scholarly journals Reliability of water supplies in low and middle-income countries: a structured review of definitions and assessment criteria

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Batsirai Majuru ◽  
Marc Suhrcke ◽  
Paul R. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Assessment Criteria ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Common Criterion

Abstract The unreliability of water supplies in developing countries is a widely recognised concern. However, unreliability means different things in the variety of literature on water supplies, and no unified definition or assessment criteria exists. We review definitions of water supply reliability used in existing literature, as well as the various ways in which it is assessed. Thirty-three papers were selected for review that reported on reliability of domestic water supply and were based on empirical research in developing countries. Explicit definitions of reliability are given in four out of the 33 papers reviewed. These definitions vary, but features common are the functionality of the water supply system itself, and the extent to which it meets the needs of water users. Assessment criteria also vary greatly, with the most common criterion in urban settings being the duration/continuity of supply in hours per day, while in rural settings, the proportion of functional water systems is commonly used. The heterogeneity in the definitions and assessment criteria found in the review is perhaps indicative of a multi-attribute nature of the concept of reliability and any unifying definition and assessment criteria might do well to take this into account.

Water Quality and Health

1991 ◽  
Vol 23 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 201-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Kreisel
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Wastewater Reuse ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
Minimum Quality Standards ◽  
Quality Guidelines

Water quality can affect human health in various ways: through breeding of vectors, presence of pathogenic protozoa, helminths, bacteria and viruses, or through inorganic and organic chemicals. While traditional concern has been with pathogens and gastro-intestinal diseases, chemical pollutants in drinking-water supplies have in many instances reached proportions which affect human health, especially in cases of chronic exposure. Treatment of drinking-water, often grossly inadequate in developing countries, is the last barrier of health protection, but control at source is more effective for pollution control. Several WHO programmes of the International Drinking-Water Supply and Sanitation Decade have stimulated awareness of the importance of water quality in public water supplies. Three main streams have been followed during the eighties: guidelines for drinking-water quality, guidelines for wastewater reuse and the monitoring of freshwater quality. Following massive investments in the community water supply sector to provide people with adequate quantities of drinking-water, it becomes more and more important to also guarantee minimum quality standards. This has been recognized by many water and health authorities in developing countries and, as a result, WHO cooperates with many of them in establishing water quality laboratories and pollution control programmes.

scholarly journals Global neurosurgery, Bangladesh and COVID-19 era

2020 ◽  
pp. 574-576
Author(s):  
Robert Ahmed Khan ◽  
Moshiur Rahman ◽  
Amit Agrawal ◽  
Ezequiel Garcia-Ballestas ◽  
Luis Rafael Moscote-Salazar
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Surgical Care ◽  
Medical Procedure ◽  
Surgical Service ◽  
Training Process ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Significant Obstacle ◽  
To Come

Background. COVID-19 has become an alarming pandemic for our earth. It has created panic not only in China but also in developing countries like Bangladesh. Bangladesh has adequate confinements to constrain the spread of the infection and in this circumstance, overall healthcare workers including neurosurgeons are confronting a ton of difficulties. The purpose of this paper is to depict the proficiency of Global neurosurgery in this COVID-19 time. Method. Global neurosurgery offers the chance of fusing the best proof-based guidelines of care. This paper demonstrated that, in low to middle-income countries, Global medical procedure has been received to address the issues of residents who lack critical surgical care. Results. Inappropriate and insufficient asset allotment has been a significant obstacle for the health system for decently giving security to the patients. The fundamental training process has been genuinely hampered in the current circumstance. Worldwide health activities have set to an alternate centre and Global neurosurgery as an assurance is slowed down. Conclusion. This paper recommended that Global neurosurgical activities need to come forward and increase the workforce to emphasize surgical service.

scholarly journals Research and Publication from Developing Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohan R Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Burden Of Disease ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Publishing Research ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
High Burden ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Developed Countries

In 2002, Richard Smith wrote an editorial, “publishing research from developing countries” in the Journal “Statistics in Medicine” highlighting the importance of research and publication from the developing countries (DCs).1 In that article, he mentioned the disparity in research and publication between the developed and developing countries. Almost two decades on, the problem still largely remains the same. It is estimated that more than 80% of the world’s population lives in more than 100 developing countries.2 In terms of disease burden, the prevalence and mortality from diseases in the low and middle-income countries are disproportionately high compared to developed countries.3 Although there is a high burden of disease, we base our treatment inferring results from research and publication from the developed countries which may not be fully generalizable due to geographical cultural, racial, and economic factors. This is where the problem lies.

