OBJECTIVE The major objective of this study is to provide estimates of diarrhoea mortality at country, regional and global level by employing the Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG) standard. METHODS A systematic and comprehensive literature review was undertaken of all studies published since 1980 reporting under-5 diarrhoea mortality. Information was collected on characteristics of each study and its population. A regression model was used to relate these characteristics to proportional mortality from diarrhoea and to predict its distribution in national populations. FINDINGS Global deaths from diarrhoea of children aged less than 5 years were estimated at 1.87 million (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.56-2.19), approximately 19% of total child deaths. WHO African and South-East Asia Regions combined contain 78% (1.46 million) of all diarrhoea deaths occurring among children in the developing world; 73% of these deaths are concentrated in just 15 developing countries. CONCLUSION Planning and evaluation of interventions to control diarrhoea deaths and to reduce under-5 mortality is obstructed by the lack of a system that regularly generates cause-of-death information. The methods used here provide country-level estimates that constitute alternative information for planning in settings without adequate data.
Abstract Identifying the driving mechanisms and forces of urban expansion is an important step toward better understanding of the spatial pattern, process, and consequences of urban expansion, which is essential for making effective urban growth planning and policies. Despite many previous studies devoted to investigating urban expansion patterns and mechanisms, the spatial-temporal dynamics of driving forces and their regional differences have not been well-documented. This study examines drivers of urban expansion and their effects across different regions in China in different periods. A spatial Probit model is employed, with data selected based on a national-level sampling strategy, to model urban expansion probability from a spatially explicit perspective. Results indicate that multiple factors including socioeconomic, physical, proximity, accessibility, and neighborhood factors have driven urban expansion in China. Driving factors for urban expansion vary between national and regional levels, suggesting that analyses on different spatial scales are necessary. The dynamics and driving forces of urban expansion in China have been spatial heterogeneous. Furthermore, driving forces have trended toward more diversity over time, and the constraining effects of natural conditions on urban expansion have gradually decayed. These findings aid in gaining a better understanding of the urban expansion process in China, which will in turn benefit urban planning and management across different regions. Lastly, important policy implications are inferred.
Shock events uncover deficits in social cohesion and exacerbate existing social inequalities at the household, community, local, regional, and national levels. National and regional government recovery planning requires careful stakeholder engagement that centers on marginalized people, particularly women and marginalized community leaders. The aim of this rapid scoping review was to inform the United Nations Research Roadmap for the COVID-19 Recovery, based on Pillar 5 of the United Nations Framework for the Immediate Socioeconomic Response to COVID-19: Social Cohesion and Community Resilience. We present a summary of key concepts across the literature that helped situate this review. The results include a description of the state of the science and a review of themes identified as being crucial to sustainable and equitable recovery planning by the United Nations. The role of social cohesion during a disaster, particularly its importance for upstream planning and relationship building before a disaster occurs, is not well understood and is a promising area of future research. Understanding the applicability of social cohesion measurement methodologies and outcomes across different communities and geographies, as well as the development of new and relevant instruments and techniques, is urgently needed in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Pergeseran paradigma pertumbuhan dari pendekatan neoklasik menjadi pendekatan endogen telah mengungkapkan bahwa pertumbuhan wilayah cenderung terjadi secara divergen yang dapat mengakibatkan melebarnya ketimpangan antardaerah. Di sisi lain aglomerasi perkotaan memungkinkan terciptanya eksternalitas dan efek limpahan yang dapat menstimulus terjadinya konvergensi. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui tingkat konvergensi pada pertumbuhan wilayah, dan menjawab apakah faktor pertumbuhan endogen dan faktor aglomerasi memengaruhi pertumbuhan wilayah. Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah regresi linier berganda dari faktor-faktor endogen, seperti modal, tenaga kerja, teknologi, inovasi, dan keterampilan terhadap derajat konvergensi sigma pada aglomerasi perkotaan di Pulau Jawa. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan di Pulau Jawa terjadi kecenderungan divergensi dalam beberapa tahun terakhir. Selain itu ditemukan pola nilai konvergensi lebih lemah pada metropolitan besar seperti Jabodetabekpunjur, Kedungsepur, dan Germokertosusilo Plus. Hal ini mengindikasikan kekuatan aglomerasi di Pulau Jawa belum mampu mendorong pemerataan antarwilayah. Faktor endogen yang berpengaruh terhadap konvergensi wilayah adalah modal, tenaga kerja, serta keterampilan, yang berarti derajat konvergensi di Pulau Jawa lebih banyak dipengaruhi oleh faktor produksi neoklasik.
