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Social capital and health : does egalitariansim matter? A literature review

ISLAM, M Kamrul
et al
2006

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This literature review provides an overview of the notion and practice of social capital and its impact on health. The study found significant relationships between health and social capital, irrespective of a country's degree of egalitarianism. However, in egalitarian countries, contextual social capital seems less relevant in explaining health differences across places

Maternal social capital and child wellbeing in comparative perspective

HARPHAM, Trudy
et al
2006

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This working paper looks at how social capital may help mothers to know, think, do and feel more or differently, and how this, as a result, could impact positively on children's welfare. Young Lives have been involved in a cross-country review and measurement of social capital manifestations and this paper draws on some of the findings, reviewing current debates, describing YL's methodology and providing a comparative analysis of social capital in relation to various aspects of child wellbeing, including nutritional status, health performance and educational attainments

Gendered experiences : marriage and the stigma of leprosy

TRY, Leonie
2006

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Stigma is rife in many areas of health and healthcare and it has implicit impacts that are often overlooked. Due to the continued social construction of the stigma of leprosy, it is clear that a greater understanding is needed of how stigma is experienced. This study considers the experiences of marriage of those vulnerable to stigmatisation due to leprosy and more specifically identifies different experiences of leprosy-affected women and men and the possible implications.

The effects of the stigma of leprosy on the income generation of leprosy affected people in the Terai area of South East Nepal

CALCRAFT, JH
2006

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[Author's abstract] This study explores the effect of stigma on the income generation of people affected by leprosy in the southeast Terai area of Nepal. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore experiences of stigma and the effect on income generation. Results showed a negative effect on income generation - with employment being lost as a direct result of stigma in several cases. The negative physical effects of the disease were for many the main reason for lost income, or employment

Disability in conditional cash transfer programs : drawing on experience in LAC

MONT, Daniel
2006

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This resource analyses the participation and outcomes of disabled people in conditional cash transfer programmes. Relying on the limited data and anecdotal evidence that exist, this paper raises important structural and theoretical concerns related to the implementation of these programmes in Latin American countries. It concludes that increased attention to information gathering is required to improve programmes and policies that affect vulnerable groups

Tough choices : disability and social security in South Africa | Disability and social change : a South African agenda

SWARTZ, Leslie
SCHNEIDER, Marguerite
2006

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This resource investigates disability and social change in South Africa. Specifically, it asserts that the biggest barrier to the full participation of disabled people in South African society is discrimination. In line with the social model of disability, this work further claims that societal attitudes hinder access to safe, accessible and affordable transport, employment and HIV and AIDS programmes

People with disabilities | Social injustice and public health

GROCE, Nora Ellen
2006

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The primary issues faced by people with disabilities are not only specific impairments but also the social stigma, reduced access to resources and poverty that limit their full potential. Social justice cannot be achieved unless people with disabilities - among the poorest and most marginalised - are fully included

Gender, health and development in the Americas : basic indicators 2005

GENDER, ETHNICITY, AND HEALTH UNIT (PAHO)
2006

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This publication aims to provide a set of basic statistical indicators that illustrate the differences between women and men in terms of health status and its socioeconomic determinants. Graphs are presented for some indicators of priority gender and health issues for which information is available in only a limited number of countries

The capability approach and disability

MITRA, Sophie
2006

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"The purpose of this article is to assess how an approach developed in economics to analyze issues related to the standard of living, the so-called capability approach, may help us understand disability at the conceptual level"
Journal of Disability Policy Studies, Vol 16, No 4

Trends in the timing of first marriage among men and women in the developing world

MENSCH, Barbara S
SINGH, Susheela
CASTERLINE, John B
August 2005

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The timing of first union merits investigation not only because of the close temporal link between marriage and the onset of childbearing, but also because the age when men and women marry has implications for the organization of family life and for gender relations within society. This paper begins by reviewing the contributions of various social science disciplines to an understanding of the timing of marriage. Using current status data from 73 countries provided by the United Nations Population Division and retrospective data from 52 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 1990 and 2001, we then examine recent trends in the timing of first marriage or union for men and women in the developing world. With the exception of South America for both sexes and South and Southeast Asia for men, substantial declines have occurred in the proportion of young men and women who are married. Given the differentials in the timing of marriage by educational attainment and residence, we assess whether the decline in the proportion of young people who are married is related to increases in schooling and urbanization. Expansion of schooling for women has had some impact, but a considerable portion of the reduction in early marriage is not explained by changes in levels of education. We consider other factors that might account for the increase in age at marriage. Finally, we review what is known about the consequences of changing age at marriage with a particular focus on risk of HIV infection.

Caring for landmine victims

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS (ICRC)
June 2005

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This booklet examines the challenges involved in providing assistance to landmine victims, many of whom cannot be provided with sufficient care because of poverty and a lack of health facilities. It also highlights the responsibilities of states to the Ottawa Convention and the new protocol on explosive remnants of war (ERW), and encourages increased efforts by both health-care systems and governments to support the victims

Are disabled peoples’ voices from both south and north being heard in the development process?|A comparative analysis between the situation in South Africa, Zimbabwe, United Kingdom and Northern Europe

DUBE, A K
CHAROWA, Gladys
May 2005

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This study reveals that there are major differences between the South and the North regarding issues involving persons with disabilities. It shows that the North provides devices for disabled persons and maintains high standards in disability; whereas countries in the South have weak acts of parliament, in addition to the fact that much of the South does not have social security benefits

Data and statistics on disability in developing countries

EIDE, Arne H
LOEB, Mitch E
2005

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This report was produced for the UK Department for International Development's (DFID) Disability Knowledge and Research Programme. Disability statistics in low-income countries have so far largely comprised impairment-based prevalence figures. It is argued that prevalence in itself is of limited interest and that there is a need for data that can describe, analyse and compare the situation among individuals with disabilities, as well as contribute to increased knowledge about the link between disability and poverty. By using the conceptual scheme inherent in the ICF (international classification of functioning, disability and health) model, an alternative approach to disability statistics may be developed. As an alternative to dividing the population into disabled and non-disabled, activity limitation and/or restrictions in social participation can be measured as a continuous variable among all regardless of the presence of any impairment. We thus have two different approaches for developing disability statistics, and it is argued that they will both provide useful information

A historical overview of health disparities and the potential of eHealth solutions

GIBBONS, M
2005

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Over the past decade a rapidly expanding body of literature has demonstrated the existence of disparities in health and health care. While consensus has not emerged regarding the causes of disparities, they are generally thought to be related to sociocultural, behavioural, economic, environmental, biologic, or societal factors. To effectively address disparities, several authorities have suggested the need for greater information technology research and investments. eHealth researchers may be able to make significant contributions in this area through research and its applications. This paper begins with a historical overview of health disparities in the United States and Europe. It then discusses the role that the Internet, and access to the Internet, may play in the genesis of health disparities. Finally, this paper closes with a discussion of the potential benefits of eHealth applications and the possible contributions of the field to overcoming disparities in health and health care

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