Demographic and socio-economic correlates of knowledge of the ovulatory cycle among tribal women in India: Evidence from the nationally representative survey (NFHS-5).

BACKGROUND: The knowledge of ovulatory cycle (KOC) is the basis for natural family planning methods. The absence of knowledge is a notable issue since the ovulatory cycle plays a crucial role in reproductive health and empowers women to make informed decisions that influence their lives. This study examines the knowledge of the ovulatory cycle among reproductive tribal women in India and its demographic and socio-economic determinants. METHODS: The data were derived from the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2019-2021. The effective sample size for the present study was 1,01,914 tribal women aged 15-49 years in India. Descriptive statistics along with bivariate analysis were conducted to find the preliminary results. Additionally, multivariable binary logistic regressions were conducted to determine the likelihood of KOC among tribal women across different characteristics. We conducted statistical analysis in STATA 17.0 (StataCorp) and used ArcGIS 10.8.2 for spatial mapping. RESULTS: Out of 1,01,914 tribal women, 78.8 per cent lack correct knowledge of the ovulatory cycle. Notably, Education level significantly influences KOC, with secondary education showing higher odds of KOC (AOR: 1.24, 95% CI:1.006-1.528) compared to no education. Christian women exhibit lower odds of having KOC (AOR: 0.749, 95% CI:0.564-0.996) compared to Hindu women. Husband/partner's education level shows a strong association, with higher-educated partners correlating with higher odds of KOC (AOR: 2.501, 95% CI: 1.807-3.461) for higher education. Knowledge of any contraceptive method and current contraceptive use type are strongly associated with KOC. Additionally, rural residence negatively influences KOC (AOR: 1.545, 95% CI: 1.236-1.932), while exposure to mass media has a positive effect (AOR: 1.152, 95% CI: 0.975-1.362) albeit modest. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the need for targeted educational and awareness programs to improve KOC among tribal women in India. By addressing factors such as education, religious influences, and place of residence, we can empower these women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being and quality of life. This knowledge is not only a foundation for natural family planning but also a key driver of women's agency and autonomy in shaping their lives.

Morphological and biochemical responses of Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. to allelopathic effects of Mikania micrantha Kunth extracts.

Yield loss due to noxious weeds is one among several reasons for the reduced economy for the developing countries. Impacts of one such weed i.e. Mikania micrantha were investigated on the rate of seed germination, growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments, total soluble protein, phenolics and proline content of leaves of Macrotylama uniflorum (an important pulse). In a completely randomized setup, control and four concentrations (10 mg/ml, 50 mg/ml, 100 mg/ml and 200 mg/ml) of the aqueous leaf extracts of M. micrantha were tested on the seeds of M. uniflorum. The extracts inhibited germination, growth, biomass, chlorophyll, carotenoid and protein contents. The protein content of M. uniflorum decreased to 8.48 mg/g at 200 mg/ml. Similarly, shoot length and root length were also decreased up to 5.11 cm and 0.85 cm respectively and water content increased with the increasing concentration of weed extracts. The leaf extracts resulted in an increase in the phenolics (19.66 mg) and proline (24.49 mg) content of the crop plant. The preliminary study indicated that the aqueous leaf extracts of weed plant resulted in negative or detrimental impact on growth and physiology of the plant and this might be due to the release of secondary metabolites. The present investigation may further lead to the identification of certain secondary metabolites or allelo-chemicals that may have an important agricultural application for sustainability and may enhance the level of crop protection against several other harmful plant species.