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Sociocultural explanations for delays in careseeking for pneumonia

CENTRE FOR HEALTH AND POPULATION RESEARCH
December 2003

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This article is printed in the Health and Science Bulletin produced by the Centre for Health and Population Research, based in Bangladesh. It outlines research conducted among parents in Matlab, Bangladesh, revealing how their beliefs affect household treatment of childhood pneumonia and influence delays in seeking care from trained providers. Many indigenous beliefs and social factors prevent primary care providers, particularly mothers, of pneumonia cases from obtaining prompt and appropriate help. For example, in fear of being blamed for poor caring practices, mothers are reluctant to share information about the illness with other family members. Intervention strategies designed to reduce child mortality associated with pneumonia need to address the cultural beliefs and challenges. Efforts should focus on involving family members such as the child's father or grandmother in early recognition of pneumonia cases. It also suggests that health workers use local terminology and cultural knowledge to communicate the need for prompt treatment with a trained provider

Community based care for separated children

TOLFREE, David K
2003

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The International Save the Children’s Alliance organised a project called ‘Care and Protection of Separated Children in Emergencies’ to address the issue of children that are separated from their parents in situations of armed conflict, natural disasters, pandemics such as AIDS and various forms of exploitation and abuse. The initiative explored issues of fostering, group care, and other types of care arrangements for children. The project produced case studies in 6 countries. Participatory research with children was a key theme. This paper offers a ten-point analysis of the typical negative features of institutional care and then looks at community based care. This is done firstly under the heading of preventative approaches to avoid the unnecessary separation of children, then alternative care strategies such as community based care. There are some concluding comments pointing towards the need for further research and the need to place more emphasis on what children themselves have to say in research, in policy formulation and in developing good practice

HIV/AIDS and ageing : a briefing paper

HELPAGE INTERNATIONAL
2003

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This briefing paper outlines the difficulties related to HIV that are facing an aging population. It challenges the notion that older people are not vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection, outlines why they are being missed by information and service campaigns, describes difficulties associated with caring for their children and grandchildren who have become sick with AIDS. It takes a rights-based approach in advocating for the inclusion of older people in awareness and service provision programmes, and calls for more research into the effects of HIV/AIDS on an aging population. It points out the value of older people as agents of change and care-givers and argues for directed benefits to older people. It ends with an agenda for action on recognising the intergenerational nature and socio-economic impacts of HIV/AIDS

Birth registration : right from the start

INNOCENTI RESEARCH CENTRE, UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND (UNICEF)
March 2002

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This Digest looks at birth registration -- a fundamental human right that opens the door to other rights, including education and health care, participation and protection. Unregistered children are often the children of the poor and excluded, such as refugees or particular indigenous groups. Lack of registration exacerbates their poverty and underscores their marginalisation. Non-registration also has serious implications for national goverments. Countries need to know how many people they have and how many there are likely to be in the future, in order to plan effectively. This Digest emphasizes the crucial importance of birth registration, explores the obstacles to universal registration and highlights the actions -- including awareness raising, legislative changes, resource allocation and capacity building -- that are needed to ensure the registration of every child

South African health review 2001

HEALTH SYSTEMS TRUST (HST)
March 2002

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This is a comprehensive, authoritative and independent review of the South African health system. It is published annually and this year's edition is is made up of 17 chapters grouped into four themes: listening to voices, equity, information for health, accountability and transformation. The review acts as a barometer for assessing the transformation processes and their impact on provision of equitable health care to all in South Africa

Expanding community-based support for orphans and vulnerable children

INTERNATIONAL HIV/AIDS ALLIANCE
FAMILY AIDS CARING TRUST (FACT)
2002

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Report based on a workshop on the proliferation, and expansion, in terms of impact and coverage, of orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) initiatives in east and southern Africa. Three levels critical to successful scale-up of activities were identified: community, facilitation, and policy/resource. The respective roles of community groups and CBOs, intermediary NGOs, government, international NGOs and donors are explored. Special consideration is given to the role of intermediary NGOs: those which provide technical and/or financial support to other NGOs/CBOs. Brief case studies are drawn on as examples

Reaching the most vulnerable : proposed supplement to the standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities | Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission for Social Development on monitoring the implementation of th

LINDQVIST, Bengt
2002

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The Standard Rules is one of the most important tools for the inclusion of disabled people. In 2002 the United Nations special rapporteur presented a supplement for the standard rules which aims to fill the gaps within the standard rules and complement its text mentioning poverty alleviation, adequate housing and living conditions, special attention for disabled people in emergency situations, gender aspects and others. At the 42nd session of the Commission for Social Development in February 2004 it was suggested that this supplement for the standard rules be adopted.

