The Lancet Global Health
Oct 2015 Volume 3 Number 10 e576-e654
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/issue/current

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Comment
New WHO recommendations to improve the outcomes of preterm birth
Joshua P Vogel, Olufemi T Oladapo, Alexander Manu, A Metin Gülmezoglu, Rajiv BahlOpen Access
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(15)00183-7
Summary
An estimated 15 million babies are born preterm annually.1 Preterm birth complications account for more than 15% of deaths in children younger than 5 years2 and survivors often have long-term consequences with respect to their health, growth, and psychosocial functioning.3,4 The most beneficial interventions available are those that improve newborn outcomes when preterm birth is inevitable (tertiary interventions) and those that focus on special care for preterm newborns. Today WHO publishes new recommendations on interventions for pregnant women in whom preterm birth is imminent (including antenatal corticosteroids, tocolytics, magnesium sulfate, antibiotics, and mode of delivery) and for care of preterm neonates (including thermal care, continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP], surfactant administration, and oxygen therapy) to improve preterm birth outcomes.

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Mortality risks in children aged 5–14 years in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic empirical analysis
Kenneth Hill, Linnea Zimmerman, Dean T Jamison
e609

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Prevalence of malaria infection in pregnant women compared with children for tracking malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Anna M van Eijk, Jenny Hill, Abdisalan M Noor, Robert W Snow, Feiko O ter Kuile
e617

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Comparison of community-wide, integrated mass drug administration strategies for schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis: a cost-effectiveness modelling study
Nathan C Lo, Isaac I Bogoch, Brian G Blackburn, Giovanna Raso, Eliézer K N’Goran, Jean T Coulibaly, Sören L Becker, Howard B Abrams, Jürg Utzinger, Jason R Andrews
e629

The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Oct 2015 Volume 15 Number 10 p1115-1242
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

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Out-of-pocket health expenditures and antimicrobial resistance in low-income and middle-income countries: an economic analysis
Marcella Alsan, Lena Schoemaker, Karen Eggleston, Nagamani Kammili, Prasanthi Kolli, Jay Bhattacharya
Summary
Introduction
The decreasing effectiveness of antimicrobial agents is a growing global public health concern. Low-income and middle-income countries are vulnerable to the loss of antimicrobial efficacy because of their high burden of infectious disease and the cost of treating resistant organisms. We aimed to assess if copayments in the public sector promoted the development of antibiotic resistance by inducing patients to purchase treatment from less well regulated private providers.
Methods
We analysed data from the WHO 2014 Antibacterial Resistance Global Surveillance report. We assessed the importance of out-of-pocket spending and copayment requirements for public sector drugs on the level of bacterial resistance in low-income and middle-income countries, using linear regression to adjust for environmental factors purported to be predictors of resistance, such as sanitation, animal husbandry, and poverty, and other structural components of the health sector. Our outcome variable of interest was the proportion of bacterial isolates tested that showed resistance to a class of antimicrobial agents. In particular, we computed the average proportion of isolates that showed antibiotic resistance for a given bacteria-antibacterial combination in a given country.
Findings
Our sample included 47 countries (23 in Africa, eight in the Americas, three in Europe, eight in the Middle East, three in southeast Asia, and two in the western Pacific). Out-of-pocket health expenditures were the only factor significantly associated with antimicrobial resistance. A ten point increase in the percentage of health expenditures that were out-of-pocket was associated with a 3·2 percentage point increase in resistant isolates (95% CI 1·17–5·15; p=0·002). This association was driven by countries requiring copayments for drugs in the public health sector. Of these countries, moving from the 20th to 80th percentile of out-of-pocket health expenditures was associated with an increase in resistant bacterial isolates from 17·76% (95% CI 12·54–22·97) to 36·27% (31·16–41·38).
Interpretation
Out-of-pocket health expenditures were strongly correlated with antimicrobial resistance in low-income and middle-income countries. This relation was driven by countries that require copayments on drugs in the public sector. Our data suggest cost-sharing of antimicrobials in the public sector might drive demand to the private sector in which supply-side incentives to overprescribe are probably heightened and quality assurance less standardised.
Funding
National Institutes of Health.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Oct 2015 Volume 15 Number 10 p1115-1242
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

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Comment
Overcoming barriers to polio eradication in conflict areas
Julie R Garon, Walter A Orenstein
Summary
Substantial progress has been made in the effort to eradicate polio. In 1988, the year the eradication effort began, an estimated 350 000 people were paralysed by poliovirus infection, which was regarded as endemic in 125 countries. By contrast, in 2014, 359 cases were detected worldwide, and only three countries are currently deemed endemic: Pakistan, Nigeria, and Afghanistan.1 Further progress has been made, particularly in Nigeria, which as of June 17, 2015, has not seen a case of polio caused by wild viruses since July 24, 2014, or a case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 since Nov 16, 2014.

