scholarly journals Assistive technology in developing countries: a review from the perspective of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Borg ◽  
Anna Lindström ◽  
Stig Larsson

Background: The ‘Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ (CRPD) requires governments to meet the assistive technology needs of citizens. However, the access to assistive technology in developing countries is severely limited, which is aggravated by a lack of related services.Objectives: To summarize current knowledge on assistive technology for low- and lower-middle-income countries published in 1995 or later, and to provide recommendations that facilitate implementation of the CRPD.Study design: Literature review.Methods: Literature was searched in web-based databases and reference lists. Studies carried out in low- and lower-middle-income countries, or addressing assistive technology for such countries, were included.Results: The 52 included articles are dominated by product oriented research on leg prostheses and manual wheelchairs. Less has been published on hearing aids and virtually nothing on the broad range of other types of assistive technology.Conclusions: To support effective implementation of the CRPD in these countries, there is a need for actions and research related particularly to policies, service delivery, outcomes and international cooperation, but also to product development and production.Clinical relevanceThe article has a potential to contribute to CRPD compliant developments in the provision of assistive technology in developing countries by providing practitioners with an overview of published knowledge and researchers with identified research needs.

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1367-1373
Author(s):  
Nikhil Sanjay Mujbaile ◽  
Smita Damke

The Covid illness (COVID-19) pandemic has spread rapidly all through the world and has had a drawn-out impact. The Pandemic has done incredible damage to society and made genuine mental injury to numerous individuals. Mental emergencies frequently cause youngsters to deliver sentiments of relinquishment, despondency, insufficiency, and fatigue and even raise the danger of self-destruction. Youngsters with psychological instabilities are particularly powerless during the isolate and colonial removing period. Convenient and proper assurances are expected to forestall the event of mental and social issues. The rising advanced applications and wellbeing administrations, for example, telehealth, web-based media, versatile wellbeing, and far off intuitive online instruction can connect the social separation and backing mental and conduct wellbeing for youngsters. Because of the mental advancement qualities of youngsters, this investigation additionally outlines intercessions on the mental effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Further difficulties in Low Middle-Income Countries incorporate the failure to actualize successful general wellbeing estimates, for example, social separating, hand cleanliness, definitive distinguishing proof of contaminated individuals with self-disconnection and widespread utilization of covers The aberrant impacts of the Pandemic on youngster wellbeing are of extensive concern, including expanding neediness levels, upset tutoring, absence of admittance to the class taking care of plans, decreased admittance to wellbeing offices and breaks in inoculation and other kid wellbeing programs. Kept tutoring is critical for kids in Low Middle-Income Countries. Arrangement of safe situations is mainly testing in packed asset obliged schools. 


2020 ◽  
pp. 574-576
Author(s):  
Robert Ahmed Khan ◽  
Moshiur Rahman ◽  
Amit Agrawal ◽  
Ezequiel Garcia-Ballestas ◽  
Luis Rafael Moscote-Salazar

Background. COVID-19 has become an alarming pandemic for our earth. It has created panic not only in China but also in developing countries like Bangladesh. Bangladesh has adequate confinements to constrain the spread of the infection and in this circumstance, overall healthcare workers including neurosurgeons are confronting a ton of difficulties. The purpose of this paper is to depict the proficiency of Global neurosurgery in this COVID-19 time. Method. Global neurosurgery offers the chance of fusing the best proof-based guidelines of care. This paper demonstrated that, in low to middle-income countries, Global medical procedure has been received to address the issues of residents who lack critical surgical care. Results. Inappropriate and insufficient asset allotment has been a significant obstacle for the health system for decently giving security to the patients. The fundamental training process has been genuinely hampered in the current circumstance. Worldwide health activities have set to an alternate centre and Global neurosurgery as an assurance is slowed down. Conclusion. This paper recommended that Global neurosurgical activities need to come forward and increase the workforce to emphasize surgical service.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohan R Sharma

In 2002, Richard Smith wrote an editorial, “publishing research from developing countries” in the Journal “Statistics in Medicine” highlighting the importance of research and publication from the developing countries (DCs).1 In that article, he mentioned the disparity in research and publication between the developed and developing countries. Almost two decades on, the problem still largely remains the same. It is estimated that more than 80% of the world’s population lives in more than 100 developing countries.2 In terms of disease burden, the prevalence and mortality from diseases in the low and middle-income countries are disproportionately high compared to developed countries.3 Although there is a high burden of disease, we base our treatment inferring results from research and publication from the developed countries which may not be fully generalizable due to geographical cultural, racial, and economic factors. This is where the problem lies.


Author(s):  
Kgomotso H. Moahi ◽  
Kelvin J. Bwalya

Knowledge sharing has always been used as a platform for cross-pollination of ideas and innovations in a bid to improve and enhance performance thereby increasing competitiveness and responsiveness both in organizations and individual levels. Healthcare systems are not an exception. However, for knowledge sharing to take place there is need for certain factors to be noted and addressed such as the individual, organizational and technological. Further, knowledge sharing goes hand in hand with knowledge management and must become part of the strategic fabric of organizations. This chapter focuses on knowledge sharing by health professionals in healthcare and medicine in developing countries. The chapter covers knowledge management and its link with knowledge sharing; the various methods of knowledge sharing in healthcare; factors that make knowledge sharing an important strategic move for healthcare organizations; and factors and issues that affect or determine knowledge sharing behavior. Finally, a literature search for examples of knowledge sharing in developing or low and middle-income countries was conducted and the results are presented. The chapter shows that developing countries have recognized the value of knowledge sharing in healthcare systems and there are tangible signs that this is going to shape cross-pollination of ideas and innovations in the health systems in the foreseeable future.


