the aid library

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

The Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk: A Compass for Future Health

Vaduganathan, M.; Mensah, G.A.; Turco, J.V. et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2022) CC

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have collectively remained the leading causes of death worldwide and substantially contribute to loss of health and excess health system costs. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study has tracked trends in death and disability since 1990 a ... more

A position statement and practical guide to the use of particulate filtering facepiece respirators (N95, FFP2, or equivalent) for South African health workers exposed to respiratory pathogens includin

Dheda, K.; et al. (2022) CC

Afr J Thoracic Crit Care Med 2021;27(4):Published online 22 October 2021. https://doi.org/10.7196/AJTCCM.2021.v27i4.173

The United Nations Convention on the rights of the child and implications for clinical, practice, policy and research

M. L. Belfer; S. Song IACAPAP (2012) C2

Miscellaneous Chapter J.7

Caregiver strain and symptoms of depression among principal caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder in Sri Lanka

Chaturaka Rodrigo, Tharanga Fernando, Senaka Rajapakse, et al. (2013) CC

Int J Ment Health Syst. 2013 Jan 9;7(1):2. doi: 10.1186/1752-4458-7-2.

Geographical and seasonal correlation of multiple sclerosis to sporadic schizophrenia

M. Fritzsche PMC; BioMed central (2002) C2

Int J Health Geogr. 2002; 1: 5. Published online 2002 Dec 20. doi: 10.1186/1476-072X-1-5 PMCID: PMC149400 PMID: 12537588

Psychological treatments for depression and anxiety disorders in low-and middle-income countries: a meta-analysis

E van‘t Hof, P Cuijpers, W Waheed, DJ Stein (2011) CC

Afr J Psychiatry 2011;14:200-207

Pharmacists' knowledge and perceptions about herbal medicines: A case study of Jos and environs

Jimann, N.S.; et al. (2017) CC

Med J DY Patil Univ 2017;10:229-33

Políticas públicas de salud mental en niños y adolescentes

G. Harper IACAPAP (2018) C2

Misceláneo Capítulo J.6 Edición: Matías Irarrázaval & Andres Martin Traducción: Fernanda Prieto-Tagle & Marina Romero

Traditional and alternative medicine treatments in child and adolescent mental health

N. L. Soh; G. Walter IACAPAP (2012) C2

Miscellaneous Chapter J.2

Child and adolescent mental health policy

G. Harper IACAPAP (2012) C2

Miscellaneous Chapter J.6

Tratamientos de medicina tradicional y alternativa en salud mental infantil adolescente

N. L. Soh; G. Walter IACAPAP (2018) C2

Misceláneo Capítulo J.2 Edición: Matías Irarrázaval & Andres Martin Traductores: Fernanda Prieto-Tagle & Montserrat Pamias

Estimated Burden of Fungal Infections in Namibia

Dunaiski, C. M.; Denning, D. W. (2019) CC2

J Fungi (Basel) . 2019 Aug 16;5(3):75. doi: 10.3390/jof5030075 . Namibia is a sub-Saharan country with one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. Although care and support services are available that cater for opportunistic infections rela ... more

Artificial intelligence for tuberculosis control: a scoping review of applications in public health

Menon, S.; and K. Ghislein Kuro (2025)

J Glob Health. 2025;15:04192. This scoping review highlights the potential of AI-driven predictions in national TB programmes to enhance diagnostics, track trends, and strengthen public health surveillance. While promising for reducing transmission ... more

Promotion, prevention and protection: interventions at the population- and community-levels for mental, neurological and substance use disorders in low- and middle-income countries

I. Petersen; , S. Evans‐Lacko; M. Semrau; et al. International Journal of Mental Health Systems; BioMed Central (2016) CC

Petersen et al. Int J Ment Health Syst (2016) 10:30 DOI 10.1186/s13033-016-0060-z

Urban social stress e Risk factor for mental disorders. The case of schizophrenia

Florian Lederbogen, Leila Haddad, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg (2013) C2

Environmental Pollution http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.05.046

The Senegal urban reproductive health initiative: a longitudinal program impact evaluation

A. Benson; L. Calhoun; M. Corroon; et al. Elsevier (2018) CC

Trastornos por tics

H. Metzger; S. Wanderer; V. Roessner IACAPAP (2018) C2

Otros trastornos Capítulo H.2 Editores: Matías Irarrázaval, Daniel F. Martínez Uribe, Andres Martin Traducción: Jaime J. Gómez Alamán, Begoña Arenas Tuzón, Beatriz Ortega

Integrating Mental Health and HIV Services in Zimbabwean Communities: A Nurse and Community-led Approach to Reach the Most Vulnerable

Duffy, M.; M. Sharer, H. Cornman, et al. (2017) CC

JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF NURSES IN AIDS CARE, Vol. 28, No. 2, March/April 2017, 186-198 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jana.2015.09.003