IASSH specifically encourages young scholars by providing platform to disseminate their research findings. Through its life members and collaborating institutions, has developed networks in our outreach on a continuous basis for the exchange of ideas every year through annual conferences and workshops. IASSH is an independent professional association to meet the felt need of having an exclusive forum for social scientists from various disciplines who are working on health and related issues to meet periodically and share the research findings. By highlighting the implications of the study findings among different stakeholders,it is hoped to bring about concerted action to address the emerging issues in health and development sectors. Thus, the activities of IASSH in line with its vision, aims and objectives to conduct annual Conferences on themes relevant to social sciences and health, and publication of the conference proceedings for its wider dissemination among scholars, practitioners and various stakeholders.
Conferences: MILE STONES of IASSH
Sixth Conference of IASSH: HEALTH, EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
IASSH celebrated its Sixth conference at Pondicherry. Around two hundred delegates attended and presented papers. This effort is possible with the financial support from UN-FPA, UNICEF and RBI. Our sincere thanks are due to Mr. Nesim Tumkaya, Representa-tiveandMr. Venkatesh Srinivasan, Asst Resi-dent Representative, UNFPA , Dr. Pavitra Mohan, Health Specialist, and Dr. Satish Kumar, UNICEF,for their cooperation and support in making the conference a grand success . The specific issues raised during the confer-ence are: Health inequality exists according to social and economic environment and hence the public health programme should consider these inequalities and formulate the inter-ventions accordingly. The social representations of various stake-holders such as health administrators, financial institutions, health professionals, and grassroots level workers should be explored of the target community for whom the health delivery system has to be developed. Alleviation of rural poverty is possible through rural development programs and development of house hold industries and improving the agricultural activities. Health insurance policy and financial as-sistance to the poor should be incorpo-rated in the health programTo reduce maternal mortality, regional gov-ernment and the international community must create programs of health care and increase the number of medical and nurs-ing students (Medical manpower). The availability of female health worker is critical for improving use of maternal health services. Anemia is most common among young girls and it is suggested that proper counseling is necessary about the complications of Anemia and Iron rich foods to the rural adolescent girls to improve their health status.Women can hold the key to public health by ensuring household food safety provided they are empowered with enabling environment supported by sound awareness creation efforts. Health care programs should also focus urban poor.
List of accepted abstracts for presentation: View
Fifth Conference: April 2008
The fifth conference was held at Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) and the theme of the conference is “Millennium Development Goals and Health” with Prof.S.Peppin as Organizing Secretary. Around 120 abstracts have been received and presented by Scientists with variety of disciplines, namely, Health, Sociology, Economics, Demography, Anthropology, Psychology, Finance, Management and other eminent persons.
In spite of various financial constraints the IASSH has accomplished five conferences within a span of 6 years since its inception. Our membership has also grown to 190 at present. Social Scientists, Health and Medical Professional are welcome to join as members.
Fifth Conference: List of Contributors
Fourth Conference: February
2007
The fourth conference was held in the South Gujarat University, Surat in February, 2007 with Dr. Suguna Pathy, Professor of Sociology as Organizing Secretary, The theme was “Health Policies and Programmes: Contribution of Social Sciences”.
Third Conference: March 2006
The Third conference was held at New Delhi at the National Institute of Health & Family Welfare (NIHFW) in March 2006, with Dr. A. M. Khan, Professor at NIHFW, as Organizing Secretary. The theme of the conference was “Health Reforms and the Social Sciences: Challenges Ahead”.
Second Conference: February
2005
Second Conference of the Association was organized in Mumbai in February 2005, with Dr.C.P.Prakasam, Professor at the International Institute for Population Sciences and Dr.S.Sivaraju, Professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences as organizing Secretaries. The theme of the conference was “Globalization and Health Equity”. There were 150 participants in the conference and they represented a wide range of disciplines. In Mumbai conference a resolution was passed recommending the registration of the association under the Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act with registered office at Tirupati and with the special efforts made by Dr. K.A.Parvathy, the IASSH has been registered under the Societies Registration Act of Andhra Pradesh with Registration Number 218 of 2006.
First Conference: November
2003
First conference of IASSH was organized by Prof. K. A. Parvathy, Head of the Department of Women’s Studies, Sri Padmavati Women’s University, Tirupati, in November 2003. The theme of the conference was “Poverty and Health” which was attended by many young Social Scientists, Health and Medical professionals. At this conference a resolution was passed recommending the formation of the Indian Association for Social Sciences and Health (IASSH).