scholarly journals Bringing relational comparison into development studies: Global health volunteers’ experiences of Sierra Leone

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Brooks ◽  
Clare Herrick

Global health volunteering is premised on a comparative understanding of development: hospitals in developing countries are ‘behind’ modern institutions in developed nations, and sharing volunteers’ skills will enable the latter to ‘catch-up’. We argue for a ‘relational comparison’ in development studies, which draws upon a geographical conception of inequality premised on understanding places in relation to one another rather than reifying differences between countries. We place a particular hospital within a dialectical totality of combined and uneven development. Health workers’ experiences of volunteering in Sierra Leone demonstrate that local problems, including staff shortages and corruption, are enveloped within global processes.

Author(s):  
Ikbal Maulana

Technological progress has become an important characteristics of economic progress. The most economically developed nations are also the most technologically advanced ones, that is, the ones that not only make a proper and innovative utilization of technology, but also develop it on their own. Newly developed countries, such as South Korea and China, have economically surpassed many Western countries, because they can catch up and surpass the technological capability of the latter. However, the technological progress of one country cannot be just imitated by another. Technological development is much more than just allocating a large budget for research and development. It involves and transform a heterogeneous network of actors, and hence requires a complex set of institutions and governance that enable the network to upgrade their collective capabilities.


1992 ◽  
Vol 31 (03) ◽  
pp. 193-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Auvert ◽  
V. Gilbos ◽  
F. Andrianiriana ◽  
W. E. Bertrand ◽  
X. Emmanuelli ◽  
...  

Abstract:This paper describes an intelligent computer-assisted instruction system that was designed for rural health workers in developing countries. This system, called Consult-EAO, includes an expert module and a coaching module. The expert module, which is derived from the knowledge-based decision support system Tropicaid, covers most of medical practice in developing countries. It allows for the creation of outpatient simulations without the help of a teacher. The student may practice his knowledge by solving problems with these simulations. The system gives some initial facts and controls the simulation during the session by guiding the student toward the most efficient decisions. All student answers are analyzed and, if necessary, criticized. The messages are adapted to the situation due to the pedagogical rules of the coaching module. This system runs on PC-compatible computer.


Author(s):  
Huong Vu Thanh ◽  
Thu Anh Nguyen ◽  
Mai Thi Thanh Nguyen

Technological innovation state funds supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are not common in the developing countries like Vietnam, but are common in the developed nations like the European countries and Korea. The financial and non-financial support of these funds has contributed significantly to the development of many SMEs. Learning from the funds which have successfully facilitated SMEs in innovating and developing advanced technologies is meaningful to the Vietnamese sicence and techonology management bodies and state funds. This article will review the experience of some typical fund in supporting SMEs, thereby providing some lessons for technology innovation Funds of Vietnam to create a more favorable environment for SMEs to access funds.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Hajian ◽  
M H Khoshnevisan ◽  
S h Yazdani ◽  
M P Jadidfard

Abstract Background Migration of skilled health workers could result in shortage of human resources and rising inequalities in service provision in source countries. To date, most of relevant papers are focused on rate and reasons of migration while the need for conducting studies on modelling of factors is more vividly felt. The aim of this review was to determine the factors influencing the migration decisions of medical and dental graduates migrating from developing countries and to introduce a practical conceptual framework for health worker migration. Methods Electronic databases PubMed, Google Scholar and relevant Journals were systematically searched for English language publications from January 2009 to April 2019. The inclusion criteria were: 1) article stated factors affecting migration decisions of medical doctors and/or dentists, 2) the source country in the study was a developing country, 3) participants’ primary qualification country was in a developing country,4) the study used primary data both qualitative or quantitative. Results The search identified 814 articles from which we included 23 full-text studies after applying eligibility checklist. Push and pull theory was the most popular model to describe the migration driving factors. Poor socio-economic situation, political instability, lack of professional and educational opportunities together with family concerns found as strong common push factors that perpetuate migration. The most influencing pull factors were desire for better quality of life, career and training opportunities and financial gain. Conclusions Despite the fact that health workers migrate for different reasons, they follow a same route for decision to stay or leave their own countries. Un-fulfillment of expectations in mother land in addition to media reconstructed reality of life in foreign land can develop a positive attitude for migration Which should be considered before weighing up the push and pull factors of both sides. Key messages A better understanding of the migration motives of health professionals will help health authorities to improve their workforce recruitment and retention strategies and health service planning. Our simple yet comprehensive framework can mainly identify the development of migration desire through combining different models and concepts of migration, behavioral change, values, needs and so on.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 1550015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saori Ohkubo ◽  
Sarah V. Harlan ◽  
Naheed Ahmed ◽  
Ruwaida M. Salem

Over the past few decades, knowledge management (KM) has become well-established in many fields, particularly in business. Several KM models have been at the forefront of promoting KM in businesses and organisations. However, the applicability of these traditional KM models to the global health field is limited by their focus on KM processes and activities with few linkages to intended outcomes. This paper presents the new Knowledge Management for Global Health (KM4GH) Logic Model, a practical tool that helps global health professionals plan ways in which resources and specific KM activities can work together to achieve desired health program outcomes. We test the validity of this model through three case studies of global and field-level health initiatives: an SMS-based mobile phone network among community health workers (CHWs) and their supervisors in Malawi, a global electronic Toolkits platform that provides health professionals access to health information resources, and a netbook-based eHealth pilot among CHWs and their clients in Bangladesh. The case studies demonstrate the flexibility of the KM4GH Logic Model in designing various KM activities while defining a common set of metrics to measure their outcomes, providing global health organisations with a tool to select the most appropriate KM activities to meet specific knowledge needs of an audience. The three levels of outcomes depicted in the model, which are grounded in behavioural theory, show the progression in the behaviour change process, or in this case, the knowledge use process, from raising awareness of and using the new knowledge to contributing to better health systems and behaviours of the public, and ultimately to improving the health status of communities and individuals. The KM4GH Logic Model makes a unique contribution to the global health field by helping health professionals plan KM activities with the end goal in mind.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Lamorte ◽  
Enrico Boero ◽  
Paola Crida ◽  
Abdul R. Conteh ◽  
Marco Foletti ◽  
...  

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