scholarly journals Early Mathematics Counts: Promising Instructional Strategies from Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmin Sitabkhan ◽  
Linda M. Platas
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mathematics Interventions ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Early Mathematics ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Informal Mathematics ◽  
Early Grade ◽  
Research And Policy ◽  
Low And Middle Income

This occasional paper examines common instructional strategies in early-grade mathematics interventions through a review of studies in classrooms in low- and middle-income countries. Twenty-four studies met the criteria for inclusion, and analyses reveal four sets of instructional strategies for which there is evidence from multiple contexts. Of the 24 studies, 16 involved the use of multiple representations, 10 involved the use of developmental progressions, 6 included supporting student use of explanation and justification, and 5 included integration of informal mathematics. Based on the review, we provide conclusions and recommendations for future research and policy.

The Impact of Cash Transfers: A Review of the Evidence from Low- and Middle-income Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (03) ◽  
pp. 569-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANCESCA BASTAGLI ◽  
JESSICA HAGEN-ZANKER ◽  
LUKE HARMAN ◽  
VALENTINA BARCA ◽  
GEORGINA STURGE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evidence Base ◽  
Cash Transfers ◽  
Cash Transfer ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Unintended Effects ◽  
Screening Process ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low And Middle Income

AbstractThis article presents the findings of a review of the impact of non-contributory cash transfers on individuals and households in low- and middle-income countries, covering the literature of 15 years, from 2000 to 2015. Based on evidence extracted from 165 studies, retrieved through a systematic search and screening process, this article discusses the impact of cash transfers on 35 indicators covering six outcome areas: monetary poverty; education; health and nutrition; savings, investment and production; work; and empowerment. For most of the studies, cash transfers contributed to progress in the selected indicators in the direction intended by policymakers. Despite variations in the size and strength of the underlying evidence base by outcome and indicator, this finding is consistent across all outcome areas. The article also investigates unintended effects of cash transfer receipt, such as potential reductions in adult work effort and increased fertility, finding limited evidence for such unintended effects. Finally, the article highlights gaps in the evidence base and areas which would benefit from additional future research.

scholarly journals A systematic review of the association between perinatal depression and cognitive development in infancy in low and middle-income countries

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253790
Author(s):  
Matthew Bluett-Duncan ◽  
M. Thomas Kishore ◽  
Divya M. Patil ◽  
Veena A. Satyanarayana ◽  
Helen Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Perinatal Depression ◽  
Antenatal Depression ◽  
Current Theory ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Infant Cognitive Development ◽  
Low And Middle Income

The association between perinatal depression and infant cognitive development has been well documented in research based in high-income contexts, but the literature regarding the same relationship in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is less developed. The aim of this study is to systematically review what is known in this area in order to inform priorities for early intervention and future research in LMICs. The review protocol was pre-registered on Prospero (CRD42018108589) and relevant electronic databases were searched using a consistent set of keywords and 1473 articles were screened against the eligibility criteria. Sixteen articles were included in the review, seven focusing on the antenatal period, eight on the postnatal period, and one which included both. Five out of eight studies found a significant association between antenatal depression (d = .21-.93) and infant cognitive development, while four out of nine studies found a significant association with postnatal depression (d = .17-.47). Although the evidence suggests that LMICs should prioritise antenatal mental health care, many of the studies did not adequately isolate the effects of depression in each period. Furthermore, very few studies explored more complex interactions that may exist between perinatal depression and other relevant factors. More high-quality studies are needed in LMIC settings, driven by current theory, that test main effects and examine moderating or mediating pathways to cognitive development.

scholarly journals Measuring the Quality of Early Childhood Education in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Si Chen ◽  
Sharon Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Child Outcomes ◽  
High Income ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Limited Evidence ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Young children’s access to early childhood education (ECE) is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), though often without attention to service quality. Monitoring quality requires classroom observations, but most observation tools available were developed in high-income western countries. In this article, we examine key issues in measuring ECE quality in LMICs and consider challenges and opportunities in balancing theoretical grounding, cultural- and contextual-adaptation, and empirical rigor. We then review the literature on observed classroom quality in LMICs, focusing on process quality. We find limited evidence that the constructs identified in high-income countries replicate in LMICs. Further, the very limited evidence that ECE quality measures used in LMICs predict child outcomes is almost exclusively cross-sectional and associations are mixed. We conclude by discussing how future research can build a stronger knowledge base about ECE quality and child development globally.

scholarly journals Addressing the Linkages between Gender and Transport in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (17) ◽  
pp. 4555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanu Priya Uteng ◽  
Jeff Turner
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Millennium Development Goals ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
History Of ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Research And Policy ◽  
Low And Middle Income

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) specifies gender equality and sustainable development as their two central priorities. An area of critical importance for sustainable and gender-fair development is mobility and transport, which has so far been neglected and downplayed in research and policy making both at the national and global levels. Rooted in the history of the topic and the emerging ideas on smart, green and integrated transport, this paper presents a literature review of on gender and transport in the low- and middle-income countries. The paper presents a host of cross-cutting topics with a concentrated focus on spatial and transport planning. The paper further identifies existing research gaps and comments on the new conceptualizations on smart cities and smart mobilities in the Global South. Due attention is paid to intersections and synergies that can be created between different development sectors, emerging transport modes, data and modeling exercises, gender equality and sustainability.

