scholarly journals How Can Middle-income Countries Improve Their Skills Systems Post- COVID-19?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Herbert
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Vocational Training ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Training System ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Training Systems ◽  
Wide Range

Vocational training systems in middle-income countries are going to face multiple challenges in the post-COVID era, notably, challenges related to (1) automation; (2) the transition to a green economy, and (3) demographic pressures. Of these, automation - linked to the burgeoning ‘fourth industrial revolution’ that is set to transform the global economy - represents the most serious challenge and is the only one of the three challenges discussed in any depth in this paper. Whilst estimates of the likely scale of automation in the coming years and decades vary widely, it appears likely that waves of automation will lead to a dramatic decline in many kinds of jobs that largely involve routine, repetitive tasks. These trends pre-date COVID-19, but the disruption caused by the pandemic provides an opportunity to prepare for these challenges by implementing vocational training system reforms as part of the Build Back Better agenda. Reforms to vocational training systems will be crucial to ensuring middle-income countries respond appropriately to accelerating labour market changes. However, they should only form a limited part of that response and need to be integrated with a wide range of other policy measures. Vocational training reform will need to occur in the context of major reforms to basic education in order to ensure that all workers are equipped with the cross-cutting cognitive and socio-emotional skills they will require to perform hard-to-automate tasks and to be able to learn and adapt rapidly in a changing economy. Middle-income countries will also likely need to progressively expand social protection schemes in order to provide a safety net for workers that struggle to adapt to changing labour market requirements.

Social Protection, Adolescent Well-Being, and Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suman Verma
Keyword(s):  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Social Protection Systems ◽  
Cycle Of Poverty ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Effective social protection policies are crucial to realizing adolescents’ rights, ensuring their well-being, breaking the cycle of poverty and vulnerability, and helping them realize their full developmental potential. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have extended social security coverage to ensure basic protections—while continuing to develop social protection systems. Social protection for LMIC adolescents in the context of gross violations of their basic rights is examined. Prevalence, consequences of protection rights violations, and the role and impact of social protection programs in ensuring enhanced opportunities for development and well-being among young people are discussed. Results demonstrate direct impacts (e.g., increased income, consumption, goods and services access; greater social inclusion; reduced household stress). LMICs need integrated social protection policy and program expansion if the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to be realized. With adolescent-centered policies and investments, governments can help adolescents realize their rights to a fulfilling and productive life.

scholarly journals A global perspective on the issue of access to insulin

Diabetologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Beran ◽  
Maria Lazo-Porras ◽  
Camille M. Mba ◽  
Jean Claude Mbanya
Keyword(s):  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Multinational Companies ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Patient Access ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Pricing And Reimbursement

AbstractThe discovery of insulin in 1921 changed the prognosis for people with type 1 diabetes. A century later, availability and affordability of insulin remain a challenge in many parts of the globe. Using the WHO’s framework on understanding the life cycle of medicines, this review details the global and national challenges that affect patients’ abilities to access and afford insulin. Current research and development in diabetes has seen some innovations, but none of these have truly been game-changing. Currently, three multinational companies control over 95% of global insulin supply. The inclusion of insulin on the WHO’s Prequalification Programme is an opportunity to facilitate entry of new companies into the market. Many governments lack policies on the selection, procurement, supply, pricing and reimbursement of insulin. Moreover, mark-ups in the supply chain also affect the final price to the consumer. Whilst expenses related to diabetes are mostly covered by insurance in high-income countries, many patients from low- and middle-income countries have to pay out of their own pockets. The organisation of diabetes management within the healthcare system also affects patient access to insulin. The challenges affecting access to insulin are complex and require a wide range of solutions. Given that 2021 marks the centenary of the discovery of insulin, there is need for global advocacy to ensure that the benefits of insulin and innovations in diabetes care reach all individuals living with diabetes. Graphical abstract

scholarly journals Achieving Viral Suppression in 90% of People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus on Antiretroviral Therapy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Progress, Challenges, and Opportunities

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (10) ◽  
pp. 1487-1491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean B Nachega ◽  
Nadia A Sam-Agudu ◽  
Lynne M Mofenson ◽  
Mauro Schechter ◽  
John W Mellors
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Viral Suppression ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Term Treatment ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Although significant progress has been made, the latest data from low- and middle-income countries show substantial gaps in reaching the third “90%” (viral suppression) of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals, especially among vulnerable and key populations. This article discusses critical gaps and promising, evidence-based solutions. There is no simple and/or single approach to achieve the last 90%. This will require multifaceted, scalable strategies that engage people living with human immunodeficiency virus, motivate long-term treatment adherence, and are community-entrenched and ‑supported, cost-effective, and tailored to a wide range of global communities.

