PLoS Negl Trop Dis 14(1): e0007999. January 30, 2020 is the first-ever World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (World NTD Day), a day when we celebrate the achievements made towards control of the world’s NTDs, yet recognize the daunting challenges we face in the control and elimination of these con...ditions.
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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002439
South Sudan has a high burden – among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa – of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This adversely affects the health and social and economic well-being of people in the country. The prevention, control and eventual elim...ination of many NTDs depend heavily on improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and, once there is access, on sound sanitation and hygiene practices. This is especially the case in NTD endemic communities.
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The document provides detailed clinical guidelines for the therapy of Type 1 Diabetes as developed by the German Diabetes Association (DDG). It focuses on individualized insulin therapy, structured patient training, and monitoring of blood glucose levels. The guidelines emphasize preventing complica...tions like ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia while improving patients' quality of life through education and tailored medical care. Recommendations include the use of both basal and bolus insulin, continuous glucose monitoring, and integrating psychosocial support into treatment plans. The document serves as a comprehensive resource for healthcare professionals managing Type 1 Diabetes.
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The document reviews strategies for community-based physical activity promotion among older adults, focusing on capacity-building approaches such as coalition building, professional training, raising awareness, and allocating resources. It highlights the importance of community involvement to promot...e sustainable health behaviors but notes inconsistent results regarding the effectiveness of these strategies. More rigorous research is recommended to optimize community capacity-building efforts for older populations.
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The document addresses the pressing issues of global malnutrition and the urgent need to build workforce capacity in public health nutrition, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It highlights the dual burden of malnutrition, characterized by the coexistence of undernutrition and overnu...trition. While maternal and child undernutrition remain critical concerns, there is a growing prevalence of chronic diseases linked to overnutrition, even in resource-limited settings.
A significant gap exists in the availability of trained nutrition professionals. Many countries lack sufficient numbers of nutritionists, particularly at the undergraduate level, and existing training programs often focus on curative rather than preventive approaches. This leaves health workers inadequately prepared to address complex public health nutrition challenges.
To address these issues, the document recommends increasing the number of trained nutritionists, incorporating updated nutrition training into medical and nursing curricula, and developing competency frameworks and hybrid training programs. Accreditation systems for nutrition professionals are also proposed to ensure standardized and effective training.
Sustainability remains a challenge, with the need for long-term financing and better integration of nutrition programs into health systems. The document calls for systemic approaches to strengthen workforce capacity, enabling countries to effectively tackle the underlying causes of malnutrition.
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A global call to action to protect the mental health of health and care workers
The paper presents interview data from Malawian government representatives, trade unionists, employers and people with disabilities from the country's largest cities Lilongwe and Blantyre. Findings relate to the gap between the discourse of employers and government officials and that of workers with... disabilities. Firstly, we find a policy-based assumption of a formalised workforce that is not representative of the predominantly informal disabled workforce. Secondly, the disruptive, intermittent and often reactive nature of non-governmental organisation (NGO) interventions can limit long-term inclusivity agendas and undermine the work of disabled activists in Malawi. Lastly, we present findings on the stigmatised nature of disability in these urban centres. We find that stigma is economic: Urban workers with disabilities are discriminated against locally by employers, landlords and banks on assumptions they will not produce or earn enough to meet productivity demands, rent or repayment costs.
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With development, people around the world have become wealthier and live longer. At the same time, development can lead to growing inequalities within and between nations. This paper analyses inequalities related to disability and how they vary across countries by development level. Using internatio...nally comparable data on disability inequalities in 40 countries, we assess disability inequalities through the use of regression analyses with a variety of development measures. Results support the hypothesis only partially: disability inequalities related to education, employment, and multidimensional poverty are found to be significantly larger in countries at higher levels of development. However, this is not the case for rates of access to water, sanitation, clean fuel, electricity, housing, and assets. These results, overall, hold when using different development and
outcome indicators, and when focusing on specific subgroups of the population. The potential implications of these findings are discussed. Further research is needed to understand, for education and employment, the factors and processes that contribute to larger disability inequalities in countries at higher levels of development and what strategies might be pursued to reduce them.
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The article "The Rising Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases in the Americas and the Impact of Population Aging" examines how the aging population in the Americas is contributing to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), despite improvements in disease prevention and health care. Usi...ng data from the World Health Organization and the United Nations, the study analyzes trends in population growth, aging, and NCD-related mortality and disability rates from 2000 to 2019 across 33 countries.
