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Kashyap K, Islam AA, Gielen J. Why do healthcare researchers in South Asia publish in predatory journals? A scoping review. Dev World Bioeth 2024; 24:54-65. [PMID: 36736313 DOI: 10.1111/dewb.12388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Predatory journals offer the promise of prompt publication to those willing to pay the article submission or processing fee. However, these journals do not offer rigorous peer review. Studies have shown that a substantial share of corresponding authors in predatory journals come from South Asia, particularly India. This scoping review aims to assess what is known about the reasons why healthcare researchers working in South Asia publish in predatory journals. 66 reports (14 editorials, 20 letters, 5 research reports, 10 opinion articles, 14 reviews, 2 commentaries and 1 news report) were included in the data charting and analysis. The analysis of the reports identified three main reasons that made South Asian healthcare researchers publish in predatory journals: pressure to publish, lack of research support, and pseudo benefits. The review shows that predatory publishing in South Asia is a complex phenomenon. Combating predatory publications requires a holistic strategy that supersedes merely blacklisting these journals or listing criteria for journals that do meet academic standards.
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Zia N, Mashreky SR, He H, Patel N, Ahmed FA, Hashmi M, Al-Ibran E, Rahman AF, Khondoker S, Hyder AA, Latif A. Factors associated with emergency department disposition among burn injury patients: Analysis of prehospital and emergency care characteristics using South Asia Burn Registry (SABR) data. Burns 2024; 50:874-884. [PMID: 38245393 DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2024.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Improvement in burn injury data collections and the quality of databanks has allowed meaningful study of the epidemiologic trends in burn care. The study assessed factors associated with disposition of burn injury patients from emergency department accounting for pre-hospital care and emergency care. METHODS This prospective observational pilot study of the South Asia Burn Registry project was conducted at selected public sector burn centers in Bangladesh and Pakistan (September 2014 - January 2015). All age groups with an initial presentation to the burn centers were enrolled. Descriptive and regression analysis is presented. RESULTS A total of 2749 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 21.7 ± 18.0 years, 55.3% were males, and about a quarter were children < 5 years. About 46.9% of the females were housewives. Scald burns were common among children (67.6%) while flame burns were common among adults (44.3%). About 75% of patients were brought in via non-ambulance mode of transport. More than 55% of patients were referrals from other facilities or clinics. The most common first aid given pre-hospital was the use of water or oil. About 25% were admitted for further care. The adjusted odds of being admitted compared to being sent home were highest for children < 5 yrs, those with higher total body surface area burnt, having arrived via ambulance, scald and electrical burn, having an associated injury and inhalational injury. CONCLUSION The study provides insight into emergency burn care and associated factors that influenced outcomes for patients with burn injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nukhba Zia
- Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | | | - Huan He
- Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nishit Patel
- Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fasih Ali Ahmed
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Madiha Hashmi
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Sazzad Khondoker
- National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Adnan A Hyder
- Center on Commercial Determinants of Health and Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Asad Latif
- Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit, Health Systems Program, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
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Razi S, Tan IJ, Pathak GN, Rao B. Unraveling the mirage of fairness cream commercials: A cross-sectional analysis of commercials from South Asia. J Cosmet Dermatol 2024; 23:1713-1717. [PMID: 38247030 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.16188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fairness products are an essential component of daily beauty routines for many individuals in subcontinental Asia. However, it is important to be aware that these products often contain ingredients that can be detrimental to the skin and are banned in several developed countries. OBJECTIVE Our study aims to analyze the content of fairness cream commercials in order to gain a deeper understanding of the information used to persuade and influence consumers to use these products. METHODS Fairness cream commercials originating from countries in subcontinental Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, were specifically searched and analyzed on the YouTube platform. RESULTS An analysis of 152 fairness cream commercials on YouTube identified 84.21% of commercials targeted female consumers, while only 15.79% targeted male consumers. 77.63% of commercials used celebrities in their commercials and 47.37% of commercials mentioned specific ingredients. CONCLUSIONS Based on our findings, it is crucial for dermatologists to take an active role in educating patients and consumers about the potential risks associated with certain ingredients found in fairness creams. Dermatologists should emphasize the importance of prioritizing overall skin health rather than solely focusing on skin lightening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shazli Razi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, New Jersey, USA
- Rao Dermatology, Atlantic, New Jersey, USA
| | - Isabella J Tan
- Center for Dermatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Gaurav Nitin Pathak
- Center for Dermatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Babar Rao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, New Jersey, USA
- Center for Dermatology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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Anita WM, Uttajug A, Seposo XT, Sudo K, Nakata M, Takemura T, Takano H, Fujiwara T, Ueda K. Interplay of Climate Change and Air Pollution- Projection of the under-5 mortality attributable to ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) in South Asia. Environ Res 2024; 248:118292. [PMID: 38266897 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution is a leading health risk factor for children under- 5 years, especially in developing countries. South Asia is a PM2.5 hotspot, where climate change, a potential factor affecting PM2.5 pollution, adds a major challenge. However, limited evidence is available on under-5 mortality attributable to PM2.5 under different climate change scenarios. This study aimed to project under-5 mortality attributable to long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 under seven air pollution and climate change mitigation scenarios in South Asia. We used a concentration-risk function obtained from a previous review to project under-5 mortality attributable to ambient PM2.5. With a theoretical minimum risk exposure level of 2.4 μg/m3, this risk function was linked to gridded annual PM2.5 concentrations from atmospheric modeling to project under-5 mortality from 2010 to 2049 under different climate change mitigation scenarios. The scenarios were developed from the Aim/Endues global model based on end-of-pipe (removing the emission of air pollutants at the source, EoP) and 2 °C target measures. Our results showed that, in 2010-2014, about 306.8 thousand under-5 deaths attributable to PM2.5 occurred in South Asia under the Reference (business as usual) scenario. The number of deaths was projected to increase in 2045-2049 by 36.6% under the same scenario and 7.7% under the scenario where EoP measures would be partially implemented by developing countries (EoPmid), and was projected to decrease under other scenarios, with the most significant decrease (81.2%) under the scenario where EoP measures would be fully enhanced by all countries along with the measures to achieve 2 °C target (EoPmaxCCSBLD) across South Asia. Country-specific projections of under-5 mortality varied by country. The current emission control strategy would not be sufficient to reduce the number of deaths in South Asia. Robust climate change mitigation and air pollution control policy implementation is required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Athicha Uttajug
- Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan.
| | | | - Kengo Sudo
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan; Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
| | - Makiko Nakata
- Faculty of Applied Sociology Kindai University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Toshihiko Takemura
- Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Kyushu, Japan.
| | - Hirohisa Takano
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan; Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan.
| | - Taku Fujiwara
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan; Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan.
| | - Kayo Ueda
- Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Japan; Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan.
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Rodda SR, Fararoda R, Gopalakrishnan R, Jha N, Réjou-Méchain M, Couteron P, Barbier N, Alfonso A, Bako O, Bassama P, Behera D, Bissiengou P, Biyiha H, Brockelman WY, Chanthorn W, Chauhan P, Dadhwal VK, Dauby G, Deblauwe V, Dongmo N, Droissart V, Jeyakumar S, Jha CS, Kandem NG, Katembo J, Kougue R, Leblanc H, Lewis S, Libalah M, Manikandan M, Martin-Ducup O, Mbock G, Memiaghe H, Mofack G, Mutyala P, Narayanan A, Nathalang A, Ndjock GO, Ngoula F, Nidamanuri RR, Pélissier R, Saatchi S, Sagang LB, Salla P, Simo-Droissart M, Smith TB, Sonké B, Stevart T, Tjomb D, Zebaze D, Zemagho L, Ploton P. LiDAR-based reference aboveground biomass maps for tropical forests of South Asia and Central Africa. Sci Data 2024; 11:334. [PMID: 38575638 PMCID: PMC10995191 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03162-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Accurate mapping and monitoring of tropical forests aboveground biomass (AGB) is crucial to design effective carbon emission reduction strategies and improving our understanding of Earth's carbon cycle. However, existing large-scale maps of tropical forest AGB generated through combinations of Earth Observation (EO) and forest inventory data show markedly divergent estimates, even after accounting for reported uncertainties. To address this, a network of high-quality reference data is needed to calibrate and validate mapping algorithms. This study aims to generate reference AGB datasets using field inventory plots and airborne LiDAR data for eight sites in Central Africa and five sites in South Asia, two regions largely underrepresented in global reference AGB datasets. The study provides access to these reference AGB maps, including uncertainty maps, at 100 m and 40 m spatial resolutions covering a total LiDAR footprint of 1,11,650 ha [ranging from 150 to 40,000 ha at site level]. These maps serve as calibration/validation datasets to improve the accuracy and reliability of AGB mapping for current and upcoming EO missions (viz., GEDI, BIOMASS, and NISAR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Suraj Reddy Rodda
- Forestry and Ecology Group, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Hyderabad, 500 037, India.
- Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
| | - Rakesh Fararoda
- Forestry and Ecology Group, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Hyderabad, 500 037, India
| | | | - Nidhi Jha
- College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | | | - Pierre Couteron
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, INRAE, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Barbier
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, INRAE, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - Alonso Alfonso
- Center for Conservation and Sustainability, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ousmane Bako
- Ecole Nationale des Eaux et Forêts de Mbalmayo, Ministère Des Forêts Et De La Faune, Mbalmayo, Cameroon
| | - Patrick Bassama
- Ecole Nationale des Eaux et Forêts de Mbalmayo, Ministère Des Forêts Et De La Faune, Mbalmayo, Cameroon
| | - Debabrata Behera
- Department of Ecology, French Institute of Pondicherry, Pondicherry, 605 001, India
| | - Pulcherie Bissiengou
- Institut de pharmacopée et de médecine traditionnelle (Herbier National du Gabon), CENAREST, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Hervé Biyiha
- Ecole Nationale des Eaux et Forêts de Mbalmayo, Ministère Des Forêts Et De La Faune, Mbalmayo, Cameroon
| | - Warren Y Brockelman
- National Biobank of Thailand (NBT), National Science and Technology Development Agency, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Wirong Chanthorn
- Department of Environmental Technology and Management, Faculty of Environment, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Prakash Chauhan
- Forestry and Ecology Group, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Hyderabad, 500 037, India
| | | | - Gilles Dauby
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, INRAE, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
- International Joint Laboratory DYCOFAC, IRD-UYI-IRGM, P.O Box 1857, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Vincent Deblauwe
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), BP 2008 (Messa), Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Narcis Dongmo
- Ecole Nationale des Eaux et Forêts de Mbalmayo, Ministère Des Forêts Et De La Faune, Mbalmayo, Cameroon
| | - Vincent Droissart
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, INRAE, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Selvaraj Jeyakumar
- Department of Ecology, French Institute of Pondicherry, Pondicherry, 605 001, India
| | - Chandra Shekar Jha
- Forestry and Ecology Group, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Hyderabad, 500 037, India
| | - Narcisse G Kandem
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - John Katembo
- Institut Supérieur d'Etudes Agronomiques de Bengamisa, République Démocratique du Congo, Congo, France
| | - Ronald Kougue
- Ecole Nationale des Eaux et Forêts de Mbalmayo, Ministère Des Forêts Et De La Faune, Mbalmayo, Cameroon
| | - Hugo Leblanc
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, INRAE, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - Simon Lewis
- Department of Geography, University College London (UCL), London, UK
- School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Moses Libalah
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Maya Manikandan
- Forestry and Ecology Group, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Hyderabad, 500 037, India
| | | | - Germain Mbock
- Ecole Nationale des Eaux et Forêts de Mbalmayo, Ministère Des Forêts Et De La Faune, Mbalmayo, Cameroon
| | - Hervé Memiaghe
- Institut de pharmacopée et de médecine traditionnelle (Herbier National du Gabon), CENAREST, Libreville, Gabon
| | - Gislain Mofack
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Praveen Mutyala
- Forestry and Ecology Group, National Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO, Hyderabad, 500 037, India
| | - Ayyappan Narayanan
- Department of Ecology, French Institute of Pondicherry, Pondicherry, 605 001, India
| | - Anuttara Nathalang
- National Biobank of Thailand (NBT), National Science and Technology Development Agency, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Gilbert Oum Ndjock
- Dja Wildlife Reserve, Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Fernandez Ngoula
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Rama Rao Nidamanuri
- Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Raphaël Pélissier
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, INRAE, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
| | - Sassan Saatchi
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA
| | - Le Bienfaiteur Sagang
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Patrick Salla
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Murielle Simo-Droissart
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Thomas B Smith
- Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Bonaventure Sonké
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
- International Joint Laboratory DYCOFAC, IRD-UYI-IRGM, P.O Box 1857, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Tariq Stevart
- Missouri Botanical Garden, Africa & Madagascar Program, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri, 63110, USA
| | - Danièle Tjomb
- Ecole Nationale des Eaux et Forêts de Mbalmayo, Ministère Des Forêts Et De La Faune, Mbalmayo, Cameroon
| | - Donatien Zebaze
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Lise Zemagho
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
| | - Pierre Ploton
- AMAP, Univ Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, INRAE, CIRAD, Montpellier, France
- Plant Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Higher Teachers' Training College, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 047, Yaoundé, Cameroun