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Threats to polio eradication in high-conflict areas in Pakistan and Nigeria: a polling study of caregivers of children younger than 5 years
Gillian K SteelFisher, Robert J Blendon, Sherine Guirguis, Amanda Brulé, Narayani Lasala-Blanco, Michael Coleman, Vincent Petit, Mashrur Ahmed, Noah Mataruse, Melissa Corkum, Mazhar Nisar, Eran N Ben-Porath, Susan Gigli, Christoph Sahm
Summary
Background
Elimination of poliovirus from endemic countries is a crucial step in eradication; however, vaccination programmes in these areas face challenges, especially in regions with conflict. We analysed interviews with caregivers of children living in two polio-endemic countries to assess whether these challenges are largely operational or also driven by resistance or misinformation in the community.
Methods
We designed and analysed polls based on face-to-face interviews of a random sample of parents and other caregivers of children younger than 5 years in regions of Pakistan and Nigeria at high risk for polio transmission. In both countries, the sample was drawn via a stratified multistage cluster design with random route household selection. The questionnaire covered awareness, knowledge, and attitudes about polio and oral polio vaccine (OPV), trust in vaccination efforts, and caregiver priorities for government action. We assessed experiences of caregivers in accessible higher-conflict areas and compared their knowledge and attitudes with those in lower-conflict areas. Differences were tested with two-sample t tests.
Findings
The poll consisted of 3396 caregivers from Pakistan and 2629 from Nigeria. About a third of caregivers who responded in higher-conflict areas of Pakistan (Federally Administered Tribal Areas [FATA], 30%) and Nigeria (Borno, 33%) were unable to confirm that their child was vaccinated in the previous campaign. In FATA, 12% of caregivers reported that they were unaware of polio, and in Borno 12% of caregivers reported that vaccinators visited but their child did not receive the vaccine or they did not know whether the child was vaccinated. Additionally, caregivers in higher-conflict areas are less likely to hold beliefs about OPV that could motivate acceptance and are more likely to hold concerns than are caregivers in lower-conflict areas.
Interpretation
Beyond the difficulties in reaching homes with OPV, challenges for vaccination programmes in higher-conflict areas extend to limited awareness, negative attitudes, and gaps in trust. Vaccination efforts might need to address underlying attitudes of caregivers through direct communications and the selection and training of local vaccinators.
Funding
Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health and UNICEF.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Oct 2015 Volume 15 Number 10 p1115-1242
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

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Comment
Good news for billions of children who will receive IPV
Kimberly M Thompson
Published Online: 16 August 2015
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(15)00099-7
Summary
In The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Shahed Iqbal and colleagues1 present their analysis of data from the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the largest database of reported events temporally associated with, but not necessarily causally related to, the delivery of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV). Their results show low numbers of temporally associated events reported with the delivery of more than 250 million IPV doses in the USA and no substantial adverse events, which confirms the safety of IPV.

