scholarly journals Effective Adoption of Tablets for Psychodiagnostic Assessments in Rural Burundi: Evidence for the Usability and Validity of Mobile Technology in the Example of Differentiating Symptom Profiles in AMISOM Soldiers 1 Year After Deployment

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Weierstall ◽  
Anselm Crombach ◽  
Corina Nandi ◽  
Manassé Bambonyé ◽  
Thomas Probst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Resource Poor Setting ◽  
Depression Symptom ◽  
Tablet Computers ◽  
Symptom Profiles ◽  
Resource Poor

Research on the use of mobile technology in health sciences has identified several advantages of so-called mHealth (mobile health) applications. Tablet-supported clinical assessments are becoming more and more prominent in clinical applications, even in low-income countries. The present study used tablet computers for assessments of clinical symptom profiles in a sample of Burundian AMISOM soldiers (i.e., African Union Mission to Somalia; a mission approved by the UN). The study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of mHealth-supported assessments in field research in Burundi. The study was conducted in a resource-poor setting, in which tablet computers are predestined to gather data in an efficient and reliable manner. The overall goal was to prove the validity of the obtained data as well as the feasibility of the chosen study setting. Four hundred sixty-three soldiers of the AMISOM forces were investigated after return from a 1-year military mission in Somalia. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were assessed. The used data-driven approach based on a latent profile analysis revealed the following four distinct groups, which are based on the soldiers' PTSD and depression symptom profiles: Class 1: moderate PTSD, Class 2: moderate depression, Class 3: low overall symptoms, and Class 4: high overall symptoms. Overall, the four identified classes of soldiers differed significantly in their PTSD and depression scores. The study clearly demonstrates that tablet-supported assessments can provide a useful application of mobile technology in large-scale studies, especially in resource-poor settings. Based on the data collected for the study at hand, it was possible to differentiate different sub-groups of soldiers with distinct symptom profiles, proving the statistical validity of the gathered data. Finally, advantages and challenges for the application of mobile technology in a resource-poor setting are outlined and discussed.

scholarly journals Childlessness and health seeking behavior in resource poor setting of dang and Udayapur district of Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 4076
Author(s):  
Rajani Gupta ◽  
Renu Adhikari ◽  
Poonam Rishal
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Social Dimension ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Resource Poor Setting ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Health Seeking Behavior ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
Seeking Behavior

Background: Childlessness is not problem in resource-poor area where fertility rates are high. The consequence of childlessness is very severe in low-income countries like Nepal, particularly for women. Childless women are frequently stigmatized, isolated, ostracized, disinherited and neglected by the family and local community. This may result in physical and psychological abuse, polygamy and even suicide. The aim of the study is to explore the perception of childlessness, its cause and consequences and health seeking behavior among couples in order to develop strategies for action and policy-setting.Methods: This was a qualitative study conducted in Dang and Udayapur district of Nepal. Childlessness couple were recruited through snowball sampling. Information was also gathered from key informant and Focus group discussion. All interview were audiotaped using a digital recorder.Results: Women expressed that they are being discriminated, humiliated and intimated by their family members and society for being childlessness. Despite childlessness problem with husband, women experience emotional and physical abuse. Financial constraints and unaffordable service as one of the major problems among couple that led to withdrawal or stop attending their follow up for modern treatment.Conclusions: The study concludes that childlessness women suffer from all spare of their personal and social life although childlessness is a biomedical cause. Financial hardship and family pressure made them to seek traditional healer for first treatment approach for childlessness rather than modern method of treatment. Therefore, childlessness needs to be seen as a public health issue rather than a pure medical condition. Hence, multi-sectoral (i.e., Preventive, promotive and social dimension) response to address childlessness could be valuable. 

scholarly journals Evaluation of a Low-Cost Commercial Actigraph and Its Potential Use in Detecting Cultural Variations in Physical Activity and Sleep

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3774
Author(s):  
Pavlos Topalidis ◽  
Cristina Florea ◽  
Esther-Sevil Eigl ◽  
Anton Kurapov ◽  
Carlos Alberto Beltran Leon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Cultural Variations ◽  
Step Counts ◽  
Scale Step ◽  
Potential Use

