Does Biomass Fuel Use for Cooking Affect Early Childhood Development? A Case Study of Kiribati

Background: It is estimated that up to half of the world's population uses biomass fuel (wood, crop residues, animal dung and coal) for household energy purposes such as cooking, lighting and heating. Emissions from these sources lead to personal exposures to complex mixtures of air pollutants. As a result, a large proportion of women and children are exposed to high levels of air pollution. The short and long term effects of these exposures on the respiratory health of this population are not clearly understood. Aim: To conduct a surveillance of current practice and to examine the association between household use of biomass fuels and respiratory health outcomes among primary cooks. Methods: A population-based study in two villages more than 5 km away from the highway and a cross sectional survey in two villages within 100 meters of a major highway was conducted in the coastal district of Khorda in Odisha state. Nonsmoking and non-occupationally exposed women 18 year of age or older (n=405) completed a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and illnesses and on use of cooking fuel. Results: Only 12% of households used liquid petroleum gas (LPG), while 35% used mixed fuel. At the time of the survey, 97%, 93% and 87% women used some form of biomass fuel, mosquito repellant, and incense sticks respectively. In this population, 37%, 24%, 22%, and 15% had cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and physician diagnosed asthma respectively. In contrast to previous reports, proximity to a major highway appeared to have minimal impact, while use of mosquito repellant and biomass fuel showed a strong association with respiratory symptoms in a multiple regression analysis. Conclusions: Household use of high pollution cooking fuels may cause respiratory illness. Additional studies on a larger number of LPG users are underway to discern the effect of different exposures on respiratory health in similar settings. This study was funded in part by the Bhagabat Behera Memorial Student Ambassador Award to Asmi Panigrahi at the Asian Institute of Public Health, Bhubaneswar.

Data for action on early childhood development

Introduction: The percentage of the Palestinian children considered “below level” – or “not on track” in their early childhood development is higher than their peers in neighbouring countries. This research presents a framework to explain pathways between water stress, child health, family wealth, parental support, and early childhood development in Palestine, and presents a different perspective in water stress and policies and services addressing children. Objective: To assess evidence of the link between water stress and vulnerability in early childhood development and to examine the implications of this relationship for services and policies in Palestine. Method and Results: Demographic and health data obtained from nationally representative surveys were merged and analysed. Descriptive analysis was used to investigate the features of household water stress and show its association with risk for delayed early childhood development in Palestine. Data on social, economic, health, and environmental conditions in 52 communities in Palestine were aggregated to develop a Child-Water Stress Index to be used as a single summary measure that captures the multidimensional influence of water stress. At the household level, a Mediation Model was developed and applied to investigate the pathways through which water stress interacts with child health, family care, and wealth level and in turn, influences early childhood development. An evaluation strategy is presented, with new perspectives for enhancing the effectiveness of early childhood programmes and policies in the Palestinian context. Qualitative data using focus group discussions with parents and semi structured interviews with practitioners were conducted to provide in depth analysis of the findings. Conclusion: Children experiencing water stress are more likely to not be on track in their early childhood development. Water stress is more likely to influence childhood development through indirect pathways by interacting with determinants of optimal early childhood development including disrupted family support, wealth level, and child health. Water stress exacerbates the impact of limited wealth and inadequate family support on early childhood health and development, suggesting the need for a holistic perspective in evaluating services and policies.

The Working Paper series is a continuation of the formerly named Discussion Paper series; the numbering of the papers continued without interruption or change. ADBI's working papers reflect initial ideas on a topic and are posted online for discussion. Some working papers may develop into other forms of publication. The Asian Development Bank refers to "China" as the People's Republic of China.

Facility-based, age- and residential area-matched case-control study was conducted in Sindh, Pakistan to determine association between biomass fuel use for cooking and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Cases were women with pulmonary TB, and controls were those suffering from other diseases. Current users of biomass fuel were at higher risk of pulmonary TB (adjusted matched odds ratio [mOR] = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.1-4.9) compared with nonusers. In comparison with former biomass users (women not using biomass for >10 years), recent biomass users (women who switched from biomass to nonbiomass ≤10 years ago), and current (lifetime) users were at a higher risk in a dose-response manner (adjusted mOR = 2.8, 95% CI = 0.9-8.2 and adjusted mOR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.4-10.7, respectively). Population attributable fraction for TB related to biomass fuel use was 40.6% (95% CI = 35.5%-45.7%). This study strengthens the evidence that biomass fuel use for cooking is associated with pulmonary TB and risk increases with duration of exposure.