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Preparation for global introduction of inactivated poliovirus vaccine: safety evidence from the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, 2000–12
Shahed Iqbal, Jing Shi, Katherine Seib, Paige Lewis, Pedro L Moro, Emily J Woo, Tom Shimabukuro, Walter A Orenstein
Summary
Background
Safety data from countries with experience in the use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) are important for the global polio eradication strategy to introduce IPV into the immunisation schedules of all countries. In the USA, IPV has been included in the routine immunisation schedule since 1997. We aimed to analyse adverse events after IPV administration reported to the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
Methods
We analysed all VAERS data associated with IPV submitted between Jan 1, 2000, and Dec 31, 2012, either as individual or as combination vaccines, for all age and sex groups. We analysed the number and event type (non-serious, non-fatal serious, and death reports) of individual reports, and explored the most commonly coded event terms to describe the adverse event. We classified death reports according to previously published body-system categories (respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, other infectious, and other non-infectious) and reviewed death reports to identify the cause of death. We classified sudden infant death syndrome as a separate cause of death considering previous concerns about sudden infant syndrome after vaccines. We used empirical Bayesian data mining methods to identify disproportionate reporting of adverse events for IPV compared with other vaccines. Additional VAERS data from 1991 to 2000 were analysed to compare the safety profiles of IPV and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV).
Findings
Of the 41 792 adverse event reports submitted, 39 568 (95%) were for children younger than 7 years. 38 381 of the reports for children in this age group (97%) were for simultaneous vaccination with IPV and other vaccines (most commonly pneumococcal and acellular pertussis vaccines), whereas standalone IPV vaccines accounted for 0·5% of all reports. 34 880 reports were for non-serious events (88%), 3905 reports were for non-fatal serious events (10%), and 783 reports were death reports (2%). Injection-site erythema was the most commonly coded term for non-serious events (29%), and pyrexia for non-fatal serious events (38%). Most deaths (96%) were in children aged 12 months or younger; most (52%) had sudden infant death syndrome as the reported cause of death. The safely profiles of combined IPV and whole-cell pertussis vaccines, OPV and whole-cell pertussis vaccines, and OPV and acellular pertussis vaccines were similar. We noted no indication of disproportionate reporting of adverse events after immunisation with IPV-containing vaccines compared with other vaccines between 1990 and 2013.
Interpretation
Fairly few adverse events were reported for the more than 250 million IPV doses distributed between 2000 and 2012. Sudden infant death syndrome reports after IPV were consistent with reporting patterns for other vaccines. No new or unexpected vaccine safety problems were identified for fatal, non-fatal serious, and non-serious reports in this assessment of adverse events after IPV.
Funding
None.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Oct 2015 Volume 15 Number 10 p1115-1242
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/issue/current

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Editorial
MERS—an uncertain future
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(15)00324-2
Summary
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), caused by the MERS coronavirus, has taken something of a back seat to Ebola among emerging diseases, but following the outbreak in South Korea earlier this year and a recent upsurge in cases in Saudi Arabia the disease is again in the limelight. 3 years after MERS was first reported, WHO has recorded 1517 confirmed cases worldwide with 539 deaths, a case fatality rate of 36%. Risk factors for infection include being aged at least 50 years and having an underlying medical condition such as diabetes.

Maternal and Child Health Journal
Volume 19, Issue 10, October 2015
http://link.springer.com/journal/10995/19/10/page/1

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Original Paper
Individual and Area Level Factors Associated with Prenatal, Delivery, and Postnatal Care in Pakistan
Henna Budhwani, Kristine Ria Hearld, Hanne Harbison

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Original Paper
Depressive Symptoms Prior to Pregnancy and Infant Low Birth Weight in South Africa
Andrew Tomita, Charlotte A. Labys, Jonathan K. Burns

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Original Paper
Association Between Disrespect and Abuse During Childbirth and Women’s Confidence in Health Facilities in Tanzania
Stephanie Kujawski, Godfrey Mbaruku, Lynn P. Freedman…

New England Journal of Medicine
October 8, 2015 Vol. 373 No. 15
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

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Perspective
Shifting to Sustainable Development Goals — Implications for Global Health
Christopher J.L. Murray, M.D., D.Phil.
N Engl J Med 2015; 373:1390-1393
October 8, 2015
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1510082
Preview
The Millennium Development Goals have brought remarkable success for global collective action. Unfortunately, the new Sustainable Development Goals are broad, with many aspirational or vague targets, and health does not occupy as central a role as it did in the MDG

Pediatrics
October 2015, VOLUME 136 / ISSUE 4
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/current.shtml

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Monthly Feature
Treating Children With Cancer Worldwide—Challenges and Interventions
Trijn Israels, Julia Challinor, Scott Howard, and Ramandeep Harman Arora
Pediatrics 2015; 136:607-610
Summary
Although morbidity from childhood cancer is second only to unintentional injuries in high-income countries, in low-income countries, it hardly hits the radar screen compared with death from pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, neonatal sepsis, preterm birth, and neonatal asphyxia. Nevertheless, the extraordinary progress made in treating childhood cancer in high-income countries brings into harsh focus the mammoth disparities that exist in impoverished areas of the world. As the capacity to diagnose and treat childhood cancer improves in low- and middle-income countries, the ability to improve outcomes for the more common diseases benefits as well. The authors have summarized the issues related to childhood cancer care with thoughtful attention to how children everywhere can gain from the advances in medical science in high-income nations.
Jay E. Berkelhamer
Column Editor

