scholarly journals Shelter from the Storm: The global need for universal social protection in times of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana Marcos Barba ◽  
Hilde van Regenmortel ◽  
Ellen Ehmke
Keyword(s):  
Social Protection ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Executive Summary ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
The Social ◽  
Universal Approach ◽  
Almost All

As 2020 draws to a close, the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic shows no sign of abating. Without urgent action, global poverty and inequality will deepen dramatically. Hundreds of millions of people have already lost their jobs, gone further into debt or skipped meals for months. Research by Oxfam and Development Pathways shows that over 2 billion people have had no support from their governments in their time of need. Our analysis shows that none of the social protection support to those who are unemployed, elderly people, children and families provided in low- and middle-income countries has been adequate to meet basic needs. 41% of that government support was only a one-off payment and almost all government support has now stopped. Decades of social policy focused on tiny levels of means-tested support have left most countries completely unprepared for the COVID-19 economic crisis. Yet, countries such as South Africa and Bolivia have shown that a universal approach to social protection is affordable, and that it has a profound impact on reducing inequality and protecting those who need it most. In addition to the full paper and executive summary, an Excel file with the data analysed by Oxfam and Development Pathways is available to download on this page, along with an annex on the crisis in Latin America and the Caribbean.

scholarly journals Assessing the nationwide impact of COVID-19 mitigation policies on the transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel C. P. Jorge ◽  
Moreno S. Rodrigues ◽  
Mateus S. Silva ◽  
Luciana L. Cardim ◽  
Nívea B. da Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Population Movement ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Mass Gatherings ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Social ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals ◽  
Almost All

AbstractCOVID-19 is now identified in almost all countries in the world, with poorer regions being particularly more disadvantaged to efficiently mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. In the absence of efficient therapeutics or vaccines, control strategies are currently based on non-pharmaceutical interventions, comprising changes in population behavior and governmental interventions, among which the prohibition of mass gatherings, closure of non-essential establishments, quarantine and movement restrictions. In this work we analyzed the effects of 547 published governmental interventions, and population adherence thereof, on the dynamics of COVID-19 cases across all 27 Brazilian states, with emphasis on state capitals and remaining inland cities. A generalized SEIR model with a time-varying transmission rate (TR), that considers transmission by asymptomatic individuals, is presented. Confirmed COVID-19 cases were used to calibrate the model parameters using non-linear least squares methods. We analyze the changes on the TR and effective reproduction number as a function of both the extent of enforced measures across Brazilian states as well as population movement. The social mobility reduction index, a measure of population movement, together with the stringency index, adapted to incorporate the degree of restrictions imposed by governmental regulations, were used in conjunction to quantify and compare the effects of varying degrees of policy strictness across Brazilian states. Our results show that population adherence to social distance recommendations plays an important role for the effectiveness of interventions, and represents a major challenge to the control of COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries.

How much do social protections matter to poverty and inequality? An insight from Asian experiences

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-167
Author(s):  
Udaya R Wagle
Keyword(s):  
Social Protection ◽  
Policy Design ◽  
Welfare States ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
Social Transfer ◽  
Low And Middle Income

This article examines Asia’s experiences with social protection policies and their efficacy in addressing poverty and inequality. While the relatively high efficacy of the comprehensive welfare states of high-income countries has been widely documented, the experience of low- and middle-income countries may vary given the limited redistributive capacity of their social transfer. Data on 33 Asian countries covering 1990–2012 suggest that the limited and evolving composition and coverage of social protection policies vary significantly across countries and regions. Various panel data regressions estimated here yield significant roles of social protection policies in reducing inequality and especially poverty and extreme poverty even after controlling for the roles of gross domestic product (GDP) and other political economy, regional, and population characteristics. This analysis finds that the efficacy of evolving social protection policies from Asian countries does not vary significantly from those of more established welfare states. Whereas the aggregate level data on public social transfer expenditures are far from perfect and do not detail the qualitative variations in policy design and implementation, findings from this analysis help fill the void in literature to understand the degree to which low- and middle-income countries may count on social protection policies to address persistent poverty and growing inequalities.

scholarly journals One Hundred Years of Social Protection: The Rise of the Social Question in Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, 1920–2020

2020 ◽  
pp. 383-428
Author(s):  
Lutz Leisering
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Political Language ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Social Question ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Social ◽  
Language Semantics

AbstractThis chapter concludes the volume on social protection in Brazil, India, China, and South Africa, 1920–2020. The main findings are: (1) Historical evolution—the hundred years from 1920 to 2020 mark the century of the rise of social protection in the four countries. (2) The social construction of the social—all four countries, with the exception of India, have articulated social issues in a generalised way as a social question. (3) Political language—semantics of the social have spread in all four countries. (4) “Multireferentiality”—social protection policies were largely driven and shaped by “non-social” ideas and interests. (5) Transnational diffusion—external ideas have pervaded domestic social protection policies. The chapter closes by thoughts about the future of social protection in middle-income countries.