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the performance of a low-cost commercial smartwatch, the Xiaomi Mi Band (MB), in extracting physical activity and sleep-related measures and show its potential use in addressing questions that require large-scale real-time data and/or intercultural data including low-income countries. We evaluated physical activity and sleep-related measures and discussed the potential application of such devices for large-scale step and sleep data acquisition. To that end, we conducted two separate studies. In Study 1, we evaluated the performance of MB by comparing it to the GT3X (ActiGraph, wGT3X-BT), a scientific actigraph used in research, as well as subjective sleep reports. In Study 2, we distributed the MB across four countries (Austria, Germany, Cuba, and Ukraine) and investigated physical activity and sleep among these countries. The results of Study 1 indicated that MB step counts correlated highly with the scientific GT3X device, but did display biases. In addition, the MB-derived wake-up and total-sleep-times showed high agreement with subjective reports, but partly deviated from GT3X predictions. Study 2 revealed similar MB step counts across countries, but significant later wake-up and bedtimes for Ukraine than the other countries. We hope that our studies will stimulate future large-scale sensor-based physical activity and sleep research studies, including various cultures.

ICT and Distance Learning for Agricultural Extension in Low Income Countries

2008 ◽  
pp. 1554-1560
Author(s):  
Colin R. Latchem ◽  
Ajit Maru
Keyword(s):  
Land Tenure ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Land Reforms ◽  
Economic Changes ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Value Add

About 2 billion people in low-income countries are dependent upon smallholding farming for their livelihoods. These are among the world’s poorest people. Most of them lack land tenure and farm in regions with limited land and water resources. Many must cope with drought, desertification, and environmental damage caused by failed land reforms, large-scale monocropping, overgrazing, logging, destroyed watersheds, and the encroachment of new pests and diseases. They use only the most primitive of tools and they lack the knowledge and skills to improve their farming methods, value-add their produce, and compete in national and global markets. Many of these smallholder communities have been devastated by HIV/AIDS. In some regions of sub-Saharan Africa, food production has dropped by 40%, and it is estimated that over the next 20 years, 26% of the agricultural labour force will be lost to this pandemic. And demographic and economic changes in the low-income nations are increasingly leaving farming in the hands of women, who lack the knowledge and resources to farm efficiently.

scholarly journals COVID-19, an Opportunity for Developing Countries?

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Smith ◽  
Nicola Veronese ◽  
Vincenzo Racalbuto ◽  
Damiano Pizzol
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Viral Reservoirs ◽  
Case Scenario ◽  
Worst Case ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Health Organization

The COVID-19 outbreak was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as global pandemic in March 2020. Considering the necessity to implement rapid response to control the pandemic and the fragility and the state of need of low income countries, it will be mandatory to develop a global approach in order to reduce the spread of infection and the creation of community viral reservoirs. So far, we could hypothesize a worst case scenario in which when the COVID-19 outbreak hits a peak in Africa and in low-income countries, the majority of such countries will be unprepared, with low resources allocated for affording the viral emergency and the consequences will be catastrophic with no lesson learnt. In the best case scenario, the COVID-19 will not affect Africa or South America on a large scale and, if the prevention measures will be implemented, we could register a lower incidence of hygiene linked diseases that still represent leading causes of death.

scholarly journals The dynamics of internalizing and externalizing comorbidity across the early school years

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (4pt1) ◽  
pp. 1033-1052 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia J. Willner ◽  
Lisa M. Gatzke-Kopp ◽  
Bethany C. Bray
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Internalizing Symptoms ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Externalizing Symptoms ◽  
First Grade ◽  
Transition Analysis ◽  
Symptom Profiles ◽  
Symptom Profile ◽  
Developmental Course ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

