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This paper examines whether there are significant variations in contraceptive prevalence rates between women who live or do not live in slums of Calcutta, India. A Disparity Index is calculated, using unit level data from the Demographic Health Survey (2004-2005). The Index reveals that variations in overall and modern contraceptive prevalence rates between currently mar-ried slum and non-slum respondents are low. Statistical tests (both parametric and non-parametric) reveal that though differ-ences in overall contraceptive prevalence rates are significantly lower in slums, differences in usage of modern methods betiveen slum and non-slum areas is marginal. This is also confirmed by econometric methods using an ordered logit model. This model indicates that slum respondents are reluctant to adopt contracep-tives, but once their initial resistance is overcome, they prefer modern - particularly terminal - methods. Analysis reveals that cultural forces - socio-religious identity, language and preference for more children (particularly sons) - are responsible for crea-ting the barriers to adopting family planning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Given the civic and social commitments of urban local bodies in developing countries, renovation and maintenance of all heritage buildings and sites is a financially non-viable proposition. Urban planners, therefore, need to take decisions on which heritage sites are to be protected (either in their original form, or with suitable modifications that permit commercial use without destroying their architectural integrity) and the sites to be pulled down, ensuring more efficient land use. Such selection can generate considerable dispute between policy makers and various stakeholders unless the selection process is transparent, consistent and incorporates views of stakeholders. The difficulty in creating an analytical framework to be used for grading is the multiple (often qualitative) attributes of heritage sites. How to combine the performances of heritage structures with respect to these attributes into an aggregative index is a major concern for urban planners and conservationists. This paper argues that the Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) method may be a relevant method for grading heritage sites. The application of this method is illustrated for several heritage buildings in Calcutta, India. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]