Kellogg Foundation [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.wkkf.org/news-and-media#pp=10&p=1&f1=news

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June 24, 2016
Supreme Court upholds affirmative action and tribal court jurisdiction decisions
Statement of support by La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – The W.K. Kellogg Foundation applauds the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings, Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin and Dollar General v. Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians to uphold an affirmative action program at the University of Texas, as well as tribal court jurisdiction over a non-Indian corporation doing business on a reservation signal a commitment to advancing programs and policies that address inequities resulting from the legacy of racism in the U.S…

June 24, 2016
Keeping families together is top priority following Supreme Court ruling that blocks immigration reform
Statement by La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation on the Supreme Court decision on immigration reform programs DACA and DAPA.
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – We are disappointed that yesterday’s Supreme Court split decision set no precedent and as a result, millions of undocumented immigrants will not have the security they deserve to thrive. This ruling underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform so that families, communities and the nation are not living in fear and instead are made stronger…

Wellcome Trust [to 2 July 2016]
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2016/index.htm

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News 1 July 2016
Smallpox inoculation had royal seal of approval 70 years before Jenner
A letter from George I, which lay uncatalogued in the Wellcome Library for over 70 years, reveals that the King urged his daughter to inoculate her children against smallpox.

News 30 June 2016
Invisible Worlds planned for Eden Project
Wellcome is awarding £1.9m to the Eden Project in Cornwall to create a permanent, immersive exhibition revealing the inextricable links between the health of humanity and the planet we inhabit

:: Journal Watch
The Sentinel will track key peer-reviewed journals which address a broad range of interests in human rights, humanitarian response, health and development. It is not intended to be exhaustive. We will add to those monitored below as we encounter relevant content and upon recommendation from readers. We selectively provide full text of abstracts and other content but note that successful access to some of the articles and other content may require subscription or other access arrangement unique to the publisher. Please suggest additional journals you feel warrant coverage.

BMC Research Notes
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcresnotes/content
(Accessed 2 July 2016)

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Research article
Local networks of community and healthcare organisations: a mixed methods study
Local collaboration of community organisations and healthcare organisations is seen as relevant for the efficiency and efficacy of health and social care because of their potential role in providing social inv...
Wendy Kemper-Koebrugge, Jan Koetsenruijter, Anne Rogers, Miranda Laurant and Michel Wensing
BMC Research Notes 2016 9:331
Published on: 1 July 2016

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Short Report
Towards the implementation of large scale innovations in complex health care systems: views of managers and frontline personnel
Increasingly, theorists and academic researchers develop, implement and test frameworks and strategies for improving the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of health care—at scale. The purpose of this research…
Sonia Wutzke, Murray Benton and Raj Verma
BMC Research Notes 2016 9:327
Published on: 28 June 2016

BMJ Open
2016, Volume 6, Issue 7
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/current

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Global health
Research
Population attributable risk estimates for factors associated with non-use of postnatal care services among women in Nigeria
K E Agho, O K Ezeh, A I Issaka, A I Enoma, S Baines,
A M N RenzahoBMJ Open 2016;6:e010493 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010493
Abstract
Objectives To determine population attributable risks (PARs) estimates for factors associated with non-use of postnatal care (PNC) in Nigeria.
Design, setting and participants The most recent Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS, 2013) was examined. The study consisted of 20 467 mothers aged 15–49 years. Non-use of PNC services was examined against a set of demographic, health knowledge and social structure factors, using multilevel regression analysis. PARs estimates were obtained for each factor associated with non-use of PNC in the final multivariate logistic regression model.
Main outcome PNC services.
Results Non-use of PNC services was attributed to 68% (95% CI 56% to 76%) of mothers who delivered at home, 61% (95% CI 55% to 75%) of those who delivered with the help of non-health professionals and 37% (95% CI 31% to 45%) of those who lacked knowledge of delivery complications in the study population. Multiple variable analyses revealed that non-use of PNC services among mothers was significantly associated with rural residence, household poverty, no or low levels of mothers’ formal education, small perceived size of neonate, poor knowledge of delivery-related complications, and limited or no access to the mass media.
Conclusions PAR estimates for factors associated with non-use of PNC in Nigeria highlight the need for community-based interventions regarding maternal education and services that focus on mothers who delivered their babies at home. Our study also recommends financial support from the Nigerian government for mothers from low socioeconomic settings, so as to minimise the inequitable ac

