scholarly journals Colonial history and global economics distort our understanding of deep-time biodiversity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nussaïbah Raja ◽  
Emma Dunne ◽  
Aviwe Matiwane ◽  
Tasnuva Ming Khan ◽  
Paulina Nätscher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Colonial History ◽  
Deep Time ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Global Power ◽  
Sampling Biases ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

Sampling variations in the fossil record distort estimates of past biodiversity. However, compilations of global fossil occurrences used in these analyses not only reflect the geological and spatial aspects of the fossil record, but also the historical collation of these data. Here, we demonstrate how the legacy of colonialism as well as socio-economic factors such as wealth, education and political stability impact research output in paleontology. Re- searchers in high or upper middle income countries contribute to 97% of fossil occurrence data, not only leading to spatial sampling biases but also generating a global power imbalance within the discipline. This work illustrates that our efforts to mitigate the effects of sampling biases to obtain a truly representative view of past biodiversity are not disconnected from the aim of diversifying our field.

scholarly journals Effects of socio-economic factors on research over systemic sclerosis: an analysis based on long time series of bibliometric data

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Guo ◽  
Zeyu Zhou ◽  
Yinhe Liang ◽  
Chuanhui Xu ◽  
Lin Zeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Sclerosis ◽  
Rare Disease ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Domestic Products ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

Abstract Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare detrimental disease warranting global research efforts. Evaluating how socio-economic factors impact country research output on SSc could help to identify solutions advancing research. Methods Publication production on SSc during 1969–2018 and data for structural and policy factors for WHO member countries were collected from public sources. Associations between SSc research output and country-level factors were investigated through panel regression. Difference-in-differences analysis further assessed the causal effects of rare disease legislation. Results SSc publications demonstrated exponential growth (r = 0.9410, as against an r = 0.8845 after linear adjustment), but were concentrated in high-income countries (HICs). Ten countries, nine of which were HICs, published 12,261 (77.5%) SSc publications but another 87 countries produced none. Gross domestic products (GDP), population and expenditure on research and development were positively associated with SSc publications (p < 0.001). Higher health expenditure was only found to be associated with increased SSc publications in HICs (p < 0.001). Rare disease legislation increased annual publication production by 62.8% (95% CI 0.390–0.867; p < 0.001) averagely. In middle-income countries (MICs), the effect was especially swift and lasting. No significant impact was found with GDP per capita, female percentage, and political indicators. Conclusions SSc research output increased over time with substantial country disparities. Effective health policies facilitating research should be expanded especially among MICs to accelerate research advancement.

scholarly journals Nonadult Supervision of Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Results from 61 National Population-Based Surveys

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mónica Ruiz-Casares ◽  
José Nazif-Muñoz ◽  
René Iwo ◽  
Youssef Oulhote
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Maternal Education ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Household Composition ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Socio Economic Factors ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Despite scarce empirical research in most countries, evidence has shown that young children are unsupervised or under the supervision of another young child while their adult caregivers attend work or engage in other activities outside the home. Lack of quality supervision has been linked to unintentional childhood injuries and other negative outcomes. Nationally representative, population-based data from rounds four and five of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and four to eight of the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) from 61 low- and middle-income countries were used to estimate prevalence and socio-economic factors associated with leaving children under five years old home alone or under the care of another child younger than 10 years of age. Socio-economic factors included age and sex of the child, rurality, wealth, maternal education, and household composition. Large variations in the prevalence rates (0.1–35.3% for children home alone and 0.2–50.6% for children supervised by another child) and associated factors have been recorded within and across regions and countries. Understanding why and under what conditions children are home alone or under the supervision of another child is crucial to the development of suitable policies and interventions to protect young children, promote healthy growth, and support caregivers.

scholarly journals Quantifying research output on poverty and non-communicable disease behavioural risk factors in low-income and lower middle-income countries: a bibliometric analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e014715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Nelson Allen ◽  
Nicholas Fox ◽  
Alissa Ambrose
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Impact Factor ◽  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Research Output ◽  
High Income ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Behavioural Risk Factors ◽  
Number Of Citations

