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Selective primary health care: an interim strategy for disease control in developing countries.

Priorities among the infectious diseases affecting the three billion people in the less developed world have been based on prevalence, morbidity, mortality and feasibility of control. With these priorities in mind a program of selective primary health care is compared with other approaches and suggested as the most cost-effective form of medical intervention in the least developed countries. A flexible program delivered by either fixed or mobile units might include measles and diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccination, treatment for febrile malaria and oral rehydration for diarrhea in children, and tetanus toxoid and encouragement of breast feeding in mothers. Other interventions might be added on the basis of regional needs and new developments. For major diseases for which control measures are inadequate, research is an inexpensive approach on the basis of cost per infected person per year.

Animals↗

Child nutrition in developing countries.

Malnutrition permeates all aspects of health, growth, cognition, motor and social development of young children in developing countries. More than 50% of deaths in these children can be attributed to malnutrition, most often in conjunction with serious infection. Irreversible and lifelong sequelae prevent children from reaching their full potential. Child survival initiatives and programs have accomplished much to save the lives of children from common and preventable illnesses, but the quality of the survivors' health needs to be improved, with much more attention paid to nutrition of the preschool and school child. Promotion of nutritional health must become an integral part of primary health services, especially for infants, preschoolers, schoolchildren, and women. Promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding and weaning are essential inputs. A daunting challenge is to improve diet quality through the raising and consumption of small animals by rural subsistence households to enhance maternal and child nutrition. School feeding from preschool onward must be an integral part of education so children are in a condition to learn. An excellent example of such programs is the WHO initiated Integrated Management of Childhood Illness, which integrates nutrition into the care of both sick and well children. The Early Child Development Program initiated by the World Bank and UNICEF has taken hold in many countries. Nutrition outcomes are closely linked with health and education activities starting in the preconception period through pregnancy, lactation, and childhood. Investment in human capital early in life will optimize the growth and social and economic development of children, families, and communities.

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency↗

Land settlement policies and population redistribution in developing countries: performance, problems and prospects.

The author describes and compares land settlement in various developing countries, focusing on the movement of people to underutilized agricultural areas. "The purpose of this article is fourfold: first, to discuss the performance of settlement programmes, concentrating on the extent to which they have achieved their population redistribution and other objectives; second, to analyse major economic and social problems confronting them; third, to identify factors that have contributed to their success or failure; and, fourth, to assess alternative policy options." This analysis of land settlement programs "suggests that so far they have made no more than a modest contribution to the solution of the problems of population distribution, unemployment and poverty."

Agriculture↗

Health, globalization and developing countries.

In health care today, scientific and technological frontiers are expanding at unprecedented rates, even as economic and financial pressures shrink profit margins, intensify competition, and constrain the funds available for investment. Therefore, the world today has more economic, and social opportunities for people than 10 or 100 years since globalization has created a new ground somewhat characterized by rapid economic transformation, deregulation of national markets by new trade regimes, amazing transport, electronic communication possibilities and high turnover of foreign investment and capital flow as well as skilled labor. These trends can easily mask great inequalities in developing countries such as importation and spreading of infectious and non-communicable diseases; miniaturization of movement of medical technology; health sector trades management driven by economics without consideration to the social and health aspects and its effects, increasing health inequalities and their economic and social burden creation; multinational companies' cheap labor employment promotion in widening income differentials; and others. As a matter of fact, all these factors are major determinants of ill health. Health authorities of developing countries have to strengthen their regulatory framework in order to ensure that national health systems derive maximum benefit in terms of equity, quality and efficiency, while reducing potential social cost to a minimum generated risky side of globalization.

Commerce↗

A look at the careers of women dentists in developing countries.

A survey carried out to determine the status quo of female dentists in developing countries revealed that generally women dentists are increasing in numbers and, on the whole, job opportunities are equally available to them. The findings suggest that the image of dentistry as a career for women is improving.

Adult↗

World Federation of Haemophilia programs in developing countries.

The World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) is a global not-for-profit organization devoted to furthering the treatment of hemophilia and related disorders. Founded in Montreal in 1963, it has grown tremendously during the last 40 years and now has 107 National Member Organizations and has been recognized by the World Health Organization. The mission of the WFH is to introduce, improve, and maintain care for patients with hemophilia and related disorders. Several specific programs may be used as tools to achieve these goals. The WFH organizes regular educational workshops on key aspects of hemophilia care. Fellowships are offered to approximately 30 healthcare professionals each year that provide funding for a period of study of up to 8 weeks at an International Hemophilia Training Center of their choice. The WFH twinning program helps emerging hemophilia treatment centers develop partnerships with well-established centers. Although the ultimate goal of the WFH is to promote sustainable hemophilia treatment in developing countries, donations of concentrate are regularly made through the Humanitarian Aid program. The WHF launched the Global Alliance for Progress in its 40th anniversary year, establishing a partnership between the WFH and other stakeholders, including the pharmaceutical industry. The aim is to focus on 30 to 40 developing countries during the next 10 years, aiming to more than double the number of patients diagnosed with hemophilia in those countries. The WFH is also involved in fostering discussion on key issues such as safety and supply of blood products.

