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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Determinants of better health: a cross-sectional assessment of positive deviants among women in West Bengal

Authors: Katelyn NG Long, Lisa H Gren, Chris A Rees, Joshua H West, Parley Cougar Hall, Bobbi Gray, Benjamin T Crookston

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Rural women in West Bengal have been found to have low rates of formal education, poor health knowledge, high rates of malnutrition and anemia, and low levels of empowerment. Despite these difficult circumstances, some women have positive health outcomes compared to women with similarly disadvantaged backgrounds. The purpose of this study is to identify factors associated with positive health outcomes among women with primary education or less.

Methods

Multivariable regression models were built for outcomes of positive deviance to better characterize the factors in a woman’s life that most impact her ability to deviate from the status quo.

Results

Positive deviants in this context are shown to be women who are able to earn an income, who have access to information through media sources, and who, despite little schooling, have marginally higher levels of formal education that lead to improved health outcomes.

Conclusions

Study findings indicate that positive deviant women in disadvantaged circumstances can achieve positive outcomes amidst a host of contextual barriers that would predict poor health outcomes. Focusing on areas such as enhancing access to media sources, facilitating self-help groups for married women, and promoting prolonged education and delayed marriage for girls may improve health knowledge and behavior among married women with low levels of education.
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Metadata
Title
Determinants of better health: a cross-sectional assessment of positive deviants among women in West Bengal
Authors
Katelyn NG Long
Lisa H Gren
Chris A Rees
Joshua H West
Parley Cougar Hall
Bobbi Gray
Benjamin T Crookston
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-372

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