Women's Health Dynamics in South Asia: Perspectives, Challenges and Innovations

The book offers a comprehensive view to understanding the complex and multifaceted world of women's health in South Asia, aligning closely with Sustainable Development Goals-3 (SDGs-3) on “good health and well-being”. It examines the critical aspects, such as maternal and newborn health, healthcare choice and utilization. It includes perspectives on environmental, socio-cultural, and individual-level behavioral aspects of women's health outcomes. Furthermore, it highlights present-day women’s health issues with the light of COVID-19 pandemics, refugeehood and mind-psychiatric epidemics. It contextualizes the women’s health rights and development landscape with evaluating existing policies, programs, and potential gaps affecting women's health and well-being. Employing advanced geospatial techniques, including spatial modelling and quantitative approaches, the book offers multidimensional insights into women's health, shaping dialogue around health programs and policies. It is a rich source for academics, researchers, graduate students and health professionals in the fields of women’s health development.

Pradip Chouhan is a Professor at the Department of Geography, University of Gour Banga, Malda, West Bengal, India. Earlier, he was an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography, Jadavpur University, Kolkata. His areas of research interest are fertility behavior, public health, maternal health, and child health. He is actively engaged in teaching and research in Population Geography for nearly two decades and has published more than 50 research papers in Scopus and Web of Science-indexed journals, 3 edited books, and authored 1 book. He is Academic Editor of PLOS One Journal and a reviewer of Scopus and Web of Science-indexed journals. He has completed a major research project funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, Ministry of Human Resource, the Government of India. Dr. Chouhan has also completed one minor research project funded by the University Grants Commission. He has successfully supervised 4 Ph.D. and 8 M.Phil. scholars.

Kailash Chandra Das, a distinguished Professor and the dynamic Head of the Department of Migration and Urban Studies at the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) in vibrant Mumbai, India, is a luminary in the realm of population studies. With a Ph.D. from the very institution where he now spearheads transformative research, Dr. Das illuminates the intricate interplay between migration and women’s health and development. His intellectual canvas spans migration and reproductive health, climate refugees, migration’s impact on development, and the myriad challenges therein. Dr. Das has left an indelible mark in the South Asian health arena, championing migration rights and policies through his prolific publications in esteemed journals and edited volumes, unraveling the nexus between migration and multidimensional development challenges. A globetrotting scholar, he has graced nearly 20 international conferences, captivating audiences with his innovative insights and visionary ideas. 

Avijit Roy is a State Aided College Teacher in the Department of Geography at Malda College in Malda, West Bengal, India. He teaches courses related to Population Geography, Gender Studies, Regional Planning, Urban Geography, Social and Cultural Geography. Dr. Roy completed his Ph. D. in Geography from University of Gour Banga. He conducts research in a range of settings across the globe. His current research interests lie in women’s sexual and reproductive health, maternal morbidity and mortality, maternal and newborn health, geriatrics, healthcare services, child marriage, violence against women, spatial analysis. His work in the global health arena has focused on key debates and emerging tools in the campaigns to improve women’s health care and reduce maternal morbidity in low-resource settings.

Nanigopal Kapasia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at Malda College, Malda, West Bengal, India. His interested research field is social and cultural geography especially on Public Health, Maternity Care Services and Emerging Challenges related to women’s health. Dr. Kapasia has published more than 20 research articles in reputed national and international journals.

Margubur Rahaman, a trained women's health researcher, specializes in family planning, reproductive health, maternal & child health, and other women's health rights. He holds the position of Senior Research Fellow at the International Institute for Population Sciences in Mumbai. His primary focus revolves around extending interventions to the most underprivileged and vulnerable populations while assessing national initiatives aimed at enhancing maternal and child health. Mr. Rahaman boasts a portfolio of over 20 publications renowned for their contribution to issues related to population, health, and development on an international scale. Over the course of his academic journey, he has garnered numerous fellowships from both national and international organizations. An avid traveler in the world of academia, he has enriched numerous international conferences, captivating audiences with his innovative insights and visionary ideas. Additionally, Mr. Rahaman is an active member of several professional associations, including the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population in France and the Asian Population Association in Thailand.

Dr. Jayanta Das is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Geography in Rampurhat College, University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India. He has completed his Post Graduate and PhD degrees from the Department of Geography and Applied Geography, University of North Bengal, India. His research interest includes agricultural modeling and sustainable management studies, groundwater, flood, drought analysis, climate change, watershed management, hydrological modeling, water quality, geospatial data analysis, data mining, and GIS applications with more than 15 academic years of experience. Recently, Dr. Das has published an edited book entitled Monitoring and Managing Multi-hazards: A Multidisciplinary Approach jointly with Dr. Sudip Kumar Bhattacharya from Springer Nature.