Needy Population Research Articles

The socioeducational profile of illegal traders of wild animals in free markets on Amazon Region

O Brasil é detentor da maior biodiversidade do planeta e a cobiça por essa biodiversidade existe desde a chegada dos portugueses na época da colonização. A Amazônia possui grande diversidade biológica, principalmente em relação aos Animais Silvestres (AS), apresentando também problemas na sua preservação. Além de ser importante na dieta alimentar de populações carentes, os AS são também criados em cativeiro como animais de estimação. Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar o perfil socioeducacional dos comerciantes de AS em feiras livre da Amazônia. Utilizou-se um questionário, o qual foi aplicado em 17 cidades dos estados do Pará e Amazonas. Os resultados comprovaram que os comerciantes de AS possuem mais de 30 anos de idade, com baixa escolaridade e residentes das cidades onde se realizou a pesquisa. Deste modo, as autoridades responsáveis pela temática devem, não só realizar repressão aos comerciantes ilegais, mas também implementar programas voltados para a sustentabilidade, como por exemplo a Educação Ambiental, assim como o investimento na Educação Básica.

Prevalence of Dental Anxiety among Patients Visiting the Out Patient Department (OPD) of a Dental Institution in Panchkula, Haryana

INTRODUCTION: Anxiety is a common problem frequently experienced by patients undergoing dental procedures in every dental setting. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of dental anxiety among the patients visiting the Out Patient Department (OPD) of a Dental Institution in Panchkula, Haryana.MATERIALS & METHOD: A sample of 600 adults (Females =298, Males = 302) with age ranging from 21 years to 65 years were enrolled in the study. The Modified Dental Anxiety Scale was used to measure dental anxiety among the study population. Chi Square test and ANOVA was used to find significant comparisons between the different variables assessed in the study. Further, Spearman’s Correlation was used to analyse these variables with the mean anxiety scores of the patients.RESULTS: The prevalence of anxiety among patients was found to be high. Reportedly the level of anxiety was found more in females than in males. It was revealed that with advancing age and higher education level, there was a decrease in level of anxiety, postponement of the dental treatment had a direct effect on dental anxiety. Previous unfavourable dental experience has a high impact on dental anxiety scores.CONCLUSION: Evaluation of anxiety levels in the subjects of this study suggests that majority of them are anxious towards dental treatment. Dental anxiety is one of the major barrier in the utilization of dental services. There is a strict need of directing efforts towards alleviation of this hindrance to provide a good quality dental care to the needy population.

Public health and precision medicine share a goal.

The advances made in genomics and molecular tools aid public health programs in the investigation of outbreaks and control of diseases by taking advantage of the precision medicine. Precision medicine means "segregating the individuals into subpopulations who vary in their disease susceptibility and response to a precise treatment" and not merely designing of drugs or creation of medical devices. By 2017, the United Kingdom 100,000 Genomes Project is expected to sequence 100,000 genomes from 70,000 patients. Similarly, the Precision Medicine Initiative of the United States plans to increase population-based genome sequencing and link it with clinical data. A national cohort of around 1 million people is to be established in the long term, to investigate the genetic and environmental determinants of health and disease, and further integrated to their electronic health records that are optional. Precision public health can be seen as administering the right intervention to the needy population at an appropriate time. Precision medicine originates from a wet-lab while evidence-based medicine is nurtured in a clinic. Linking the quintessential basic science research and clinical practice is necessary. In addition, new technologies to employ and analyze data in an integrated and dynamic way are essential for public health and precision medicine. The transition from evidence-based approach in public health to genomic approach to individuals with a paradigm shift of a "reactive" medicine to a more "proactive" and personalized health care may sound exceptional. However, a population perspective is needed for the precision medicine to succeed.

Yellow fever from Angola and Congo: a storm gathers.