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HIV/AIDS
Protocol
Impact of approaches in improving male partner involvement in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV on the uptake of PMTCT services in sub-Saharan Africa: a protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis
Noah F Takah, Iain T R Kennedy, Cathy Johnman
Dr Noah F Takah; takahnoah@yahoo.com
BMJ Open 2016;6:e012224 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012224
Abstract
Introduction Several studies have reported approaches used in improving the delivery of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV services through the involvement of male partners, but evidence from a systematic review is limited. We aim at determining the impact of male partner involvement on PMTCT in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods and analysis This will be a systematic review of published literature. Interventional and observational studies on male involvement in PMTCT carried out in sub-Saharan Africa will be included irrespective of the year and language of publication. OVID Medline, Embase, PschINFO, and Cochrane database of controlled trials will be searched. After manual searching of articles, authors shall be contacted for further information. 2 authors (NFT and CJ) will independently screen potential articles for eligibility using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tools, Jadad scale and the STROBE checklist will be used for critical appraisal, and the 2 authors will independently assess the quality of articles. Authors will independently extract data from studies using a pre-established data collection form, and any discrepancies will be sorted by a third author (TRK). Outcomes will be analysed using STATA V.12.0. The random effect model will be used to produce forest plots. The heterogeneity χ2 statistics and I2 will be used to assess for heterogeneity. Publication bias will be assessed using funnel plots. This protocol is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 guidelines.
Ethics and dissemination No ethical approval since included studies will be published studies that had already obtained ethical approvals. The findings will guide HIV programmes on the best approaches towards involving male partners in PMTCT with a view to improving PMTCT services in sub-Saharan Africa.
PROSPERO registration number 42016032673.

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
August 2016 – Volume 29 – Issue 4 pp: v-vi,319-431
http://journals.lww.com/co-infectiousdiseases/pages/currenttoc.aspx

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NOSOCOMIAL AND HEALTHCARE RELATED INFECTIONS
Prevention of common healthcare-associated infections in humanitarian hospitals
Murphy, Richard A.; Chua, Arlene C.
Abstract
Purpose of review: Humanitarian medical organizations focus on vulnerable patients with increased risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and are obligated to minimize them in inpatient departments (IPDs). However, in doing so humanitarian groups face considerable obstacles. This report will focus on approaches to reducing common HAIs that the authors have found to be helpful in humanitarian settings.
Recent findings: HAIs are common in humanitarian contexts but there are few interventions or guidelines adapted for use in poor and conflict-affected settings to improve prevention and guide surveillance. Based on existing recommendations and studies, it appears prudent that all humanitarian IPDs introduce a basic infection prevention infrastructure, assure high adherence to hand hygiene with wide accessibility to alcohol-based hand rub, and develop pragmatic surveillance based on clinically evident nosocomial infection. Although microbiology remains out of reach for most humanitarian hospitals, rapid tests offer the possibility of improving the diagnosis of HAIs in humanitarian hospitals in the decade ahead.
Summary: There is a dearth of new studies that can direct efforts to prevent HAIs in IPDs in poor and conflict-affected areas and there is a need for practical, field-adapted guidelines from professional societies, and international bodies to guide infection prevention efforts in humanitarian environments.

Food Security
June 2016, Issue 3, Pages 467-702
http://link.springer.com/journal/12571/8/3/page/1
Linking livelihood resilience, innovation, and food security in diverse smallholder farming systems

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Original Paper
Social practices of knowledge mobilization for sustainable food production: nutrition gardening and fish farming in the kolli hills of India
Suraya Hudson, Naomi Krogman, Mary Beckie Pages 523-533

Original Paper
Exploring the role of social capital in influencing knowledge flows and innovation in smallholder farming communities in the Caribbean
Arlette S. Saint Ville, Gordon M. Hickey, Uli Locher, Leroy E. Phillip Pages 535-549

Original Paper
Food system vulnerability amidst the extreme 2010–2011 flooding in the Peruvian Amazon: a case study from the Ucayali region
Mya Sherman, James Ford, Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas, María José Valdivia Pages 551-570

Original Paper
The nutrition transition and indicators of child malnutrition
Simon C. Kimenju, Matin Qaim Pages 571-583

Original Paper
Culture based fisheries in Asia are a strategy to augment food security
Sena S. De Silva Pages 585-596

Original Paper
Adaptation to climate change and the impacts on household food security among rural farmers in uMzinyathi District of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Stephen Shisanya, Paramu Mafongoya Pages 597-608

Review
Links between energy access and food security in sub Saharan Africa: an exploratory review
Phosiso Sola, Caroline Ochieng, Jummai Yila, Miyuki Iiyama Pages 635-642

Original Paper
What determines farmers’ adaptive capacity? Empirical evidence from Malawi
Solomon Asfaw, Nancy McCarthy, Leslie Lipper, Aslihan Arslan…

Global Health: Science and Practice (GHSP)
June 2016 | Volume 4 | Issue 2
http://www.ghspjournal.org/content/current