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Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease among school-going adolescents worldwide. However, the burden of severe asthma is highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to explore teachers’ perceptions of asthma care across six African countries. We conducted focus group discussions... (FGDs) using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. FGDs were conducted in Kumasi(Ghana), Blantyre (Malawi), Lagos (Nigeria), Durban (South Africa), Kampala (Uganda), and Harare (Zimbabwe) between 01 November 2020 and 30 June 2021. We identified two key themes related to asthma care; barriers to asthma care and suggestions to improve the care of adolescents with asthma. Barriers reported by teachers included a lack of knowledge and skills among themselves, adolescents, and caregivers. In addition, some traditional beliefs of teachers on asthma exacerbated challenges with asthma care in schools. Regarding suggestions, most teachers identified a need for all-inclusive asthma training programmes for teachers, adolescents and caregivers, focusing on acute episodes and mitigating triggers. Utilising teachers with personal experiences with asthma to advocate and support these initiatives was suggested. Further suggestions included the need for annual screening to enable early identification of adolescents with asthma and clarify restrictions on teachers administering asthma medications. Teachers across African schools identify multiple barriers to asthma care. Structured school education programs and annual asthma screening are key to addressing some barriers to care.
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Стратегия народосбережения в Российской Федерации — один из основных документов государственной социальной политики. Она может быть реализована различными путя...ми, в частности увеличением продолжительности жизни представителей старшего поколения. Анализ концепций старения и гендерных особенностей процесса старения, дискурс-анализ практики формирования социального и психического здоровья женщин старшего поколения позволили выделить типологию основных социальных проблем этой возрастной группы.
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The article "The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its attributable risk factors in the Middle East and North Africa region, 1990–2019" provides an analysis of the prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to COPD in the MENA region from 1990 to 2019. ...The study uses data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 and shows that while age-standardized death and DALY rates have decreased over 30 years, COPD remains a significant health issue, especially among older populations. The main risk factors identified are smoking, ambient particulate pollution, and occupational exposure. The research underscores the impact of socioeconomic factors and recommends targeted public health initiatives to reduce the burden.
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We aimed to estimate the incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 204 countries and territories. We examined the variations in these trends by country, gender, age group, and sociodemographic index (SDI).
The article "Economic Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Systematic Literature Review" examines the financial impact associated with moderate-to-very severe COPD. The review analyzes studies published between 2006 and 2016 that discuss healthcare resource utilization (HRU), di...rect costs, and indirect costs related to COPD, with a focus on Europe and North America. It highlights that direct costs, including hospitalizations and medical treatments, increase with the severity of COPD and the frequency of exacerbations. Multivariate analyses identify key factors driving these costs, such as comorbidities and prior treatment history. The findings underscore the significant economic burden of COPD on healthcare systems and emphasize the need for improved management strategies to reduce costs and optimize patient care.
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The article presents findings from the BREATHE study, which assessed the distribution of COPD-related symptoms in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The study involved a large cross-sectional survey in 11 countries, collecting data on respiratory symptoms, smoking habits, and potential ...COPD prevalence in adults aged 40 and older. Results showed that 14.3% of the surveyed population reported symptoms consistent with COPD, with variations across countries. Women reported symptoms more frequently than men, though diagnosed COPD was more common in men. The study highlighted smoking, including waterpipe use, as significant risk factors and called attention to underdiagnosed COPD in the region, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and better diagnostic practices.
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The new Global Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines advice to focus treatment in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on improvement of functional state, prevention of disease progression and minimization of symptoms. So far no validated questionnaires are available to measure symptom ...and functional state in daily clinical practice. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ).
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The article investigates the diagnostic capabilities and prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary care settings in northern Brazil. It highlights that COPD is often underdiagnosed and undertreated in resource-limited regions. The study involved 34 general practitioners a...nd used spirometry to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy compared to clinical assessments. Findings revealed significant discrepancies between GP diagnoses and spirometry results, with many false positives and negatives. The study underscores the need for better training and the use of spirometry to improve COPD diagnosis and case-finding in primary care, emphasizing the importance of targeted strategies to enhance healthcare outcomes in developing countries.
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The article examines the epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey. It provides an overview of COPD prevalence, associated risk factors, and challenges in diagnosis and treatment across these regions. The study highlights smoking and en...vironmental exposures, such as dust and pollution, as significant contributors to COPD. It also points out the gaps in awareness, healthcare infrastructure, and the availability of diagnostic tools, which hinder effective management of the disease. The authors emphasize the need for comprehensive public health strategies, education, and improved access to healthcare to address the COPD burden in these areas.
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The article investigates the effectiveness and challenges of remote monitoring systems for chronic respiratory diseases, focusing on COPD and asthma. It reviews various technologies and their potential to improve patient outcomes through better symptom tracking, medication adherence, and early detec...tion of exacerbations. The study highlights that while remote monitoring has significant potential, challenges such as data accuracy, patient compliance, and integration with existing healthcare systems remain. The authors call for further research to standardize and validate remote monitoring tools and emphasize the need for patient-centric approaches to enhance engagement and adherence.
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This study identifies barriers and provides recommendations to improve asthma care in children across sub-Saharan Africa, where qualitative data is lacking despite high rates.