In common with Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue, Yellow Fever (YF) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus. It is transmitted between humans and from monkeys by mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti (its principal vector), haemogogus and albopictus varieties. Three cycles of transmission may occur: urban; sylvatic; and intermediate. Recently, sub-Saharan Africa has seen the resurgence of this neglected disease. The current YF outbreak in Angola began in December 2015 in the capital Luanda and by October 2016 there had been > 4300 suspected cases, with 376 deaths (case fatality rate = 8.8%). A total of 884 were laboratory confirmed but it is likely that case numbers may be seriously underestimated. YF has subsequently quickly spread to neighbouring Congo and further afield to Kenya and also China, this being of grave concern as this was a first introduction of YF to Asia. YF has recently hit Brazil, with 555 suspected cases and 107 deaths reported by the end of January 2017. Extremely rapid unplanned urban migration in Africa by non-immune rural populations to already densely populated cities, where high densities of mosquitoes co-exist with city dwellers in makeshift flimsy accommodation, poses a ready recipe for an epidemic of massive proportion. In such conditions, with enormously strained public services existing among the most needy and vulnerable populations, mosquito control programmes are nearly impossible. YF in Congo is a tempest barely restrained. However, it is one that can be controlled by focused and committed international collaboration, by intense and united political will and by the marriage of old and trusted techniques: a vaccine almost a century old and some of the most modern technologies available to man.

The Developmental Impact of Reverse-Migration Separation on Low-Income Chinese-American Children—Provider Perspectives

Family service professionals, child development providers, and school teachers who work with American-born Chinese children of reverse-migration face great challenges especially when the specific needs of these children and their immigrant families are unknown to them. This study explored the experiences and perspectives of service providers on the possible developmental impacts of reverse-migration separation on returning children of Chinese immigrant families in New York City. Focus groups and key informant interviews were conducted with 20 healthcare providers, school teachers, social workers, and child and family service practitioners. Thematic analysis approach was used to analyze and encode qualitative information and to discover patterns and themes. The analytical process consisted of data immersion, taking notes, sorting data into codes, and comparing the themes across interviews. Findings revealed specific themes that included: 1) provider’s observations of child’s attachment, health, learning, and behavioral issues; 2) provider’s views concerning parenting methods, skills, and challenges; and 3) suggestions for support and resources for Chinese immigrant families. Implications for social policy, intervention services, and future research on this needy immigrant population were discussed. Knowledge derived from this study is instrumental in raising awareness, broadening knowledge base, and increasing effectiveness among service professionals who serve this population.

Frequency of ocular conditions in native Brazilians from Avaí City, São Paulo State

Abstract Purpose: To perform an epidemiological study of eye diseases in the population of four indigenous communities in the City of Avai in the state of Sao Paulo - Brazil: Ekerua, Kopenoti, Nimuendaju and Teregua. Methods: This is a prospective, cross-sectional, population-based study performed by the Medical Residency Program of the Center of Excellence in Ophthalmology (CEO-Bauru), including all the inhabitants of four indigenous tribes, between the months of March and April 2016. All participants were submitted to a complete eye examination that included refraction test and best-corrected visual acuity, external ocular motility and strabismus, measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), color vision test, slit lamp examination and a complete evaluation of the fundus. Results: From a total of 584 natives from four villages, 377 (64.55%) attended the project. 283 appointments were performed at CEO - Bauru and 94 evaluations in the health center of Kopenoti village using a mobile ophthalmology unit. 48.54% of the participants were male and 51.46% female. The mean age was 32.03 ± 21.45 years. Our study found prevalence of pterygium of 14.05%, cataract of 6.63%, glaucoma of 1.85% and diabetic retinopathy of 1.59%. These numbers are higher than found in other epidemiological studies. Regarding refractive errors, 36.99% presented astigmatism, 4.24% simple myopia and 8.35% simple hyperopia. Conclusion: These information are extremely important because they show higher rates of eye diseases in a needy and remote population of urban health centers, and in need of medical care. It is noteworthy that all patients from this study who presented refractive errors, received glasses with the corrected refractive lenses.

Factors Associated With Incomplete Reporting Of HIV/AIDS By Uganda’s Surveillance System

