Attainment Of Millennium Development Goals Research Articles

Dietary pattern and nutritional status among lactating women in North Karnataka

Background: Women from low-income settings are considered as nutritionally vulnerable. This risk is augmented during pregnancy and lactation as food nutrient requirement increases. Lactating mothers are subjected to nutritional stresses which are further exaggerated by frequent pregnancies resulting in high maternal mortality and health risk for children. Attainment of millennium development goals (MDG) by our country is largely dependent on the health of mothers and children, which in turn is influenced by diet. Objective of this study was to assess the nutritional status and associated factors of lactating women. To assess diet pattern of lactating womenMethods: Cross-sectional study carried out for a period of three month by house to house visit in the urban field practice area of SDMCMSH, Dharwad. Taking prevalence of malnutrition among lactating mothers (15-49 years) as 50, sample size was calculated to be 100 using n=4pq/d×d. Data analysed using the IBMSPSS 20.0.Results: Majority of mothers were housewives and in the age group of 20-25 year. >80% of the participants did not take additional meals during lactation. >60% of women from low socioeconomic state were malnourished and >55% of women from high socioeconomic state but working is malnourished.Conclusions: Dietary intakes of the lactating women are insufficient compared to national recommendations. Low socioeconomic condition and working status of mother are important predictors of malnourishment. Effective nutritional education of families and communities is recommended to improve dietary practices and result in adequate nutrition.

Creating Global Universities at the Grassroots: Challenges and Prospects in East Africa with Reference to Kenya

The paper explores how universities that have been established from scratch in East Africa have contributed and may contribute to the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The paper interrogates the reasons for the establishment of these new universities through considering both the legislative, political mechanisms and community initiatives that support the establishment of these universities. It discusses how the programmes offered in these Universities (dis)connect with the local communities' aspirations in development; create new aspirations that may run counter to the position and definition of the university as a global institution and, at the same time, enable the universities to operate within a national, regional and international grid of knowledge creation and dissemination.

THE ROLE OF PRINCIPALS IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) POLICY FORMULATION IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KENYA

The appreciation of the role of Information Communications and Technology (ICT) in recent years has driven many countries and Institutions of learning in particular to adopting these developments with an aim to enhance effective instructional designs. Its usage has widely been linked to one of the key catalysts towards attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Inclusion of key stakeholders in the formulation of policies that guide its implementation is therefore vital. This paper is an examination of the role played by Principals in ICT policy formulation in public secondary schools. To achieve this objective, the study employed a descriptive design sampling 211 public secondary schools from Meru County through stratified sampling technique. The study sample comprised of 335 teachers, selected through simple random sampling method and 211 Principals purposively selected. Data was collected by triangulation, which made use of interview schedule, questionnaire, and observation guide. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics using frequencies and percentages. The authors found out that most schools lacked compressive ICT policy on the use of ICT in teaching and learning. Key words: ICT, Principals, School leadership, Curriculum, ICT Policy, Policy formulation.

Is Poverty in the African DNA (Gene)?

AbstractA 2015 World Bank report on attainment of Millennium Development Goals concludes that the number of extremely poor has dropped substantially in all regions with the exception of Sub‐Saharan Africa. We assess if poverty is in the African gene by revisiting the findings of Ashraf and Galor and reformulating the “Out of Africa Hypothesis” into a “Genetic Diversity Hypothesis” for a “Within Africa Analysis.” We motivate this reformulation with five shortcomings largely drawn from the 2015 findings of the African Gerome Variation Project, notably: limitations in the conception of space, an African dummy in genetic diversity, linearity in migratory patterns, migratory origins and underpinnings of genetic diversity in Africa. Ashraf and Galor have concluded that cross‐country differences in development can be explained by genetic diversity in a Kuznets or inverted U‐shaped pattern. Our results from an exclusive African perspective partially confirm the underlying hypothesis in a contemporary context, but not in the historical analysis. From a historical context, the nexus is U‐shaped for migratory distance, mobility index and predicted diversity while for the contemporary analysis; it is hump shaped for ancestry‐adjusted predicted diversity. Hence from a within‐Africa comparative standpoint, poverty is not in the African gene.