AbstractHigh rates of comorbidity are observed between internalizing and externalizing problems, yet the developmental dynamics of comorbid symptom presentations are not yet well understood. This study explored the developmental course of latent profiles of internalizing and externalizing symptoms across kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. The sample consisted of 336 children from an urban, low-income community, selected based on relatively high (61%) or low (39%) aggressive/oppositional behavior problems at school entry (64% male; 70% African American, 20% Hispanic). Teachers reported on children's symptoms in each year. An exploratory latent profile analysis of children's scores on aggression/oppositionality, hyperactivity/inattention, anxiety, and social withdrawal symptom factors revealed four latent symptom profiles: comorbid (48% of the sample in each year), internalizing (19%–23%), externalizing (21%–22%), and well-adjusted (7%–11%). The developmental course of these symptom profiles was examined using a latent transition analysis, which revealed remarkably high continuity in the comorbid symptom profile (89% from one year to the next) and moderately high continuity in both the internalizing and externalizing profiles (80% and 71%, respectively). Internalizing children had a 20% probability of remitting to the well-adjusted profile by the following year, whereas externalizing children had a 25% probability of transitioning to the comorbid profile. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that a common vulnerability factor contributes to developmentally stable internalizing–externalizing comorbidity, while also suggesting that some children with externalizing symptoms are at risk for subsequently accumulating internalizing symptoms.

scholarly journals Policy and Science for Global Health Security: Shaping the Course of International Health

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavita Berger ◽  
James Wood ◽  
Bonnie Jenkins ◽  
Jennifer Olsen ◽  
Stephen Morse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
International Health ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Health Security ◽  
Public Health Decision

The global burden of infectious diseases and the increased attention to natural, accidental, and deliberate biological threats has resulted in significant investment in infectious disease research. Translating the results of these studies to inform prevention, detection, and response efforts often can be challenging, especially if prior relationships and communications have not been established with decision-makers. Whatever scientific information is shared with decision-makers before, during, and after public health emergencies is highly dependent on the individuals or organizations who are communicating with policy-makers. This article briefly describes the landscape of stakeholders involved in information-sharing before and during emergencies. We identify critical gaps in translation of scientific expertise and results, and biosafety and biosecurity measures to public health policy and practice with a focus on One Health and zoonotic diseases. Finally, we conclude by exploring ways of improving communication and funding, both of which help to address the identified gaps. By leveraging existing scientific information (from both the natural and social sciences) in the public health decision-making process, large-scale outbreaks may be averted even in low-income countries.

scholarly journals Solar-powered oxygen, quality improvement and child pneumonia deaths: a large-scale effectiveness study

2020 ◽  
pp. archdischild-2020-320107
Author(s):  
Trevor Duke ◽  
Francis Pulsan ◽  
Doreen Panauwe ◽  
Ilomo Hwaihwanje ◽  
Martin Sa'avu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Continuous Quality ◽  
Child Deaths ◽  
Solar Powered

BackgroundPneumonia is the largest cause of child deaths in low-income countries. Lack of availability of oxygen in small rural hospitals results in avoidable deaths and unnecessary and unsafe referrals.MethodWe evaluated a programme for improving reliable oxygen therapy using oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters and sustainable solar power in 38 remote health facilities in nine provinces in Papua New Guinea. The programme included a quality improvement approach with training, identification of gaps, problem solving and corrective measures. Admissions and deaths from pneumonia and overall paediatric admissions, deaths and referrals were recorded using routine health information data for 2–4 years prior to the intervention and 2–4 years after. Using Poisson regression we calculated incidence rates (IRs) preintervention and postintervention, and incidence rate ratios (IRR).ResultsThere were 18 933 pneumonia admissions and 530 pneumonia deaths. Pneumonia admission numbers were significantly lower in the postintervention era than in the preintervention era. The IRs for pneumonia deaths preintervention and postintervention were 2.83 (1.98–4.06) and 1.17 (0.48–1.86) per 100 pneumonia admissions: the IRR for pneumonia deaths was 0.41 (0.24–0.71, p<0.005). There were 58 324 paediatric admissions and 2259 paediatric deaths. The IR for child deaths preintervention and postintervention were 3.22 (2.42–4.28) and 1.94 (1.23–2.65) per 100 paediatric admissions: IRR 0.60 (0.45–0.81, p<0.005). In the years postintervention period, an estimated 348 lives were saved, at a cost of US$6435 per life saved and over 1500 referrals were avoided.ConclusionsSolar-powered oxygen systems supported by continuous quality improvement can be achieved at large scale in rural and remote hospitals and health care facilities, and was associated with reduced child deaths and reduced referrals. Variability of effectiveness in different contexts calls for strengthening of quality improvement in rural health facilities.Trial registration numberACTRN12616001469404.

