scholarly journals Mapping the Slums of Dhaka from 2006 to 2010

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver Gruebner ◽  
Jonathan Sachs ◽  
Anika Nockert ◽  
Michael Frings ◽  
Md. Mobarak Hossain Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Visual Interpretation ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Social Segregation ◽  
Local Health Policy ◽  
Settlement Growth

Background. Rapid urban growth in low and middle income countries is frequently characterized by informal developments. The resulting social segregation and slums show disparities in health outcomes for the populations of the world’s megacities. To address these challenges, information on the spatial distribution of slums is necessary, yet the data are rarely available. The goal of this study was to use a remote sensing based approach to map urban slums in Dhaka, the second fastest growing megacity in the world. Methods. Slums were mapped through the visual interpretation of Quickbird satellite imagery between the years 2006 and 2010. Ancillary references included the 2005 census and mapping of slums, Google Earth, and geolocated photographs. The 2006 slums were first delineated and filtered in GIS to avoid small, isolated slums. For 2010, changes to the 2006 slums were defined over the latter’s polygons to retain border consistency. Conclusions. The dataset presented here can be considered a stepping stone for further research on slums and urban expansion in Dhaka. The slum distribution dataset is useful to be pooled with other data to reveal trends of informal settlement growth for local health policy advice in Dhaka.

scholarly journals Need for an Integrated Deprived Area “Slum” Mapping System (IDEAMAPS) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana R. Thomson ◽  
Monika Kuffer ◽  
Gianluca Boo ◽  
Beatrice Hati ◽  
Tais Grippa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Visual Interpretation ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The People ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Ninety percent of the people added to the planet over the next 30 years will live in African and Asian cities, and a large portion of these populations will reside in deprived neighborhoods defined by slum conditions, informal settlement, or inadequate housing. The four current approaches to neighborhood deprivation mapping are largely siloed, and each fall short of producing accurate, timely, and comparable maps that reflect local contexts. The first approach, classifying “slum households” in census and survey data, reflects household-level rather than neighborhood-level deprivation. The second approach, field-based mapping, can produce the most accurate and context-relevant maps for a given neighborhood, however it requires substantial resources, preventing up-scaling. The third and fourth approaches, human (visual) interpretation and machine classification of air or spaceborne imagery, both overemphasize informal settlements, and fail to represent key social characteristics of deprived areas such as lack of tenure, exposure to pollution, and lack of public services. We summarize common areas of understanding, and present a set of requirements and a framework to produce routine, accurate maps of deprived urban areas that can be used by local-to-international stakeholders for advocacy, planning, and decision-making across Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). We suggest that machine learning models be extended to incorporate social area-level covariates and regular contributions of up-to-date and context-relevant field-based classification of deprived urban areas.

scholarly journals Generating Evidence From Contextual Clinical Research in Low- to Middle Income Countries: A Roadmap Based on Theory of Change

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babar S. Hasan ◽  
Muneera A. Rasheed ◽  
Asra Wahid ◽  
Raman Krishna Kumar ◽  
Liesl Zuhlke
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Global Health Research ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Ministries

Along with inadequate access to high-quality care, competing health priorities, fragile health systems, and conflicts, there is an associated delay in evidence generation and research from LMICs. Lack of basic epidemiologic understanding of the disease burden in these regions poses a significant knowledge gap as solutions can only be developed and sustained if the scope of the problem is accurately defined. Congenital heart disease (CHD), for example, is the most common birth defect in children. The prevalence of CHD from 1990 to 2017 has progressively increased by 18.7% and more than 90% of children with CHD are born in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). If diagnosed and managed in a timely manner, as in high-income countries (HICs), most children lead a healthy life and achieve adulthood. However, children with CHD in LMICs have limited care available with subsequent impact on survival. The large disparity in global health research focus on this complex disease makes it a solid paradigm to shape the debate. Despite many challenges, an essential aspect of improving research in LMICs is the realization and ownership of the problem around paucity of local evidence by patients, health care providers, academic centers, and governments in these countries. We have created a theory of change model to address these challenges at a micro- (individual patient or physician or institutions delivering health care) and a macro- (government and health ministries) level, presenting suggested solutions for these complex problems. All stakeholders in the society, from government bodies, health ministries, and systems, to frontline healthcare workers and patients, need to be invested in addressing the local health problems and significantly increase data to define and improve the gaps in care in LMICs. Moreover, interventions can be designed for a more collaborative and effective HIC-LMIC and LMIC-LMIC partnership to increase resources, capacity building, and representation for long-term productivity.