Is Poverty in the African DNA (Gene)?

A 2015 World Bank report on attainment of Millennium Development Goals concludes that the number of extremely poor has dropped substantially in all regions with the exception of Sub-Saharan Africa. We assess if poverty is in the African gene by revisiting the findings of Ashraf and Galor (2013, AER) and reformulating the ‘Out of Africa Hypothesis’ into a ‘Genetic Diversity Hypothesis’ for a ‘Within Africa Analysis’. We motivate this reformulation with five shortcomings arising for the most part from the 2015 findings of the African Gerome Variation Project, notably: limitations in the concept of space, African dummy in genetic diversity, linearity in migratory patterns, migratory origins and underpinnings of genetic diversity in Africa. Ashraf and Galor have concluded that cross-country differences in development can be explained by genetic diversity in a Kuznets pattern. Our results from an exclusive African perspective confirm the underlying hypothesis in a contemporary context, but not in the historical analysis. From a historical context, the nexus is U-shaped for migratory distance, mobility index and predicted diversity while for the contemporary analysis; it is hump-shaped for ancestry-adjusted predicted diversity. Hence, poverty is not in the African gene from a within-Africa comparative standpoint. Policy implications are discussed.

Effective Nutrition Interventions for Sustainable Maternal and Child Health: Lessons from the Countries that Achieved Their MDG 4 and 5 Targets

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that contributed to the attainment of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 and 5, and determine the level of their intervention based on Maternal and Child Health (MCH) conceptual framework. The study examined the interventions conducted by 15 countries, who achieved their MDG 4 target by at least 5.0%, and MDG 5 target by 5.5%, or both, and three countries that did not achieve their target for MDG 4 and 5. The countries that succeeded in achieving their target for either MDG 4 or 5 intervened at three levels namely basic or societal level, underlying causes or community level, and direct causes levels. For example, Ethiopia, succeeded in the achievement of MDG 4 by improving basic services at the societal level, increasing healthcare services and providing specialized nutrition intervention to malnourished children. On the contrary, the countries that did not succeed did not address the basic causes, or did not implement their policies. Cameroon only worked at the direct causes, ignoring societal level and underlying causes. Botswana and Zimbabwe worked at the direct and underlying causes, and developed policies but failed to implement them. It is critical that policymakers work on societal level problems, address the cause of the problems by addressing the underlying causes and focus on capacity building. Health professionals need to consider the motivations and limitations of the target population, including nutrition education. Targeting behavior change has the potential to result in sustainable MCH.

Developing a dataset to track aid for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, 2003\u20132013

We created a dataset to generate estimates of donor-reported ‘official development assistance’ and private grants (ODA+) to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) by donor, recipient country and activity type over the period 2003–2013. We collected disbursement information from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Creditor Reporting System (CRS) in January 2015. All 2.1 million records across all sectors were coded based on donor name, project title, short and long descriptions, and CRS code describing the purpose of the disbursement. We classified records according to the degree to which they would promote attainment of Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 (reproductive and sexual health, maternal and newborn health, and child health). We also classified records according to whether they supported prenatal and neonatal health (PNH). The dataset includes project funding as well as allocating shares of general budget support, health sector support and basket funding. The data can be used to analyse resource flows to RMNCH or to other purposes or beneficiaries of ODA+.

Barriers and enablers to adoption of intrauterine device as a contraceptive method: A multi-stakeholder perspective.