ObjectivesLow-income and lower middle-income countries (LLMICs) bear a disproportionate burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). WHO has repeatedly called for more research on poverty and NCDs in these settings, but the current situation remains unquantified. We aimed to assess research output on poverty and NCD risk factors from these countries in relation to upper middle-income and high-income countries.DesignBibliometric analysis of primary research published between 1 January 1990 and 4 May 2017. We searched 13 databases, combining terms for poverty and NCD behavioural risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, diet and physical activity). Independent dual review was used to screen titles, abstracts and full papers. Two-tailed t-testing and multiple linear regression analyses were used to compare differences in means.Outcomes(1) Proportion of lead authors affiliated with institutions based in high and upper middle-income countries vs LLMICs. (2) Mean number of citations for publications from each region. (3) Mean journal impact factor for studies from each region.ResultsNinety-one (67%) of the 136 included studies were led by scientists affiliated with LLMIC-based institutions. These authors represented 17/83 LLMICs (20%), and their studies garnered 4.8 fewer citations per paper than studies led by high-income and upper middle-income-affiliated authors; however, this finding was non-significant (P=0.67). Papers led by authors based in high-income and upper middle-income countries were published in journals with a mean impact factor 3.1 points higher than those from LLMICs (4.9 vs 1.7) adjusting for year of publication and number of citations (P<0.001).ConclusionsMost poverty and NCD risk factor research is led by authors from a small number of LLMICs. These studies are being published in relatively low-impact journals, and the vast majority of LLMICs are not producing any research in this area that is vital to their social and economic development. The paucity of domestic evidence must be addressed to inform global policy.

scholarly journals Neonatal Resuscitation Research Priorities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Vivek V. Shukla ◽  
Somashekhar M. Nimbalkar
Keyword(s):  
Research Output ◽  
Neonatal Resuscitation ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Liaison Committee ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Practice Recommendations ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Several critical physiological changes occur during birth. Optimal and timely resuscitation is essential to avoid morbidity and mortality. The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) is a multinational committee that publishes evidence-based consensus and treatment recommendations for resuscitation in various scenarios including that for neonatal resuscitation. The majority of perinatal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); however, there is limited research output from LMICs to generate evidence-based practice recommendations specific for LMICs. The current review identifies key areas of neonatal resuscitation-related research needed from LMICs to inform evidence-based resuscitation of neonates in LMICs.

scholarly journals Gender inequality and the double burden of disease in low-income and middle-income countries: an ecological study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e047388
Author(s):  
Mirte van der Ham ◽  
Renee Bolijn ◽  
Alcira de Vries ◽  
Maiza Campos Ponce ◽  
Irene G M van Valkengoed
Keyword(s):  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Burden Of Disease ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Double Burden ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Life Years

IntroductionMany low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) suffer from a double burden of infectious diseases (ID) and non-communicable diseases (NCD). Previous research suggests that a high rate of gender inequality is associated with a higher ID and NCD burden in LMIC, but it is unknown whether gender inequality is also associated with a double burden of disease. In this ecological study, we explored the association between gender inequality and the double burden of disease in LMIC.MethodsFor 108 LMIC, we retrieved the Gender Inequality Index (GII, scale 0–1) and calculated the double burden of disease, based on disability-adjusted life-years for a selection of relevant ID and NCD, using WHO data. We performed logistic regression analysis to study the association between gender inequality and the double burden of disease for the total population, and stratified for men and women. We adjusted for income, political stability, type of labour, urbanisation, government health expenditure, health infrastructure and unemployment. Additionally, we conducted linear regression models for the ID and NCD separately.ResultsThe GII ranged from 0.13 to 0.83. A total of 37 LMIC had a double burden of disease. Overall, the adjusted OR for double burden of disease was 1.05 per 0.01 increase of GII (95% CI 0.99 to 1.10, p=0.10). For women, there was a borderline significant positive association between gender inequality and double burden of disease (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.11, p=0.06), while there was no association in men (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.04, p=0.75).ConclusionWe found patterns directing towards a positive association between gender inequality and double burden of disease, overall and in women. This finding suggests the need for more attention for structural factors underlying gender inequality to potentially reduce the double burden of disease.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Water Access in Rural Areas of Low and Middle Income Countries

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mabel Gomez ◽  
Jordi Perdiguero ◽  
Alex Sanz
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Factors ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
National Income ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Water Access ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Worldwide, 844 million people still lack access to basic drinking water, especially in the rural areas of low and middle income countries. However, considerable progress has been made in recent years due to work on the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. Nevertheless, countries’ national characteristics have often impacted on this progress. This paper analyzes whether specific socioeconomic factors affect access to improved water sources in the rural areas of developing countries. In particular, we analyze access to ‘total improved’, piped on premises, as well as other improved sources of access in rural areas for low income, low-middle income, and high-middle income countries. Our results suggest that gross national income (GNI); female primary completion rate; agriculture; growth of rural population; and governance indicators, such as political stability, control of corruption, or regulatory quality are variables related to water access, although specific associations depend on the source of water and income group examined. Understanding these interrelations could be of great importance for decision makers in the water sector as well as for future research on this topic.

scholarly journals Adolescent-Adult Non-metastatic Ewing Sarcoma- Experience from a large developing country