- International Joint Laboratory DYCOFAC, IRD-UYI-IRGM, P.O Box 1857, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Sobi RA, Sultana AA, Khan SH, Haque MA, Nuzhat S, Hossain MN, Bardhan PK, Chisti MJ, Chakraborty S, Ahmed T, Das R, Faruque ASG. Impact of Rotaviral Diarrhea on Child Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2024; 110:749-758. [PMID: 38377601 PMCID: PMC10993829 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Rotavirus is the leading cause of dehydrating diarrhea among children in developing countries. The impact of rotaviral diarrhea on nutritional status is not well understood. We aimed to determine the association between rotavirus-positive moderate-to-severe diarrhea and nutrition in children under 5 years of age. We analyzed data from the Global Enteric Multicenter Study on children 0-59 months old from South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The relationships between explanatory variables and outcome variables were assessed using multiple linear regression; the explanatory variable was the presence of rotavirus in the stool sample, and the outcome variables were z scores [length/height-for-age (LAZ/HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and weight-for-length/height (WLZ/WHZ)] at follow-up (∼60 days). The prevalence of rotaviral diarrhea was 17.3% (905/5,219) in South Asia and 19.95% (842/4,220) in sub-Saharan Africa. Rotavirus was associated with higher LAZ/HAZ (β: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.26; P <0.001) and WAZ (β: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.22; P <0.001) in sub-Saharan Africa and with lower WLZ/WHZ (β coefficient: -0.08; 95% CI: -0.15, -0.009; P = 0.027) in South Asia. Our study indicates that rotaviral diarrhea is positively associated with nutritional status in sub-Saharan Africa and is negatively associated with nutritional status in South Asia. An expedited implementation policy of ongoing preventive and control strategies, including vaccination against rotavirus, is necessary to reduce the burden of rotaviral diarrhea, which may further help to reduce the potential nutritional ramifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukaeya Amin Sobi
- Nutrition Research Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Al-Afroza Sultana
- Nutrition Research Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Soroar Hossain Khan
- Nutrition Research Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Ahshanul Haque
- Nutrition Research Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sharika Nuzhat
- Nutrition Research Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Nasif Hossain
- Department of Global Health, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Pradip K. Bardhan
- Nutrition Research Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammod Jobayer Chisti
- Nutrition Research Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Subhra Chakraborty
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Tahmeed Ahmed
- Nutrition Research Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Rina Das
- Nutrition Research Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Abu S. G. Faruque
- Nutrition Research Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Dorji T, Dorjee S, Wangdi T, Tshokey T, Pradhan AR, Penjor K, Namgay R, Togbye T, Karunaweera N. Efforts toward the Elimination of Visceral Leishmaniasis in South Asia: A Review of Progress in Bhutan. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2024; 110:633-638. [PMID: 38471147 PMCID: PMC10993832 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniases are a group of diseases under the category of neglected tropical diseases targeted for global elimination. However, they continue to pose major clinical and public health problems, especially among those living in poor socioeconomic conditions. Here, we summarize leishmaniasis elimination efforts in Bhutan. Between 1994 and 2022, Bhutan recorded 54 cases of leishmaniasis across 14 of its 20 districts. There are seven species of Phlebotomus and three species of Sergentomyia sand flies documented in the country. At a subnational level, all endemic districts recorded a visceral leishmaniasis annual incidence <1 per 10,000 population, meeting the regional elimination targets. Serological testing with ELISA and molecular testing with polymerase chain reaction were established at the Royal Center for Disease Control in 2022. A leishmaniasis prevention and management guideline was adopted in 2023 to aid clinicians in diagnosis and management. Active and passive case surveillance was integrated with the national infectious disease early warning and response system. Risk-based entomological surveillance and control have also been prioritized. Climate change may play a major role in rendering districts in the temperate zone favorable for vector proliferation. The country's medical university introduced a diploma course in medical entomology in 2023 to augment the human resources needed for vector surveillance efforts. However, leishmaniasis elimination lacks dedicated programmatic management amid competing priorities for resources against other infectious diseases. Leishmaniasis elimination requires a targeted and programmatic approach in Bhutan, including cross-border collaborative efforts with neighboring Indian states. Bhutan remains highly committed to achieving leishmaniasis elimination targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thinley Dorji
- Department of Internal Medicine, Central Regional Referral Hospital, Gelephu, Bhutan
| | - Sithar Dorjee
- Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Tenzin Wangdi
- Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Gelephu, Bhutan
| | - Tshokey Tshokey
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Ambika Rani Pradhan
- Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
- Department of Dermatology, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Kinley Penjor
- Faculty of Nursing and Public Health, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Rinzin Namgay
- Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Gelephu, Bhutan
| | - Togbye Togbye
- Vector-Borne Disease Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Gelephu, Bhutan
| | - Nadira Karunaweera
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Muzembo BA, Kitahara K, Ohno A, Khatiwada J, Dutta S, Miyoshi SI. Vibriosis in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Infect Dis 2024; 141:106955. [PMID: 38311027 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES South Asia remains home to foodborne diseases caused by the Vibrio species. We aimed to compile and update information on the epidemiology of vibriosis in South Asia. METHODS For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Google Scholar for studies related to vibriosis in South Asia published up to May 2023. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled isolation rate of non-cholera-causing Vibrio species. RESULTS In total, 38 studies were included. Seven of these were case reports and 22 were included in the meta-analysis. The reported vibriosis cases were caused by non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, V. fluvialis, and V. vulnificus. The overall pooled isolation rate was 4.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0-5.0%) in patients with diarrhea. Heterogeneity was high (I2 = 98.0%). The isolation rate of non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. fluvialis were 9.0 (95% CI 7.0-10.0%), 1.0 (95% CI 1.0-2.0%), and 2.0 (95% CI: 1.0-3.0%), respectively. Regarding V. parahaemolyticus, O3:K6 was the most frequently isolated serotype. Cases peaked during summer. Several studies reported antibiotic-resistant strains and those harboring extended-spectrum beta-lactamases genes. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates a high burden of infections caused by non-cholera-causing Vibrio species in South Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basilua Andre Muzembo
- Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
| | - Kei Kitahara
- Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan; Collaborative Research Centre of Okayama University for Infectious Diseases in India at ICMR-NICED, Kolkata, India
| | - Ayumu Ohno
- Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan; Collaborative Research Centre of Okayama University for Infectious Diseases in India at ICMR-NICED, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Shanta Dutta
- Division of Bacteriology, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, India
| | - Shin-Ichi Miyoshi
- Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
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Choedon T, Brennan E, Joe W, Lelijveld N, Huse O, Zorbas C, Backholer K, Murira Z, Wrottesley SV, Sethi V. Nutritional status of school-age children (5-19 years) in South Asia: A scoping review. Matern Child Nutr 2024; 20:e13607. [PMID: 38095279 PMCID: PMC10981491 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Information on malnutrition for school-age children and adolescents (5-19 years) in South Asia is fragmented and inconsistent, which limits the prioritization of nutrition policies, programmes and research for this age group. This scoping review aimed to synthesize existing evidence on the burden of malnutrition for children and adolescents aged 5-19 years in South Asia, and on interventions to improve their nutritional status. Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline and Google Scholar were systematically searched for articles published between January 2016 and November 2022. Eligible studies reported the prevalence of undernutrition, overweight/obesity, micronutrient deficiencies and unhealthy dietary intakes, and interventions that aimed to address these in South Asia. In total, 296 articles met our inclusion criteria. Evidence revealed widespread, yet heterogeneous, prevalence of undernutrition among South Asian children and adolescents: thinness (1.9%-88.8%), wasting (3%-48%), underweight (9.5%-84.4%) and stunting (3.7%-71.7%). A triple burden of malnutrition was evident: the prevalence of overweight and obesity ranged from 0.2% to 73% and 0% to 38% (with rapidly rising trends), respectively, alongside persistent micronutrient deficiencies. Diets often failed to meet nutritional requirements and high levels of fast-food consumption were reported. Education, fortification, supplementation and school feeding programmes demonstrated beneficial effects on nutritional status. Comprehensive and regular monitoring of all forms of malnutrition among children and adolescents, across all countries in South Asia is required. Further, more large-scale intervention research is needed to ensure policy and programmes effectively target and address malnutrition among children and adolescents in South Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - William Joe
- Institute of Economic Growth (IEG)DelhiIndia
| | | | - Oliver Huse
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of HealthDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Christina Zorbas
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of HealthDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of HealthDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | | | | | - Vani Sethi
- UNICEF South Asia Regional OfficeKathmanduNepal
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Kondal D, Awasthi A, Patel SA, Chang HH, Ali MK, Deepa M, Mohan S, Mohan V, Narayan KMV, Tandon N, Prabhakaran D. Evaluating bias with loss to follow-up in a community-based cohort: empirical investigation from the CARRS Study. J Epidemiol Community Health 2024; 78:220-227. [PMID: 38199804 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2023-220963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retention of participants is a challenge in community-based longitudinal cohort studies. We aim to evaluate the factors associated with loss to follow-up and estimate attrition bias. METHODS Data are from an ongoing cohort study, Center for cArdiometabolic Risk Reduction in South Asia (CARRS) in India (Delhi and Chennai). Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify sociodemographic factors associated with partial (at least one follow-up) or no follow-up (loss to follow-up). We also examined the impact of participant attrition on the magnitude of observed associations using relative ORs (RORs) of hypertension and diabetes (prevalent cases) with baseline sociodemographic factors. RESULTS There were 12 270 CARRS cohort members enrolled in Chennai and Delhi at baseline in 2010, and subsequently six follow-ups were conducted between 2011 and 2022. The median follow-up time was 9.5 years (IQR: 9.3-9.8) and 1048 deaths occurred. Approximately 3.1% of participants had no follow-up after the baseline visit. Younger (relative risk ratio (RRR): 1.14; 1.04 to 1.24), unmarried participants (RRR: 1.75; 1.45 to 2.11) and those with low household assets (RRR: 1.63; 1.44 to 1.85) had higher odds of being lost to follow-up. The RORs of sociodemographic factors with diabetes and hypertension did not statistically differ between baseline and sixth follow-up, suggesting minimal potential for bias in inference at follow-up. CONCLUSION In this representative cohort of urban Indians, we found low attrition and minimal bias due to the loss to follow-up. Our cohort's inconsistent participation bias shows our retention strategies like open communication, providing health profiles, etc have potential benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimple Kondal
- Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, India
| | - Ashish Awasthi
- Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, India
- Centre for Chronic Conditions and Injuries, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Shivani Anil Patel
- Emory Global Diabetes Research Center,Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Howard H Chang
- Emory Global Diabetes Research Center,Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mohammed K Ali
- Emory Global Diabetes Research Center,Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mohan Deepa
- Epidemiology, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sailesh Mohan
- Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, India
- Centre for Chronic Conditions and Injuries, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
| | - Viswanathan Mohan
- Diabetology, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - K M Venkat Narayan
- Emory Global Diabetes Research Center,Woodruff Health Sciences Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nikhil Tandon
- Centre for Chronic Conditions and Injuries, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Dorairaj Prabhakaran
- Centre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, India
- Centre for Chronic Conditions and Injuries, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India
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11
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Azimi MN, Rahman MM. Food insecurity, environment, institutional quality, and health outcomes: evidence from South Asia. Global Health 2024; 20:21. [PMID: 38459556 PMCID: PMC10924333 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-024-01022-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Food insecurity and environmental degradation pose significant threats to health outcomes in South Asia, necessitating effective policy interventions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impact of food insecurity and environmental degradation on health outcome indicators amidst global inflationary shocks and institutional quality arrangements. Additionally, it aims to explore the intricate moderating role of institutional quality on the relationship between food insecurity, endogenous variables, and external shocks. METHOD In alignment with the study's objectives, a set of panel data spanning from 2000 to 2021 is compiled for South Asia. The study introduces a novel variable representing inflationary shock, crafted through the integration of inflation datapoints and the application of the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model. Additionally, a distinctive aggregate institutional quality index is formulated, drawing from six key measures of the Worldwide Governance indicators. To scrutinize the effects of food insecurity, environmental degradation, and other explanatory variables, the study employs the two-step system generalized method of moment technique, offering a robust analytical approach to uncover complex relationships and dynamics in the region. RESULTS The results indicate that the prevalence of undernourishment, inequality in per capita calorie intake, and CO2 emissions significantly reduce life expectancy and increase mortality rates. Additionally, it shows that per capita kilocalorie supply, per capita GDP, per capita health expenditures, and urbanization are statistically significant for increasing life expectancy and decreasing mortality rates. The findings reveal that inflationary shocks severely affect food insecurity and environmental factors, exerting further pressure on contemporary life expectancy and mortality rates. In rebuttal, the institutional quality index is found to have significant effects on increasing and decreasing life expectancy and mortality rates, respectively. Furthermore, the institutional quality index is effective in moderating the nexus between food insecurity, environmental degradation, and health outcomes while also neutralizing the negative impact of inflationary shocks on the subject. CONCLUSION The results verify triple health constraints such as food insecurity, environmental factors, and economic vulnerability to global shocks, which impose severe effects on life expectancy and mortality rates. Furthermore, poor institutional quality is identified as a hindrance to health outcomes in South Asia. The findings suggest specific policy implications that are explicitly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Naim Azimi
- School of Business, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia.