BackgroundThe social environment is a fundamental determinant of early child development and, in turn, early child development is a determinant of health, well-being, and learning skills across the life course. Redistributive policies aimed at reducing social inequalities, such as a welfare state and labour market policies, have shown a positive association with selected health indicators. In this study, we investigated the influence of redistributive policies specifically on the social environment of early child development in five countries with different political traditions. The objective of this analysis was to highlight similarities and differences in social and health services between the countries and their associations with other health outcomes that can inform better global early child development policies and improve early child health and development.MethodsFour social determinants of early child development were selected to provide a cross-section of key time periods in a child’s life from prenatal to kindergarten. They included: 1) prenatal care, 2) maternal leave, 3) child health care, and 4) child care and early childhood education. We searched international databases and reports (e.g. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Bank, and UNICEF) to obtain information about early child development policies, services and outcomes.ResultsAlthough a comparative analysis cannot claim causation, our analysis suggests that redistributive policies aimed at reducing social inequalities are associated with a positive influence on the social determinants of early child development. Generous redistributive policies are associated with a higher maternal leave allowance and pay and more preventive child healthcare visits. A decreasing trend in infant mortality, low birth weight rate, and under five mortality rate were observed with an increase in redistributive policies. No clear influence of redistributive policies was observed on breastfeeding and immunization rates. In the analysis of child care and early education, the lack of uniform measures of early child development outcomes was apparent.ConclusionsThis paper provides further support for an association between redistributive policies and early child health and development outcomes, along with the organization of early child health and development services.

Patrice Lee Engle

By September 2014, the United Nations (UN) Open Working Group will present its final report on the Sustainable Development Goals to the UN Secretary General and President of the General Assembly, who will finalize these goals by September 2015. Because these goals (the successors to the Millennium Development Goals) will guide global action through 2030, it is unfortunate that early child development is not yet effectively addressed in this framework. Investing in child development is the foundation for improved health, economic, and social outcomes. Not getting the early years “right” is linked to violent behavior, depression, higher rates of noncommunicable disease, and lower wages, and it negatively affects a nation's gross domestic product. Unless early child development is addressed effectively in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, countries will be locked into poverty, and sustainable development will not be achieved.

Despite widespread agreement among international organizations on the importance of healthy early childhood development, monitoring of national action on the provision of pre-primary education has been limited. This paper presents a quantitative approach to monitoring the world’s progress on the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goal (SDG) target 4.2 to “ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education.” A rigorous approach was used to create a new quantitative globally comparable database of indicators for policies that mandate the provision of national pre-primary education for 86% of UN member states. This dataset was analyzed to examine global inequalities in the provision of universal pre-primary education and revealed that 43% of countries, and only 3% of low-income countries, provide tuition-free pre-primary education. Just under 25% of countries offer tuition-free pre-primary education for two or more years. This contrasts sharply with primary education, which is provided tuition-free in 96% of countries. To illustrate how this data can contribute to the examination of the relationship between policy and outcome, it is used in a regression analysis. Additional global data collection on the quality of pre-primary education would further enhance efforts to monitor policies that play key roles in the fulfillment of target 4.2, and support the achievement of the United Nations sustainable development goal on education.

This study dwells on xenophobia and the realities of actualizing the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) eight in South Africa. It argues that since the emergence of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, which transited to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, there has been a proliferation of literature from scholars of diverse disciplinary orientations. However, none of these studies deal with the phenomenon of xenophobia as a milestone for the attainment of the SDGs in South Africa. This paper, therefore, serves as an intervention to discuss how xenophobia affects the realization/ actualization of the UN’s SDG eight in the area under consideration. Using extant literature and the rational choice theory, it affirms that without peace and partnership with other countries, it would be very difficult for South Africa to attain the UN SDGs it envisages to achieve. To be focused and in-depth in the analysis of the phenomena under consideration the study centers exclusively on the UN SDG eight (even though there are seventeen SDGs of the UN) which hinges on decent work and economic growth. The evidence thrown up led to the major conclusion that the persistent xenophobic attacks and the resultant massive destruction of lives and businesses of foreigners, South Africa’s quest for the full-fledged realization of United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal eight would remain mere paperwork. Given the increasing prevalence of xenophobic attacks in the study area, the paper suggests, among others, the building of meaningful, lasting, and effective partnerships. This entails that xenophobia in the country will be nipped in the bud.

