Provision of safe water, adequate sanitation, and hygiene has been lauded as one way of preventing diarrheal infections and improving health especially in developing countries. However, lack of safe water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene practices in most parts of rural Kenya have posed a challenge that exposes the populace to diarrhea cases and possible deaths. In this regard, many nongovernmental organizations and governmental agencies have tried to provide water, sanitation, and hygiene services with poor results. This study was conducted using qualitative research methods in Central Nyakach in Kisumu County, Kenya. The methods were focus group discussions (FGD), key informant interviews (KII), and observation of homesteads. The data were then analyzed thematically. Findings revealed that water issues are gendered and its use is socially and culturally categorized. Water storage is affected by traditions such as use of a clay pot, while sanitation and hygiene issues are ritualized and bound by taboos. Latrines are majorly constructed by men and sharing the same with in-laws and older children is prohibited. Children faeces are thrown out in the open fields as a means of disposal and hand washing with soap is nonexistent, since it is believed that doing so would make a person lose the ability to rear livestock. The implications of these findings are that some of these sociocultural practices have a profound effect on health of the population. This affects health care delivery through high incidence rates of disease, encourages &#x201c;unhealthy&#x201d; environments through open defecation and pollution, and negates the government&#x2019;s commitment to national and international policies on universal health care provision.

Job Wasonga

Mark Okowa

Felix Kioli

Sociocultural Determinants to Adoption of Safe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Practices in Nyakach, Kisumu County, Kenya: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Fertility is a way through which human beings biologically replace themselves in order to continue their existence on earth. The present paper therefore attempts to study the factors affecting fertility among the<i> Jat</i> women of Haryana state. A household survey was conducted in 15 villages of Palwal district in which the concentration of<i> Jats</i> was found to be highest and 1014 ever married women were interviewed. Age at marriage, present age, education status, family type, and preference for male child were the most important factors that affected fertility in the studied population. Age at menarche, age at first conception, occupation status, use of birth control measures, and household per capita annual income did not affect the fertility in the studied population.

Ketaki Chandiok

Prakash Ranjan Mondal

Chakraverti Mahajan

Kallur Nava Saraswathy

Biological and Social Determinants of Fertility Behaviour among the<i> Jat</i> Women of Haryana State, India