Background:Promoting family planning practices aid considerably in attaining Millennium Development Goals by various mechanisms. Despite concerted health system efforts, adoption of especially reversible contraceptive methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) has remained negatively skewed in India, which is the pioneer country to implement Family Planning programme way back in 1952. Although few studies in India have looked into the reasons for its nonacceptance, literature from Odisha was scant and hence the study was undertaken.Methodology:A cross-sectional study using qualitative methods was done in the Mahanga Tehsil of Cuttack district. In-depth interviews were conducted with women of reproductive age (WRA) and focused group discussions (FGDs) among health workers and health professionals were held separately. Data analysis was done using thematic framework approach supported by Atlas Ti software.Results:There were 31 in-depth interviews with WRA, two FGDs with health workers, and one FGD with health professionals. Availability of IUD services was low and wherever available, being located far away affected its physical accessibility. Most women were reluctant to ask health workers about services owing to their shyness while many women felt using IUDs breached their autonomy and privacy. The existence of fear and misconceptions regarding its use rooting from lack of knowledge and poor service quality also impeded its adoption by women.Conclusion:There is a pressing need to enhance the demand of IUDs by dispelling the myths among women through effective information, education, and communication and also to improve the availability of IUDs.

A common monitoring framework for ending preventable maternal mortality, 2015-2030: phase I of a multi-step process.

BackgroundWhile global maternal mortality declined 44 % between 1990 and 2015, the majority of countries fell short of attaining Millennium Development Goal targets. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in late 2015, include a target to reduce national maternal mortality ratios (MMR) to achieve a global average of 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. A comprehensive paper outlining Strategies toward Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM) was launched in February 2015 to support achievement of the SDG global targets. To date, there has not been consensus on a set of core metrics to track progress toward the overall global maternal mortality target, which has made it difficult to systematically monitor maternal health status and programs over time.FindingsThe World Health Organization (WHO), Maternal Health Taskforce (MHTF), and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) along with its flagship Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP), facilitated a consultative process to seek consensus on maternal health indicators for global monitoring and reporting by all countries. Consensus was reached on 12 indicators and four priority areas for further indicator development and testing. These indicators are being harmonized with the Every Newborn Action Plan core metrics for a joint global maternal newborn monitoring framework. Next steps include a similar process to agree upon indicators to monitor social, political and economic determinants of maternal health and survival highlighted in the EPMM strategies.ConclusionThis process provides a foundation for the maternal health community to work collaboratively to track progress on core global indicators. It is important that actors continue to work together through transparent and participatory processes to track progress to end preventable maternal mortality and achieve the SDG maternal mortality targets.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12884-016-1035-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Focused maternity care in Ghana: results of a cluster analysis.

BackgroundGhana missed out in attaining Millennium Development Goal 5 in 2015. The provision of adequate prenatal and postnatal care remains problematic, with poor evidence on women’s views on met and unmet maternity care needs across all regions in Ghana. This paper examines maternal care utilization in Ghana by applying WHO indicators for focused maternal care utilization.MethodsTwo-step cluster analysis segregated women into groups based on the components of the maternity care used. Using cluster membership variables as dependent variables, we applied multinomial and binary regression to examine associations of care use with individual, household and regional characteristics.ResultsWe identified three patterns of care use: adequate, less and least adquate care. The presence of a female and skilled provider is an indicator of adequate care. Women in Volta, Upper West, Northern and Western regions received less adequate care compared with other regions. Supply-related factors (drugs availability, distance/transport, health insurance ownership, rural residence) were associated with adequacy of care. The lack of female autonomy, widowed/divorced women, age and parity were associated with less adequate care. Care patterns were distinctively associated with the quality of health care support (skilled and female attendant) instead of with the number of visits made to the facility. Across regions and within rural settings, disparities exist, often compounded by supply-related factors.ConclusionsEfforts to address skilled workforce shortages, greater accountability for quality and equity, improving women motivation for care seeking and active participation are important for maternity care in Ghana.Electronic Supplementary MaterialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1654-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Challenges experienced by South Africa in attaining Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6.

