scholarly journals The Urban Mortality Transition and Poor-Country Urbanization

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remi Jedwab ◽  
Dietrich Vollrath
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Poor Country ◽  
Natural Increase ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Locational Choice ◽  
Amenity Effect ◽  
Urbanization Rate

Today, the world’s fastest-growing cities lie in low-income countries, unlike the historical norm. Also, unlike the “killer cities” of history, cities in low-income countries grow not just through in-migration but also through their own natural increase. First, we use novel historical data to document that many poor countries urbanized at the same time as the postwar urban mortality transition. Second, we develop a framework incorporating location choice with heterogeneity in demographics and congestion costs across locations to account for this. In the framework, people prefer to live in low-mortality locations, and the aggregate rate of population growth and the locational choice of individuals interact. Third, we calibrate this to data from a sample of poor countries and find that informal urban areas (e.g., slums) can absorb additional population more easily than other locations. We show that between 1950 and 2005 the urban mortality transition could have doubled the urbanization rate as well as the size of informal urban areas in this sample. Of these effects, one-third could be attributed to the amenity effect of lower urban mortality rates, while the remainder is due to higher population growth disproportionately pushing people into informal urban areas. Fourth, simulations suggest that family planning programs, as well as industrialization or urban infrastructure and institutions may be effective in slowing poor-country urbanization. (JEL I12, J11, N30, O15, O18, R11, R23)

Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI)-Status of Implementation and Proposals for the Future of the HIPC Initiative

Policy Papers ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (59) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Poor Country ◽  
Debt Relief ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Status ◽  
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries ◽  
Hipc Initiative

This report aims to accomplish three objectives: (a) it provides an update on the status of implementation, impact, and costs of the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI); (b) it proposes a modification of the reporting of progress under the initiatives, including the discontinuation of the annual status of implementation reports, and the preparation of periodic reports on debt vulnerabilities in low income countries (LICs), including HIPCs; and (c) it proposes a further ring-fencing of the list of countries eligible or potentially eligible for debt relief under the HIPC Initiative based on end-2010 income and indebtedness criteria.

scholarly journals Somalia

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (86) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Debt Relief ◽  
Debt Management ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Debt Sustainability ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries ◽  
Hipc Initiative

This paper presents an assessment of Somalia’s eligibility for assistance under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. The macroeconomic framework reflects the policy framework underlying the proposed three-year Fund-supported program. The debt relief analysis (DRA) remains largely unchanged, but some of the underlying debt data has been updated to reflect new information from creditors. In addition, this paper presents an assessment of debt management capacity in Somalia and a full Debt Sustainability Analysis under the Debt Sustainability Framework for Low-Income Countries. The DRA reveals that, after traditional debt relief mechanisms are applied, Somalia’s debt burden expressed as the net present value of debt-to-exports ratio is 344.2 percent at the end of December 2018—significantly above the HIPC Initiative threshold. Despite the challenging environment, progress on reform and policy implementation has been good and sustained reforms have translated into economic results. In addition to the coordinated support from the World Bank and the IMF, reforms have been supported by other development partners.

scholarly journals The acceptance of covid-19 vaccines in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from 6 national phone surveys

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelton Kanyanda ◽  
Yannick Markhof ◽  
Philip Wollburg ◽  
Alberto Zezza
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vaccine Coverage ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Representative Sampling ◽  
Sub Saharan

Introduction Recent debates surrounding the lagging covid-19 vaccination campaigns in low-income countries center around vaccine supply and financing. Yet, relatively little is known about attitudes towards covid-19 vaccines in these countries and in Africa in particular. In this paper, we provide cross-country comparable estimates of the willingness to accept a covid-19 vaccine in six Sub-Saharan African countries. Methods We use data from six national high-frequency phone surveys from countries representing 38% of the Sub-Saharan African population (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, and Uganda). Samples are drawn from large, nationally representative sampling frames providing a rich set of demographic and socio-economic characteristics by which we disaggregate our analysis. Using a set of re-calibrated survey weights, our analysis adjusts for the selection biases common in remote surveys. Results Acceptance rates in the six Sub-Saharan African countries studied are generally high, with at least four in five people willing to be vaccinated in all but one country. Vaccine acceptance ranges from nearly universal in Ethiopia (97.9%, 97.2% to 98.6%) to below what would likely be required for herd immunity in Mali (64.5%, 61.3% to 67.8%). We find little evidence for systematic differences in vaccine hesitancy by sex or age but some clusters of hesitancy in urban areas, among the better educated, and in richer households. Safety concerns about the vaccine in general and its side effects emerge as the primary reservations toward a covid-19 vaccine across countries. Conclusions Our findings suggest that limited supply, not inadequate demand, likely presents the key bottleneck to reaching high covid-19 vaccine coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa. To turn intent into effective demand, targeted communication campaigns bolstering confidence in the safety of approved vaccines and reducing concerns about side effects will be crucial to safeguard the swift progression of vaccine rollout in one of the world's poorest regions.

