SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Developing Countries”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

Public and private donor financing for health in developing countries.

Among the many variables that influence the outcome of national health status in both developed and developing countries, the availability and efficiency of financing is critical. For 148 developing countries, annual public and private expenditures from domestic sources (1983) were estimated to be approximately $100 billion. For the United States alone, annual public and private costs for medical care are almost five times larger ($478 billion, 1988). In contrast to domestic expenditures, the total flow of donor assistance for health in 1986 was estimated to be $4 billion, approximately 5% of total current domestic expenditures by developing countries. Direct donor assistance for development purposes by the United States Government approximates 0.5% of the US federal budget (1988). Approximately 10% of all United States development assistance is allocated for health, nutrition, and population planning purposes. While the total health sector contribution is on the order of $500 million annually, the US contribution represents about 13% of health contributions by all external donors. In sub-Saharan Africa, all donor health allocations only reach 3.4% of total development assistance. While available data suggest that private and voluntary organizations contribute approximately 20% of total global health assistance, data reporting methods from private agencies are not sufficiently specific to provide accurate global estimates. Clearly, developing countries as a whole are dependent on the efficient use of their own resources because external financing remains a small fraction of total domestic financing. Nevertheless, improvement in health sector performance often depends on the sharing of western experience and technology, services available through external donor cooperation. In this effort, the available supply of donor financing for health is not restricted entirely by donor policy, but also by the official demand for external financing as submitted by developing countries. In perspective, the supply of financing for health greatly exceeds the receipt of well-articulated and officially approved proposals from developing countries. The major constraints that produce this imbalance are unfamiliarity of ministries of health with potential donor sources; passive approaches to external financing; unfamiliarity with proposal preparation; increasing competition within developing countries by competing sectors, such as industry and agriculture; limited numbers of trained personnel; and absence of an international system which is able to support developing countries in mobilizing external financing. Tested solutions to these issues have been applied in one geographic region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Delivery of Health Care↗

PubMed1994

Reversibility of stunting: epidemiological findings in children from developing countries.

The growth literature from developing countries is reviewed to assess the extent to which stunting, a phenomenon of early childhood, can be reversed in later childhood and adolescence. The potential for catch-up growth increases as maturation is delayed and the growth period is prolonged. However, maturational delays in developing countries are usually less than two years, only enough to compensate for a small fraction of the growth retardation of early childhood. Follow-up studies find that subjects who remain in the setting in which they became stunted experience little or no catch-up in growth later in life. Improvements in living conditions, as through food supplementation or through adoption, trigger catch-up growth but do so more effectively in the very young. One study cautions that in older adopted subjects, accelerated growth may accelerate maturation, shorten the growth period and lead to short adult stature.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

State monopoly systems and alcohol prevention in developing countries: report on a collaborative international study.

In many countries, state alcohol monopoly systems have been adopted as a means of public control over alcohol availability. These countries include industrialized as well as developing countries. In this paper, an analysis is presented on the present state and potentials of state alcohol monopoly systems in preventing alcohol abuse. Special reference is given to the specificity of alcoholic beverages supply in developing countries and the potential contributions of existing state monopoly systems in developed countries to assist developing countries willing to adopt and implement preventive national alcohol policies.

Alcoholic Beverages↗

PubMed1996

A review of successful transport and home injury interventions to guide developing countries.

