A Synthesis of Findings from ‘Rapid Assessments’ of Disability and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Response and Disability-Inclusive Data Collection

Children's Environmental Health Indicators for Low- and Middle-Income Countries in Asia

BackgroundChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) presents a significant health and economic challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia, where healthcare resources are often limited. Self-management programs (SMPs) offer a potential solution by empowering patients to manage their condition and reduce healthcare costs. However, there needs to be more consolidated evidence on the effectiveness of these programs in LMICs, and their success may depend on specific contextual factors.MethodsThis systematic review analyzed studies on COPD self-management interventions in Asian LMICs, focusing on outcomes such as health-related quality of life (HRQoL), exacerbation rates, healthcare utilization, and out-of-pocket (OOP) costs. Two databases- PubMed and Scopus were systematically searched following PRISMA guidelines, and data were extracted and analyzed to identify the effectiveness of these programs and the challenges encountered during implementation.ResultsThe findings indicate that self-management programs in LMICs can improve HRQoL, reduce exacerbation rates, and lower OOP costs in specific contexts. However, the effectiveness of these programs is influenced by local healthcare infrastructure, digital and health literacy, and economic barriers. Digital interventions tended to be more beneficial in urban areas with better infrastructure, while programs led by community health workers were more effective in rural settings.ConclusionSelf-management interventions show promise for managing COPD in resource-limited settings, but context-specific adaptations are essential. Flexible program designs tailored to local conditions and strengthened collaborations among healthcare providers and policymakers are crucial for sustainable implementation and scaling.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12955-025-02382-y.

Cervical cancer is ranked the first or second most common cancer in women of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia. Cervical cancer is almost exclusively caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), and majority of the cases can be prevented with the use of HPV vaccines. The HPV vaccines have demonstrated high vaccine efficacies against HPV infection and cervical cancer precursors in clinical and post-marketing studies, and are in use in most high-income countries. However, their use in LMICs are limited mainly due to the high costs and logistics in delivering multiple doses of the vaccine. Other issues such as the safety of the vaccines, social and cultural factors, as well as poor knowledge and awareness of the virus have also contributed to the low uptake of the vaccine. This mini-review focuses on the need for HPV vaccine implementation in Asia given the substantial disease burden and underuse of HPV vaccines in LMICs in this region. In addition, the progress towards HPV vaccine introduction, and barriers preventing further rollout of these essential, life-saving vaccines are also discussed in this article.

A rapid semi-quantitative ecological risk assessment method (productivity and susceptibility analysis) indicated that, despite its low biological productivity, the Port Jackson shark Heterodontus portusjacksoni is at low risk to all fishing methods in far-eastern Victoria, Australia, under the present fishing practices, because of its low catch susceptibility. The risk to this population, however, would increase if the shark gillnet fishery operating in the region were to retain the species as a by-product. Demographic analysis indicated that the species has medium intrinsic population growth rate and potential rebound in comparison with other chondrichthyan species, juveniles have higher elasticity than mature females and both juvenile and mature females have higher elasticities than hatchlings. Because of its low biological productivity and moderate resilience to the effects of fishing, cautious management measures will be necessary to ensure the sustainable use of H. portusjacksoni if its marketing increases in the future. Information on the dynamics of a population that is valuable to provide management advice can be obtained through demographic methods, but rapid assessment methods can also provide complementary information on the effects of fishing by considering the catch susceptibility of the population to each fishing method.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the economy, livelihood, and physical and mental well-being of people worldwide. This study aimed to compare the mental health status during the pandemic in the general population of seven middle income countries (MICs) in Asia (China, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). All the countries used the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to measure mental health. There were 4479 Asians completed the questionnaire with demographic characteristics, physical symptoms and health service utilization, contact history, knowledge and concern, precautionary measure, and rated their mental health with the IES-R and DASS-21. Descriptive statistics, One-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression were used to identify protective and risk factors associated with mental health parameters. There were significant differences in IES-R and DASS-21 scores between 7 MICs (p<0.05). Thailand had all the highest scores of IES-R, DASS-21 stress, anxiety, and depression scores whereas Vietnam had all the lowest scores. The risk factors for adverse mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic include age <30 years, high education background, single and separated status, discrimination by other countries and contact with people with COVID-19 (p<0.05). The protective factors for mental health include male gender, staying with children or more than 6 people in the same household, employment, confidence in doctors, high perceived likelihood of survival, and spending less time on health information (p<0.05). This comparative study among 7 MICs enhanced the understanding of metal health in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The effects of agricultural history on forest ecological integrity as determined by a rapid forest assessment method

In this study, seismic performance of one story hinged precast buildings, which represents the majority of existing lightweight industrial building stock of Turkey, was assessed. A lot of precast buildings, constructed in one of the important seismic zones of western Turkey, were investigated and building inventories were prepared. By this method, structural properties of inventory buildings and damaged precast buildings in recent earthquakes were compared. Damage estimations based on nonlinear analysis methods have shown that estimated damage levels of inventory buildings and observed damage levels in recent earthquakes are similar. Accuracy of damage estimation study and the simplicity of the one story precast building models implied that rapid seismic performance assessment method for these buildings can be developed. In this assessment method, capacity curves and vibration periods of precast buildings were calculated by using structural properties of precast buildings. The proposed assessment method was applied to inventory buildings by using two different seismic demand scenarios which reflect moderate and soft soil conditions. Comparison of detailed analysis and rapid assessment methods have indicated that reliable seismic performance estimations can be performed by using proposed method. It is also observed that distribution of damage estimations is compatible in both scenarios.

