scholarly journals The Impact of China’s Tightening Environmental Regulations on International Waste Trade and Logistics

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 987
Author(s):  
Trang Tran ◽  
Hiromasa Goto ◽  
Takuma Matsuda
Keyword(s):  
Middle Income ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Waste Plastic ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Unit Value ◽  
Global Logistics ◽  
Import Restrictions ◽  
Waste Trade ◽  
The Impact

In recent years, China’s influence as the dominant importer of waste products has reshaped global waste trade through restrictive programs such as Operation Green Fence in 2013 and National Sword in 2017. These restrictions have greatly affected not only China’s import of waste products but also the international trade and global logistics of these products. China’s import restrictions in 2017 decreased the country’s import of waste plastic by 92% and used paper by 56%. It also increased the unit value of these two categories of waste by 27% and 13%, respectively, showing an improvement in the quality of imported waste. Most of these impacts originate from intensive margins. The restrictions diverted the flow of waste mostly to the low- and middle-income countries of the East Asian and Pacific regions along with Europe and Central Asia, as their imports increased by 161% and 266% for waste plastic and 101% and 77% for used paper, respectively. Compared with Operation Green Fence, the impact of the 2017 National Sword has been much higher, with shipping companies faced with a lack of products on backhaul routes and forced to change their longstanding practices.

scholarly journals Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scales to Detect Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Heather Yemm ◽  
Dame Louise Robinson ◽  
Stella-Maria Paddick ◽  
Catherine Dotchin ◽  
Michaela Louise Goodson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Activities Of Daily Living ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Instrumental Activities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Background: The largest proportion of people with dementia worldwide live in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), with dementia prevalence continuing to rise. Assessment and diagnosis of dementia involves identifying the impact of cognitive decline on function, usually measured by instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Objective: This review aimed to identify IADL measures which are specifically developed, validated, or adapted for use in LMICs to guide selection of such tools. Methods: A systematic search was conducted (fourteen databases) up to April 2020. Only studies reporting on development, validation, or adaptation of IADL measures for dementia or cognitive impairment among older adults (aged over 50) in LMICs were included. The QUADAS 2 was used to assess quality of diagnostic accuracy studies. Results: 22 papers met inclusion criteria; identifying 19 discrete IADL tools across 11 LMICs. These were either translated from IADL measures used in high-income countries (n = 6), translated and adapted for cultural differences (n = 6), or newly developed for target LMIC populations (n = 7). Seven measures were investigated in multiple studies; overall quality of diagnostic accuracy was moderate to good. Conclusion: Reliability, validity, and accuracy of IADL measures for supporting dementia diagnosis within LMICs was reported. Key components to consider when selecting an IADL tool for such settings were highlighted, including choosing culturally appropriate, time-efficient tools that account for gender- and literacy-bias, and can be conducted by any volunteer with appropriate training. There is a need for greater technical and external validation of IADL tools across different regions, countries, populations, and cultures.

scholarly journals Information Technology–Assisted Treatment Planning and Performance Assessment for Severe Thalassemia Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Observational Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajat Kumar Agarwal ◽  
Amit Sedai ◽  
Kumari Ankita ◽  
Lalith Parmar ◽  
Rakesh Dhanya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Care ◽  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Spleen Size ◽  
Liver Size ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Effective Delivery ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Successful models of information and communication technology (ICT) applied to cost-effective delivery of quality care in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are an increasing necessity. Severe thalassemia is one of the most common life-threatening noncommunicable diseases of children globally. OBJECTIVE The aim was to study the impact of ICT on quality of care for severe thalassemia patients in LMIC. METHODS A total of 1110 patients with severe thalassemia from five centers in India were followed over a 1-year period. The impact of consistent use of a Web-based platform designed to assist comprehensive management of severe thalassemia (ThalCare) on key indicators of quality of care such as minimum (pretransfusion) hemoglobin, serum ferritin, liver size, and spleen size were assessed. RESULTS Overall improvements in initial hemoglobin, ferritin, and liver and spleen size were significant (P<.001 for each). For four centers, the improvement in mean pretransfusion hemoglobin level was statistically significant (P<.001). Four of five centers achieved reduction in mean ferritin levels, with two displaying a significant drop in ferritin (P=.004 and P<.001). One of the five centers did not record liver and spleen size on palpation, but of the remaining four centers, two witnessed a large drop in liver and spleen size (P<.01), one witnessed moderate drop (P=.05 for liver; P=.03 for spleen size), while the fourth witnessed a moderate increase in liver size (P=.08) and insignificant change in spleen size (P=.12). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of computer-assisted treatment planning and performance assessment consistently and positively impacted indexes reflecting effective delivery of care to patients suffering from severe thalassemia in LMIC.

