scholarly journals Global neurosurgery: innovators, strategies, and the way forward

2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (4) ◽  
pp. 993-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael M. Haglund ◽  
Anthony T. Fuller
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Health System Strengthening ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
True Solution ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Entire Country ◽  
To Come

Around the world today, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have not benefited from advancements in neurosurgery; most have minimal or even no neurosurgical capacity in their entire country. In this paper, the authors examine in broad strokes the different ways in which individuals, organizations, and universities engage in global neurosurgery to address the global challenges faced in many LMICs. Key strategies include surgical camps, educational programs, training programs, health system strengthening projects, health policy changes/development, and advocacy. Global neurosurgery has begun coalescing with large strides taken to develop a coherent voice for this work. This large-scale collaboration via multilateral, multinational engagement is the only true solution to the issues we face in global neurosurgery. Key players have begun to come together toward this ultimate solution, and the future of global neurosurgery is bright.

scholarly journals Solution-based science to prevent and control diabetes in underserved communities around the world (commentary, for Diabetes special section)

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-57
Author(s):  
Abby C King
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Medicine ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Special Section ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Participatory Research Methods ◽  
Program Components ◽  
And Control

Abstract Despite the numerous successful behavioral interventions that have been published in the behavioral medicine field over a number of decades, surprisingly few have been translated and adapted for real-world settings using participatory research methods. The purpose of this commentary is to highlight the advances in participatory behavioral medicine reflected in the articles contained in the Diabetes special section. The articles contained in the Diabetes special section were reviewed, with a focus on the advances made with this type of research and the challenges that came to light. Numerous strengths of the large-scale translational studies were identified. The studies also highlighted important areas meriting further attention, including exploration of additional dissemination pathways, and further piloting and refinement of program components for different population segments. The articles in this special section represent major advances in implementing successful, impactful programs for diabetes prevention and control in low- and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals Climate drivers of plague epidemiology in British India, 1898–1949

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1928) ◽  
pp. 20200538
Author(s):  
Warren S. D. Tennant ◽  
Mike J. Tildesley ◽  
Simon E. F. Spencer ◽  
Matt J. Keeling
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Models ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
British India ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
The World ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Plague, caused by Yersinia pestis infection, continues to threaten low- and middle-income countries throughout the world. The complex interactions between rodents and fleas with their respective environments challenge our understanding of human plague epidemiology. Historical long-term datasets of reported plague cases offer a unique opportunity to elucidate the effects of climate on plague outbreaks in detail. Here, we analyse monthly plague deaths and climate data from 25 provinces in British India from 1898 to 1949 to generate insights into the influence of temperature, rainfall and humidity on the occurrence, severity and timing of plague outbreaks. We find that moderate relative humidity levels of between 60% and 80% were strongly associated with outbreaks. Using wavelet analysis, we determine that the nationwide spread of plague was driven by changes in humidity, where, on average, a one-month delay in the onset of rising humidity translated into a one-month delay in the timing of plague outbreaks. This work can inform modern spatio-temporal predictive models for the disease and aid in the development of early-warning strategies for the deployment of prophylactic treatments and other control measures.

scholarly journals Tuberculosis and Non-Communicable Disease Multimorbidity: An Analysis of the World Health Survey in 48 Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2439
Author(s):  
Brendon Stubbs ◽  
Kamran Siddiqi ◽  
Helen Elsey ◽  
Najma Siddiqi ◽  
Ruimin Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Survey ◽  
Low Income ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
World Health Survey ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). TB multimorbidity [TB and ≥1 non-communicable diseases (NCDs)] is common, but studies are sparse. Cross-sectional, community-based data including adults from 21 low-income countries and 27 middle-income countries were utilized from the World Health Survey. Associations between 9 NCDs and TB were assessed with multivariable logistic regression analysis. Years lived with disability (YLDs) were calculated using disability weights provided by the 2017 Global Burden of Disease Study. Eight out of 9 NCDs (all except visual impairment) were associated with TB (odds ratio (OR) ranging from 1.38–4.0). Prevalence of self-reported TB increased linearly with increasing numbers of NCDs. Compared to those with no NCDs, those who had 1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 NCDs had 2.61 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.14–3.22), 4.71 (95%CI = 3.67–6.11), 6.96 (95%CI = 4.95–9.87), 10.59 (95%CI = 7.10–15.80), and 19.89 (95%CI = 11.13–35.52) times higher odds for TB. Among those with TB, the most prevalent combinations of NCDs were angina and depression, followed by angina and arthritis. For people with TB, the YLDs were three times higher than in people without multimorbidity or TB, and a third of the YLDs were attributable to NCDs. Urgent research to understand, prevent and manage NCDs in people with TB in LMICs is needed.

scholarly journals Psychological Treatments for the World: Lessons from Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisy R. Singla ◽  
Brandon A. Kohrt ◽  
Laura K. Murray ◽  
Arpita Anand ◽  
Bruce F. Chorpita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle Income ◽  
Psychological Treatments ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals Farming with Alternative Pollinators benefits pollinators, natural enemies, and yields, and offers transformative change to agriculture

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Christmann ◽  
Youssef Bencharki ◽  
Soukaina Anougmar ◽  
Pierre Rasmont ◽  
Moulay Chrif Smaili ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Transformative Change ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Land Sharing ◽  
Pollinator Decline ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Land Sparing ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Small Grant ◽  
Wildflower Strips