scholarly journals Improvement of Early Antenatal Care Initiation

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 233339281876148
Author(s):  
Tippawan Liabsuetrakul ◽  
Nurlisa Oumudee ◽  
Masuenah Armeeroh ◽  
Niamina Nima ◽  
Nurosanah Duerahing
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Intervention Study ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Counseling Intervention ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Study Intervention ◽  
Training Modules

Background: Although antenatal care (ANC) coverage has been increasing in low- and middle-income countries, the adherence to the ANC initiation standards at gestational age <12 weeks was inadequate including Thailand. The study aimed to improve the rate of early ANC initiation by training the existing local health volunteers (LHVs) in 3 southernmost provinces of Thailand. Methods: A clustered nonrandomized intervention study was conducted from November 2012 to February 2014. One district of each province was selected to be the study intervention districts for that province. A total of 124 LHVs in the intervention districts participated in the knowledge–counseling intervention. It was organized as half-day workshop using 2 training modules each comprising a 30-minute lecture followed by counseling practice in pairs for 1 hour. Outcome was the rate of early ANC initiation among women giving birth, and its association with intervention, meeting an LHV, and months after training was analyzed. Results: Of 6677 women, 3178 and 3499 women were in the control and intervention groups, respectively. Rates of early ANC were significantly improved after the intervention (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-1.43, P < .001) and meeting an LHV (adjusted OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.86-2.29, P < .001), but lower at 6 months after training (adjusted OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60-0.96, P = .002). Almost all women (99.7%) in the intervention group who met an LHV reported that they were encouraged to attend early ANC. Conclusion: Training LHVs in communities by knowledge–counseling intervention significantly improved early ANC initiation, but the magnitude of change was still limited.

scholarly journals Epidemiology and factors associated with diarrhoea among children under five years of age in the Engela District in the Ohangwena Region, Namibia

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria F. Bauleth ◽  
Honore K. Mitonga ◽  
Lusia N. Pinehas
Keyword(s):  
Informal Settlement ◽  
Acute Diarrhoea ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Middle Income Countries

Background: Diarrhoea remains a public health problem and an important cause of morbidity and mortality amongst children, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. In Namibia, the national prevalence of diarrhoea was 17%; it was responsible for 5% of all deaths in children under 5 years old and is the second leading cause of death.Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the epidemiology and factors associated with acute diarrhoea amongst children less than 5 years of age in Engela district in the Ohangwena region, Namibia.Setting: The study was conducted in Ohangwena Region in Namibia which extends east to west along the borders of the southern part of Angola.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A structured questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the socio-demographic and epidemiological data of diarrhoea and logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the prevalence of diarrhoea.Results: The study found a prevalence of 23.8% for diarrhoea in the 2 weeks period preceding the survey amongst children aged under 5 years. The prevalence of diarrhoea was statistically significantly associated with children (p 0.05). The strongest predictor of the prevalence of diarrhoea was the residential area ‘informal settlement’, with an odds ratio of 36.42. This implies that children living in the informal settlement are 36.42 times at risk of contracting diarrhoea as compared to those living in other residential areas.Conclusion: epidemiology; factors; diarrhoea; under-5 years children; Engela district; Ohangwena region; Namibia.

scholarly journals Double-Antigen Lateral Flow Immunoassay for the Detection of Anti-HIV-1 and -2 Antibodies Using Upconverting Nanoparticle Reporters

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 330
Author(s):  
Iida Martiskainen ◽  
Etvi Juntunen ◽  
Teppo Salminen ◽  
Karoliina Vuorenpää ◽  
Sherif Bayoumy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lateral Flow ◽  
Visual Interpretation ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Assay Performance ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Antibodies ◽  
Result Interpretation ◽  
Anti Hiv ◽  
Hiv 1