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
(Accessed 10 October 2015)

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What Is Needed to Eradicate Lymphatic Filariasis? A Model-Based Assessment on the Impact of Scaling Up Mass Drug Administration Programs
Randee J. Kastner, Christopher M. Stone, Peter Steinmann, Marcel Tanner, Fabrizio Tediosi
Research Article | published 09 Oct 2015 | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
10.1371/journal.pntd.0004147

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 10 October 2015]

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Achieving a “Grand Convergence” in Global Health: Modeling the Technical Inputs, Costs, and Impacts from 2016 to 2030
Colin F. Boyle, Carol Levin, Arian Hatefi, Solange Madriz, Nicole Santos
Research Article | published 09 Oct 2015 | PLOS ONE
10.1371/journal.pone.0140092
Abstract
Background
The Commission on Investing in Health published its report, GlobalHealth2035, in 2013, estimating an investment case for a grand convergence in health outcomes globally. In support of the drafting of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we estimate what the grand convergence investment case might achieve—and what investment would be required—by 2030.
Methods and Findings
Our projection focuses on a sub-set of low-income (LIC) or lower-middle-income countries (LMIC). We start with a country-based (bottom-up) analysis of the costs and impact of scaling up reproductive, maternal, and child health tools, and select HIV and malaria interventions. We then incorporate global (top-down) analyses of the costs and impacts of scaling up existing tools for tuberculosis, additional HIV interventions, the costs to strengthen health systems, and the costs and benefits from scaling up new health interventions over the time horizon of this forecast. These data are then allocated to individual countries to provide an aggregate projection of potential cost and impact at the country level. Finally, incremental costs of R&D for low-income economies and the costs of addressing NTDs are added to provide a global total cost estimate of the investment scenario.
Results
Compared with a constant coverage scenario, there would be more than 60 million deaths averted in LIC and 70 million deaths averted in LMIC between 2016 and 2030. For the years 2015, 2020, 2025, and 2030, the incremental costs of convergence in LIC would be (US billion) $24.3, $21.8, $24.7, and $27, respectively; in LMIC, the incremental costs would be (US billion) $34.75, $38.9, $48.7, and $56.3, respectively.
Conclusion
Key health outcomes in low- and low-middle income countries can significantly converge with those of wealthier countries by 2030, and the notion of a “grand convergence” may serve as a unifying theme for health indicators in the SDGs.

Prehospital & Disaster Medicine
Volume 30 – Issue 05 – October 2015
https://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=PDM&tab=currentissue

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Original Research
Geriatric Disaster Preparedness
Mary Colleen Bhallaa1a2 c1, Amos Burgessa1a3, Jennifer Freya1 and William Hardya2
a1 Department of Emergency Medicine, Summa Akron City Hospital, Akron, Ohio USA
a2 Department of Emergency Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio USA
a3 Department of Emergency Medicine, Uintah Bain Medical Center, Roosevelt, Utah USA
Abstract
Introduction
The elderly population has proven to be vulnerable in times of a disaster. Many have chronic medical problems for which they depend on medications or medical equipment. Some older adults are dependent on caregivers for managing their activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, and their instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as transportation.
Problem
A coordinated effort for disaster preparation in the elderly population is paramount. This study assessed the potential needs and plans of older adults in the face of a local disaster.
Methods
The setting was a community-based, university-affiliated, urban emergency department (ED) that sees more than 77,000 adult patients per year. A survey on disaster plans and resources needed if evacuated was distributed to 100 community-residing ED patients and visitors aged 65 years and older from January through July 2013. Means and proportions are reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results
Data were collected from 13 visitors and 87 patients. The mean age was 76 years, and 54% were female. Thirty-one responded that they had a disaster plan in place (31/100; CI, 22.4-41.4%). Of those 31, 94% (29/31; CI, 78.6-99.2%) had food and water as part of their plan, 62% (19/29; CI, 42.2-78.2%) had a supply of medication, and 35% (12/31; CI, 21.8-57.8%) had an evacuation plan. When asked what supplies the 100 subjects might need if evacuated, 33% (CI, 23.9-43.1%) needed a walker, 15% (CI, 8.6-23.5%) needed a wheelchair, 78% (CI, 68.6-85.7%) needed glasses, 17% (CI, 10.2-25.8%) needed a hearing aid, 16% (CI, 9.4-24.7%) needed a glucometer, 93% (CI, 86.1-97.1%) needed medication, 14% (CI, 7.8-22.4%) needed oxygen, 23% (CI, 15.2-32.5%) needed adult diapers, and 21% (CI, 13.2-30.3%) had medical equipment that required electricity. Many of the subjects also required help with one or more of their ADLS, the most common being dressing (17%; CI, 10.3-26.1%), or their IADLS, the most common being transportation (39%; CI, 29.7-49.7%). Only 42% (CI, 32.3-52.7%) were interested in learning more about disaster preparation.
Conclusion
Only a minority of the older adults in the study population had a disaster plan in place. Most of the respondents would require medications, and many would require medical supplies if evacuated.