<i>Introduction</i>. Undernutrition continues to be a major public health problem throughout the developing world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia including India. Limited studies suggest associations between maternal body mass index (BMI) and child nutritional status. The present study aims to determine the relationship between maternal BMI and children nutritional status.<i> Methods</i>. The study was conducted among 246 mothers who had given birth to single children (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-0.2063904pt" id="M2" height="8.55521pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 40.3636 8.55521" width="40.3636pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-111" d="M495 86L479 114C446 82 419 66 409 66C401 66 401 72 406 97C420 166 436 231 453 297C489 435 454 448 428 448C406 448 384 439 354 422C305 394 222 327 161 247H159L183 345C200 415 194 448 173 448C143 448 82 410 23 351L38 325C64 349 95 371 105 371C111 371 116 365 109 336L25 -4L31 -12C50 -4 77 3 107 9C119 69 132 122 145 168C197 254 321 381 370 381C387 381 393 374 378 305L329 95C309 17 320 -12 345 -12C372 -12 430 19 495 86Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,10.158,0)"><path id="g117-34" d="M535 323V373H52V323H535ZM535 138V188H52V138H535Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,21.421,0)"><path id="g113-51" d="M412 140C382 77 369 73 315 73H129L270 222C362 320 402 379 402 466C402 571 322 635 234 635C177 635 130 609 99 576L42 495L64 475C90 514 133 568 201 568C274 568 318 519 318 435C318 349 255 267 193 193C144 135 87 78 32 23V0H405C417 45 427 89 440 131L412 140Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,27.661,0)"><path id="g113-53" d="M456 178V225H360V632H320C217 496 115 347 20 206V178H280V106C280 40 276 34 189 27V0H445V27C364 34 360 39 360 106V178H456ZM280 225H82C149 335 214 431 278 520H280V225Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,33.901,0)"><path id="g113-55" d="M137 343C167 482 260 545 321 574C357 591 397 603 429 609L423 641C382 634 335 622 295 608C189 570 37 457 37 238C37 84 125 -12 242 -12C362 -12 447 89 447 209C447 311 374 393 267 393C247 393 226 386 204 376L137 343ZM227 337C318 337 361 256 361 173C361 105 336 22 258 22C176 22 126 120 126 240C126 266 127 291 132 310C155 323 189 337 227 337Z"/></g></svg>) and belonged to the Proto-Australoid population of North Bengal, India. The anthropometric measurements of height and weight were recorded following standard procedures. Overall body composition was evaluated using BMI.<i> Result</i>. The results showed that overall mean BMI among mothers was <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-0.3499298pt" id="M3" height="8.69875pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 63.3642 8.69875" width="63.3642pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-51"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,6.24,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,12.48,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,15.444,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-55"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,21.684,0)"><path id="g113-52" d="M285 378C315 398 338 416 353 432C373 451 384 474 384 503C384 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225C431 308 366 395 238 395C212 395 165 379 127 364L153 550Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,56.811,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-52"/></g></svg> kg/m<sup>2</sup>, while those among boys and girls were <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-0.3499298pt" id="M4" height="8.69875pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 63.3642 8.69875" width="63.3642pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-50" d="M384 0V27C293 34 287 42 287 114V635C232 613 172 594 109 583V559L157 557C201 555 205 550 205 499V114C205 42 199 34 109 27V0H384Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,6.24,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-54"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,12.48,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,15.444,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,21.684,0)"><path id="g113-58" d="M244 635C114 635 38 519 38 422C38 317 111 240 217 240C236 240 255 244 277 256L345 292C311 140 203 39 59 15L64 -15C89 -15 150 -5 204 17C339 72 440 202 440 386C440 521 368 635 244 635ZM228 602C326 602 352 479 352 390C352 370 351 347 348 324C327 308 293 296 258 296C174 296 124 369 124 458C124 517 152 602 228 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,30.831,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-37"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,41.367,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,47.607,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,50.571,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-55"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,56.812,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-51"/></g></svg> kg/m<sup>2</sup> and <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-0.3499298pt" id="M5" height="8.69875pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 63.3642 8.69875" width="63.3642pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,6.24,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-53"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,12.48,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,15.444,0)"><path id="g113-57" d="M249 635C141 635 70 555 70 471C70 401 114 353 179 316C143 294 106 267 90 252C68 231 45 202 45 157C45 50 130 -12 237 -12C322 -12 435 52 435 169C435 256 372 304 303 343C349 374 375 398 383 407C401 429 411 458 411 487C411 569 344 635 249 635ZM238 603C285 603 337 567 337 482C337 422 310 385 276 358C205 393 145 426 145 500C145 552 179 603 238 603ZM248 20C183 20 125 70 125 163C125 218 158 268 206 300C284 261 355 217 355 143C355 66 308 20 248 20Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,21.684,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-55"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,30.83,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-37"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,41.366,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,47.606,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,50.57,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-52"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,56.811,0)"><path id="g113-56" d="M447 623H65C61 580 56 530 47 475H76C100 541 106 550 172 550H388C308 376 196 170 91 -1L98 -12L172 -2C268 204 360 408 455 611L447 623Z"/></g></svg> kg/m<sup>2</sup> (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" id="M6" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 50.7895 11.7782" width="50.7895pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-113" d="M570 304C570 398 525 448 414 448C385 448 343 445 312 434L329 511L321 518C297 504 262 482 244 460L233 411C195 397 159 381 128 358L135 332C160 347 189 360 224 373L111 -147C97 -210 84 -218 17 -231L13 -257L254 -247L259 -218L233 -216C183 -212 177 -202 189 -142L218 -1C238 -10 266 -12 283 -12C351 3 429 48 483 105C543 168 570 242 570 304ZM482 289C482 161 380 33 304 33C278 33 248 51 233 69L303 396C326 400 352 403 369 403C428 403 482 380 482 289Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.342,0)"><path id="g117-91" d="M512 -3V55L134 254V256L512 456V514L75 281V230L512 -3Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.605,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,28.845,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,31.809,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.049,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,44.289,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g></svg>), respectively. The BMI of mothers were significantly and highly correlated with HAZ (0.709) and BMIZ (0.748) (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-3.42938pt" id="M7" height="11.7782pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 50.7895 11.7782" width="50.7895pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-113"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,11.342,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-91"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,22.605,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,28.845,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,31.809,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,38.049,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,44.289,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g></svg>) of children. These are indicative of a strong genetic component between maternal and child anthropometry.<i> Conclusion</i>. The results indicate significant associations between mothers’ and children’s nutritional status. Assessments of body composition and nutritional status using BMI, especially among mothers and their children, are recommended.

