Non-governmental Research Articles

Provision of supportive care by an NGO in the face of a dual challenge: cancer and wartime

Abstract Purpose In this study, we explored the work of Halasartan (Stop Cancer), an Israeli nongovernmental organization (NGO) and unique social support network for cancer patients and survivors aged 18–44, during a war period. Drawing on the conservation of resources (COR) theory, we examined whether self-efficacy, social support, psychological distress, and participation in activities that were geared toward alleviating the war situation at Time 1 (T1) would predict engagement in such activities at Time 2 (T2). Methods A longitudinal design with two time-points was used, and NGO members completed self-report questionnaires. At T1, the cohort comprised 250 members (cancer patients/ survivors); at T2, there were 213. However, only 90 NGO members completed the questionnaires at both time-points. Results A significant reduction in psychological distress was observed over time among participants engaged in the NGO’s activities, but no differences were observed in participants’ self-efficacy or social support. Moreover, participation in NGO activities during wartime at T2 was predicted by biological sex (female), lower self-efficacy, and participation in NGO activities at T1. Conclusion Halasartan (Stop Cancer) played a pivotal role in offering a sense of normalcy, community, and support to young-adult cancer patients and survivors during a period of war. The study underscores the essential nature of NGO activities tailored to the unique needs of this demographic, particularly in times of crisis. A broader implementation of such supportive interventions to enhance the well-being of vulnerable populations is suggested.

Food Safety in Developing Countries: Common Foodborne and Waterborne Illnesses, Regulations, Organizational Structure, and Challenges of Food Safety in the Context of Nepal

ABSTRACTFood safety presents a global challenge, contributing to 600 million cases of foodborne diseases and 420,000 fatalities annually worldwide. In developing countries, such as Nepal, addressing food safety is particularly intricate and arduous because of the prevalent issues of food insecurity, poverty, illiteracy, and regulatory hurdles. The objectives of this comprehensive review are to evaluate the prevalent foodborne and waterborne illnesses, examine the existing regulations and institutional frameworks, and identify the challenges associated with food safety in Nepal. Additionally, this review aims to propose strategies to enhance food safety measures in the country. An electronic search was conducted using relevant keywords to include articles and literature pertinent to the topic. Common foodborne illnesses in Nepal include cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis, worm infections, and poisoning from mushrooms, heavy metals, and pesticides. While existing rules, regulations, and government infrastructure exist, they often face limitations in effectively addressing these multifaceted challenges. Food safety in developing countries, such as Nepal, faces several challenges, including inadequate regulatory frameworks, limited surveillance and monitoring, rural–urban disparities, and high incidences of foodborne illness. Additional issues stem from weak law enforcement, poor food safety practices, limited infrastructure, informal sector challenges, cross‐border trade, limited access to clean water, and the impacts of climate change. A multisectoral One Health approach involving collaboration among government agencies, food industry stakeholders, consumers, and civil society organizations is imperative to enhance food safety in developing countries such as Nepal.

Urban forest and sustainability: the historical perspective of Limbe in the Southwest Region of Cameroon

ABSTRACT Projected rapid urbanisation and climate change will increase the risk of natural disasters in fragile coastal African cities. Strategically planning and managing the urban forest can help to build resilience. This study aimed to document urban forest development and sustainability in Cameroon using the city of Limbe as a baseline through the classification of urban forest elements; description of their developmental history and assessment of the level of sustainability to inform strategic planning. Data was collected using a forest ethnology approach. Two groups of stakeholders’ representatives of public institutions (Group 1), Non-Governmental Organisations and educated indigenes (Group 2) provided oral histories of tree planting. Face to face interviews with 15 stakeholders were conducted guided by semi-structured questionnaires. From these results, there are four types of urban forest. Limbe Botanical Garden (LBG) developed during the colonial era was the most prominent. Municipal authorities by law should create different types of urban forest but their actions have been limited to Roadside Trees (RT) planting. The absence of budget, policy and inventory was responsible for the low level of urban forest sustainability. Increasing awareness of the effectiveness of urban forest nature-based solutions in tackling deadly landslides and floods in Limbe can promote urban forest sustainability.