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Epidemiological Study of Child Casualties of Landmines and Unexploded Ordnances: A National Study from Iran
Batool Mousavi, Mohammad Reza Soroush, Mehdi Masoumi, Shahriar Khateri, Ehsan Modirian, Hamid Shokoohi, Mohammad Javad Fatemi, Mohammad Ali Hematti, Mansour Soroush, Mohammad Ghassemi-Broumand, Mehdi Rassafiani, Mostafa Allami, Farshad Nouri, Amir Yavari, Zohreh Ganjparvar, Mojtaba Kamyab and Seyed Abbas Mirsadeghi
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X15005105 (About DOI), Published online: 16 September 2015
Abstract
Background
Despite landmine-risk education programs and extensive demining activities on the Western border of Iran, landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXOs) still cause civilian and child casualties three decades after the Iraq-Iran war (1980-1988). The objective of this study was to understand the epidemiological patterns and risk factors of injury in child casualties of landmines and UXOs in Western and Southwestern Iran.
Methods
Children who were 18 years old or younger at the time of study and who sustained injuries from landmines and UXOs were identified through a search at the Iranian National Veterans Registry. These children participated in a 5-day gathering. The information on socioeconomic status, health-related issues, quality of life, health care utilization, and clinical profiles concerning the landmine and UXO injuries were collected. The method of data collection consisted of three component surveys: health interview, social survey, and medical examinations. Social surveys and health interviews were conducted in a face-to-face method by utilizing a questionnaire consisting of 39 questions addressing household and individual components, including information on time and type of injuries, physical activity, mental health, and quality of life. A comprehensive team of physicians in different subspecialties evaluated and examined children to assess the current medical and psychiatric conditions and physical activity, and recommended and arranged further medical, rehabilitation, or surgical planning.
Results
Seventy-eight child casualties were identified and participated in the study. The mean age of the participants at the time of study was 16.11 years old (SD=2 years). The mean age of victims at the time of injury was 8.2 years (SD=3.12 years; ranged from 2 to 15 years old). Sixty-seven (85.9%) of the children were male. Provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah had the highest number of casualties, with a total number of 54 children (68.3%). Eighty percent of the injuries were caused by landmines, and UXO explosions were reported in 20% of the cases. Overall, 24 children (30%) had received some landmine-risk education before or after the events. Sixty percent of the explosions had happened in the morning between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm. Playing and grazing livestock were the most prevalent activities/reasons at the time of injury, which were reported in 77% of the subjects. Sixty-three percent of incidents had multiple casualties and in only 13 explosions were the children the only victims of the explosion. The most prevalent injuries were amputations in 41 subjects (52.56%), followed by hearing loss in 23 subjects (29.5%). Amputations were more common in upper extremities (62%) than in lower extremities (38%).
Conclusion
Landmines and UXOs comprise a significant safety hazard to the children living in the Western border of Iran decades after the Iraq-Iran War. The large number of injuries and lack of risk training among victims suggest that landmine cleanings and landmine-risk education should be age-specifically targeted and expanded substantially.

