SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Agency for International Development”

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 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

POPs less widely used.

Progestin-only pills (POPs) are less widely used and available than combined pills. For example, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) shipped only 3 million packets of POPs worldwide in 1994, compared with 62 million packets of combined pills, according to Mark Rilling, program analyst with USAID's Office of Population. While USAID considers POPs to be an acceptable contraceptive option for some women and intends to continue providing them, the worldwide market for them is small, Rilling says. The London-based International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) reports a similar trend. IPPF shipped 16 times more combined pills than POPs during 1994, says Dr. Carlos Huezo, the organization's medical director. New efforts to clarify the role of progestin-only pills may make them more acceptable. For example, new studies have provided additional evidence that POPs do not harm breastfed infants whose mothers use them. A new label that reflects these findings, and clarifies other distinctions from combined pills, is being developed for POPs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, based on a draft developed by FHI. The pills also are being more actively promoted among some family planning organizations, and may prove useful for community-based distribution.

Contraception↗

PubMed1992

Population-based mortality assessment--Baidoa and Afgoi, Somalia, 1992.

Since 1990, Somalia has been the site of an intense civil war that has disrupted health-care services and food delivery to a substantial part of the country. A regional drought, in combination with the ongoing civil disturbances, has further resulted in widespread famine. Multiple international government- and nongovernment-aid agencies are involved in the relief effort for Somalia. However, security problems in most areas of Somalia have prevented recent, systematic population-based assessments of the health and nutritional status of local Somali populations for use in directing relief efforts. To characterize the mortality of various Somali populations and to provide data on major population centers outside of the capital (Mogadishu), CDC, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the U.S. Agency for International Development, conducted a survey (1) of urban populations in a central region of Somalia (Figure 1). This report describes two pilot assessments performed during November 20-25 and December 5-6, 1992, in the towns of Baidoa and Afgoi.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Urban malaria treatment behaviour in the context of low levels of malaria transmission in Lagos, Nigeria.

Urban malaria in West Africa is not well documented. While rapid urbanisation may create environmental conditions that favour mosquito breeding, urban pollution may inhibit the growth of Anopheles species. In 1996, the Basic Support for Institutionalizing Child Survival (BASICS) Project of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) started building urban community health coalitions in Lagos, Nigeria, to empower communities to provide prompt treatment and appropriate prevention for major causes of childhood morbidity and mortality, including malaria, diarrhoeal disease, acute respiratory infections and vaccine preventable diseases. Intervention against malaria was predicated on national policies that assumed Nigeria was holo-endemic for malaria and that prompt treatment of febrile illness with anti-malarial drugs was an appropriate action. At the suggestion and with the assistance of another USAID programme, the Environmental Health Project (EHP), BASICS embarked on a rapid assessment of the epidemiological, entomological and sociological situation of malaria transmission and case management in three Lagos communities. During April and May 1998, blood film investigation of 916 children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years yielded a parasite prevalence rate of 0.9%. Night knockdown collections of mosquitoes in rooms yielded only C. quinquefasciatus and A. aegypti. The same results were obtained for night landing collections on human bait. Very low densities of A. gambiae larvae were found in breeding sites in Lagos Island (0.7) and Ajegunle (0.3). In contrast, community members, during focus group discussion identified malaria, in it various culturally defined forms, as a major health problem. Among the children examined clinically, 186 (20.3%) reported an illness, which they called "malaria" in the previous two weeks, and 180 had sought treatment for this illness. Data obtained from 303 shops in the area documented that a minimum of US dollars 4,000 was spent on purchases of anti-malarial drugs in the previous week. The implications of these findings for both professional and community education are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Cholera epidemic associated with raw vegetables--Lusaka, Zambia, 2003-2004.

Zambia experienced widespread cholera epidemics in 1991 (13,154 cases), 1992 (11,659), and 1999 (11,327). In response to the large outbreak in 1999, the Zambian Ministry of Health (ZMOH) urged use of in-home chlorination with the locally produced solution, Clorin, and the practice increased substantially Clorin had been introduced in Zambia in 1998 as part of the Safe Water System (SWS), a point-of-use water disinfection and safe-water storage strategy launched by the Society for Family Health, in partnership with ZMOH, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and CDC. Although no outbreaks were reported during 2000-2002, cholera remained endemic. Epidemic cholera returned to Zambia in November 2003, when cases of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1, serotype Ogawa, biotype El Tor were confirmed in the capital city, Lusaka. During November 28, 2003-January 4, 2004, an estimated 2,529 cholera cases and 128 cholera deaths (case-fatality rate [CFR] = 5.1%) occurred in Lusaka. In February 2004, the Lusaka District Health Management Team (LDHMT) invited CDC to assist in an investigation of the epidemic. This report summarizes the results of that investigation, which implicated foodborne transmission via raw vegetables and demonstrated a protective role for hand washing with soap. The results underscore the importance of hygiene, clean water, and sanitary food handling for cholera prevention.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Screening HIV-infected persons for tuberculosis--Cambodia, January 2004-February 2005.

Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common causes of death among persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The World Health Organization recommends screening HIV-infected persons for TB disease after HIV diagnosis, before initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and during routine follow-up care. In 2003, health officials in Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia, in conjunction with CDC and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), began a pilot project to increase TB screening among persons with HIV infection. Subsequently, CDC analyzed and evaluated data from the first 14 months of the project. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which determined that, during January 2004--February 2005, among persons with HIV infection at voluntary counseling and confidential testing (VCCT) clinics, 37% were screened for TB disease, and 24% of those screened had TB disease diagnosed. On the basis of these findings, the Provincial Health Department (PHD) took action to increase awareness of the risk for TB among HIV-infected persons. During the 3 months after these measures were implemented, the TB screening rate among persons with HIV infection increased to 61%. Evaluation of projects like the one conducted in Banteay Meanchey Province can help develop an evidence-based approach for removing barriers to screening HIV-infected persons for TB.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Breastfeeding promotion in family planning programs.

Family planning programs serve large numbers of women of childbearing, and thus breastfeeding, age. Although these programs appear to have a number of characteristics which would be useful for promoting and supporting breastfeeding, most family planning programs have done very little in this area. The Agency for International Development (A.I.D.) and the Institute for International Studies in Natural Family Planning are working to find ways to remove barriers to family planning breastfeeding promotion efforts. Such barriers include lack of or conflicting measures of program success and lack of information on the breastfeeding/fertility relationship. The Institute is developing guidelines to help family planning programs promote breastfeeding.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMed1990

[The impact of health promoters in an area of poor neighborhoods of Pucallpa, Peru].

In 1986, 30 months after the conclusion of a primary health care project financed by the Danish Agency for International Development, the performance of 43 voluntary health promoters in low-income neighborhoods of the city of Pucallpa, Peru, was evaluated. The evaluation included interviews with the health promoters and a survey of 152 families. The results were compared with a survey of 82 families in an index area where no promoters had been working. Approximately four-fifths of the promoters' activities were curative and one-fifth were preventive. The effect of their work, for the people served, was translated into enhanced utilization of public health care services and improved vaccination coverage. However, their work did not contribute to any improvement in drinking water hygiene or to any significant changes in the treatment of diarrhea among the population. It is recommended that programs for training health promoters continue to be included as part of the primary health care strategy.

Health Behavior↗

PubMed1994

Certification of poliomyelitis eradication--the Americas, 1994.

In May 1985, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) proposed the goal of interruption of wild poliovirus transmission in the Western Hemisphere by 1990 (1). This proposal was endorsed by all member governments and was supported by several agencies and organizations, including Rotary International, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations Children's Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Canadian Public Health Association. On August 20, 1994, PAHO reported that 3 years had passed since the occurrence of the last case of poliomyelitis associated with wild poliovirus isolation in the Americas (Peru, August 1991) (2). This report summarizes the steps to certify eradication of polio in the Americas.

Americas↗

PubMed1994

[Central American seminars for young psychiatrists of the region and training of leaders in community mental health. Sweden/PAHO-WHO collaboration program].

The Swedish Psychiatric Association, in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Umeå, Sweden, and the Pan American Health Organization/WHO, has obtained economic support from the Swedish Agency for International Development (ASDI), to organize training seminars for young psychiatrists from Central America. The program will continue until 1995 with an option to pursue further studies leading to a master or other post-graduate degrees. The overall purpose is to strengthen the knowledge in epidemiology and community mental health, along the lines set by the "Caracas Declaration" of a cadre of young leaders in the field of psychiatry in Central America.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Health care in Armenia today.

Although one of the smallest of the new independent states of the former Soviet Union, the Republic of Armenia has an ancient tradition and a strong ethnic identification, greatly enhanced by the diaspora. In addition to the problems following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Armenia has had to contend with a draining war in Nagorno-Karabakh and the after-effects of a devastating earthquake in 1988. Humanitarian efforts have ranged from emergency supply deliveries to longer-term sustainable health care partnerships. The United States government, through the Agency for International Development, has organized such partnerships, partially as a result of a multinational mission in 1992 and a subsequent hospital-to-hospital program developed by the American International Health Alliance. We describe the current state of health care in Armenia and some of the problems that need to be addressed to improve health care services to its citizens.

Armenia↗

PubMed1993

Partnership programs in Poland.

Sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID), Albany Medical College and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology formed a Partnership in 1992 aimed at enhancing cancer control and care in Poland by providing technical assistance and education to foster existing programs and develop new oncologic programs. The initial focus of the partnership is on breast cancer. Three demonstration screening/early disease programs are being developed, as well as a clinical and clinical research program and a Polish Breast Cancer Trials Group. A program to foster accreditation of oncologic facilities and programs throughout Poland is being considered.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1993

Status of public health--Bosnia and Herzegovina, August-September 1993.

Since 1991, civil strife in the former Yugoslav republics (Figure 1) has resulted in more than 150,000 war-related casualties, approximately 3.5 million displaced persons, widespread destruction of the health infrastructure, disruption of food production and distribution, and other increased risks to public health. The impact of the war has been especially severe in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1991 population: 4.3 million). To assist in targeting humanitarian aid to the region, in August 1993, the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance asked CDC to assess the public health status and needs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This report summarizes the results of that assessment and focuses on three central Bosnian regions.

