NEW YORK (13 March 2006) — From 30 March to 1 April, Population Council researchers will present findings from social science studies conducted around the world. Experts from the Council—an international, not-for-profit research organization—are also available for interviews before, during, and after the conference. The presentations will be part of the Population Association of America's 2006 Annual Meeting (location: Westin Bonaventure Hotel, 404 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071).
Population Council presentations of special interest include:
Explaining gender differences in functional health and mortality among older adults in Beijing
8:30–10:20 am, Thursday, 30 March (Session on Aging in Developing Countries)
Zachary Zimmer examines gender differences in declining health among older adults in Beijing and the extent to which physical deterioration can be explained by social and economic factors. Analysis suggests strong gender differences in waning well-being: Health-related behaviors play a particularly large role in explaining men's higher probability of dying, while socioeconomic conditions and health care access play a large role in explaining women's greater tendency to experience functional declines.
A decomposition of life expectancy levels and trends
10:30 am–12:20 pm, Thursday, 30 March (Session on Death: Trends, Distributions, Inequality)
John Bongaarts discusses rising life expectancy trends in the developed world. Bongaarts determined that before 1950 large increases in lifespan were fueled by reductions in death rates among children and young adults. When this trend slowed after 1950, improvements in life expectancy slowed down as well. Since 1950, however, mortality decline among older adults has accelerated, thus becoming the main impetus for a longer lifespan. Bongaarts also examines the impact of smoking on mortality during the last half century.
Consent and coercion: Examining unwanted sex within marriage
1:30–3:20 pm, Thursday, 30 March (Session on Domestic Violence, Sexual Behaviors, and Reproductive Health)
K.G. Santhya presents a nuanced interpretation of the term "sexual coercion" from a study in rural India on the extent of unwanted sexual experiences among young married women/girls. This research examines more subtle forms of coercion that often are unaddressed in surveys. Santhya and her colleagues note that, given the opportunity, respondents will discuss experiences of sex that are not forced per se, but are unwanted. This type of research suggests a considerably higher proportion of nonconsensual sexual experiences than questions of "forced" sex alone elicit.
Immunizations, poverty, and child survival in the Kassena-Nankana District of northern Ghana
3:30–5:20 pm, Thursday, 30 March (Session on Poverty and Health)
Ayaga Bawah reports that many African children continue to die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases despite well-promoted vaccine programs. Bawah discusses findings from a study indicating that the poorest Ghanaians gain the most benefit from the implementation of such programs.
Early marriage and pregnancy as factors in school dropout: An analysis of DHS data from sub-Saharan Africa
3:30–5:20 pm, Thursday, 30 March (Session on Determinants of Educational Attainment)
Barbara Mensch examines the rapid expansion of girls’ schooling in sub-Saharan Africa and the greater likelihood of attending school after puberty. This phenomenon activates added concern about the effect of reproductive behavior on school participation among adolescent girls. Mensch discusses the association between school dropout and the timing of marriage and childbearing among young women aged 15–24. In addition to attempting to estimate how much of school dropout can be attributed to early marriage and “school girl pregnancy,” Mensch and co-author Cynthia Lloyd also investigate whether the prevalence of pregnancy-induced school dropout has increased over time in five countries.
HIV status, fertility intentions, and the demand for contraception: Assessing the current research to improve the integration of reproductive health and HIV programs
10:30 am–12:20 pm, Saturday, 1 April (Session on HIV and Fertility)
Naomi Rutenberg talks about the results from a review of 190 studies to determine the association between HIV status and the number of children wanted. Preliminary results suggest that developed-country studies found an association between knowing one's HIV-positive status and decreased pregnancy rates prior to the introduction of highly effective antiretroviral therapy, but not after. No such dampening effect of HIV status on pregnancy rates was found in developing countries.
A complete guide to Population Council activities at PAA 2006 is available online: www.popcouncil.org/mediacenter/PAA2006/index.html.
The Council will maintain a fully staffed booth (#215 & #217) in the exhibit hall throughout the conference. This venue will offer an additional opportunity to learn about the organization, obtain background resources, and meet Council experts.
The Population Council is an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental research organization that seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. The Council conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research and helps build research capacities in developing countries. Established in 1952, the Council is governed by an international board of trustees. Its New York headquarters supports a global network of regional and country offices. ### Media contacts
Melissa May, APR: mmay@popcouncil.org +1 212 339 0525
Diane Rubino: drubino@popcouncil.org +1 212 339 0617 |
