In many Asian countries the ratio of male to female population is higher than in the West: as high as 1.07 in China and India, and even higher in Pakistan. A number of authors (most notably Amartya Sen) have suggested that this imbalance reflects excess female mortality and have argued that as many as 100 million women are "missing."…

In nine chapters, this book considers the extent to which training programs can be utilized to improve midwifery practice and reduce the risks surrounding childbirth in rural populations. The book opens with a chapter reviewing the question of whether the availability of trained birth attendants can be linked to a reduced incidence of neonatal…

Discusses the modern historical view of the Columbian voyages that recognizes both the positive and negative consequences of the contact. Describes the voyages as a boon to scientific knowledge, a key step in the development of world trade, and an ecological disaster. Acknowledges the role of India, Islam, and Iberian Jews. (DK)