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Rapid appraisal methodology for 'health for all' policy formulation analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although in the last 20 years, the WHO 'Health for All' principles have been widely used in national, regional and local health policy documents, there is still a gap in the literature regarding how to appraise or compare them, which weakens the social accountability process. METHODOLOGY: A new, rapid approach to analyse the formulation of health policies is proposed. It is based on the selection of a small number of tracers and the development of a gold standard to be completed with input from a review of the literature, and opinions of expert panel members. This methodology has been empirically applied to the health strategies of two Spanish regions (Catalonia and Valencia). RESULTS: A framework for analysis was produced containing three dimensions: timing (early or late policy options), action level (individuals or social focus) and equity (social class, gender and ethnic groups). The health problems selected as tracers were HIV/AIDS, traffic injuries and ageing-related disabilities. In the two regions studied, the policies formulated for HIV/AIDS and age-related disabilities provide interventions late in the evolution of the health problem. The strategy established in the region of Valencia is more community-oriented than in Catalonia. Neither region had implemented specific policies regarding social class, gender or ethnic groups. INTERPRETATION: The methodology proposed here makes it possible to map the formulation of Health Strategies, compare different geographical areas and even forecast the policies' usefulness. The simplicity of the method, together with the fact that citizens and politicians alike can easily understand its results are major advantages. For the framework to be fully useful, it will be necessary to build evidence-based policy databases.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Environmental health challenges in South Africa: policy lessons from case studies.

In South Africa, the challenges of economic growth, job creation and effective service delivery are regarded as key to the long-term development of the country. The provision of basic environmental health services is acknowledged as an important factor impacting on the quality of living environments and the health of communities. This paper outlines the environmental health challenges faced by local authorities in the context of national policy, the wider local government development framework and the backlog in the provision of basic services. Using South African examples, the paper concludes with a synopsis of the gaps in policy and delivery drawing on the policy framework of the World Health Organisation, Health for All in the 21st Century. Many of the insights highlighted are likely to parallel the experiences in other developing countries.

Air Pollution↗

Skilled care at birth in the developing world: progress to date and strategies for expanding coverage.

Skilled attendance at delivery is one of the key indicators to reflect progress toward the Millennium Development Goal of improving maternal health. This paper assesses global progress in the use of skilled attendants at delivery and identifies factors that could assist in achieving Millennium Development Goals for maternal health. National data covering a substantial proportion of all developing country births were used for the estimation of trends and key differentials in skilled assistance at delivery. Between 1990 and 2000, the percentage of births with a skilled attendant increased from 45% to 54% in developing countries, primarily as a result of an increasing use of doctors. A substantial proportion of antenatal care users do not deliver with a skilled attendant. Delivery care use among antenatal care users is highly correlated with wealth. Women aged 35 and above, who are at greatest risk of maternal death, are the least likely to receive professional delivery care. Births in mid-level facilities appear to be a strategy that has been overlooked. More effective strategies are needed to promote skilled attendance at birth during antenatal care, particularly among poor women. Specific interventions are also needed to encourage older and high parity mothers to seek professional care at delivery.

Adult↗

Safe motherhood in the United States: challenges for surveillance.

OBJECTIVES: Maternal mortality ratios in the United States are higher than those of many other industrialized nations. Moreover, these ratios have not changed in the past 20 years, and large racial disparities persist in measures of both maternal mortality and morbidity. In an affluent developed country, maternal deaths should serve as rare sentinel events, highlighting opportunities for prevention and reduction of morbidities. However, existing surveillance efforts are poorly developed, and pregnancy-related deaths and illnesses tend to be underreported. To formulate recommendations for improved surveillance, the authors reviewed existing data on maternal health. METHODS: This review examines the scope and quality of existing information and the strengths and limitations of definitions of maternal mortality and morbidity used in data collection and reporting. RESULTS: This review suggests numerous gaps in surveillance of U.S. maternal health. Psychological as well as physical morbidity, and the presence and adequacy of appropriate treatment, should be ascertained. Quality of pregnancy-related care at the clinical and community levels, and the impact on mortality and morbidity, must be assessed. Collection of morbidity data outside of health care delivery sites is also essential. Trade-offs between nationally representative and other less comprehensive data sources, such as sentinel clinics, large healthcare organizations, and public healthcare financing systems, should be considered. CONCLUSION: Maternal health remains an important frontier for U.S. public health surveillance efforts. Improved surveillance offers opportunities for reducing pregnancy-related mortality and gaining a better understanding of the relationship between maternal morbidity and mortality.

Databases, Factual↗

Maternal characteristics associated with place of delivery and neonatal mortality rates among very-low-birthweight infants, Georgia.