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12
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Mahtab S, Blau DM, Madewell ZJ, Ogbuanu I, Ojulong J, Lako S, Legesse H, Bangura JS, Bassat Q, Mandomando I, Xerinda E, Fernandes F, Varo R, Sow SO, Kotloff KL, Tapia MD, Keita AM, Sidibe D, Onyango D, Akelo V, Gethi D, Verani JR, Revathi G, Scott JAG, Assefa N, Madrid L, Bizuayehu H, Tirfe TT, El Arifeen S, Gurley ES, Islam KM, Alam M, Zahid Hossain M, Dangor Z, Baillie VL, Hale M, Mutevedzi P, Breiman RF, Whitney CG, Madhi SA. Post-mortem investigation of deaths due to pneumonia in children aged 1-59 months in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia from 2016 to 2022: an observational study. Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2024; 8:201-213. [PMID: 38281495 PMCID: PMC10864189 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(23)00328-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network programme undertakes post-mortem minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), together with collection of ante-mortem clinical information, to investigate causes of childhood deaths across multiple countries. We aimed to evaluate the overall contribution of pneumonia in the causal pathway to death and the causative pathogens of fatal pneumonia in children aged 1-59 months enrolled in the CHAMPS Network. METHODS In this observational study we analysed deaths occurring between Dec 16, 2016, and Dec 31, 2022, in the CHAMPS Network across six countries in sub-Saharan Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and South Africa) and one in South Asia (Bangladesh). A standardised approach of MITS was undertaken on decedents within 24-72 h of death. Diagnostic tests included blood culture, multi-organism targeted nucleic acid amplifications tests (NAATs) of blood and lung tissue, and histopathology examination of various organ tissue samples. An interdisciplinary expert panel at each site reviewed case data to attribute the cause of death and pathogenesis thereof on the basis of WHO-recommended reporting standards. FINDINGS Pneumonia was attributed in the causal pathway of death in 455 (40·6%) of 1120 decedents, with a median age at death of 9 (IQR 4-19) months. Causative pathogens were identified in 377 (82·9%) of 455 pneumonia deaths, and multiple pathogens were implicated in 218 (57·8%) of 377 deaths. 306 (67·3%) of 455 deaths occurred in the community or within 72 h of hospital admission (presumed to be community-acquired pneumonia), with the leading bacterial pathogens being Streptococcus pneumoniae (108 [35·3%]), Klebsiella pneumoniae (78 [25·5%]), and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (37 [12·1%]). 149 (32·7%) deaths occurred 72 h or more after hospital admission (presumed to be hospital-acquired pneumonia), with the most common pathogens being K pneumoniae (64 [43·0%]), Acinetobacter baumannii (19 [12·8%]), S pneumoniae (15 [10·1%]), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15 [10·1%]). Overall, viruses were implicated in 145 (31·9%) of 455 pneumonia-related deaths, including 54 (11·9%) of 455 attributed to cytomegalovirus and 29 (6·4%) of 455 attributed to respiratory syncytial virus. INTERPRETATION Pneumonia contributed to 40·6% of all childhood deaths in this analysis. The use of post-mortem MITS enabled biological ascertainment of the cause of death in the majority (82·9%) of childhood deaths attributed to pneumonia, with more than one pathogen being commonly implicated in the same case. The prominent role of K pneumoniae, non-typable H influenzae, and S pneumoniae highlight the need to review empirical management guidelines for management of very severe pneumonia in low-income and middle-income settings, and the need for research into new or improved vaccines against these pathogens. FUNDING Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Mahtab
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Dianna M Blau
- Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Zachary J Madewell
- Global Health Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Sandra Lako
- Aberdeen Women's Centre, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | | | | | - Quique Bassat
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique; ISGlobal - Hospital Clínic, Unversitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institutó Catalana de Recerca I Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain; Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain; Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inacio Mandomando
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique; Instituto Nacional de Saúde, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Elisio Xerinda
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Fabiola Fernandes
- Department of Pathology, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Rosauro Varo
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique; ISGlobal - Hospital Clínic, Unversitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Samba O Sow
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins, Ministère de la Santé, Bamako, Mali
| | - Karen L Kotloff
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Medicine, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Milagritos D Tapia
- Department of Pediatrics and Department of Medicine, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Adama Mamby Keita
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins, Ministère de la Santé, Bamako, Mali
| | - Diakaridia Sidibe
- Centre pour le Développement des Vaccins, Ministère de la Santé, Bamako, Mali
| | | | - Victor Akelo
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Kenya, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Dickson Gethi
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Center for Global Health Research (KEMRI-CGHR), Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Jennifer R Verani
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gunturu Revathi
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - J Anthony G Scott
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nega Assefa
- College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Lola Madrid
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia
| | - Hiwot Bizuayehu
- Department of Microbiology, Addis Ababa Burn, Emergency and Trauma Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Shams El Arifeen
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Emily S Gurley
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kazi Munisul Islam
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Muntasir Alam
- International Center for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Ziyaad Dangor
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Vicky L Baillie
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Martin Hale
- National Health Laboratory Service, Department of Anatomical Pathology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Portia Mutevedzi
- Emory Global Health Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Robert F Breiman
- Wits Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Cynthia G Whitney
- Emory Global Health Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Shabir A Madhi
- South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Wits Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Bebbington E, Ramesh P, McPhillips R, Bibi F, Khan M, Kakola M, Poole R, Robinson C. Terminology and methods used to differentiate injury intent of hospital burn patients in South Asia: Results from a systematic scoping review. Burns 2024; 50:302-314. [PMID: 37985272 DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2023.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A key component in the classification of all injury types is to differentiate whether the injury was deliberately inflicted and by whom, commonly known as "intent" in the surveillance literature. These data guide patient care and inform surveillance strategies. South Asia is believed to have the greatest number of intentional burn injuries, but national surveillance data is not disaggregated by injury intent. Scientific literature can be used for injury surveillance where national data collection does not exist. In order to synthesise research findings, it is essential to assess the potential impact of misclassification bias. We therefore conducted a systematic scoping review to understand terminology and methods used to differentiate injury intent of hospital burn patients in South Asia. METHODS We followed the methods in our registered protocol (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/DCYNQ). Studies met defined population, concept, context, and study design criteria. The databases Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, and PakMediNet were searched. Two reviewers independently screened results. Data were extracted in a standardised manner and verified. The rigour of the method used to differentiate injury intent was appraised. RESULTS 1435 articles were screened. Of these, 89 met our inclusion criteria. Most articles were from India and Pakistan, and used an observational study design. There were 14 stem terms used in the articles. The most common was "cause". There were 40 classifier terms. The most common were "accident", "suicide", and "homicide". Few articles defined these terms. The method used to differentiate injury intent was only described explicitly in 17% of articles and the rigour of the methods used were low. Where methods of differentiation were described, they appear to be based on patient or family report rather than multidisciplinary assessment. CONCLUSION The heterogeneity in terms, lack of definitions, and limited investigation of injury intent means this variable is likely to be prone to misclassification bias. We strongly recommend that the global burn community unites to develop a common data element, including definitions and methods of assessment, for the concept of burn injury intent to enable more reliable data collection practices and interstudy comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Bebbington
- Centre for Mental Health and Society, School of Health Sciences, Bangor University, LL13 7YP, UK.
| | - Parvathy Ramesh
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rebecca McPhillips
- Social Care and Society, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Jean McFarlane Building, University of Manchester, M13 9PY, UK
| | - Fatima Bibi
- Turning Point, 5 Greaves Street, Oldham OL1 1QN, UK
| | - Murad Khan
- Department of Psychiatry and Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Mohan Kakola
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, KR hospital, Irwin Road, Mysuru, Karnataka 570001, India
| | - Rob Poole
- Centre for Mental Health and Society, School of Health Sciences, Bangor University, LL13 7YP, UK
| | - Catherine Robinson
- Social Care and Society, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Jean McFarlane Building, University of Manchester, M13 9PY, UK
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Nazar R, Qayyum R, Baqar M, Tabassum MR, Nizami AS. Waste management of solar cells in South Asia: an environmental concern of the emerging market. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2024; 31:17760-17777. [PMID: 37648915 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29094-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
The share of solar energy in the energy mix has become a major concern, and the global effort is to increase its contribution. Photovoltaic technology is an environment-friendly way of electricity production compared to fossil fuels. Currently, third generation of solar cells with a maximum average conversion efficiency of 20% has been achieved. Asia is an emerging market for photovoltaic technology, and it has recorded the highest installation capacity for 2018 (280 MW), 2030 (1860 MW), and 2050 (4837 MW). Meanwhile, Asia is estimated to be the highest producer of PV waste by 2040, with 5,580,000 metric tons of waste volume. Solid waste management is already a big environmental issue in South Asian countries, and untested landfilling of solar cells can further increase the burden. This review emphasizes the end-of-life scenario of solar cells in developing South Asian countries. Solar cell waste is hazardous e-waste that can lead to environmental and health impacts if not managed properly. It consists of metals with market value, which can be waste or gold, depending on its management. The study finds that recycling is the economically and environmentally effective waste management option for solar cells in South Asia. This paper reviews the deficiencies in the existing solar cell waste management framework in South Asian countries. Moreover, practical implications are presented for designing an effective waste management plan for solar cells in South Asian countries. Strong legislation, sufficient recycling infrastructure, and high stakeholders' interests are required to resolve this environmental concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubab Nazar
- Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
| | - Rabia Qayyum
- Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
| | - Mujtaba Baqar
- Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
| | | | - Abdul-Sattar Nizami
- Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan
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Rahman MM, Husnain MIU, Azimi MN. An environmental perspective of energy consumption, overpopulation, and human capital barriers in South Asia. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4420. [PMID: 38388557 PMCID: PMC10884032 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53950-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Prior literature is substantive in highlighting the nexus between pollutant and socio-economic predictors; however, the role of human interaction has not been sufficiently explored. Thus, the present study examines the validity of the environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in the presence of energy consumption, overpopulation, and human capital index in five South Asian countries. It employs fixed effects, random effects, and dynamic panel causality techniques with a set of panel data from 1972 to 2021. The baseline results validate the existence of the EKC hypothesis in the recipient panel. Nevertheless, the findings reveal that energy consumption and population density have positive effects, while human capital has negative impacts on CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the study observes that energy consumption and per capita GDP have a significant causal link with CO2 emissions, whereas CO2 emissions are evident to have causality with population density and human capital index. The results are robust and suggest that the consolidation of an effective regulatory framework and technological improvements are substantial measures to improve environmental quality in South Asia. Moreover, allocating sufficient resources to uplift contemporary educational and health status would be imperative to improving environmental quality as aspired to by the Paris Agreement.
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Zadey S, Rao S, Gondi I, Sheneman N, Patil C, Nayan A, Iyer H, Kumar AR, Prasad A, Finley GA, Prasad CRK, Chintamani, Sharma D, Ghosh D, Jesudian G, Fatima I, Pattisapu J, Ko JS, Bains L, Shah M, Alam MS, Hadigal N, Malhotra N, Wijesuriya N, Shukla P, Khan S, Pandya S, Khan T, Tenzin T, Hadiga VR, Peterson D. Achieving Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anesthesia (SOTA) care for all in South Asia. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1325922. [PMID: 38450144 PMCID: PMC10915281 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1325922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
South Asia is a demographically crucial, economically aspiring, and socio-culturally diverse region in the world. The region contributes to a large burden of surgically-treatable disease conditions. A large number of people in South Asia cannot access safe and affordable surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anesthesia (SOTA) care when in need. Yet, attention to the region in Global Surgery and Global Health is limited. Here, we assess the status of SOTA care in South Asia. We summarize the evidence on SOTA care indicators and planning. Region-wide, as well as country-specific challenges are highlighted. We also discuss potential directions-initiatives and innovations-toward addressing these challenges. Local partnerships, sustained research and advocacy efforts, and politics can be aligned with evidence-based policymaking and health planning to achieve equitable SOTA care access in the South Asian region under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddhesh Zadey
- Association for Socially Applicable Research (ASAR), Pune, Maharashtra, India
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- GEMINI Research Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital, and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shirish Rao
- Association for Socially Applicable Research (ASAR), Pune, Maharashtra, India
- Global Alliance for Surgery, Obstetric, Trauma and Anaesthesia Care, Chicago, IL, United States
- Seth G.S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Isha Gondi
- Global Alliance for Surgery, Obstetric, Trauma and Anaesthesia Care, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Natalie Sheneman
- Global Alliance for Surgery, Obstetric, Trauma and Anaesthesia Care, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Chaitrali Patil
- Global Alliance for Surgery, Obstetric, Trauma and Anaesthesia Care, Chicago, IL, United States
- Department of Biology and Statistics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Anveshi Nayan
- Association for Socially Applicable Research (ASAR), Pune, Maharashtra, India
- Seth G.S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Himanshu Iyer
- Association for Socially Applicable Research (ASAR), Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Arti Raj Kumar
- India Hub, NIHR Health Research Unit On Global Surgery, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Arun Prasad
- Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - G. Allen Finley
- Department of Anesthesiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Chintamani
- Department of Surgery, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Dhananjaya Sharma
- Department of Surgery, NSCB Government Medical College, Jabalpur, India
| | - Dhruva Ghosh
- India Hub, NIHR Health Research Unit On Global Surgery, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Gnanaraj Jesudian
- Karunya Rural Community Hospital Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
- Association of Rural Surgeons of India, Wardha, India
- International Federation of Rural Surgeons, Ujjain, India
- Rural Surgery Innovations Private Limited, Dimapur, Nagaland, India
| | - Irum Fatima
- IRD Pakistan and the Global Surgery Foundation, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Jogi Pattisapu
- University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Justin Sangwook Ko
- Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Lovenish Bains
- Department of Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research in Surgical Care Delivery in LMIC, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Mashal Shah
- Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Mohammed Shadrul Alam
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Mugda Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- American College of Surgeons: Bangladesh Chapter, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Bangladesh Health Economist Forum, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Association of Pediatric Surgeons of Bangladesh (APSB), DMCH, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Narmada Hadigal
- Narmada Fertility Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- International Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Society, Stavander, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Naveen Malhotra
- Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Nilmini Wijesuriya
- College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Sri Lanka, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka
| | - Prateek Shukla
- India Hub, NIHR Health Research Unit On Global Surgery, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India
| | - Sadaf Khan
- Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Sunil Pandya
- Department of Anaesthesia, Perioperative Medicine and Critical Care, AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Tariq Khan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Northwest School of Medicine, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Tashi Tenzin
- Army Medical Services, Military Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan
- Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan
- Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | | | - Daniel Peterson
- Global Alliance for Surgery, Obstetric, Trauma and Anaesthesia Care, Chicago, IL, United States
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Menon V, Kar SK, Gupta S, Baminiwatta A, Mustafa AB, Sharma P, Abhijita B, Arafat SMY. Electroconvulsive therapy in South Asia: Past, present, and future. Asian J Psychiatr 2024; 92:103875. [PMID: 38157713 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) varies both between and within countries. We aimed to review historical and current trends in ECT practices, perceptions, and legislations in South Asia, a region with a high burden of mental illness and suicide. We searched MEDLINE (PubMed) and Google Scholar databases for relevant literature on ECT from each country. Additionally, a team of country-specific investigators performed supplemental searches and contacted key country contacts for relevant information. Relevant data were abstracted under the following headings: ECT practices, perceptions, and legislations. Knowledge gaps and research priorities were synthesized. Modified bitemporal ECT, delivered using brief pulse devices, was most commonly offered across institutions. Schizophrenia, not affective illness, was the most common indication. Electroencephalographic monitoring of seizures was rarely practiced. Thiopentone or propofol was preferred for anesthetic induction, while the favored muscle relaxant was succinylcholine. In India and Sri Lanka, perceptions about ECT were largely favorable; not so in Pakistan and Nepal. Only India and Pakistan had laws that governed any aspect of ECT practice; ECT practice guidelines were available only in India. There is a lack of research on efficacy, ECT in special populations, continuation ECT practices, and interventions to improve ECT-related perceptions. Most regional institutions offered modified brief-pulse ECT, and schizophrenia was the most common indication. Knowledge of and attitude towards ECT varied between countries. There is a need to develop a regional ECT consortium to facilitate uniform training, advocacy efforts, and the development of regional practice guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Menon
- Department of Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry 605006, India.
