scholarly journals Food Waste in the Countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council: A Systematic Review

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 463
Author(s):  
Hamid El Bilali ◽  
Tarek Ben Hassen
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Economic Impacts ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Food Wastage

Food waste (FW) is a critical challenge in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This paper analyzes research dealing with food waste in the GCC countries (viz. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates). It draws upon a systematic review performed on Scopus in January 2020. The paper covers both bibliometrics (e.g., authors, affiliations, journals) and research topics (e.g., causes, food supply chain stages, extent and quantity, food security, economic impacts, environmental implications, management strategies). A main finding of the review is the scarcity of data on FW in the GCC in general and in Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain in particular. Most of the selected articles address FW reuse and recycling (e.g., waste-to-energy conversion, compost production). Indeed, other FW management strategies, such as reduction/prevention and redistribution, are overlooked. The systematic review highlights that further research on FW in the GCC is highly needed with a focus on the identified research gaps such as causes and drivers, trends, magnitude and extent, environmental and economic impacts, along with implications of food wastage in terms of food security. Since food wastage is a common issue for all GCC countries, these research gaps should be addressed in a shared regional research agenda.

scholarly journals Research on food losses and waste in North Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
Hamid El Bilali
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Food Security ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Food System ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Food Losses ◽  
System Sustainability ◽  
Food Wastage

Background: Food losses and food waste represent an emerging problem with enormous economic, environmental, and social implications. Therefore, the reduction of food wastage is considered a promising strategy, not only to achieve food security but also to improve the food system sustainability. Food wastage is a serious issue also in North Africa region. Aims: This paper provides an overview on research dealing with food losses and waste (FLW) in North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia). Methods and Material: A systematic review was carried out in January 2018 using Scopus database. Issues addressed in the systematic review include geography of research on FLW in North Africa (i.e. countries considered or underserved), bibliometric parameters (e.g. journals, institutions) as well as thematic focus (agricultural loss, food waste). Selected records were also interrogated to see if they address the extent of FLW, the relation between food wastage and food security, economic implications of FLW, and environmental footprints of FLW. Results: The results show that research on FLW is still marginal in North Africa in general and in Libya and Mauritania in particular. Moreover, while there are some interesting pieces of research on the amount of FLW, environmental and economic impacts of FLW as well as their implications in terms of food security are largely overlooked. Conclusions: Therefore, North African researchers should pay more attention to food wastage issue. Such an endeavor should be supported by research policy in North Africa. Keywords: Agricultural losses, Environment, Food losses, Food security, Food wastage, Food waste, North Africa.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Thalassemia in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Amani Abu-Shaheen ◽  
Humariya Heena ◽  
Abdullah Nofal ◽  
Doaa A. Abdelmoety ◽  
Abdulrahman Almatary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
High Risk ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Premarital Screening ◽  
Risk Areas ◽  
Epidemiological Profile

Background. Thalassemia has a burden on the healthcare systems of many countries. About 56000 conceptions result in thalassemia, globally. Objective. To assess the epidemiological profile of thalassemia in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Methods. A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine), CINAHL, and Embase. Relevant observational studies reporting the epidemiology of thalassemia among the GCC population were selected. Data on the prevalence, frequency, and complications of thalassemia were extracted. The quality of the retrieved studies was assessed according to the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Results. Eighteen studies (14 cross-sectional studies, two retrospective observational studies, and two retrospective analysis) with a total of 3343042 participants were included in this systematic review. Of the 18 studies, 11 studies were conducted in Saudi Arabia, two in the Kingdom of Bahrain, one in Kuwait, three in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and one in Qatar. The prevalence of thalassemia among children below five years of age ranged from 0.25% to 33%, while it was 0.9% in children above five years and from 0.035% to 43.3% among adult thalassemia patients. The most-reported risk factors were consanguineous marriage and high-risk marriage. There was a lack of data regarding mortality rates in thalassemia. Conclusions. Despite the premarital screening and genetic counseling (PMSGC) program for thalassemia, the incidence of high-risk couple marriages in GCC countries cannot be effectively diminished. This study suggested that the PMSGC program should adopt more attention for the high-risk areas, to enhance the level of consciousness about the hemoglobinopathy diseases and the consequences of consanguinity among the at-risk couple.

