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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

Technology and Market Landscape Hepatitis C Medicines, August 2017
recommended

A.Hill, T. Swan and K.Timmermans World Health Organisation (WHO); UNITAID (2017) C_WHO

Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionized treatment for hepatitis C. Combi- nations of DAAs can cure infection with HCV in 12 weeks, are highly effective and have limited side- ... more

Buruli ulcer: wound care and rehabilitation

Frimpong, M.; F. S.Sarfo, M. Sarpong Duah, Dove Medical Press Limited (2016) C1

Buruli ulcer caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans is a neglected tropical disease characterized by extensive ulceration involving predominantly the upper and lower limbs of patients. The disease is common in rural tropical communities in West and Centra ... more

Training module on malaria elimination. Guide for Tutors

World Health Organization WHO (2016) C_WHO

This Training module on malaria elimination has been developed by WHO to support health professionals in planning, managing, monitoring and evaluating malaria elimination programmes. Supporting exercises: These files are necessary for participants ... more

A practice guide to effective population-based food policy actions to promote healthy diets

World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Office for South-East Asia (2017) C_WHO

This publication provides directions for a logical, evidence informed approach to selecting, developing, implementing and monitoring population-based interventions within the context of the double-b ... more

Early Moments Matter for every child

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) (2017)

This report presents data and outlines best practices and policies that can put governments on the path to providing every child with the best start in life. It outlines the neuroscience of early childhood development (ECD), including the importance ... more

Climate Change, Health, and Equity: A Guide For Local Health Departments

Rudolf,L-; C. Harrison et al. Public Health Institute (2018) CC

This 400 page guide, created by PHI’s Center for Climate Change and Health and the American Public Health Association (APHA), with support from the California Department of Public Health helps local health departments prepare for and mitigate clim ... more

Melarsoprol Resistance in African Trypanosomiasis

Fairlamb, A.H.; Horn, D. Elsevier Ltd. (2018) CC

Arsenical monotherapies were previously very successful for treating human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). Melarsoprol resistance emerged as early as the 1970s and was widespread by the late 1990s. Melarsoprol resistance represents the only example of ... more

Advancing Climate-Resilient Education Technical Guidance

US Agency for International Development USAID (2023) CC

The Advancing Climate-Resilient Education Technical Guidance builds on the USAID 2022–2030 Climate Strategy and the 2018 USAID Education Policy to support USAID Missions and partners who seek to integrate climate action and awareness into education programs and are committed to achieving climate-r ... more

Pulse Oximetry Training Manual

World Health Organization WHO (2011) C_WHO

Welcome to the World Health Organization pulse oximeter training manual. In many countries pulse oximetry is mandatory for monitoring patients during anaesthesia. Although pulse oximetry is a simple and reliable technology that can detect low level ... more

Clinical care for severe acute respiratory infection: toolkit: COVID-19 adaptation
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2022) C_WHO

First published in 2020, this toolkit is intended for clinicians working in acute care, managing adult and paediatric patients with acute respiratory infection, including severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis and septic shock. The main objective is to provide key tools for us ... more

Global patient safety action plan 2021–2030: towards eliminating avoidable harm in health care

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2022) C_WHO

Today, patient harm due to unsafe care is a large and growing global public health challenge and is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Most ... more

Environmental Health Management After Natural Disaster
recommended

Ruth Newman, Richard Hansen, John Quigley and Don Schramm Pan American Health Organization (2003) C_WHO

Natural disasters often increase morbidity and mortality rates. Taking appropriate measures to maintain environmental health helps to reduce or eliminate the risks of preventable disease and death. Such measures contribute not only to the health ... more

Global report on children with developmental disabilities

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2023) C_WHO

Developmental disabilities are common. Yet, children with developmental disabilities have been neglected in health systems planning and policy provisions for health and continue to experience stigmatization, institutionalization, barriers to access health care and inequalities in health and educatio ... more

WHO manual on sugar-sweetened beverage taxation policies to promote healthy diets

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2022) C_WHO

Obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have been steadily increasing globally, and with them, a pressing need to implement effective responses to address the contributing factors. Among the available evidence-based policy options that enable healthier choices and improved diets is ... more

Guidance on mainstreaming biodiversity for nutrition and health

World Health Organization WHO (2020) C_WHO

This report aims to support countries in the necessary transition toward healthier, more sustainable diets by integrating biodiversity in food-based interventions to support nutrition and health. It is intended to help guide decision-makers in the health, nutrition and other sectors, to: Consider ... the important role of biodiversity in food systems for the development of integrated interventions to support healthy, diverse and sustainable diets; To focus investments and country support for more comprehensive, coordinated and cross-cutting public health and nutrition projects and policies; and To strengthen the resilience of food systems, health systems, and societies, each of which are each increasingly compromised by widespread ecological degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change. Biodiversity at every level (genetic, species and ecosystem level) is a foundational pillar for food security, nutrition, and dietary quality. It is the basic source of variety in essential foods, nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and medicines, and underpins life-sustaining ecosystem services. It is a core environmental determinant of health, often a vital ingredient of healthy nutritional outcomes and livelihoods, gender equality, social equity, and other health determinants. Biodiversity can play a more prominent role in planning for nutritional outcomes in various ways, e.g. by facilitating the production of nutritious fruits and plant products, sustaining livelihoods through more efficient production and increasing the diversity of products available in markets. This Guidance presents and expands on six core building blocks for mainstreaming biodiversity for nutrition and health: Cross-sectoral knowledge development and knowledge co-production; Enabling environments; Integration; Conservation and the wider use of biodiversity; Education and awareness-raising; Monitoring and evaluation; This WHO report builds on an unprecedented opportunity to mainstream biodiversity in order to support healthy and sustainable diets, and offers the necessary technical guidance to catalyze and support a transformation of the global food system and transition to healthier, more sustainable diets. more

Joint Government of the Repubic of Zambia and the United Nations Population Fund 2007 – 2010 Evaluation Report

Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Zambia (2010) C1

Evaluation of Humanitarian Action (EHA). Course Reference Manual

Margie Buchanan-Smith and John Cosgrave Channel Research; ALNAP (2010)

This manual is for the beginner/intermediate and advanced EHA courses run by Channel Research on behalf of ALNAP. It is supported by a course specific set of case studies and exercises and by a bibl ... more

Establishing external quality assessment programmes for screening of donated blood for transfusion-transmissible infections: implementation guide

World Health Organization (WHO) (2016) C_WHO

External quality assessment (EQA) is an important component of quality systems for blood transfusion services. Establishing external quality assessment programmes for screening of donated blood for ... more