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EDITORIALS
Leading With LARCs in Nigeria: The Stars Are Aligned to Expand Effective Family Planning Services Decisively
Despite years of family planning effort in Nigeria, the modern contraceptive prevalence (mCPR) has reached only 10%. Yet a few recent seminal, well-executed programs have been outstandingly successful providing long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)—both in the public and private sector, and in the North and South. Remarkably, the LARCs they provided were equivalent to 2% mCPR in 2015 alone.
Accordingly, we advocate markedly increased support for: (1) private-sector approaches such as social franchising, particularly in the South, (2) mobile outreach, and (3) support to public clinical facilities, including expanding access through community health extension workers (CHEWs), particularly in the North. Success will require system support, quality, and concerted engagement from a variety of partners including the Government of Nigeria.
Without significant progress in Nigeria, the global FP2020 goal appears unattainable. Fortunately, leading with LARCs along with wide choice of other methods provides a clear avenue for success.
James D Shelton, Clea Finkle
Glob Health Sci Pract 2016;4(2):179-185. First published online May 19, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00135

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EDITORIALS
A Convenient Truth: Cost of Medications Need Not Be a Barrier to Hepatitis B Treatment
Drugs that are inexpensive to manufacture and simple to administer greatly expand the potential to help tens of millions of people who need treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Key program implementation challenges include identifying who would benefit from antiviral medication and ensuring long-term and consistent treatment to people who feel well. The best opportunities are where health systems are advanced enough to effectively address these challenges and in settings where HIV service platforms can be leveraged. Research, innovation, and collaboration are critical to implement services most efficiently and to realize economies of scale to drive down costs of health care services, drugs, and diagnostics.
Matthew Barnhart
Glob Health Sci Pract 2016;4(2):186-190. First published online June 16, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00128

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COMMENTARIES
Investing in Family Planning: Key to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Voluntary family planning brings transformational benefits to women, families, communities, and countries. Investing in family planning is a development “best buy” that can accelerate achievement across the 5 Sustainable Development Goal themes of People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.
Ellen Starbird, Maureen Norton, Rachel Marcus
Glob Health Sci Pract 2016;4(2):191-210. First published online June 9, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00374

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mHealth for Tuberculosis Treatment Adherence: A Framework to Guide Ethical Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
Promising mHealth approaches for TB treatment adherence include:
:: Video observation
:: Patient- or device-facilitated indirect monitoring
:: Direct monitoring through embedded sensors or metabolite testing
To mitigate ethical concerns, our framework considers accuracy of monitoring technologies, stigmatization and intrusiveness of the technologies, use of incentives, and the balance of individual and public good.
Michael J DiStefano, Harald Schmidt
Glob Health Sci Pract 2016;4(2):211-221. http://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-16-00018

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ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Feasibility and Effectiveness of mHealth for Mobilizing Households for Indoor Residual Spraying to Prevent Malaria: A Case Study in Mali
Sending voice and/or text messages to mobilize households for spraying was more costly per structure and less effective at preparing structures than traditional door-to-door mobilization approaches supplemented with radio and town hall announcements. Challenges included:
:: Lack of familiarity with mobile phones and with public health mobile messaging
:: Lack of face-to-face communication with mobilizers, making it easier to ignore mobilization messages and preventing trust-building
:: Low literacy levels
:: Gender differentials in access to mobile phones
Keith Mangam, Elana Fiekowsky, Moussa Bagayoko, Laura Norris, Allison Belemvire, Rebecca Longhany, Christen Fornadel, Kristen George
Glob Health Sci Pract 2016;4(2):222-237. http://dx.doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00381

Infectious Diseases of Poverty
http://www.idpjournal.com/content
[Accessed 2 July 2016]

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Research Article
Progress towards onchocerciasis elimination in the participating countries of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control: epidemiological evaluation results
The African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) was created in 1995 to establish community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTi) in order to control onchocerciasis as a public health problem in 20 …
Afework H. Tekle, Honorath G. M. Zouré, Mounkaila Noma, Michel Boussinesq, Luc E. Coffeng, Wilma A. Stolk and Jan H. F. Remme
Infectious Diseases of Poverty 2016 5:66
Published on: 27 June 2016

JAMA
June 28, 2016, Vol 315, No. 24
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/issue.aspx
Viewpoint
A Yellow Fever Epidemic: A New Global Health Emergency? FREE
Daniel Lucey, MD, MPH; Lawrence O. Gostin, JD

Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Volume 6 Issue 2 2016
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/toc/jhlscm/6/2