scholarly journals Entitlements, Capabilities, and Crisis in the United Kingdom

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-54
Author(s):  
Christopher Hartworth ◽  
Carol Richards ◽  
Ian Convery
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Social Welfare ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Political Debate ◽  
Social Welfare Programs ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
Causes Of Poverty

This paper examines whether Amartya Sen’s entitlements and capabilities concepts can be transferred in their application from low-income countries to high-income countries, specifically Cumbria, Northern England. Originally used to understand the causes of famine, these concepts have previously been used in several different geographical contexts to broadly understand poverty and inequality but almost entirely in low-income countries. This paper applies these concepts to a United Kingdom context in an attempt to understand the causes of poverty and inequality among people experiencing “livelihood crisis.” The research uses data from two nongovernmental social welfare projects to examine the causes of crisis and the remedial effects of the intervention. Our findings indicate that these concepts can help to explain how people find themselves in crisis in Cumbria. On a broader level, they can also be used to explain poverty, inequality, and disadvantage in communities in the United Kingdom. The authors put forward that entitlements and capabilities provide a useful framework to advance the policy and political debate on the causes of poverty by providing a straightforward language and broad application. Entitlement and capabilities can also assist social welfare programs in framing their aims and objectives and through improved understanding about the causes of inequality, will be better able to support people out of disadvantage by strengthening entitlements and building capabilities, without the necessity of large-scale investment.

Using Mobile Technology to Address the ‘Three Delays' to Reduce Maternal Mortality in Zanzibar

2016 ◽  
pp. 1140-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Hoy Deussom ◽  
Marc Mitchell ◽  
Julia Dae Ruben
Keyword(s):  
Maternal Mortality ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Danger Signs ◽  
Birth Attendants ◽  
Adequate Care ◽  
Three Delays ◽  
Clinical Algorithms ◽  
Health Facility Staff

The hallmark article by Thaddeus and Maine (1994) presented a framework to reducing maternal mortality by addressing the delays: (1) deciding to seek care; (2) reaching care; and (3) receiving adequate care. This project developed a phone-based system used by traditional birth attendants to address the three delays in two districts in rural Zanzibar. Mobile phones provided: clinical algorithms to screen pregnant mothers for danger signs; phone numbers and mobile banking to arrange and pay for transportation; and contacts for health facility staff to alert them of referrals. 938 mothers participated in the “mHealth for Safer Deliveries” project. The intervention achieved a 71.0% facility delivery rate in the project zone, compared to the regional average of 32.0% (NBS and ICF Macro, 2011). This project demonstrated the effectiveness of mobile technology in addressing childbirth's three delays and its potential to impact maternal mortality in low-income countries.

More than poverty

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 536-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore D. Wachs ◽  
Santiago Cueto ◽  
Haogen Yao
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cumulative Risk ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Developmental Risks ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Studies from both high and low-middle income (LAMI) countries have documented how being reared in poverty is linked to compromised child development. Links between poverty and development are mediated by the timing and extent of exposure to both risk factors nested under poverty and to protective influences which can attenuate the impact of risk. While children from high-, middle-, and low-income countries are exposed to similar types of developmental risks, children from low- and middle-income countries are exposed to a greater number, more varied and more intense risks. Given these contextual differences, cumulative risk models may provide a better fit than mediated models for understanding the nature of pathways linking economic insufficiency and developmental inequality in low- and middle-income countries, and for designing interventions to promote development of children from these countries. New evidence from a large scale UNICEF data set illustrates the application of a cumulative risk/protective perspective in low- and middle-income countries.

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