Karan Babbar is an Assistant Professor at Plaksha University. He holds a PhD from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and his research focuses on social and economic inequalities in India, particularly in health, education, gender equality, and development. His work has been published in leading journals such as Sociology, Journal of Development Studies, Social Science & Medicine, The Lancet Public Health, and Economics & Human Biology. Dr. Babbar's current research explores critical issues like women's reproductive health, domestic violence, women's empowerment, and health and sanitation. He was awarded the SPJIMR-DoCC Regunath Research Fellowship for his doctoral work and recently completed a Women's Safety project in Faridabad for the National Commission of Women.
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Development, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Economics and Econometrics, Health Policy
22
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
A Milestone and the Miles to Go Economic and Political Weekly, 2026
Towards improved menstrual health: the impact of period products on reproductive tract infections Karan Babbar, Manini Ojha Oxford Development Studies, 2026 We examine the relationship between the use of period products and reproductive tract infections utilizing the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21) for India. To address endogeneity concerns in an OLS approach, we employ an instrumental variable strategy that exploits exogenous variation in women’s average exposure to television in neighbouring households. Conditional on a comprehensive set of controls, we find that the use of period products reduces the likelihood of contracting any RTI by 16 percentage points. Our findings are robust to alternative specifications, sample restrictions, and the inclusion of additional covariates. We further assess the sensitivity of our estimates by allowing the instrument to be plausibly exogenous, thereby relaxing the strict exclusion restriction. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that while the effects are broadly consistent across caste, class, and wealth groups, rural women and those aged 20–24 remain key populations requiring targeted informational and policy interventions.
Female sterilization paradoxical association with premature menopause in Bihar Karan Babbar Scientific Reports, 2025 Premature menopause is a growing public health crisis with serious implications for women’s well-being. While premature menopause prevalence varies across India, Bihar’s rates are exceptionally high (11%), warranting specific investigation. Analyzing data from National Family Health Survey-5, this study examines state-level variations and predictors of premature menopause, focusing on the context of Bihar. Bihar’s premature menopause rates were significantly higher than in other states, even after controlling for hysterectomy, suggesting unique regional drivers. While lower education, more children, and younger age at first and last birth were risk factors across India, this is especially concerning in Bihar. I found a strong association between female sterilization and both naturally occurring and hysterectomy induced premature menopause in Bihar, despite its intended role in family planning. This paradoxical finding, coupled with the protective effect of contraceptive use, raises critical questions about the potential unintended consequences of sterilization practices in Bihar and highlights the need for comprehensive reproductive healthcare services. The study underscores the urgent need for targeted public health interventions, including investments in girls’ education, expanded reproductive healthcare options beyond sterilization, improved sterilization practices through stricter regulation and provider training, and further investigation into the complex factors driving Bihar’s high premature menopause rates.
Negotiating Choice: Unpacking the Linkages between Women’s Relative Resources and Contraceptive Decision Making in India Karan Babbar, Neeraj Puro, Mandar Bodas Sociology, 2025 This study examines how women’s access to resources, power in relationships and husbands’ gender role attitudes affect contraceptive decisions in India. Relational empowerment, a woman’s agency within her relationship, influences the extent to which resources translate into contraceptive control. While increased resources may empower women to negotiate within their relationships, traditional gender norms can constrain their autonomy, even when they feel empowered. Using data from a large Indian survey, the National Family Health Survey-5, which includes 37,889 couples, we find that women earning more than their husbands have greater relational empowerment and contraceptive control. This link weakens when husbands hold traditional gender views. Our findings show that supporting women’s reproductive rights requires addressing both resource inequalities and harmful gender beliefs.
High prevalence of gynaecological symptoms among Indian women: implications for integrated menstrual and reproductive health Supriya Garikipati, Karan Babbar, Tanya Mahajan Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2025 This short communication reports on the unexpectedly high prevalence of symptoms consistent with reproductive tract infections and sexually transmitted infections among urban, mid-to-high-income Indian women participating in a study on menstrual cup acceptability. As part of the screening process, data on gynaecological symptoms were collected via Google Forms, adhering to the World Health Organization (WHO) Syndromic Case Management Protocol. The exclusion criteria were based on this protocol, supplemented by expert recommendations and ethical review considerations. Given the online recruitment process, comprehensive exclusion data was available, allowing for a detailed assessment of symptom prevalence prior to exclusion. Analysis revealed that of the 41.5% of the 164 respondents who registered for participation report at least one symptom consistent with the WHO protocol. This high prevalence, observed in a demographic often assumed to have better access to healthcare, highlights significant gaps in awareness, screening, and care-seeking behaviors. The findings underscore the need for more integrated approaches to menstrual health (MH) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH), leveraging MH interventions as entry points for proactive screening, improved health education and enhanced access to SRH services.
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE MENSTRUAL HEALTH FOR ALL: Investigating Menstrual Cup Take-Up in India Karan Babbar, Supriya Garikipati Routledge Handbook of the Un Sustainable Development Goals Research and Policy, 2025 Aligned with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and 5 (Gender Equality), there is an expanding global emphasis on championing optimal menstrual health. Recognized not only as a public health priority but also as a fundamental human rights matter, achieving quality menstrual health is essential to realizing the broader aims set by the SDGs. Despite this, many low- and middle-income countries continue to primarily subsidize disposable sanitary pads. While intended to support women, this approach inadvertently impedes SDG progress by contributing to environmental waste and excluding numerous marginalized women who cannot afford these pads, thereby exacerbating gender inequities. In light of the pivotal role of sustainability in the SDGs, particularly concerning SDGs 3 and 5, it is paramount to identify solutions that address menstrual health needs while also curtailing environmental impact. One such promising solution are reusable menstrual products, notably menstrual cups. However, their adoption in several low- and middle-income nations, including India, faces obstacles rooted in deep-seated taboos and misconceptions about menstruation and reproductive health, especially since these products necessitate vaginal insertion. This study utilizes comprehensive data from the National Family Health Survey, India’s counterpart to the Demographic Health Survey, spanning 2019-2021. Through this analysis, we aim to shed light on menstrual cup adoption patterns and the socio-demographic dynamics influencing their use. We conclude by outlining policy implications and suggesting routes to bolster menstrual cup adoption in low- and middle-income contexts, advancing the principles of SDGs 3 and 5.
