This book presents both theoretical contributions and empirical applications of advanced statistical techniques including geo-additive models that link individual measures with area variables to account for spatial correlation; multilevel models that address the issue of clustering within family and household; multi-process models that account for interdependencies over life-course events and non-random utilization of health services; and flexible parametric alternatives to existing intensity models. These analytical techniques are illustrated mainly through modeling maternal and child health in the African context, using data from demographic and health surveys.   In the past, the estimation of levels, trends and differentials in demographic and health outcomes in developing countries was heavily reliant on indirect methods that were devised to suit limited or deficient data. In recent decades, world-wide surveys like the World Fertility Survey and its successor, the Demographic and Health Survey have played an important role in filling the gap in survey data from developing countries. Such modern demographic and health surveys enable investigators to make in-depth analyses that guide policy intervention strategies, and such analyses require the modern and advanced statistical techniques covered in this book.   The text is ideally suited for academics, professionals, and decision makers in the social and health sciences, as well as others with an interest in statistical modelling, demographic and health surveys. Scientists and students in applied statistics, epidemiology, medicine, social and behavioural sciences will find it of value.   

This book uses global household data to examine the prevalence, trends and geographic variation of female genital mutilation (FGM) around the world. It also addresses the underlying legal and policy aspects as well as explores the medical consequences, both immediate and long term, for those undergoing the practice. The book analyses the position of victims of this gender-based violence both from the medical and legal perspective and adopts a largely practical approach to the study of the practices, offering a fresh thinking into one of the challenges in global health and the law. In addition, it offers some insights into how health professionals can approach this category of victims and how legal practitioners can obtain a good legal result for their clients before domestic and international forums. The book addresses fundamental issues such as state liability and defences in enforcement proceedings for actions or omission of state or non-state actors, and due diligence standard in international human rights law, the main gateways available for obtaining relief for the victims of FGM. This book goes beyond the traditional debate between zero tolerance and those who wish to see the practice medicalised and tolerated and favours an advocacy programme standing firmly in favour of the right of FGM victims. This book offers a unique perspective likely to assist victims and their representatives to secure a remedy against perpetrators and the state. As such this book will be of interest to medical professionals, national and international lawyers, academics and policymakers in the field of public health.

This book uses global household data to examine the prevalence, trends and geographic variation of female genital mutilation (FGM) around the world. It also addresses the underlying legal and policy aspects as well as explores the medical consequences, both immediate and long term, for those undergoing the practice. The book analyses the position of victims of this gender-based violence both from the medical and legal perspective and adopts a largely practical approach to the study of the practices, offering a fresh thinking into one of the challenges in global health and the law. In addition, it offers some insights into how health professionals can approach this category of victims and how legal practitioners can obtain a good legal result for their clients before domestic and international forums. The book addresses fundamental issues such as state liability and defences in enforcement proceedings for actions or omission of state or non-state actors, and due diligence standard in international human rights law, the main gateways available for obtaining relief for the victims of FGM. This book goes beyond the traditional debate between zero tolerance and those who wish to see the practice medicalised and tolerated and favours an advocacy programme standing firmly in favour of the right of FGM victims. This book offers a unique perspective likely to assist victims and their representatives to secure a remedy against perpetrators and the state. As such this book will be of interest to medical professionals, national and international lawyers, academics and policymakers in the field of public health.

This book presents both theoretical contributions and empirical applications of advanced statistical techniques including geo-additive models that link individual measures with area variables to account for spatial correlation; multilevel models that address the issue of clustering within family and household; multi-process models that account for interdependencies over life-course events and non-random utilization of health services; and flexible parametric alternatives to existing intensity models. These analytical techniques are illustrated mainly through modeling maternal and child health in the African context, using data from demographic and health surveys. In the past, the estimation of levels, trends and differentials in demographic and health outcomes in developing countries was heavily reliant on indirect methods that were devised to suit limited or deficient data. In recent decades, world-wide surveys like the World Fertility Survey and its successor, the Demographic and Health Survey have played an important role in filling the gap in survey data from developing countries. Such modern demographic and health surveys enable investigators to make in-depth analyses that guide policy intervention strategies, and such analyses require the modern and advanced statistical techniques covered in this book. The text is ideally suited for academics, professionals, and decision makers in the social and health sciences, as well as others with an interest in statistical modelling, demographic and health surveys. Scientists and students in applied statistics, epidemiology, medicine, social and behavioural sciences will find it of value.

In order to assist a hospital in managing its resources and patients, modelling the length of stay is highly important. Recent health scholarship and practice has largely remained empirical, dwelling on primary data. This is critically important, first, because health planners generally rely on data to establish trends and patterns of disease burden at national or regional level. Secondly, epidemiologists depend on data to investigate possible risk factors of the disease. Yet the use of routine or secondary data has, in recent years, proved increasingly significant in such endeavours. Various units within the health systems collected such data primarily as part of the process for surveillance, monitoring and evaluation. Such data is sometimes periodically supplemented by population-based sample survey datasets. Thirdly, coupled with statistical tools, public health professionals are able to analyze health data and breathe life into what may turn out to be meaningless data. The main focus of this book is to present and showcase advanced modelling of routine or secondary survey data. Studies demonstrate that statistical literacy and knowledge are needed to understand health research outputs. The advent of user-friendly statistical packages combined with computing power and widespread availability of public health data resulted in more reported epidemiological studies in literature. However, analysis of secondary data, has some unique challenges. These are most widely reported health literature, so far has failed to recognize resulting in inappropriate analysis, and erroneous conclusions. This book presents the application of advanced statistical techniques to real examples emanating from routine or secondary survey data. These are essentially datasets in which the two editors have been involved, demonstrating how to tackle these challenges. Some of these challenges are: the complex sampling design of the surveys, the hierarchical nature of the data, the dependence of data at the sampled cluster and missing data among many more challenges. Using data from the Health Management Information System (HMIS), and Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), we provide various approaches and techniques of dealing with data complexity, how to handle correlated or clustered data. Each chapter presents an example code, which can be used to analyze similar data in R, Stata or SPSS. To make the book more concise, we have provided the codes on the book's website. The book considers four main topics in the field of health sciences research: (i) structural equation modeling; (ii) spatial and spatio-temporal modeling; (iii) correlated or clustered copula modeling; and (iv) survival analysis. The book has potential to impact methodologists, including students undertaking Master's or Doctoral level programmes as well as other researchers seeking some related reference on quantitative analysis in public health or health sciences or other areas where data of similar nature would be applicable. Further the book can be a resource to public health professionals interested in quantitative approaches to answer questions of epidemiological nature. Each chapter starts with a motivating background, review of statistical methods, analysis and results, ending discussion and possible recommendations.