Developing Countries↗

Epidemiology of antibiotic resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in industrialized and developing countries.

The in vitro susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to antimicrobial drugs has been studied currently for around fifty years, and it has been convincingly demonstrated that the results of the in vitro determinations can be used as a guideline for choice of an efficient standard treatment regimen as well as for the choice of therapeutic agent in individual cases. During these past 50 years, the susceptibility of gonococci to antimicrobial drugs has undergone dramatic changes. The genetic background is chromosomal mutations as well as the acquisition of R plasmids. The selective pressure has been exerted both by use (and misuse) of antibiotics in treatment of patients and by factors in the micro-environment of the gonococcus. Review of the current spectrum of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of N. gonorrhoeae in industrialized and developing countries and a comparison with the changing epidemiology of gonorrhoea, rises the question as to what extent antimicrobial resistance and the choice of treatment regimen influence the spread of gonorrhoea (and other sexually transmitted diseases). In the developed countries, in spite of the access to an optimal antibiotic treatment, the prevalence of gonorrhoea increased significantly in the beginning of the 1970s and remained at a high level until around 1985. Then--within the following subsequent few years--the gonorrhoea rate fell dramatically e.g. in Scandinavia. This fall coincides with the establishment of comprehensive educational programmes for the promotion of changes in sexual lifestyle. It is therefore tempting to conclude that the impact of increasing antimicrobial resistance on the changing epidemiology of gonorrhoea is minor.

Developing Countries↗

Esophageal atresia: tragedies and triumphs over two decades in a developing country.

During a period of two decades, 1972-1991, 303 patients with esophageal atresia and/or tracheo-esophageal fistula were treated at the department of Pediatric Surgery, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, India. More than half of our patients fall into Waterston's risk category C. To evaluate the improvement in our results, the patients were divided into four phases of 5 years each. Over the period of observation, the incidence of new cases as well as the number of associated anomalies has considerably increased. With time, more patients are being diagnosed and referred early for treatment. This has resulted in more patients being treated by primary repair with or without a gastrostomy. Extrapleural approach and single layer end-to-end anastomosis has been practised in all cases. Results have shown a steady improvement primarily because of early recognition, improved perioperative care and newer antibiotics. Although postoperative pulmonary complications and anastomotic leak have shown a decreasing trend, but the presence of severe associated anomalies, pulmonary complications and sepsis still remain the major killers in our set-up. Although our results may not match those from the developed countries, we have still come a long way, improving our overall survival rate of 4.6% in 1972-76 to 45.7% in 1987-91. Through the present article, we wish to highlight the practical problems faced in the management of these patients in underprivileged developing countries.

Developing Countries↗

[Congenital dysplasia of the hip in children of immigrants from developing countries].

BACKGROUND: Aim of study was to ascertain the possible presence of congenital dysplasia of the hip in infants (CDH) in the population immigrated from countries where the problem is surely neglected from the local health service and estimate its incidence. Moreover to observe the impact of the CDH problem on the parents of these children, sometimes of scarce culture or rather of scarce comprehension of the language. Finally, to verify the answer of parents to the medical prescriptions and to the not simple therapeutic formality. METHODS: From 1989 to 1996, the hip has been examined by Graf ultrasounds (US) method on a population of 181 infants born from developing countries' immigrants in Italy; 77 of them were Egyptians. RESULTS: Even if the density of the population studied was not very high, the results presented in this paper are innovative and differ from the literature on this matter. Among the 362 hips examined with US, only 5 hips were found to be pathologic (4 Egyptians and 1 Philippine; 2 type uD and 3 type IIC of Graf), and they were treated and recovered with a harm in about 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: This work underlines the necessity that all immigrated infants should be studied with US hip exams and that CDH in these people should not be under-evaluated: the very low occurrence of this pathology in developing countries is probably mainly due to scarsity of studies on this matter. This allows not only to avoid hip dislocation in these subjects, but also to the society to avoid the necessary cost of the subsequent treatment of well more serious diseases such as osteoarthritis of the hip on dysplastic basis, in subjects that likely will stay in our country definitely, becoming Italian citizens to all effects.

Africa↗

Primary oral health care for developing countries.

A model for the delivery of oral health care in rural areas of developing countries has been derived from studies in Papua New Guinea and Thailand. It gives special attention to self-help and self-reliance at village level; it provides for training of each category of personnel, with a clearly defined career structure, and can be adapted to respond to diverse epidemiological, demographic, social and economic circumstances.

Adult↗

Applications of O.R. in health in developing countries: a review.

In this paper, the applications of O.R. in Health in the developing countries are reviewed from 286 published articles spread over more than 70 periodicals, journals and research reports over the last two decades. The sub-areas included are: (a) Health Planning, (b) Disease Control, (c) Location/Allocation, (d) Health Administration, (e) Public Health, (f) Family Planning and (g) Nutrition Planning. The object of this review is to examine the extent to which O.R. applications in these areas are relevant to development problems of the Third World countries and the suitability of the existing techniques and methodologies for tackling such problems.

