Floods, Pregnancy Outcomes, And Human Growth: An Anthropological Investigation From The Himalayas

Book Code: 1111036803317

Dr. Anurag Chaurasia, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Gautam

ABOUT THE BOOK

The book ‘Floods, Pregnancy Outcomes, and Human Growth: An Anthropological investigation from Himalayas’explores the profound impact of natural disasters, particularly floods, on pregnancy outcome in terms of birth weight  and growth and development of the new-born, infants, toddler, school going children and adolescents with special reference to flood prone zone of Himalayan region. For further elucidation of facts information on pregnancy out, birth weight as well as anthropometric measurements were collected from Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state. The book examines the intricate relationship between environmental stressors and human health outcomes. A comparative analysis between flood-affected and non-flood-affected populations are being presented to understand the extent of the role of environmental factors on the growth pattern of the individuals aged 1-19 years of the age.

The book provides a detailed ethnographic profile of Rudraprayag, showcasing its unique geographical, historical, and cultural significance. It highlights the challenges faced by communities living in disaster-prone areas and examines how floods exacerbate existing health disparities by disrupting access to healthcare, affecting maternal nutrition, and increasing stress levels. Supported by statistical analyses and comparisons, it uncovers critical patterns in birth weights, growth trends, and sex-specific disparities in flood-affected regions.

By addressing the intersection of human biology and environmental challenges, this book emphasizes the importance of sustainable development and targeted interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of disasters on vulnerable populations. It offers actionable recommendations for improving healthcare, nutrition, and disaster management strategies, making it an invaluable resource for researchers, policymakers, public health professionals, and students interested in anthropology, disaster management, and public health.

This book not only contributes to scientific knowledge but also underscores the resilience and adaptive capacities of Himalayan communities, offering insights into sustainable solutions for preserving their health and livelihoods in the face of recurring natural disasters.

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

 

Dr. Anurag Chaurasia is a distinguished Anthropometrist with a specialization in physical anthropology and human growth studies. He is currently associated with the Sports Authority of India in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, where he serves as an Performance Analyst, recognized for his expertise in the field.

Dr. Chaurasia earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Anthropology from Dr. Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. He completed his Ph.D. in Physical Anthropology at the same institution. His doctoral research focused on the “Impact of Natural Disasters (Floods) on Fetal Programming and Child Growth among the Himalayan Population of Uttarakhand, India.”

With a strong academic foundation, Dr. Chaurasia has authored multiple research articles published in esteemed National and International journals. He has also contributed chapters to books addressing health and nutrition disparities among indigenous populations. His work has been presented at prestigious national and international conferences, highlighting his contributions to the understanding of human physical growth, nutrition, and disaster impacts on vulnerable populations.

Dr. Chaurasia's professional accolades include the ICSSR Doctoral Fellowship and the MP Young Scientist Training Fellowship. His involvement extends beyond academics to include memberships in professional networks and academic bodies in India and other countries.

In addition to his research, Dr. Chaurasia proficient in statistical tools like SPSS and advanced body composition analysis technologies, he continues to apply his skills to the advancement of sports science and anthropology.

Dr. Chaurasia’s dedication to research and education underscores his commitment to addressing critical issues in health, nutrition, and human development, particularly among underserved and disaster-affected populations.

 

Professor (Dr.) Rajesh Kumar Gautam is widely recognized for his contribution in the discipline. He did his B.Sc. from PG College Mandla (MP) followed by M.Sc. in Anthropology and M.A. in English from Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar (MP) and Ph.D. from University of Delhi. In 2016 he was awarded very prestigious Raman Fellowship for pursuing Post-Doctorate from Montclair State University, New Jersey, USA. He has more than 20 years of teaching experience to the post graduates.

He is a prolific researcher with more than 130 publications including 8 books, 100+ research papers and 25+ book chapters. He also contributed to 16 modules of e-pg-pathshala. He is recognized by ‘AD Scientific Index 2021’ as one of the World Scientist which he still retained in 2025. He stands among one of the top ten scientists from his University. He is the only anthropologist from India who is trained in mathematical modeling. He along with his collaborators from USA evolved allometric scaling of body weight to height for Asian population. The work is published in reputed journal of nature series of journals known as Nutrition & Diabetes. His work on polyandry is highly recognized and published by Indian Journal of physical anthropology and Human Genetics. He also published a good number of papers on human nutrition, aging, obesity, growth and development in different national and international journals. His work on menarche, menopause and reproductive life span is cited by many investigators.

Prof. Gautam is known for inculcating scientific temperament among his students as well as beyond university premises among general public. Recently on August 25 and September 8, 2024 two different bodies of Tarksheel (Rationalist) Society of Canada i.e. at Brampton, Ontario and at Surrey, British Columbia felicitated him for his rationalist approach in teaching and research as well as his efforts to eradicating superstitions through public conventions.

Prof. Gautam is among a few of the anthropologist of the country who has International collaborations with the scientist of United States, Canada and Europe. He has been actively engaged with Global Initiative of Academic Network (GIAN) and hosted faculty from Poland and USA.

He is a life member of Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), Kolkata; Indian National Confederation and the Academy of Anthropologists (INCA), Kolkata; United India Anthropological Forum (UIAF), Bhubaneswar. For his contribution in the discipline United India Anthropological Forum (UIAF) has faliciated him in the World Anthropology Congress 2023. Currently Prof. Gautam employed at Dr. Harisingh Gour University, Sagar (MP) and inspite teaching Anthropology he is also appointed as officiating ‘Chair Professor’ of Ambedkar Chair.

 

CONTENTS

	Foreword	7
1	Introduction	9
2	Materials and Methods	45
3	District Rudraprayag: Ethnography	69
4	Natural Disaster: Flood	99
5	Pregnancy Outcome: Birth Weight	129
6	Growth and Development: Impact of Flood	153
7	Correlation and Regression Analysis	253
8	Differential Pregnancy Outcome and Growth: Discussion	277
9	Conclusion	311