Social reproduction and contestation of racialized Roma exclusion: The role of civil society organizations in the Czech Republic

ABSTRACT Anti-Roma racism remains a persistent concern in numerous European countries. Despite sustained efforts by both the European Union and national governments over the past two decades to promote Roma inclusion, the effectiveness of these integration policies has largely been perceived as inadequate. This has been evident in the widespread exclusion experienced by Roma communities. Focusing on the Czech Republic, this article moves from examining state policies to the actions of civil society. In this context, the article explores the role played by Czech civil society organizations (CSOs) in both challenging and perpetuating racialized Roma exclusion. Building on Bourdieu’s concept of social habitus, this article expands it to a racialized social habitus framework. Through online interviews with CSOs and ethnographic fieldwork in four Czech cities, it explores the complex interplay between integration policies, civil society, and the racialized exclusion of the Czech Roma. The article illuminates how these organizations simultaneously contest and reinforce racialized perceptions of the Roma, thereby enriching scholarly dialogue on the complex dynamics of race and racism within civil society.

Knocking on a Locked Door: Assessing Canada’s Response to Attacks Against Human Rights Defenders

Abstract For over two decades, Canadian corporations have been the subject of severe allegations of human rights and environmental violations related to the forced imposition of their operations abroad. Despite the growing consensus within the literature and international governance community that Canadian corporations—especially within the extractive sector—are serial perpetrators of grave human rights violations and despite Canada’s international legal obligations, at present there are very little ‘hard law’ mechanisms available to hold corporations to account. Whereas much literature has been dedicated to how Canadian corporations are facilitated by advocacy and lobbying efforts at the level of Canadian embassies in home-state-countries, much less studied is how these same state actors work towards protecting and preventing human rights defenders from harm. In this article we critically analyse the implementation of the Canadian government’s Voices at Risk guidelines (2016) from the perspective of two Canadian human rights advocacy Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) supporting communities in Guatemala, drawing from email and verbal communications as well as Access to Information Requests from 2016 to 2021 regarding the Escobal mine. We assess the usefulness of advocacy at the level of embassies as a way of protecting defenders and demonstrate that, in our experience, calls for support to defenders were ignored. We argue that, within the context of foreign policy which prioritizes trade and investment over all other government policies and wherein corporate violence is met with impunity, current Canadian policies aimed at protecting human rights defenders are essentially useless as an advocacy strategy.

A model for integrating palliative care into Eastern Mediterranean health systems with a primary care approach.

Palliative care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) faces challenges despite the high number of patients in need. To provide accessible, affordable, and timely services, it is crucial to adopt a suitable care model. World health organization (WHO) recommends integrating palliative care with primary health care (PHC). Given the unique conditions of EMR countries, there is a need to design a model tailored to these contexts. This study is a multi-method research project conducted through several sub-studies, including a literature review, policy analysis, expert opinion (Delphi Method), dimension-specific analysis, model development, and its validation and refinement (Delphi Method). Drawing from the WHO model, six dimensions: policy, drug availability, education, community integration, service delivery, and research were considered to developing the model and implementation requirements. Within each dimension, evidence-based solutions tailored to the region's context were explored. A successful palliative care model requires, in the policy dimension, oversight by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Having a focal-person or working group within the MOH is crucial for policy-making, formulation, and approval of clinical guidelines, as well as addressing care challenges. It is essential to provide access to morphine and other essential medications, along with facilitating the administration and consumption of morphine at home. Conducting empowerment courses for care providers, can address various challenges. Community involvement through volunteers, charities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is also important. To ensure service provision, monitoring and evaluating systems are crucial, along with striving for service continuity through an appropriate payment system. Lastly, research is necessary for needs assessment, evidence-based practice, and designing evaluation indicators. The proposed model relies on community health workers, especially nurses, as multitasking professionals available for community palliative care. In the presented model, special attention has been given to networking, collaboration, and the use of digital health technologies to support nurses. The model proposed for integrating palliative care into PHC should serve as a framework that enhances access to available and affordable services for countries in the region. While this model was developed based on the overall conditions of the region, each country can tailor it to its unique strengths and opportunities.

