scholarly journals Strengthening epilepsy-related prevention and control services in middle- and low-income nations

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
SaurabhRamBihariLal Shrivastava ◽  
PrateekSaurabh Shrivastava
2021 ◽  
pp. 361-376
Author(s):  
Corinne Peek-Asa ◽  
Adnan A. Hyder

Injuries are among the leading causes of death and disability throughout the world and contribute disproportionately to premature life lost. Injury rates are highest among middle- and low-income countries. According to analyses of the 2016 Global Burden of Disease data, injuries cause over 4.6 million deaths per year, accounting for nearly 8.4% of all deaths and 10.7% of disability-adjusted life years. Many opportunities to implement injury prevention strategies exist, and a systematic approach to injury prevention can help identify the most effective and efficient approaches. Building capacity for injury prevention activities in low- and middle-income countries is an important public health priority.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Choolwe Muzyamba ◽  
Ogylive Mphanza Makova ◽  
Geofrey Mushibi

Abstract Background: While lockdowns have become a gold standard response to the Covid-19 pandemic, debates on its usefulness still continue. There is currently good amount of research work originating from western countries on the usefulness of lockdowns, however, similar research is still missing in low income countries like Uganda which implemented stricter lockdowns. More importantly, not much is known about the views of the residents of Uganda for which such a measure was meant for. Despite the implementation of lockdowns, it is still not yet known how relevant residents of Uganda view the lockdown. Research has demonstrated that interventions are most successful when they resonate with the target population This study fills this identified gap by investigating the views and lived experiences of residents of Uganda with regards to the usefulness of the lockdown as a response to the prevention and control of COVID-19.Methods: This was a cross sectional survey using qualitative methods of data collection. Data will was collected from 1000 participants in the four regions of Uganda on the views and experiences on lockdown as a response to the prevention and control of COVID-19 crisis among residents of Uganda. Data collection was down through use of a Qualtrics Survey Tool. Thematic analysis with the help of the Social representation theory was then used to analyze the data. Findings: The study demonstrated that there was visible nuance in the manner in which the lockdown was characterized. On one hand it was seen as useful in slowing down the spread, protecting the fragile healthcare system and giving government enough time to learn about the novel virus and thus respond efficiently. On the other hand, our participants were critical of its devastative nature on the livelihoods of people. Particularly, the lockdown closed down economic survival opportunities for the most vulnerable in society, increased unemployment and poverty levels. The lockdown also contributed to worsening mental health conditions and simultaneously provided fertile ground for domestic abuse including sexual abuse especially among girls.Conclusion: Ultimately, our study questions the narrow view of branding the lockdown as unequivocally good or bad. It rather sheds light on the complexities of its effect on society in Uganda by pointing out its multicapillary-like consequences in society wherein it can, in various ways protect lives and at the same time destroy livelihoods. Our study thus highlights that responding to such complexities defies the logic of implementing the lockdown as a ‘one-size-fits-all magic bullet’, but rather that it must be contextualized, localized and appropriated to the realities of Uganda.


2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-132
Author(s):  
Shah Md Mahfuzur Rahman ◽  
Shah Monir Hossain ◽  
Mahmood Uz Jahan

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, and posing significant challenges both in developed and developing countries including Bangladesh. In 2016, of the total 56.9 million global deaths, 71.0%, were due to NCDs. Some 85.0% of premature deaths from NCDs, are in low and middle income countries, where greater burden of undernutrition and infectious diseases exist.1-3 Evidence suggests a higher age specific mortality for NCDs among Bangladeshi population compared to Western populations, which putting burden on healthcare systems. 4 Bangladesh NCD Risk Factors Survey, 2018 showed that among the adult population, the mean salt intake was 16.5 gram per day and the prevalence of dislipidaemia was 28.4 %.5 Sugar consumption also continues to rise, driven by increased intake of beverages, biscuits, sweets and confectionary items. Industrially produced transfat in some food items is also an important issue in the country. Malnutrition is a key risk factor for NCDs. Globally, nearly one in three people has at least one form of malnutrition, and this will reach one in two by 2025, based on current trends.6-8 All forms of malnutrition are caused by unhealthy, poor quality diets. Unhealthy diets that include high sugar, salt and fat intake, malnutrition, and NCDs are closely linked. Not only on the health, malnutrition and diet related NCDs pose a substantial burden on the economy and development. Food systems worldwide face major challenges, such as population growth, globalisation, urbanisation, and climate change. Today’s food systems are broken and do not deliver nutritious, safe, affordable, and sustainable diets; they undermine nutrition in several ways, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised populations. Billions of dollars are spent annually marketing foods high in calories, fats, sugars, and salt, and intake has increased globally, including in low income countries.8 United Nations (UN) is well committed to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases through adopting series of resolutions in its General Assembly.  In 2013, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) resolved to develop and implement national action plans, in line with the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (2013–2020).9 NCDs are also embedded in sustainable development goal (SDG) target 3.4, that is, to reduce by one-third the premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases by 2030. NCDs are also linked to other SDGs, notably SDG 1 to end poverty. In 2017, the WHO Global Conference on Noncommunicable Diseases reaffirmed noncommunicable diseases as a sustainable development priority in the Montevideo roadmap 2018–2030.10 Bangladesh has also developed the Multisectoral Action Plan for Prevention and Control                             of Noncommunicable Diseases 2018-2025, with a three-year operational plan.11 Earlier the country has developed National Nutrition Policy, 2015, Second National Plan of Action for Nutrition, 2016-2025, Dietary Guidelines and other policies, strategies and action plan. The country is putting efforts for the prevention and control of malnutrition and NCDs. Furthermore,  to prevent and control the diet related noncommunicable diseases across the life cycle nutrition labelling, re-formulation of food standards with limiting high sugar, salt and fat, and banning industrial transfats; restriction of food advertising particularly marketing of unhealthy foods to children, imposing tax on sugar sweetened drinks, junk food etc. Aimed at behavior change communication, mass-media campaigns, nutritional advice and nutrition education on NCDs in general and diet related NCDs in particular are thus recommended.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 927-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gertrude Sika Avortri ◽  
Juliet Nabyonga-Orem