AbstractLow- and middle-income countries cannot afford reward-based land sparing for wildflower strips to combat pollinator decline. Two small-grant projects assessed, if an opportunity-cost saving land-sharing approach, Farming with Alternative Pollinators, can provide a method-inherent incentive to motivate farmers to protect pollinators without external rewards. The first large-scale Farming-with-Alternative-Pollinators project used seven main field crops in 233 farmer fields of four agro-ecosystems (adequate rainfall, semi-arid, mountainous and oasis) in Morocco. Here we show results: higher diversity and abundance of wild pollinators and lower pest abundance in enhanced fields than in monocultural control fields; the average net-income increase per surface is 121%. The higher income is a performance-related incentive to enhance habitats. The income increase for farmers is significant and the increase in food production is substantial. Higher productivity per surface can reduce pressure on (semi)-natural landscapes which are increasingly used for agriculture. Land-use change additionally endangers biodiversity and pollinators, whereas this new pollinator-protection approach has potential for transformative change in agriculture.

scholarly journals Global neurosurgery, Bangladesh and COVID-19 era

2020 ◽  
pp. 574-576
Author(s):  
Robert Ahmed Khan ◽  
Moshiur Rahman ◽  
Amit Agrawal ◽  
Ezequiel Garcia-Ballestas ◽  
Luis Rafael Moscote-Salazar
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Surgical Care ◽  
Medical Procedure ◽  
Surgical Service ◽  
Training Process ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Significant Obstacle ◽  
To Come

Background. COVID-19 has become an alarming pandemic for our earth. It has created panic not only in China but also in developing countries like Bangladesh. Bangladesh has adequate confinements to constrain the spread of the infection and in this circumstance, overall healthcare workers including neurosurgeons are confronting a ton of difficulties. The purpose of this paper is to depict the proficiency of Global neurosurgery in this COVID-19 time. Method. Global neurosurgery offers the chance of fusing the best proof-based guidelines of care. This paper demonstrated that, in low to middle-income countries, Global medical procedure has been received to address the issues of residents who lack critical surgical care. Results. Inappropriate and insufficient asset allotment has been a significant obstacle for the health system for decently giving security to the patients. The fundamental training process has been genuinely hampered in the current circumstance. Worldwide health activities have set to an alternate centre and Global neurosurgery as an assurance is slowed down. Conclusion. This paper recommended that Global neurosurgical activities need to come forward and increase the workforce to emphasize surgical service.

scholarly journals Implementation research training for learners in low- and middle-income countries: Evaluating behavior change after participating in a massive online open course

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Launois ◽  
Dermot Maher ◽  
Edith Certain ◽  
Bella Ross ◽  
Michael J. Penkunas
Keyword(s):  
Professional Practice ◽  
Implementation Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Research Training ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
World Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Implementation research (IR) can play a critical role in the delivery of disease control interventions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The growing demand for IR training has led to the development of a range of training programs and university courses, the majority of which can not be accessed by learners in LMICs. This article reports on the evaluation of a massive open online course (MOOC) developed by the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases hosted by the World Health Organization on the topic of IR with a focus on infectious diseases of poverty. This study followed Kirkpatrick’s Model to evaluate training programs with a specific focus on post-training changes in behavior. Methods MOOC participants were invited to take part in an anonymous online survey examining their IR knowledge and how they applied it in their professional practice approximately 1-1.5 years after completing the MOOC. The survey contained 43 open-ended, multiple choice and Likert-type questions. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the quantitative data and responses to the open-ended questions were thematically coded. Results A total of 748 MOOC participants responded to the survey. The demographic profile of the survey respondents aligned with that of the MOOC participants, with nearly 70% of respondents originating from Africa. Responses to the quantitative and open-ended survey questions revealed that respondents’ IR knowledge had improved to a large extent as a result of the MOOC, and that they used the knowledge and skills gained in their professional lives frequently. Respondents most often cited changes in their conceptual understanding of IR and understanding of the research process as substantial areas of change influenced by participating in the MOOC. Conclusions These findings indicate that the MOOC was successful in targeting learners from LMICs, in strengthening their IR knowledge and in contributing to their ability to apply it in their professional practice. The utility of MOOCs for providing IR training to learners in LMICs, where implementation challenges are encountered often, makes this platform an ideal standalone learning tool or one that could be combined with other training formats.

scholarly journals Simple and adaptable R implementation of WHO/ISH cardiovascular risk charts for all epidemiological subregions of the world

F1000Research ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan Collins ◽  
Joseph Lee ◽  
Niklas Bobrovitz ◽  
Constantinos Koshiaris ◽  
Alison Ward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Risk Charts ◽  
Free Open Source

The World Health Organisation and International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment charts have been implemented in many low- and middle-income countries as part of the WHO Package of Essential Non-Communicable Disease (PEN) Interventions for Primary Health Care in Low-Resource settings. Evaluation of the WHO/ISH cardiovascular risk charts and their use is a key priority and since they only exist in paper or PDF formats, we developed a simple R implementation of the charts for all epidemiological subregions of the world. The main strengths of this implementation are that it is built in a free, open-source, coding language with simple syntax, can be modified by the user, and can be used with a standard computer.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document