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Type: Research paper
Supply chain agility in humanitarian protracted operations
Cécile L’Hermitte , Peter Tatham , Ben Brooks , Marcus Bowles
Abstract:
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to extend the concept of agility in humanitarian logistics beyond emergency operations. Since the humanitarian logistics literature focuses primarily on emergencies and sees longer-term and regular operations as being conducted in relatively stable and predictable environments, agile practices are usually not associated with humanitarian protracted operations. Therefore, this paper explores the logistics and supply chain environment in such operations in order to identify their basic features and determine if agility is an important requirement.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a case study of the United Nations World Food Programme, we collected and analysed qualitative and quantitative data on the characteristics of protracted operations, the risks and uncertainties most frequently encountered, their impact, and the ways that field logisticians manage contingencies.
Findings
Our research demonstrates that unpredictability and disruptions exist in protracted operations. Therefore, short-term operational adjustments and agile practices are needed in order to support the continuity of humanitarian deliveries.
Research limitations/implications
Future research should focus on a wider range of humanitarian organisations and move from a descriptive to a prescriptive approach in order to inform practice. Notwithstanding these limitations, our study highlights the need for academics to broaden the scope of their research beyond emergencies and to address the specific needs of humanitarian organisations involved in longer-term operations.
Originality/value
This paper is the first empirical research focusing exclusively on the logistics features of humanitarian protracted operations. It provides a more concrete and complete understanding of these operations.

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Introducing PEARL: A Gini-like index and reporting tool for public accountability and equity in disaster response
Type: Research paper
Claire Elizabeth Carlson , Paul A. Isihara , Roger Sandberg , David Boan , Kaile Phelps , Kyu Lim Lee , Danilo R. Diedrichs , Daniela Cuba , Johnny Edman , Melissa Gray , Roland Hesse , Robin Kong , Kei Takazawa
Abstract:
Purpose
The need in disaster response to assess how reliably and equitably funding was accounted for and distributed is addressed by a standardized report and index applicable to any disaster type.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from the Nepal earthquake (2015), typhoon Haiyan (2013), the Haiti earthquake (2010), Sri Lankan ood (2011) and Hurricane Sandy (2012) illustrate uses of a Public Equitable Allocation of Resources Log (PEARL). Drawing from activity-based costing and the Gini index, a PEARL spreadsheet computes absolute inequity sector by sector as well as a cumulative index. Response variations guide index value interpretation.
Findings
Index values indicates major inequity in Nepal hygiene kit distribution and Haiti earthquake (both PEARL indices near .5), moderate inequity for the Sri Lankan flood (index roughly .75) and equitable distributions for Typhoon Haiyan and Hurricane Sandy (both indices approximately .95). Indices are useful to approximate proportions of inequity in the total response and investigate allocation under uncertainty in sector need specification.
Originality/value
This original tool is implementable using a website containing a practice PEARL, completed examples and downloadable spreadsheet. Used across multiple sectors or for a single sector, PEARL may signal need for additional resources, correct inequitable distribution decisions, simplify administrative monitoring / assessment, and foster greater accounting transparency in summary reports. PEARL also assists historical analysis of all disaster types to determine completeness of public accounting records and equity in fund distribution.

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A SCOR framework to measure logistics performance of humanitarian organizations
Type: Research paper
Qing Lu , Mark Goh , Robert De Souza
Abstract:
Purpose
In humanitarian logistics operations, performance measurement is crucial for effective operation. We seek to develop a set of indicators for humanitarian relief organizations (HROs) for their organizational level logistics operations.
Design/methodology/approach
We apply the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) framework to the context of humanitarian supply chains. By taking a bottom-up approach with the support of a large HRO, we identify the most important metrics through examining its supply chain processes. The initial metrics are then validated by seven HROs to ensure their applicability in humanitarian logistics operations.
Findings
A hierarchical benchmarking framework is proposed, and a set of twenty-six metrics is identified. The validation of these metrics supports our initial work with all metrics deemed important. It also highlights the implementation difficulty as only five indicators are readily available. We further suggest the automation of key logistics processes, which would significantly increase the number of implementable metrics to fourteen.
Research limitations/implications
The sample size of the validation is small, and the last mile delivery is not covered by our metrics.
Practical implications
With these performance metrics, HROs are able to monitor their logistics performance better with processed-based measures, which may lead to their policy and process adjustments for performance improvement.
Originality/value
Our work contributes to performance measurement in humanitarian logistics with a framework of a generic metrics set. The validation result is also original to reveal the state of performance measurement on the ground.

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Capabilities and competencies in humanitarian operations
Type: Research paper
Aruna Apte , Paulo Goncalves , Keenan Yoho
Abstract:
Purpose
Both the military and non-military Organizations (NMO) bring assets, skills and capabilities to a humanitarian crisis, however, their competencies and capacities are very diverse. Identification of the specific competencies and capabilities that are core to these types of organizations can enable better planning by both military and NMOs, allowing them to achieve greater effectiveness and efficiency in the humanitarian response. For this purpose our research explores the core capabilities of the military and NMOs engaged in humanitarian operations.
Design/methodology/approach
Our work builds on existing literature on the core competency of the corporation. We extend the concept of the ability to identify, cultivate and exploit the core capabilities in the private sector to the organizations that want to respond efficiently and effectively to disasters. We develop a Core Competencies Test for such organizations.
Findings
Our research identifies the competencies and capabilities that are core to the U.S. military and NMOs for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. By identifying such abilities we establish a vein of research for exploring the role of such organizations to facilitate greater understanding among academics, policy makers and decision makers in public administration, public health, and international aid.
Originality/value
Existing literature in humanitarian logistics does not adequately address identification of those competencies and capabilities that are core to the military organizations and NMOs and are most needed during the operational life cycle of a humanitarian crisis. In addition to identifying them, we compare the core capabilities of the military and non-military organizations.

