Poor Urban Areas Research Articles

Water sanitation and hygiene in Sub-Saharan Africa: Coverage, risks of diarrheal diseases, and urbanization

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has a rapidly growing urban population, with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services representing the central needs for this population. Incidentally, this region has the lowest global WASH coverage. Data from the ‘WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water supply, Sanitation and Hygiene’ and the ‘Global Burden of Disease’ study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation were used to assess WASH coverage and related health burden in SSA, its subregions, and rural and urban areas in SSA. WASH coverage in the SSA region appears to be low, but urban coverage is better than that in rural areas; however, there is unequal access to urban WASH and poor urban areas are underserved. In addition, 7.75% (5.99–9.7%) of total deaths due to diarrheal diseases across SSA are attributed to unsafe WASH with a risk factor attribution (RFA) percentage of 95.93% (91.94–98.24%). Therefore, a correlation between WASH coverage and mortality due to diarrheal diseases could be established.There is a lack of data on WASH coverage in poor urban areas, although these areas have high incidence of WASH-related diseases including diarrhea. Disaggregated urban WASH data are needed to better understand the WASH service needs of poor urban areas, which would be helpful in ensuring a more inclusive implementation of WASH services.

519-P: Unmet Communication Needs and Barriers of Black and African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes

T2D is disproportionately prevalent among Black and African Americans (BAAs) and is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among BAAs. T2D care is improved by patient-centered communication and Shared Decision Making (SDM). However, culturally sensitive T2D communication and SDM tools that focus on patient’s communication preferences, needs, and racial and cultural background that shape the interaction with a provider and influence treatment follow-up, are missing. The purpose of this formative study was to identify communication preferences, barriers, and needs of BAAs with T2D. Interviews were conducted with 32 BAAs with T2D served at a safety-net hospital located in a poor urban area. The sample included 17 women (53.1%), ages 31 to 81 years (58.9, SD=11.9), with a range of glycemic control (HbA1c: M=9, SD=2.7, range 6 to 14). A third (N=11) were prescribed oral medication and insulin, another third (N=11) were on oral medication only. A majority of participants (n=18, 56.3%) identified paternalistic communication, mistrust in the provider, and communication mismatch as barriers to T2D care. Receiving information about managing T2D in real-life situations (n=18, 56.3%) and patient-clinician collaboration in T2D decision-making (n=23, 72%) were the preferred communication strategies. A majority of participants stated expression of empathy, concern, and compassion by providers (n=22, 68.8%) and informal, open and direct communication (n=31, 96.9%) are needed to improve the quality of T2D care among BAAs. We identified several communication barriers and needs of BAAs with T2D with their providers, which interrupt their T2D management and treatment follow-up. There is an urgent need to improve patient-provider communication by developing culturally-sensitive communication support tools to address the communication needs and preferences of BAAs to improve SDM and the quality of diabetes care. Disclosure Y. Zisman-ilani: None. D. J. Rubin: Research Support; Self; AstraZeneca. L. A. Siminoff: None. M. L. Savoy: None. A. Paranjape: None. J. Liu: None. R. A. Jacob: None. H. M. Gardiner: None. S. B. Bass: None. V. M. Montori: None.

Financial Inclusion and Poverty Alleviation in Kenya: Effects of Mobile Loan Interest Rates on the Financial Performance of SMEs in Urban Informal Settlements

The aim of this study is to assess the effect of interest rates on the financial performance of SMEs in urban informal settlements in Kenya. This study adopts the descriptive survey design. Data were collected from 120 SMEs in the 6 wards of Mathare Sub-County. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. It was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings show that low-interest rates could influence the propensity of SMEs to apply for these loans. The ability to pay mobile loans without problems due to low interest rates enhanced the performance of the respondents’ businesses. This goes on to contribute to poverty alleviation in urban informal settlements through enhanced access to capital; one of the goals of the World Bank. This has further ripple effects since it can contribute to income diversification for the inhabitants of poor urban areas. The following recommendations were made. The government should also reduce interest rates to lower the cost of mobile phone interests as well as the interest rates of other loan products. Mobile loan lenders should also ensure that their loan products are affordable for the urban poor.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis in urban populations of terrestrial gastropods and rats in an impoverished region of Brazil.

The nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the most common cause of neuroangiostrongyliasis (manifested as eosinophilic meningitis) in humans. Gastropod molluscs are used as intermediate hosts and rats of various species are definitive hosts of this parasite. In this study, we identified several environmental factors associated with the presence and abundance of terrestrial gastropods in an impoverished urban region in Brazil. We also found that body condition, age and presence of co-infection with other parasite species in urban Rattus norvegicus, as well as environmental factors were associated with the probability and intensity of A. cantonensis infection. The study area was also found to have a moderate prevalence of the nematode in rodents (33% of 168 individuals). Eight species of molluscs (577 individuals) were identified, four of which were positive for A. cantonensis. Our study indicates that the environmental conditions of poor urban areas (presence of running and standing water, sewage, humidity and accumulated rain and accumulation of construction materials) influenced both the distribution and abundance of terrestrial gastropods, as well as infected rats, contributing to the maintenance of the A. cantonensis transmission cycle in the area. Besides neuroangiostrongyliasis, the presence of these hosts may also contribute to susceptibility to other zoonoses.

Differences in factors associated with anemia in Haitian children from urban and rural areas.

