Disparities in the implementation of the Health Extension Program in Ethiopia: doing more and better towards universal health coverage

IntroductionLarge-scale implementation of the Health Extension Program (HEP) has enabled Ethiopia to make significant progress in health services coverage and health outcomes. However, evidence on equity and disparities in implementation of the HEP and its outputs is limited. The aim of this study was to examine disparities in the implementation of the HEP in Ethiopia.MethodsWe used data from the 2019 National HEP assessment conducted between Oct 2018 and Sept 2019 in nine regions in the country. Data was collected from 62 districts, 343 Health posts, 179 Health centres, 584 Health Extension Workers (HEWs), 7,043 women from 7,122 Households. This study focused on selected input, service delivery, and service coverage indicators. We used rate differences, rate ratios and index of disparity to assess disparities in HEP implementation across regions.ResultsWe found wide interregional disparities in HEP implementation. Developing regional states (DRS) had significantly availability of qualified HEWs (Rate Ratio (RR) = 0.54), proportion of households visited by Health Extension workers (RR = 0.40, and proportion of mothers who received education on child nutrition (RR = 0.45) as compared national average. There are also significant disparities in HEP implementation among DRS in proportion of household visited by HEWs in the past 12 months (Index of disparity = 1.58) and proportion of adolescents who interacted with HEWs (Index of disparity = 1.43). Despite low overall coverage of health services in DRS, the contribution of the HEP for maternal health services is relatively high.ConclusionThere exist significant interregional disparities in HEP implementation in Ethiopia. The level of disparity among DRS is also remarkable. If the country is to achieve UHC, it is important that these disparities are addressed systematically and strategically. This calls for further attention in all regions, in general, and a tailored approach in DRS, in particular.

The competitiveness of industry in the northern regions of Russia: from profits to people

The article presents a new approach to assessing the competitiveness of economic activities. The author proposes a calculation of all the main indicators per employee in order to analyze the internal integrity of the economic system. The homogeneity of economic subsystems is analyzed in a new dynamics through the coefficient of variation in three aspects - interregional, interindustry and between indicators. On the example of the industry of the northern regions of Russia, ultra-high intersectoral and interregional disparities are revealed. The thesis is put forward about the need to overcome the existing problems.

Digitalizace jako předpoklad regionální konkurenceschopnosti? Analýza disparit na příkladu ČR

The paper focuses on regional competitiveness in relation to the level of digitization putted by the Regional Digitization Index (RDI), which was created by the authors of this paper. This index is inspired by the internationally recognized Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), which compares the level of the digital economy of the EU member states. However, it does not enable to identify interregional disparities in the process of the territory digitization. The aim of the paper is to compare regional competitiveness, determined by the Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI), and the level of digitization expressed by the Regional Digitization Index. The research question is whether a higher RDI value implies a higher RCI level. The emphasis is given especially on regions defined according to the EUROSTAT methodology (2018) as predominantly rural, i.e., Plzeňský, Jihočeský, Vysočina and Pardubický regions. The results, except for the Capital City of Prague, do not confirm this implication, especially if we focus on predominantly rural regions. According to the RCI, Plzeňský and Vysočina regions belong to the regions with high dynamics of development and Pardubický and Jihočeský regions to the regions with average dynamics of development. According to the RDI, Pardubický, Vysočina and Jihočeský regions rank among regions with lower dynamics of digital development and the Plzeňský region falls into the "worst" group of regions with problematic development of digitization.

Using cognitive maps to study issues concerning the improvement of the quality of life of population in the frame of interregional disparities

This paper studies issues of the rise in the standards of living and improvement of the quality of life of the population in the frame of intermunicipal disparities. Simulation and modelling are examined in relation to research of standards of living and quality of life. Tools of cognitive modelling and simulation are used to acquire new knowledge on the regional social and economic, ecological, and political system which determines the standards of living and quality of life. A cognitive model studying the quality of life was designed and its structural properties were analyzed. Scenarios were created to model possible developments of the situation under the influence of various factors. The novelty of the work is in applying a new informational technology of cognitive modelling to studying the improvement of the quality of life in the frame of intermunicipal disparities.

INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF INTERREGIONAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONVERGENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: INTERDISCIPLINARY METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH DEVELOPMENT

Relevance. The problem of interregional convergence within EU-countries has been of great interest among scholars. Such an interest is explained by the fact that joining the European Union may cause deepening interregional disparities among EU-members. As a result, there is a need to develop a model of interregional convergence in socio-economic development that would help countries to face the challenges of regional development during the process of European integration. The multidimensional nature of issues relating to interregional disparities implies the usage of an institutional approach that allows an analysis combining economic and non-economic factors. The purpose of this paper is to develop an interdisciplinary methodological approach to the analysis of interregional socio-economic convergence in the context of European integration from the institutional perspective. Methodological basis. Valuable and very interesting studies along this research line have been undertaken by a number of scholars who have used different methodological approaches that include neoclassical analysis, “core-periphery” theory, institutionalism, “resource abundance curse” phenomenon. The outcomes of their studies serve as a solid ground for in-depth research on interregional convergence that allows analysing this phenomenon from different perspectives. However, the issues regarding the regional dimension of institutional influence on the socio-economic development in the context of European integration have not been thoroughly covered in the economic studies. Results. Based on analysis of theoretical and empirical studies in the areas of interregional disparities and institutional economics, the interdisciplinary methodological approach has been developed, which implies reaching the following objectives: 1) to analyse interregional disparities in EU-members within the framework of neo-classical growth theory, 2) to examine regional dynamics using methodology of “core-periphery” theory (“New Economic Geography”); 3) to research the presence of “resource abundance curse” phenomenon in the regional development in the EU-countries; 4) to examine the institutional dimension of interregional disparities; 5) to analyse position papers on the EU Cohesion Policy implementation to outline the institutional challenges of the latter. Therefore, the research output allows developing an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of the institutional aspect of socio-economic convergence that combines a quantitative (empirical) and qualitative analysis.

Application of SWOT Analysis of Exploitation of Mineral Resources for Defining the Strategy of Support of Sustainable Development of the Slovak Republic

The article deals with a quantifiable approach which leads to the definition of a strategy for promoting sustainable development through the exploitation of mineral resources in Slovakia. It points to a clear identification of a potential strategy by using SWOT analysis, which integrates the interaction of strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the exploitation of mineral resources, which forms the basal platform for the functioning of sustainable development of the Slovak Republic. The paper presents the implementation of the principles of Saaty’s matrix in the quantification of the factors weights of individual areas of SWOT analysis with the aim of their objectification. It describes in detail the quantification of predefined weights of the mentioned analysis, which leads to the definition of the strategy of promoting sustainable development of the Slovak Republic through the exploitation of mineral resources. In conclusion, it presents a graphical representation of the SWOT analysis with an emphasis on supporting the mitigation of developmental interregional disparities in Slovakia.

Analysis of Grants Distributed by Development Agencies via Method of PESTLE: Case of KUZKA in Turkey

Major scale projects have been implemented in Turkey in the context of FYDPs to reduce interregional disparities. Funds for these projects were provided from either WB and EU or Turkey’s internal resources. A new application was started in 2006 as parallel to the establishment of Development Agencies in the context of harmonisation process to the EU. There are 26 Development Agencies in Turkey. In this study, KUZKA was selected as research area. Secondary data (call for projects, reports, data of the Ministry of Development, statistics, etc) were used and grants distributed by the KUZKA were examined via PESTLE Analysis. In substance, effects of grants were handled point schemes of politics, economics, social, technological, legal and environmental point of view and also contribution of the KUZKA to regional development in Turkey have been determined.

Application of Multivariate Statistical Methods in the Analysis of Czech Population Life Quality with Attention to Regional Differentiation

Quality of life in the regions is affected by many mutually interlinked factors. The paper is aimed at the research of regional disparities in CR population life quality as assessed from the viewpoint of economic efficiency of the region and the social and environmental conditions. The interregional disparities research started from statistical modeling based on identification of key indicators affecting life quality in the CR districts and the outcomes reached have been exploited further for multidimensional classification of districts as to the indicators analyzed. Attention has been paid also to the ways of application of cartographic map facilitating a clear visualization of regional disparities.