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.

Science
01 July 2016 Vol 353, Issue 6294
http://www.sciencemag.org/current.dtl

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Feature
South Africa’s bid to end AIDS
By Jon Cohen
Science01 Jul 2016 : 18-21
The tools exist, but the country’s epidemic—the largest in the world—won’t yield easily.
Summary
South Africa has more people living with HIV, an estimated 6.6 million, than any country in the world. About half are now receiving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, which has greatly stressed the country’s health care system. Now, South Africa plans to encourage all infected people to learn their status and start treatment as part of the drive to end its epidemic. The cornerstone of the campaign is the fact that HIV-infected people who take ARVs and fully suppress their virus rarely transmit to others. Mathematical models suggest that 73% of the infected population has to achieve this to slow spread and start the epidemic’s downward spiral. South Africa has pledged to hit this target by 2020, in keeping with a global goal set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, but many experts doubt it can succeed by then—and others question the model itself. When the biannual International AIDS Conference takes place in Durban, South Africa, later this month, these issues likely will be in center stage.

Social Science & Medicine
Volume 158, Pages 1-172 (June 2016)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/02779536/156

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Regular articles
Long-term health implications of school quality
Original Research Article
Pages 1-7
Rebecca N. Dudovitz, Bergen B. Nelson, Tumaini R. Coker, Christopher Biely, Ning Li, Lynne C. Wu, Paul J. Chung
Abstract
Objective
Individual academic achievement is a well-known predictor of adult health, and addressing education inequities may be critical to reducing health disparities. Disparities in school quality are well documented. However, we lack nationally representative studies evaluating the impact of school quality on adult health. We aim to determine whether high school quality predicts adult health outcomes after controlling for baseline health, socio-demographics and individual academic achievement.
Methods
We analyzed data from 7037 adolescents who attended one of 77 high schools in the Unites States and were followed into adulthood from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Selected school-level quality measures—average daily attendance, school promotion rate, parental involvement, and teacher experience—were validated based on ability to predict high school graduation and college attendance. Individual adult health outcomes included self-rated health, diagnosis of depression, and having a measured BMI in the obese range.
Results
Logistic regressions controlling for socio-demographics, baseline health, health insurance, and individual academic performance demonstrated that school quality significantly predicted all health outcomes. As hypothesized, attending a school with lower average daily attendance predicted lower self-rated health (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 1.59, p = 0.003) and higher odds of depression diagnosis (AOR 1.35, p = 0.03); and attending a school with higher parent involvement predicted lower odds of obesity (AOR 0.69, p = 0.001). However, attending a school with higher promotion rate also predicted lower self-rated health (AOR1.20, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
High school quality may be an important, but complex, social determinant of health. These findings highlight the potential inter-dependence of education and health policy.

The Sentinel

Human Rights Action :: Humanitarian Response :: Health :: Education :: Heritage Stewardship ::
Sustainable Development
__________________________________________________
Week ending 25 June 2016

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 25 June 2016

:: 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 Infectious Diseases
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcinfectdis/content
(Accessed 25 June 2016)
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Research article
Clinical features of suspected Ebola cases referred to the Moyamba ETC, Sierra Leone: challenges in the later stages of the 2014 outbreak
The last ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has been the most important since 1976. EVD cases decreased drastically in Sierra Leone at the beginning of 2015. We aim to determine the clinical findings and evolu…
Javier Arranz, Karen Marie Lundeby, Shoaib Hassan, Luis Matías Zabala Fuentes, Pedro San José Garcés, Yngvar Lunde Haaskjold, Hakon Angell Bolkan, Kurt Osthuus Krogh, James Jongopi, Sindre Mellesmo, Ola Josendal, Asmund Opstad, Erling Svensen, Alfred Sandy Kamara, David P. Roberts, Paul D. Stamper…
BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 16:308
Published on: 22 June 2016

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Debate
Towards cash transfer interventions for tuberculosis prevention, care and control: key operational challenges and research priorities
Cash transfer interventions are forms of social protection based on the provision of cash to vulnerable households with the aim of reduce risk, vulnerability, chronic poverty and improve human capital.
Delia Boccia, Debora Pedrazzoli, Tom Wingfield, Ernesto Jaramillo, Knut Lönnroth, James Lewis, James Hargreaves and Carlton A. Evans
BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 16:307
Published on: 21 June 2016