scholarly journals Competitive advantage of the sustainable digital economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 250 ◽  
pp. 06004
Author(s):  
Oksana Nurova ◽  
Tatiana Freze
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Vocational Training ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
High Tech ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Banking And Finance ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Wide Range

This research focuses on factors that influence the competitive advantage of the sustainable digital economy. Digital economy helped to speed up the exchange of information flows which, in turn, impacted on the creation the new forms of business and socio-economic interactions. Such sectors as banking and finance or hospitality and services are all influenced by the advancements of the digital economy that include sharing economy or Blockchain technology and its related applications. In this article, we show that digital economy is more sustainable due to the fact that it requires less energy sources and can itself contribute to the formation of the green economy and the acceptance of the renewable energy. All these features constitute its competitive advantage that needs to be further supported and fostered. In addition, we discuss key strategies and the development of skills to adapt to a digital economy and provide an overview of high-quality training for high-tech workers. It was assumed that in future, people would be able to easily acquire new skills through vocational training and vocational training. However, the spread of digital technologies has changed the way we work and has increased the need for high-quality training for workers in a wide range of professions. To use such technologies effectively, workers in an increasing number of sectors and professions need both general and advanced ICT skills.

scholarly journals The effectiveness of workplace health promotion in low- and middle-income countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 1220-1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong Tuan Pham ◽  
Dung Phung ◽  
Thi Vinh Nguyen ◽  
Cordia Chu
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Although many literature reviews synthesize literature regarding workplace health promotion (WHP) interventions, systematic reviews on the effectiveness of and factors influencing the operation of WHP activities in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are scarce. Therefore, we systematically reviewed evaluation studies to examine the effectiveness and factors related to the implementation of WHP programmes in LMIC. Twenty-six peer-reviewed and grey evaluation studies, published before November 2017, were included from electronic databases (PubMed, The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, EMBASE and Web of Science) and manual searching. The results revealed that WHP intervention in LMIC was effective in reducing health risks in a wide range of industries and settings, including in resource-poor contexts such as small enterprises and the manufacturing industry. The main factors positively influencing the effectiveness of the intervention are long intervention time period, and needs-based and active intervention strategies. In addition, commitment from workplace leaders, the involvement of workers and support from authorities and professionals are factors contributing to a successful WHP programme. However, the evidence regarding the effectiveness of WHP in LMIC regarding the health outcomes and business productivity is inconclusive due to the several remaining methodological limitations. Future developments of more rigorous methods of evaluating the effectiveness of WHP activities should be addressed to produce higher-quality evidence that would inform future practice.

scholarly journals Lactational amenorrhoea among adolescent girls in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic scoping review

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. e002492
Author(s):  
Martines N S Figaroa ◽  
Saverio Bellizzi ◽  
Therese Delvaux ◽  
Lenka Benova
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Planning Method ◽  
Family Planning Method ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Postpartum Family Planning ◽  
Wide Range

IntroductionFertility levels among adolescents remain high in many settings. The objective of this paper was to review the available literature about postpartum and lactational amenorrhoea among adolescents in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsWe searched Medline, Embase, Global Health and CINAHL Plus databases using terms capturing adolescence and lactational or postpartum amenorrhoea. Inclusion criteria included publication date since 1990, data from LMICs, and topic related to lactational amenorrhoea as a postpartum family planning method or as an effect of (exclusive) breast feeding among adolescents. Thematic analysis and narrative synthesis were applied to summarise and interpret the findings.ResultsWe screened 982 titles and abstracts, reviewed 75 full-text articles and included nine. Eight studies assessed data from a single country (three from India, two from Bangladesh, two from Turkey, one from Nigeria). One study using Demographic and Health Survey data included 37 different LMICs. The five studies measuring duration of postpartum or lactational amenorrhoea reported a wide range of durations across the contexts examined. Four studies (from Bangladesh, Nigeria and Turkey) examined outcomes related to the use of lactational amenorrhoea as a family planning method among adolescents. We did not find any studies assessing adolescents’ knowledge of lactational amenorrhoea as a postpartum family planning method. Likewise, little is known about the effectiveness of lactational amenorrhoea method among adolescents using sufficiently large samples and follow-up time.ConclusionThe available evidence on lactational amenorrhoea among adolescents in LMICs is scarce. Given the potential contribution of lactational amenorrhoea to prevention of short interpregnancy intervals among adolescents and young women, there is a need for a better understanding of the duration of lactational amenorrhoea, and the knowledge and effective use of lactational amenorrhoea method for family planning among adolescents in a wider range of LMIC settings.