A dream of lies: stories of Bangladeshi maid migrants in the Middle East

ABSTRACT Being a socially conservative country, a number of Bangladeshi female migrant workers working in abroad are not as many as the male. However, in recent times, the number increased a lot, but still female migrant workers are very much under-researched and a minor in getting policy attention. This present study thus tries to fill that gap and to identify the influencing factors of female maid migration, their life as migrants and the reintegration processes of these migrant returnees. This is a qualitative study where interviews were conducted 20 female who worked in middle east as the housemaid and who were registered as migrant returnees at different government and non-government organizations. A thematic analytical procedure was used to analyse the data. The study finds that female workers migrate to Middle East mostly for economic purposes to overcome their economic challenges in home country; however, they face a number of violences such as physical abuse, socio-psychological torture which put their dream in challenge. The result of the study also shows that as the returnees, these female workers faced reintegration challenges too. To make their dream come true, with many other policies, government should introduce functional monitoring cells in the respective countries.

HIV incidence and recreational drug use among men who have sex with men aged 18-24 years in Tianjin, China: a retrospective cohort study.

Recreational drug use has been identified as a significant risk factor for the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This behavior is particularly prevalent among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). However, limited research has been conducted to investigate the correlation between recreational drug use and HIV incidence within this population. To examine HIV incidence and explore the association between recreational drug use and HIV incidence among YMSM. A retrospective cohort study was conducted by a local non-governmental organization (NGO) among MSM aged 18-24 years from October 2017 to December 2023 in Tianjin, China. Participants were included if they had at least two HIV test records during this period. HIV incidence density and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using person-years (PYs) with a Poisson distribution. Risk factors for HIV incidence were identified using univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. A total of 56 HIV seroconversions were reported with 2901.9 PYs, resulting in an overall incidence density of 1.9/100 PYs (95% CI: 1.4-2.4). Among YMSM who do not use recreational drugs (YMSM-URD), the incidence density was 1.1/100 PYs (95% CI: 0.5-1.6), while it was 2.8/100 PYs (95% CI: 1.9-3.7) among those who do use recreational drugs (YMSM-RD). Adjusted for confounders, factors associated with HIV infection included recreational drug use (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.4-4.7) and unprotected anal intercourse in the past six months (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.2-4.4). Recreational drug use and unprotected anal intercourse significantly increase the risk of HIV infection. To effectively mitigate the spread of HIV, interventions should focus on these risk factors by employing HIV counseling and testing clinics, collaborating with NGOs focused on MSM, and establishing peer education programs aimed at YMSM.

The “Key” to Bringing DNA Collections to the Next Level: A DiSSCo Flanders Working Group Product

The DiSSCo (Distributed System of Scientific Collections) Flanders consortium, with one of the set goals being "maturing" (i.e., optimizing the management of) and unlocking (i.e., publishing) their DNA collections, identified 1) the need for actively sharing best practices on the management of DNA collections; and 2) a need for guidance on how to bring theory into practice. During the DiSSCo Flanders project, a DNA collection working group was created. The working group is open to all biodiversity-related DNA collections associates in Belgium, including those in diverse roles such as researchers, lab technicians, collection managers and data managers. Around 50 people from 13 organizations are currently participating. Members can be passively (reading only) or actively (joining events) engaged. The strength, as well as one of the challenges, of the DiSSCo Flanders community is that the natural science collections are created and managed in different organizational contexts: universities, museum institutes and both governmental and non-governmental research organizations. This translates to a variety of collection management decisions and structures such as: decentralized or centralized; cold or room temperature storage; managed by an appointed curator or by a lab technician. The working group organizes meetings and workshops, tours of each other's collections, and shares a mailing list and an online document space. As its principal output, the group has co-created: “The key to bringing DNA collections to the next level” (Veltjen et al. 2024) with two main results: the "Challenges" and the “Key”. The "Challenges" is a list of 23 challenges applicable to DNA collection management. For example, challenge 8: "Select or customise collection management systems to meet the needs of DNA collections". They are intended to spark debate and give focus to the second output: the "Key." The "Key" lists seven yes/no questions: Do you have an up-to-date overview of all direct, internal stakeholders of the institute’s DNA collection and are you involving them in the (current) intent to “bring the DNA collection to the next level”? Is preserving a DNA collection within the scope of the institute? And is the DNA collection officially recognized within the institute? Do you have, on paper, a clear description of the scope of the DNA collection? Have you outlined the current overarching workflow of the DNA collection? Have you been able to establish your starting level on the "DNA collection maturation chart" and is the assessment properly logged? Level up, one level at a time, and log the process. Have you reached all of the goals in level 3 on the "DNA collection maturation chart"? Do you have a re-evaluation strategy for your DNA collection? Do you have an up-to-date overview of all direct, internal stakeholders of the institute’s DNA collection and are you involving them in the (current) intent to “bring the DNA collection to the next level”? Is preserving a DNA collection within the scope of the institute? And is the DNA collection officially recognized within the institute? Do you have, on paper, a clear description of the scope of the DNA collection? Have you outlined the current overarching workflow of the DNA collection? Have you been able to establish your starting level on the "DNA collection maturation chart" and is the assessment properly logged? Level up, one level at a time, and log the process. Have you reached all of the goals in level 3 on the "DNA collection maturation chart"? Do you have a re-evaluation strategy for your DNA collection? The "DNA collection maturation chart" has 11 categories (rows), three levels (columns) and 33 goals (see Table 1 in Veltjen et al. 2024). The Key provides 18 guidance chapters, which give in depth information, literature and user experiences (Suppl. material 2 in Veltjen et al. 2024). The Key is a specialized tool for DNA collections. It facilitates a standardized and holistic approach, allowing both a helicopter view of the maturation process and close-up view of specific goals. The working group aims to test the Key, whereby the process of "leveling up" is embedded in a community setting: sharing ambitions, setbacks, changes of plans and success stories. The output is ready in its first version. It is published as a reviewable publication, allowing post-publication peer review (Veltjen et al. 2024). The works are expected to evolve through time, depending on user feedback and user experiences. The working group and co-created output are positive examples of how a local community—sometimes managing smaller, or less conspicuous types of natural science collections—can work together and use their unique perspectives, experiences and needs to contribute to the international natural science collection and biobanking communities.