scholarly journals Health and well-being issues of Nepalese migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Malaysia: a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e038439
Author(s):  
Priyamvada Paudyal ◽  
Kavian Kulasabanathan ◽  
Jackie A Cassell ◽  
Anjum Memon ◽  
Padam Simkhada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
English Language ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Disaggregated Data ◽  
Health And Well Being

ObjectiveTo summarise the evidence on health and well-being of Nepalese migrant workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Malaysia.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesEMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus and Global Health databases.Eligibility criteriaStudies were eligible if they: (1) included Nepalese migrant workers aged 18 or older working in the GCC countries or Malaysia or returnee migrant workers from these countries; (2) were primary studies that investigated health and well-being status/issues; and (3) were published in English language before 8 May 2020.Study appraisalAll included studies were critically appraised using Joanna Briggs Institute study specific tools.ResultsA total of 33 studies were eligible for inclusion; 12 studies were conducted in Qatar, 8 in Malaysia, 9 in Nepal, 2 in Saudi Arabia and 1 each in UAE and Kuwait. In majority of the studies, there was a lack of disaggregated data on demographic characteristics of Nepalese migrant workers. Nearly half of the studies (n=16) scored as ‘high’ quality and the rest (n=17) as ‘moderate’ quality. Five key health and well-being related issues were identified in this population: (1) occupational hazards; (2) sexual health; (3) mental health; (4) healthcare access and (5) infectious diseases.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive review of the health and well-being of Nepalese migrant workers in the GCC countries and Malaysia. This review highlights an urgent need to identify and implement policies and practices across Nepal and destination countries to protect the health and well-being of migrant workers.

Wisdom from Arabian Creatives: Systematic Review of Innovation Management Literature for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (06) ◽  
pp. 2030004
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Durugbo ◽  
Odeh R. Al-Jayyousi ◽  
Soud M. Almahamid
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Economic Reform ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Sustainability Transitions ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Management Literature ◽  
Theoretical Foundations

Innovation management (IM) for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region poses unique socio-economic challenges due to the multi-faceted nature of Arab and Islamic countries. Additionally, proposals for indigenous initiatives, sustainability transitions and outward-oriented strategies in economic reform plans of the GCC add further complexity to IM scholarship and practice with imperatives to harness the potentials of these strategic visions. Yet, there is an absence of a systematic review to scrutinize IM literature on the GCC region. This paper systematically reviews the IM literature whose subject involve the GCC countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The review scrutinizes theories, trends and targets in this literature, covers the period from 1980 to 2019, and involves 110 journal papers from high quality IM-related publication outlets. Using insights from the review, the paper develops theoretical foundations for creative complementarities, institutional-pumps and a ripple model of regional innovation. The review also details some methodological, theoretical, conceptual and topical directions for future regional IM research studies.

scholarly journals Interventions promoting physical activity among adults and children in the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries: protocol for a systematic review

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. e037122
Author(s):  
Fiona Pearson ◽  
Peijue Huangfu ◽  
Farah M Abu-Hijleh ◽  
Susanne F Awad ◽  
Laith J Abu-Raddad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Obesity And Diabetes ◽  
Adults And Children

