scholarly journals An Evidence review of Face Masks against Covid-19

Author(s):  
Tanish Kumar

Abstract: The technology round the usage of mask with the aid of using the general public to hinder COVID-19 transmission is advancing rapidly. In this narrative overview, we expand an analytical framework to study masks utilisation, synthesising the applicable literature to tell more than one areas: populace impact, transmission characteristics, supply control, wearer protection, sociological considerations, and implementation considerations. A number one direction of transmission of COVID-19 is thru breathing debris, and it's far recognised to be transmissible from presymptomatic, paucisymptomatic, and asymptomatic people. Reducing ailment unfold calls for things: proscribing contacts of inflamed people thru bodily distancing and different measures and lowering the transmission chance according to touch. The preponderance of proof shows that masks sporting reduces transmissibility according to touch with the aid of using lowering transmission of inflamed breathing debris in each laboratory and medical contexts. Public masks sporting is handiest at lowering unfold of the virus whilst compliance is high. Given the modern shortages of clinical mask, we advise the adoption of public material masks sporting, as a powerful shape of supply control, along with present hygiene, distancing, and make contact with tracing strategies. Because many breathing debris turn out to be smaller because of evaporation, we advise growing awareness on a formerly unnoticed component of masks utilisation: masks sporting with the aid of using infectious people (“supply control”) with blessings on the populace level, in preference to simplest masks sporting with the aid of using inclined people, which include fitness care workers, with awareness on person outcomes. We advise that public officers and governments strongly inspire the usage of extensive face mask in public, which include the usage of suitable regulation. Policy makers want pressing steering on the usage of mask with the aid of using the overall populace as a device in preventing extreme acute breathing syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the breathing virus that reasons COVID-19. Masks were encouraged as an ability device to address the COVID-19 pandemic for the reason that preliminary outbreak in China (1), even though utilisation all through the outbreak numerous with the aid of using time and location (2). Globally, nations are grappling with translating the proof of public masks sporting to their contexts. These guidelines are being evolved in a complicated decision-making environment, with a unique pandemic, speedy technology of recent research, and exponential boom in instances and deaths in lots of regions. There is presently an international scarcity of N95/FFP2 respirators and surgical mask to be used in hospitals. Simple material mask gift a practical answer to be used with the aid of using the general public. This has been supported with the aid of using maximum fitness bodies. We gift an interdisciplinary narrative overview of the literature at the position of face mask in lowering COVID-19 transmission with inside the community. Keywords: COVID, ECONOMY, MASKS, LIVES, SAFETY, FUTURE

Author(s):  
Liv Merete Nielsen ◽  
Eva Lutnæs ◽  
Mia Porko-Hudd ◽  
Úrsula Bravo ◽  
Catalina Cortés ◽  
...  

Norwegian research group Design Literacy at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) which is led by professor Liv Merete Nielsen has initiative to this paper track. The paper track was accompanied by a workshop. Design Literacy can be regarded as a catalyst for a move towards a better citizens participation in innovative design processes. By educating the general public to become design literate, there is a chance to support critical innovation and a possible move towards sustainable societies (Stegall, 2006). The challenge is to articulate content, performance and continuity for a critical decision-making process and how this influence critical innovation and design education at large. The concept ‘Design Literacy’ addresses the complex matter of objectives, content and practices in design processes and education. Research on multiple literacies has evoked considerable debate and redefinition within several areas of educational research (Coiro et al. 2008); the understanding of literacy is no longer bound to the ability to read and write verbal text or numeracy. Design Literacy (Nielsen and Brænne, 2013) are among newly coined literacies. Design Literacy is connected both to the creation and understanding of design innovation in a broad sense. In today’s mostly artificial world, the Design Literacy is regarded as a competence not only for the professional designer, but also for the general public in their position as citizens, consumers, users and decision makers in innovative processes. Designed artefacts and services influence our lives and values, both from personal and societal perspectives. Designers, decision makers and investors hold different positions in the design process, but they all make choices that will influence new innovations and our future. In order to solve crucial global challenges, designers and investors must cooperate; for this purpose, we argue that design literacy is necessary for all. We argue that the Design Literacies can support practices associated with innovation, democratic participation in design processes, developing and enacting ethical responsibilities, and understanding and supporting sustainable aspects of production and consumption. The track called for researchers to explore the following points: How development of Design Literacy can support critical innovation and sustainable issues Progressions in scaffolding Design Literacies from a pre-school to a university level The potential of Design Literacy to support collaborative and experimental approaches of projects between: investors/designers, general public/designers, children/designers How design education for the general public can represent both a foundation for professional design education and a prequalification for lay persons’ competence for decision-making and critical innovation How might Design Literacy influence sustainability issues in society? What are the challenges of professional design, when everyone wants to design? Research submnited for this track addressing the points above have been useful as a point of departure for the Design Literacy workshop and the creation of the Design Literacy International network. The papers have also been useful for the promotion of critical innovation and to inform policy and for educational implementation. The importance lies in the needs to better inform design education itself, to improve the approach of design educators, and to educate reflective citizens, policy makers, entrepreneurs and consumers in perspective of critical innovation.


