UNICEF's child injury league table. An analysis of legislation: more mixed messages.
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This paper presents a summary table and discussion of legislation related to child injury prevention in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The table is an expanded version of the one which appeared in the UNICEF Report Card "Child Deaths by Injury in Rich Countries" (2001). A commentary is provided on the variations in legislation between countries in terms of range and form of measures and an estimate of degree of enforcement. As legislation is generally considered a powerful tool in injury prevention, the paper examines whether those countries with the widest range of legislation and the strongest enforcement have made the most progress in reducing child injury deaths since the 1970s. It also considers whether a commitment to extensive legislation is reflected in a country's position in the UNICEF league table of injury death. The initial conclusion to these two basic issues is that no clear picture can be seen and we thus need to know far more about the relationship between legislation and societies and cultures as they vary from place to place. This paper hopes to stimulate more widespread debate about the role of legislation in different countries. (+info)
The DOTS strategy in China: results and lessons after 10 years.
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OBJECTIVE: To analyse the five-point tuberculosis (TB) strategy, DOTS, 10 years after its implementation in one-half of China's population, and to suggest lessons for future implementation of the DOTS strategy. METHODS: We analysed trends in case-finding and treatment outcome over time following implementation of the DOTS strategy in each county, using routine reporting data from the Infectious and Endemic Disease Control (IEDC) project (1991 - 2000). We also determined the proportion of counties with different levels of case-finding for the fifth and sixth years of DOTS implementation. FINDINGS: From 1991 to 1995, DOTS expanded rapidly to cover more than 90% of target population and counties. By 2000, 8 million TB suspects had received free diagnostic evaluation: 1.8 million TB cases were diagnosed, free treatment was provided to 1.3 million smear-positive cases, and more than 90% were cured. During DOTS implementation, the percentage of previously treated cases decreased among all smear-positive cases and treatment outcomes improved. Despite these achievements, the detection rate for new smear-positive cases in the project was estimated to be only 54% in 1998, and 41.2% of the counties had a below average or low level of case-finding (with substantial variation between provinces). CONCLUSIONS: The IEDC project demonstrated that it is feasible to rapidly expand DOTS on a large scale. The global target of an 85% cure rate was quickly achieved, and the level of drug-resistance was probably reduced by this project. However, case-detection did not reach the 70% global target, and more research is needed on how to enhance this. (+info)
What targets for international development policies are appropriate for improving health in Russia?
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BACKGROUND: The OECD countries and the United Nations have agreed to co-ordinate their work around a series of International Development Targets. The targets for health are based on improvements in infant, child and maternal mortality. Progress towards these goals will be used to assess the effectiveness of development policies. OBJECTIVES: To assess the potential impact of achievement of the International Development Targets on health in Russia, and to identify possible alternatives that may be more relevant to transition countries. DESIGN: The study covered the population of the Russian Federation from 1995-99. The effects of reducing infant, child and maternal mortality on Russian life expectancy at birth were modelled using construction of life tables. Three scenarios were modelled, reducing rates to those of the best performing regions in Russia, those required to achieve the International Development Targets and current UK rates. The results were compared with the effect on life expectancy at birth of policies to reduce adult mortality in different ways. RESULTS: Achieving the International Development Targets for infant, child and maternal mortality (66.7 and 75% reductions) will contribute very little to improving life expectancy in Russia (0.96 years). In contrast, even a 20% reduction in adult mortality would give rise to an increase in male life expectancy at birth of 1.86 years. CONCLUSION: Targets for health improvement in transition countries such as Russia should take account of adult mortality as well as the indicators contained in the International Development Targets. (+info)
New thinking on gene patents.
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With the number of patent claims including DNA sequence booming, is there a way forward to help resolve disagreements over the many issues involved? One ethical body believes that there is and has produced a new study. (+info)
Effect of the Bamako-Initiative drug revolving fund on availability and rational use of essential drugs in primary health care facilities in south-east Nigeria.