Background: With support from the United States government, Uganda introduced the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) in 2012 to improve surveillance for better prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. However, districts have yet to fully adopt this system given a 70.2% reporting completeness achieved nationally between April – June 2013. Methods: The study has one dependent variable: Districts’ reporting completeness and four independent variables. 1) Number of client visits; 2) Number of district health units; 3) Number of NGOs delivering HIV/AIDS services; and 4) Regional location. We used cross-sectional study design which allows researchers to compare many different variables at the same time. HIV/AIDS program data that were reported by districts into DHIS2 during the period of April to June 2013 were used to assess for statistical analysis. Findings: Districts reporting the lowest number of client visits (under 2500) achieved the highest mean reporting completeness (81.6%), whereas a range of 2501 – 5000, or over 5001client visits recorded 72.4% and 51.7% respectively. The higher the number of client visits the lower the reporting completeness (p < .05). Districts that were receiving support from only one NGO recorded a mere 56.7% whereas those from two recorded 67.2%. Districts supported by over three NGOs had the highest (80.6%) mean reporting completeness. The number of NGOs was statistically associated with reporting completeness (p < .05). The number of health units operated by a district was also significantly associated with reporting completeness (p < .05). The regional location of a district was not associated with reporting completeness (p =.674). Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that districts with higher patient volume for HIV/AIDS services should be identified and targeted with additional NGO support. Newly funded NGOs should be established in districts operating over 40 health units. Incomplete reporting undermines identification of HIV- affected individuals and limits the ability to make evidence-based decisions regarding program planning and service delivery for HIV prevention and antiretroviral therapy for this needy population.

A EMERGÊNCIA DOS MERCADOS INSTITUCIONAIS NO ESPAÇO RURAL BRASILEIRO: AGRICULTURA FAMILIAR E SEGURANÇA ALIMENTAR E NUTRICIONAL

doi: 10.12957/geouerj.2016.19161 The present paper analyzes the chief contributions from institutional markets generated to Brazilian family farmers and, by contrast, presents the obstacles that hinder their access or permanence in these markets. For such, readings were made of works that address the theme, and interviews were performed with different social agents responsible for the operationalization of programs like PAA, PNAE and Sao Paulo Program for Social Interest Farming (PPAIS) in Dracena municipality, in Sao Paulo state west region. Based on analyses made, it was concluded that such programs have great potential to yield sustainable rural development actions in Brazilian countryside and ensure food and nutritional safety of needy populations. For such, public authorities should adopt measures to minimize issues that limit family famers’ access to and/or permanence in programs oriented to family farming.

A formação do espaço urbano da cidade de Belo Horizonte: um estudo de caso a luz de comparações com as cidades de São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro.

O presente trabalho procura analisar como se constituiu o espaço urbano e social da cidade de Belo Horizonte, no final do século XIX e início do século XX, à luz de comparações com as cidades de São Paulo e Rio de Janeiro no mesmo período. Inaugurada em 1897, a nova capital mineira se tornou a primeira cidade planejada do país. O objetivo deste ensaio é o de explicitar como as ideias republicanas inspiraram à experiência urbanística da cidade, seu aspecto modernizante e ao mesmo tempo sua estratificação social, que classificava e hierarquizava o território belorizontino, no intuito de assegurar as condições de vida para uma população em rápido crescimento, adequando a cidade aos negócios e criando mecanismos de controle social para a uma população carente e trabalhadora de Belo Horizonte.

Development and quality assessment of pork sandwich spread incorporated with different levels of antioxidant mixture (BHA and BHT) during frozen storage (−18 ± 1°C)

Purpose This paper aims to develop a good quality pork sandwich spread incorporated with different levels of antioxidant mixture [butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) + butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT); 1:1] and to assess sensory, physico-chemical and microbiological properties of frozen product during storage. Design/methodology/approach Three levels of antioxidant mixture (BHA + BHT; 1:1) i.e. 100, 200 and 400 ppm were tried, and the product was compared for physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory properties along with the control during frozen storage (−18 ± 1°C). Findings pH and water activity decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.05), whereas water holding capacity, 2-thiobarbituric acid reacting substances value, total plate count and psychrotrophic count increased significantly (p &lt; 0.05) during storage period. No coliform, yeast and molds were detected throughout the study period. There was non-significant (p &lt; 0.05) effect of antioxidant treatment on the scores of colour, texture, juiciness, adhesion ability and spreadability, but scores for flavour and overall acceptability significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased. Research limitations/implications Pork sandwich spread is envisaged to help in providing nutrition to a large section of needy population and will add a new dimension to the convenience foods. Originality/value Antioxidant mixture (BHA + BHT, 1:1) treatment improved the sensory and microbiological properties of pork sandwich spread at frozen storage (−18 ± 1°C). At the end of storage period (60 days), the pork sandwich spread was found safe for human consumption. Hence, BHA and BHT antioxidant mixture could be used to improve quality attributes of meat products during storage.

