Ecological study of road traffic injuries in the eastern Mediterranean region: country economic level, road user category and gender perspectives

Background: Transport-related injuries (TIs) are a substantial public health concern for all regions of the world. The present study quantified the burden of TIs and deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) in 2017 by sex and age. Methods: TIs and deaths were estimated by age, sex, country, and year using Cause of Death Ensemble modelling (CODEm) and DisMod-MR 2.1. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which quantify the total burden of years lost due to premature death or disability, were also estimated per 100000 population. All estimates were reported along with their corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). Results: In 2017, there were 5.5 million (UI 4.9–6.2) transport-related incident cases in the EMR – a substantial increase from 1990 (2.8 million; UI 2.5–3.1). The age-standardized incidence rate for the EMR in 2017 was 787 (UI 705.5–876.2) per 100000, which has not changed significantly since 1990 (-0.9%; UI -4.7 to 3). These rates differed remarkably between countries, such that Oman (1303.9; UI 1167.3–1441.5) and Palestine (486.5; UI 434.5-545.9) had the highest and lowest age-standardized incidence rates per 100000, respectively. In 2017, there were 185.3 thousand (UI 170.8–200.6) transport-related fatalities in the EMR – a substantial increase since 1990 (140.4 thousand; UI 118.7–156.9). The age-standardized death rate for the EMR in 2017 was 29.5 (UI 27.1–31.9) per 100000, which was 30.5% lower than that found in 1990 (42.5; UI 36.8–47.3). In 2017, Somalia (54; UI 30–77.4) and Lebanon (7.1; UI 4.8–8.6) had the highest and lowest age-standardized death rates per 100,000, respectively. The age-standardised DALY rate for the EMR in 2017 was 1,528.8 (UI 1412.5–1651.3) per 100000, which was 34.4% lower than that found in 1990 (2,331.3; UI 1,993.1–2,589.9). In 2017, the highest DALY rate was found in Pakistan (3454121; UI 2297890- 4342908) and the lowest was found in Bahrain (8616; UI 7670-9751). Conclusion: The present study shows that while road traffic has become relatively safer (measured by deaths and DALYs per 100000 population), the number of transport-related fatalities in the EMR is growing and needs to be addressed urgently.

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Correlation of Caesarean Section Rates to Maternal and Neonatal Mortality in the Eastern Mediterranean Region; A Population-Based Ecological Study

International Journal of Gynecological and Obstetrical Research ◽

10.31907/2309-4400.2021.09.01 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Bismeen Jadoon ◽

Keyword(s):

Caesarean Section ◽

United Nations ◽

Neonatal Mortality ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Ecological Study ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

World Health ◽

Mortality Estimation

Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationship between population-level caesarean section rates (CSRs) with maternal and neonatal mortality rates (MMR, NMR) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Design: A populationbased ecological study was performed with data obtained from the World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory database, 2015, United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN-IGME) and the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (UN-MMEIG) 2015). Mean ± standard deviation (SD), range, median and Interquartile range (IQR) were used to describe the quantitative data. We performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to explore the effect (a) of (a) Antenatal clinic visits (ANC %), (b), Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA) rate (% of deliveries attended by SBA), (c) Total Health Expenditure (THE) per capita and (d) Female Literacy Rate (FLR%) on the studied relationship. Spline linear regression was used to find the most predictive variable for MMR, and the NMR. Statistical significance was accepted at P<0.05. Results: The mean CSR was 21.20±13.38, (1.8-52). The CSR of <10% was linked with the highest NMR and MMR, 33.0 (24.0-39.0) and 390.5(329.5-648.0) respectively. The most predictable variables for NMR and MMR were SBA % [B=-0.875; p< .001; R2=0.766 and adjusted R2=0.754] and FLR (F=15-24) [B=0.877; P<0.001; R2=0.77 and adjusted R2=0.758] respectively. Conclusions: We found a statistically significant inverse relationship between CSRs and maternal and neonatal mortality in MSs with <10% of CSR. The improved mortality rates in MSs with >15% of CSR were significantly linked with better socioeconomic and healthcare variables than higher CSRs. Keywords: Caesarean Section, Maternal and Neonatal Mortality, Eastern Mediterranean Region.

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Young road users in a district of South India: gender differences in behaviour and perceptions

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20202466 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 2393

Author(s):

Pallavi Sarji Uthkarsh ◽

Thomos Kraft ◽

Frits Van Merode

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Young People ◽

Traffic Safety ◽

High Speed ◽

Road Traffic ◽

Road User ◽

Road Traffic Injuries ◽

Road Users ◽

South Indian ◽

And Gender

Background: Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people globally, especially in developing countries and burden is more among males compared to females. Human behaviors play a significant role in road traffic Injuries (RTIs), understanding road user behaviors, perception and gender differences in them is very essential to plan strategic road traffic injury prevention programs. The objectives of this study behaviors, risk perception and gender differences in young road users of a district of South India.Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken among 2000 young people in the age group of 18-25 years in a district of South India.Results: More than half of the youth reported unsafe behaviors as a road user. Risk behaviors such as playing on roads, using mobile while on road, high speed driving, hanging on to the doors of the bus were reported more in male gender. More than 40% perceived not following traffic safety norms as safe without significant gender differences.Conclusions: Young road users of South Indian district irrespective of gender, do not follow majority of safety norms and they perceived its safe not to follow them.

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Tobacco industry commissioned reports on illicit tobacco trade in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: how accurate are they?

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal ◽

10.26719/emhj.20.131 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (11) ◽

pp. 1320-1322

Author(s):

Erin Sandberg ◽

Allen WA Gallagher ◽

Raouf Alebshehy

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Region ◽

Tobacco Industry ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Illicit Tobacco Trade

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Global Prevalence Estimates of Toxascaris leonina Infection in Dogs and Cats

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9060503 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 503

Author(s):

Ali Rostami ◽

Seyed Mohammad Riahi ◽

Vahid Fallah Omrani ◽

Tao Wang ◽

Andreas Hofmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Region ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Global Prevalence ◽

Stray Cats ◽

Prevalence Estimates ◽

Meta Regression ◽

Paratenic Hosts ◽

Toxascaris Leonina

Toxascaris leonina is an ascaridoid nematode of dogs and cats; this parasite affects the health of these animals. This study estimated the global prevalence of Ta. leonina infection in dogs and cats using random effects meta-analysis as well as subgroup, meta-regression and heterogeneity analyses. The data were stratified according to geographical region, the type of dogs and cats and environmental variables. A quantitative analysis of 135 published studies, involving 119,317 dogs and 25,364 cats, estimated prevalence rates of Ta. leonina in dogs and cats at 2.9% and 3.4%, respectively. Prevalence was highest in the Eastern Mediterranean region (7.2% for dogs and 10.0% for cats) and was significantly higher in stray dogs (7.0% vs. 1.5%) and stray cats (7.5% vs. 1.8%) than in pets. The findings indicate that, worldwide, ~26 million dogs and ~23 million cats are infected with Ta. leonina; these animals would shed substantial numbers of Ta. leonina eggs into the environment each year and might represent reservoirs of infection to other accidental or paratenic hosts. It is important that populations of dogs and cats as well as other canids and felids be monitored and dewormed for Ta. leonina and (other) zoonotic helminths.

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