| | - Sujita Kumar Kar
- Department of Psychiatry, King George's Medical University, Lucknow 226003, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Snehil Gupta
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Saket Nagar, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Anuradha Baminiwatta
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, Sri Lanka
| | - Ali Burhan Mustafa
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Sheikh Zayed Medical College/Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab 64200, Pakistan
| | - Pawan Sharma
- Department of Psychiatry, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Lalitpur 44700, Nepal
| | - Bandita Abhijita
- Department of Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry 605006, India
| | - S M Yasir Arafat
- Department of Psychiatry, Enam medical College and Hospital, Savar-1340, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Irfan H. Air pollution and cardiovascular health in South Asia: A comprehensive review. Curr Probl Cardiol 2024; 49:102199. [PMID: 37977414 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2023.102199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is a pressing environmental health concern, with a growing impact on developing nations, particularly in South Asia. Extensive research has linked air pollution to various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In South Asia, air pollution is a critical issue, with a high concentration of the world's most polluted cities and widespread exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. WHO reports that outdoor and indoor air pollution together claim 7 million lives annually. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone are prominent culprits. South Asia, with 60 % of its population exposed to hazardous pollution levels, is home to 37 of the world's 40 most polluted cities. PM2.5 concentrations in South Asia often exceed WHO guidelines by up to 20 times. Air pollution in this region, driven by factors such as crop stubble burning, is a leading cause of CVD. Studies in the region have revealed a significant correlation between PM2.5 levels and CVDs, with fine particles originating from sources like industrial emissions and traffic playing a central role in cardiovascular health deterioration. Exposure to PM2.5 leads to oxidative stress, inflammation, and hypercoagulability, increasing the risk of conditions such as ischemic heart disease and stroke. In South Asia, the burden of CVDs associated with air pollution is substantial, with millions of premature deaths attributed to outdoor and indoor air pollution. To mitigate this crisis, a multifaceted approach is essential, encompassing public awareness, air quality regulation, cleaner energy sources, and measures to reduce crop stubble burning. Additionally, further research is crucial to understanding the complex relationship between air pollution and CVDs in South Asia, as it offers avenues for prevention and control, potentially saving lives and improving public health in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamza Irfan
- Department of Cardiology, Sheikh Zayed Medical Complex, Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Medical and Dental College, G855+XRM Khayaban-e-Jamia Punjab, Block D Muslim Town, Lahore, Pakistan.
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Kularatne RKA. Biomedical waste generation at Ayurveda hospitals in South Asia: A mini review of the composition, quantities and characteristics. Waste Manag Res 2024; 42:95-110. [PMID: 37313954 DOI: 10.1177/0734242x231178225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ayurveda hospitals generate biomedical wastes (BMW). However, details on composition, quantities and characteristics are very scarce, details which are important to formulate a proper waste management plan for subsequent implementation and continual improvement. Therefore, this article presents a mini review of the composition, quantities and characteristics of BMW generated from Ayurveda hospitals. Additionally, this article presents some best possible treatment and disposal procedures. Most of the information was gleaned from peer-reviewed journals, although some information was collected by the author and from grey literature available to the author; 70-99% (by wet weight) of the solid waste is non-hazardous; biodegradables contributing to 44-60% by wet weight due to more used Kizhi (medicinal bags for fomentation) and other medicinal/pharmaceutical wastes (excluding waste medicated oils, which is 12-15% of the liquid medicinal waste stream and are not readily biodegradable) largely derived from plants. The hazardous waste component includes infectious wastes, sharps, blood as pathological wastes (from Raktamoksha - bloodletting), heavy metal containing pharmaceutical wastes, chemical wastes and heavy metal rich wastes. Quantities of infectious wastes followed by sharps and blood form a major portion of hazardous wastes. Most of the infectious waste material contaminated with blood or other body fluids and sharps from Raktamoksha are very similar (appearance, moisture content and bulk density) to what is generated from hospitals practicing Western medicine. However, hospital-specific waste studies are required in future to better understand the sources, areas of generation, types, quantities and characteristics of BMW, and hence to formulate more accurate waste management plans.
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Aryan Y, Pon T, Panneerselvam B, Dikshit AK. A comprehensive review of human health risks of arsenic and fluoride contamination of groundwater in the South Asia region. J Water Health 2024; 22:235-267. [PMID: 38421620 PMCID: wh_2023_082 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2023.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The present study found that ∼80 million people in India, ∼60 million people in Pakistan, ∼70 million people in Bangladesh, and ∼3 million people in Nepal are exposed to arsenic groundwater contamination above 10 μg/L, while Sri Lanka remains moderately affected. In the case of fluoride contamination, ∼120 million in India, >2 million in Pakistan, and ∼0.5 million in Sri Lanka are exposed to the risk of fluoride above 1.5 mg/L, while Bangladesh and Nepal are mildly affected. The hazard quotient (HQ) for arsenic varied from 0 to 822 in India, 0 to 33 in Pakistan, 0 to 1,051 in Bangladesh, 0 to 582 in Nepal, and 0 to 89 in Sri Lanka. The cancer risk of arsenic varied from 0 to 1.64 × 1-1 in India, 0 to 1.07 × 10-1 in Pakistan, 0 to 2.10 × 10-1 in Bangladesh, 0 to 1.16 × 10-1 in Nepal, and 0 to 1.78 × 10-2 in Sri Lanka. In the case of fluoride, the HQ ranged from 0 to 21 in India, 0 to 33 in Pakistan, 0 to 18 in Bangladesh, 0 to 10 in Nepal, and 0 to 10 in Sri Lanka. Arsenic and fluoride have adverse effects on animals, resulting in chemical poisoning and skeletal fluorosis. Adsorption and membrane filtration have demonstrated outstanding treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yash Aryan
- Environmental Science and Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India E-mail:
| | - Thambidurai Pon
- Department of Coastal Disaster Management, School of Physical, Chemical and Applied Sciences, Pondicherry University, Port Blair Campus - 744112, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
| | - Balamurugan Panneerselvam
- Center of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Anil Kumar Dikshit
- Environmental Science and Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India
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Shindell D, Faluvegi G, Nagamoto E, Parsons L, Zhang Y. Reductions in premature deaths from heat and particulate matter air pollution in South Asia, China, and the United States under decarbonization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312832120. [PMID: 38252836 PMCID: PMC10835032 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312832120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Following a sustainable development pathway designed to keep warming below 2 °C will benefit human health. We quantify premature deaths attributable to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution and heat exposures for China, South Asia, and the United States using projections from multiple climate models under high- and low-emission scenarios. Projected changes in premature deaths are typically dominated by population aging, primarily reflecting increased longevity leading to greater sensitivity to environmental risks. Changes in PM2.5 exposure typically have small impacts on premature deaths under a high-emission scenario but provide substantial benefits under a low-emission scenario. PM2.5-attributable deaths increase in South Asia throughout the century under both scenarios but shift to decreases by late century in China, and US values decrease throughout the century. In contrast, heat exposure increases under both scenarios and combines with population aging to drive projected increases in deaths in all countries. Despite population aging, combined PM2.5- and heat-related deaths decrease under the low-emission scenario by ~2.4 million per year by midcentury and ~2.9 million by century's end, with ~3% and ~21% of these reductions from heat, respectively. Intermodel variations in exposure projections generally lead to uncertainties of <40% except for US and China heat impacts. Health benefits of low emissions are larger from reduced heat exposure than improved air quality by the late 2090s in the United States. In contrast, in South and East Asia, the PM2.5-related benefits are largest throughout the century, and their valuation exceeds the cost of decarbonization, especially in China, over the next 30 y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew Shindell
- Earth and Climate Sciences Division, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
| | - Greg Faluvegi
- Center for Climate Systems Research, Columbia University, New York, NY10025
- NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY10025
| | - Emily Nagamoto
- Earth and Climate Sciences Division, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
| | - Luke Parsons
- Earth and Climate Sciences Division, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC27708
- Global Science, The Nature Conservancy, Salt Lake City, UT84102
| | - Yuqiang Zhang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong250100, China
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Wang S, Liu J, Zhang X, Liu Y, Li J, Wang H, Luo X, Liu S, Liu L, Zhang J. Global, regional and national burden of retinopathy of prematurity among childhood and adolescent: a spatiotemporal analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. BMJ Paediatr Open 2024; 8:e002267. [PMID: 38184302 PMCID: PMC10773439 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of burden estimates and the secular trend of vision loss due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among people younger than 20 years, at the global, regional and national levels. METHODS Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 database. The average annual percentage change (AAPC) was calculated to quantify the temporal trends in the measures of vision loss. RESULTS In 2019, the global age-standardised rates (ASRs) of prevalence per 100 000 population was 86.4 for vision loss, specifically, 35 for moderate vision loss, 19.9 for severe vision loss, 31.6 for blindness due to ROP among people younger than 20 years. Moreover, the ASR of years lived with disability per 100 000 was 10.6 for vision loss, specifically, 1.1 for moderate vision loss, 3.6 for severe vision loss, 5.9 for blindness, respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the ASR of prevalence of blindness and vision loss due to ROP significantly increased, while its burden slightly decreased. Males showed higher ASR of prevalence than females in 2019, whereas females have larger increasing trend than males from 1990 to 2019. The global highest ASR of disease burden was observed in South Asia and Southern sub-Saharan Africa, as well as low sociodemographic index (SDI) regions in 2019. CONCLUSIONS Globally, although the burden decreased, the prevalence of childhood and adulthood vision loss due to ROP continues to increase. Reasonable resource allocation and advanced intervention are recommended to prevent and control the vision loss due to ROP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sufang Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Changzhi People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Changzhi People's Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, Shanxi, China
| | - Xiurong Zhang
- Department of Retina, Baotou Chaoju Eye Hospital, Boatou, China
| | - Yonggang Liu
- Graduate school, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Graduate school, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hao Wang
- ZaoZhuang Vocational College of Science and Technology, Zaozhuang, China
| | - Xiaoyang Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Eye Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shunming Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Eye Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Eye Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, National key clinical specialty, Weifang Eye Hospital; Weifang Institute of Ophthalmology; Zhengda Guangming Ophthalmology Group, Weifang, People's Republic of China
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Rajkhowa P, Pundir P, Dsouza SM, Patil DS, Narayanan P, Brand H. Factors influencing HPV vaccine implementation in South Asia: a scoping review protocol. Syst Rev 2024; 13:14. [PMID: 38178265 PMCID: PMC10768343 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-023-02415-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The HPV vaccine is characterized by its significant effectiveness in preventing the occurrence of cervical cancer. However, the South Asian countries face multiple challenges in implementing the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) at scale. Implementation of human papillomavirus vaccination for eliminating cervical cancer necessitates investigating the factors that impact the health system of these nations. Hence, this review will map the evidence on factors influencing the scaling up of human papillomavirus vaccination in South Asia. METHODS The proposed scoping review will follow the steps given by Arksey and O'Malley and Levac et al. The search approach will follow McGowan et al. (14) evidence-based manual for Peer Analysis of Electronic Search Strategies (PRESS 2015) for systematic searches. Using a comprehensive search, the literature from 2006 onward will be identified from PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus. The search strategy will include terms relating to the HPV vaccine and implementation. A predefined criterion for the inclusion and exclusion of studies will be adopted by three review authors independently to determine the eligible studies. The results will be narratively synthesized and examined in addition to being quantitatively presented to provide an outline. The review will be presented per the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping review (PRISMA-ScR)" guidelines. CONCLUSIONS/DISCUSSION The evaluation is anticipated to map the barriers and enablers influencing the rollout of the human papillomavirus vaccine. Lessons learned from the South Asian countries, where the vaccine has been implemented, may contribute to aiding the implementation of the vaccine in countries with similar health systems in an effective manner. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION The protocol was prospectively registered on the "open science framework". The registration DOI is https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/T5SW9 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyobrat Rajkhowa
- Department of Health Policy, Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, PIN 576104, India
- Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute - CAPHRI, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Prachi Pundir
- The George Institute for Global Health, 308, Third Floor, Elegance Tower, Plot No. 8, Jasola District Centre, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Sherize Merlin Dsouza
- Department of Health Policy, Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, PIN 576104, India
- Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute - CAPHRI, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Divya Sussana Patil
- Transdisciplinary Centre for Qualitative Methods (TCQM), Department of Health Information, Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, India
- Public Health Evidence South Asia, Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Prakash Narayanan
- Department of Health Policy, Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, PIN 576104, India
| | - Helmut Brand
- Department of Health Policy, Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, PIN 576104, India.