Developing Countries↗

Retrospective review and long-term follow-up of radical cystectomy in a developing country.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively review the clinical data from patients undergoing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, and to analyse the complications and survival rates associated with this operation in a developing country. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 105 patients who underwent radical cystectomy from 1986 to 1993. Data were collected from retrospective reviews of hospital and physician's office records, and by contact with the patients. Metastatic status was evaluated before surgery and tumours staged using the Tumour-Nodes-Metastasis classification. The indication for surgery was histologically confirmed muscle invasion after transurethral resection biopsy, or endoscopically uncontrollable superficial disease. The data were analysed to assess the perioperative complications and long-term survival, with 5-year survival rates determined using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. RESULTS: The complication rate was 27.6%; most of the complications were managed conservatively with good results and re-operation was required in only two patients. There were two deaths (1.9%) at 15-45 days after surgery, but none during surgery. Patients were divided into node-negative and node-positive groups for analysis and 5-year survival rates determined; for node-negative organ-confined disease (< or =pT3A) the survival was 68% and for nonorgan-confined disease (> or =pT3B) 25%. The 5-year survival rate in the presence of nodal metastases was 13% for N1 and none for N2 disease. Six patients developed urethral recurrence, detected on follow-up urethral-wash cytology. Five of these patients underwent urethrectomy, and four of the six survived for 5 years. Pelvic recurrence occurred in five patients (4.7%), none of whom survived for 5 years. CONCLUSION: Radical cystectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection remains the mainstay of treatment in muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This is a relatively safe procedure with minimal morbidity and mortality; 68% of the present patients with organ-confined disease survived 5 years and 12 patients were alive at 10 years, indicating the effectiveness of this operation in selected cases. However, < 29% of patients with nonorgan-confined and nodal metastatic disease survived 5 years, thereby implying the need for more effective adjuvant therapy in these patients. Radical cystectomy is a viable option in developing countries, with 5-year survival rates comparable with most large published series.

Adult↗

[Improvement in oral health in developing countries].

The comparison of caries prevalence and of strategies applied for health promotion and caries prevention among industrialized countries, shows that systemic fluoride is the most effective method to reduce this disease. The analysis of the improvement in oral health services delivery, done through the study of the New Zealand Oral Health Care System during the period 1921-1982, confirms that this strategy, by itself, cannot produce a significative improvement in the oral health status. The review of the strategies applied to reduce periodontal disease, leads to the conclusion that the control of this disease will only be possible through health education programs with a public health approach. The study of the factors that have contributed to the decrease in oral health status in developing countries, shows that the increase in stimulous towards sugar consumption has had a great influence in the change of eating habits thus, in caries incidence. The oral health beliefs and values of the population, exercise a negative influence in the individuals health seeking behaviours. The conclusion is that it is not possible to revert the oral health status trends in developing countries, unless health promotion and disease prevention policies are implemented at government level.

Adult↗

Maternal morbidity in developing countries: a review and comments.

The incidence and prevalence of postpartum maternal morbidity in developing countries are poorly understood. Methodologic problems, such as lack of standard definitions, misclassification of illnesses, use of nonrepresentative samples, and inadequate validation for self-reported data, tend to compromise existing studies. Available data suggest that serious acute illnesses are common, affecting as many as 20% of mothers who deliver in hospitals in some areas. Providing good antenatal and family planning services should significantly reduce acute and chronic sequelae after parturition.

Developing Countries↗

Influenza vaccination in 18 developed countries, 1980-1992.

Influenza continues to be an important cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Although influenza vaccine is widely recommended for older high-risk individuals, no studies have compared its use in different countries. We gathered information on influenza vaccine distribution in 18 developed countries for the period 1980-1992. During the 1980s there was a > or = 10-fold difference in annual per capita vaccine distribution among these countries, and in 1992 the difference was still more than 7-fold. Several countries demonstrated large increases in vaccine use over the study period, some showing substantial increases in specific years. Thirteen of the 18 countries recommend influenza vaccination for all elderly persons and 11 countries provide reimbursement for vaccination through national or social health insurance. These countries tend to have higher levels of vaccine use. Historical, economic and political factors also affect vaccination practices and policies, but their relationships to differences in vaccine use between countries are not known. A better understanding of why the use of influenza vaccine varies among countries will be important if its protective benefits are to be fully realized.

Developing Countries↗

Paediatric anaesthesia in a developing country.

A suitable anaesthetic technique was needed for oral surgery in infants in a developing country. As an air compressor was present, and oxygen accessible, a continuous flow technique was chosen. Two Boyle's machines--useless due to lack of soda lime and nitrous oxide--were converted without increasing susceptibility to technical and supplemental deficiencies. The challenge to simplify techniques without reducing patient safety is discussed, and the solutions in an Ethiopian hospital are presented.

Anesthesia↗