A New Development Opportunity Confronts Old Paradigms

2011 ◽  
pp. 171-198
Author(s):  
Peter A. Kwaku Kyem
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Development Discourse ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Technological Gap ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Developed Nations ◽  
Ict For Development

There is a considerable debate about how the technological gap between rich and poor countries of the world can be bridged or eliminated. Technological optimists argue that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can bring accelerated development to poor countries. Others question the viability of relying on ICT for development in low income countries. The ensuing debate has masked the digital divide problem and prevented a true discussion of how ICT can be deployed for the benefit of low income countries. On the otherhand, confronted with the persistent failures of one-size-fits-all economic development models, low income countries can no longer treat modernization as the pivot towards which all ICT-related development efforts must gravitate. There is a need to drop the singular vision of development which is premised on the experiences of Western developed nations and rather restore local actors and their cultures into the actual roles they play in development processes that occur within localities. Accordingly, this chapter reviews the perspectives that currently shape the ICT for development discourse and offers the multiplicity theory to bridge the gap in development theory and promote a development strategy which incorporates activities of both local and global actors in the development of localities.

scholarly journals Characterization of pit latrines to support the design and selection of emptying tools in peri-urban Mzuzu, Malawi

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashid Chiposa ◽  
Rochelle H. Holm ◽  
Chimuleke Munthali ◽  
Russel C. G. Chidya ◽  
Francis L. de los Reyes
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Urban Neighborhood ◽  
Fecal Matter ◽  
Pit Latrine ◽  
Tool Diameter

The urban areas of many low-income countries must balance a rising demand for pit latrines for household sanitation provision against limitations in space, resulting in a need for pit latrine emptying services. This study was undertaken in the peri-urban neighborhood of Area 1B in the city of Mzuzu, Malawi, to examine the characteristics of household pit latrines for designing and selecting pit latrine emptying tools. We used 150 structured household surveys and field observations. From this, a subset was selected and 30 manual cone penetrometer tests were conducted at full latrines. Chemical oxygen demand analysis was also performed for 14 pit latrines. The results indicated that in addition to serving as a disposal for fecal matter, 90% of households also used pit latrines for domestic waste. Only 10% of the studied pit latrines were lined. The filling rate in the study area is calculated to be about three years, and no respondents reported previous emptying. It is suggested pit latrine emptying technology development focuses on a maximum tool diameter of 10 cm to fit through the keyhole (squat hole) and height of 146 cm to fit inside the superstructure, as well as supporting unlined pits and the ability to pump trash.

scholarly journals Prevalence and access to care for cardiovascular risk factors in older people in Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e038520
Author(s):  
Maria Lisa Odland ◽  
Tahir Bockarie ◽  
Haja Wurie ◽  
Rashid Ansumana ◽  
Joseph Lamin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Access To Care ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
Low Income Countries

IntroductionPrevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVDRFs) is increasing, especially in low-income countries. In Sierra Leone, there is limited empirical data on the prevalence of CVDRFs, and there are no previous studies on the access to care for these conditions.MethodsThis study in rural and urban Sierra Leone collected demographic, anthropometric measurements and clinical data from randomly sampled individuals over 40 years old using a household survey. We describe the prevalence of the following risk factors: diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, overweight or obesity, smoking and having at least one of these risk factors. Cascades of care were constructed for diabetes and hypertension using % of the population with the disease who had previously been tested (‘screened’), knew of their condition (‘diagnosed’), were on treatment (‘treated’) or were controlled to target (‘controlled’). Multivariable regression was used to test associations between prevalence of CVDRFs and progress through the cascade for hypertension with demographic and socioeconomic variables. In those with recognised disease who did not seek care, reasons for not accessing care were recorded.ResultsOf 2071 people, 49.6% (95% CI 49.3% to 50.0%) of the population had hypertension, 3.5% (3.4% to 3.6%) had diabetes, 6.7% (6.5% to 7.0%) had dyslipidaemia, 25.6% (25.4% to 25.9%) smoked and 26.5% (26.3% to 26.8%) were overweight/obese; a total of 77.1% (76.6% to 77.5%) had at least one CVDRF. People in urban areas were more likely to have diabetes and be overweight than those living in rural areas. Moreover, being female, more educated or wealthier increased the risk of having all CVDRFs except for smoking. There is a substantial loss of patients at each step of the care cascade for both diabetes and hypertension, with less than 10% of the total population with the conditions being screened, diagnosed, treated and controlled. The most common reasons for not seeking care were lack of knowledge and cost.ConclusionsIn Sierra Leone, CVDRFs are prevalent and access to care is low. Health system strengthening with a focus on increased access to quality care for CVDRFs is urgently needed.

Staff Guidance Note on the Application of the Joint Fund-Bank Debt Sustainability Framework for Low-Income Countries

Policy Papers ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Debt Relief ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Bank Debt ◽  
Debt Sustainability ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Guidance Note ◽  
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries ◽  
Alternative Scenarios ◽  
Sustainability Framework

The objective of the joint Fund-Bank debt sustainability framework for low-income countries is to support LICs in their efforts to achieve their development goals without creating future debt problems. Countries that have received debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) need to be kept on a sustainable track. Under the framework, country DSAs are prepared jointly by Bank and Fund staff, with close collaboration between the two staffs on the design of the macroeconomic baseline, alternative scenarios, the debt distress rating, and the drafting of the write-up.

Africa's cancer burden to rise without funding shift

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cancer Burden ◽  
Market Expansion

Subject Cancer burden in Africa. Significance Cancer is a growing public health threat in low-income countries, including African states. With the increase in urbanisation, population growth and improving mortality rates, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that by 2020, 16 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed each year, with 70% of those in low-income countries. However, the rise in cancer rates has not been met with changes to aid funding. Global health priorities continue to emphasise infectious diseases, and African countries remain ill-equipped to prevent, diagnose or treat cancer. Impacts Rising consumption of processed foods in urban areas will contribute to an overall rise in non-communicable diseases. African countries are some of the fastest growing markets for tobacco companies as health awareness rises in traditional markets. Global brewers will enjoy significant market expansion in Africa, contributing to increased alcohol consumption. Despite the economic benefits, delayed childbearing and lower fertility in women is set to increase the incidence of breast cancer.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document