The Impact of Covid 19 on Pregnant Women and Child Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1367-1373
Author(s):  
Nikhil Sanjay Mujbaile ◽  
Smita Damke
Keyword(s):  
Social Issues ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Separation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
And Child Health ◽  
General Wellbeing

The Covid illness (COVID-19) pandemic has spread rapidly all through the world and has had a drawn-out impact. The Pandemic has done incredible damage to society and made genuine mental injury to numerous individuals. Mental emergencies frequently cause youngsters to deliver sentiments of relinquishment, despondency, insufficiency, and fatigue and even raise the danger of self-destruction. Youngsters with psychological instabilities are particularly powerless during the isolate and colonial removing period. Convenient and proper assurances are expected to forestall the event of mental and social issues. The rising advanced applications and wellbeing administrations, for example, telehealth, web-based media, versatile wellbeing, and far off intuitive online instruction can connect the social separation and backing mental and conduct wellbeing for youngsters. Because of the mental advancement qualities of youngsters, this investigation additionally outlines intercessions on the mental effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Further difficulties in Low Middle-Income Countries incorporate the failure to actualize successful general wellbeing estimates, for example, social separating, hand cleanliness, definitive distinguishing proof of contaminated individuals with self-disconnection and widespread utilization of covers The aberrant impacts of the Pandemic on youngster wellbeing are of extensive concern, including expanding neediness levels, upset tutoring, absence of admittance to the class taking care of plans, decreased admittance to wellbeing offices and breaks in inoculation and other kid wellbeing programs. Kept tutoring is critical for kids in Low Middle-Income Countries. Arrangement of safe situations is mainly testing in packed asset obliged schools. 

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

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.

The impact of COVID-19 on oncologists: Experience from Egyptian physicians.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e13514-e13514
Author(s):  
Abeid Mohamed Athman Omar ◽  
Marwa Ramadan ◽  
Yomna Khamis ◽  
Abdelsalam A. Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Family Support ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Burnout Rate ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Impact

e13514 Background: The unprecedented emergence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has disrupted the patients' and physicians' daily activities, including cancer care. However, little is known on how COVID-19 has impacted oncologists from low and middle-income countries. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among eighty-eight practicing oncologists in Alexandria governorate, Egypt. An electronic, anonymized self-reporting survey was distributed in February 2020 to collect information on occupational safety measures, the prevalence of COVID-19 among respondents, workload, and family support during the pandemic Results: Out of 88 contacted oncologists, 75% completed the survey (n=66). Nearly half (45%) of respondents were residents, 36% were specialists, and 18% were consultants. The mean age of respondents was 34.79 years (SD ±10.42). More than half of the respondents were not comfortable managing cancer patients during the pandemic (56%) and did not feel well-protected at the workplace (58%). However, most (79%) had managed a cancer patient with COVID-19 more than once. Furthermore, almost all participants (98%) have worked with an infected colleague. Nevertheless, to more than half (54%), it made no difference working with a colleague who was previously infected. Most physicians (79%) felt overwhelmed with workload than the pre-pandemic period. Despite being COVID-19 negative, nearly half reported their family members had reduced contact with them due to the fear of being infected. In contrast, 24% are now getting more family support, whereas 27% are experiencing the same contact level as before the COVID-19 era. Physicians lacking family support had a significantly higher burnout rate than those who had family support (p=0.038). However, the burnout rate was similar regardless of doctors' rank, or treating COVID-19 patients, or feeling protected at work. The majority of the participants (75%) had experienced COVID-19 like symptoms, and one third (n=21) were confirmed COVID-19 infected: residents - 52%, specialists - 33%, and consultants - 14%. Nevertheless, we found no association between the rank and being infected with COVID-19 (p=0.632). Most participants thought they were infected at the hospital (38% by patients; 24% by colleagues), and 14% by family members. However, there was no significant association between being infected and feeling protected at work (p=0.823). Most of the infected physicians (61%) received moral support from both the family and colleagues, and 33% received family support only. There was no association between burnout rate and being COVID-19 infected (p=0.719). Conclusions: One-third of the oncologists were COVID-19 positive. Besides, most oncologists feel overwhelmed with workload and experience more burnout than before the COVID-19 era, and it worsens if one lacks family support.