Non-government advocacy for health equity: evidence from Australia.

The aim of this paper is to identify non-governmental organizations (NGOs) advocating for policy and practices to address rising health inequities in Australia. NGOs can play a critical role in shaping and influencing governance processes including public policy relating to the social and commercial determinants of health inequities. However, scholarship on who the NGOs are that are advocating to address health inequities in Australia and how they operate is sparse. Through desktop analysis in 2022, we searched NGO websites and documents for evidence of advocacy activities related to health inequities between 2017 and 2022. A database of the NGOs was compiled, noting the type of organization, function, advocacy activities and main issues their advocacy covered. A total of 137 NGOs were identified as engaging in activities advocating for change to address health inequities either directly (e.g. advocating directly to address health inequities) or indirectly (e.g. advocating on social determinants of health inequities such as housing and linking to their unequal health impacts). We noted the primary issues they advocated on, including topic categories: risk factor, disease-specific, broader health system, social determinants of health equity, and health workforce and service issues. The results indicate that Australian NGOs from multiple sectors are active in advocacy to address heath inequities on a variety of topics and through a variety of activities. This study provides a template for similar studies in other countries and suggests further research is needed to understand the role and impact of civil society advocacy to address growing health inequities.

Environmental Scarcity and Natural Resource-Related Disputes in East Hararghe and West Hararghe Zones, Oromia, Ethiopia

This article reports our longitudinal ethnographic study on the nexus between environmental scarcity and natural resource-related disputes in East Hararghe and West Hararghe zones of the Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The data required for the study were obtained through key informant interviews, informal conversations, ethnographic observations and field notes. We systematically organized and analysed the data in such a way that they would reveal the impacts of the long-standing interactions between environmental scarcity and human factors in laying the foundations for and shaping natural resource-related disputes in the study area. The study suggests that natural resource-related disputes in the study area are rooted in the inability to create systems of societal resilience in the face of increasing environmental scarcity. Based on the findings of the study, we underscore that the concerned government and non-government agencies need to take integrated measures to promote environmental protection, environmental justice, conflict sensitivity and socio-ecological resilience.

Are discrete dimensions of corporate social responsibility disclosures global, regional or hybrid?