Injury is recognized as an increasing public health problem in developing countries. Extensive research on injury control has been conducted in the U.S. and other industrialized countries in the past several decades, but research is still in its infancy in developing countries. In this paper, successful interventions for transport and home injuries are reviewed in the context of the developing country setting. The aim is to evaluate injury interventions developed in the industrialized countries and identify those likely to be usable in developing countries. The evaluation criteria used include the efficacy of the interventions, as well as their affordability, feasibility and sustainability. The review demonstrates that while several interventions are available in the field of injury prevention for developing countries to import, caution should be taken in doing this. The use of automobile safety seat belts, bicyclist and motorcyclist helmets, speed limits, laws banning the sale of alcohol at lorry parks, pedestrian crossing signs, adequate roadway lighting, separation of pedestrians from vehicles, conspicuity-enhancement measures, simple safety equipment, and poison prevention packaging should be seriously considered by developing countries to reduce the morbidity and mortality from transport and home injuries. Since injury prevention may often require a blend of several interventions due to the multifactorial nature of the causes of injury, interventions that appear to be most effective are those with multidimensional strategies including education, legislation and environmental modification. This review should serve as a useful guide to injury control efforts in developing countries which must grapple with limited resources and low levels of education.

Accidents, Home↗

PubMed2006

Stillbirth in developing countries.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the literature on stillbirths in developing countries. METHOD: Review of the English literature for all articles related to stillbirth in developing countries published from 1975 to 2005. RESULTS: Because almost half of the deliveries in developing countries occur at home, under-reporting of stillbirths is a huge problem, and reliable data about rates and causes are difficult to obtain. Hospital stillbirth data are often subject to substantial bias and the ability to generalize from these data is unknown. Nevertheless, at least 4 million stillbirths occur yearly, the vast majority in developing countries, with rates in many developing countries ten-fold higher than elsewhere. Prolonged and obstructed labor, preeclampsia and various infections, all without adequate treatment, account for the majority of stillbirths. CONCLUSION: Despite the large number of stillbirths worldwide, the topic of stillbirths in developing countries has received very little research, programmatic or policy attention. Better access to appropriate obstetric care, especially during labor, should reduce developing country stillbirth rates dramatically.

Developing Countries↗

PubMed2000

Ergonomics in industrially developing countries: does its application differ from that in industrially advanced countries?

Demographic characteristics of industrially developing countries (IDCs) and some comparisons with industrially advanced countries (IACs), particularly those aspects relevant to ergonomics, are presented. The majority of IDC populations are engaged in subsistence agriculture (the "informal" sector) and consideration is given to the scope for ergonomics interventions, aimed primarily at raising productivity to alleviate the poverty suffered by rural families. Ergonomics issues prevalent in the "formal" sector are also discussed and the importance of finding simple, low-cost solutions through participatory approaches emphasised. The possible contributions of ergonomics to alleviating problems common to both sectors, such as transport, are also indicated and attention is drawn to the difficulties of applying formal standards. The improvement of living and working conditions from incorporating an ergonomics approach into the sustainable livelihoods model, by enhancing human capital, is described in the context of the other livelihood assets. This demonstrates the importance of the cultural dimension for the successful delivery of ergonomics benefits. The application of ergonomics differs between IDCs and IACs particularly through the limited infrastructure in IDCs to support ergonomics activity and interventions. This broaches the different contributions that can be made by ergonomics and occupational health practitioners and implies the need for closer collaboration between these professions.

Agriculture↗

PubMed1984

Prosthetics and orthotics in developing countries.

Principles of orthoses and prostheses in developing countries are discussed. Appropriate technological adaptations to suit cultural needs in developing countries have been identified and illustrative examples have been given. In view of the importance of the problem of leprosy in many developing countries, a separate description to cover prosthetic and orthotic appliances including footwear has been attempted. The material is a summary of the excellent publication from Alert in Addis Ababa.

Amputation, Surgical↗

PubMed1981

Sexually transmitted diseases in Ethiopia. Social factors contributing to their spread and implications for developing countries.

Sexually transmitted diseases in developing countries are causing concern to those responsible for their control and eradication. To gain a better understanding of the problems involved in a country struggling with development, the economic and psychosocial factors influencing the spread of STD in Ethiopia have been studied. Increased migration and urbanisation and the changing role of women have led to a rise in prostitution. Thus changes in the social structure--particularly in relation to the education and employment of women--and improved medical services are essential for the long-term control of STD.

