the aid library

LIST OPTIONS

Filter

7393

A guide to tailoring health programmes: Using behavioural and cultural insights to tailor health policies, services and communications to the needs and circumstances of people and communities

World Health Organization WHO (2023) CC

WHO/Europe has launched a new guide, providing support to countries on how to apply behavioural and cultural insights (BCI) for health. It presents a simple step-wise approach, complemented by a rich collection of detailed considerations, tools and exercises. The guide is the first of its kind, spec... more

External Link

Cardiovascular diseases in Africa in the twenty-first century: Gaps and priorities going forward

Minja, N.W.; Nakagaayi, D.; Aliku, T. et al. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (2022) CC

In 2015, the United Nations set important targets to reduce premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths by 33% by 2030. Africa disproportionately bears the brunt of CVD burden and has one of the highest risks of dying from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide. There is currently an epide...miological transition on the continent, where NCDs is projected to outpace communicable diseases within the current decade. Unchecked increases in CVD risk factors have contributed to the growing burden of three major CVDs—hypertension, cardiomyopathies, and atherosclerotic diseasesleading to devastating rates of stroke and heart failure. The highest age standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to hypertensive heart disease (HHD) were recorded in Africa. The contributory causes of heart failure are changing—whilst HHD and cardiomyopathies still dominate, ischemic heart disease is rapidly becoming a significant contributor, whilst rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has shown a gradual decline. In a continent where health systems are traditionally geared toward addressing communicable diseases, several gaps exist to adequately meet the growing demand imposed by CVDs. Among these, high-quality research to inform interventions, underfunded health systems with high out-of-pocket costs, limited accessibility and affordability of essential medicines, CVD preventive services, and skill shortages. Overall, the African continent progress toward a third reduction in premature mortality come 2030 is lagging behind. More can be done in the arena of effective policy implementation for risk factor reduction and CVD prevention, increasing health financing and focusing on strengthening primary health care services for prevention and treatment of CVDs, whilst ensuring availability and affordability of quality medicines. Further, investing in systematic country data collection and research outputs will improve the accuracy of the burden of disease data and inform policy adoption on interventions. This review summarizes the current CVD burden, important gaps in cardiovascular medicine in Africa, and further highlights priority areas where efforts could be intensified in the next decade with potential to improve the current rate of progress toward achieving a 33% reduction in CVD mortality. more

Download (242)

View PDF (228)

Infrastructure, policy and regulatory interventions to increase physical activity to prevent cardiovascular diseases and diabetes: a systematic review

Durão, S.; Burns, J.; Schmidt, B. et al. BMC Public Health (2023) CC

Background Noncommunicable diseases are major contributors to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Modifying the risk factors for these conditions, such as physical inactivity, is thus essential. Addressing the context or circumstances in which physical activity occurs may promote physical activity a...t a population level. We assessed the effects of infrastructure, policy or regulatory interventions for increasing physical activity. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase and clinicaltrials.gov to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled before-after (CBAs) studies, and interrupted time series (ITS) studies assessing population-level infrastructure or policy and regulatory interventions to increase physical activity. We were interested in the effects of these interventions on physical activity, body weight and related measures, blood pressure, and CVD and type 2 diabetes morbidity and mortality, and on other secondary outcomes. Screening and data extraction was done in duplicate, with risk of bias was using an adapted Cochrane risk of bias tool. Due to high levels of heterogeneity, we synthesised the evidence based on effect direction. Results We included 33 studies, mostly conducted in high-income countries. Of these, 13 assessed infrastructure changes to green or other spaces to promote physical activity and 18 infrastructure changes to promote active transport. The effects of identified interventions on physical activity, body weight and blood pressure varied across studies (very low certainty evidence); thus, we remain very uncertain about the effects of these interventions. Two studies assessed the effects of policy and regulatory interventions; one provided free access to physical activity facilities and showed that it may have beneficial effects on physical activity (low certainty evidence). The other provided free bus travel for youth, with intervention effects varying across studies (very low certainty evidence). Conclusions Evidence from 33 studies assessing infrastructure, policy and regulatory interventions for increasing physical activity showed varying results. The certainty of the evidence was mostly very low, due to study designs included and inconsistent findings between studies. Despite this drawback, the evidence indicates that providing access to physical activity facilities may be beneficial; however this finding is based on only one study. Implementation of these interventions requires full consideration of contextual factors, especially in low resource settings. more