IntroductionPrevalence of overweight, obesity and diabetes are high and rising across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates). In parallel, physical activity (PA) levels are low relative to international standards. PA aids weight control and reduces risk of non-communicable diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is likely interventions developed elsewhere will not translate to GCC countries due to unique environmental, social and cultural factors. This protocol is for a systematic review assessing the efficacy of interventions promoting PA within GCC countries among generally healthy adults and children. The primary outcome of interest is change in objectively measured or self-reported PA levels, the secondary outcomes of interest are changes in anthropometry or chronic disease risk factors (eg, blood pressure). Interventions will be compared with no intervention or those of differing PA intensity or duration. The relationships between PA change and the following will be assessed: intervention intensity or duration, season in which intervention occurs, sex, age, nationality and sustainability over time.Methods and analysisA systematic search strategy will identify indexed publications on the efficacy of interventions promoting PA. Randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies recruiting predominantly healthy children and adults will be included. Studies of exercise rehabilitation will be excluded. Medline, Embase, Cinahl, Cochrane Library, SportDiscus, Web of Science, Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region and Qscience will be searched. Clinical trial registries including the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials and ClinicalTrials.gov will be searched for ongoing and unpublished studies. Searches will be ran from database inception until 1 May 2020 and be supplemented by checking references of key articles. Two reviewers will independently screen identified citations then full texts using prespecified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Piloted data extraction forms will be used in duplicate. Inconsistencies in screening or data extraction will be resolved by a third investigator or study author contact. Risk of bias will be independently assessed by two reviewers using validated tools. A narrative summary of findings will be produced supplemented with meta-analyses and exploration of heterogeneity as appropriate.Ethics and DisseminationThe review aims to strengthen the findings of the primary studies it incorporates and explore the impact of setting. It will synthesise existing published aggregate patient data. If publications or data with ethical concerns are identified, they will be excluded from the review. Results of the systematic review will be published in full and authors will engage directly with research audiences and key stakeholders to share findings.PROSPERO registration number131817.

scholarly journals Mental health literacy in Arab states of the Gulf Cooperation Council: A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245156
Author(s):  
Rowaida Elyamani ◽  
Sarah Naja ◽  
Ayman Al-Dahshan ◽  
Hamed Hamoud ◽  
Mohammed Iheb Bougmiza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
The Public ◽  
Gcc Countries

Background Mental health literacy (MHL) has been relatively neglected, despite the increase of mental health illnesses worldwide, as well as within the Middle East region. A low level of MHL may hinder public acceptance of evidence-based mental health care. Aim This systematic review aims to identify and appraise existing research, focusing on MHL among adults in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Methods A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, PsychInfo, and Medline) was carried out from database inception to July 2019, in order to identify peer-reviewed journal articles that investigated MHL in the GCC countries. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were: cross-sectional studies, reported in English, targeted adults (aged 18 and above), conducted in any of the GCC countries, include at least one outcome measure of the main components of MHL: knowledge of mental illnesses and their treatment, stigmatizing attitudes towards mental illnesses, and seeking help for self and offering help. Results A total of 27 studies (16,391 participants) were included. The outcome across studies varied due to disparity in the tested populations. Findings show that limited MHL was observed among participants, even health care professionals. Results also show a high cumulative level of stigma and negative attitude towards mental health illness in the public. Negative beliefs and inappropriate practices are common, as well. The majority of studies yielded a moderate to high risk of bias. Conclusion This work indicates that research on MHL must be tackled through well-designed large-scale studies of the public. Campaigns to promote early identification and treatment of mental illness is also encouraged to improve overall level of MHL in the general population of the GCC region. Registration number: PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018104492.

scholarly journals Food losses and wastes in brazil: a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Clandio Favarini Ruviaro ◽  
Anaysa Borges ◽  
Maycon Farinha ◽  
Luciana M Bernardo ◽  
Henrique B Morais ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
The Other ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Food Loss ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Food Losses