The Lancet
Jul 02, 2016 Volume 388 Number 10039 p1-102
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current

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Viewpoint
Virginity testing in professional obstetric and gynaecological ethics
Amirhossein Moaddab, Laurence B McCullough, Frank A Chervenak, Gary A Dildy, Alireza Abdollah Shamshirsaz
Summary
Doctors around the world might be asked to provide virginity testing. The ethical framework for the assessment of the physician’s role in virginity testing is based on the professional responsibility model of ethics in obstetrics and gynaecology and its three core ethical principles: beneficence, respect for autonomy, and justice. Beneficence-based objections are that virginity testing has no clinical indications and has substantial biopsychosocial risks. Autonomy-based objections are that virginity testing might be the result of social and cultural pressures that result in non-voluntary requests and, by being undertaken mainly for the benefit of others and not the female patient, impermissibly violates the patient’s human right to privacy.

Nature
Volume 534 Number 7609 pp589-732 30 June 2016
http://www.nature.com/nature/current_issue.html

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Comment
Policy: Social-progress panel seeks public comment
Marc Fleurbaey and colleagues explain why and how 300 scholars in the social sciences and humanities are collaborating to synthesize knowledge for policymakers.
…That vision is the mission of a new panel convened last year, the International Panel on Social Progress (IPSP). It comprises more than 300 social-science and humanities scholars coordinated by the Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’Homme in Paris and by Princeton University in New Jersey. The IPSP is preparing a report on directions that could be taken in the twenty-first century to create better societies. We are members of the panel’s steering committee, and two of us (R.K. and H.N.) are co-chairs of its scientific council. In the next few months, the IPSP will release the first draft of its report.

We call on researchers, policymakers, think tanks, companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and citizens to provide us with feedback during the comment period. From August to December 2016, interested parties will be able to weigh in on the panel website, http://www.ipsp.org, which will host a comment platform, discussion forums and surveys. Informed by these views, we hope that the final report will reflect an open and broad international debate on ‘mobilizing utopias’

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Comment
Make climate-change assessments more relevant
Stéphane Hallegatte, Katharine J. Mach and colleagues urge researchers to gear their studies, and the way they present their results, to the needs of policymakers.

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Perspectives
Paris Agreement climate proposals need a boost to keep warming well below 2 °C
Joeri Rogelj, Michel den Elzen, Niklas Höhne, Taryn Fransen, Hanna Fekete
+ et al.
The objective of the Paris climate agreement is to limit global-average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to further pursue limiting it to 1.5 degrees Celsius; here, the adequacy of the national plans submitted in preparation for this agreement is assessed, and it is concluded that substantial enhancement or over-delivery on these plans is required to have a reasonable chance of achieving the Paris climate objective.

New England Journal of Medicine
June 30, 2016 Vol. 374 No. 26
http://www.nejm.org/toc/nejm/medical-journal

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Perspective
Saving the World’s Women from Cervical Cancer [Free full text]
V. Tsu and J. Jerónimo

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Original Articles
Seven-Year Efficacy of RTS,S/AS01 Malaria Vaccine among Young African Children
A. Olotu and Others
2519-2529
Free Full Text
Abstract
Background
The candidate malaria vaccine RTS,S/AS01 is being evaluated in order to inform a decision regarding its inclusion in routine vaccination schedules.
Full Text of Background…
Methods
We conducted 7 years of follow-up in children who had been randomly assigned, at 5 to 17 months of age, to receive three doses of either the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine or a rabies (control) vaccine. The end point was clinical malaria (temperature of ≥37.5°C and infection with Plasmodium falciparum of >2500 parasites per cubic millimeter). In an analysis that was not prespecified, the malaria exposure of each child was estimated with the use of information on the prevalence of malaria among residents within a 1-km radius of the child’s home. Vaccine efficacy was defined as 1 minus the hazard ratio or the incidence-rate ratio, multiplied by 100, in the RTS,S/AS01 group versus the control group.
Full Text of Methods…
Results
Over 7 years of follow-up, we identified 1002 episodes of clinical malaria among 223 children randomly assigned to the RTS,S/AS01 group and 992 episodes among 224 children randomly assigned to the control group. The vaccine efficacy, as assessed by negative binomial regression, was 4.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], −17.0 to 21.9; P=0.66) in the intention-to-treat analysis and 7.0% (95% CI, −14.5 to 24.6; P=0.52) in the per-protocol analysis. Vaccine efficacy waned over time (P=0.006 for the interaction between vaccination and time), including negative efficacy during the fifth year among children with higher-than-average exposure to malaria parasites (intention-to-treat analysis: −43.5%; 95% CI, −100.3 to −2.8 [P=0.03]; per-protocol analysis: −56.8%; 95% CI, −118.7 to −12.3 [P=0.008]).
Full Text of Results…
Conclusions
A three-dose vaccination with RTS,S/AS01 was initially protective against clinical malaria, but this result was offset by rebound in later years in areas with higher-than-average exposure to malaria parasites. (Funded by the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00872963.)