Purpose Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) constitute a major threat to patient safety and affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The World Health Organization in 2016 published guidelines on the core components for infection prevention and control (IPC) programme. This was in response to a global call for focused action. The purpose of this paper is to examine and promote understanding of the tenets of the IPC guidelines and highlight their implications for implementation in low-income countries. Design/methodology/approach Drawing from personal experiences in leading the implementation of health programmes as well as a review of published and grey literature on IPC, authors discussed and proposed practical approaches to implement IPC priorities in low-income setting. Findings Availability of locally generated evidence is paramount to guide strengthening leadership and institutionalisation of IPC programmes. Preventing infections is everybody’s responsibility and should be viewed as such and accorded the required attention. Originality/value Drawing from recent experiences from disease outbreaks and given the heavy burden of HAIs especially in low-income settings, this paper highlights practical approaches to guide implementation of the major components of IPC.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermira Tartari ◽  
Joost Hopman ◽  
Benedetta Allegranzi ◽  
Bin Gao ◽  
Andreas Widmer ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesImplementation of effective infection prevention and control (IPC) measures is needed to support global capacity building to limit transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and mitigate its impact on health systems. We assessed the perceptions of healthcare workers on the current global IPC preparedness measures for COVID-19.MethodsA cross-sectional survey using an electronic survey was circulated between February 26, 2020, and March 20, 2020, to IPC professionals during COVID-19 pandemic. The survey addressed the presence of COVID-19 guidelines as well as specific IPC preparedness activities in response to the outbreak.FindingsIn total, 339 IPC professionals spanning 63 countries in all 6 World Health Organization (WHO) regions, mostly from tertiary care centres participated. Of all participants, 66·6% were aware of the existence of national guidelines to prevent COVID-19. A shortage of PPE supplies was reported by 48% (ranging from 64·2% in low-income countries to 27·4% in high-income countries); 41·5% of respondents considered that the media had an impact on guideline development and 63·6% believed that guidelines were based on maximum security rather than on evidence-based analyses. 58·5% and 72·7% of participants believed that healthcare facilities and community settings respectively were not sufficiently prepared.ConclusionResults revealed lack of guidelines and concerns over insufficient PPE supply in both high- and low-income countries. Our findings should alert national health authorities to ramp up the implementation of IPC measures and focus on long-term preparedness and readiness for future pandemics, likely requiring government funds rather than reliance on healthcare institutions.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
TEH EXODUS AKWA

Coronavirus infection has been reported in every country in the world and the number of people getting sick in low income countries rises rapidly. Public health sectors are concerned with the effective prevention and control especially in these countries. The situation is becoming critical due to challenges faced in the effective control and management set out by these bodies. The article seeks to highlight some of the factors contributing to challenges faced by low income countries in controlling the spread of this disease. It is hoped that from this article, possible strategies for improvement can be designed as regarding the control of the COVID-19 spread.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brynne Gilmore ◽  
Rawlance Ndejjo ◽  
Adalbert Tchetchia ◽  
Vergil de Claro ◽  
Elizabeth Nyamupachitu-Mago ◽  
...  

Introduction Community engagement has been considered a fundamental component of past outbreaks, such as Ebola. The COVID-19 pandemic and its control efforts require social actions and behaviours, all of which place a large reliance on individual and community compliance, highlighting the need for appropriate community engagement to support such work. However, there is concern over the lack of involvement of communities within COVID-19 thus far. Identifying how community engagement approaches have been used in past epidemics may support more robust implementation of community engagement within COVID-19 response. Methodology A rapid evidence review was conducted to identity how community engagement is used for infectious disease prevention and control during epidemics. Three databases (PubMed, CINHAL and Scopus) were searched in addition to extensive snowballing for grey literature. Previous epidemics were limited to Ebola, Zika, SARS, MERS and H1N1 since 2000. No restrictions were applied to study design or language, though articles must have detailed a minimum of one community engagement for infection prevention and control initiative. All authors participated in searching, screening, and data extraction, with a minimum of two authors at each stage. Results From 1,112 references identified in our search, 32 articles met our inclusion criteria. All but 3 articles were published on or after 2015 which details 37 community engagement initiatives for Ebola (n=28), Zika (n=5) and H1N1 (n=4). Twenty-seven of these initiatives were implemented in low-income countries and 10 from high-income countries. Six broad community engagement actors were identified: local leaders, community and faith-based organisations, community groups, health facility or community health committees, individuals and key stakeholders. These actors worked across six different functions: designing and planning, community entry and trust-building, social and behaviour change communication, risk communication, surveillance and tracing, and logistics and administration. Leaders were the most prevalent actor being engaged, and behaviour change communication, risk communication, and surveillance and tracing were the most common function of community engagement. Implementation considerations community engagement in prevention and control of COVID-19 are reported within. Conclusion COVID-19 global presence and social transmission pathways require social and community responses. This may be particularly important to reach marginalised populations and support equity-informed responses. Previous experience from outbreaks shows that community engagement can take many forms and include different actors and approaches who support various prevention and control activities. Countries worldwide are encouraged to assess existing community engagement structures, and utilise community engagement approaches to support contextually specific, acceptable and appropriate COVID-19 prevention and control measures.


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