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are often used for the detection of anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies in remote locations in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) with low or limited access to central laboratories. The typical format of an RDT is a lateral flow assay (LFA) with visual interpretation prone to subjectivity. This risk of misinterpretation can be overcome with luminescent upconverting nanoparticle reporters (UCNPs) measured with a miniaturized easy-to-use reader instrument. An LFA with UCNPs for anti-HIV-1/2 antibodies was developed and the assay performance was evaluated extensively with challenging patient sample panels. Sensitivity (n = 145) of the UCNP-LFA was 96.6% (95% CI: 92.1–98.8%) and specificity (n = 309) was 98.7% (95% CI: 96.7–99.7%). Another set of samples (n = 200) was used for a comparison between the UCNP-LFA and a conventional visual RDT. In this comparison, the sensitivities for HIV-1 were 96.4% (95% CI: 89.8–99.3%) and 97.6% (95% CI: 91.6–99.7%), for the UCNP-LFA and conventional RDT, respectively. The specificity was 100% (95% CI: 96.4–100%) for both assays. The developed UCNP-LFA demonstrates the applicability of UCNPs for the detection of anti-HIV antibodies. The signal measurement is done by a reader instrument, which may facilitate automated result interpretation, archiving and transfer of data from de-centralized locations.

A multi-period analysis of a carbon tax including local health feedback: an application to Thailand

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
JENNIFER C. LI
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Tax ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Ancillary Benefits ◽  
Ghg Mitigation ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Period Analysis ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Gains ◽  
Ancillary Benefit

An ancillary benefit of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) mitigation refers to a benefit derived from GHG mitigation that is in addition to the reduction in adverse impacts of global climate change. One type of ancillary benefits of GHG mitigation is reduced local conventional pollutants, which is associated with improved health. Middle-income countries like Thailand are in unique positions to obtain large ancillary health gains from reduced local conventional pollutants when GHG is mitigated by curbing fossil fuel consumption.

scholarly journals Zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030: insights from modelling

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1564
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Scale Up ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Human Rabies ◽  
Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Global Campaign ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Dog-mediated rabies continues to kill tens of thousands of people every year in low- and middle-income countries despite being an entirely vaccine-preventable disease. WHO and partners have launched a global campaign to reach zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. The primary tools for reaching this target are mass dog vaccination to control and interrupt transmission in domestic dog populations that maintain infection, and appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for rabies-exposed persons to prevent the fatal onset of disease. Models have been developed to assess the feasibility, impact and cost-effectiveness of these measures. From these models, we argue that the 2030 target of zero human rabies deaths is achievable, but will require concerted effort, engagement and investment. A proposed Gavi investment in human rabies vaccines has potential to drive progress towards the 2030 target; however, concomitant investment is needed to scale up mass dog vaccination or this target will be missed. Predicted economic benefits of mass dog vaccination vary according to national PEP provisioning and access to care. Integrated Bite Case Management can enhance surveillance and rationalize PEP use, but needs adapting to and integrating within local health systems and international reporting systems to improve PEP accountability, monitor impacts and support verification of disease freedom. Modelling is required for projecting more realistic and geographically specific timelines for achieving targets, in line with the implementation of interventions. The greatest risk to the ‘Zero by 30’ strategy is the limited long-term cross-sectoral or targeted financing to support countries to deliver and sustain mass dog vaccination.

scholarly journals Scalable Screening and Treatment Response Monitoring for Perinatal Depression in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6693
Author(s):  
Ahmed Waqas ◽  
Abid Malik ◽  
Najia Atif ◽  
Anum Nisar ◽  
Huma Nazir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perinatal Depression ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Response Monitoring ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Treatment Responses ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Common perinatal mental disorders such as anxiety and depression are a public health concern in low- and middle-income countries. Several tools exist for screening and monitoring treatment responses, which have frequently been tested globally in clinical and research settings. However, these tools are relatively long and not practical for integration into routine data systems in most settings. This study aims to address this gap by considering three short tools: The Community Informant Detection Tool (CIDT) for the identification of women at risk, the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) for screening women at high-risk, and the 4-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-4) for measuring treatment responses. Studies in rural Pakistan showed that the CIDT offered a valid and reliable key-informant approach for the detection of perinatal depression by utilizing a network of peers and local health workers, yielding a sensitivity of 97.5% and specificity of 82.4%. The PHQ-4 had excellent psychometric properties to screen women with perinatal depression through trained community health workers, with a sensitivity of 93.4% and specificity of 91.70%. The HAMD-4 provided a good model fit and unidimensional construct for assessing intervention responses. These short, reliable, and valid tools are scalable and expected to reduce training, administrative and human resource costs to health systems.

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