Author(s):  
Kgomotso Hildegard Moahi ◽  
Kelvin J. Bwalya

Knowledge sharing has always been used as a platform for cross-pollination of ideas and innovations in a bid to improve and enhance performance thereby increasing competitiveness and responsiveness both in organizations and individual levels. Healthcare systems are not an exception. However, for knowledge sharing to take place there is need for certain factors to be noted and addressed such as the individual, organizational and technological. Further, knowledge sharing goes hand in hand with knowledge management and must become part of the strategic fabric of organizations. This chapter focuses on knowledge sharing by health professionals in healthcare and medicine in developing countries. The chapter covers knowledge management and its link with knowledge sharing; the various methods of knowledge sharing in healthcare; factors that make knowledge sharing an important strategic move for healthcare organizations; and factors and issues that affect or determine knowledge sharing behavior. Finally, a literature search for examples of knowledge sharing in developing or low and middle-income countries was conducted and the results are presented. The chapter shows that developing countries have recognized the value of knowledge sharing in healthcare systems and there are tangible signs that this is going to shape cross-pollination of ideas and innovations in the health systems in the foreseeable future.


2013 ◽  
pp. 1554-1570
Author(s):  
Nicoletta Corrocher ◽  
Anna Raineri

This chapter aims at investigating the evolution of the digital divide within a set of developing countries between the years 2000 and 2005. In doing so, it moves away from the traditional analysis of the digital divide, which compares developed countries and developing countries, and examines the existing gap within a relatively homogeneous group of countries. On the basis of the theoretical and empirical contributions from scholars in different disciplines, we select a series of socioeconomic and technological indicators and provide an empirical assessment of the digitalization patterns in a set of 51 low income and lower-middle income countries. By means of cluster analysis techniques, we identify three emerging patterns of the digital divide and derive a series of policy implications, related to the implementation of an effective strategy to reduce digital backwardness. The characteristics of each pattern of digitalization can be also usefully employed to understand whether past interventions, especially in the area of competition policy, have been successful in addressing country-specific issues.


Author(s):  
Sabyasachi Bhaumik ◽  
Dasari Mohan Michael ◽  
Reza Kiani ◽  
Avinash Hiremath ◽  
Shweta Gangavati ◽  
...  

This chapter focuses on the current knowledge in public health for people with intellectual disability and recognizes the extent of health inequalities these individuals experience. The prevalence of intellectual disability worldwide is discussed with special emphasis on the prevalence of mental health problems. Also highlighted are the population health characteristics, including physical and mental health problems. The issue of barriers to accessibility and the possible reasons are discussed. There is a section on premature mortality of people with intellectual disability and measures to improve the health status for this marginalized population. Recent initiatives, including prevention strategies and health promotional aspects, are discussed and solutions suggested, including those for low-and-middle income countries (LAMICs)emphasized. Training aspects to improve quality of health care in LAMICs is highlighted with the recognition of limitations in creating a sustainable transformation of services unless they are backed by authorities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surona Visagie ◽  
Rebecca Matter ◽  
George Kayange ◽  
Mussa Chiwaula ◽  
Mark Harniss ◽  
...  

Background: Access to assistive technology (AT) is poor in African countries because of a lack of knowledge, resources, services and products. A mobile application, the AT-Info-Map, was developed to map AT availability in southern Africa.Objectives: This article aimed to describe users’ and suppliers’ perceptions of the AT-Info-Map app.Method: Qualitative data were collected in Zambia, Botswana, Malawi and Lesotho, through nine focus group discussions with 72 participants. Participants included AT users, AT suppliers and representatives of disability organisations. Data were thematically analysed.Results: Two broad themes, that is, usefulness of the AT-Info-Map application and technical issues and content, emerged from the data analysis. Subthemes under usefulness focused on the importance of using current technology, convenience of the app, the need for accuracy, responsiveness of supplier to user’s needs, influence on AT market and how the app creates an opportunity for networking. Challenges to download and navigate the app, the need for training in its use, exclusion of those not literate in English and those with visual impairments were subthemes under technical issues and content.Conclusion: The app was perceived as an important step to increase access to AT for persons with disabilities in less resourced settings. The challenges that emerged from the data analysis have led to the development of a web-based system that will complement or replace the app and improve AT information provision. However, the information provided by the app and website is still only a partial solution to improve AT access in Southern Africa.


2020 ◽  
pp. 097215092091536
Author(s):  
Ayona Bhattacharjee

In a seminal paper, Alsan et al. (2006 , World Development, vol. 34, pp. 613–630) investigate the effect of population health on gross foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to the developing countries. The purpose of this article is to extend their work by exploring the causal effect of population longevity on attracting FDI flows to the middle-income countries over a longer and more recent period, while addressing endogeneity concerns through a novel instrumental variable (IV). The IV is constructed on the hypothesis of cross-country health convergence and generates plausibly exogenous variations in measures of longevity. Our IV estimates suggest that 1-year increase in a measure of longevity is likely to increase annual FDI inflows by at least 3 per cent in the sample of countries considered. Specifically, significant returns appear to emerge from increases in the longevity of the female population. In the current context of resurgence of FDI as a critical source of financial capital to the developing countries and the prevalence of frequent disease outbreaks, these results suggest that good health is not an end but a means to enable countries better integrate with the global markets.


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