Globally, it is estimated that approximately a third of the food produced is lost or wasted. Reducing half of these losses would make it possible to increase the availability of food for another 1 billion people. Specifically, in Brazil, the amount of lost and wasted food, if used, would be enough to achieve food security, considering as a restriction for this security, the availability of food for purchase. In this context, the objective is to identify methodologies that measure losses and food waste in Brazil. For this, a systematic review of the subject was made. It can be observed that there are a few studies that quantify food losses and wastage in the country. The largest concentration of these studies is in the distribution and consumption stages of the food supply chain. Information is available from food lost and waste, mainly in the consumption and distribution phases. Otherwise, in the other phases of the supply chain, food loss and waste values in Brazil are still incipient or non-existent. Studies that identify these values can contribute to the generation of more accurate information on the subject, being able to raise the values referring to food loss and waste of the country.Keywords: supply chain; food secutity; sustainability; hungry.Perdas e desperdícios alimentares no Brasil: uma revisão sistemáticaRESUMOEstima-se que, globalmente, aproximadamente um terço dos alimentos produzidos sejam perdidos ou desperdiçados. No entanto, a redução de metade dessas perdas tornaria possível aumentar a disponibilidade de alimentos para mais 1 bilhão de pessoas. Especificamente, no Brasil, a quantidade de alimentos perdidos e desperdiçados, se utilizados, seria suficiente para alcançar a segurança alimentar, considerando como uma restrição para essa segurança, a disponibilidade de alimentos para compra. Nesse contexto, o objetivo é identificar metodologias que mensurem perdas e desperdício de alimentos no Brasil. Para isso, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática do assunto. Pode-se observar que existem poucos estudos que quantificam perdas e desperdícios de alimentos no país. A maior concentração desses estudos está nos estágios de distribuição e consumo da cadeia de suprimento de alimentos. As informações estão disponíveis a partir de alimentos perdidos e desperdiçados, principalmente nas fases de consumo e distribuição. Nas demais fases da cadeia de suprimentos, os valores de perda e desperdício de alimentos no Brasil ainda são incipientes ou inexistentes. Estudos que identifiquem esses valores podem contribuir para a geração de informações mais precisas sobre o assunto, podendo elevar os valores referentes à perda e desperdício de alimentos no país.Palavras-chave: cadeia de suprimentos; segurança alimentar; sustentabilidade; fome.

Microbiological Monitoring in the Biodegradation of Food Waste

2019 ◽  
pp. 116-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satish Chandra Pandey ◽  
Anupam Pandey ◽  
Tushar Joshi ◽  
Veni Pande ◽  
Diksha Sati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Waste ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Waste Recycling ◽  
Global Environmental Issue ◽  
Standard Management ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Food Waste Recycling ◽  
Food Wastage

Food wastage and its exponential growth emerged as a global environmental issue, and its improper disposal has become a threat to human health and environment. Deterioration of food wastes releases various greenhouse gases that increases global warming and produces large amounts of toxins and foul odors, such as NH3 and H2S. To reduce this burden there is an urgent need to take appropriate measures by adopting standard management strategies. Microorganisms play an important role in food waste recycling, which appears to be cost-effective and causes less harm to the environment. One such process is anaerobic digestion, which has appeared as one of the most promising and eco-friendly approaches for management that converts organic waste into various useful products. Another sustainable approach is composting. Compost generated by food waste improves soil health and regenerates healthier environment. Thus, through the use of microorganisms, the study paves the way for effective management of food waste in order to minimize potential human and environmental risks.

scholarly journals Generic Skills Development in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries and Graduate Outcomes: A Systematic Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey B. Matu ◽  
Eun J. Paik
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Gulf Cooperation Council ◽  
Skills Development ◽  
Workplace Performance ◽  
Generic Skills ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Development Outcomes

Generic skills are essential because today’s jobs and the future of work require flexibility, initiative, and the ability to undertake many different tasks. While higher education graduates in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries recognize the contribution of these skills in their academics and workplace performance, generic skills development is not a consistent part of their education, which has led to socioeconomic challenges. If higher education placed a great emphasis on developing generic skills, students would expect to have pragmatic benefits, such as academic success, boosting workplace performance, positive interpersonal relationships, and better health and overall well-being. To the best of our knowledge, no systematic review has been conducted to examine generic skills development outcomes in the GCC. Hence, this systematic review aims to identify, evaluate, and summarize findings from peer-reviewed and policy-related studies that have documented generic skills development outcomes in the GCC countries, including identifying broad definitions used and areas for future research. The findings demonstrated conclusive evidence regarding the effectiveness of generic skills development at the higher education level in enhancing graduate outcomes in employability promotion skills, enhancing stakeholder engagement in curriculum and instruction, academic or workplace performance, influences on health, and effects on social dimensions.

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