Blood metabolomics in human prenatal and newborn health studies

Advances in technology have dramatically influenced and changed the world of transportation in countless way. While many improvements have been realized with the help of technology in this area, negative consequences, like distracted driving, continue to be formidable challenges to the public’s safety and health. Studies have demonstrated that mobile phones, built-in navigation systems, and other in-vehicle–related entertainment/information technology (infotainment) have contributed to distracted driving, leading to increased morbidity and mortality, especially among the youth. Today, the ubiquitous use of mobile phones while driving has led to major increases of distracted driving, with some attribution to injury and fatal crashes, particularly among young drivers.

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National neonatology forum (NNF): Role in mainstreaming newborn health in India

Journal of Neonatology ◽

10.1177/0973217920090302 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 183-190

Author(s):

Santosh K. Bhargava ◽

Harish Chellani ◽

J.P. Dadhich

Keyword(s):

Newborn Health

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Gender discrimination as a barrier to high-quality maternal and newborn health care in Nigeria: findings from a cross-sectional quality of care assessment

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-021-06204-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chioma Oduenyi ◽

Joya Banerjee ◽

Oniyire Adetiloye ◽

Barbara Rawlins ◽

Ugo Okoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Care ◽

Family Planning ◽

Health Services ◽

Gender Discrimination ◽

Newborn Health ◽

Maternal And Newborn Health ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Care Assessment

Abstract Background Poor reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health outcomes in Nigeria can be attributed to several factors, not limited to low health service coverage, a lack of quality care, and gender inequity. Providers’ gender-discriminatory attitudes, and men’s limited positive involvement correlate with poor utilization and quality of services. We conducted a study at the beginning of a large family planning (FP) and maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health program in Kogi and Ebonyi States of Nigeria to assess whether or not gender plays a role in access to, use of, and delivery of health services. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional, observational, baseline quality of care assessment from April–July 2016 to inform a maternal and newborn health project in health facilities in Ebonyi and Kogi States. We observed 435 antenatal care consultations and 47 births, and interviewed 138 providers about their knowledge, training, experiences, working conditions, gender-sensitive and respectful care, and workplace gender dynamics. The United States Agency for International Development’s Gender Analysis Framework was used to analyze findings. Results Sixty percent of providers disagreed that a woman could choose a family planning method without a male partner’s involvement, and 23.2% of providers disagreed that unmarried clients should use family planning. Ninety-eight percent believed men should participate in health services, yet only 10% encouraged women to bring their partners. Harmful practices were observed in 59.6% of deliveries and disrespectful or abusive practices were observed in 34.0%. No providers offered clients information, services, or referrals for gender-based violence. Sixty-seven percent reported observing or hearing of an incident of violence against clients, and 7.9% of providers experienced violence in the workplace themselves. Over 78% of providers received no training on gender, gender-based violence, or human rights in the past 3 years. Conclusion Addressing gender inequalities that limit women’s access, choice, agency, and autonomy in health services as a quality of care issue is critical to reducing poor health outcomes in Nigeria. Inherent gender discrimination in health service delivery reinforces the critical need for gender analysis, gender responsive approaches, values clarification, and capacity building for service providers.

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Facility assessment and qualitative analysis of health worker perspectives on neonatal health in Malawi

BMC Research Notes ◽

10.1186/s13104-021-05679-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mai-Lei Woo Kinshella ◽

Alinane Linda Nyondo-Mipando ◽

Queen Dube ◽

David M. Goldfarb ◽

Kondwani Kawaza

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Service Providers ◽

Health Centre ◽

Newborn Health ◽

World Health ◽

Neonatal Health ◽

Facility Assessment ◽

Health Innovations ◽

Care Assessment ◽

Implementation Factors

Abstract Objectives The “Integrating a neonatal healthcare package for Malawi” (IMCHA#108030) project conducted mixed-methods to understand facility-based implementation factors for newborn health innovations in low-resourced health settings. The objective of the two datasets was to evaluate: (a) capacity of quality newborn care in three districts in southern Malawi, and (b) barriers and facilitators the scale up of bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a newborn health innovation to support babies with respiratory distress. Data description The Integrated Maternal, Neonatal and Child Quality of Care Assessment and Improvement Tool (version April-2014) is a standardized facility assessment tool developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that examines quality as well as quantity and availability. The facility survey is complemented by a qualitative dataset of illustrative quotes from health service providers and supervisors on bubble CPAP implementation factors. Research was conducted in one primary health centre (facility assessment only), three district-level hospitals (both) and a tertiary hospital (qualitative only) in southern Malawi. These datasets may be used by other researchers for insights into health systems of low-income countries and implementation factors for the roll-out of neonatal health innovations as well as to frame future research questions or preliminary exploratory research on similar topics.

