scholarly journals The Influence of Contextual Factors on the Initial Phases of the COVID-19 Outbreak across U.S. Counties

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Messner ◽  
Sarah E Payson
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
State Level ◽  
Ethnic Composition ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Black African ◽  
Exponential Growth Model

Objectives: To examine the influence of county- and state-level characteristics on the initial phases of the COVID-19 outbreak across U.S. counties up to April 14, 2020. Methods: We used a statistical exponential growth model for the outbreak. Contextual factors at county- and state-level were simultaneously tested with a multilevel linear model. All data was publicly available. Results: Collectivism was positively associated with the outbreak rate. The racial and ethnic composition of counties contributed to outbreak differences, affecting Black/African and Asian Americans most. Counties with a higher median age had a stronger outbreak, as did counties with more people below the age of 18. Higher income, education, and personal health were generally associated with a lower outbreak. Obesity was negatively related to the outbreak. Smoking was negatively related, but only directionally informative. Air pollution was another significant contributor to the outbreak, but population density did not give statistical significance. Conclusions: Because of high intrastate and intercounty variation in contextual factors, policy makers need to target pandemic responses to the smallest subdivision possible, so that countermeasures can be implemented effectively.

Effect of transport measures and curfew against COVID-19 spread on air pollution (TSP) in Ecuador’s three most populous cities

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
State Level ◽  
Emergency Situation ◽  
Traffic Emission ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Total Suspended Particulates ◽  
Level Ii ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10 ◽  
Future Consequences

Although current circumstances pose challenges to foretelling the future consequences of coronavirus spread, we consider environmental load-related researches became more and more important nowadays perhaps as never before. Many experts believe that the increasingly dire public health emergency situation, policy makers and word leaders should make it possible that the COVID-19 outbreak contributes to a transition of sustainable consumption. With the purpose of contributing to rethink the importance of sustainability efforts, here we present total suspended particulates (TSP) results which represent traffic emission caused air pollution in the three most populous cities of Ecuador obtained before, during, and after the: (i) the traffic measures entered into force on state level; (ii) curfew entered into force on state level; (iii) and quarantine entered into force (in Guayaquil, and whole Guayas province). We documented significant decrease in TSP emissions (PM2.5 and PM10) compared to normal traffic operation obtained from some four lanes roads in Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca. The most remarkable fall in suspended particulate values (96.47% decrease in PM2.5) compared to emission observed before traffic measures occurred in Cuenca.

scholarly journals Analysis on the Effect of the Mobility of Combustion Vehicles in the Environment of Cities and the Improvement in Air Pollution in Europe: A Vision for the Awareness of Citizens and Policy Makers

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Javier Cárcel-Carrasco ◽  
Manuel Pascual-Guillamón ◽  
Fidel Salas-Vicente
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Sustainable Transport ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Indirect Measure ◽  
Large Cities ◽  
Combustion Gases ◽  
Short Time

Today, the design and remodeling of urban environments is being sought in order to achieve green, healthy, and sustainable cities. The effect of air pollution in cities due to vehicle combustion gases is an important part of the problem. Due to the indirect effect caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, political powers in Europe have imposed confinement measures for citizens by imposing movement restrictions in large cities. This indirect measure has given us a laboratory to show how the reduction in vehicle circulation affects in a short time the levels of air pollution in cities. Therefore, this article analyzes the effect in different European cities such as Milan, Prague, Madrid, Paris, and London. These cities have been chosen due to their large amount of daily road traffic that generates high levels of pollution; therefore, it can clearly show the fall in these pollutants in the air in the analyzed period. The results shown through this study indicate that the reduction in combustion vehicles greatly affects the levels of pollution in different cities. In these periods of confinement, there was an improvement in air quality where pollutant values dropped to 80% compared to the previous year. This should serve to raise awareness among citizens and political powers to adopt measures that induce sustainable transport systems.