- Department of International Health, Care and Public Health Research Institute - CAPHRI, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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Memon ZA, Tahmeena, Fazal SA, Reale S, Spencer R, Bhutta Z, Soltani H. Effective strategies for increasing the uptake of modern methods of family planning in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:13. [PMID: 38172863 PMCID: PMC10765777 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02859-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family planning (FP) interventions have improved the use of modern contraceptives, yet a high unmet need for contraception still exists in South Asia. This systematic review of existing research was conducted to identify effective FP interventions that led to an increase in the uptake of modern methods of contraception in South Asia. METHODS Five electronic databases were searched for relevant studies published between January 1st, 2000 and May 4, 2023. Experimental studies that reported data on the impact of FP interventions on modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in the South Asian region were included. A random-effects Inverse Variance weighted model was employed to pool the adjusted odds ratio (OR) on modern contraceptive use and unmet need for contraception. In addition, we computed subgroup meta-estimates based on intervention type and the urban-rural divide. RESULTS Among 643 studies identified, 21 met the inclusion criteria. The overall pooled odds ratio for modern contraceptive use was significantly higher (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.35-1.70; heterogeneity; I2 = 81%) for FP interventions with a significant reduction in unmet need for contraception (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.78-0.94, I2 = 50%). The subgroup analysis revealed demand-generation (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.32-1.96), health system integrated (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.07-2.20), and franchised FP clinic interventions (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.21-1.44) had promoted the modern contraceptive uptake. Further, FP interventions implemented in urban settings showed a higher increase in modern contraceptive use (OR 1.73; 95% CI 1.44-2.07) compared to rural settings (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.28-1.66). Given the considerable heterogeneity observed across studies and the low degree of certainty indicated by the GRADE summary for the primary outcome, caution is advised when interpreting the results. CONCLUSION The review collated experimentally evaluated FP interventions that increased modern contraception use and reduced the unmet need in South Asia. The demand generation interventions were the most effective in increasing the uptake of modern contraceptive methods. Furthermore, the urban environment provides a conducive environment for interventions to improve contraceptive usage. However, further studies should assess which aspects were most effective on attitudes towards contraception, selection of more effective methods, and contraceptive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahid Ali Memon
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
- Health Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Tahmeena
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Syeda Aleena Fazal
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Sophie Reale
- College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
| | - Rachael Spencer
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
| | - Zulfiqar Bhutta
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
- Institute for Global Health and Development, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Hora Soltani
- Health Research Institute, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
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Dokuru DR, Horwitz TB, Freis SM, Stallings MC, Ehringer MA. South Asia: The Missing Diverse in Diversity. Behav Genet 2024; 54:51-62. [PMID: 37917228 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-023-10161-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
South Asia, making up around 25% of the world's population, encompasses a wide range of individuals with tremendous genetic and environmental diversity. This region, which spans eight countries, is home to over 4500 anthropologically defined groups that speak numerous languages and have an array of religious beliefs and cultures, making it one of the most diverse places in the world. Much of the region's rich genetic diversity and structure is the result of a complex combination of population history, migration patterns, and endogamous practices. Despite the overwhelming size and diversity, South Asians have often been underrepresented in genetic research, making up less than 2% of the participants in genetic studies. This has led to a lack of population specific understanding of genetic disease risks. We aim to raise awareness about underlying genetic diversity in this ancestry group, call attention to the lack of representation of the group, and to highlight strategies for future studies in South Asians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika R Dokuru
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1480 30 St, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA.
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
| | - Tanya B Horwitz
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1480 30 St, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Samantha M Freis
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1480 30 St, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Michael C Stallings
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1480 30 St, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Marissa A Ehringer
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, 1480 30 St, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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Wang N, Zhang Y. Long-term variations of global dust emissions and climate control. Environ Pollut 2024; 340:122847. [PMID: 37918770 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Dust discharged from the surface into the air has an important impact on global climate change, the ecological environment, and human health. However, the spatiotemporal variations of global dust emissions and the climate control of dust emissions from different dust sources in recent decades are still unclear. This study explores the spatiotemporal variations of global dust emissions from 1980 to 2020 based on the MERRA-2 dust emissions dataset and provides a detailed investigation of the interannual variations of dust emissions from major dust sources in the world and their contribution to the global dust cycle. On this basis, the association between global dust emissions and average wind speed (AWS), surface air temperature (SAT), precipitation (Ppt), relative humidity (RH), soil evaporation (SE), soil moisture (SM), and solar radiation (SR) were explored. In particular, the comparative importance of these climatic factors and their combined structures on dust emissions from different dust sources. The results show that North Africa contributed the most to global dust emissions, contributing 58% of the total global emissions, while South Africa and North America contributed the least to global dust emissions, at less than 1%, respectively. Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis shows that SR was the major factor affecting the dust emissions of Australia, East Asia, South America, and Central Asia. AWS was the major factor influencing dust emissions in North Africa and South Asia. SAT, RH, and SM were the major factors affecting dust emissions in West Asia, North America, and South Africa, respectively. There were great differences in the climatic factors combinations on dust emissions intensity in different dust sources. These findings assist us in better understanding the control of climatic factors on dust emissions from global dust sources and have important scientific significance for accurately predicting dust events and reducing disaster risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Wang
- School of Remote Sensing and Geomatics Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- School of Remote Sensing and Geomatics Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
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Neupane S, Jangid M, Scott SP, Kim SS, Murira Z, Heidkamp R, Carducci B, Menon P. Availability of national policies, programmes, and survey-based coverage data to track nutrition interventions in South Asia. Matern Child Nutr 2024; 20:e13555. [PMID: 37592411 PMCID: PMC10750012 DOI: 10.1111/mcn.13555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Progress to improve nutrition among women, infants and children in South Asia has fallen behind the pace needed to meet established global targets. Renewed political commitment and monitoring of nutrition interventions are required to improve coverage and quality of care. Our study aimed to assess the availability of national nutrition policies, programmes, and coverage data of nutrition interventions for women, children, and adolescents in eight countries in South Asia. We reviewed relevant policy and programme documents, examined questionnaires used in the most recent rounds of 20 nationally representative surveys, and generated an evidence gap map on the availability of policies, programmes, and survey data to track progress on coverage of globally recommended nutrition interventions. Current policies and programmes in South Asian countries addressed almost all the recommended nutrition interventions targeted at women, children, and adolescents. There was a strong policy focus in all countries, except Maldives, on health system platforms such as antenatal and postnatal care and child growth and development. Survey data on nutrition intervention coverage was most available in India and Nepal, while Bangladesh and Bhutan had the least. Though countries in South Asia have committed to national nutrition policies and strategies, national surveys had substantial data gaps, precluding progress tracking of nutrition intervention coverage. Greater attention and effort are needed for multisectoral collaboration to promote and strengthen nutrition data systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumanta Neupane
- Poverty, Health, and Nutrition DivisionInternational Food Policy Research InstituteNew DelhiDelhiIndia
| | | | - Samuel P. Scott
- Poverty, Health, and Nutrition DivisionInternational Food Policy Research InstituteNew DelhiDelhiIndia
| | - Sunny S. Kim
- International Food Policy Research InstituteWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Zivai Murira
- UNICEFRegional Office for South AsiaKathmanduNepal
| | - Rebecca Heidkamp
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMaylandUSA
| | - Bianca Carducci
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMaylandUSA
| | - Purnima Menon
- Poverty, Health, and Nutrition DivisionInternational Food Policy Research InstituteNew DelhiDelhiIndia
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Pettitt LA, Biswas RK, Bhowmik J. Women's Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries of Southern Asia. Am J Health Promot 2024; 38:12-18. [PMID: 37621096 PMCID: PMC10748443 DOI: 10.1177/08901171231198451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The present study identified the vulnerable IPV cohorts of South Asian women, and the prevalence of and predictors of the women's IPV acceptance. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey - the United Nations Children's Fund multiple index cluster survey. SETTING Many South Asian women are accepting of IPV. Studies mostly focus on individual countries. SUBJECT 103 139 ever-married women from Bangladesh, Laos and Nepal. MEASURES Women's attitudes toward IPV were measured using a set of five, fixed, binary responses. ANALYSIS Following bivariate analysis, complex survey weight adjusted logistic regression models were fitted for individual country data, and the pooled sample. RESULTS Of the sampled South Asian women 27.8% accepted IPV, and no major variation among countries in IPV acceptance. Education was the most reliable protector against IPV acceptance whereby, higher educational attainment systematically reduced IPV acceptance (OR = .61 [.56-.83]). Other significant protective factors were being un-married (Married OR = 1.34 [1.28-1.42]), having increased wealth (OR = .71 [.56-.83]), and being over 24 years old (OR = .88 [.83-.97]). CONCLUSION Only education produced absolute consistency at the country and region level; there seems to be no blanket solution for regionally reducing women's IPV acceptance rates in Southern Asia. Focus on the least educated women and making education more accessible should be prioritised. Future IPV studies can consider measurement methods for women's direct exposure to patriarchal standards and within community interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Alexandra Pettitt
- Department of Health Science and Biostatistics, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
| | - Raaj Kishore Biswas
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Health Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jahar Bhowmik
- Department of Health Science and Biostatistics, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, Australia
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Chandrasenage D, Markey O, Johnson W, Haycraft E, Griffiths PL. Socioeconomic inequalities in early child development in children aged under 36 months in South Asia: A systematic review. Child Care Health Dev 2024; 50:e13171. [PMID: 37766416 DOI: 10.1111/cch.13171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In South Asia, 89 million children under 5 are at risk of not reaching their developmental potential. Household socioeconomic position (SEP) is a determinant of early child development (ECD). However, synthesised evidence for the association between ECD and SEP in young children in South Asia is not available. Therefore, this review synthesises evidence on the relationship of household SEP with ECD in children under 36 months of age in South Asia. METHOD PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and Scopus were systematically searched to identify studies from South Asian countries that reported evidence on the association between SEP and ECD. Search terms included items related to motor, cognitive, language and socioemotional development. Study quality was assessed using the QualSyst tool, with three quality levels (high/medium/low), and a narrative review for each ECD outcome was constructed (PROSPERO registration: CRD42019131533). RESULTS Twelve of the 950 publications screened met the inclusion criteria (nine from India, two Nepal and one Bangladesh). The majority (n = 10, 83%) reported language development on its own or alongside another ECD outcome. Fewer articles assessed cognitive (n = 6, 50%), motor (n = 7, 58%) or socioemotional development (n = 3, 25%). Higher SEP was associated with better ECD for one third of the associations reported. One ECD outcome (socioemotional development) was negatively associated (with socioeconomic status) based on low quality evidence. Mother's education and family income were the major SEP constructs associated with ECD. One, four and seven studies were rated as having a low, medium and high risk of bias, respectively. CONCLUSION This review reveals the scarcity of evidence exploring associations between household SEP and ECD in children under 36 months in South Asia, especially outside of India. Enhancing evidence for associations between ECD and SEP is needed for evidence-based policy making to reduce developmental delays associated with a disadvantaged SEP in the South Asian region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damith Chandrasenage
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
- Department of Social Statistics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Oonagh Markey
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - William Johnson
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Emma Haycraft
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Paula L Griffiths
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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Ghosh A, Yash, Kumar C, Bhadury P. Cascading effects of trace metals enrichment on phytoplankton communities of the River Ganga in South Asia. Chemosphere 2024; 347:140607. [PMID: 37925029 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Globally freshwater ecosystems and associated biota including phytoplankton communities are at extreme risk from trace metal pollution originating from geogenic as well as from anthropogenic sources such as release of untreated industrial effluents. In the present study influence of iron- and arsenic-enrichments on structure and metabolism of phytoplankton communities of River Ganga, one of the largest rivers of South Asia, was assessed under laboratory-based microcosm experiments. Surface water samples were collected and subsequently enriched with higher than recommended concentrations of iron (10 mg/L) and arsenic (10 μg/L). The set-up comprised of nine containers of 25 L volume with three containers each for iron- and arsenic-enrichment and was maintained for 30 days. Trace metal enrichment rapidly changed the phytoplankton community structure and chemistry of nutrients uptake. Iron-enrichment prompted diatom blooms comprising of Thalassiosira, succeeded by green algae Coelastrum. Arsenic-enrichment maintained cyanobacteria for longer time-spans compared to the control and iron-enriched containers but significantly lesser abundance of diatoms. Variations in community composition was also reflected in nutrient uptake rates with silicate release in the arsenic-enriched containers at the end of the experiment. Changes in macronutrient dynamics also altered genus growth rates wherein both iron- and arsenic appeared to lower the death rate of Thalassosira but stimulated growth of other genera including Skeletonema and Pandorina. Iron appeared to influence lesser number of genera compared to arsenic which altered growth rates of both diatoms and green algae. This consequently influenced the gross primary productivity values which lowered both in the iron- and arsenic-enriched containers compared to the control owing to decrease in phytoplankton diversity. Iron appeared to drive phytoplankton communities toward a less general and more specialized composition with high abundance of selective species comprising of small diatoms such as Thalassiosira, whereas arsenic appears to select for green algal enrichment in freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwesha Ghosh
- Centre for Climate and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India
| | - Yash
- Integrative Taxonomy and Microbial Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India
| | - Chakresh Kumar
- Integrative Taxonomy and Microbial Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India
| | - Punyasloke Bhadury
- Centre for Climate and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India; Integrative Taxonomy and Microbial Ecology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India; Centre for Excellence in Blue Economy, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, Nadia, West Bengal, India.