Author(s):  
John Hutton ◽  
Clare McGrath ◽  
Jean-Marc Frybourg ◽  
Mike Tremblay ◽  
Edward Bramley-Harker ◽  
...  

Objectives:Australia, Canada, and many European countries now use various forms of health technology assessment (HTA) in decision making regarding the reimbursement of drugs and other health technologies. To achieve a better understanding of the potential for use of HTA in this context, an analytical framework was developed to describe and classify existing fourth hurdle systems.Methods:Based on a review of published literature, and official documentation, the key aspects of a fourth hurdle system were identified at two levels: policy implementation and individual technology decision. Characteristics of the systems were grouped under four main headings: constitution and governance, objectives, use of evidence and decision processes, and accountability. The comprehensiveness and relevance of this framework was assessed by an independent group of experts in HTA. A pilot study was undertaken, using only published sources, to test the feasibility of obtaining the information needed to complete the framework.Results:The framework was found to be sufficiently broad to encompass all the issues of interest regarding the systems, but the proportion of information available from published sources was variable between sections of the framework and between countries, with average availability of 45 percent.Conclusions:The analytical framework will help researchers and policy-makers in individual countries to understand their own systems and will allow some preliminary sharing of experience between countries. More experience of its application is needed to judge whether it will provide the basis for more formal comparison of systems and whether it will determine the appropriateness for particular decision contexts.


Author(s):  
I WAYAN DEDI SURYAWAN ◽  
I WAYAN WINDIA ◽  
I MADE SARJANA

Farmers Participation Model in Agrowisata Development in Kerta Village,Payangan District, Gianyar Regency. The model of farmer participation in agro-tourism development in Kerta Village,Payangan District, Gianyar Regency is an effort to find out the model of farmerparticipation and farmer participation level in agro-tourism development. The researchlocation is in Kerta Village, Payangan District, Gianyar Regency which is an agro areaof Gianyar Botanical Garden. The method of analysis used is descriptive qualitative.The results showed that the farmers participation model is as follows. (a) Aspects ofmindset; farmers are aware of the potential that exists in Kerta Village that can bedeveloped as agro-tourism. (b) Social aspects; farmers' participation in social aspectssuch as participating in garden arrangement, diversification of commodity diversity,there is also agreement or cooperation between farmer society to sacrifice their land foragro-tourism such as for road and treking. (c) Aspects of artifacts / possessions; peasantcommunity participation in view of the material aspects include the garden andagricultural products, huts / huts for rest, parking lots and public toilets. Farmersparticipation rate is as follows. (a) Manipulation; done by changing the attractiveness ofthe attraction of organic citrus quotes. (b) Dissemination of information; the peasantcommunity conveys information to the general public through word of mouth, socialmedia, billboards installation. (c) Decision-making; demonstrated by their activengrembug to reach joint decisions and participate in village deliberations. (d) Buildingagreements; farmers mutually respect opinion in decision-making to build a deal basedon "Tri Sakti". Suggestion for farmer community to keep participating for agrotourismdevelopment in Kerta Village, considering the enormous potential of agriculture to bedeveloped into agro-tourism area. Through the model of farmer participation in agrotourismdevelopment in Kerta Village, Payangan District, Gianyar Regency, can beused as a reference for agro-tourism development in other regions.


Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin Grislain ◽  
Jeremy Bourgoin ◽  
Ward Anseeuw ◽  
Perrine Burnod ◽  
Eva Hershaw ◽  
...  

In recent decades, mechanisms for observation and information production have proliferated in an attempt to meet the growing needs of stakeholders to access dynamic data for the purposes of informed decision-making. In the land sector, a growing number of land observatories are producing data and ensuring its transparency. We hypothesize that these structures are being developed in response to the need for information and knowledge, a need that is being driven by the scale and diversity of land issues. Based on the results of a study conducted on land observatories in Africa, this paper presents existing and past land observatories on the continent and proposes to assess their diversity through an analysis of core dimensions identified in the literature. The analytical framework was implemented through i) an analysis of existing literature on land observatories, ii) detailed assessments of land observatories based on semi-open interviews conducted via video conferencing, iii) fieldwork and visits to several observatories, and iv) participant observation through direct engagement and work at land observatories. We emphasize that the analytical framework presented here can be used as a tool by land observatories to undertake ex-post self-evaluations that take the observatory’s trajectory into account, or in the case of proposed new land observatories, to undertake ex-ante analyses and design the pathway towards the intended observatory.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Hollingworth ◽  
Ama Pokuaa Fenny ◽  
Su-Yeon Yu ◽  
Francis Ruiz ◽  
Kalipso Chalkidou

Abstract Background Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are moving towards universal health coverage. The process of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) can support decisions relating to benefit package design and service coverage. HTA involves institutional cooperation with agreed methods and procedural standards. We systematically reviewed the literature on policies and capacity building to support HTA institutionalisation in SSA. Methods We systematically reviewed the literature by searching major databases (PubMed, Embase, etc.) until June 2019 using terms considering three aspects: HTA; health policy, decision making; and SSA. We quantitatively extracted and descriptively analysed content and conducted a narrative synthesis eliciting themes from the selected literature, which varied in study type and apporach. Results Half of the 49 papers identified were primary research studies and mostly qualitative. Five countries were represented in six of ten studies; South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. Half of first authors were from SSA. Most informants were policy makers. Five themes emerged: (1) use of HTA; (2) decision-making in HTA; (3) values and criteria for setting priority areas in HTA; (4) involving stakeholders in HTA; and (5) specific examples of progress in HTA in SSA. The first one was the main theme where there was little use of evidence and research in making policy. The awareness of HTA and economic evaluation was low, with inadequate expertise and a lack of local data and tools. Conclusions Despite growing interest in HTA in SSA countries, awareness remains low and HTA-related activities are uncoordinated and often disconnected from policy. Further training and skills development are needed, firmly linked to a strategy focusing on strengthening within-country partnerships, particularly among researchers and policy makers. The international community has an important role here by supporting policy- relevant technical assistance, highlighting that sustainable financing demands evidence-based processes for effective resource allocation, and catalysing knowledge-sharing opportunities among countries facing similar challenges.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Dagenais