Pushpa Lata Tigga

Jaydip Sen

Maternal Body Mass Index Is Strongly Associated with Children <svg  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"   style="vertical-align:-0.04981995pt" height="9.01194pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.96212 9.12937 9.01194" width="9.12937pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-91" d="M669 636L663 650H260C230 650 221 652 208 675H186C177 621 162 548 144 481L173 479C195 534 211 560 226 578C248 604 266 615 373 615H544C460 511 114 112 23 16L31 0H561C577 34 611 135 622 170L594 182C566 125 544 88 515 65C481 38 416 35 319 35C249 35 197 37 152 41C270 184 542 501 669 636Z" /></g></svg>-Scores for Height and BMI

The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of skull angles measured on 3D models created by laser scanning. Five skulls were measured through both conventional and digital measuring methods. The 3D models were created using a hand-held laser scanner Creaform VIUscan<i>&#x2122;</i>. Seven angular characteristics were measured three times by two observers. The intra- and interobserver reliability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient. The differences between the digital and direct measurements were assessed using the measurement and relative errors. The intraclass correlation coefficients for digitally taken angles indicated almost perfect intra- and interobserver reliability, except for the alveolar profile angle showing moderate interobserver agreement. The overall measurement error based on the differences between digitally and directly measured angles was 0.61&#xb0; and the relative error was 0.68&#x25;.

Diana Toneva

Silviya Nikolova

Ivan Georgiev

Reliability and Accuracy of Angular Measurements on Laser Scanning Created 3D Models of Dry Skulls

Ratios have been applied to humans to identify individuals from images. These attempts have been proven unsuccessful, as camera angle, height, and distortions of the image affected the results. The anharmonic ratio is a ratio of ratios; it has proved successful in the identification of objects from images, as it is not affected by any distortions. The anharmonic ratio was applied to the human body and face to identify individuals from their images. Faces and bodies of twenty South Australian males aged 16&#x2013;65 years were measured using standard anthropometric techniques. Participants were photographed in high quality images and recorded by standard surveillance camera (low quality images). Ten ratios were calculated from manual measurements and from all images. An Euclidean distance showed ratios incorrectly identified individuals 64.3&#x25; of the time between images of different quality. Variation of ratios between individuals is low so that standard deviations of ratios are of the magnitude similar to technical errors of measurements. Therefore participants cannot be isolated based on ratios. Ratios are an unreliable method for identification.

Teghan Lucas

Jaliya Kumaratilake

Maciej Henneberg

Metric Identification of the Same People from Images: How Reliable Is It?

Excavations in the 1990s at the medieval Chapter House of Worcester Cathedral, UK, revealed medieval human skeletal remains, some of which exhibited a distinctive purple coloration. The nature of the colored bone was investigated using solvents for stain extraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), plane polarized (PPL) and cross-polarized (XPL) light microscopy, and auto fluorescence (AF) microscopy. Normal bone from the cemetery was used as a control. The color does not arise from a stain soluble in normal organic solvents. EDX and XRD analysis showed no significant difference between purple and normal bone. XRF analysis shows the presence of trace levels of iron, manganese, zinc, and copper in the affected material. This exhibited a pink color in acid phase and a blue color in alkaline phase. These two states were reversible. The alkaline phase gradually changed irreversibly to yellow over time. These data suggest that the coloration is consistent with the presence of high levels of purple acid phosphatase (PAP) enzyme. The presence of trace amounts of iron, manganese, zinc, and copper suggests a plant or fungal origin for the putative PAP, possibly a member of the<i> Aspergillus ficuum</i> species.

Garrard Cole

Tony Waldron

Purple Staining of Archaeological Human Bone: An Investigation of Probable Cause and Implications for Other Tissues and Artifacts

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Journal of Anthropology