Delivery of Health Care↗

PubMed1996

Serological response to specific Helicobacter pylori antigens: antibody against CagA antigen is not predictive of gastric cancer in a developing country.

OBJECTIVES: In symptomatic patients resident in developed countries, a high prevalence of antibody to the cytotoxin-associated antigen (CagA) of Helicobacter pylori has been linked to the development of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. This association has not been examined in developing countries, nor in asymptomatic subjects resident in either developed or developing countries. The aim of this study was to examine the seroprevalence of antibody to the CagA antigen; as well as other specific H. pylori antigens in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals resident in Australia and China. METHODS: The Helico-blot 2.0 Western blot system was used for the detection of antibodies to specific antigens of H. pylori in sera obtained from the following H. pylori-positive groups: 19 Australian blood donors, 96 Australian nonulcer dyspepsia patients, 29 Australian duodenal ulcer patients, 35 asymptomatic Chinese subjects, and 48 Chinese gastric cancer patients. RESULTS: Nine antigens were commonly recognized by sera from Australian and Chinese subjects. These antigens were of molecular mass 19.5 kDa, 26.5 kDa, 35 kDa, 45 kDa, 60 kDa, 89 kDa (VacA), 116 kDa (CagA), and 180 kDA. A significant association between the prevalence of antibody to the CagA antigen and duodenal ulcer disease was observed in Australian subjects; however, no association between the prevalence of antibody to the CagA antigen and gastric cancer was found in Chinese subjects. In subjects from both countries, a significant association was found between antibody to the 30-kDa and 45-kDa antigens and more serious gastroduodenal disease. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the cagA gene is not associated with the development of more serious gastroduodenal disease; however, it cannot be ruled out that this gene may be an important but insufficient factor in some disease processes.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Mortality patterns in developed countries.

The implications of recent demographic trends in developed countries are considered. The emphasis is on the increase in life expectancy, and particularly in the rate of growth of the numbers of the very old (those aged 85 and over). "To evaluate the impact of recent mortality reductions on the social security and health service systems of developed countries [the author analyzes] the mortality conditions of 11 developed countries over the period 1950 to 1978." The countries concerned are the United States, Canada, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, the United Kingdom, the Federal Republic of Germany, and France. "The results of [the] analyses show that major increases in life expectancy have occurred at advanced ages for females and that the cross-country differences in the cause of death structure indicate that advances were achieved through a variety of mechanisms. Thus, it appears that no single uniform model of biological aging will currently explain cause specific mortality trends in countries with historically high life expectancies. This implies that further mortality reductions are possible in these countries by achieving cause specific mortality reductions observed to have occurred in another country." This is a revised version of a paper originally presented at the 1983 Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America (see Population Index, Vol. 49, No. 3, Fall 1983, p. 413).

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Aeromedical evacuations in Papua New Guinea--a case for routine oxygen supplementation in developing countries.

Aeromedical evacuations in developing Third World countries lack the technological support available in developed countries. 125 hospital admissions from such flights over a four-month period in Papua New Guinea have been analysed to show the pattern of medical conditions and flight altitudes involved. In general, the overall pattern reflects the range of medical problems seen in many other developing countries. 36 percent of all patients were deemed to be at risk of hypoxia; on flights below an altitude of 8000 feet (2440m.) this proportion was 50 percent. Supplementary oxygen (but not 100% oxygen) given routinely to all patients would benefit many without handicapping the remainder.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

The role of clinical epidemiology in establishing essential national health research capabilities in developing countries.