To determine whether the Healthy People 2000 objective to deliver very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants at subspecialty perinatal care centres was met, and if improvements in the regional perinatal care system could reduce neonatal mortality further for 2010, we examined place of delivery for VLBW infants, associated maternal characteristics and the potential impact on neonatal mortality. We used linked birth and death records for the 1994-96 Georgia VLBW (i.e. 500-1499 g) birth cohorts. Among 4770 VLBW infants, 77% were delivered at hospitals providing subspecialty perinatal care. The strongest predictor of birth hospital level was the mother's county of residence, defined using three levels: residence in a county with a subspecialty hospital, residence in a county adjacent to one with such a hospital or residence in a non-adjacent county. Eighty-nine per cent of infants born to women who resided in counties with subspecialty care hospitals delivered at such hospitals, compared with 53% of infants born to women who resided in a non-adjacent county. Women were also more likely to deliver outside subspecialty care if they had less than adequate prenatal care [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.5, P-value = 0.0001]. The neonatal mortality rate varied by level of perinatal care at the birth hospital from 132.1/1000 to 283/1000 live births, with the highest death rate for infants born at hospitals offering the lowest level of care. Assuming that the differences in mortality were due to care level of the birth hospital, potentially 16-23% of neonatal deaths among VLBW infants could have been prevented if 90% of infants born outside subspecialty care were delivered at the recommended level. These findings suggest that a state's support of strong, collaborative, regional perinatal care networks is required to ensure that high-risk women and infants receive optimal health care. Improved access to recommended care levels should further reduce neonatal mortality until interventions are identified to prevent VLBW births.

Adolescent↗

Trends in alcohol- and drug-related ER and primary care visits, 1995-2000: are Healthy People 2000 objectives met?

Data were compared between the 1995 (n = 4925) and 2000 (n = 7612) National Alcohol Surveys to determine whether Healthy People 2000 objectives of a reduction in alcohol- and drug-related emergency room (ER) visits were met. Year of survey (2000) was positively predictive of drug use but not of alcohol use, prior to an event for which ER and other treatment were obtained. The data suggest Healthy People 2000 objectives were not met and in fact may be related to an increase in drug abuse among those seeking any kind of health services treatment, but not to an increase in drug use in general.

Adult↗

An interprofessional role for veterinary medicine in human health promotion and disease prevention.

In the past, veterinarians have participated in interprofessional collaboration to support the health promotion and disease prevention goals and objectives described in the United States Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Healthy People 2010. Such projects have resulted from collaboration resulting from a writing competition, the DHHS's Secretary's Award for Innovations in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (Secretary's Award). The Secretary's Award, which interfaces with Healthy People 2010, has been effectively used as a means of training community-responsive veterinary students in a variety of interprofessional collaborations. All future health care professionals should be trained in innovative interprofessional problem solving, the 'art of thinking outside the box', and the importance of responsiveness to the needs of the community. These health professional students' collaborative efforts are vital for the continual improvement of any nation's health care system in the 21st century.

Awards and Prizes↗

Are the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) useful for measuring outcomes in older people's mental health services?

The Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) were developed to provide a single index in order to enable the government target 'to improve significantly the health and social functioning of mentally ill people' to be quantified. They were intended to be applicable to all adults (including older people), across a wide range of settings so that services in different localities could be compared and changes both within individuals and within services could be measured. In 1999 the HoNOS65+ was launched with a modified glossary for older people. The HoNOS has been formally adopted as the preferred outcome measure for adults of working age. There has been no such formal adoption of the HoNOS65+, or any other outcome measure, for mental health services for older people. This review summarises how the HoNOS was originally developed and validated. Studies with older people, which have used both the original definitions and those developed for the HoNOS65+ are reviewed focusing on data on the reliability and validity of the HoNOS and HoNOS65+ with older people. Finally the question of whether the HoNOS or HoNOS65+ is suitable as an outcome measure in routine clinical practice in services for older people is addressed.

Aged↗

Hormone therapy use after the Women's Health Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: To continue surveillance of hormone therapy (HT) use in an Australian population and to assess the impact of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) and associated reports on HT use 16 months after the results of the WHI were first reported. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 2003 South Australian Health Omnibus Survey, which involves a representative, population face-to-face interview survey. Data were compared to five surveys undertaken between 1991 and 2000, which had consistent methods and quality-control procedures. A total of 907 interviews were conducted with women over 40 years in their own homes by trained health interviewers. RESULTS: In association with the timing of media reporting of the WHI, current HT use rates dropped from 28% in women over 50 years in 2000 to an estimated 10.2% in 2002. By October 2003, current use rates had returned to 18.8% in this age group. The media had been the main influence in the women's decision-making. Half of those who restarted therapy changed to another type of HT. Only 2.8% changed to an alternative/complementary therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly two-thirds (64%) of those currently using HT in 2002 stopped therapy, mostly in response to the media reporting of the WHI. Nearly half of those who stopped HT in 2002 have since restarted. Media reporting greatly influences the use of hormonal therapies.

Adult↗