuries was (52%, 9.5%, 14.6%, 3.0%, 6.8%, 5.8%, & 7.7%) respectively. The empirical findings of the estimated seven expenditure equations are summarized. The expenditure elasticities for food groups are elastic, except cereals, vegetables, and oil & spices. The implication is that food groups of cereals, vegetables, and spices are necessities in the Bangladeshi diet. Roots & pulses, rich foods, milk & sugar, and luxuries foods are luxury goods. Marshallian and Hicksian elasticity calculated from the model were between 1 and -1 making the products less responsive to price changes. The uncompensated own-price elasticties for the food items for cereals (-0.43), vegetables (-1.07), milk & sugar (-0.67), oil & spices (0.83) and luxuries (-1.04) were inelastic, showing that consumers were not sensitive to the price in adjusting their consumption of corresponding items. However, for vegetables, roots & pulses, own-price elasticity of demand were close to one (0.68) implying that quantity demanded for this item changes by almost the same percentage with the price change. That is, if the prices of these food items decreased, then the demand for those food increased. For example, if price of rich foods falls by 10 percent, then demand for rich foods would increase by 19.6 percent. Compensated own and cross-price elasriceties of demand for oil & spices, and rich foods in this case were substitutes. Consumer’s demand behavior is fundamental to understand the demand side of the market. Demand analysts are continuously finding for specifications and functional forms of demand equations which are initials concerned with finding out how the demand for a product will alter as certain specified variables change. The most consistent patterns of consumer demand is the Engel’s Law (1857) which states that as income rises, budget’s share spent on food tends to decline. The estimation of Engel’s models and hence Engel’s curves has a long tradition in empirical economic research. Moreover, in working with Engel’s curve, one important assumption is that consumer’s purchase is mostly influenced by his or her level of income, total expenditure and does not depend on the

Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Status among Indigenous People in North-West Bangladesh: A Study in Dinajpur District

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Status among Indigenous People in North-West Bangladesh: A Study in Dinajpur District AKTAR, MST. SUMAIA The present study was conducted among the plain land indigenous families in Dinajpur, the North-west region of Bangladesh to identify the source-demographic and economic condition, health access systems, the maternal morbidity and mortality and its determinants. This study was carried out in the six upazilas namely Dinajpur sadar, Birgang, Nowabganj, Fulbari, Biral and Chirirbandr in the Dinajpur district where most of the indigenous people live. Using appropriate sample size estimating formula, a total of 223currently married women having at least one child of under five years old were interviewed for data collection with simple random sampling method. The collected data were analysed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses. This study comes up with the fact that maternal health status of plain land indigenous people in North-west of Bangladesh is also poor as national level of the country compared to desired level. This study shows that more than one-third of women have access to health care services, which can be one of the most important factors in their poor health. In most cases, indigenous women (mothers’) faced common problems during pregnancies like headache, eye vision, cough/fever, excessive vomiting tendency and morning sickness. But major complications of excessive bleeding, obstructive labor, long-term labor, eclampsia, and membrane are also seen as their delivery period because most midwives help with delivery, those who do not have any formal training or education. Practice for delivering care and current use of contraception are also lower among the indigenous mothers. But in case of family planning and contraceptive use indicators these studied statistics (CPR=67. 2) were relatively better than national average. Maternal mortality situations are also not in desired level due to the practice of preservation by traditional midwives. The mothers cannot afford expensive health care and medical facilities due to their poor financial condition and for own cultural heritage. On the other hand, the indigenous society is still passing through adverse situations regarding their socioeconomic condition and standard obstetric care facilities. The factors associated with the use of lower health care and contraceptive use are found that age of respondents, mothers' education, husband's education and occupation, financial condition, distance to the service center and access to mass media are significant. This study recommends that community health centers/ health care in public and private enterprise will have to increase. Government, NGOs, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other development partners will have to implement various programs and projects. This chapter attempts to highlight the research background, problem statement, scope and significance of the research. To have the idea of the research area, this chapter gives the research questions and the objectives of the study. Finally, the concept of the key words used in the title and the outline or composition of the dissertation is included here. 1.1 Background of the study The primary census report of 2011gives the number of ethnic population groups of Bangladesh as 27.According to the census of 2011 (Source: Population Census 2011, BBS) The total number of indigenous people in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh was 1,43,425. However, these figures are a gross underestimation. The indigenous peoples are one of the largest tribes residing in the north- west districts of Bangladesh. Besides Bangladesh, the indigenous tribe can also be observed in the neighboring West Bengal and Bihar states of India. The indigenous peoples who are largely concentrated in the districts of Rajshahi, Naogaon, Dinajpur and Rangpur are one of the oldest tribal groups in Bangladesh (Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santhal_people as on 03 February, 2014). They are mainly hunters and gatherers. They largely depend on the common pool resources (CPR) like forests, bees andharesand above all on the Agra economy for their livelihood.