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OBJECTIVES: To compare the level of availability and rational use of drugs in primary health care (PHC) facilities where the Bamako Initiative (BI) drug revolving fund programme has been operational, with PHC centres where the BI-type of drug revolving fund programme is not yet operational. METHODS: The study was undertaken in 21 PHC centres with BI drug revolving funds and 12 PHC centres without BI drug revolving funds, all in Enugu State of Nigeria. Data were collected on the essential and non-essential drugs stocked by the facilities. Drug use was determined through analyses of prescriptions in each health centre. Finally, the proportion of consumers that were able to remember their dosing schedules was determined. FINDINGS: An average of 35.4 essential drugs was available in the BI health centres compared with 15.3 in the non-BI health centres (p < 0.05). The average drug-stock was adequate for 6.3 weeks in the BI health centres, but for 1.1 weeks in non-BI health centres (p < 0.05). More injections (64.7 vs. 25.6%) and more antibiotics (72.8 vs. 38%) were prescribed in BI health centres than in the non-BI health centres (p < 0.05). The BI health centres had an average of 5.3 drugs per prescription against 2.1 in the non-BI health centres. However, the drugs prescribed by generic name and from the essential drug list were higher in the BI health centres (80 and 93%) than the non-BI health centres (15.5 and 21%, respectively) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It was observed that the BI facilities had a better availability of essential drugs both in number and in average stock. However, the BI has given rise to more drug prescribing, which could be irrational. The findings call for strategies to ensure more availability of essential drugs especially in the non-BI PHC centres as a strategy to decrease medical costs and improve the quality of PHC services, while promoting rational drug use in all PHC centres. More detailed studies (for example, by focus group discussion or structured interviews) should be undertaken to find out reasons for the over-prescription and to develop future interventions to correct this. (+info)
Health sector reform in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT): targeting the forest or the trees?
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Since the signing of the Oslo Peace Accords and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, reform activities have targeted various spheres, including the health sector. Several international aid and UN organizations have been involved, as well as local and international non-governmental organizations, with considerable financial and technical investments. Although important achievements have been made, it is not evident that the quality of care has improved or that the most pressing health needs have been addressed, even before the second Palestinian Uprising that began in September 2000. The crisis of the Israeli re-invasion of Palestinian-controlled towns and villages since April 2002 and the attendant collapse of state structures and services have raised the problems to critical levels. This paper attempts to analyze some of the obstacles that have faced reform efforts. In our assessment, those include: ongoing conflict, frail Palestinian quasi-state structures and institutions, multiple and at times inappropriate donor policies and practices in the health sector, and a policy vacuum characterized by the absence of internal Palestinian debate on the type and direction of reform the country needs to take. In the face of all these considerations, it is important that reform efforts be flexible and consider realistically the political and economic contexts of the health system, rather than focus on mere narrow technical, managerial and financial solutions imported from the outside. (+info)
Determining measles-containing vaccine demand and supply: an imperative to support measles mortality reduction efforts.
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Measles remains a major cause of mortality with an estimated 745,000 deaths in 2001. The timely, sustained, and uninterrupted supply of affordable vaccines is critical for global efforts to reduce measles mortality. The measles vaccine supply needs to be considered in the context of vaccine security. In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued a number of new recommendations for measles control that resulted in a two-fold increase in the number of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) doses administered between 2000 and 2002. Any additional increments in mass campaigns must be duly planned and have time lines so that vaccine production capacities are increased to optimal levels. The cornerstone of vaccine security efforts remains at the country level. WHO and UNICEF, with major partners, will review progress on measles mortality reduction and assess the feasibility of global measles eradication. Strong collaboration by all key stakeholders will be invaluable. (+info)
Implementation of a mass measles campaign in central Afghanistan, December 2001 to May 2002.
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In Afghanistan health services have been disrupted by 23 years of conflict and 1 of 4 children die before age 5 years. Measles accounts for an estimated 35,000 deaths annually. Surveillance data show a high proportion of measles cases (38%) among those >/=5 years old. In areas with complex emergencies, measles vaccination is recommended for those aged 6 months to 12-15 years. From December 2001 to May 2002, Afghan authorities and national and international organizations targeted 1,748,829 children aged 6 months to 12 years in five provinces in central Afghanistan for measles vaccinations. Two provinces reported coverage of >90% and two >80%. Coverage in Kabul city was 62%. A subsequent cluster survey in the city found 91% coverage (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85-0.91) among children 6-59 months and 88% (95% CI, 0.87-0.95) among those 5-12 years old. Thus, this campaign achieved acceptable coverage despite considerable obstacles. (+info)