Knowledge Sharing for Healthcare and Medicine in Developing Countries

2017 ◽  
pp. 1276-1293
Author(s):  
Kgomotso H. Moahi ◽  
Kelvin J. Bwalya
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Sharing Behavior

Knowledge sharing has always been used as a platform for cross-pollination of ideas and innovations in a bid to improve and enhance performance thereby increasing competitiveness and responsiveness both in organizations and individual levels. Healthcare systems are not an exception. However, for knowledge sharing to take place there is need for certain factors to be noted and addressed such as the individual, organizational and technological. Further, knowledge sharing goes hand in hand with knowledge management and must become part of the strategic fabric of organizations. This chapter focuses on knowledge sharing by health professionals in healthcare and medicine in developing countries. The chapter covers knowledge management and its link with knowledge sharing; the various methods of knowledge sharing in healthcare; factors that make knowledge sharing an important strategic move for healthcare organizations; and factors and issues that affect or determine knowledge sharing behavior. Finally, a literature search for examples of knowledge sharing in developing or low and middle-income countries was conducted and the results are presented. The chapter shows that developing countries have recognized the value of knowledge sharing in healthcare systems and there are tangible signs that this is going to shape cross-pollination of ideas and innovations in the health systems in the foreseeable future.

Knowledge Sharing for Healthcare and Medicine in Developing Countries

2017 ◽  
pp. 60-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kgomotso Hildegard Moahi ◽  
Kelvin J. Bwalya
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Cross Pollination ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Sharing Behavior

Knowledge sharing has always been used as a platform for cross-pollination of ideas and innovations in a bid to improve and enhance performance thereby increasing competitiveness and responsiveness both in organizations and individual levels. Healthcare systems are not an exception. However, for knowledge sharing to take place there is need for certain factors to be noted and addressed such as the individual, organizational and technological. Further, knowledge sharing goes hand in hand with knowledge management and must become part of the strategic fabric of organizations. This chapter focuses on knowledge sharing by health professionals in healthcare and medicine in developing countries. The chapter covers knowledge management and its link with knowledge sharing; the various methods of knowledge sharing in healthcare; factors that make knowledge sharing an important strategic move for healthcare organizations; and factors and issues that affect or determine knowledge sharing behavior. Finally, a literature search for examples of knowledge sharing in developing or low and middle-income countries was conducted and the results are presented. The chapter shows that developing countries have recognized the value of knowledge sharing in healthcare systems and there are tangible signs that this is going to shape cross-pollination of ideas and innovations in the health systems in the foreseeable future.

The Evolution of the Digital Divide across Developing Countries

2013 ◽  
pp. 1554-1570
Author(s):  
Nicoletta Corrocher ◽  
Anna Raineri
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Competition Policy ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Emerging Patterns

This chapter aims at investigating the evolution of the digital divide within a set of developing countries between the years 2000 and 2005. In doing so, it moves away from the traditional analysis of the digital divide, which compares developed countries and developing countries, and examines the existing gap within a relatively homogeneous group of countries. On the basis of the theoretical and empirical contributions from scholars in different disciplines, we select a series of socioeconomic and technological indicators and provide an empirical assessment of the digitalization patterns in a set of 51 low income and lower-middle income countries. By means of cluster analysis techniques, we identify three emerging patterns of the digital divide and derive a series of policy implications, related to the implementation of an effective strategy to reduce digital backwardness. The characteristics of each pattern of digitalization can be also usefully employed to understand whether past interventions, especially in the area of competition policy, have been successful in addressing country-specific issues.

