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Mulderij-Jansen V, Gerstenbluth I, Duits A, Tami A, Bailey A. Evaluating and strengthening the health system of Curaҫao to improve its performance for future outbreaks of vector-borne diseases. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:500. [PMID: 34565464 PMCID: PMC8474927 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05011-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika pose a significant challenge to health systems in countries they affect, especially countries with less developed healthcare systems. Therefore, countries are encouraged to work towards more resilient health systems. This qualitative study aims to examine the performance of the health system of the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaҫao regarding the prevention and control of VBDs in the last decade by using the WHO health system building blocks. Methods From November 2018 to December 2020, a multi-method qualitative study was performed in Curaçao, applying content analysis of documents (n = 50), five focus group discussions (n = 30), interviews with experts (n = 11) and 15 observation sessions. The study was designed based on the WHO framework: health system building blocks. Two cycles of inductive and deductive coding were employed, and Nvivo software was used to analyse the data. Results This study’s data highlighted the challenges (e.g. insufficient oversight, coordination, leadership skills, structure and communication) that the departments of the health system of Curaҫao faced during the last three epidemics of VBDs (2010–2020). Furthermore, low levels of collaboration between governmental and non-governmental organisations (e.g. semi-governmental and private laboratories) and insufficient capacity building to improve skills (e.g. entomological, surveillance skills) were also observed. Lastly, we observed how bottlenecks in one building block negatively influenced other building blocks (e.g. inadequate leadership/governance obstructed the workforce's performance). Conclusions This study uncovers potential organisational bottlenecks that have affected the performance of the health system of Curaҫao negatively. We recommend starting with the reinforcement of oversight of the integrated vector management programme to ensure the development, implementation and evaluation of related legislation, policies and interventions. Also, we recommend evaluating and reforming the existing administrative and organisational structure of the health system by considering the cultural style, challenges and barriers of the current health system. More efforts are needed to improve the documentation of agreements, recruitment and evaluation of the workforce's performance. Based on our findings, we conceptualised actions to strengthen the health system's building blocks to improve its performance for future outbreaks of infectious diseases. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-05011-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaitiare Mulderij-Jansen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. .,International Development Studies, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. .,Department of Epidemiology, Curaçao Biomedical & Health Research Institute, Willemstad, Curaçao.
| | - Izzy Gerstenbluth
- Department of Epidemiology, Curaçao Biomedical & Health Research Institute, Willemstad, Curaçao.,Epidemiology and Research Unit, Ministry of Health Environment and Nature of Curaçao, Willemstad, Curaçao
| | - Ashley Duits
- Red Cross Blood Bank Foundation, Willemstad, Curaçao.,Department of Immunology, Curaçao Biomedical & Health Research Institute, Willemstad, Curaçao
| | - Adriana Tami
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ajay Bailey
- International Development Studies, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Swain S, Pati S, Pati S. 'Health Promoting School' Model in Prevention of Vector-Borne Diseases in Odisha: A Pilot Intervention. J Trop Pediatr 2019; 65:463-473. [PMID: 30668851 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmy077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
We tested 'Health-Promoting School model' for vector-borne diseases (VBDs) through behavioural changes among students in India for better control of the diseases in the community. A total of 1098 students from eight co-ed schools (four controls and four interventions) of Odisha participated in the study. Intervention was 12 h of class room teaching and activities on mosquito dynamics, source identification, prevention and management of VBDs. Control schools were provided with the leaflets and posters covering the objectives. Impact was assessed through change in knowledge and practice through pre- and post-test. Total mean transformed score in pre-intervention survey in both the groups was nearly 33, which increased to 38.6 and 53.9 in control and intervention group, respectively. In intervention group the mean days of absenteeism due to VBDs was reduced nearly by four times. The model can be used as effective health-promoting measures for vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhashisa Swain
- Public Health Foundation of India, Indian Institute of Public Health-Bhubaneswar (IIPH-B), Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Sandipana Pati
- Department of Health & Family Welfare, Disease Surveillance Unit, Office of Additional District Medical Officer (Public Health) Bhubaneswar, Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Sanghamitra Pati