PLOS Currents: Disasters
http://currents.plos.org/disasters/
[Accessed 2 July 2016]

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Research Article
How Bad Is It? Usefulness of the “7eed Model” for Scoring Severity and Level of Need in Complex Emergencies
June 28, 2016 ·
Background: Humanitarian assistance is designated to save lives and alleviate suffering among people affected by disasters. In 2014, close to 25 billion USD was allocated to humanitarian assistance, more than 80% of it from governmental donors and EU institutions. Most of these funds are devoted to Complex Emergencies (CE). It is widely accepted that the needs of the affected population should be the main determinant for resource allocations of humanitarian funding. However, to date no common, systematic, and transparent system for needs-based allocations exists. In an earlier paper, an easy-to-use model, “the 7eed model”, based on readily available indicators that distinguished between levels of severity among disaster-affected countries was presented. The aim of this paper is to assess the usefulness of the 7eed model in regards to 1) data availability, 2) variations between CE effected countries and sensitivity to change over time, and 3) reliability in capturing severity and levels of need.
Method: We applied the 7eed model to 25 countries with CE using data from 2013 to 2015. Data availability and indicator value variations were assessed using heat maps. To calculate a severity score and a needs score, we applied a standardised mathematical formula, based on the UTSTEIN template. We assessed the model for reliability on previous CEs with a “known” outcome in terms of excess mortality.
Results: Most of the required data was available for nearly all countries and indicators, and availability increased over time. The 7eed model was able to discriminate between levels of severity and needs among countries. Comparison with historical complex disasters showed a correlation between excess mortality and severity score.
Conclusion: Our study indicates that the proposed 7eed model can serve as a useful tool for setting funding levels for humanitarian assistance according to measurable levels of need. The 7eed model provides national level information but does not take into account local variations or specific contextual factors.

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Research Article
Socio-demographic Predictors for Urban Community Disaster Health Risk Perception and Household Based Preparedness in a Chinese Urban City
June 27, 2016 ·
Objectives: There is limited evidence on urban Asian communities’ disaster risk perceptions and household level preparedness. Hong Kong is characterized by high population density, and is susceptible to large-scale natural disasters and health crises such as typhoons, fires and infectious disease outbreaks. This research paper investigates the rates and predictors of urban community disaster risk perception, awareness and preparedness, at individual and household levels.
Methods: A randomized cross-sectional, population-based telephone survey study was conducted among the Cantonese-speaking population aged over 15 years in Hong Kong. Descriptive statistics were reported. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the independent associations between risk perceptions, socioeconomic factors, household characteristics, and personal background.
Findings: Final study sample comprised of 1002 respondents with a 63% response rate. The majority of respondents (82.3%) did not perceive Hong Kong as a disaster-susceptible city. Half (54.6%) reported beliefs that the local population had lower disaster awareness than other global cities. Infectious disease outbreak (72.4%), typhoon (12.6%), and fire (7.1%) were ranked as the most-likely-to-occur population-based disasters. Although over 77% believed that basic first aid training was necessary for improving individual disaster preparedness, only a quarter (26.1%) of respondents reported participation in training.
Conclusion: Despite Hong Kong’s high level of risk, general public perceptions of disaster in Hong Kong were low, and little preparedness has occurred at the individual or household levels. This report has potential to inform the development of related policies and risk communication strategies in Asian urban cities.

PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 2 July 2016)
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Editorial
A Global Champion for Health—WHO’s Next?
The PLOS Medicine Editors
| published 28 Jun 2016 | PLOS Medicine
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002059
[Excerpt]
… WHO’s next Director-General should be a proven leader and advocate, perhaps from a low-income or middle-income country. The new recruit will be greeted by a full in-tray, and featuring prominently are likely to be the constraints imposed by WHO’s current funding mechanisms. A substantial proportion of WHO’s existing budget is earmarked for specific projects, leaving the organization with little financial flexibility to respond to unanticipated demands. However, any improved funding mechanism is likely to follow, and be dependent on, organizational reform. According to Kruk, “WHO is both essential and hamstrung…the election of the Director-General should be a moment for member countries and other funders to reflect on whether they want an implementation agency for their favored health agenda, or an independent institution with the intelligence, agility, and operational capacity to tackle the coming global health challenges.”