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Research article
Dual rapid lateral flow immunoassay fingerstick wholeblood testing for syphilis and HIV infections is acceptable and accurate, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Dual rapid tests for HIV and syphilis infections allow for detection of HIV infection and syphilis at the point-of-care. Those tests have been evaluated in laboratory settings and show excellent performance but…
Claire C. Bristow, Linda Severe, Jean William Pape, Marjan Javanbakht, Sung-Jae Lee, Warren Scott Comulada and Jeffrey D. Klausner
BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 16:302

BMC Medicine
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/content
(Accessed 25 June 2016)

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Opinion
Beyond viral suppression of HIV – the new quality of life frontier
Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Kelly Safreed-Harmon, Simon E. Barton, Dominique Costagliola, Nikos Dedes, Julia del Amo Valero, Jose M. Gatell, Ricardo Baptista-Leite, Luís Mendão, Kholoud Porter, Stefano Vella and Jürgen Kurt Rockstroh
BMC Medicine 2016 14:94
Published on: 22 June 2016
Abstract
Background
In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a new Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV for 2016–2021. It establishes 15 ambitious targets, including the ‘90-90-90’ target calling on health systems to reduce under-diagnosis of HIV, treat a greater number of those diagnosed, and ensure that those being treated achieve viral suppression.
Discussion
The WHO strategy calls for person-centered chronic care for people living with HIV (PLHIV), implicitly acknowledging that viral suppression is not the ultimate goal of treatment. However, it stops short of providing an explicit target for health-related quality of life. It thus fails to take into account the needs of PLHIV who have achieved viral suppression but still must contend with other intense challenges such as serious non-communicable diseases, depression, anxiety, financial stress, and experiences of or apprehension about HIV-related discrimination. We propose adding a ‘fourth 90’ to the testing and treatment target: ensure that 90 % of people with viral load suppression have good health-related quality of life. The new target would expand the continuum-of-services paradigm beyond the existing endpoint of viral suppression. Good health-related quality of life for PLHIV entails attention to two domains: comorbidities and self-perceived quality of life.
Conclusions
Health systems everywhere need to become more integrated and more people-centered to successfully meet the needs of virally suppressed PLHIV. By doing so, these systems can better meet the needs of all of their constituents – regardless of HIV status – in an era when many populations worldwide are living much longer with multiple comorbidities.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpregnancychildbirth/content
(Accessed 25 June 2016)

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Research article
Knowledge, practice and associated factors of essential newborn care at home among mothers in Gulomekada District, Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia, 2014
Haftom Gebrehiwot Misgna, Haftu Berhe Gebru and Mulugeta Molla Birhanu
Published on: 21 June 2016
Abstract
Background
Around the world, more than three million newborns die in their first months of life every year. In Ethiopia during the last five years period; neonatal mortality is 37 deaths per 1000 live births. Even though there is an improvement compared to the past five years, there is still high home delivery 90 %, and high neonatal mortality about the Millennium Development Goal, which aims to be less than 32/1000 live births in Ethiopia. The purpose of this study is to assess maternal knowledge, practice and associated factors of essential newborn care at home in Gulomekada District Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia.

Methods
A community-based cross-sectional study is conducted in 296 mothers from Gulomekada District by using simple random sampling technique. Data entry and analysis is carried out by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences-20. The magnitude of the association between different variables about the outcome variable is measured by odds ratio with 95 % confidence interval. A binary logistic regression analysis is made to obtain odds ratio and the confidence interval of statistical associations. The goodness of fit had tested by Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic and all variables with P-value greater than 0.05 are fitted to the multivariate model. Variables with P < 0.2 in the bivariate analysis are included in the final model, and statistical significance is declared at P < 0.05.

Result
Eighty percent (80.4 %) study participants had good knowledge on essential new born care and 92.9 % had the good practice of essential new born care. About 60 % of mothers applied butter or oil on the cord stump for their last baby. Marital status and education are significantly associated with knowledge, whereas urban residence mothers with good knowledge on essential newborn care and employed mothers are significantly associated with mothers’ practice of essential newborn care.

Conclusion
Almost all mothers know and practice essential newborn care correctly except oil or butter application to the cord stump is highly practiced which should be avoided. Only marital status and educational status are significantly associated with mothers’ knowledge.