PurposeWe test whether six individual components of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures in the form of environmental, employee, anticorruption, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), health and human rights are converging (global), diverging (regional) or crossverging (hybrid) on a sample of 335 multinational enterprises (MNEs) from 31 countries from three regions of the world: Europe, Anglo-Saxon cluster and Asia and the emerging markets.Design/methodology/approach We use an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) analysis to test for differences between the six components of CSR on a sample of 335 MNEs from 310 countries for three regions of the world.Findings The effect of one-way ANOVA was significant for each of the six dependent variables separately on the differences between MNEs from the three regions. Taken together clearly the MANCOVA analysis indicates that there are signs of crossvergence between MNEs from Asia and the emerging markets and those from the Anglo-Saxon and European subsamples due to the hybrid nature of the findings.Research limitations/implications The results of the present study support the regional nature of CSR practices and disclosures and on many of the individual components CSR disclosures are a reflection of their home environments.Originality/valueThe study sheds light on the ongoing debate on whether CSR practices are converging, diverging or crossverging on a sample of 335 MNEs from the three regions of the world. Clear evidence of divergence was seen in that in all six dimensions of CSR, there were differences between MNEs from Europe and those from the Anglo-Saxon region reinforcing the implicit and explicit nature of the phenomena. There were significant differences between MNEs from Asia and emerging markets and Europe on four out of the six dimensions of CSR indicating mostly divergence. There were also significant differences between MNEs from Asia and emerging markets and those from the Anglo-Saxon region on three out of the six dimensions of CSR indicating the presence of divergence.

Integrating animal welfare into the WHO pandemic treaty: a thematic analysis of civil society perspectives and comparison with treaty drafting

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical weaknesses in the global health system, highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated international approach to pandemic prevention and management. As negotiations for a new WHO pandemic treaty progress, the effective integration of animal welfare is crucial. This paper aims to investigate the perspectives of key civil society organizations on the integration of animal welfare provisions into the pandemic treaty. Through a thematic analysis of documents prepared by FOUR PAWS, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Action for Animal Health between 2020–2023, five major themes are identified: prevention of zoonotic spillover, One Health approach, animal health systems and infrastructure, sustainable and ethical animal management practices, and policy coherence and governance. A comparative analysis of these themes against the April 2024 draft of the pandemic treaty reveals areas of alignment and divergence. Due to the ongoing controversies and the need for further improvements, the WHO's intergovernmental negotiating body was unable to finalize the treaty text for the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024, leading to an extended mandate until 2025. Based on the findings, the paper proposes recommendations to strengthen the integration of animal welfare into the treaty, arguing that incorporating these recommendations is critical for developing a transformative, equitable, and effective treaty that addresses the systemic drivers of pandemic risk.

Quality of newborn care and associated factors: An analysis of the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey.

Kenya one of the African countries has pledged to reduce neonatal death as per the 2030 World Health Organization target. Providing high-quality newborn care is critical in minimizing neonatal mortality. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the quality of newborn care in Kenya. Secondary data from 11,863 participants of the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) were analyzed. The participants were chosen using two-stage stratified sampling. The quality of newborn care was operationalized as receiving all components of newborn care after childbirth, as reported by the mother. Using SPSS (version 29), univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to analyse the data. In this study, 32.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 31.0%-34.5%) of the mothers reported that their newborns had received all components of quality neonatal care after childbirth. Mothers who spent an average of one hour accessing the health facilities compared with those who spent less than half an hour were 1.33 (95%CI: 1.01-1.75) times more likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care. Mothers who gave birth in a non-government organization health facility were 30.37 (95%CI: 2.69-343.20) times more likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care compared with those who delivered from a faith-based organization. On the contrary, in terms of regions, mothers who lived in Nyanza, Eastern, and Rift Valley provinces compared with those who lived in the coastal regions were 0.53 (95%CI: 0.34-0.82), 0.61 (95%CI: 0.39-0.94), and 0.62 (95%CI: 0.41-0.93) times less likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care, respectively. Mothers who subscribed to other religions or faith (0.28 (95%CI: 0.10-0.76) compared with those from the Christian faith, were less likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care. Finally, mothers who gave birth through cesarean section were 0.44 (95%CI: 0.32-0.61) times less likely to report that their newborns had received quality newborn care than mothers who gave birth through spontaneous vaginal delivery. The study indicates that about a third of the neonates received quality newborn care and that facility-related and parental social factors were associated with receiving quality newborn care. Stakeholders need to pay more attention to newborn babies whose mothers come from certain regions of Kenya where the quality of newborn care was found to be low, minority religious faith denominations, and those who delivered by ceasearen section. Stakeholders also should focus on strengthening collaborations with NGO health facilities and achieving universal health coverage to improve the quality of newborn care provided in health facilities.