- Regional Medical Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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Savari L, Shafiei M, AllahverdiPour H, Matlabi H. Analysis of the third-grade curriculum for health subjects: Application of Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool. J Multidiscip Healthc 2018; 11:205-210. [PMID: 29719403 PMCID: PMC5922235 DOI: 10.2147/jmdh.s152454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Applying the Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT), the third-grade curriculum was assessed in accordance with health-related items. Methods A multimethod research was used to investigate the student textbooks and three modules including healthy eating, physical activity, and safety. Based on purposive sampling, curriculum committees were made up of teachers, elementary school principals, members of the parents–teachers’ associations, and health care experts. Results Data obtained from the group discussion were analyzed based on the conventional content analysis approach. All modules received coverage percentages of <34%. The highest mean coverage percentage belonged to the safety module (25.59%) and the lowest to healthy eating (12.78%). Conclusion Suggested solutions were classified based on three general themes such as clarifying and determining healthy dietary behaviors and actions, educating life skills and adopting healthy diet behaviors, and finally utilizing social norms for adopting with healthy diet patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Savari
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Maryam Shafiei
- Department of Educational Planning and Administration, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hamid AllahverdiPour
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hossein Matlabi
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Islam KMM, Asadullah MN. Gender stereotypes and education: A comparative content analysis of Malaysian, Indonesian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi school textbooks. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190807. [PMID: 29351305 PMCID: PMC5774688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Using government secondary school English language textbooks from Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh, we conducted a quantitative content analysis in order to identify gender stereotypes in school education. In total, 21 categories of exclusion and quality of representation were used to study gender stereotypes. Our analysis confirms a pro-male bias in textbooks: the aggregate female share is 40.4% in textual and pictorial indicators combined. Female occupations are mostly traditional and less prestigious while the characters are predominantly introverted and passive in terms of personality traits. Women are also shown to be mostly involved in domestic and in-door activities while men have a higher presence in professional roles. Systematic underrepresentation of females is evident regardless of whether we look at the text or pictures. A cross-country analysis shows that the female share in picture content is only 35.2% in Malaysia and Bangladesh. Overall, the proportion of female to male characters (text and pictures combined) is balanced in Malaysia and Indonesia (44.4% and 44.1% respectively) while this share is only 24.4% and 37.3% in Pakistani and Bangladeshi textbooks respectively. The finding of underrepresentation of women in Pakistani textbooks, in terms of quality and quantity, is robust to the selection of province-, grade- and subject-specific textbooks, as well as the range and type of categories used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazi Md. Mukitul Islam
- Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Political and Press Section, German Embassy, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M. Niaz Asadullah
- Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Economics, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
- Centre on Skills, Knowledge and Organisational Performance (SKOPE), Department of Education, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- School of Education, Environment and Development, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- IZA Institute of Labor Economics, Bonn, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Ghorbanizadeh F, Afshar M, Soleymani MR. Personal Hygiene Components in Iranian Children and Adolescent Magazines. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 2016. [DOI: 10.17795/intjsh-33558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Nankabirwa J, Brooker SJ, Clarke SE, Fernando D, Gitonga CW, Schellenberg D, Greenwood B. Malaria in school-age children in Africa: an increasingly important challenge. Trop Med Int Health 2014; 19:1294-309. [PMID: 25145389 PMCID: PMC4285305 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
School-age children have attracted relatively little attention as a group in need of special measures to protect them against malaria. However, increasing success in lowering the level of malaria transmission in many previously highly endemic areas will result in children acquiring immunity to malaria later in life than has been the case in the past. Thus, it can be anticipated that in the coming years there will be an increase in the incidence of both uncomplicated and severe malaria in school-age children in many previously highly endemic areas. In this review, which focuses primarily on Africa, recent data on the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and on the incidence of clinical malaria in African school-age children are presented and evidence that malaria adversely effects school performance is reviewed. Long-lasting insecticide treated bednets (LLIN) are an effective method of malaria control but several studies have shown that school-age children use LLINs less frequently than other population groups. Antimalarial drugs are being used in different ways to control malaria in school-age children including screening and treatment and intermittent preventive treatment. Some studies of chemoprevention in school-age children have shown reductions in anaemia and improved school performance but this has not been the case in all trials and more research is needed to identify the situations in which chemoprevention is likely to be most effective and, in these situations, which type of intervention should be used. In the longer term, malaria vaccines may have an important role in protecting this important section of the community from malaria. Regardless of the control approach selected, it is important this is incorporated into the overall programme of measures being undertaken to enhance the health of African school-age children.