Above all, the incoming leader of WHO will need to be open-minded and creative. More than one of the experts we contacted emphasized the fluid nature of the threats to human health to which WHO should shape the world’s response. WHO must be able to lead responses in some areas of global health, but, in other areas, working together with more nimble and focused organizations will be pragmatic. Large-scale infectious disease outbreaks are continuing, and noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, dementia, and mental illnesses, are growing in prevalence and increasing demand for treatment and care. The resources and ingenuity of researchers and clinicians will need to be harnessed, and interventions adapted to new settings, with much greater dynamism. The secular issues of population ageing, conflict, climate change, migration, and others will produce health problems that only an organization with a global reach, responsible to all, can hope to meet. We look forward to welcoming a new leader for WHO with the energy and vision to remold the organization to meet the health needs of the world’s people and societies for the 21st century.

PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 2 July 2016)
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Guidelines and Guidance |
Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting: the GATHER statement
Gretchen A. Stevens, Leontine Alkema, Robert E. Black, J. Ties Boerma, Gary S. Collins, Majid Ezzati, John T. Grove, Daniel R. Hogan, Margaret C. Hogan, Richard Horton, Joy E. Lawn, Ana Marušić, Colin D. Mathers, Christopher J. L. Murray, Igor Rudan, Joshua A. Salomon, Paul J. Simpson, Theo Vos, Vivian Welch, The GATHER Working Group
published 28 Jun 2016 | PLOS Medicine
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002056

Measurements of health indicators are rarely available for every population and period of interest, and available data may not be comparable. The Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting (GATHER) define best reporting practices for studies that calculate health estimates for multiple populations (in time or space) using multiple information sources. Health estimates that fall within the scope of GATHER include all quantitative population-level estimates (including global, regional, national, or subnational estimates) of health indicators, including indicators of health status, incidence and prevalence of diseases, injuries, and disability and functioning; and indicators of health determinants, including health behaviours and health exposures. GATHER comprises a checklist of 18 items that are essential for best reporting practice. A more detailed explanation and elaboration document, describing the interpretation and rationale of each reporting item along with examples of good reporting, is available on the GATHER website (gather-statement.org).

PLoS Medicine
http://www.plosmedicine.org/
(Accessed 2 July 2016)
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Agreements between Industry and Academia on Publication Rights: A Retrospective Study of Protocols and Publications of Randomized Clinical Trials
Benjamin Kasenda, Erik von Elm, John J. You, Anette Blümle, Yuki Tomonaga, Ramon Saccilotto, Alain Amstutz, Theresa Bengough, Joerg J. Meerpohl, Mihaela Stegert, Kelechi K. Olu, Kari A. O. Tikkinen, Ignacio Neumann, Alonso Carrasco-Labra, Markus Faulhaber, Sohail M. Mulla, Dominik Mertz, Elie A. Akl, Dirk Bassler, Jason W. Busse, Ignacio Ferreira-González, Francois Lamontagne, Alain Nordmann, Viktoria Gloy, Heike Raatz, Lorenzo Moja, Shanil Ebrahim, Stefan Schandelmaier, Xin Sun, Per O. Vandvik, Bradley C. Johnston, Martin A. Walter, Bernard Burnand, Matthias Schwenkglenks, Lars G. Hemkens, Heiner C. Bucher, Gordon H. Guyatt, Matthias Briel
| published 28 Jun 2016 | PLOS Medicine
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002046
Abstract
Background
Little is known about publication agreements between industry and academic investigators in trial protocols and the consistency of these agreements with corresponding statements in publications. We aimed to investigate (i) the existence and types of publication agreements in trial protocols, (ii) the completeness and consistency of the reporting of these agreements in subsequent publications, and (iii) the frequency of co-authorship by industry employees.
Methods and Findings
We used a retrospective cohort of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) based on archived protocols approved by six research ethics committees between 13 January 2000 and 25 November 2003. Only RCTs with industry involvement were eligible. We investigated the documentation of publication agreements in RCT protocols and statements in corresponding journal publications. Of 647 eligible RCT protocols, 456 (70.5%) mentioned an agreement regarding publication of results. Of these 456, 393 (86.2%) documented an industry partner’s right to disapprove or at least review proposed manuscripts; 39 (8.6%) agreements were without constraints of publication. The remaining 24 (5.3%) protocols referred to separate agreement documents not accessible to us. Of those 432 protocols with an accessible publication agreement, 268 (62.0%) trials were published. Most agreements documented in the protocol were not reported in the subsequent publication (197/268 [73.5%]). Of 71 agreements reported in publications, 52 (73.2%) were concordant with those documented in the protocol. In 14 of 37 (37.8%) publications in which statements suggested unrestricted publication rights, at least one co-author was an industry employee. In 25 protocol-publication pairs, author statements in publications suggested no constraints, but 18 corresponding protocols documented restricting agreements.
Conclusions
Publication agreements constraining academic authors’ independence are common. Journal articles seldom report on publication agreements, and, if they do, statements can be discrepant with the trial protocol.