On Poverty and Inequality in Latin America

1996 ◽  
Vol 38 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 15-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert Rosenthal
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
Export Sector ◽  
Positive Side ◽  
Poverty And Inequality ◽  
Standards Of Living ◽  
The Social ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Almost All

It is by now conventional wisdom to say that, while the countries of Latin America have improved their economic performance over the past few years, the majority of their populations have suffered a reversal in their standards of living compared to, let us say, 1980. After the protracted recession and acute macroeconomic disequilibria which was experienced by almost all the countries during the first half of the 1980s, many are staging a recovery in the 1990s. On the positive side, some of the indicators most frequently cited include the resumption of growth (albeit at moderate rates), greater financial stability, an increasingly diversified export sector, and political democratization. On the negative side, one finds inevitable mention of the following: inequitable distribution of income, a high incidence of absolute poverty, and the social tensions that tend to accompany them.

scholarly journals Congenital Zika Syndrome—Assessing the Need for a Family Support Programme in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 3559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antony Duttine ◽  
Tracey Smythe ◽  
Míriam Ribiero Calheiro de Sá ◽  
Silvia Ferrite ◽  
Maria Zuurmond ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Support Programme ◽  
The Social ◽  
Congenital Zika Syndrome ◽  
Access And Quality ◽  
Support Programmes

The Zika outbreak in Brazil caused congenital impairments and developmental delays, or Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). We sought to ascertain whether a family support programme was needed and, if so, could be adapted from the Getting to Know Cerebral Palsy programme (GTKCP) designed for children with cerebral palsy (CP). We conducted a systematic review of the needs of families of children with CZS or CP in low- and middle-income countries and reviewed the findings of the Social and Economic Impact of Zika study. We undertook a scoping visit to three facilities offering services to children with CZS in Brazil to understand potential utility and adaptability of GTKCP. The literature review showed that caregivers of children with CZS experience challenges in mental health, healthcare access, and quality of life, consistent with the CP literature. The scoping visits demonstrated that most support provided to families was medically orientated and while informal support networks were established, these lacked structure. Caregivers and practitioners expressed an eagerness for more structure community-based family support programmes. A support programme for families of children with CZS in Brazil appeared relevant and needed, and may fill an important gap in the Zika response.

scholarly journals Avoidable Mortality: The Core of the Global Cancer Divide

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicia Marie Knaul ◽  
Hector Arreola-Ornelas ◽  
Natalia M. Rodriguez ◽  
Oscar Méndez-Carniado ◽  
Xiaoxiao Jiang Kwete ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Cancer Mortality ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Income Group ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Avoidable Mortality ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cancer Types

Purpose The incidence of infection-associated cancers and lethality of cancers amenable to treatment are closely correlated with the income of countries. We analyzed a core part of this global cancer divide—the distribution of premature mortality across country income groups and cancers—applying novel approaches to measure avoidable mortality and identify priorities for public policy. Methods We analyzed avoidable cancer mortality using set lower- and upper-bound age limits of 65 and 75 years (empirical approach), applying cancer-specific and country income group–specific ages of death (feasibility approach), and applying cancer-specific ages of death of high-income countries to all low- and middle-income countries (LMICs; social justice approach). We applied these methods to 2015 mortality data on 16 cancers for which prevention is possible and/or treatment is likely to result in cure or significant increase in life expectancy. Results At least 30% and as much as 50% of cancer deaths are premature, corresponding to between 2.6 and 4.3 million deaths each year, and 70% to 80% are concentrated in LMICs. Using the feasibility approach, 36% of cancer deaths are avoidable; with the social justice approach, 45% of cancer deaths are avoidable. Five cancer types—breast, colorectal, lung, liver, and stomach—account for almost 75% of avoidable cancer deaths in LMICs and worldwide. Conclusion Each year, millions of premature cancer deaths could be avoided with interventions focused on four priority areas: infection-associated cancers, lifestyle and risk factors, women’s cancers, and children’s cancers. Our analysis of the global burden and the specific cancer types associated with avoidable cancer mortality suggests significant opportunities for health systems to redress the inequity of the global cancer divide.

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