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Rai A. The Need for Expanding the Conceptualization and Investigation of Domestic Violence among Immigrants from South Asia: Implications for Practice. Soc Work 2023; 69:95-98. [PMID: 37990932 DOI: 10.1093/sw/swad046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
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Verma R, Commons RJ, Gupta A, Rahi M, Nitika, Bharti PK, Thriemer K, Rajasekhar M, Singh-Phulgenda S, Adhikari B, Alam MS, Ghimire P, Khan WA, Kumar R, Leslie T, Ley B, Llanos-Cuentas A, Pukrittayakamee S, Rijal KR, Rowland M, Saravu K, Simpson JA, Guerin PJ, Price RN, Sharma A. Safety and efficacy of primaquine in patients with Plasmodium vivax malaria from South Asia: a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:e012675. [PMID: 38123228 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The optimal dosing of primaquine to prevent relapsing Plasmodium vivax malaria in South Asia remains unclear. We investigated the efficacy and safety of different primaquine regimens to prevent P. vivax relapse. METHODS A systematic review identified P. vivax efficacy studies from South Asia published between 1 January 2000 and 23 August 2021. In a one-stage meta-analysis of available individual patient data, the cumulative risks of P. vivax recurrence at day 42 and 180 were assessed by primaquine total mg/kg dose and duration. The risk of recurrence by day 180 was also determined in a two-stage meta-analysis. Patients with a >25% drop in haemoglobin to <70 g/L, or an absolute drop of >50 g/L between days 1 and 14 were categorised by daily mg/kg primaquine dose. RESULTS In 791 patients from 7 studies in the one-stage meta-analysis, the day 180 cumulative risk of recurrence was 61.1% (95% CI 42.2% to 80.4%; 201 patients; 25 recurrences) after treatment without primaquine, 28.8% (95% CI 8.2% to 74.1%; 398 patients; 4 recurrences) following low total (2 to <5 mg/kg) and 0% (96 patients; 0 recurrences) following high total dose primaquine (≥5 mg/kg). In the subsequent two-stage meta-analysis of nine studies (3529 patients), the pooled proportions of P. vivax recurrences by day 180 were 12.1% (95% CI 7.7% to 17.2%), 2.3% (95% CI 0.3% to 5.4%) and 0.7% (95% CI 0% to 6.1%), respectively. No patients had a >25% drop in haemoglobin to <70 g/L. CONCLUSIONS Primaquine treatment led to a marked decrease in P. vivax recurrences following low (~3.5 mg/kg) and high (~7 mg/kg) total doses, with no reported severe haemolytic events. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42022313730.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reena Verma
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Robert J Commons
- Global Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network, Asia Pacific Regional Hub - Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- General and Subspecialty Medicine, Grampians Health Ballarat, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
| | - Apoorv Gupta
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Manju Rahi
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
- Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nitika
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Kamala Thriemer
- Global Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Megha Rajasekhar
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sauman Singh-Phulgenda
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Bipin Adhikari
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mohammad Shafiul Alam
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Prakash Ghimire
- Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal
| | - Wasif A Khan
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rishikesh Kumar
- ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, India
- ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Toby Leslie
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- HealthNet TPO, Kabul, Afghanistan
| | - Benedikt Ley
- Global Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas
- Unit of Leishmaniasis and Malaria, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Alexander von Humboldt", Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Sasithon Pukrittayakamee
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Komal Raj Rijal
- Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mark Rowland
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kavitha Saravu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
- Manipal Centre for Infectious Diseases, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Julie A Simpson
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network, Asia Pacific Regional Hub - Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Philippe J Guerin
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network (WWARN), Oxford, UK
- Infectious Diseases Data Observatory (IDDO), Oxford, UK
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ric N Price
- Global Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Tiwi, Northern Territory, Australia
- WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network, Asia Pacific Regional Hub - Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amit Sharma
- International Centre For Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
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Rahman MA, Kundu S, Rashid HO, Tohan MM, Islam MA. Socio-economic inequalities in and factors associated with minimum dietary diversity among children aged 6-23 months in South Asia: a decomposition analysis. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e072775. [PMID: 38128933 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine the factors associated with minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and estimate the socioeconomic inequalities in MDD among children from five South Asian countries. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING The study used the most recent round of secondary databases of Demographic Health Survey data of Bangladesh (2017-2018), India (2019-2021), Maldives (2016-2017), Nepal (2018) and Pakistan (2017-2018). PARTICIPANTS This study used information on MDD and other explanatory variables from a total of 136 980 (weighted) children aged 6-23 months. METHODS Multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify the factors associated with MDD and concentration index (CIX) and Lorenz curve were used to measure the socioeconomic inequalities in MDD. RESULTS The overall weighted prevalence of MDD in South Asia was 23.37%. The highest prevalence of MDD was found among children from Maldives (70.7%), while the lowest was in Pakistan (14.2%). Living in affluent versus poor households, having a mother who is employed versus a mother who is unemployed, exposure to various forms of media (newspapers and magazines), seeking antenatal care (ANC) more than four times compared with those who sought ANC less than four times and having children older than 4 years old are the most common significant factors associated with MDD deficiency. This study found the value of the CIX for MDD (MDD: CI=0.0352; p<0.001) among children with a higher socioeconomic status, suggesting inequality in MDD in favour of the more among well-off households. CONCLUSION Inequality in the prevalence of MDD favours the affluent. Health policy and intervention design should prioritise minimising socioeconomic inequalities concerning the MDD. In addition, policy-makers should prioritise the associated factors of MDD such as education, wealth status, employment, media exposure while designing intervention or policies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Satyajit Kundu
- Biochemistry and Food Analysis, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, Bangladesh
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Xie W, Mridha MK, Gupta A, Kusuma D, Butt AM, Hasan M, Brage S, Loh M, Khawaja KI, Pradeepa R, Jha V, Kasturiratne A, Katulanda P, Anjana RM, Chambers JC. Smokeless and combustible tobacco use among 148,944 South Asian adults: a cross-sectional study of South Asia Biobank. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2465. [PMID: 38071311 PMCID: PMC10709928 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17394-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tobacco use, in both smoking and smokeless forms, is highly prevalent among South Asian adults. The aims of the study were twofold: (1) describe patterns of SLT and combustible tobacco product use in four South Asian countries stratified by country and sex, and (2) assess the relationships between SLT and smoking intensity, smoking quit attempts, and smoking cessation among South Asian men. METHODS Data were obtained from South Asia Biobank Study, collected between 2018 and 2022 from 148,944 men and women aged 18 years and above, living in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. Mixed effects multivariable logistic and linear regression were used to quantify the associations of SLT use with quit attempt, cessation, and intensity. RESULTS Among the four South Asian countries, Bangladesh has the highest rates of current smoking (39.9% for male, 0.4% for female) and current SLT use (24.7% for male and 23.4% for female). Among male adults, ever SLT use was associated with a higher odds of smoking cessation in Bangladesh (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 2.65, 3.13), India (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.63, 2.50), and Sri Lanka (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.14, 1.62). Ever SLT use and current SLT use was associated with lower smoking intensity in all countries. CONCLUSIONS In this large population-based study of South Asian adults, rates of smoking and SLT use vary widely by country and gender. Men who use SLT products are more likely to abstain from smoking compared with those who do not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wubin Xie
- Population and Global Health, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Malay Kanti Mridha
- Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Anaya Gupta
- Population and Global Health, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK
| | - Dian Kusuma
- School of Health & Psychological Sciences, City University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Mehedi Hasan
- Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Soren Brage
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marie Loh
- Population and Global Health, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK
| | | | - Rajendra Pradeepa
- The Madras Diabetes Research Foundation & Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Centre, Chennai, India
| | - Vinita Jha
- Max Helathcare Institute, Patparganj, Delhi, India
| | | | | | - Ranjit Mohan Anjana
- The Madras Diabetes Research Foundation & Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialties Centre, Chennai, India
| | - John C Chambers
- Population and Global Health, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's Campus, Norfolk Place, London, UK
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Kamal M, Mukherjee S, Joshi B, Sindhu ZUD, Wangchuk P, Haider S, Ahmed N, Talukder MH, Geary TG, Yadav AK. Model nematodes as a practical innovation to promote high throughput screening of natural products for anthelmintics discovery in South Asia: Current challenges, proposed practical and conceptual solutions. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2023; 256:111594. [PMID: 37730126 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2023.111594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
With the increasing prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in animals recorded globally, and the threat of resistance in human helminths, the need for novel anthelmintic drugs is greater than ever. Most research aimed at discovering novel anthelmintic leads relies on high throughput screening (HTS) of large libraries of synthetic small molecules in industrial and academic settings in developed countries, even though it is the tropical countries that are most plagued by helminth infections. Tropical countries, however, have the advantage of possessing a rich flora that may yield natural products (NP) with promising anthelmintic activity. Focusing on South Asia, which produces one of the world's highest research outputs in NP and NP-based anthelmintic discovery, we find that limited basic research and funding, a lack of awareness of the utility of model organisms, poor industry-academia partnerships and lack of technological innovations greatly limit anthelmintics research in the region. Here we propose that utilizing model organisms including the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, that can potentially allow rapid target identification of novel anthelmintics, and Oscheius tipulae, a closely related, free-living nematode which is found abundantly in soil in hotter temperatures, could be a much-needed innovation that can enable cost-effective and efficient HTS of NPs for discovering compounds with anthelmintic/antiparasitic potential in South Asia and other tropical regions that historically have devoted limited funding for such research. Additionally, increased collaborations at the national, regional and international level between parasitologists and pharmacologists/ethnobotanists, setting up government-industry-academia partnerships to fund academic research, creating a centralized, regional collection of plant extracts or purified NPs as a dereplication strategy and HTS library, and holding regional C. elegans/O. tipulae-based anthelmintics workshops and conferences to share knowledge and resources regarding model organisms may collectively promote and foster a NP-based anthelmintics landscape in South Asia and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muntasir Kamal
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Suprabhat Mukherjee
- Department of Animal Science, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol 713340, West Bengal, India
| | - Bishnu Joshi
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zia-Ud-Din Sindhu
- Department of Parasitology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Phurpa Wangchuk
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, QLD 4878, Australia
| | | | - Nurnabi Ahmed
- Department of Parasitology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
| | | | - Timothy G Geary
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University-Belfast, Belfast, NI, UK
| | - Arun K Yadav
- Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India
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Abbas S, Shah MI, Sinha A, Olayinka OA. A Gender Differentiated Analysis of Healthy Life Expectancy in South Asia: The Role of Greenhouse Gas Emission. Eval Rev 2023; 47:1066-1106. [PMID: 36318613 DOI: 10.1177/0193841x221134850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The sluggish progress concerning SDG-9 and SDG 13 has made South Asia an epicentre of household and ambient greenhouse gases emissions. Furthermore, the regional progress concerning attainment of SDG-3 is considerably low. The major research objectives are twofold. First, to explore the impact of GHGs emissions from agriculture, transportation, and manufacturing sector on disaggregated life expectancy. Second, to examine the mitigating impact of renewable energy use, trade integration, and human capital development for practice policy recommendations. These research objectives are realized by employing recently advanced cross-sectional auto regressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) model on panel data of five South Asian countries such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka from 1990 to 2019. The estimation outcome reveals that the emissions from transportation, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors significantly deteriorate healthy life expectancy of male and female healthy life expectancy in South Asia with different intensity. Especially, we find that long-run impact of GHG is more profound on male healthy life expectancy than female life expectancy. The result further shows that renewable energy and human capital substantially improve healthy life expectancy, whereas the effects of trade integration are insignificant. The finding of moderating variables shows that renewable energy, human capital development, and trade integration have high potential to reduce GHGs emissions. The findings of this study urge South Asia for investments in human capital development and renewable energy along with fostering regional integration to decrease GHG and improve healthy life expectancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujaat Abbas
- Graduate School of Economics and Management, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | | | - Avik Sinha
- Centre for Excellence in Sustainable Development, Goa Institute of Management, India
- Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
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Talukder H, Roky SA, Debnath K, Sharma B, Ahmed J, Roy S. Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Salmonella Isolated from Human, Animal and Environment Samples in South Asia: A 10-Year Meta-analysis. J Epidemiol Glob Health 2023; 13:637-652. [PMID: 37883006 PMCID: PMC10686918 DOI: 10.1007/s44197-023-00160-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonella is a foodborne zoonotic bacterium, and the antimicrobial-resistant strains of Salmonella are a worldwide health concern. Herein, we employed a meta-analysis to determine the pooled prevalence of Salmonella and its antimicrobial resistance status in human, animal, and environmental isolates in South Asia. To this end, we followed the standard guideline of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statements for searching literature in three databases namely PubMed, Google Scholar, and CAB abstracts, and a total of 100 eligible datasets were finally included which were published from January 2010 to June 2021. In the pooled prevalence of Salmonella in South Asia, the random model effect was 14.47% (95% CI: 10.17-20.19) with a high degree of heterogeneity (I2, 99.8%) and overall antimicrobial resistance was 70% (95% CI: 63.0-76.0) with a heterogeneity of 23.6%. The temporal distribution of the overall antimicrobial resistance (%) against Salmonella was increased from 53 to 77% within 10 years. Out of 18 distinct Salmonella serotypes, S. enterica was highly prevalent (14.22%, 95% CI: 4.02-39.64) followed by S. pullorum (13.50%, 95% CI: 5.64-29.93) with antimicrobial resistance (%) were 86.26 and 90.06, respectively. Noteworthy, nalidixic acid (74.25%) and tetracycline (37.64%) were found mostly resistant to Salmonella whereas ceftriaxone (1.07%) and cefixime (1.24%) were sensitive. This systematic review demonstrated that overall antibiotic resistance profiles of Salmonella are increasing over time in South Asia. Thus, adequate hygienic practices, proper use of antimicrobials, and implementation of antibiotic stewardship are imperative for halting the Salmonella spread and its antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himel Talukder
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Shamsul Alam Roky
- Department of Dairy Science, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Konad Debnath
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
- International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Binayok Sharma
- Department of Medicine, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
- Department of Animal Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Juned Ahmed
- Department of Pathology, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Texas Tech University, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA
| | - Sawrab Roy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh.