scholarly journals The cost-effectiveness of hypertension management in low-income and middle-income countries: a review

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. e002213
Author(s):  
Deliana Kostova ◽  
Garrison Spencer ◽  
Andrew E Moran ◽  
Laura K Cobb ◽  
Muhammad Jami Husain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
National Income ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Health Improvement ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Cost

Hypertension in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) is largely undiagnosed and uncontrolled, representing an untapped opportunity for public health improvement. Implementation of hypertension control strategies in low-resource settings depends in large part on cost considerations. However, evidence on the cost-effectiveness of hypertension interventions in LMICs is varied across geographical, clinical and evaluation contexts. We conducted a comprehensive search for published economic evaluations of hypertension treatment programmes in LMICs. The search identified 71 articles assessing a wide range of hypertension intervention designs and cost components, of which 42 studies across 15 countries reported estimates of cost-effectiveness. Although comparability of results was limited due to heterogeneity in the interventions assessed, populations studied, costs and study quality score, most interventions that reported cost per averted disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) were cost-effective, with costs per averted DALY not exceeding national income thresholds. Programme elements that may reduce cost-effectiveness included screening for hypertension at younger ages, addressing prehypertension, or treating patients at lower cardiovascular disease risk. Cost-effectiveness analysis could provide the evidence base to guide the initiation and development of hypertension programmes.

scholarly journals Shelter from the Storm: The global need for universal social protection in times of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana Marcos Barba ◽  
Hilde van Regenmortel ◽  
Ellen Ehmke
Keyword(s):  
Social Protection ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Executive Summary ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
The Social ◽  
Universal Approach ◽  
Almost All

As 2020 draws to a close, the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic shows no sign of abating. Without urgent action, global poverty and inequality will deepen dramatically. Hundreds of millions of people have already lost their jobs, gone further into debt or skipped meals for months. Research by Oxfam and Development Pathways shows that over 2 billion people have had no support from their governments in their time of need. Our analysis shows that none of the social protection support to those who are unemployed, elderly people, children and families provided in low- and middle-income countries has been adequate to meet basic needs. 41% of that government support was only a one-off payment and almost all government support has now stopped. Decades of social policy focused on tiny levels of means-tested support have left most countries completely unprepared for the COVID-19 economic crisis. Yet, countries such as South Africa and Bolivia have shown that a universal approach to social protection is affordable, and that it has a profound impact on reducing inequality and protecting those who need it most. In addition to the full paper and executive summary, an Excel file with the data analysed by Oxfam and Development Pathways is available to download on this page, along with an annex on the crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean.

scholarly journals Inequalities in Antenatal Care Coverage and Quality: an Analysis From 63 Low and Middle-income Countries Using the ANCq Content-qualified Coverage Indicator

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Arroyave ◽  
Ghada E Saad ◽  
Cesar G Victora ◽  
Aluisio J D Barros
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Global Analysis ◽  
Socioeconomic Inequalities ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
National Surveys ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background: Antenatal care (ANC) is an essential intervention associated with a reduction of maternal and new-born morbidity and mortality. However, evidence suggested substantial inequalities in maternal and child health, mainly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to conduct a global analysis of socioeconomic inequalities in ANC using national surveys from LMICs.Methods: ANC was measured using the ANCq, a novel content-qualified ANC coverage indicator, created and validated using national surveys, based upon contact with the health services and content of care received. We performed stratified analysis to explore the socioeconomic inequalities in ANCq. We also estimated the slope index of inequality, which measures the difference in coverage along the wealth spectrum. Results: We analyzed 63 national surveys carried out from 2010 to 2017. There were large inequalities between and within countries. Higher ANCq scores were observed among women living in urban areas, with secondary or more level of education, belonging to wealthier families and with higher empowerment in nearly all countries. Countries with higher ANCq mean presented lower inequalities; while countries with average ANCq scores presented wide range of inequality, with some managing to achieve very low inequality.Conclusions: Despite all efforts in ANC programs, important inequalities in coverage and quality of ANC services persist. If maternal and child mortality Sustainable Development Goals are to be achieved, those gaps we documented must be bridged.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document