An estimated 43% of children younger than 5years of age are at elevated risk of failing to achieve their human potential. In response, the World Health Organization and UNICEF developed Care for Child Development (CCD), based on the science of child development, to improve sensitive and responsive caregiving and promote the psychosocial development of young children. In 2015, the World Health Organization and UNICEF identified sites where CCD has been implemented and sustained. The sites were surveyed, and responses were followed up by phone interviews. Project reports provided information on additional sites, and a review of published studies was undertaken to document the effectiveness of CCD for improving child and family outcomes, as well as its feasibility for implementation in resource-constrained communities. The inventory found that CCD had been integrated into existing services in diverse sectors in 19 countries and 23 sites, including child survival, health, nutrition, infant day care, early education, family and child protection and services for children with disabilities. Published and unpublished evaluations have found that CCD interventions can improve child development, growth and health, as well as responsive caregiving. It has also been reported to reduce maternal depression, a known risk factor for poor pregnancy outcomes and poor child health, growth and development. Although CCD has expanded beyond initial implementation sites, only three countries reported having national policy support for integrating CCD into health or other services. Strong interest exists in many countries to move beyond child survival to protect and support optimal child development. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals depend on children realizing their potential to build healthy and emotionally, cognitively and socially competent future generations. More studies are needed to guide the integration of the CCD approach under different conditions. Nevertheless, the time is right to provide for the scale-up of CCD as part of services for families and children.

Investing in children in their early years represents a unique window of opportunity to improve individual, community, and societal outcomes. For poverty reduction and shared prosperity, investments in early childhood development (ECD) or early childhood education and development (ECED), are among the best investments that countries can make. This study provides an assessment of ECD policies and programs in Indonesia based on the World Bank’s Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER). Developed by the education global practice, SABER provides a set of diagnostic tools to assess country policies in a number of areas including ECD. The SABER-ECD tool employs a diagnostic framework structured around three policy goals: establishing an enabling environment, implementing widely, and monitoring and assuring quality. For each goal, three policy levers are analyzed, ranging from the legal framework for ECD services to the extent to which service providers such as care centers or preschools comply with national standards. The SABER-ECD tool to a large extent focuses on policy intent, but as its name indicates, the second policy goal in the ECD module is about implementation. The study relies on administrative and household survey data in order to provide a diagnostic of policies and programs related to ECD in Indonesia. Administrative data are used to assess ECD policies and programs at the national and district levels. The study consists of five chapters: chapter one gives overview. Chapter two applies the SABER-ECD framework at the national level. Chapter three focuses on measuring in a more comprehensive way the coverage of essential ECD interventions nationally and at the provincial level. Chapter four provides results from the application of the SABER-ECD framework to five districts. Chapter five compares the SABER-ECD ratings obtained for Indonesia with the ratings for other countries (in total, the tool has been implemented in about 28 countries so far).

Assessing the contribution of water and energy efficiency in green buildings to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Jordan

Deforestation of rainforests requires active use of UN's Sustainable Development Goals

Since the launch of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, the SDGs have been widely adopted by governments and corporations in an effort to improve their sustainability. There are 17 SDGs, comprising 169 targets, which are measurable against 247 unique indicators. Despite pervasive global pollution from (micro)plastics, there is only one indicator (14.1.1b) under Goal 14, specifically related to reducing impacts from (micro)plastics. Reliable reporting and monitoring of 247 SDG indicators present unique challenges for governments and organizations to implement, which may be further exacerbated by the pervasive nature of (micro)plastic pollution if not properly monitored across these indicators. This review focused on recent literature to provide a critical overview of the key challenges specifically related to (micro)plastics as they may undermine the implementation of sustainable strategies and action plans required to achieve the UN SDGs. • (Micro)plastics threaten global social, environmental, and economic sustainability. • The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) developed to address global threats. • Only Goal 14 specifically addresses impacts of (micro)plastic pollution. • (Micro)plastic pollution directly or indirectly impacts at least 12 UN SDGs. • (Micro)plastic pollution may undermine the implementation of the UN SDGs.