SPOUSAL VIOLENCE AND AUTONOMY STATUS AMONG MARRIED EMPLOYED WOMEN: A STUDY IN NORTH-WESTERN REGION OF BANGLADESH

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

SPOUSAL VIOLENCE AND AUTONOMY STATUS AMONG MARRIED EMPLOYED WOMEN: A STUDY IN NORTH-WESTERN REGION OF BANGLADESH HAQUE, MD. MOZAHIDUL The present study used various statistical tools to measure the prevalence and associated factors of spousal violence and also to examine women's autonomy and decision-making power among married employed women in North-Western region of Bangladesh. The study was conducted in the two selected districts of the region viz., Dinajpur and Thakurgaon, where, 150 married employed women were selected using random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire used to collect a bulk of socio-demographic & economic characteristics and information regarding spousal violence & women's autonomy in decision-making within their household. The study found that about 42.0% women had non-abusive relationship with their husband and 58.0% women were victim of spousal violence. Among the violent women 48.0% women were moderately abused and 10.0% women were seriously abused. According to pattern of violence, about 41% women experienced physical violence, 68.0% experienced sexual violence and 63% experienced psychological violence. The study also found that mainly age of respondent, education level of respondent, occupation of respondent, respondent's monthly income, age of husband, education level of husband, husband's monthly income, total monthly family expenditure and land size of household were significantly associated with spousal violence. Physical violence increased with the increase of age of respondent, marital duration & age of husband and decreased when the age at the time of present marriage and total monthly family expenditure increases. Sexual violence decreased when the age of respondent and age of husband increases. And also psychological violence increased with the increase of marital duration & age of husband and decreased when the age at the time of present marriage, respondent's monthly income, husband's monthly income, and total monthly family expenditure increases. Again the study results showed that overall 25% of the women were participated in all the three areas of decision-making, 37% in two areas of decision-making, and 26.0% participated in at least one of the three areas of decision-making (i.e. freedom of movement, or decision-making regarding children, or HH task and decision). About 46.0% women had autonomy to make decision about their movement, 67% women had autonomy to make decision regarding children and 63% women had autonomy to make decision about household task and decision. Also the study results showed that mainly age of respondent, occupation of respondent, respondent's monthly income, age of husband, occupation of husband, husband's monthly family expenditure from own income and total monthly family expenditure were significantly associated with women's autonomy in decision-making Autonomy of movement of married employed women increased with the increase of husband's monthly income and total monthly family expenditure. Autonomy of decision-making regarding children increased when respondent's monthly income increases. And also autonomy of decision-making regarding HH task and decision increased when the age of respondent increases. To raise awareness among community members/family members that violence against women (VAW) is an extreme violation of women's human rights, is a criminal offense under the law, and also has bad consequences on the immediate family, employment and future generations. Educational and religious institutes are an ideal place where awareness of violence in relationships can be built and healthy ways of forming intimate relationships can be taught to challenge violence against women.

FACTORS AFFECTING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF NORTHERN BANGLADESH

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

FACTORS AFFECTING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF NORTHERN BANGLADESH HILOWLE, FARHAN HUSSEIN This study was undertaken to assess the factors affecting the academic performance of secondary school students in northern Bangladesh. It was also aimed to investigate the relationship between socio economic and other variables with academic performances of the students this study. A two stage cluster sampling technique was used to achieve the objectives of this study in Rangpur division of Bangladesh which covers 57 upazilas in eight districts. For sampling purpose, this study covered 25% of the 57 Upizalas i.e. 14 Upizalas those were randomly selected from the whole (57). In the second stage two secondary schools were selected randomly from each selected upazila. All the students of class nine grade (IX), who completed class VII and class VIII grades in the same school are included in the sample. Total numbers of sampled students were 1853 on secondary school students. A set of questionnaires was distributed to the respective respondents and objective oriented data were collected for this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, statistics, t-test, F-test, Chi-square (χ 2 ) test, Binary logistic regression analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. It was observed that about 82% students were in the age group 14-15 and 18% students had age group 16+, it seems the maximum students were in the age group 14-15. About 54.5 % students were male and 45.5% students were female. About 29.7% respondent students achieved in class VIII final exam with <= 3.99 GPA, 20.0% students of respondent students had GPA 4.00 - 4.49 and 50.3% respondent students had GPA 4.50 - 5.00 in JSC results. The chi-square test results showed that most of the demographic variables are significantly associated with academic performance at JSC (Grade VIII) level at either 0.01 or 0.05 level of probability except for religion, prior achievements position in class 5. Correlation matrix feedback also found significant demographic variables with academic performances. The result indicated that the variables mother education, father education; monthly family income, monthly expenditure and hours for daily study at home were positively significant the academic results of the secondary school students. ANOVA outcomes also found a significant difference among the demographic variables with the academic performance at JSC (Grade VIII) level. The Binary logistic analysis revealed that variables mother education, monthly family income, parents‟ residence, school type and father occupation are the determinant variables for getting good academic results. The factors like academic atmosphere at school, academic atmosphere at home and education target level were significant identifying factors also for achieve good academic results grade 8 (JSC results) students. This study recommends that parents should provide the necessary academic material to the students, adequate home resources and academic atmosphere at home for better quality academic achievements. Also, parents, teachers and school authority should collaborate with each other, make encouragement to the students or leaners to motivate the expectation of the students and making good school environment to achieve high academic performances at secondary level. Education means the process of acquiring knowledge and developing the powers of reasoning and judgment that helps decision making and facing chalanges in the real life. According to UNESCO (1999), education is defined as organized and sustained communication designed to learning. Infact its fundamental right of human being used to cultivate human capabilities and opportunities for the well-being of the society that people need. It‟s vital for the improving human development, economics sustainability, institutionalizing the democratic system and above all for the making a peaceful society. Without proper education no nation can progress and gain prosperity. The future of a nation is secured only in the hands of educated people in today‟s competitive world; there is no argument of avoiding the importance of education realizing these. Bangladesh government has given priority on the development of this sector that can be perceived easily through the consecutive national budget, the government aided different educational programs and the govermnet‟s aided different educational programs and government‟s new grants for schools colleges, madrasha and universities. Parents have also clearly comprehended the importance of education in order to faster the education in the society. School and educational institution play the vital role of making up the basic frame work of education.