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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Usman IM. The burden of cardiovascular disease in South Asia: the need for effective treatment. J PAK MED ASSOC 2023; 73:2536. [PMID: 38083965 DOI: 10.47391/jpma.10017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Dear Ma'am,
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rapidly becoming the leading cause of death worldwide (1). According to global health projections, it will remain the number one cause of death in 2030. The Asian region has been shown to have a higher cardiovascular disease burden than Western countries, and most of this burden is borne by economically disadvantaged people mainly located in South Asian regions such as Pakistan. (1). A large-scale survey conducted in 53 cities in Punjab, Pakistan, found that 17.5% of the population suffered from cardiovascular disease (2).
Mechanical thrombectomy is a minimally-invasive procedure where a specialized interventional radiologist utilizes specific equipment to remove a blood clot from an artery in a patient's body. This procedure treats arterial blockages caused by blood clots such as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Ischemic Stroke, etc (3).
MegaVac, a part of mechanical thrombectomy, is the newest technique for the removal of blood clots from arteries. It is an invasive procedure that ensures the complete removal of clots from the occluded artery. The biggest advantage of this technique over typical clot removal is that it prevents embolus formation, which can occlude smaller arteries.
The MegaVac Thrombectomy System is an intravascular mechanical thrombectomy and aspiration device with a single use that includes a thrombowire with an embolectomy component. A distal silicone-coated nitinol braid used in the SafeSealTM technology of the MegaVac Catheter swells to momentarily obstruct antegrade blood flow. The braid is expanded by the inner and outer coaxial shafts of the catheter body, briefly occluding the channel and enabling aspiration. SafeSeal funnel is activated by the assembly of the proximal handle. A nitinol embolectomy component that is part of the thrombowire can be used to draw material in the direction of the MegaVac catheter when it is inflated by the proximal actuation handle (4).
Thrombectomy is a common and effective procedure for clot removal but in Pakistan thrombectomy is not as common compared to developed countries, primarily due to two reasons. First, Mechanical thrombectomy is exclusively available in four hospitals nationwide, with only one public hospital in Lahore providing this procedure (5). Second, it is an expensive procedure that ranges from 1700$ to 5000$ depending on the severity of the patient and the complexity of the procedure. Health Departments of Pakistan should provide this facility in more public hospitals so it becomes accessible to more people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Immad Muhammad Usman
- Second Year MBBS Student, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
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Prutzer E, Patrick A, Ishtiaque A, Vij S, Stock R, Gardezi M. Climate-smart irrigation and responsible innovation in South Asia: A systematic mapping. Ambio 2023; 52:2009-2022. [PMID: 37450193 PMCID: PMC10654288 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01895-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
This review systematically traces the context and evolution of climate-smart irrigation (CSI) in four South Asian countries-Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. CSI technologies and practices strive to address two main objectives: (1) sustainably enhance agricultural/water productivity and rural farm incomes to build community and farm-level resilience to climate change and (2) enable adaptation/mitigation to climate change across different scales through irrigation technologies and water resources management. These innovations also pose various social and environmental challenges. This review extracts findings from existing literature related to potential societal and environmental benefits and risks associated with CSI and outlines opportunities for responsible innovation to elaborate robust and democratic roles of CSI technology and engender equitable technological change. We identify three drivers (climate variability and GHG mitigation, cost savings and support structure, and water conservation and management) and five barriers (financial support, high initial cost, inadequate practice-based research, lack of knowledge and/or access, and structures of power).
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Prutzer
- Department of Sociology, Virginia Tech, 519 McBryde Hall, 225 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Anne Patrick
- Department of Sociology, Virginia Tech, 225 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Asif Ishtiaque
- Department of Geography, Geology and Planning, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Ave, Springfield, MO, 65897, USA
| | - Sumit Vij
- Sociology & Development Change Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Ryan Stock
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Northern Michigan University, 3115 Weston Hall, Marquette, MI, 49855, USA
| | - Maaz Gardezi
- Department of Sociology, Virginia Tech, 518 McBryde Hall, 225 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
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Haregu T, Chen Q, Arafat SMY, Cherian A, Armstrong G. Prevalence, correlates and common methods of non-suicidal self-injury in South Asia: a systematic review. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e074776. [PMID: 37993150 PMCID: PMC10668266 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The dynamics of self-harm vary substantially around the world, yet it is severely under-researched outside of a small number of high-income 'Western' countries. South Asia is disproportionately impacted by suicide, yet we know less about non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in the region. OBJECTIVE To review and summarise evidence on the prevalence, correlates and common methods of NSSI in South Asia. METHODS We searched Medline, Embase and PsycINFO for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 August 2023, for peer-reviewed observational studies. A total of 11 studies from eight South Asian countries that reported prevalence and/or correlates of NSSI were included in this review. We assessed the quality of the studies using the Study Quality Assessment Tools for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. We used meta-regression to describe the sources of heterogeneity. Abstracted data were summarised using thematic synthesis. RESULTS For non-clinical populations, the 12-month prevalence of NSSI ranged from 3.2% to 44.8%, and the lifetime prevalence ranged from 21% to 33%. For clinical populations, the 12-month prevalence of NSSI ranged from 5% to 16.4%, while the lifetime prevalence ranged from 2% to 27%. Male sex, unemployment, financial stress, history of suicidal behaviour and depression were associated with a higher risk of NSSI. Better access to counselling services, higher self-esteem and self-knowledge were associated with a lower risk of NSSI. CONCLUSION The burden of NSSI in South Asia appears to be high in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Further research, especially with general population samples, is needed to build evidence on the epidemiology, context and meaning of NSSI in South Asia to inform the design of context-specific interventions. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42022342536.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilahun Haregu
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Quan Chen
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
| | - S M Yasir Arafat
- Department of Psychiatry, Enam Medical College and Hospital, Savar, Bangladesh
| | - Anish Cherian
- Department of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Gregory Armstrong
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
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Appuhamy KK, Podmore D, Mitchell A, Ahmed HU, Ashworth M, Boehnke JR, Chongtham V, Chowdhury AH, Garcia OP, Holt RIG, Huque R, Muliyala KP, Onstenk EK, Rajan S, Shiers D, Siddiqi N, Manjunatha S, Zavala GA. Risk factors associated with overweight and obesity in people with severe mental illness in South Asia: cross-sectional study in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. J Nutr Sci 2023; 12:e116. [PMID: 38033510 PMCID: PMC10687724 DOI: 10.1017/jns.2023.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is one of the major contributors to the excess mortality seen in people with severe mental illness (SMI) and in low- and middle-income countries people with SMI may be at an even greater risk. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and overweight in people with SMI and investigate the association of obesity and overweight with sociodemographic variables, other physical comorbidities, and health-risk behaviours. This was a multi-country cross-sectional survey study where data were collected from 3989 adults with SMI from three specialist mental health institutions in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated using Asian BMI thresholds. Multinomial regression models were then used to explore associations between overweight and obesity with various potential determinants. There was a high prevalence of overweight (17·3 %) and obesity (46·2 %). The relative risk of having obesity (compared to normal weight) was double in women (RRR = 2·04) compared with men. Participants who met the WHO recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake had 2·53 (95 % CI: 1·65-3·88) times greater risk of having obesity compared to those not meeting them. Also, the relative risk of having obesity in people with hypertension is 69 % higher than in people without hypertension (RRR = 1·69). In conclusion, obesity is highly prevalent in SMI and associated with chronic disease. The complex relationship between diet and risk of obesity was also highlighted. People with SMI and obesity could benefit from screening for non-communicable diseases, better nutritional education, and context-appropriate lifestyle interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alex Mitchell
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | | | - Mark Ashworth
- School of Lifecourse and Population Sciences, King's College, London, UK
| | - Jan R. Boehnke
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
- School of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Virtu Chongtham
- Department of Psychiatry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India
| | | | - Olga P. Garcia
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Richard I. G. Holt
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Southampton National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | | | | | - Sukanya Rajan
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
| | - David Shiers
- Psychosis Research Unit, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust, Manchester, UK
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Keele, UK
| | - Najma Siddiqi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK
- Hull York Medical School, York, UK
- Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
| | - S. Manjunatha
- National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India
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Liu L, Liang D, Anwar S, Michael Z, Shrestha SB, Sultana N, Huang J. Overlooked impact of less severe physical violence on antenatal care visits: Findings from South Asia. J Glob Health 2023; 13:04155. [PMID: 37974495 PMCID: PMC10654549 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.04155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In South Asia, women often experience intimate partner violence (IPV) and have limited access to maternal health services (MHS). However, the effects of IPV on antenatal care (ANC) visits remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the impact of IPV of different forms and severities on ANC visits in South Asia. Methods This cross-sectional study used the latest available data from demographic and health surveys conducted in Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Maldives, and Pakistan. The study sampled 4467 women who had given birth within the past 12 months and were interviewed for IPV. IPV was measured by binary variables indicating the presence of physical violence (PV), categorised into less severe (LSPV) and severe physical violence (SPV), emotional violence (EV), and sexual violence (SV). ANC utilization was measured using binary variables indicating whether respondents had any, at least four, or at least eight ANC visits, as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). Logistic regressions adjusted for survey weights were used to assess associations between ANC utilization and exposure to IPV during pregnancy and lifetime. Results The prevalence of LSPV, SPV, EV, and SV during pregnancy were 14.5%, 4.4%, 11.6%, and 4.1%. LSPV experience during pregnancy was associated with decreased likelihoods of at least four ANC visits (odds ratio (OR) = 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.40-0.76) and eight ANC visits (OR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.31-0.90). Results of lifetime exposure to IPV followed similar patterns. Lifetime exposure to LSPV was associated with decreased likelihoods of at least four ANC visits (OR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.41-0.74) and eight ANC visits (OR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.29-0.77). Conclusion This study highlights the negativities of LSPV on the frequency of women seeking ANC visits. Policies are necessary to identify women at risk of the often-overlooked LSPV early and provide protective interventions to promote maternal health in South Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Liu
- School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Liang
- School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Saeed Anwar
- Prime Institute of Public Health, Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Zunaira Michael
- Prime Institute of Public Health, Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | | | - Nasrin Sultana
- Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Jiayan Huang
- School of Public Health, Global Health Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Brohi AA, Suzuki Y. Does green innovation moderate between FDI and environmental sustainability? Empirical evidence from South Asia. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288532. [PMID: 37943855 PMCID: PMC10635563 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The study aims to investigate how foreign direct investment (FDI) and green innovation (GI) impact environmental quality in South Asia. Moreover, this study examines the moderating role of GI between FDI and environmental sustainability. We use panel data from 1995 to 2018 for five South Asian nations namely, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. For the empirical analysis, we used 1st generation cointegration like Pedroni and Kao, and 2nd generation cointegration tests like Westerlund. Moreover, for the long-run relationship, we employ fully modified least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) estimation. The study's empirical results suggest that GI significantly enhances ecological sustainability in South Asian economies; however, FDI degrades the environmental quality. Furthermore, the results suggest that GI significantly moderates the nexus of FDI and ecological sustainability in South Asia. It is recommended that South Asian countries increase green innovation with FDI so that environmental quality can be assured for the region's sustainable development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awais Ahmed Brohi
- Department of Economics, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Suzuki
- Department of Economics, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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Lyles S, Khan Z, Qureshi O, Shaikh M. A systematic review of the effectiveness and implementation readiness of psychosocial interventions for psychosis in South Asia. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283411. [PMID: 37917670 PMCID: PMC10621957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the effectiveness and implementation of psychosocial interventions for psychosis in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In South Asia, specialist psychiatric resources are scarce. Support for psychosis often falls on the family or caregiver which can increase feelings of burden, impact caregivers' wellbeing, and increase mental health stigma. Psychosocial interventions are increasingly used for psychosis in South Asia and could reduce relapse and symptoms, reduce caregiver burden, conserve cost and resources. The aim of this review was to appraise the effectiveness and implementation readiness of psychosocial interventions for people with psychosis in South Asia. METHOD A systematic search was conducted on MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Global Health, and Web of Science. The review was prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022329254). Studies were rated on two scales assessing quality and implementation readiness. RESULTS Twenty-six papers were included, nine intervention-types including community-based interventions/assertive outreach; CaCBTp; FAP; psychoeducation; cognitive retraining/rehabilitation; social cognition/skills; family/ caregiver intervention; telehealth intervention; yoga-based intervention in six South Asian countries. Findings suggest a multicomponent community-based intervention (MCBI) was the most implementation ready due to its standardisation, good clinical outcomes for patients and caregivers, and training and cost evaluations. CONCLUSION Of the included studies, MCBI and community-based outreach interventions utilising lay health workers appear to be the most implementation ready and are suggested to best address the treatment gap in South Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Lyles