BMC Research Notes
http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcresnotes/content
(Accessed 25 June 2016)

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Research article
Involving hard-to-reach ethnic minorities in low-budget health research: lessons from a health survey among Moluccans in the Netherlands
Adee J. Bodewes and Anton E. Kunst
BMC Research Notes 2016 9:319
Published on: 21 June 2016
Abstract
Background
There is little evidence on which strategies are effective in recruiting minority groups in low-budget health surveys. We evaluated different recruitment strategies for their impact on response rates in a hard-to-reach minority population in the Netherlands.
Methods
We conducted a health survey in 19 Moluccan districts (MDs). Each MD had its own set of recruitment strategies, such as information meetings, involving social or local media, involving community organizations, and door-to-door collection. The association between recruitment strategies and MD-specific response rates was assessed with logistic regression analysis.
Results
The overall response rate was 24 %, and varied from 9 to 58 %. Higher rates were obtained when the strategy included door-to-door collection (OR 1.57) and ‘active’ key informants (OR 1.68). No positive associations with response rates were observed of the other strategies.
Conclusions
The overall low response rate in this study may be due to high levels of distrust, segmentation within the community and high respect for privacy among Moluccans. Our study shows that in such communities, response may be increased by a highly personal recruitment approach and a strong commitment and participation of community key-figures.

Globalization and Health
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/
[Accessed 25 June 2016]

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Research
Local and foreign authorship of maternal health interventional research in low- and middle-income countries: systematic mapping of publications 2000–2012
Matthew F. Chersich, Duane Blaauw, Mari Dumbaugh, Loveday Penn-Kekana, Ashar Dhana, Siphiwe Thwala, Leon Bijlmakers, Emily Vargas, Elinor Kern, Francisco Becerra-Posada, Josephine Kavanagh, Priya Mannava, Langelihle Mlotshwa, Victor Becerril-Montekio, Katharine Footman and Helen Rees
Published on: 23 June 2016
Abstract
Background
Researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are under-represented in scientific literature. Mapping of authorship of articles can provide an assessment of data ownership and research capacity in LMICs over time and identify variations between different settings.
Methods
Systematic mapping of maternal health interventional research in LMICs from 2000 to 2012, comparing country of study and of affiliation of first authors. Studies on health systems or promotion; community-based activities; and haemorrhage, hypertension, HIV/STIs and malaria were included. Following review of 35,078 titles and abstracts, 2292 full-text publications were included. Data ownership was measured by the proportion of articles with an LMIC lead author (author affiliated with an LMIC institution).
Results
The total number of papers led by an LMIC author rose from 45.0/year in 2000–2003 to 98.0/year in 2004–2007, but increased only slightly thereafter to 113.1/year in 2008–2012. In the same periods, the proportion of papers led by a local author was 58.4 %, 60.8 % and 60.1 %, respectively. Data ownership varies markedly between countries. A quarter of countries led more than 75 % of their research; while in 10 countries, under 25 % of publications had a local first author. Researchers at LMIC institutions led 56.6 % (1297) of all papers, but only 26.8 % of systematic reviews (65/243), 29.9 % of modelling studies (44/147), and 33.2 % of articles in journals with an Impact Factor ≥5 (61/184). Sub-Saharan Africa authors led 54.2 % (538/993) of studies in the region, while 73.4 % did in Latin America and the Caribbean (223/304). Authors affiliated with United States (561) and United Kingdom (207) institutions together account for a third of publications. Around two thirds of USAID and European Union funded studies had high-income country leads, twice as many as that of Wellcome Trust and Rockefeller Foundation.
Conclusions
There are marked gaps in data ownership and these have not diminished over time. Increased locally-led publications, however, does suggest a growing capacity in LMIC institutions to analyse and articulate research findings. Differences in author attribution between funders might signal important variations in funders’ expectations of authorship and discrepancies in how funders understand collaboration. More stringent authorship oversight and reconsideration of authorship guidelines could facilitate growth in LMIC leadership. Left unaddressed, deficiencies in research ownership will continue to hinder alignment between the research undertaken and knowledge needs of LMICs.