Comparison of Orchid Conservation Between China and Other Countries

Global attention is highly focused on biodiversity conservation. Various countries are actively implementing relevant conservation measures. To advance these efforts in China, it is essential to understand global conservation actions. The orchid family, one of the most diverse groups of flowering plants, has become a “flagship” group for plant conservation. In this study, we summarized 3418 policies and regulations related to orchid conservation in 45 countries. We found that orchid conservation actions in various countries have focused on in situ conservation, with 1469 policies and regulations issued for nature reserves, while ex situ conservation has been seriously neglected, with only seven relevant regulations. Most developing countries have experienced an increase in orchid conservation actions, while developed countries have plateaued. We amassed 370 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for orchid conservation. At present, the total number of policies and regulations for orchid protection in China is approximately 84, with 67 issued since 2000. Two non-governmental organizations have been established for orchid conservation. Although the benefit of orchid conservation in China is significant, it still requires continuous improvement compared to many other countries. We recommend that the Chinese government draws on the experiences of the United States, Canada, and Australia in areas such as policy and regulation formulation, optimization of non-governmental organizations, and implementation of related conservation projects. Through learning and collaboration, challenges can be transformed into opportunities for development.

Advancing Blue Carbon Knowledge: Leveraging Geomatics for Capacity Building through the BlueCARES Project

Abstract. Mangrove forests and seagrass meadows, collectively termed as blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs), play a pivotal role in carbon sequestration and climate mitigation. Blue carbon research enables advancing scientific knowledge and gaining insights into their current state, which is crucial for making informed decisions on its conservation and management practices. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) launched the “Comprehensive Assessment and Conservation of Blue Carbon (BC) Ecosystems and their Services in the Coral Triangle” or BlueCARES to pioneer joint research on blue carbon ecosystems and formulate conservation strategies at local and national levels. BlueCARES aims to establish a robust Blue Carbon Strategy and initiate the establishment of the Blue Carbon Network (BCnet), convening various stakeholders, including government agencies, local government units, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations. BCnet organizes summits, workshops, and conferences to facilitate collaboration. Through capacity development initiatives, the project empowers stakeholders to actively engage in field surveys, conservation efforts, and the implementation of the Blue Carbon Strategy, even after the project concludes. This paper narrates the capacity-building engagements made by the Geomatics team, leveraging remote sensing and geospatial technologies to foster sustainable blue carbon management practices and ensure the long-term resilience of BCEs in the country.

Awakening Community Resilience: Strengthening Post-Crash Support for Road Traffic Accident Victims through Sarvodaya's Community-Based Initiatives (A Case Study)

Introduction: The provision of crash care presents a pressing health concern globally, with community-based initiatives offering a cost-effective approach to interventions. The objective of this study was to elucidate the potential community-based initiatives to enhance post-crash support for victims of road traffic accidents, specifically focusing on the efforts of Sarvodaya: a non-governmental organization in Sri Lanka.Methods: This case study employed a mixed-method approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative components. Data collection was done using self-administered questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews. Purposive sampling was done to identify informants (n=37) for the questionnaire survey.Results: While the informants had mixed perceptions of Sarvodaya's present initiatives to support post-crash care, the REACT – Community Life Saver initiative garnered majority for its potential to address the needs of the Road Traffic Accident victims. Community engagement was deemed insufficient, underscoring the need for enhanced awareness programs. Collaboration with existing resources, including Community Lifesaver Programs and the Red Cross, was identified as pivotal. Strategies for community-based interventions, including awareness campaigns, first aid training, improved emergency response systems, and victim advocacy, were prioritized for implementation. Implementation challenges such as resource constraints, behavioural issues of both drivers and pedestrians, communication gaps, and policy-legal concerns were highlighted. Addressing these challenges is crucial for the effective support of Road Traffic Accident (RTA) victims at the community level.Conclusion and recommendations: The study concludes that Sarvodaya has the potential to spearhead community-based initiatives aimed at enhancing post-crash support for road traffic accident victims, pending the effective resolution of identified constraints.

Design, creation, and use of the Test Us Bank (TUB) COVID-19 sample biorepository.

