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Responding to the Syrian health crisis : the need for data and research

COUTTS, Adam
et al
March 2015

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This article assesses the impact of the war in Syrian the context of the health system and neighbouring countries and the rise in non-communicable diseases. The authors advocate that  urgent policy and research attention needs to be given to the generation of timely and high-quality evidence on the effectiveness of the humanitarian health response, the capacity of health systems within Syria, and the issue of non-communicable diseases among internally displaced people and refugees

The Lancet, Vol 3, Issue 3, PE8-E9, Mar 01, 2015

 

 

An evidence review of research on health interventions in humanitarian crises

BLANCHET, Karl
et al
November 2013

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This report presents a review of the evidence base of public health interventions in humanitarian crises by assessing the quantity and quality of intervention studies, rather than measuring the actual effectiveness of the intervention itself.  It notes an increase in quality and volume of evidence on health interventions in humanitarian crises and recognises that evidence remains too limited, particularly for gender-based violence (GBV) and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). This report identifies a number of common needs across all areas, namely more evidence for the effectiveness of systems and delivery, better developed research methods, and more evidence on dispersed, urban and rural populations, on ensuring continuity of care and measuring and addressing health care needs in middle-income settings (particularly NCDs)

Note: Use links on the left hand side of the webpage to access either the full report, the executive summary, or the individual chapters arranged by health topic

World Health Statistics 2012

WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO)
2012

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"World Health Statistics 2012 contains WHO’s annual compilation of health-related data for its 194 Member States, and includes a summary of the progress made towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and associated targets. This year, it also includes highlight summaries on the topics of noncommunicable diseases, universal health coverage and civil registration coverage"
Note: The summary brochure, full report, report in English by section, the indicator compendium and printed copy order forms are available from the link above

CVD project evaluation : baseline diabetes study, Davao, Philippines 2010

PILLERON, Sophie
June 2011

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This study gathered baseline data for the CVD Project evaluation. "This study also concerned gathering information on the nature of diabetes and common practices in diabetes management and care, to improve project implementation strategy and data on promoting health care services in the community...This study was the first part of a quasi-experimental before-after here-there study conducted in 10 intervention barangays and 5 control barangays of Davao City. The study population consisted of people with diabetes aged 20 years and above who had visited the Barangay Health Centre and had proof of a doctor’s diagnosis for diabetes mellitus or proof of a relative-to-diabetes medicine prescription...Despite its limitations, this study provides a first insight on the people living with diabetes in Davao City. With 72% of diabetics having uncontrolled glycaemia, this study shows the relevance of the CVD project. As a baseline, this study provides comparison elements for the 2013 survey in order to test effectiveness of the CVD project with the percentage of diabetics with HbA1c<6.5% as effectiveness criterion"
DS/RD 01

Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
2011

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"This report sets out the statistics, evidence and experiences needed to launch a more forceful response to the growing threat posed by noncommunicable diseases. While advice and recommendations are universally relevant, the report gives particular attention to conditions in low- and middle-income countries, which now bear nearly 80% of the burden from diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. The health consequences of the worldwide epidemic of obesity are also addressed"

IDF diabetes atlas

UNWIN, Nigel
et al
2010

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This report presents evidence that diabetes is a global epidemic. It contains comprehensive information in the following sections: What is diabetes?; The Global Burden; Regional Overviews; Diabetes and Development; Linking Local to Global; Resources and Solutions; References; Additional Resources. This report is useful for health professionals, scientists, economists, policy-makers, and national and international agencies

What works? interventions for maternal and child under nutrition and survival

BHUTTA, Zulfigar
et al
January 2008

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This article "reviews interventions that affect maternal and child undernutrition and nutrition-related outcomes. These interventions included promotion of breastfeeding; strategies to promote complementary feeding, with or without provision of food supplements; micronutrient interventions; general supportive strategies to improve family and community nutrition; and reduction of disease burden (promotion of handwashing and strategies to reduce the burden of malaria in pregnancy). (The authors) showed that although strategies for breastfeeding promotion have a large effect on survival, their effect on stunting is small"
The Lancet, Vol 371, Issue 9610

Uganda demographic health survey 2006

UGANDA BUREAU OF STATISTICS (UBOS)
MACRO INTERNATIONAL INC
August 2007

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The 2006 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) is a nationally representative survey of 8,531 women age 15-49 years and 2,503 men age 15-54 years and is the first such survey to cover the entire country. The primary purpose of the UDHS is to furnish policymakers and planners with detailed information on fertility; family planning; infant, child, adult, and maternal mortality; maternal and child health; nutrition; and knowledge of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. In addition, in one in three households selected for the survey, women age 15-49, men age 15-54, and children under age 5 years were weighed and their height was measured to assess their nutritional status. Women, men, and children age 6-59 months, in this subset of households were also tested for anemia, and in addition the women and children were tested for vitamin A deficiency. In addition to the main report, the key findings, a preliminary report, a wall chart and fact sheet are also available online

The HELP guide for community based rehabilitation workers : a training manual

LOVEDAY, Marion
2006

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This is a training manual for community based rehabilitation workers based upon physiotherapist's work on a rehabilitation project in Cape Town, South Africa. The manual is aimed at trainers of rehabilitation workers who are assumed to have adequate medical knowledge. The manual is divided into the following 4 main topics: health in the community; normal body functions; conditions and treatment; management of patients. Each section contains a summary of the learning aims for the rehabilitation workers, and the teaching is based mainly on a question and answer format
Note: originally published in 1990 by SACLA Health Project

Information and communication technology in cardiovascular disease prevention in developing countries : hype and hope. Report of the International Collaboration on Information Use in Cardiovascular Health Promotion in Developing Countries

JABBOUR, S
et al
2003

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This article reviews the developments relating to the use of information and communication technology for the dissemination of information about cardiovascular disease prevention in developing countries. The experience of these initiatives suggests that, while information technology holds great potential, there are many potential perils, such as the widening global information gap, inequitable access, and irrelevant information

Reducing malaria's impact on child health, development and survival

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO). Roll Back Malaria
2002

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A concise publication on reducing the incidence of malaria among children. It provides some useful background facts on childhood mortality and other consequences such as low birth weight, anaemia, epilepsy, and learning difficulties. It then describes the tools to 'roll back malaria': insecticide-treated bednets, intermittent preventative treatment, antimalarial drug combination therapy, improving access to treatment, and strengthening health infrastructure

The 10/90 report on health research 2001-2002

GLOBAL FORUM FOR HEALTH RESEARCH
2002

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Describes the relationships between health & health research, development, poverty alleviation and global security. Explores the idea of health research governance, and recent initiatives in this area. Reviews progress made in the field of priority-setting methodologies, including the 'combined approach matrix'. Gives overview of research priority areas, summarizes public and private investment in health research. Reviews efforts to build networks and partnerships in some priority areas

Insecticide-treated curtains reduce the prevalence and intensity of malaria infection in Burkina Faso

HABLUETZEL, A
et al
August 1999

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Describes a large, randomized controlled trial to investigate the impact of insecticide-treated curtains (ITC) on child mortality that was conducted in an area of seasonal, holoendemic malaria in Burkina Faso. Concludes that widespread implementation of ITC in this area of high malaria transmission led to a modest reduction in the prevalence of malaria infection and to a more substantial reduction in the intensity of these infections which caused increased Hb levels

Programme report 1997

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO). Global Programme for Vaccines and Immunization
1998

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