BackgroundDespite progress made by other countries worldwide in achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4, 5 and 6, South Africa is experiencing a challenge in attaining positive outcomes for these goals.Objective and settingTo describe the challenges experienced by South Africa regarding the successful implementation of MDGs 4, 5 and 6.MethodsAn integrative literature review was used to identify and synthesise various streams of literature on the challenges experienced by South Africa in attaining MDGs 4, 5 and 6.ResultsThe integrative review revealed the following themes: (1) interventions related to child mortality reduction, (2) implementation of maternal mortality reduction strategies, and (3) identified barriers to zero HIV and TB infections and management.ConclusionIt is recommended that poverty relief mechanisms be intensified to improve the socio-economic status of women. There is a need for sectoral planning towards maternal health, and training of healthcare workers should emphasise the reduction of maternal deaths. Programmes addressing the reduction of maternal and child mortality rates, HIV, STIs and TB need to be put in place.

Socially responsive consumption behaviour – an Indian perspective

Purpose – There is a need to promote socially responsible consumption which would accelerate the efforts of economic upliftment and sustainable development initiated by the government and corporates through corporate social responsibility initiatives. This study aims to explore the factors that contribute to socially responsible consumption across demographic factors. Design/methodology/approach – The socially responsible consumption behaviour (SRCB) scale developed by Antil and Bennet was used to gather responses on a five-point Likert scale along with information on demographic profile from the residents of Delhi National Capital Region. Findings – The factor analysis revealed a striking finding that personal contribution is the most important factor that governs socially responsible consumption, and this factor also emerges across demographic variables to have significant contribution for the consumption. Gender wise, there is no significant difference, while education bears an inverse relationship with SRCB. People in the middle-income group with lower incomes and younger in age are more likely to exhibit SRCB. Research limitations/implications – The implications for marketers is to use the results of this study in their promotion for targeting consumers by focusing on the joy/pride of personal contribution in being socially responsible while they fulfil their product purchase needs that could create a loyal segment of consumers who would buy such products and further spread a positive word of mouth to convert non-consumers into buyers, leading to sustainable economic development. Policymakers and the Government need to promote SRCB by subsidizing goods that are generated from such sources to enhance their usage. Younger Indians, in the early years of their career and people in middle-income groups, are promising customers with higher inclination to be socially responsible in their purchase behaviour. This paper presents a practical dimension of personal contribution that could be used to develop promotion strategies to motivate consumers towards socially responsible consumption. Practical implications – These incorporate usage of the results of this study to promote cause-related marketing, wherein a company donates a portion of each purchase made by its customers during a specific period to a socially responsible cause. Marketers can enhance the purchase of socially responsible products by creating awareness among their target consumers about the consequences of their purchase and their personal contribution in community development. Creating confidence among customers and goodwill by providing awareness of the contribution made by firms in the social development of the country will encourage customers to patronize products of such firms, as they would feel a sense of personal contribution in nation development by supporting buying from such firms. Social implications – The adoption of socially responsible consumption by the vast majority of population shall uplift the economically backward sections of society, thereby creating employment opportunities and incomes at the bottom of the pyramid, ultimately, leading to sustainable economic development and attainment of millennium development goals. Originality/value – This is a maiden attempt to gain an insight into the Indian SCRB. This can be a base for further studies in the area of socially responsible consumption which is relatively unexplored in the Indian context.

Change your life with seven sheets of paper: A pilot randomized controlled trial for postnatal depression (CREATOR)

IntroductionPrevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) is high in low and middle-income countries. The prevalence rate of postnatal depression in Pakistani women and its effect on the growth and development of young children and child mortality is very high. Despite availability of interventions to improve maternal health, the major issue in implementation of those interventions is because of limited availability of trained health professionals.AimsThe aim of this study is to deliver CBT based intervention called “change your life with 7 sheets of paper” to women with mild to moderate PND through trained Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).MethodsDuring first stage of this rather blind feasibility randomized control trial 5 TBAs were trained to deliver CBT. Total 36 participants with PND having child between the ages 0–12 months will be recruited from community. Participants will be assessed using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and World Health Organization Quality of Life scale at baseline and then at 3 months. Eight group sessions of CBT will be delivered by trained TBAs.ResultsOutcome assessments will be done after completion of intervention of intervention i.e., 3 months after baseline. Preliminary findings will be presented in the conference.ConclusionFindings from this trial will help us to understand how the involvement of TBAs can help in overcoming the challenge of non-availability of trained health professionals and in attainment of millennium development goals of reducing mother and child mortality.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Financial development, economic growth and millennium development goals in South Africa

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically report the findings on the relationship between financial sector development, economic growth and of millennium development goals (MDGs) for poverty reduction, education and health development in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach – The autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing technique was applied to two indicators of financial development, economic growth and four indicators of MDGs. Findings – Economic growth and MDGs jointly cause financial development. Similarly, economic growth and financial sector development jointly cause the attainment of MDGs. The attainment of MDGs such as increased per capita expenditure on food and education as well as economic growth jointly cause financial development. Practical implications – The findings highlight the complexity of the relationship between financial development, economic growth and MDGs. It is essential that the government of South Africa pursue a three track strategy of promoting financial sector development, economic growth and MDGs. The development of one strategy causes and is caused by the development of the other two. Originality/value – Relationships between financial development, economic growth and MDG targets are unsettled in the literature. This paper studies the link between the three variables in South Africa. Hence, the contribution of this study is to enrich the understanding of this important field in the context of an important African country.

Effectiveness of trained community volunteers in improving knowledge and management of childhood malaria in a rural area of Rivers State, Nigeria.

Malaria accounts for 70% of illnesses and 30% of deaths among children under 5 years in Nigeria. This study was aimed at determining the effectiveness of trained community volunteers in delivering multiple anti-malaria interventions to achieve rapid reduction in morbidity and mortality among under 5 children. A quasi-experimental study was carried out in two rural communities in Rivers State, Nigeria among 368 mothers/caregivers. A set of 184 of the mothers/caregivers (experimental group) were trained on malaria and provided with bed nets and drugs (artemisinin-lumefantrine) to treat children under 5 years who developed fever during the period of the experiment. Another set of 184 mothers/caregivers (controls) did not receive similar training and drugs. Both groups were compared at baseline and after 6 months of the experiment on their knowledge of malaria prevention and treatment. Level of significance was set at P = 0.05. In the experimental group: Adequate knowledge about malaria increased from 115 (62.5%) to 175 (95.1%) (P < 0.0001), early commencement of treatment of fever increased from 68 (37.0%) to 131 (75.7%) (P < 0.0001), and children cured of malaria increased from 87 (47.3%) to 146 (84.4%) (P < 0.0001). Insecticide-treated bed nets use also increased from 86 (46.7%) to 161 (87.5%) (P < 0.0001). There were no significant changes in the control group. The study demonstrated the inherent potentials in using community-based volunteers in malaria prevention and control for those in rural areas with poor health service delivery. We advocate its adaptation for far-reaching reduction in childhood morbidity and mortality and rapid attainment of millennium development goals 4.

Quality Education: A Harbinger for Attaining Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria

Provision of quality education, no doubt, is one of the most important investments that a country can make. Not only does it fulfill people’s right to knowledge, it is one of the most powerful ways of accelerating economic growth, reducing poverty, unemployment, child mortality and improves maternal health. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) are laudable and very worthy to be pursued so as to catalyze the needed growth and development we so crave for in Nigeria. It is obvious that the attainment of these goals can only materialize through giving the citizenry the appropriate sound quality education. The paper focuses on the components of quality framework, MDGS and Nigeria situation. To actualize the MDGS, the paper discussed some strategies for attaining the MDGS such as equal access to quality education, technology transfer, teachers’ training and development, better quality teaching materials etc. The paper recommended that teaching and learning right away from primary schools to university levels should enhance MDGS related skills, knowledge and behaviour. Also the federal government should harmonies policies and procedures already in existing towards realizing the UBE, EFA and Millennium Development Goals. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n27p861