scholarly journals Analysis of Social Science Research Into Cancer Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Improving Global Cancer Control Through Greater Interdisciplinary Research

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Caduff ◽  
Mac Skelton ◽  
Dwaipayan Banerjee ◽  
Darja Djordjevic ◽  
Marissa Mika ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Interdisciplinary Research ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Science Studies ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Research And Policy ◽  
Low And Middle Income

This analysis lays a framework for greater collaboration between the cancer community and social scientists in both research and policy. We argue that the growing cancer burden that low- and middle-income countries face is raising social, political, and economic challenges of global cancer that require interdisciplinary research beyond the traditional biomedical-clinical nexus. First, we briefly review some of the most important existing social science studies that have addressed cancer in low- and middle-income countries, including the main methods, approaches, and findings of this research. Second, we give an overview of recent interdisciplinary collaborations between social scientists and oncologists and demonstrate how qualitative research can help us to understand the distinct challenges of cancer care in low- and middle-income settings. Finally, we identify key areas for future collaboration and suggest possible paths forward for cancer research and policy that involve social science.

Development and Content Validation of an Instrument to Measure Baseline Standards for Pediatric Oncology Nursing in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2020 ◽  
pp. 104345422091970
Author(s):  
Sara W. Day ◽  
Courtney E. Sullivan ◽  
Lisa Morrissey ◽  
Linda Abramovitz ◽  
Lorena Segovia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Care ◽  
Pediatric Oncology ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
World Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Oncology Nursing ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Low And Middle Income

The Nursing Working Group of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology developed baseline standards for pediatric oncology nursing care in low- and middle-income countries. The standards represent the foundational support required to provide quality nursing care and address barriers such as inadequate staffing, lack of support, limited access to education, and unsafe nursing environments. The purpose of the current study was to develop and validate an instrument to accurately measure the standards. Content validity was assessed by a panel of expert pediatric oncology nurses from all geographical regions of the World Health Organization. The experts were informed about the study’s purpose and provided the publications used to develop the instrument. The experts rated how well each criterion measured the corresponding standard by using a 4-point scale. A content validity index (CVI) was computed by using the percentage of total standards given a score of 3 or 4 by the experts. A CVI of .98 was obtained from the panel’s evaluation. A CVI of more than .80 is recommended for a newly developed instrument. On the basis of the panel’s recommendations, minor modifications were made to the instrument. We developed and validated the content of an instrument to accurately measure baseline standards for pediatric oncology nursing care. This instrument will aid future research on the effect of nursing standards on clinical outcomes, including mortality and abandonment of treatment, with the potential to influence health policy decisions and improve nursing support in low- and middle-income countries.

Public attitudes and the challenge of stigma

2020 ◽  
pp. 6-11
Author(s):  
Nicole Votruba ◽  
Mirja Koschorke ◽  
Graham Thornicroft
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Stigma And Discrimination ◽  
People With Mental Illness ◽  
Culturally Adapted ◽  
Low And Middle Income

People with mental illness frequently face challenges related to knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour. These challenges are more commonly known as stigma and discrimination, and appear universally with local and regional variations in their content and manifestations. They display in low levels of mental health literacy among the general population (ignorance/knowledge), negative affect towards people with experience of mental illness (prejudice/attitudes), and social exclusion and diminished citizenship for people with mental illness (discrimination/behaviour). This chapter looks at how people with mental illness are impacted by stigma and discrimination, considering the evidence of the implications of these knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour, and summarizes the literature on what can be done to effectively reduce stigma and discrimination. Increasingly strong evidence suggests that personal and social contact methods, including filmed/virtual contact, are the most strongly evidence-based method to reduce stigma and discrimination. Yet, most evidence is from high-income countries and tested for short- to mid-term efficacy. This evidence gap increases the need for more evidence from low- and middle-income countries and validation of sustainability in more long-term studies. In summary and for future research and interventions, service users will the key partners in anti-stigma programmes, and interventions specifically locally and culturally adapted for use in low- and middle-income countries are a pressing priority.

Barriers to linking research and policy: the case of long-term care in low and middle income countries

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Lloyd-Sherlock
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Problem Definition ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Research And Policy ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract This paper sets out a number of issues related to the translation of research into evidence and policy for long-term care (LTC) in low and middle income countries (LMICs). First, it assesses the role research can play in problem definition, including establishing the scale of long-term care demand in LMICs and identifying potential negative consequences of policy inaction. Second, it assesses the role that research can play in identifying and evaluating solutions to the problem, in the form of suitable policies and interventions. Lastly, it assesses mutual accessibility between researchers and policy-makers, paying particular attention to institutional and organisational structures. Applying this framework, the paper demonstrates that the capacity for research to influence long-term care policy is very limited. The paper calls for the establishment of an adequately resourced global institutional hub to support research in this area and to promote knowledge-sharing between academics and policy-makers.

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