- University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zahra Khan
- Interactive Research and Development, Karachi, Pakistan
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Mumtaz N, Saqulain G. World Health Organization Success In Rehabilitation 2030 Including Refugees' Rehabilitation Across South Asia: A Narrative Review. J PAK MED ASSOC 2023; 73:2226-2231. [PMID: 38013533 DOI: 10.47391/jpma.9098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Despite acknowledging the inadequacy of rehabilitation systems to meet the ever-increasing burden of disability, the World Health Organization's Rehabilitation 2030 initiative has not highlighted nor adequately analysed the deficiencies of the rehabilitation care structures of populous countries in South Asia. The pragmatic and operational realisation of the initiative is not high in terms of visibility in developing countries with fragmented rehabilitative care structures. Hence, the current narrative review was planned to highlight the spectrum of rehabilitation healthcare in the perspective of Sustainable Development Goal-3 with reference to the most populous South Asian countries, including Pakistan. A total of 40 relevant English-language articles, publications, reports and online resources were reviewed. The narrative review is significant since it may result in mainstreaming the individuals with disabilities, improving their quality of life, enhance their productivity and lessen the burden and socio-economic costs of disability on the community. For current study, 40 relevant, English-language, articles, publications, reports and online resource were reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazia Mumtaz
- Department of Speech Language Pathology, Riphah International University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ghulam Saqulain
- Department of Otolaryngology, Capital Hospital PGMI, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, Pakistan
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Ahmed I, Ghanchi NK, Sunder Tikmani S, Hwang K, Zafar A, Saleem S, Uddin Z, Harakuni S, Somannavar MS, Kulkarni V, Guruprasad G, Goudar SS, Kim J, McClure EM, Goldenberg RL. Placental inflammation and pregnancy outcomes: A prospective, observational study in South Asia: The PURPOSe study. BJOG 2023; 130 Suppl 3:43-52. [PMID: 37671586 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine inflammatory lesions in placentas of stillbirths, preterm neonatal deaths and term controls in India and Pakistan. DESIGN Prospective, observational study. SETTING Three hospitals in India and a large maternity hospital in Pakistan. POPULATION The enrolled participants with placentas available for histology evaluation included stillbirths (n = 814), preterm live births who died within 28 days of birth (n = 618) and term live birth controls (n = 201). From this same population, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for pathogens was performed on 809 stillbirth placentas, 614 neonatal death placentas and the placentas of 201 term controls. Placentas from preterm infants who lived beyond day 28 (n = 1432) were only available from India. METHODS A prospective observational study of placental inflammatory lesions defined by the Amsterdam criteria and on the same placentas, multiplex PCR evaluation for 75 pathogens using TaqMan Array Cards. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Any placental inflammatory lesions, including chorioamnionitis, funisitis, villitis and intervillitis and their association with various pathogens. RESULTS In the Indian liveborn preterm infants, placental inflammation of any kind was present in 26.2% of those who died versus 16.6% of those who lived (p = 0.0002). Chorioamnionitis was present in 25.8% of those who died versus 16.3% of those who lived (p = 0.0002) and funisitis was present in 4.1% of those who died versus 1.5% of those who lived, (p = 0.005). Across all three sites, in the placentas of the 201 term controls, 18.9% had any inflammation, 16.9% had chorioamnionitis, 5.5% had funisitis, 0.5% had intervillitis and none had villitis. Overall, for stillbirths, any inflammation was observed in 30.2%, chorioamnionitis in 26.9%, funisitis in 5.7%, intervillitis in 6.0% and villitis in 2.2%. For the neonatal deaths, any inflammation was present in 24.9%, chorioamnionitis in 23.3%, funisitis in 8.1%, intervillitis in 1.9% and villitis in 0.5%. Compared with the placentas of term controls, in neonatal deaths, only chorioamnionitis was significantly increased (23.3% versus 16.9%, p = 0.05). Among stillbirths, the rates of any inflammation, chorioamnionitis, intervillitis and villitis were similar across the birthweight groups. However, funisitis was more common in the placentas of stillborn fetuses weighing 2500 g or more (13.8%) compared with 1.0% for those weighing less than 1000 g and 4.8% for stillborn fetuses weighing 1000-2499 g. In the PCR studies, Ureaplasma spp. were by far the most common pathogens found and generally were more commonly found in association with inflammatory lesions. CONCLUSIONS Chorioamnionitis was the most common type of placental inflammatory lesion regardless of whether the placentas evaluated were from term controls, stillbirths or neonatal deaths. For stillbirths, inflammation in each inflammation category was more common than in the term controls and significantly more so for any inflammation, chorioamnionitis, intervillitis and villitis. For neonatal deaths, compared with the placentas of term controls, all inflammation categories were more common, but only significantly so for chorioamnionitis. Ureaplasma spp. were the most common organisms found in the placentas and were significantly associated with inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kay Hwang
- RTI International, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sheetal Harakuni
- KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research's, J N Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
| | - Manjunath S Somannavar
- KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research's, J N Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
| | - Vardendra Kulkarni
- Bapuji Educational Association's J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India
| | - Gowder Guruprasad
- Bapuji Educational Association's J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India
| | - Shivaprasad S Goudar
- KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research's, J N Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
| | - Jean Kim
- RTI International, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Robert L Goldenberg
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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Kallapur MG, Ghanchi NK, Harakuni SU, Somannavar MS, Ahmed I, Fogleman E, Hwang K, Kim J, Saleem S, Goudar SS, Tikmani SS, Dhaded SM, Guruprasad G, Yasmin H, Yogeshkumar S, McClure EM, Goldenberg RL. Group B streptococcal prevalence in internal organs and placentas of deceased neonates and stillbirths in South Asia. BJOG 2023; 130 Suppl 3:53-60. [PMID: 37530593 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Group B streptococcus (GBS) has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, but few prospective studies have assessed its prevalence in low- and middle-income country settings. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of GBS by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in internal organ tissues and placentas of deceased neonates and stillbirths. DESIGN This was a prospective, observational study. SETTING The study was conducted in hospitals in India and Pakistan. POPULATION Pregnant women with stillbirths or preterm births were recruited at delivery, as was a group of women with term, live births, to serve as a control group. METHODS A rectovaginal culture was collected from the women in Pakistan to assess GBS carriage. Using PCR, we evaluated GBS in various tissues of stillbirths and deceased neonates and their placentas, as well as the placentas of live-born preterm and term control infants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES GBS identified by PCR in various tissues and the placentas; rate of stillbirths and 28-day neonatal deaths. RESULTS The most obvious finding from this series of analyses from India and Pakistan was that no matter the country, the condition of the subject, the tissue studied or the methodology used, the prevalence of GBS was low, generally ranging between 3% and 6%. Among the risk factors evaluated, only GBS positivity in primigravidae was increased. CONCLUSIONS GBS diagnosed by PCR was identified in <6% of internal organs of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, and their placentas, and control groups in South Asian sites. This is consistent with other reports from South Asia and is lower than the reported GBS rates from the USA, Europe and Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mangala G Kallapur
- Bapuji Educational Association's J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Sheetal U Harakuni
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
| | - Manjunath S Somannavar
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
| | | | | | - Kay Hwang
- RTI International, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jean Kim
- RTI International, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Shivaprasad S Goudar
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Sangappa M Dhaded
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
| | - Gowdar Guruprasad
- Bapuji Educational Association's J.J.M. Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India
| | | | - S Yogeshkumar
- Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, India
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Singh A, Banerjee T, Latif MT, Ramanathan S, Suradi H, Othman M, Murari V. Molecular distribution, sources and potential health risks of fine particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during high pollution episodes in a subtropical urban city. Chemosphere 2023; 340:139943. [PMID: 37625487 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Abundance of fine particulate-bound 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was investigated to ascertain its sources and potential carcinogenic health risks in Varanasi, India. The city represents a typical urban settlement of South Asia having particulate exposure manyfold higher than standard with reports of pollution induced mortalities and morbidities. Fine particulates (PM2.5) were monitored from October 2019 to May 2020, with 32% of monitoring days accounting ≥100 μgm-3 of PM2.5 concentration, frequently from November to January (99% of monitoring days). The concentration of 16 priority PAHs varied from 24.1 to 44.6 ngm-3 (mean: 33.1 ± 3.2 ngm-3) without much seasonal deviations. Both low (LMW, 56%) and high molecular weight (HMW, 44%) PAHs were abundant, with Fluoranthene (3.9 ± 0.4ngm-3) and Fluorene (3.5 ± 0.3ngm-3) emerged as most dominating PAHs. Concentration of Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P, 0.5 ± 0.1ngm-3) was lower than the national standard as it contributed 13% of total PAHs mass. Diagnostic ratios of PAH isomers indicate predominance of pyrogenic sources including emissions from biomass burning, and both from diesel and petrol-driven vehicles. Source apportionment using receptor model revealed similar observation of major PAHs contribution from biomass burning and fuel combustion (54% of source contribution) followed by coal combustion for residential heating and cooking purposes (44%). Potential toxicity of B[a]P equivalence ranged from 0.003 to 1.365 with cumulative toxicity of 2.13ngm-3. Among the PAH species, dibenzo[h]anthracene contributed maximum toxicity followed by B[a]P, together accounting 86% of PAH induced carcinogenicity. Incremental risk of developing cancer through lifetime exposure (ILCR) of PAHs was higher in children (3.3 × 10-4) with 56% contribution from LMW PAHs, primarily through ingestion and dermal contact. Adults in contrast, were more exposed to inhale airborne PAHs with cumulative ILCR of 2.2 × 10-4. However, ILCR to PM2.5 exposure is probably underestimated considering unaccounted metal abundance thus, require source-specific control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Singh
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Tirthankar Banerjee
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India; DST-Mahamana Centre of Excellence in Climate Change Research, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
| | - Mohd T Latif
- Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Sharanya Ramanathan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hamidah Suradi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Murnira Othman
- Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Vishnu Murari
- Centre for Education, Research and Innovation in Energy Environment, IMT Nord, Douai, France
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Yi Q. Financial fragility, human resource management, and transition to renewable energy in Asian economies: a comparative analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:114646-114658. [PMID: 37864689 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30263-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
The main hurdle in deploying renewable energy projects is the high initial cost, making it difficult for businesses and individuals to afford it. The fragility of the financial sector and human resource management further slows the pace of renewable energy demand. Therefore, we aim to investigate the impact of financial fragility and human resource management on renewable energy consumption over time horizon 1997-2020. To that end, the analysis employed the ARDL-PMG model. For Asia as a whole and all other sub-regions, including South East Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and Western Asia, the estimates for bank non-performing loans are notably negative. In general, these findings imply that a rise in financial fragility significantly reduces renewable energy consumption in the long run. In the short run, the estimates attached to both bank non-performing loans and bank costs are negatively significant in Asia and sub-regions of Western Asia only. The results for the human resources show that it exerts a significant and positive influence on renewable energy demand in Asia as a whole, South Asia, East Asia, and Western Asia. The estimates attached to human resources are statistically insignificant in all models in the short run. In the end, some important public strategies and their implementations have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Yi
- School of Economics and Management, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100183, China.
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Goldenberg RL, Hwang K, Saleem S, Tikmani SS, Yogeshkumar S, Kulkani V, Ghanchi N, Harakuni S, Ahmed I, Uddin Z, Goudar SS, Guruprasad G, Dhaded S, Goco N, Silver RM, McClure EM. Data usefulness in determining cause of stillbirth in South Asia. BJOG 2023; 130 Suppl 3:61-67. [PMID: 37470078 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the usefulness of data to determine cause of stillbirth in India and Pakistan. DESIGN Prospective, observational study. SETTINGS Study hospitals in India and Pakistan. POPULATION 200 fetal deaths with placental evaluation and minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) of internal organs and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for 75 pathogens. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Data defined as useful to determine stillbirth causes. RESULTS Placental pathology was the most useful to determine cause of stillbirth. Comparing placental and fetal weight with standard weights was useful in 44.5% and 48.5%, respectively. Lung histology was useful in 42.5%. Most of the other findings of internal organ histology were only occasionally useful. Signs of abruption, by maternal history or placental evaluation, were always deemed useful. Placenta, brain and cord blood PCR were also useful, but less often than histology. CONCLUSION Based on this analysis, maternal clinical history, placental histology and fetal examination were most informative. Comparing the placental and fetal weights with recognised standards was useful in nearly half the cases. Fetal tissue histology and PCR were also informative. Of all the potential tests of MITS-obtained specimens, we would first recommend histological evaluation of the lungs, and using a multiplex PCR platform would determine pathogens in blood and brain/CSF. We recognise that this approach will not identify some causes, including some genetic and internal organ anomalies, but will confirm most common causes of stillbirth and most of the preventable causes of stillbirth in low- and middle-income countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kay Hwang
- RTI International, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | - S Yogeshkumar
- KLE Academy of Higher Education's JN Medical College, Belagavi, India
| | | | | | - Sheetal Harakuni
- KLE Academy of Higher Education's JN Medical College, Belagavi, India
| | - Imran Ahmed
- RTI International, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sangappa Dhaded
- KLE Academy of Higher Education's JN Medical College, Belagavi, India
| | - Norman Goco
- RTI International, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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