Evaluating programs for HIV/AIDS prevention and care in developing countries : a handbook for program managers and decision makers

REHLE, Thomas
et al
2002

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This handbook contains a comprehensive discussion of evaluation approaches and methodologies for HIV prevention and care programmes. Its premise is that evaluation is an integral part of any programme from initial planning onward. Section I discusses concepts and approaches to evaluation and suggests an evaluation strategy design. Section II describes operational approaches for evaluating programmes concerned with promotion of behavioural change, infection control, condom use, voluntary counselling and testing, and people living with HIV or AIDS (PLWHA). Section III focuses on methodologies for measuring behavioural trends while section IV addresses evaluation issues of programme impact assessment and cost-effectiveness analysis. This publication is designed for use by programme managers and decision makers

Equal opportunities for all : promoting community-based rehabilitation (CBR) among urban poor populations. Initiating and sustaining CBR in urban slums and low-income groups

ASSOCIATION AMICI DI RAOUL FOLLEREAU (AIFO)
October 2001

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Most CBR experience has come from rural areas in developing countries. However, even in large cities specific population groups - such as people living in slums or low-income areas in the urban peripheries - may face difficulties in accessing rehabilitation services. To address this, the World Health Organization set up a number of pilot consultations and projects in seven countries (Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Brazil, Bolivia, Egypt and Kenya) in 1995. This document gives a report of a final meeting of representatives of these pilot projects.

Children in Bulgaria : growing impoverishment and unequal opportunities

GANTCHEVA, Roumania
KOLEV, Alexandre
January 2001

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This paper investigates the changes that have occurred over the last decade in three dimensions of child welfare recognised as fundamental child rights - economic well-being, health and education. Then it concentrates on particularly vulnerable groups of children - those born of teenage and single mothers and those living in institutions. The data show that the human cost of economic transition has been high and children have been among the most vulnerable groups of the society

Children in residential care and alternatives

MILES, Glenn
STEPHENSON, Paul
January 2001

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Residential Care and Alternatives is based on child development and protection principles. Tearfund is a Christian organisation and the document makes a number of references to Christian scripture and values. It could be a useful tool for helping Christian organisations that provide, or that are considering providing, residential care to explore better care alternatives or improving the quality of residential care

Strong proud sisters : girls and young women with disabilities

ROUSSO, Harilyn
2001

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This report presents disabled girls and their needs and resilience, looking at a range of issues such as definitions and demographics, access to health care, substance abuse, exercise and sports, depression, self-esteem, eating disorders and body image, disability identity, role models and media images, social and sexual development, violence, educational equity, and employment
Barbara Waxman Fiduccia Papers on Women and Girls with Disabilities

Helping children who are blind : family and community support for children with vision problems|Ayudar a los niños ciegos : apoyo familiar y comunitario para niños con problemas de la vista

NIEMANN, Sandy
JACOB, Namita
2000

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Children develop faster in the first five years of life than any other time, and children who are blind need extra help so they can learn how to use their other senses to explore, learn and interact with the world. The simple activities in this book can help families, health workers, and individuals to support children with vision impairment to develop their capabilities. Topics include: assessing how much a child can see; preventing blindness; helping a child move around safely; activities of daily living; preparing for childcare or school; and supporting the parents of blind children. The book is written in an easy-to-read style with illustrations and examples from southern countries

Anthropological perspectives on injections : a review

REELER, A V
2000

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There is evidence that injections and injection equipment are now often used by lay people in developing countries. Epidemiological evidence links the large number of unsafe injections to serious bloodborne infections such as viral hepatitis b and c, and HIV. This article examines the reasons behind the demand for injections by consumers and the administration of unnecessary or unsafe injections by different types of provider. Interventions aimed at reducing the risk of unsafe injections are discussed in relation to cultural and social factors as well as those factors associated with health systems. Suggestions are made for approaches to the design of such interventions

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