Living with a hernia: A qualitative study of patient experience of abdominal wall hernias in Ndola, Zambia

2021 ◽  
pp. 004947552110106
Author(s):  
Elin Ljungstrom ◽  
Felix Chibwe ◽  
Catherine O’Brien ◽  
Joseph Musowoya ◽  
Caris E Grimes
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Patient Perspective ◽  
Ability To Work ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
The Impact

Despite hernias being one of the most common surgical problems in low and middle income countries, very little is known about the impact that having a hernia has on the quality of life of patients in these settings. We performed a pilot study to understand how living with a hernia impacts on the quality of life. Twelve semistructured interviews were performed. A number of themes were identified. These demonstrated the significant impact on physical health, ability to work, psychological health and social relationships. Further work is required to better understand the patient perspective and ensure that hernia operations improve quality of life in these settings.

scholarly journals Assistive Technologies: Addressing the Divide Between the Developed and Developing World

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuti Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
World Literature ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Impacts ◽  
The Impact

Assistive technologies are used to enhance the day-to-day functionality of people with disabilities by improving their quality of life and by reducing the impact of disability in their lives. Various socio-economic, cultural, contextual, medical, personal, and family-related factors determine the feasibility and outcomes of using assistive technologies. While various forms of assistive technologies are being widely used for rehabilitation, recreational, or personal purposes around the world many still remain inaccessible and vastly unaffordable in countries around the world. Literature suggests that, when comparing high income countries with low and lower-middle income countries, differences among the longevity, availability, ease of users, affordability and, most importantly, the recognition of the need for an assistive technology, are common, with those measures lagging in low and lower-middle income countries. Certain targeted interventions have been suggested to provide insight into how discrepancies in promoting the use of assistive technologies between developed and developing nations can be minimised with the goal of reducing the global impacts of disability.

scholarly journals Correlates of depressive disorders and quality of life among older adults in six low and middle-income countries: WHO country-wide study on global ageing and adult health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duah Dwomoh ◽  
Susan Ama Amuasi ◽  
Gabriel Incoom ◽  
Alfred Edwin Yawson ◽  
Emmanuel Asampong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Global Ageing

Abstract Background The diagnosis and treatment of Depressive Disorders (DD) remain a challenge in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Identifying the most important correlate of DD would serve as a guide in the design and implementation of targeted intervention in resource-constrained LMICs. This study determined whether there is/are common risk factor(s) of DD across the six LMICs and whether there is a risk factor that can be ranked consistently as the most important predictor of DD in all the six LMICs. We further estimated the impact of DD on the quality of life (QoL).Methods We used data from the World Health Organization Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health. Weighted dominance analysis was performed to determine the most important risk factor of DD. We applied inverse probability weighting Poisson regression adjustment to estimate the impact of DD on QoL for each country and further estimated the overall effect of DD on QoL in the six countries by computing a weighted average of the country-specific estimate using the technique of meta-analysis.Results Among the 58 risk factors investigated, Asthma was the most common and the most important predictor of DD across all six LMICs. DD contributed to a 12% increase in the poor QoL in China, (prevalence difference (PD)=0.12; 95% CI: 0.07-0.18, p<0.001). In India (PD=0.08; 95% CI: 0.04-0.13, p<0.01) and Russian Federation (PD=0.08; 95% CI: 0.01-0.15, p<0.01). Although there was some increase in poor QoL in Mexico, Ghana, and South Africa due to DD, the increase was not statistically significant.Conclusions Asthma is a major contributing factor to the high prevalence of DD among older adults and could have a direct or indirect effect on QoL. We recommend integrated intervention for Asthma patients that incorporates the diagnosis and treatment of DD. Access to quality mental healthcare should be a major government priority in LMICs.

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. 

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