Climate change, direct heat exposure, health and well-being in low and middle-income countries

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important aspect to consider when assessing the non-fatal impact of injuries. The aim of this review was to critically appraise the range of generic instruments employed in the assessment of HRQoL following injury in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). As a prelude to subsequent research examining longer-term outcomes following motor vehicle crash injuries in Fiji, we also examined how commonly used measures align with the List of All Deficits (LOAD) framework for injury and the Fonofale model of Pacific health and well-being. Methods: A systematic search of four databases was conducted to identify injury outcome studies undertaken in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) that used a generic health status outcome measure(s). Two separate content analyses were undertaken, to assess how identified HRQoL measures aligned with the LOAD framework and the Fonofale model. Findings: Thirty two studies from thirteen LMICs examined variably defined aspects of HRQoL following a range of traumatic injuries (e.g. spinal cord, brain). The measures most commonly focused on the ‘impact on individual’ aspect of the LOAD framework and the ‘physical and mental’ aspects of the Fonofale model. While the emerging literature from LMICs provides valuable information about the HRQoL of trauma patients, the commonly used generic measures provided limited insights regarding societal impacts, culture and spirituality, domains of relevance to injury research and Pacific health and well-being. Conclusion: Theoretical frameworks relevant to Pacific contexts should be considered when selecting appropriate outcome measures for injury studies in the region.

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Social Protection, Adolescent Well-Being, and Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

10.1093/oso/9780190847128.003.0016 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Suman Verma

Keyword(s):

Social Inclusion ◽

Social Protection ◽

Well Being ◽

Middle Income ◽

Developmental Potential ◽

Goods And Services ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Social Protection Systems ◽

Cycle Of Poverty ◽

Low And Middle Income

Effective social protection policies are crucial to realizing adolescents’ rights, ensuring their well-being, breaking the cycle of poverty and vulnerability, and helping them realize their full developmental potential. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have extended social security coverage to ensure basic protections—while continuing to develop social protection systems. Social protection for LMIC adolescents in the context of gross violations of their basic rights is examined. Prevalence, consequences of protection rights violations, and the role and impact of social protection programs in ensuring enhanced opportunities for development and well-being among young people are discussed. Results demonstrate direct impacts (e.g., increased income, consumption, goods and services access; greater social inclusion; reduced household stress). LMICs need integrated social protection policy and program expansion if the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is to be realized. With adolescent-centered policies and investments, governments can help adolescents realize their rights to a fulfilling and productive life.

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The how tough is WASH framework for assessing the climate resilience of water and sanitation

npj Clean Water ◽

10.1038/s41545-021-00130-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Guy Howard ◽

Anisha Nijhawan ◽

Adrian Flint ◽

Manish Baidya ◽

Maria Pregnolato ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Universal Access ◽

Small Towns ◽

Water And Sanitation ◽

Middle Income ◽

Sanitation Services ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Measurement Framework ◽

Low And Middle Income

AbstractClimate change presents a major threat to water and sanitation services. There is an urgent need to understand and improve resilience, particularly in rural communities and small towns in low- and middle-income countries that already struggle to provide universal access to services and face increasing threats from climate change. To date, there is a lack of a simple framework to assess the resilience of water and sanitation services which hinders the development of strategies to improve services. An interdisciplinary team of engineers and environmental and social scientists were brought together to investigate the development of a resilience measurement framework for use in low- and middle-income countries. Six domains of interest were identified based on a literature review, expert opinion, and limited field assessments in two countries. A scoring system using a Likert scale is proposed to assess the resilience of services and allow analysis at local and national levels to support improvements in individual supplies, identifying systematic faults, and support prioritisation for action. This is a simple, multi-dimensional framework for assessing the resilience of rural and small-town water and sanitation services in LMICs. The framework is being further tested in Nepal and Ethiopia and future results will be reported on its application.

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The history and development of public health in low- and middle-income countries

10.1093/med/9780198816805.003.0003 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 33-46

Author(s):

Than Sein

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Infant Mortality Rate ◽

Child Rearing ◽

Middle Income ◽

Economic Productivity ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Public Health Professionals ◽

The People ◽

Low And Middle Income

The history and development of public health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) shows that important breakthroughs in public health interventions have led to great improvements in economic development. Health determines economic productivity and prosperity, and the physical and emotional well- being of the people. The mindset of the population afflicted with a high infant mortality rate usually lacks the secure knowledge of its children’s longevity, witnesses higher fertility rates, and experiences the quality- quantity trade- off in child- rearing. Ever since the health- for- all movement was initiated over three decades ago, health, equity, and social justice remain the main themes of social and health policy. It is essential for all public health professionals to sustain these values, especially those in LMICs and the international community.

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