Hepatitis E is an acute, viral hepatitis primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route. The first major epidemic of hepatitis E virus (HEV) was reported in 1955 in Delhi, India. Since that time, numerous epidemics have been reported across the low- and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa. Even in the absence of large-scale outbreaks, hepatitis E is an important cause of clinical hepatitis. Serologic studies across Asia and Africa show a high prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies. Interest in hepatitis E has increased over the last two decades. However, there are many unanswered questions about the epidemiology of hepatitis E, including a low clinical illness rate in children and the high case fatality rate in pregnant women. Widespread usage of a hepatitis E vaccine may serve to relieve the burden of HEV disease in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

Conservation planners use bioenergetic models to develop habitat objectives that satisfy energetic demands of waterfowl during nonbreeding periods. In turn, natural resource managers should estimate yield and availability of natural and cultivated waterfowl forage to monitor contributions to objectives and support adaptive resource management. Because bioenergetic models are particularly sensitive to unharvested flooded croplands, we developed a rapid methodology to estimate biomass of unharvested flooded corn (Zea mays) and tested our methodology in impounded corn fields planted and flooded in western Tennessee during autumn and winter of 2019–2021. We evaluated accuracy of our rapid assessment method and conducted simulations to assess variance‐bias trade‐offs relative to sample size. Rapid assessments lasted 20 min ± 10 minutes per field. Our rapid assessment method underestimated number of kernels per ear by 2.6% ± 0.5%. After adjusting for underestimation bias, corn biomass across all surveys was 5,500 kg/ha ± 250 kg/ha, which is similar yield to previous literature from waterfowl impoundment fields. Sampling 15 ears per field allowed field biomass to be estimated within acceptable accuracy (i.e., variance [SE] of mean percent error &lt;1.8%). We recommend our rapid yield assessment method be incorporated into habitat monitoring protocols to efficiently and precisely estimate corn biomass for improved conservation planning initiatives. Additionally, our rapid assessment method allows managers to monitor field yield rapidly, enabling estimates of corn depletion and availability throughout the nonbreeding season for waterfowl to support management decisions.

Evaluation of rapid seismic safety assessment methods on a substandard reinforced concrete building stock in Istanbul

Retinoblastoma outcomes: a global perspective

Ecosystem service state and trends at the regional to national level: A rapid assessment

Urinary schistosomiasis is a helminth disease that causes high morbidity in endemic areas of tropical and subtropical regions. Efforts are being made to evolve a cost-effective method for diagnosing the infection in large populations. A study supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) has established the Rapid Assessment (Questionnaire) method in which diagnosis is based on the respondent's ability to answer yes to the presence of hematuria. This method has been validated in some African countries and elsewhere. The aim of the present study was to validate the Rapid Assessment method in a community in southeastern Nigeria where the disease is endemic. A survey was carried out using both the parasitological diagnosis of the presence of the characteristic egg of Schistosoma haematabium in urine samples and the WHO Rapid Assessment method. Positive results in the 2 methods were calculated as percentages, and a correlation analysis of the percentages was done using product moment statistics. This gave a significant value of r = 2.9435 (P < 0.05). Sex-related prevalence was observed at significant correlation values of r = 1.0011 and r = 1.574 (P < 0.05). The diagnostic performance of the Rapid Assessment method was calculated using Baker's procedure method. A high sensitivity of 93.4%, specificity of 99%, positive predictive value of 96.6%, and negative predictive value of 99.4% were calculated. The consistent high correction performance values confirm that the Rapid Assessment method may be a useful alternative to the parasitological tests for use in schools and community surveys in identifying high-risk individuals for urinary schistosomiasis in southeastern Nigeria.

Combining plant and bird data increases the accuracy of an Index of Biotic Integrity to assess conservation levels of tropical forest fragments

PurposeThis study examines the causal relationship between information communication technology (ICT) and economic growth in high-income and middle-income Asian countries.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilises a high-quality data from 25 Asian countries from 2000 to 2018. This study presents the robustness results by employing panel cointegration and estimation procedures to account for the endogeneity and cross-sectional dependence issues.FindingsThe results illustrate that high-income Asian countries have achieved positive and significant economic development from high Internet penetration. Additionally, the middle-income countries have started to benefit from ICT Internet. The findings show that the telephone line and mobile phone penetration is highly capable of promoting economic growth in middle-income Asian countries.Practical implicationsIn high-income Asia countries, an appropriate ICT infrastructure policy will support feasible ICT penetration, which may drive the processes of economic development and innovation that contribute to economic growth. Moreover, in middle-income Asian countries, the establishment of better-quality ICT service and infrastructure is more critical. Policymakers should accommodate sufficient support to establish the ICT infrastructure and expand ICT penetration.Originality/valueThis study reveals that high-income Asian countries have been more proactive and effective than middle-income countries in embracing ICT to foster economic growth. Examining the case of high-income and middle-income Asian countries provides comprehensive insight for policymakers regarding the relevance of ICT in boosting economic growth through the advantages of technology expansion.