Abstract Background Despite the increased emphasis placed on the use of evidence for policy development, relatively few initiatives have been developed to support evidence-informed decision-making, especially in West Africa. Moreover, studies examining the conditions under which policy-makers use research-based evidence are still scarce, but they show that their attitudes and opinions about research are one of the main determinants of such use. In February 2017, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Health planned to create a unit to promote evidence-informed decision-making within the ministry. Before the unit was set up, documenting the attitudes towards research at the highest levels of his Ministry appeared profitable to the unit’s planning. Method Individual interviews were conducted by the author with 14 actors positioned to consider evidence during decision-making from the Burkina Faso’s Minister of health cabinet. An interview grid was used to explore several themes such as attitudes towards research, obstacles and facilitators to research use, example of research use in decision-making and finally, ways to increase decision-makers’ participation in knowledge transfer activities. Interviews were partially transcribed and analysed by the author. Results The results show a mixed attitude towards research and relatively little indication of research use reported by respondents. Important obstacles were identified: evidence inaccessibility, lack of implementation guidelines, absence of clear communication strategy and studies’ lack of relevance for decision-making. Many suggestions were proposed such as raising awareness, improving access and research communication and prioritizing interactions with researchers. Respondents agree with the low participation of decision-makers in knowledge transfer activities: more leadership from the senior officials was suggested and greater awareness of the importance of their presence. Conclusions The conclusion presents avenues for reflection and action to increase the potential impact of the knowledge transfer unit planned within the Ministry of Health of Burkina Faso. This innovative initiative will be impactful if the obstacles identified in this study and policy-makers’ preferences and needs are taken into account during its development and implementation.


2021 ◽  
pp. 008124632199217
Author(s):  
Yogan Pillay

We are committed to an AIDS free generation by 2030 – nine short years away. This article reflects on the global and South African data on new infections, total number of children and adolescents living with HIV as well as data on vertical transmission. The article includes the voices of key stakeholders in the quest to end HIV in children so that lessons from their experiences can be used by policy makers in strengthening services.


AJIL Unbound ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 242-247
Author(s):  
Emilie M. Hafner-Burton

A growing body of research applies behavioral approaches to the study of international law, mainly by studying convenience samples of students or other segments of the general public. Alongside the promises of this agenda are concerns about applying findings from non-elite populations to the people, and groups of people, charged with most real-world decision-making in the domain of law and governance. This concern is compounded by the fact that it is extremely difficult to recruit these actual decision-makers in a way that allows for direct study.


2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARC LUY ◽  
PRISKA FLANDORFER ◽  
PAOLA DI GIULIO

ABSTRACTPopulation ageing occurs in all industrialised societies and is the demographic phenomenon that currently gets the highest attention from scientists, policy makers and the general public. The main aim of this paper is to broaden our understanding of its societal consequences, such as ageism and intergenerational solidarity. Our study is based on the 2008 investigation of attitudes towards population ageing and older people in seven European countries of Schoenmaeckerset al.We replicate their analysis in a specific human subpopulation in which the process of population ageing started earlier and is much more advanced than in the general societies: the members of Catholic orders. The study compares the attitudes of 148 nuns and monks from three Bavarian monasteries to those of the western German general population using descriptive and multivariate analyses in the context of the debate around population ageing in Germany. We discuss the specific characteristics of order members that might influence their attitudes and also take a brief look at their views on possible political strategies to solve the problems connected with the demographic changes. Our results confirm the findings of Schoenmaeckerset al.and reveal that worldly and monastic populations show an identical basic pattern of a positive attitude towards older people while at the same time considering population ageing a worrisome development. However, order members evaluate older people's abilities and their role in society more positively. This result gives rise to the optimistic perspective that in an aged population the younger and older generations can build a well-functioning society.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xishuang Han ◽  
Xiaolong Xue ◽  
Jiaoju Ge ◽  
Hengqin Wu ◽  
Chang Su

Data envelopment analysis can be applied to measure the productivity of multiple input and output decision-making units. In addition, the data envelopment analysis-based Malmquist productivity index can be used as a tool for measuring the productivity change during different time periods. In this paper, we use an input-oriented model to measure the energy consumption productivity change from 1999 to 2008 of fourteen industry sectors in China as decision-making units. The results show that there are only four sectors that experienced effective energy consumption throughout the whole reference period. It also shows that these sectors always lie on the efficiency frontier of energy consumption as benchmarks. The other ten sectors experienced inefficiency in some two-year time periods and the productivity changes were not steady. The data envelopment analysis-based Malmquist productivity index provides a good way to measure the energy consumption and can give China's policy makers the information to promote their strategy of sustainable development.


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