Health research directly relevant to the needs of the people of developing countries is essential for equity in development as well as for improving health planning and management. the international Commission on Health Research for Development has stressed the need to strengthen the capacity of developing countries, no matter how poor, to carry out essential national health research (ENHR). Clinical epidemiologists in developing countries can significantly contribute to the manpower available for ENHR. They play a major role in the provision and practice of appropriate health care by contributing to the critical assessment of priority health problems and by carrying out scientific evaluation of new and conventional intervention tools. In clinical epidemiology units in developing countries, transdisciplinary collaboration with social scientists and health economics has enhanced the capacity to do research that would influence decision-making and health policy, even as links with ministries of health and other ENHR-committed networks are being strengthened. The potential for carrying out ENHR will be multiplied as national and regional training centers for clinical epidemiology in selected developing countries are established.

Delivery of Health Care↗

PubMed1991

Child psychiatry in developing countries.

Child psychiatry in developing countries has recently attained the status of an established specialty. This review looks at available epidemiological data, and factors contributing to similarities and differences in rates of disorder. The relevance of child psychiatry to child health in these countries has service, training and research implications.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1984

Anthropological research perspectives on health problems in developing countries.

Anthropological research on health problems in developing countries during the past 30 years, and present/future research on the same topic, are considered in the light of (a) the changing health picture in developing countries and (b) the major health enterprises of developing countries and participating multilateral and bilateral agencies. The author suggests that modern medicine in recent years has become the first choice of most traditional peoples most of the time. It is because the supply of modern health care cannot keep up with the demand that the Primary Health Care (PHC) movement has arisen. With respect to the use of traditional curers in PHC it is pointed out that (a) they are not replacing themselves, (b) many have become ' neotraditional curers ' making extensive use of modern drugs and (c) spiritualist curing is replacing much traditional medicine. The question is, then, when we advocate the use of 'traditional curers ' in PHC programs, what exactly are we proposing? All of the above? Some of the above? Traditional healers only, strictly defined? The author also suggests that some early anthropological stereotypes of health behavior need revision, particularly those having to do with effective doctor-patient interaction. Finally, if anthropologists are effectively to explore the sociocultural aspects of health and illness, they must study health care delivery systems as intensively as community/patient behavior.

Anthropology↗

PubMed2006

[Advantages of working in a developing country during medical specialty training].

Training in a developing country provides additional value for Dutch physicians who are training for a medical specialty. Knowledge of and experience with tropical diseases is also important in the Netherlands. The limited access to diagnostic tests and treatments in developing countries forces physicians to perform physical examinations meticulously and prescribe treatments conscientiously. Limited abilities to communicate can lead to an appreciation of the importance of communication and insights regarding optimal methods for communication. By working with staff in developing countries, physicians learn to be flexible in regard to work attitudes and cooperation. Physicians also learn to develop a personal academic programme independently. In addition, physicians become more readily involved in improving standards of living and healthcare in the community as a whole, and in the coordination and organization of work. Lastly, the ability to work professionally with limitations in healthcare is also valuable in medical practice in the Netherlands. Therefore, the decision to do part of the training as a medical specialist in a developing country should be supported. This experience should also count as part of the training.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed2004

Synergies between veterinarians and para-professionals in the public and private sectors: organisational and institutional relationships that facilitate the process of privatising animal health services in developing countries.