Abstract Background Osteoarthritis is a major cause of disability worldwide, and understanding epidemiological trends in osteoarthritis is critical for public health planning and intervention strategies. Methods This study analyzed the global, regional, and national burden on osteoarthritis utilizing the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Trends from 1990 to 2021 were primarily assessed, with projections to 2050 based on demographic changes and historical data. Results In 2021, 607 (95% UI: 538–671) million people worldwide suffered from osteoarthritis, including 46.6 (95% UI: 41.1–51.6) million new cases, and the DALYs was 21.3 (95% UI: 10.2–42.9) million. Age-standardized incidence, prevalence and DALYs rates increased to 535.00/100,000 (95% UI: 472.38–591.97), 6967.29/100,000 (95% UI: 6180.70–7686.06), and 244.50/100,000 (95% UI: 117.06–493.11), with knee osteoarthritis accounting for more than 56%. Age-standardized rates of osteoarthritis were higher in females than in males. East Asia, South Asia, and Western Europe were the regions and China, India, and the United States were the countries with the highest burdens. In addition, high body-mass index led to 4.43 (95% UI: -0.42–12.34) million DALYs, with an increase of 205.10%. Bayesian age-period cohort projections showed that the burden of osteoarthritis would continue to rise from 2021 to 2050. Conclusions As an ageing population and rising obesity rates, the burden of osteoarthritis will continue to rise, with females and the middle-aged and older age groups being the current populations of concern. Awareness-raising, early detection, and effective management are essential to reduce the burden of osteoarthritis in the coming decades, especially among vulnerable groups.
Ambrose Otau Talisuna, Humphrey Cyprian Karamagi, Sohel Saikat
et al.
Africa continues to face numerous public health and humanitarian crises, including infectious disease epidemics and pandemics. These shocks have major impacts on health systems and socio-economic development. While countries have made progress in implementing the International Health Regulations (2005), the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2014-2016, West Africa Ebola Virus Disease epidemic revealed major inadequacies in containing major public health emergencies effectively and promptly. In an instant, these shocks brought the world to a standstill– tragically costing many lives with a severe toll on communities, societies, and economies. In this perspective, we urge African countries to accelerate integrating health security reforms into broader health systems strengthening. We propose a logical, system-wide approach, including a comprehensive gap assessment and analysis, followed by holistic planning and comprehensive reforms for improving key dimensions, including, service delivery, organizational and management processes; governance, leadership and coordination; predictable, scalable, and sustainable financing; surveillance and health information systems; quantity, quality and distribution of the health and care workforce; resilient health infrastructure; and finally local/regional manufacturing and procurement and supply chain management systems for health products and technologies. Positioning health security reforms as part of overall health systems strengthening will advance the primary health care approach, promote health security, and accelerate the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC). The latter will lead to equitable access to essential health services; better provision of efficient emergency response; and ultimately improved population health. Integrating investment in health security and UHC is a “double-win” and a pathway to achieve resilience.
Dereje Tessema Adigeh, Dereje Tessema Adigeh, Endale Belay Mekuria
et al.
Bahir Dar city, a rapidly urbanizing city in Ethiopia, faces acute housing and urban land demand, resulting in the prevalence of informal land acquisition and housing development. Therefore, this study aims to examine the informal land acquisition for housing in Bahir Dar, resulting in informal settlement expansion, focusing on the conditions, contributing factors, participants, and procedures of informal land transaction settlements. Data were collected by interview from purposefully selected key informants, including land sellers, buyers, brokers, urban land administrators, and code enforcement officers, supplemented by field observations and desk reviews. The study reveals that informal land transactions are the primary means of urban land acquisition for housing in Bahir Dar city, especially in peri-urban rural expansion areas, because the formal system of land access lags far behind. The key causes for this are high urbanization rates, inefficient urban land administration, which fails to supply formal residential plots, and low compensation payments to peri-urban landholders. Peri-urban farmers are the leading land sellers, inner-city residents in rental homes are the primary buyers, and brokers facilitate the transactions, with local administrators often legitimizing informal acquisitions. The study recommends that the government improve the efficiency of formal urban land supply and provide affordable housing to alleviate informal land developments and settlements.
Peatland management in Kutai Kartanegara faces major challenges, especially due to the expansion of the coal mining industry. Regional Regulation No. 1 of 2016 is designed to protect peat swamp ecosystems and support the welfare of local communities, but its effectiveness is questionable amid the rapid exploitation of natural resources. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the 2016 Regional Regulation in maintaining ecological and social balance through normative juridical law analysis that includes related laws and John Rawls' distributive justice theory approach. The Normative Juridical Citation Method and data are collected from primary legal sources, including Law Number 26 of 2007 concerning Spatial Planning, Law Number 3 of 2020 concerning Amendments to Law Number 4 of 2009 concerning Mineral and Coal Mining, as well as Kutai Kartanegara Regional Regulation Number 1 of 2016 itself and secondary legal sources in the form of relevant literature, such as books, journals, articles and internet sources as well as mass media, both print and online and allow data triangulation to be carried out. The study results show that weak supervision and the absence of strict sanctions for mining companies hinder the optimal implementation of the Regional Regulation, causing adverse impacts on the environment and community welfare. The analysis shows that these regulations are not entirely fair to local communities that are vulnerable to the negative impacts of the mining industry. This study recommends the revision of the Regional Regulation to add strict environmental sanctions provisions and strengthen community participation in peatland management to achieve ecological justice that is in line with regional economic development.
Muhammad Fahad Sardar, Muhammad Fahad Sardar, Fazila Younas
et al.