Prospect and Challenges of Agricultural Education viz-a-viz Attainment of Millennium Development Goals by 2014

Nigeria and African countries in general, is blessed with so many resources; human, mineral, land and other natural resources. Despite all these poverty, hunger, ill-health (diseases) high mortality rates, discontinuity in educational pursuit and the like, with all the attendant consequences. These are the experience of many African countries today. Nevertheless government at different times have adopted means and programmes, which are either targeted towards overall national development or as a response to immediate or prevailing problems in agriculture, at solving them, most of which have not yielded much result either as a result of ill-motivation or poor implementation. It is in view of this that this paper now proposed effective agricultural education as an avenue towards attainment of Millennium development goals. It exposed various opportunities there in such as potential to become a teacher, be self employed and employer of labour (in crop production, horticulture, ruminant and non ruminant production, poultry and fish production distributor and marketer of agricultural produce) and the challenges towards acquisition of adequate knowledge and skills in agriculture and recommended that government should create a conducive environment for learning and agricultural educators to lay more emphasis on practical agriculture for effective skill acquisition, self-reliance and independence. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n7p167

Why women choose to give birth at home: a situational analysis from urban slums of Delhi

ObjectivesIncreasing institutional births is an important strategy for attaining Millennium Development Goal -5. However, rapid growth of low income and migrant populations in urban settings in low-income and middle-income countries,...

Free Solar Lanterns to Below Poverty Line Girls in India: A Step Toward Achieving Millennium Development Goals

Development sectors like health cannot function in isolation. Intersectoral coordination between various departments helps in bringing a positive change in the health-seeking behavior of society in the long run. The decision by the Government of India to provide free solar lanterns (lamps) to the school-going girls of below poverty line families is a welcome step in this context. This initiative would help in reducing the number of school dropout girls and thus help in improving the health indicators that are directly related to women's education. Thus it is an initiative that will help in attainment of Millennium Development Goals through women's education and empowerment. Along with that, the environment-friendly approach will definitely have an impact on health of the girls by switching from kerosene/wood stoves to solar lantern light. Also this initiative would pave the path of real “intersectoral coordination” in the health sector in India that is marred with watertight functioning of various departments. There is an urgent need to popularize the scheme and involve different stakeholders like corporate houses, media, nongovernment organizations, multinational welfare agencies, and local governing bodies for ensuring the availability and utilization of solar lanterns in India.

Practices and recommendations in infant feeding and HIV prevention: the child's perspective

Although the attainment of Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG 4), reducing under-five mortality by two-thirds by the year 2015, depends on optimizing breast-feeding practices in resource-limited settings, there are some conditions in which breast-feeding is impossible, contraindicated, or not recommended. The overall impact of involuntary nonbreast-feeding on the attainment of MDG 4 has not been documented. In industrialized and many middle-income countries replacement feeding is affordable, feasible, acceptable, sustainable, and safe and complete avoidance of breast-feeding is the norm to prevent postnatal transmission of HIV. The situation is very different in many low-income countries affected by the HIV epidemic where infants are exposed to HIV and antiretroviral (ARV) mediation through breast milk for long periods with risk of acquiring HIV infection, development of multidrug resistant HIV and short and long term toxicity associated to ARV medications. Despite the obvious needs, there is no specific research on how to make replacement feeding safer for infants with no access to breast-feeding and for whom replacement feeding is justified. Orphans, abandoned and infants of severely ill mothers unable to breast-feed, won't benefit from the research done on making breast-feeding safer for HIV exposed infants. A child rights perspective illuminates societal obligations to provide replacement feeding with infant formula milk to such infants, and to support research to make it safer at the same time that breast-feeding is promoted and protected for the general population.