scholarly journals Urbanization and greenness in HBSC survey: association with overweight and obesity in adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Bellisario ◽  
R Bono ◽  
G Squillacioti ◽  
M Caputo ◽  
I Gintoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Children Health ◽  
Public Health Strategies

Abstract Background Childhood obesity is an important public health issue worldwide and includes different risk factors, such as environmental pollutants exposure or physical activity. Neighborhood composition and green spaces availability could contrast obesogenic lifestyles and promote healthy habits, whereas, urbanization and traffic volume exposure are inversely associated with physical activity and worsen effects on childhood health. Methods This project analyzed students involved in the HBSC survey from the Piedmont Region. Data were collected in 2018, following the protocol. All the subjects were georeferenced within buffers around schools. Green-spaces availability was measured by Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI-satellite images) while urbanization was calculated by population density, traffic intensity (satellite measurements) and air pollution concentration (sampling stations). Results Overall, the sample included 3022 subjects, with amount 50% male/female and 30% for each age group (11-13-15 years old). Concerning weight status, above 14% of the all sample is obese or overweight, with, respectively, 20% among boys and 11% among girls. Preliminary analyses showed an association between weight status and population density (rural vs urbanized areas). Currently, we are analyzing the association with greenness and the other measures of urbanization. Conclusions Our preliminary findings suggest that high urbanization levels impact health implementing weight in children. We are testing the hypothesis that greenness positively influences weight status and reduce negative effects of urbanization and air pollution. The managing of these risk factors must be deepened and corroborated by active preventive Public Health strategies for improving children health. Key messages Urbanization and greenness may influence weight status in children. Public Health strategies must be improved for children health.

scholarly journals Individual and contextual factors associated with barriers to accessing healthcare among women in Papua New Guinea: insights from a nationwide demographic and health survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdul-Aziz Seidu ◽  
Ebenezer Agbaglo ◽  
Louis Kobina Dadzie ◽  
Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽  
Edward Kwabena Ameyaw ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Wealth Quintile ◽  
Demographic And Health Survey ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Factors Associated

Abstract Background This study sought to assess the individual and contextual factors associated with barriers to accessing healthcare among women in Papua New Guinea. Methods The study was conducted among 14 653 women aged 15–49 y using data from the 2016–2018 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variable was barriers to accessing healthcare. Descriptive and multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted. Statistical significance was declared at P < 0.05. Results Women aged 15–19 y were more likely to experience at least one barrier compared with those aged 40–49 y (adjusted OR [AOR]=1.48; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.86). Women with secondary/higher education (AOR=0.68; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.81), women in the richest wealth quintile (AOR=0.36; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.46) and those in the least disadvantaged socioeconomic status (AOR=0.46; 95% CI 0.33 to 0.64) had lower odds of having challenges with at least one barrier to healthcare. However, living in rural areas increased the odds of facing at least one barrier to healthcare (AOR=1.87; 95% CI 1.27 to 2.77). Conclusions This study has demonstrated that both individual and contextual factors are associated with barriers to healthcare accessibility among women in Papua New Guinea. To enhance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 3.1, 3.7 and 3.8, it is critical to deem these factors necessary and reinforce prevailing policies to tackle barriers to accessing healthcare among women in Papua New Guinea.

Benchmarking performance of governance quality in Indian states using MCDM techniques

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 2850-2874
Author(s):  
Alok Raj ◽  
Rupika Khanna
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
State Level ◽  
Law And Order ◽  
Indian States ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Promethee Ii ◽  
Social Service Delivery ◽  
Governance Quality ◽  
Key Indicators