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The Impact of Work Hours on Depressive Symptoms among Koreans Aged 45 and Over

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18030853 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 853

Author(s):

Juyeong Kim ◽

Eun-Cheol Park

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Services ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Work Hours ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Health Studies ◽

Males And Females ◽

The Impact

Background: Given the documented importance of employment for middle-aged and older adults’ mental health, studies of the association between their number of work hours and depressive symptoms are needed. Objectives: To examine the association between the number of work hours and depressive symptoms in Korean aged 45 and over. Methods: We used data from the first wave to fourth wave of the Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging. Using the first wave at baseline, data included 9845 individuals. Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. We performed a longitudinal analysis to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms by work hours. Results: Both unemployed males and females aged 45–65 years were associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.59, p < 0.001; β = 0.32, p < 0.001). Females working ≥ 69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms compared to those working 41–68 h (β = 0.25, p = 0.013). Among those both middle-aged and older adults, both males and females unemployed were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Those middle-aged female working ≥69 h were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Conclusions: An increase in depressive symptoms was associated with unemployed males and females working ≥69 h compared to those working 41–68 h. Although this association was found among middle-aged individuals, a decrease in depressive symptoms in both sexes was associated with working 1–40 h. Depressive symptoms should decrease by implementing employment policies and social services to encourage employers to support middle-aged and older adults in the workforce considering their sex and age differences.

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Children’s outdoor active mobility behaviour and neighbourhood safety: a systematic review in measurement methods and future research directions

International Journal of Health Geographics ◽

10.1186/s12942-020-00254-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Roula Zougheibe ◽

Jianhong (Cecilia) Xia ◽

Ashraf Dewan ◽

Ori Gudes ◽

Richard Norman

Keyword(s):

Three Dimensional ◽

Measurement Methods ◽

Future Research ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Eligibility Criteria ◽

Research Directions ◽

Spatial Locality ◽

Mobility Behaviour ◽

Health Studies ◽

Future Research Directions

Abstract Background Numerous studies have examined the association between safety and primary school-aged children’s forms of active mobility. However, variations in studies’ measurement methods and the elements addressed have contributed to inconsistencies in research outcomes, which may be forming a barrier to advancing researchers’ knowledge about this field. To assess where current research stands, we have synthesised the methodological measures in studies that examined the effects of neighbourhood safety exposure (perceived and measured) on children’s outdoor active mobility behaviour and used this analysis to propose future research directions. Method A systematic search of the literature in six electronic databases was conducted using pre-defined eligibility criteria and was concluded in July 2020. Two reviewers screened the literature abstracts to determine the studies’ inclusion, and two reviewers independently conducted a methodological quality assessment to rate the included studies. Results Twenty-five peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria. Active mobility behaviour and health characteristics were measured objectively in 12 out of the 25 studies and were reported in another 13 studies. Twenty-one studies overlooked spatiotemporal dimensions in their analyses and outputs. Delineations of children’s neighbourhoods varied within 10 studies’ objective measures, and the 15 studies that opted for subjective measures. Safety perceptions obtained in 22 studies were mostly static and primarily collected via parents, and dissimilarities in actual safety measurement methods were present in 6 studies. The identified schematic constraints in studies’ measurement methods assisted in outlining a three-dimensional relationship between ‘what’ (determinants), ‘where’ (spatial) and ‘when’ (time) within a methodological conceptual framework. Conclusions The absence of standardised measurement methods among relevant studies may have led to the current diversity in findings regarding active mobility, spatial (locality) and temporal (time) characteristics, the neighbourhood, and the representation of safety. Ignorance of the existing gaps and heterogeneity in measures may impact the reliability of evidence and poses a limitation when synthesising findings, which could result in serious biases for policymakers. Given the increasing interest in children’s health studies, we suggested alternatives in the design and method of measures that may guide future evidence-based research for policymakers who aim to improve children’s active mobility and safety.

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