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://www.plosntds.org/
[Accessed 2 July 2016]

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Editorial
Southern Europe’s Coming Plagues: Vector-Borne Neglected Tropical Diseases
Peter J. Hotez
| published 30 Jun 2016 | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0004243
[Excerpts]
The factors responsible for promoting the vector-borne NTDs in Southern Europe are under investigation, but there are some key lead possibilities to consider:.
Poverty.
Throughout the world’s low- and middle-income countries, poverty is a major social determinant promoting the ongoing transmission of NTDs. Previous findings have determined that comparable levels of extreme poverty can also be found among the G20 countries and are also contributing to widespread NTDs [32,33]. It is interesting to note how the emergence or re-emergence of Southern Europe’s major NTDs roughly coincides with the European debt crisis that began in 2009 when countries such as Greece, Portugal, and Spain experienced difficulties in repaying their government debts without outside assistance. Ultimately, Greece defaulted on its debt to the International Monetary Fund in 2015, thereby precipitating a financial crisis linked to high unemployment. There is an important need to better understand the link between poverty and NTDs. So far, it has been found that NTDs flourish in impoverished settings, but also that NTDs exhibit a unique ability to reinforce poverty through their debilitating effects on workers, women, and growing and developing children.

Mass human migrations.
Still another key social factor may be the humanitarian crisis linked to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing conflicts in Libya, Syria, and Iraq due to the occupation of ISIS [34]. In so doing, they could be introducing or re-introducing NTDs endemic to the Middle East and North Africa, including the vector-borne NTDs highlighted above. For example, cutaneous leishmaniasis in Syria, where it is often known as “Aleppo Evil,” has reached hyperendemic proportions due to breakdowns in health systems and lack of access to essential medicine, with at least tens of thousands of new cases annually [35]. Quite possibly both cutaneous leishmaniasis and sand fly vectors are being routinely re-introduced into Southern Europe.

Climate change.
Finally, it has been noted that outside of the Arctic region, Europe’s single largest temperature increases associated with serious heat waves are now occurring in Southern Europe [36]. The factors promoting climate change include increased greenhouse gas emissions as a result of agriculture; burning of coal, oil, and gas (fossil fuels); landfills; and industrial pollutants [36]. Increased temperatures are helping to facilitate the survival and longevity of insects and snails with the capacity to transmit NTDs. Climate change may also promote the spread of some of Southern Europe’s vector-borne NTDs to Northern Europe, including WNV and leishmaniasis [19,37]…

PLoS One
http://www.plosone.org/
[Accessed 2 July 2016]

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Research Article
Monitoring and Evaluating Psychosocial Intervention Outcomes in Humanitarian Aid
Kaz de Jong, Cono Ariti, Saskia van der Kam, Trudy Mooren, Leslie Shanks, Giovanni Pintaldi, Rolf Kleber
Research Article | published 17 Jun 2016 | PLOS ONE
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157474
Abstract
Existing tools for evaluating psychosocial interventions (un-validated self-reporting questionnaires) are not ideal for use in non-Western conflict settings. We implement a generic method of treatment evaluation, using client and counsellor feedback, in 18 projects in non-Western humanitarian settings. We discuss our findings from the perspective of validity and suggestions for future research. A retrospective analysis is executed using data gathered from psychosocial projects. Clients (n = 7,058) complete two (complaints and functioning) rating scales each session and counsellors rate the client’s status at exit. The client-completed pre- and post-intervention rating scales show substantial changes. Counsellor evaluation of the clients’ status shows a similar trend in improvement. All three multivariable models for each separate scale have similar associations between the scales and the investigated variables despite different cultural settings. The validity is good. Limitations are: ratings give only a general impression and clinical risk factors are not measured. Potential ceiling effects may influence change of scales. The intra and inter-rater reliability of the counsellors’ rating is not assessed. The focus on client and counsellor perspectives to evaluate treatment outcome seems a strong alternative for evaluation instruments frequently used in psychosocial programming. The session client rated scales helps client and counsellor to set mutual treatment objectives and reduce drop-out risk. Further research should test the scales against a cross-cultural valid gold standard to obtain insight into their clinical relevance.