External Link

The Somali strategy for Cholera prevention and control 2020-2024
recommended

Government of SomaliaWorld Health Organization WHO (2023) C_WHO

Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae serogroup O1 or O139, and is often linked to unsafe drinking water, lack of proper sanitation and personal hygiene. It adversely affects mostly the poor and vulnerable populations in countries, which are already d... more

Download (384)

View PDF (548)

Climate change and communicable diseases: a manual for health workers

World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe (2011) C_WHO

There is a broad consensus nowadays that the Earth is warming up as a result of greenhouse gas emissions caused by anthropogenic activities. It is also clear that current trends in the fields of energy, development and population growth will lead to continuous and ever more dramatic climate change. ... more

Download (313)

View PDF (309)

Modelling the health impacts of disruptions to essential health services during COVID-19

UN Children's Fund UNICEF; Umited Nations Popuilation Fund UNFPA; World Health Organization WHO (2021) C_WHO

- Module 1: Understanding modelling approaches for sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, and nutrition Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a wide range of documented effects. It directly causes death and disability for some people infected. However, disruption to... more

Download (365)

View PDF (455)

Strengthening countries’ capacities to adopt and adapt evidence-based guidelines: a handbook for guideline contextualization

World Health Organization WHO (2023) C_WHO

Trustworthy, evidence-based health guidelines form the basis of national policies affecting both patients and health-care workers. Emphasizing the link between robust evidence and people’s trust in their health systems, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe said at the launch ev... more

Download (370)

View PDF (371)

Climate-smar agriculture case studies

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO (2021) CC

Projects from around the world

Download (620)

View PDF (913)

Evaluation of UNFPA support to the prevention, response to and elimination of gender-based violence, and harmful practices (2012-2017)

UNFPA; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India; National Human Rights Commission (2017) C1

Download (463)

View PDF (619)

Community Mental Health Practice. Seven essential Features for Scaling up in low- and middle-income Countries

Basic Needs Basic Rights (2009) CC

The seven essential features of practice for scaling up are described with great clarity. They are practical and universal, and encourage local innovation. They include policy, funding and local management structure, as well as working with all possible partners and developing local context adaptati... more

Download (315)

View PDF (467)

HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Programming: Innovative Approaches to Integrated Service Delivery

IATT; WHO; UNICEF; UNFPA (2014) C1

Compendium of Case Studies

Download (960)

View PDF (1329)

Cities affected by Typhoons in the Philippines

François Grünewald; Béatrice Boyer Group URD; European Commission Humanitarian Aid (2012)

Download (394)

View PDF (602)

Is climate change the biggest threat of the 21st century?

Stefi Barna; Aditya Vyas Medical Peace Work (2016) CC

The case is intended to be used as the basis for group work and class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a Medical Peace Work situation. This is one of seven Medical Peace Work courses.

Download (1012)

View PDF (1874)

The Road to Resilience

Debbie DeVoe Catholic Relief Services (2013) C2

Case Studies on Building Resilience in the Horn of Africa

Download (799)

View PDF (971)

We are here. IFRC’s experiences with communication and feedback channels for affected populations in Haiti

Isabella Jean , Francesca Bonino ALNAP-CDA (2014) CC

Download (846)

View PDF (1188)

Sierra Leone: GUIDELINES FOR MEDICINAL PRODUCT REGISTRATION

Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone (PBSR) (2015) C2

Download (332)

View PDF (411)

SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests: An implementation guide

World Health Organization WHO (2021) C_WHO

This guide provides an overview of the major elements that must be considered before, during and after the implementation of antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) for SARS-CoV-2. This guide is complementary to policy guidance issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). The guide may ... more