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to benchmarking the governance performance of Indian states. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides a framework to measure governance performance at the state level. Using the data on 28 key indicators, the authors evaluate Indian states on seven broad dimensions of governance quality covering several aspects of public service delivery, regulatory quality and law and order. The empirical methodology involves the application of multi-criteria decision making techniques in two steps. The authors, first develop suitable weights of the identified dimensions and criteria under each dimension by applying the inputs of an expert-based decision-panel in a best-worst framework. Next, using these weights, the authors evaluate ranking of each state using TOPSIS and PROMETHEE-II methods. Findings The results indicate wide disparities in the governance performance of Indian states. Based on different indicators, the paper evaluates the rank of all the major Indian states. Results reveal that “Social Service Delivery(S)” is the most influencing dimension for the development of a state. Overall, the authors find Andra Pradesh, NCT of Delhi and Goa to be the leading states in terms of governance quality. Research limitations/implications The paper provides policy makers with easy to use operational indicators to analyse the governance performance of Indian states. These would help in better monitoring of these states through competitive goal-setting for continuous improvement. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first formal assessment of governance quality in the Indian states in a multi-criteria framework. To this end, the paper addresses the issue of wide regional disparities in the country. The findings of the paper provide powerful insights to policy makers in setting up appropriate strategies to eliminate these disparities.

Policy analysis in state governments in Mexico

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan C. Olmeda
Keyword(s):  
Policy Analysis ◽  
Mexico City ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
State Level ◽  
Executive Branch ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Mexican State ◽  
Policy Making Process ◽  
Mexican Politics

State governments have acquired a central role in Mexican politics and policy making during the last decades as a result of both democratization and decentralization. Nowadays state governments not only concentrate a significant portion of prerogatives and responsibilities in terms of service delivery but also control a substantial share of public spending. However, no systematic studies have been developed in order to understand how state governments function. This chapter provides an overview on how policies are crafted at the subnational (state) level in Mexico, the main actors taking place in the process and the way in which professional knowledge and advice influence policy makers. As it argues, the central role in the policy making process is played by the executive branch, being the governors the ones who have the final word in most important decisions. In addition, secretaries also concentrate power in particular policy areas. As a result of the lack of a professional civil service, however, a significant portion of policy analysis is performed by non-governmental actors (universities, NGOs and private firms). The chapter applies this framework to analyze a particular Mexican state, namely Mexico City.

Towards systematic reviews that inform health care management and policy-making

2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 35-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Lavis ◽  
Huw Davies ◽  
Andy Oxman ◽  
Jean-Louis Denis ◽  
Karen Golden-Biddle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Care Management ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
Health Care Management ◽  
Health Care Managers ◽  
Executive Summary ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Care Managers

Objectives To identify ways to improve the usefulness of systematic reviews for health care managers and policy-makers that could then be evaluated prospectively. Methods We systematically reviewed studies of decision-making by health care managers and policy-makers, conducted interviews with a purposive sample of them in Canada and the United Kingdom (n=29), and reviewed the websites of research funders, producers/purveyors of research, and journals that include them among their target audiences (n=45). Results Our systematic review identified that factors such as interactions between researchers and health care policy-makers and timing/timeliness appear to increase the prospects for research use among policy-makers. Our interviews with health care managers and policy-makers suggest that they would benefit from having information that is relevant for decisions highlighted for them (e.g. contextual factors that affect a review's local applicability and information about the benefits, harms/risks and costs of interventions) and having reviews presented in a way that allows for rapid scanning for relevance and then graded entry (such as one page of take-home messages, a three-page executive summary and a 25-page report). Managers and policy-makers have mixed views about the helpfulness of recommendations. Our analysis of websites found that contextual factors were rarely highlighted, recommendations were often provided and graded entry formats were rarely used. Conclusions Researchers could help to ensure that the future flow of systematic reviews will better inform health care management and policy-making by involving health care managers and policy-makers in their production and better highlighting information that is relevant for decisions. Research funders could help to ensure that the global stock of systematic reviews will better inform health care management and policy-making by supporting and evaluating local adaptation processes such as developing and making available online more user-friendly ‘front ends’ for potentially relevant systematic reviews.

scholarly journals Regional quality of living in Europe

REGION ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet Lagas ◽  
Frank Van Dongen ◽  
Frank Van Rijn ◽  
Hans Visser
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Gdp Per Capita ◽  
European Regions ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The North ◽  
City Regions ◽  
Quality Of Living ◽  
Per Capita