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Comprehensive Reviews
Orthopedic Injuries and Their Treatment in Children During Earthquakes: A Systematic Review
Ilaria Morelli, Maria Grazia Sabbadini and Michelangelo Bortolin
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X15004951 (About DOI), Published online: 19 August 2015
Abstract
Orthopedic injuries commonly affect children during earthquakes, but reports about them are rare. This setting may lead to different standards of care, but guidelines are still missing in this field. A systematic review was performed to: (1) assess type and body distribution of pediatric earthquake-related injuries, treatment performed, length of stay, and complications; and (2) identify starting points to define standards of care.
PubMed database was researched for papers (1999-2014 period) in agreement with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement. Inclusion criteria were: English, French, Spanish, or Italian language and data reported about orthopedic lesions in children (≤18 years old). Reviews, letters, commentaries, editorials, and single case reports were excluded. Two independent reviewers selected articles after abstract and full-text reading.
Traumatic injuries caused child hospital admissions ranging from 46.9% to 100.0%; 16% to 53% suffered fractures. Lower limbs mostly were involved. Soft-tissue injuries affected 55% of patients. Debridement and external fixation (EF) were the most frequent surgical treatments. Amputation rates varied from 5% to 11%.
This study revealed that field hospitals should be prepared to: (1) treat mainly lower extremities fractures in children; and (2) use especially EF techniques. The presence of orthopedic surgeons familiar with pediatric traumatology should be considered.

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Special Reports
Research and Evaluations of the Health Aspects of Disasters, Part I: An Overview
Marvin L. Birnbaum, Elaine K. Daily, Ann P. O’Rourke and Alessandro Loretti
Research and Evaluations of the Health Aspects of Disasters, Part II: The Disaster Health Conceptual Framework Revisited
Marvin L. Birnbaum, Elaine K. Daily, Ann P. O’Rourke and Alessandro Loretti

Preventive Medicine
Volume 80, Pages 1-106 (November 2015)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00917435/80
Special Issue: Behavior change, health, and health disparities
Edited by Stephen T. Higgins

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Editorial: 2nd Special Issue on behavior change, health, and health disparities
Pages 1-4
Stephen T. Higgins
Abstract
This Special Issue of Preventive Medicine (PM) is the 2nd that we have organized on behavior change, health, and health disparities. This is a topic of fundamental importance to improving population health in the U.S. and other industrialized countries that are trying to more effectively manage chronic health conditions. There is broad scientific consensus that personal behavior patterns such as cigarette smoking, other substance abuse, and physical inactivity/obesity are among the most important modifiable causes of chronic disease and its adverse impacts on population health. As such behavior change needs to be a key component of improving population health. There is also broad agreement that while these problems extend across socioeconomic strata, they are overrepresented among more economically disadvantaged populations and contribute directly to the growing problem of health disparities. Hence, behavior change represents an essential step in curtailing that unsettling problem as well. In this 2nd Special Issue, we devote considerable space to the current U.S. prescription opioid addiction epidemic, a crisis that was not addressed in the prior Special Issue. We also continue to devote attention to the two largest contributors to preventable disease and premature death, cigarette smoking and physical inactivity/obesity as well as risks of co-occurrence of these unhealthy behavior patterns. Across each of these topics we included contributions from highly accomplished policy makers and scientists to acquaint readers with recent accomplishments as well as remaining knowledge gaps and challenges to effectively managing these important chronic health problems.

Reproductive Health
http://www.reproductive-health-journal.com/content
[Accessed 10 October 2015]

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Research
‘What men don’t know can hurt women’s health’: a qualitative study of the barriers to and opportunities for men’s involvement in maternal healthcare in Ghana
John Ganle, Isaac Dery Reproductive Health 2015, 12:93 (10 October 2015)

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Assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning among women living in the Mbouda health district, Cameroon
Jobert Nansseu, Emmanuel Nchinda, Jean-Claude Katte, Fatima Nchagnouot, Guylaine Nguetsa Reproductive Health 2015, 12:92 (9 October 2015)

The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health ::
Holistic Development :: Sustainable Resilience
__________________________________________________
Week ending 3 October 2015

This weekly digest is intended to aggregate and distill key content from a broad spectrum of practice domains and organization types including key agencies/IGOs, NGOs, governments, academic and research institutions, consortia and collaborations, foundations, and commercial organizations. We also monitor a spectrum of peer-reviewed journals and general media channels. The Sentinel’s geographic scope is global/regional but selected country-level content is included. We recognize that this spectrum/scope yields an indicative and not an exhaustive product. Comments and suggestions should be directed to:

David R. Curry
Editor &
Founding Managing Director
GE2P2 – Center for Governance, Evidence, Ethics, Policy, Practice
david.r.curry@ge2p2center.net

pdf version: The Sentinel_ week ending 3 October 2015

blog edition: comprised of the 35+ entries to be posted below on 27 September 2015

