The influence of family skills programmes on violence indicators: Experience from a multi-site project of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in low and middle income countries

AbstractThis article discusses how decision-makers can be supported to strengthen a culture of prevention. This article presents an example of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) work to engage with decision-makers to create readiness, demand, and capacity for evidence-based prevention programming among them, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. First, we utilized two of the UNODC’s data sources to describe the context where the UNODC’s prevention efforts take place. Analysis of the first dataset on prevention activities implemented globally revealed a gap in translating evidence into practice on a global scale. The second dataset consisted of UNODC policy documents mandating and guiding global action to address substance use. The analysis showed that at the level of political frameworks, prevention is gradually gaining more attention but is still frequently left in the shadow of health- and law enforcement-related issues. In addition, these guiding documents did not reflect fully the current scientific understanding of what constitutes an effective prevention response. Against this background, the feasibility of the UNODC’s efforts to bridge the science–practice gap in the field of prevention was discussed by presenting the results from the UNODC’s regional capacity-building seminars focused on the role of monitoring and evaluation in prevention programming. The results showed potential of this capacity building to affect the attitudes and knowledge of targeted decision-makers. Such efforts to increase decision-makers’ readiness and ultimately their endorsement, adoption, and ongoing support of evidence-based preventive interventions should be continued and intensified.

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The United Nations and Governance in Middle-Income Countries

Law and Development of Middle-Income Countries ◽

10.1017/cbo9781139235730.020 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 309-334

Author(s):

Nicholas Booth

Keyword(s):

United Nations ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

The United Nations

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Global, regional and national epidemiology and prevalence of child stunting, wasting and underweight in low- and middle-income countries, 2006–2018

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84302-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Paddy Ssentongo ◽

Anna E. Ssentongo ◽

Djibril M. Ba ◽

Jessica E. Ericson ◽

Muzi Na ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United Nations ◽

Human Development ◽

Human Development Index ◽

Demographic And Health Surveys ◽

Years Of Life Lost ◽

Middle Income ◽

Development Index ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Meta Regression ◽

Low And Middle Income

AbstractIn 2016, undernutrition, as manifested in childhood stunting, wasting, and underweight were estimated to cause over 1.0 million deaths, 3.9% of years of life lost, and 3.8% of disability-adjusted life years globally. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of undernutrition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) using the 2006–2018 cross-sectional nationally representative demographic and health surveys (DHS) data and to explore the sources of regional variations. Anthropometric measurements of children 0–59 months of age from DHS in 62 LMICs worldwide were used. Complete information was available for height-for-age (n = 624,734), weight-for-height (n = 625,230) and weight-for-age (n = 626,130). Random-effects models were fit to estimate the pooled prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight. Sources of heterogeneity in the prevalence estimates were explored through subgroup meta-analyses and meta-regression using generalized linear mixed-effects models. Human development index (a country-specific composite index based on life expectancy, literacy, access to education and per capita gross domestic product) and the United Nations region were explored as potential sources of variation in undernutrition. The overall prevalence was 29.1% (95% CI 26.7%, 31.6%) for stunting, 6.3% (95% CI 4.6%, 8.2%) for wasting, and 13.7% (95% CI 10.9%, 16.9%) for underweight. Subgroup analyses suggested that Western Africa, Southern Asia, and Southeastern Asia had a substantially higher estimated prevalence of undernutrition than global average estimates. In multivariable meta-regression, a combination of human development index and United Nations region (a proxy for geographical variation) explained 54%, 56%, and 66% of the variation in stunting, wasting, and underweight prevalence, respectively. Our findings demonstrate that regional, subregional, and country disparities in undernutrition remain, and the residual gaps to close towards achieving the second sustainable development goal—ending undernutrition by 2030.

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