Globalization and Health
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/
[Accessed 25 June 2016]

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Research
Training the next generation of global health experts: experiences and recommendations from Pacific Rim universities
Mellissa Withers, David Press, Heather Wipfli, Judith McCool, Chang-Chuan Chan, Masamine Jimba, Christopher Tremewan and Jonathan Samet
Published on: 23 June 2016
Abstract
Background
Finding solutions to global health problems will require a highly-trained, inter-disciplinary workforce. Global health education and research can potentially have long-range impact in addressing the global burden of disease and protecting and improving the health of the global population.
Methods
We conducted an online survey of twelve higher education institutions in the Pacific Rim that spanned the period 2005–2011. Program administrators provided data on program concentrations, student enrollment and student funding opportunities for 41 public health programs, including those specific to global health.
Results
The Master of Public Health (MPH) was the most common degree offered. A growing demand for global health education was evident. Enrollment in global health programs increased over three-fold between 2005–2011. Very few institutions had specific global health programs or offered training to undergraduates. Funding for student scholarships was also lacking.
Conclusions
The growing demand for global health education suggests that universities in the Pacific Rim should increase educational and training opportunities in this field. Schools of medicine may not be fully equipped to teach global health-related courses and to mentor students who are interested in global health. Increasing the number of dedicated global health research and training institutions in the Pacific Rim can contribute to building capacity in the region. Faculty from different departments and disciplines should be engaged to provide multi-disciplinary global health educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. New, innovative ways to collaborate in education, such as distance education, can also help universities offer a wider range of global health-related courses. Additional funding of global health is also required.

Health and Human Rights
Volume 18, Issue 1, June 2016
http://www.hhrjournal.org/

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Special Section: Tuberculosis and the Right to Health
in collaboration with the International Human Rights Clinic, University of Chicago Law School
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Editorial: Developing a Human Rights-Based Approach to Tuberculosis
Brian Citro, Evan Lyon, Mihir Mankad, Kiran Raj Pandey, and Camila Gianella, Guest Editors

Falling Short of the Rights to Health and Scientific Progress: Inadequate TB Drug Research and Access
Mike Frick, Ian Henry, and Erica Lessem

TB in Vulnerable Populations: The Case of an Indigenous Community in the Peruvian Amazon
Camila Gianella, César Ugarte-Gil, Godofredo Caro, Rula Aylas, César Castro, and Claudia Lema

Double Standards in Global Health: Medicine, Human Rights Law, and Multidrug-Resistant TB Treatment Policy
Thomas Nicholson, Catherine Admay, Aaron Shakow, and Salmaan Keshavjee

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Perspective Essays on TB and the Right to Health
Petition 329: A Legal Challenge to the Involuntary Confinement of TB Patients in Kenyan Prisons
Allan Maleche and Nerima Were

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General Papers
An Independent Review and Accountability Mechanism for the Sustainable Development Goals: The Possibilities of a Framework Convention on Global Health
Eric A. Friedman

Essential Medicines in National Constitutions: Progress Since 2008
S. Katrina Perehudoff, Brigit Toebes, and Hans Hogerzeil

Human Trafficking Identification and Service Provision in the Medical and Social Service Sectors
Corinne Schwarz, Erik Unruh, Katie Cronin, Sarah Evans-Simpson, Hannah Britton, and Megha Ramaswamy

Indigenous Child Health in Brazil: The Evaluation of Impacts as a Human Rights Issue
Anna R. Coates, Sandra del Pino Marchito, and Bernardino Vitoy

Assessing and Improving Children’s Rights in Hospitals: Case Studies from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Moldova
Ana Isabel Fernandes Guerreiro, Aigul Kuttumuratova, Kubanychbek Monolbaev, Larisa Boderscova, Zulfiya Pirova, and Martin W. Weber

Human Rights-Based Approaches to Mental Health: A Review of Programs
Sebastian Porsdam Mann, Valerie J. Bradley, and Barbara J. Sahakian

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Perspective Essays
Medical Hostages: Detention of Women and Babies in Hospitals
Delan Devakumar and Rob Yates

Infectious Diseases of Poverty
http://www.idpjournal.com/content
[Accessed 25 June 2016]

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Short Report
Good laboratory practices guarantee biosafety in the Sierra Leone-China friendship biosafety laboratory
Qin Wang, Wei-Min Zhou, Yong Zhang, Huan-Yu Wang, Hai-Jun Du, Kai Nie, Jing-Dong Song, Kang Xiao, Wen-Wen Lei, Jian-Qiang Guo, He-Jiang Wei, Kun Cai, Yan-Hai Wang, Jiang Wu, Gerard Kamara, Idrissa Kamara…
Published on: 23 June 2016
Abstract
Background
The outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa between 2014 and 2015 was the largest EDV epidemic since the identification of Ebola virus (EBOV) in 1976, and the countries most strongly affected were Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia.
Findings
The Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biological Safety Laboratory (SLE-CHN Biosafety Lab), a fixed Biosafety Level 3 laboratory in the capital city of Sierra Leone, was established by the Chinese government and has been active in EBOV detection since 11 March 2015. Complete management and program documents were created for the SLE-CHN Biosafety Lab, and it was divided into four zones (the green, yellow, brown, and red zones) based on the risk assessment. Different types of safe and appropriate personnel protection equipment (PPE) are used in different zones of the laboratory, and it fully meets the Biosafety Level 3 laboratory standards of the World Health Organization.
Conclusion
Good preparedness, comprehensive risk assessment and operation documents, appropriate PPE, effective monitoring and intensive training, together with well-designed and reasonable laboratory sectioning are essential for guaranteeing biosafety.