The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health ::
Holistic Development :: Sustainable Resilience
__________________________________________________
Week ending 26 September 2015

This weekly digest is intended to aggregate and distill key content from a broad spectrum of practice domains and organization types including key agencies/IGOs, NGOs, governments, academic and research institutions, consortia and collaborations, foundations, and commercial organizations. We also monitor a spectrum of peer-reviewed journals and general media channels. The Sentinel’s geographic scope is global/regional but selected country-level content is included. We recognize that this spectrum/scope yields an indicative and not an exhaustive product. Comments and suggestions should be directed to:

David R. Curry
Editor &
Founding Managing Director
GE2P2 – Center for Governance, Evidence, Ethics, Policy, Practice
david.r.curry@ge2p2center.net

pdf version: The Sentinel_ week ending 26 September 2015

blog edition: comprised of the 35+ entries to be posted below on 27 September 2015

Pact [to 19 September 2015]
http://www.pactworld.org/press-releases

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Systemic change still far off, but ‘space is opening up’ for civil society improvements in Belarus, panel says
Corinne Reilly | September 17, 2015
Although significant challenges remain, civil society improvements are taking place in Belarus, according to a panel of experts who spoke Sept. 1o in Washington, D.C. They described the changes as fragile but important, as many civic activities happening in the country today were unimaginable as recently as a few years ago.

Save The Children [to 19 September 2015]
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6150563/k.D0E9/Newsroom.htm

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In Serbia One In Four Refugee Children Arrive Alone, Save the Children Reports
Belgrade, Serbia (Sept. 18, 2015) — Save the Children is stepping up its emergency response to the refugee crisis in Serbia, where more than 25,000 children have arrived this year alone, including at least 5,753 unaccompanied minors.
Based on the latest data provided to UNHCR by the Serbian government, Save the Children estimates that there has been a 66 percent increase in the arrival of unaccompanied minors in Serbia between July and August this year alone, with more than one in four recently-arrived children having been separated from their parents and families, leaving them particularly at risk of trafficking, abuse, and exploitation…

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More Than Half of All School Attacks Have Been in Syria, New Data Shows
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Sept. 16, 2015) — More than half of all attacks on schools worldwide in the last four years have occurred in Syria, according to Save the Children, compounding the humanitarian crisis that has already forced four million Syrian refugees to flee to camps in over-crowded surrounding states, or onwards towards Europe…

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Google’s Global Public Giving Campaign to Support Assistance for Child Refugees
Sept. 15, 2015

SOS-Kinderdorf International [to 19 September 2015]
http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/about-sos/press/press-releases

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SOS Children’s Villages Germany increasing capacity for refugees
17.09.2015 – With decades of experience supporting vulnerable families and children without parental care, including many asylum seekers, SOS Children’s Villages Germany is gearing up to provide homes and help for more refugees.

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Unaccompanied refugee children given SOS homes in Austria
15.09.2015 – More than 30 refugee children and young people who came into Austria without their parents or caregivers have already found new homes through SOS Children’s Villages in Austria. Plans are underway to provide homes for at least 70 more before the end of the year.

The Elders [to 19 September 2015]
http://theelders.org/news-media

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News Martti Ahtisaari 17 September 2015
A decent start
In our first of seven films leading up to the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals, Martti Ahtisaari describes his object and what fairness means to him. Join in the discussion yourself on Facebook or Twitter.
Read our first blog about fairness

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Guest blog Frances Stewart 16 September 2015
One flaw in the Sustainable Development Goals may make the difference between success and failure
Frances Stewart, Emeritus Professor of development economics at the University of Oxford and former Chair of the United Nations Committee for Development Policy, wonders if the weak coupling between economic growth and sustainability will do enough to change our reliance on non-renewable energy.

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Opinion Gro Harlem Brundtland, Graça Machel 15 September 2015
Securing a sustainable future
Writing for Project Syndicate, Gro Harlem Brundtland and Graça Machel call on world leaders attending the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals in September to commit to putting the words of the Goals into action, justly and effectively.

EHLRA/R2HC [to 19 September 2015]
http://www.elrha.org/resource-hub/news/

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ELRHA strategy 2016-2020: stakeholder consultation
18/09/2015
ELRHA is developing it’s strategy for 2016-2020 and we want your input. Take part in our stakeholder consultation below! Create your own user feedback survey.