The delivery of veterinary services in most developing countries was, until recently, considered to be the responsibility of the public sector. However, over the past four decades, economic constraints and the imposition of structural adjustment policies (SAPs) have led to a gradual decline in public sector investment in real terms and thus a reduction in the quality and quantity of services available to livestock keepers. Many governments acknowledged that they were no longer able to provide services that were essentially of a 'private good' nature and introduced radical policy changes which sought to introduce the concepts of a market orientated approach towards agriculture and livestock production in particular. The role of government, in the future, would be to provide a reduced range of essential 'public good' services and to create a favourable environment in which the private sector could become established as a provider of 'private good' services and at the same time act as a partner in carrying out certain public functions under contract or 'sanitary mandates'. In almost all developing countries, however, these policy changes were not accompanied by appropriate development strategies. The reasons for this are complex. Firstly, SAPs may be considered to have been foisted upon governments by donors and are thus perceived by many policy-makers as the cause of financial problems, rather than a solution to them. Secondly, most animal health senior policy-makers in the public sector have been trained as veterinarians and lack the required management skills to plan change effectively. Furthermore, as regards clinical veterinary service delivery, especially in rural or more remote areas, the solution fostered by donor investment, which involves deregulation and the deployment of privately operating para-professionals, is often perceived as a threat to the veterinary profession and might result in limiting access to international markets for the trade of livestock and livestock products. An informal delivery system has gained a foothold in many developing countries in the absence of a well-planned strategy for the privatisation of animal health services. Most governments would now acknowledge that this presents a greater risk than the deployment of well-regulated and effectively supervised para-professionals. This paper explores some of the principal challenges facing policy-makers in their efforts to bridge the transition from full state provision of animal health services to the formation of a partnership with the private sector. Governments and donors need to take active steps to facilitate the process of privatisation of animal health services, especially those targeting the poorer rural subsistence and pastoralist farming systems. This would entail an initial investment in developing the necessary management skills at all levels in the delivery system. Thereafter, further investment would be required to allow the changes to be managed using tools such as the strategic planning cycle. Should sufficient resources be made available to allow the full participation of all stakeholders in the delivery of animal health services, appropriate institutions and effective organisational relationships addressing all the more important issues will have to be identified. The paper then proceeds to describe how different livestock production systems determine the level of demand for animal health services. If these services are to be provided on a financially sustainable basis, they must be tailored to meet actual rather than perceived demand. Identifying an appropriate model for animal health service delivery thus requires careful analysis of the production system to be targeted. Governments and donors can play a useful role in providing resources for this type of study as well as for appropriate market studies, business planning, training and access to soft loans. Finally, as regards regulation, as the law stands today, many activities currently practised by para-professionals are classified as 'acts of veterinary medicine or surgery' and may only legally be performed by qualified and registered veterinarians. The concept of 'principal' and 'subsidiary' legislation provides the necessary flexibility in the regulation of the delivery of animal health services to accommodate the rapid changes taking place in this environment today. Deregulation involves the delegation of responsibility for the performance of a defined range of veterinary interventions to para-professionals under the 'supervision' or 'direction' of a registered veterinarian. The author illustrates how the experiences of a number of projects in Tanzania were used to propose a definition of 'supervision' in law. The definition offers an opportunity to overcome the fear of compromising standards of delivery of animal health services through the deployment of para-professionals. In addition, such functioning provides employment opportunities for private veterinarians in rural areas where access to formal primary animal health services would otherwise be denied and may contribute to the process of quality assurance of national veterinary services in developing countries.

Animal Technicians↗

PubMed1980

The design and use of appropriate health technologies for developing countries.

Health care in developing countries is discussed in terms of the administrative systems, medical manpower and technologies which are most appropriate to the economic and cultural environment in which they will be used. Appropriate technology must be preceded by appropriate research and development and those involved in the training of overseas students should critically examine the relevance of the course to the needs of the students.

Biomedical Engineering↗

PubMed2004

Management of haemophilia and its complications in developing countries.

Eighty per cent of people with haemophilia live in developing countries, where technical expertise and health care facilities may be less than optimal. Haemophilia is a relatively rare disease and high-cost, technology-intensive therapy is not a high priority for the governments of developing countries. The rapid spread of transfusion-related viral infections in many developing countries presents further problems for haemophiliacs. However, it is possible to manage haemophiliacs patients with limited resources. Strategies for conserving factor concentrates, include education of doctors and patients, prenatal diagnosis, increasing the use of anti-fibrinolytic agents, physiotherapy, the use of fibrin glue, and simple orthotics and prosthetic measures. These approaches are helpful in the majority of these patients. Meanwhile, with the help of the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH), all developing countries are gradually improving management skills for this relatively rare but disabling disease. The present review broadly describes the management of various aspects of severe haemophilia in developing countries.

Developing Countries↗