Shortly after the first case of SARS-CoV-2 was diagnosed a public health emergency (PHE) was declared and a multi-agency response was initiated within the US federal government to create and propagate testing capacity. As part of this response, an unprecedented program designated Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Tech was established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to facilitate the development of point-of-care tests for the COVID-19. The RADx Tech Clinical Studies Core (CSC), located at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMass Chan), with partnering academic, private, and non-governmental organizations around the country, was tasked with developing clinical studies to support this work. This manuscript details development of a biorepository specifically focused on the collection and storage of samples designed for diagnostic platform development. It highlights the unified collection and annotation process that enabled gathering a diverse set of samples. This diversity encompasses the geography and backgrounds of the participants as well as sample characteristics such as variant type and RT-PCR cycle threshold (CT) value of the corresponding reference sample on a uniform clinical reference platform.

Quality of care in South Sudan and its associated factors, a facility-based cross-sectional study in public health facilities in Yambio County, Western Equatoria State.

The patient's experience of care is critical in determining how satisfied the client is with the quality of health services offered by the health facility. Understanding health needs aids in identifying gaps in service provision as well as potential avenues for planning and improving health care services. The primary goal of this study was to explore the attributes of quality healthcare in South Sudan from the perspective of healthcare recipients. Nonetheless, South Sudan's health system has remained inadequate since the country's independence in 2011, with 85% of deliveries performed by unskilled health personnel, high maternal and child death rates, and a lack of vital lifesaving drugs in health facilities. Political unrest, natural disasters, poor infrastructure, and budgetary limits are among the additional factors impeding the provision of high-quality care services to the population in need. However, the South Sudan government, with the support of international health partners, continues to work towards ensuring that basic health needs are met in accordance with SDG-3 recommendations. This was a facility-based cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in four selected health facilities in Yambio County, Western Equatoria State, from July 1st to September 30th, 2023. A sample size of 422 was included, and a randomized sampling procedure was used, with 60% of public health facilities supported by non-governmental organizations utilizing the lottery method. Data were collected and entered into SPSS version 25 for descriptive and regression analysis. A total of 422 participants were solicited for the study, with a response rate of 99.81 percent. Of the 421 responders, 72% (303/421) were female and 28% (118/421) were male. The overall satisfaction with the experience of quality of health care delivered was 84.8%. A preliminary analysis found that the assumption of multicollinearity was met (Age, sex, feeling of having chance to fully explain a problem to care provider, physical examination, provider's technical capacity in diagnosis and treatment, provider attitude, client respect) among others, were all associated with the client's experience of care and satisfaction with the quality of health care. The clients who sought health care at the public health facilities in Western Equatorial State were quite satisfied with the quality of health services (84.8%). Provider's behaviors, attitudes, and technical skills, among other major factors, were found to be associated with the client's positive experience of care. To uphold health ethics, the study recommends including medical ethics training and client center care into continuing medical educations at health facilities.

Gynecological health care services utilization and violence among female sex workers in Togo in 2021.

Female Sex Workers (FSW) in Sub Saharan Africa face multiple challenges increasing their vulnerability to poor health, particularly poor sexual and reproductive (SRH) health outcomes and violence. The aim of this study was to assess the use of gynecology health care services and factors associated with its use as well as experiences of violence among FSW in Togo. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2021 among FSW in two cities of Togo. A snowball sampling method was used and initial seeds were identified in each site in collaboration with FSW non-governmental organizations. A logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with the use of a SRH service and violence. A total of 447 FSW with a median age of 30 [IQR: (24-38)] participated in this study and 43.4% of them had reached at least secondary school. Among them, 29.1% reported having been to a gynecological consultation over the previous year. Factors associated with a gynecological consultation included: living in the Lomé capital city (aOR = 0.35, 95%CI 0.22-0.54), and an experience of condom breakage or slippage (aOR = 2.00; 95%CI 1.19-2.64). The majority reported at least one lifetime pregnancy (87.9%), 39.8% reported ever having an unintended pregnancy and 67.6% of them ever had an abortion. Finally, 61.1% indicated being victims of physical, sexual, or emotional violence in the previous six months. Sex workers living in Lomé (aOR = 1.78; 95%CI 1.16-2.73); a history of abortion (aOR = 1.53; 95%CI 1.03-2.31) and having more than 15 clients per week (aOR = 4.87; 95% CI 1.99-11.94), were more likely to experience violence. There is an under-utilization of health care services among FSW in Togo in addition to overall poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes with a high prevalence of gender-based violence. Those results highlight the importance of continued advocacy for the integration of SRH care with HIV prevention services geared toward FSW as well as a holistic approach to SRH care with innovative ways to prevent violence.