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyoti Bajpai ◽  
Goutam Panda ◽  
Arun Chandrasekharan ◽  
Prabhat Bhargava ◽  
Sujay Srinivas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ewing Sarcoma ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Symptom Duration ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Treatment Naïve ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

Background Outcomes of Ewing sarcoma (ES) in low and middle income countries lags behind the rest of the world owing to multiple tumoral, logistical and socio-economic factors. The data of outcomes and toxicity in these countries is sparse, especially in the adolescent and adult (AA) population and merits exploration Procedure This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of non-metastatic AA-ES patients, who received standard institutional combination chemotherapy regimen (EFT-2001) along with surgery or definitive radiotherapy. Various cohorts were analyzed for treatment-related toxicities, event- free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Results There were 235 patients (primary safety cohort, PSC) with median age of 23 years. One hundred and ninety six were treatment naïve (primary efficacy cohort, PEC) and of these 119 had surgery. In PEC, at a median follow up of 36.4 months, estimated 5 year EFS and OS were 60.9% (95% CI 53.1% - 69.9%) and 84.5% (95% CI 77.7% - 91.9%), respectively. Of these, 158 complying with intended treatment, had an estimated 5 year EFS of 63.1% (95% CI 54.8%-72.6%). In multivariate analysis, good prognostic factors included longer symptom duration, ≥ 99% necrosis and treatment completion. Among PSC, grade 3-4 toxicities were febrile-neutropenia (50.6%), anemia (55.3%), peripheral neuropathy (15.7%), with 3 (1.3%) chemo-toxic deaths. Conclusions The outcomes of AA non-metastatic ES patients treated with EFT-2001 regimen were comparable to those reported by others, with acceptable toxicity and can be considered as standard-of-care, especially in LMICs.

scholarly journals Research output on systemic sclerosis and socio-economic factors: An analysis of country-level panel data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Guo ◽  
Zeyu Zhou ◽  
Yinhe Liang ◽  
Chuanhui Xu ◽  
Lin Zeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Sclerosis ◽  
Rare Disease ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Scientific Output ◽  
Annual Growth Rate ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Country Factors ◽  
Effect Heterogeneity

Abstract Background Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare detrimental disease warranting mobilization of global research efforts. We aimed to evaluate impacts of country factors on research output over SSc to identify solutions promoting research. Methods Publication production on SSc during 1969–2018 and data for structural and policy factors were collected from public sources. Effects of country-level factors were investigated through panel regression in WHO member countries. Difference-in-differences analysis assessed the impacts of rare disease legislation. Effect heterogeneity across income levels was evaluated using group regression. Results SSc publications showed increasing annual growth rate (−0.3% during 1969–1983 vs. 6.9% during 2000–2018). Totally, ten countries published 12 261 (77.5%) SSc publications but another 87 countries produced none. High-income countries with higher GDP, larger population, and higher health expenditure tended to publish more (p<0.001). Whereas in middle-income countries (MICs) SSc scientific output was significantly associated with expenditure on research and development( p <0.001). Rare disease legislation increased annual publication production by 62.8% (95% CI 0.390–0.867; p <0.001) averagely. Notably, the effect of legislation was swift and lasting in MICs during the first five years. No significant impact was found with GDP per capita, female percentage, and political indicators. Conclusions SSc research output increased over time with substantial country disparities. Effective health policies facilitating research should be expanded especially among MICs to accelerate global advancement.

scholarly journals Contribution of low- and middle-income countries to research published in leading general psychiatry journals, 2002–2004

2007 ◽  
Vol 190 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikram Patel ◽  
Youl-Ri Kim
Keyword(s):  
Research Output ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Psychiatric Research ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
General Psychiatry ◽  
Published Research ◽  
International Representation ◽  
Low And Middle Income

SummaryWe aimed to describe the contribution of low- and middle-income (LAMI) countries to leading general psychiatric journals. We reviewed original research published over a 3-year period (2002–2004) in the six highest-impact general psychiatry journals and contacted editorial offices to gather data on country of origin of submitted and accepted articles. Only 3.7% of published research emerges from these less affluent countries, which account for over 80% of the global population. Compared with the findings of a similar review of the period 1996–1998, there has been little change. The three European journals had a higher representation than the three American Journals. The proportion of psychiatrists in a country was associated with that country's research output. As much as 50% of the research from LAMI countries is led by authors from high-income countries. The proportion of submissions from LAMI countries was very low, and articles from them were more frequently rejected. Strengthening the research capacity of these countries and reviewing the editorial policies of leading journals can help increase the international representation of LAMI countries in psychiatric research.

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