This article sets out the conceptual framework and results of Regional Quality of Living indicators that were developed in order to benchmark European NUTS2 regions. Nine non-business-related indicators are constructed to support the goal of policy makers to improve the attractiveness of regions and cities for people or companies to settle in, and by doing so create economic growth. Each of the constructed indicators represents a pillar of the Quality of Living. The highest indicator scores are found for regions within Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands. Some countries show a wide divergence between regional scores. The southern regions of Italy and Spain, for example, have significantly lower scores than those in the north. In addition, capital city regions have better RQI scores. A positive correlation was found between the average RQI scores and both GDP per capita and weighted population density. Compared to GDP per capita, weighted population density has a modest influence on the RQI score. The European regions are divided into 11 clusters, based upon GDP per capita and weighted population density in order to benchmark a region with its peers.

Abstract 357: Statewide Collaboration in Rural STEMI System Development in Resource Limited Environments- Where You Live Shouldn't Determine If You Live: North Dakota Mission: Lifeline

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Haldis ◽  
Jeffrey Sather ◽  
Karthik Reddy ◽  
Robert Oatfield ◽  
Yassar Almanaseer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
North Dakota ◽  
System Development ◽  
State Level ◽  
Aggregate Data ◽  
Medically Underserved ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Data Feedback ◽  
Reperfusion Strategy

Background: Mission: Lifeline is a strategic initiative to save lives and reduce disability by improving emergency readiness and response to heart attack patients. Heart disease is the number one killer in North Dakota and nationally. North Dakota consists of 53 counties over 69,001 square miles with a population of 680,000. Thirty-four entire counties are designated medically underserved areas and 13 counties have some part of them designated medically underserved. A large number of residents reside in the 36 frontier counties 21% (142,800/680,000) with a population density of < 6 people/mile, and 9 rural counties 15% (102,000 of 680,000): < 5000 residents Population density of > 6/mile together making up just over one third of the state population and 85% (45 of 53) of the physical territory. Eight urban counties with a city of at least 15,000 make up the remaining population at 63% (428,400 of 680,000). In 2011, ND M:L received a $7.1 million grant to bridge gaps in disparities in access to care by streamlining statewide STEMI systems. Methods: A statewide initiative was implemented for pre-hospital recognition, education, triage, and treatment of STEMI patients to the most appropriate reperfusion strategy. • Ninety eight percent (123 of 125) licensed ground EMS received funding to enable pre-hospital 12 lead ECG acquisition and transmission to both referral and receiving hospitals • In person facilitated education were provided to each EMS agency in 3 rounds with focus on acquisition, recognition and triaging of STEMI patients utilizing the ACC/AHA guidelines. • PCI receiving hospital physician and nurse educator teams facilitated a standardized in person clinical STEMI education session at each of the 38 referring hospitals focused on utilizing a state recommended referring hospital STEMI protocol, EMS transport guideline, and a STEMI feedback process • Six of six PCI receiving hospitals collected data utilizing the ACTION GWTG Registry Results: • In ND aggregate data from Quarter 3 2012 to Quarter 3 2013 there have been marked improvements in several measures. The ND Mission: Lifeline composite score 93% (557/ 596) to 97% (471/482) 1ST EKG obtained Pre-hospital 46% (56/122) to 76% (92/121) ED Arrival to First In-Hosp ECG % within 10 minutes 66.% (81/122) to 84% (103/122) Arrival to Primary PCI <= 90 min. from 86% (32/37) to 100% (43/43) Conclusions: To sustain STEMI system of care for patients in ND, collaboration with regional partners, care standardization, aggregate data sharing and feedback have been identified as vital. Regional champions committed to systemization are central to EMS and referral hospital engagement and state level process improvement. PCI receiving hospitals lead the way in convening regional multidisciplinary teams meetings, and facilitating data feedback on STEMI systems at a state level to support a unified platform of sustainability.

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