Nitrogen (N) is an important component of the forest soils and plays a pivotal role in the ecosystem’s health, also in broadleaf and Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forests. Nitrogen plays numerous functions in the production and transformation of soil organic matter (SOM) and alterations in the soil’s physicochemical and biological properties. Despite the extensive research on soil properties and microorganism diversity in broadleaf and Moso bamboo forests, we still know very little about N dynamics and its significance in broadleaf and Moso bamboo forests, or how various physical and environmental variables influence soil physicochemical, N dynamics, and biological attributes. This article provides a thorough overview of the role of N dynamics in broadleaf and Moso bamboo forests and changes in soil physicochemical properties processes by summarizing recent advances in our knowledge of forest soil microbial diversity, and carbon (C) and N sink in broadleaf and Moso bamboo forests. As broadleaf and Moso bamboo forests are very sensitive to little change, even a small change in these ecosystems can alter the overall N dynamics. Here, we dissect the soil ecology of broadleaf and Moso bamboo forests to provide insights into the possibilities and consequences of future studies of N dynamics in these ecosystems.
Objective The objective of this paper is to establish whether existing eye care competency frameworks (ECCF) are fit for purpose, and set out a comprehensive ECCF that better meets the needs of the eye care workforce and broader population.Methods and analysis We carried out a two-stage process. The first was to conduct a desk review of existing frameworks and models relevant to eye care competencies. The second was to conduct a broad stakeholder consultation of global eye care experts to affirm the gaps found in the first stage, and to inform the development of a comprehensive ECCF.Results We reviewed 52 competency frameworks, competency standards and models related to eye care (including 11 from the UK) and found that there were three types of gaps, such as: (1) narrow in focus on specific occupational groups; (2) limitations in the competencies expected from an eye care worker and (3) limitations in regional focus, such that they could not easily be applied in a global context.Having affirmed these gaps during the stakeholder consultation stage, we developed a more comprehensive ECCF structure, which composed of six domains: practice, professionalism, learning and development, management and leadership, community and advocacy, and evidence. This broader structure seeks to address the gaps found in the desk review.Conclusion The review showed that there was a need to develop a comprehensive ECCF that can be easily contextualised, encapsulate the roles of the diverse eye care workforce, and be a tool for eye care workforce planning and development to meet the needs of a global population.
Couples' residential decisions are based on a large variety of factors including housing preferences, family and other social ties, socialisation and residential biography (e.g. earlier experience in the life course) and environmental factors (e.g. housing market, labour market). This study examines, firstly, to what extent people stay in, return to or leave their hometown (referred to as ‘migration type’). We refer to the hometown as the place where most of childhood and adolescence is spent. Secondly, we study which conditions shape a person’s migration type. We mainly focus on variables capturing elements of the residential biography and both partners’ family ties and family socialisation. We focus on the residential choices made at the time of family formation, i.e. when the first child is born. We employ multinomial regression modelling and cross-tabulations, based on two generations in a sample of families who mostly live in the wider Ruhr area, born around 1931 (parents) and 1957 (adult children). We find that migration type is significantly affected by a combination of both partners' place of origin, both partners' parents' places of residence, the number of previous moves, level of education and hometown population size. We conclude that complex patterns of experience made over the life course, socialisation and gendered patterns are at work. These mechanisms should be kept in mind when policymakers develop strategies to attract (return) migrants.
Cities. Urban geography, Urbanization. City and country
Tamar Wyte-Lake, Susan Schmitz, Reginald J. Kornegay
et al.
Abstract Background Community disaster resilience is comprised of a multitude of factors, including the capacity of citizens to psychologically recover. There is growing recognition of the need for public health departments to prioritize a communitywide mental health response strategy to facilitate access to behavioral health services and reduce potential psychological impacts. Due to the US Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) extensive experience providing trauma-informed behavioral healthcare to its Veterans, and the fact that VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) are located throughout the United States, the VA is well situated to be a key partner in local communities’ response plans. In this study we examined the role the VA can play in a community’s behavioral health response using case studies from three disasters. Methods This study investigated experiences of VA employees in critical emergency response positions (N = 17) in communities where disasters occurred between 2017 and 2019. All respondents were interviewed March–July 2019. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews exploring participants’ experiences and knowledge about VA activities provided to communities following the regional disasters. Data were analyzed using thematic and grounded theory coding methods. Results Respondents underscored VA’s primary mission after a disaster was to maintain continuity of care to Veterans. The majority also described the VA supporting community recovery. Specifically, three recent events provided key examples of VA’s involvement in disaster behavioral health response. Each event showed VA’s integration into local response structures was facilitated by pre-existing emergency management and clinical relationships as well as prioritization from VA leadership to engage in humanitarian missions. The behavioral health interventions were provided by behavioral health teams integrated into disaster assistance centers and non-VA hospitals, VA mobile units deployed into the community, and VA telehealth services. Conclusions Recent disasters have revealed that coordinated efforts between multidisciplinary agencies can strengthen communities’ capacity to respond to mental health needs, thereby fostering resilience. Building relationships with local VAMCs can help expedite how VA can be incorporated into emergency management strategies. In considering the strengths community partners can bring to bear, a coordinated disaster mental health response would benefit from involving VA as a partner during planning.