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Yasuoka J, Jimba M, Levins R. Application of loop analysis for evaluation of malaria control interventions. Malar J 2014; 13:140. [PMID: 24713031 PMCID: PMC4017832 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-13-140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite continuous efforts and recent rapid expansion in the financing and implementation of malaria control interventions, malaria still remains one of the most devastating global health issues. Even in countries that have been successful in reducing the incidence of malaria, malaria control is becoming more challenging because of the changing epidemiology of malaria and waning community participation in control interventions. In order to improve the effectiveness of interventions and to promote community understanding of the necessity of continued control efforts, there is an urgent need to develop new methodologies that examine the mechanisms by which community-based malaria interventions could reduce local malaria incidence. Methods This study demonstrated how the impact of community-based malaria control interventions on malaria incidence can be examined in complex systems by qualitative analysis combined with an extensive review of literature. First, sign digraphs were developed through loop analysis to analyse seven interventions: source reduction, insecticide/larvicide use, biological control, treatment with anti-malarials, insecticide-treated mosquito net/long-lasting insecticidal net, non-chemical personal protection measures, and educational intervention. Then, for each intervention, the sign digraphs and literature review were combined to analyse a variety of pathways through which the intervention can influence local malaria incidence as well as interactions between variables involved in the system. Through loop analysis it is possible to see whether increases in one variable qualitatively increases or decreases other variables or leaves them unchanged and the net effect of multiple, interacting variables. Results Qualitative analysis, specifically loop analysis, can be a useful tool to examine the impact of community-based malaria control interventions. Without relying on numerical data, the analysis was able to describe pathways through which each intervention could influence malaria incidence on the basis of the qualitative patterns of the interactions between variables in complex systems. This methodology is generalizable to various disease control interventions at different levels, and can be utilized by a variety of stakeholders such as researchers, community leaders and policy makers to better plan and evaluate their community-based disease control interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Yasuoka
- Department of Community and Global Health, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
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Saito J, Nonaka D, Mizoue T, Kobayashi J, Jayatilleke AC, Shrestha S, Kikuchi K, Haque SE, Yi S, Ayi I, Jimba M. Limited potential of school textbooks to prevent tobacco use among students grade 1-9 across multiple developing countries: a content analysis study. BMJ Open 2013; 3:e002340. [PMID: 23430601 PMCID: PMC3586112 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-002340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Revised: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the content of school textbooks as a tool to prevent tobacco use in developing countries. DESIGN Content analysis was used to evaluate if the textbooks incorporated the following five core components recommended by the WHO: (1) consequences of tobacco use; (2) social norms; (3) reasons to use tobacco; (4) social influences and (5) resistance and life skills. SETTING Nine developing countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Benin, Ghana, Niger and Zambia. TEXTBOOKS ANALYSED: Of 474 textbooks for primary and junior secondary schools in nine developing countries, 41 were selected which contained descriptions about tobacco use prevention. RESULTS Of the 41 textbooks, the consequences of tobacco use component was covered in 30 textbooks (73.2%) and the social norms component was covered in 19 (46.3%). The other three components were described in less than 20% of the textbooks. CONCLUSIONS A rather limited number of school textbooks in developing countries contained descriptions of prevention of tobacco use, but they did not fully cover the core components for tobacco use prevention. The chance of tobacco prevention education should be seized by improving the content of school textbooks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Saito
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Nonaka
- Department of Parasitology and International Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Mizoue
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Clinical Research Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun Kobayashi
- Graduate School of International Health Development, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
- Department of International Medical Cooperation, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Achini C Jayatilleke
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sabina Shrestha
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kimiyo Kikuchi
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Syed E Haque
- UChicago Research Bangladesh Ltd, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Siyan Yi
- The Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Freeman Spogli Institute of International Studies, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Irene Ayi
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Masamine Jimba
- Department of Community and Global Health, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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