Does Population Longevity Attract Foreign Direct Investments in Developing Countries?

2020 ◽  
pp. 097215092091536
Author(s):  
Ayona Bhattacharjee
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Foreign Direct Investments ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Fdi Inflows ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Current Context

In a seminal paper, Alsan et al. (2006 , World Development, vol. 34, pp. 613–630) investigate the effect of population health on gross foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to the developing countries. The purpose of this article is to extend their work by exploring the causal effect of population longevity on attracting FDI flows to the middle-income countries over a longer and more recent period, while addressing endogeneity concerns through a novel instrumental variable (IV). The IV is constructed on the hypothesis of cross-country health convergence and generates plausibly exogenous variations in measures of longevity. Our IV estimates suggest that 1-year increase in a measure of longevity is likely to increase annual FDI inflows by at least 3 per cent in the sample of countries considered. Specifically, significant returns appear to emerge from increases in the longevity of the female population. In the current context of resurgence of FDI as a critical source of financial capital to the developing countries and the prevalence of frequent disease outbreaks, these results suggest that good health is not an end but a means to enable countries better integrate with the global markets.

scholarly journals Scoping review of acute stroke care management and rehabilitation in low and middle-income countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
George Lameck Chimatiro ◽  
Anthea J. Rhoda
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Care Processes ◽  
Care Structure ◽  
Care Outcomes ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract Background Stroke is a major public health concern, affecting millions of people worldwide. Care of the condition however, remain inconsistent in developing countries. The purpose of this scoping review was to document evidence of stroke care and service delivery in low and middle-income countries to better inform development of a context-fit stroke model of care. Methods An interpretative scoping literature review based on Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage-process was executed. The following databases searched for literature published between 2010 and 2017; Cochrane Library, Credo Reference, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Science Direct, BioMed Central, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINNAHL), Academic Search Complete, and Google Scholar. Single combined search terms included acute stroke, stroke care, stroke rehabilitation, developing countries, low and middle-income countries. Results A total of 177 references were identified. Twenty of them, published between 2010 and 2017, were included in the review. Applying the Donebedian Model of quality of care, seven dimensions of stroke-care structure, six dimensions of stroke care processes, and six dimensions of stroke care outcomes were identified. Structure of stroke care included availability of a stroke unit, an accident and emergency department, a multidisciplinary team, stroke specialists, neuroimaging, medication, and health care policies. Stroke care processes that emerged were assessment and diagnosis, referrals, intravenous thrombolysis, rehabilitation, and primary and secondary prevention strategies. Stroke-care outcomes included quality of stroke-care practice, functional independence level, length of stay, mortality, living at home, and institutionalization. Conclusions There is lack of uniformity in the way stroke care is advanced in low and middle-income countries. This is reflected in the unsatisfactory stroke care structure, processes, and outcomes. There is a need for stroke care settings to adopt quality improvement strategies. Health ministry and governments need to decisively face stroke burden by setting policies that advance improved care of patients with stroke. Stroke Units and Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator (rtPA) administration could be considered as both a structural and process necessity towards improvement of outcomes of patients with stroke in the LMICs.

scholarly journals Does Education Abroad Help to Alleviate Poverty at Home? An Assessment (Distinguished Lecture)

2005 ◽  
Vol 44 (4I) ◽  
pp. 439-454
Author(s):  
Christopher Colclough
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
International Education ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Policy Formation ◽  
Education Abroad ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Direct And Indirect Impacts ◽  
Indirect Impacts

Flows of students abroad are increasing rapidly, encouraged by globalisation pressures, by declining quality of university provision in some of the poorest states and by the income needs of northern universities. Students from developing countries are increasingly self-financed, from middle-income countries and from richer families across all countries. The paper argues that both the direct and indirect impacts of these trends on poverty in sending states are likely to be negative. Some increased influence on home policy-formation by the overseas Indian and Chinese diaspora, and increased flows of return migrants to high-growth states in response to targeted recruitment incentives, provide evidence for countervailing tendencies. But for most developing countries, where economic growth is less dynamic, net benefits of international education for poverty alleviation remain unrealised.

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