International Journal of Infectious Diseases
July 2016 Volume 48, p1-124 Open Access
http://www.ijidonline.com/current

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Editorial
Why is the yellow fever outbreak in Angola a ‘threat to the entire world’?
J.P. Woodall, T.M. Yuill
p96–97
Published online: May 6 2016
Preview
The short answer to the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration is because yellow fever has spread throughout the country, causing probably thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths, and the world has run out of vaccine. This is very bad because cases so far have been imported into the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mauritania, Kenya, and even China, the first time in history that cases have been confirmed in Asia. In fact, more travelers infected with yellow fever have now been seen than in the last 50 years, each one with the potential to spread it on arrival, and still further to more countries worldwide via international airlines.

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Reviews
Traditional and syndromic surveillance of infectious diseases and pathogens
Cédric Abat, Hervé Chaudet, Jean-Marc Rolain, Philippe Colson, Didier Raoult
p22–28
Published online: April 30 2016
Preview
Classified as the second leading cause of death in humans by the World Health Organization, with approximately 15 million deaths worldwide every year,1 infectious diseases remain a serious public health problem in the 21st century. Among them, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria have been nicknamed the ‘big three’ because of their important impact on global human health. In 2011, tuberculosis infected two billion people and killed 1.3 million, malaria infected 207 million people and killed 62 700, and HIV infected 35.3 million people and killed 1.6 million.

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Original Papers
Yellow fever vaccination status and safety in hemodialysis patients
Tila Facincani, Maia Nogueira Crown Guimarães, Sigrid De Sousa dos Santos
p91–95
Published online: May 18 2016
Preview
The live attenuated yellow fever vaccine seems to be safe in patients on hemodialysis in a transition area.

International Migration Review
Summer 2016 Volume 50, Issue 2 Pages 267–533, e17–e32
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/imre.2016.50.issue-2/issuetoc

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IMMIGRATION POLICIES: STATE, CHURCH, AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ACTORS
Alternative Approaches to the Governance of Transnational Labor Recruitment (pages 269–314)
Patricia Pittman
Version of Record online: 11 FEB 2015 | DOI: 10.1111/imre.12164
Abstract
As globalization advances, the governance challenges relating to cross-border labor recruitment have also grown. Transnational companies that manage the employment-based migration process often take advantage of individuals seeking work abroad. While some states have implemented recruitment regulations, a combination of jurisdictional constraints and economic interests have limited states’ capacity and political will to take action. Supplemental strategies are emerging led by international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), labor unions, and corporate trade groups. This paper reviews the strengths and weaknesses of strategies led by each of these different types of actors and explores potential synergies among them.

Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 18, Issue 3, June 2016
http://link.springer.com/journal/10903/18/2/page/1
[Issue focus on a range of health parameters and challenges among Latino migrants]

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Open Access :: Original Paper
First Online: 21 June 2016
Mental Health of Refugees and Non-refugees from War-Conflict Countries: Data from Primary Healthcare Services and the Norwegian Prescription Database
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-016-0450-y
Melanie L. Straiton, Anne Reneflot, Esperanza Diaz
Abstract
High rates of mental health problems are consistently found among immigrants from refugee generating countries. While refugees and their family members may have experienced similar traumas, refugees are more likely to have undergone a stressful asylum period. This study aims to determine whether their mental health differs. Using national registry data, refugees and non-refugees from the same countries were compared on primary healthcare service use for mental health problems and purchase of psychotropic medicine. Refugees had higher odds of using primary health care services than non-refugees. Refugee women were more likely to purchase psychotropic medicine than non-refugee women. Refugee men were more likely to purchase anti-depressants. The findings suggest that refugees have poorer mental health than non-refugees. This may be due to a combination of greater pre-migration trauma and post-migration stressors such as enduring a difficult asylum period.