Bosnia and Herzegovina↗

PubMed1993

Emergency public health surveillance in response to food and energy shortages--Armenia, 1992.

Living conditions in Armenia have deteriorated since 1988 as a result of an economic blockade related to a territorial conflict between Armenia and a neighboring country. The effects of this blockade--a drastic reduction in available food, heating fuel, gasoline, electricity, health services, drugs, and vaccines--have placed residents of Armenia at increased risk for morbidity and mortality from nutritional deficiencies, infectious diseases, and hypothermia. To assess and monitor the current health and nutritional status of residents of Armenia, the Armenian National Institute of Health, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and CDC have developed the Emergency Public Health Information Surveillance System (EPHISS). This report summarizes preliminary results for 1992.

Armenia↗

PubMed1993

Nutrition and mortality assessment--southern Sudan, March 1993.

During the last 5 years of Sudan's decade-long civil war, increased fighting and food shortages in southern Sudan have led to displacement of large numbers of persons. In late 1992, the United Nations (UN), the government of Sudan, and factions of the Sudanese People's Liberation Army negotiated increased access for delivery of relief aid to civilians in southern Sudan. To assist in the targeting of food and other relief aid, CDC and the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance conducted rapid assessments of nutritional status (children aged < 5 years) and mortality (persons of all ages) during March 7-19, 1993, at four sites in three states: Ame (Eastern Equatoria), Ayod and Kongor (Upper Nile), and Akon (Bahr el Ghazal) (Figure 1). This report summarizes findings of the assessments.

Child↗

PubMed1996

Epidemic malaria--Tadjikistan, 1995.

In June 1995, the Tadjikistan Ministry of Health (MOH) and CDC, with support of the U.S. Agency for International Development, began collaborative efforts to strengthen the health information and disease surveillance systems in Tadjikistan (1995 population: 5.7 million). As part of an initial evaluation in Tadjikistan, the Republican Sanitary and Epidemiologic Service (RSES) and the Parasitology Laboratory of the Institute for Preventive Medicine in the MOH reported a substantial increase in the incidence of malaria since 1991. This report summarizes malaria surveillance data for 1995 in Tadjikistan and describes barriers to implementing effective measures for controlling and preventing malaria in Tadjikistan.

Disease Outbreaks↗

PubMed1997

Status of public health--Democratic People's Republic of Korea, April 1997.

During 1995 and 1996, severe flooding in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (i.e., North Korea (DPRK) (1990 population: 22 million)) (Figure 1) caused 186 deaths, dislocated approximately 550,000 persons from their homes, and caused damage to an estimated 1.2 million metric tons of crops (12% of total production). In combination with systemic economic problems in DPRK, these natural disasters have been associated with reports of a severe, ongoing food shortage and increased risks to public health. To assist in targeting humanitarian aid, in April 1997, the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance requested CDC to conduct an onsite assessment of the public health status and needs of the DPRK. This report summarizes findings of the assessment, which indicate a recent substantial decline in the health and nutritional status in DPRK.

Disasters↗

PubMed2005

Advancing worker health and safety in the developing world.

OBJECTIVES: Working conditions in the developing world seldom meet the minimum standards required by international agencies. This article addresses some of the major obstacles to occupational and environmental health and suggests methods by which they can be overcome. METHODS: International agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) offer a number of programs that address the problem. RESULTS: The results of international efforts to date have been disappointing. There is a need for renewed efforts on the part of international agencies and the developed countries. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational health and safety can be advanced in the developing world with modest funding of innovative programs.

Accidents, Occupational↗

PubMed2002

Recommendations for implementation of high dose rate 192Ir brachytherapy in developing countries by the Advisory Group of International Atomic Energy Agency.

PURPOSE: To provide recommendations for the implementation of high dose rate (HDR) 192Ir brachytherapy technology in developing countries. METHODS: An Advisory Group Meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met to address the implementation of HDR 192Ir brachytherapy technology in developing countries. These recommendations reflect only the personal opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the IAEA. RESULTS: An HDR treatment system should be purchased as a complete unit that includes the 192Ir radioactive source, source loading unit, applicators, treatment planning system, and control console. Infrastructure support may require additional or improved buildings and procurement of or access to new imaging facilities. A supportive budget is needed for quarterly source replacement and the annual maintenance necessary to keep the system operational. The radiation oncologist, medical physicist, and technologist should be specially trained before HDR can be introduced. Training for the oncologist and medical physicist is an ongoing process as new techniques or sites of treatment are introduced. Procedures for quality assurance (QA) of patient treatment, and the planning system must be introduced. Emergency procedures with adequate training of all associated personnel must be in place. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to select HDR in preference to alternate methods of brachytherapy is influenced by the ability of the machine to treat a wide variety of clinical sites. In departments with personnel and budgetary resources to support this equipment appropriately, economic advantage becomes evident only if large numbers of patients are treated. Intangible benefits of source safety, personnel safety, and easy adaptation to fluctuating demand for treatments also require consideration when evaluating the need to introduce this treatment system.

Brachytherapy↗