Mobile teledermatology for rural Nepal: Dermatologic care using mobile phone in a primary health care centre

Introduction: Skin diseases are among the five most common health problems in Nepal. We have now tested the validity of mobile teledermatology with mobile phones to find a safe and easy way of diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases for the most vulnerable people in remote areas without access to derma- tologists. Methods: A medical officer at a primary health care centre examined the patient, obtained information of the patient and the skin disease, took photographs of the skin lesions. Then he transmitted all these data via Viber to a dermatologist in Kathmmandu, who in real time formulated diagnosis and treatment and sent it via Viber to the medical officer. Subsequently the patient was examined face to face by a blinded dermatologist at the same primary health care centre. The time taken for each modality of consultation was recorded. A third dermatologist analysed and compared the diagnoses formulated during telederma- tology and the face to face consultations. Results: Altogether 107 skin diseases were diagnosed in 101 patients. There was an overall concordance of 88% between the diagnoses of skin diseases by mobile teledermatology and face to face consultations (Cohen k coefficient 0.85). The average face to face consultation time was 5 minutes, while it was 7 min- utes more for teleconsultation. More than 75% of the photos were of good quality. Conclusions: Mobile teledermatology using smartphones is a reliable, useful, cost effective method to provide expertise for improving dermatologic care for the needy population in rural and remote parts of Nepal.

Barriers to availing refractive error services among an urban slum population in Mumbai, India

Barriers to availing refracti ve error services among an urban slum population in Mumbai, India. Background: A refractive error project for management of refractive errors in adults was undertaken in the urban slums of Mumbai, India. The project looked at the burden of refractive errors in the predominantly lower socio economic status groups as well as what common barriers prevent access to refractive services amongst this population. This presentation highlights the barriers that were elicited for availing and accessing refractive error services among the urban slum population in Mumbai, India. AIM: The study aimed to identify the common barriers to availing &amp; accessing refractive error services among an urban slum population in Mumbai, India. Methods : A situation analysis of the community, with respect to availability of services was done as a part of the service delivery planning. The analysis revealed that services were available but the community was not accessing the same. Based on the situation analysis report a questionnaire with all perceived barriers was developed and the same was validated. Service delivery was done by establishing vision centers within the community. Trained health workers performed a door to door vision screening, identified and referred the needy population to the vision centre. Here the questionnaire was run by trained social workers on the people visiting the centers for eye examinations, who were referred by the social workers. Results : Data analysis was carried out to know the reasons for not availing the services within the community. Of the 4070 subjects who visited the vision centre, 4039 case records were complete and analyzed. The demographic associations of the use of spectacles and reasons for not availing services were assessed with age, gender, education, socioeconomic status. On further analyses it was revealed, that, 3373 (83.5%) were aware of their poor vision, of these 2000 people did not visit an eye doctor. When the questions were analyzed as economic reasons and lack of awareness, lack of awareness superseded economic reasons, as lack of awareness was 54.5% Vs economic was 53.70%. Conclusion: When refractive error service delivery was planned for this population, besides providing free spectacles, emphasis on generating awareness for need for refractive errors was also considered.

Commentary on Binswanger et al. (2016): Multiple opportunities exist to improve the health and wellbeing of people released from prisons

Commentary on Binswanger <i>et al</i>. (2016): Multiple opportunities exist to improve the health and wellbeing of people released from prisons

Artificial Neural Network Methods Applied to Drug Discovery for Neglected Diseases.

Among the chemometric tools used in rational drug design, we find artificial neural network methods (ANNs), a statistical learning algorithm similar to the human brain, to be quite powerful. Some ANN applications use biological and molecular data of the training series that are inserted to ensure the machine learning, and to generate robust and predictive models. In drug discovery, researchers use this methodology, looking to find new chemotherapeutic agents for various diseases. The neglected diseases are a group of tropical parasitic diseases that primarily affect poor countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Current drugs against these diseases cause side effects, are ineffective during the chronic stages of the disease, and are often not available to the needy population, have relative high toxicity, and face developing resistance. Faced with so many problems, new chemotherapeutic agents to treat these infections are much needed. The present review reports on neural network research, which studies new ligands against Chagas' disease, sleeping sickness, malaria, tuberculosis, and leishmaniasis; a few of the neglected diseases.

Pediatric Cardiology in India: Onset of a New Era.

Pediatric cardiology is outgrowing from the shadows of adult cardiology and cardiac surgery departments in India. It promises to be an attractive and sought-after subspeciality of Pediatrics, dealing with not only congenital cardiac diseases but also metabolic, rheumatic and host of other cardiac diseases. The new government policy shall provide more training avenues for the budding pediatric cardiologists, pediatric cardiac surgeons, pediatric anesthetists, pediatric cardiac intensivists, neonatologists and a host of supportive workforce. The proactive role of Indian Academy of Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiac Society of India, towards creating a political will at the highest level for framing policies towards building infrastructure, training of workforce and subsidies for pediatric cardiac surgeries and procedures shall fuel the development of multiple tertiary cardiac centers in the country, making pediatric cardiology services accessible to the needy population.

Where do we Stand Towards 100% Voluntary Blood Donation – are we Really Moving Towards Achieving the Goal?

Voluntary blood donation is an act of selflessness, blood donors demonstrate altruistic behavior and a good attitude towards the well-being of society. The dream and the ultimate aim of the developing countries is to achieve total 100% voluntary blood donations to provide safe blood for a needy population. There are many factors that determine the efficient and effective functioning of a blood bank to meet recipient needs. In many developing countries the majority of blood donors are students and the younger generation. It is difficult to reach our targets involving the students and younger generation alone, but can reach our goal if we successfully target the general public at large. Using of effective and dedicated educational programs and communication strategies in driving awareness among the general public, it will indeed be possible for blood donor organizations/ blood banks to reach a goal of 100% voluntary blood donation in near future.

An academic-practice partnership in a medically underserved community.

The University of Washington School of Nursing faculty partnered with leaders of a local community with the shared intention of improving health services for needy populations and preparing nursing students to collaborate with communities in caring for such populations. The resulting clinic has operated for more than a decade and has continually grown, now serving about 1,000 patients per month. More than 300 students have completed clinical or research activities at the clinic. Challenges have included provision of culturally informed, evidence-based care; integration of mental and primary health care services; chronic disease management; leveraging community partnerships in support of needy populations; and fiscal sustainability. A new project uses team-based approaches to implement interprofessional, relationship-centered care for families of newborns.

Needs‐Based Targeting or Favoritism? The Regional Allocation of Multilateral Aid within Recipient Countries

SUMMARYThe regional allocation of aid within recipient countries has been largely ignored. We use geocoded data on the location of aid projects financed by the World Bank and the African Development Bank within a sample of 27 recipient countries to assess the claim of donors that their aid targets needy population segments. We also assess whether political leaders in these countries direct aid funds to their home region. We do not find that the multilateral institutions take regional needs into account. Instead, favoritism appears to play an important role for location choices, in particular for physical infrastructure projects.

Estimating Housing Affordability of Urban Poor in Maharashtra State

Affordable housing normally covers both low cost market and subsidized housing that is available to people who cannot afford to rent or buy a house generally available in the open market. This study attempts to define, develop and administer the concept of Affordable Housing for poor and needy population in urban areas of Maharashtra. It is based on primary data collected from four towns (Malegaon, Nanded, Nagpur and Pune) covering 12000 households. Affordability has been calculated through present value of future net savings and the current disposable wealth, as reported by respondents of the survey. The projected profile of net savings over the remaining working life of the respondents duly adjusted for impairments in their repayment capacities on account of morbidity and mortality have been used for this purpose.

Shifting boundaries between the normal and the pathological: the case of mild intellectual disability.

When disorders fade into normality, how can the threshold between normality and disorder be determined? In considering mild intellectual disability, I argue that economic factors partly determine thresholds. We tend to assume that the relationship between disorder, need and services is such that: first, a cut-off point between the disordered and the normal is determined; second, a needy population is identified; and third, resources are found (or at least should be found) to meet this need. However, the changing definitions of intellectual disability can best be understood if we think of this happening in reverse. That is, first, certain resources are thought obtainable, and then a cut-off point for disorder is selected which supplies an appropriately sized 'needy population'.