BackgroundIn Haiti, differences in the prevalence of anemia between urban and rural areas have been observed.ObjectiveTo identify moderating factors that may help explain the difference in the prevalence of anemia in children from poor urban vs. rural areas of Haiti.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used secondary data from urban and rural school-based trials that assessed the effectiveness of a nutrition intervention. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT02747524. A total of 300 rural- and 981 urban- children between 2.5–13 years of age were included in this analysis. Effect modification in a binary logistic generalized linear mixed model was conducted using sample weights in SPSS® version 26. Models were adjusted for age and income. School cluster was included as random effect.ResultsIn rural areas, stunting was more prevalent in children with anemia vs. no anemia, (16.6%, and 6.3%, P = 0.008), respectively. Also, rural children with anemia lived with fewer adults vs. rural children with no anemia, ( = 2.83±1.29, and 3.30±1.54, P = 0.005), respectively. In poor urban areas, helminth morbidities were more frequent in children with anemia vs. no anemia, (21.9% vs. 13.9, P = 0.011), respectively. In the combined sample, stunting, [AOR = 2.05; 95%CI (1.32–3.18)], age [AOR = 0.89; 95%CI (0.85–0.93)], and households with more adults [AOR = 0.77; 95%CI (0.67–0.87)] were associated with anemia. Effect modification by place of residence was observed in households with more adults (t = 3.83, P<0.001). No other nutritional, dietary, sanitation or morbidity factors or effect modifiers were observed.ConclusionsIn this sample, factors associated with anemia differed in poor urban and rural children from Haiti including family structure and helminth morbidities. Stunting and lower age increased the odds of anemia in the combined sample. Family structure appears to have an important role in anemia, and further research understanding the influence of family structures in anemia is needed.

Poverty and Digital Divide: A Study in Urban Poor Neighborhoods

Literature suggests that the penetration of digital technology may create a digital divide, particularly for groups that lack resources and the capacity to access technology. This study is keen to examine the poverty and digital divide, particularly in urban poor areas. There are two research objectives. Firstly, to examine the digital diffusion and digital literacy within poor urban neighborhoods in the City of Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Secondly, to understand the variation of digital diffusion and digital literacy across areas (with different levels of poverty), age groups, genders and occupations. The data is collected from surveys focused on measuring the access to information, digital diffusion and the use of technology among the poor. This study found that there is a digital divide problem among people in urban areas, especially among people with low incomes. Moreover, the diffusion is dominated by certain groups such as younger people and females. Furthermore, digital literacy among the poor is low. The policy implication is to improve access for digital diffusion and provide assistance to improve digital literacy skills.

Towards Universal Health Coverage in Brazil: analysis of programs to expand the supply of doctors in primary health care

Background The inequality in the access to health services in Brazil is one of the consequences of the poor distribution of doctors throughout the country. This is observed by the scarcity of these professionals working in primary health care (PHC) in the Brazilian health care system (SUS), particularly in rural and poor suburban areas. This paper analyzes the policies of the Brazilian federal government aiming to increase access to health services by encouraging physicians to work in PHC. The study examines the policies’ effects regarding the availability of doctors, and the participation of Brazilian doctors on the “Mais Médicos” Project, leading to recommendations for future strategies. Methods The research combined a scope review, based on documents produced by the federal government, and analysis of secondary data obtained from the Ministry of Health, as well as from official websites of the Brazilian government. Results The results indicate advances in innovative strategies to expand the number of physicians, increasing the availability of these professionals, and PHC coverage. However, it is still necessary to fight the scarcity of professionals and fill healthcare positions primarily in municipalities far from urban centers, poor and suburban areas, and Special Indigenous Sanitary Districts. Conclusions Improving health coverage in Brazil through strengthening primary health care will require further efforts to overcome the challenge of attracting and retaining doctors to work in disadvantaged areas, increasing the availability and accessibility of health workers. In addition, new policies need to emphasize the participation of other health professionals such as nurses, auxiliary nurses, and community health agents, as well as incorporate new technology able to reduce distances between health professionals and users of the Brazilian health care system.

Spatio-temporal analysis and determination of the ecological niche model of Giardia Lamblia (Lambl, 1859) in Ardabil province, northwestern Iran.

Intestinal parasites have a serious health problem and frequently infect children in poor urban areas in developing countries. Some types of Cryptosporidium, Entamoeba and Giardia are amongst the most prevalent ones. The aim of this study was explore the distribution pattern of intestinal parasites and the ecological niche of Giardia lamblia in Ardabil Province. This was retrospective cross-sectional study, the officially registered statistics of health centers and hospitals in Ardabil University of Medical Sciences from January 2017 to December 2019 were used. The Kriging interpolation analysis was run to detect the high-risk areas of the disease in the province (P < 0.05) by ArcGIS10.4.1 and to construct the ecological niche model of the G.lamblia parasite, analyzed by Maxent3.3 software. Totally of 238 cases of intestinal parasite were reported during the study period, 77.7% of which were males and 22.3% females. Seven types of intestinal parasites were prevalent with G.lamblia species (79.4%) being the most and Entamoeba histolytica species (4%) the least prevalent one. There was one hotspot in the province in the center with an incidence risk of 41-45.5%. The most important climate and environmental factors affecting the ecological niche of G.lamblia are Bio16, Bio3, and the NDVI. G.lamblia is the most prevalent intestinal parasite in Ardabil Province; moreover, one important hotspots was also detected in the province that can provide useful information regarding the management and control of this parasite.

Do catastrophic costs impact treatment outcomes in people with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in the Republic of Moldova?

The Republic of Moldova is among the 30 Rifampicin-Resistant and/or Multidrug-Resistant (RR/MDR) Tuberculosis (TB) high burden countries in the world. Despite free TB diagnostics and treatment, TB patients face substantial economic losses and this may impact overall treatment outcomes. We assessed if there is an association between TB-related catastrophic costs and TB treatment outcomes. We conducted a cohort study using data from patient records and a survey that quantified catastrophic costs among RR/MDR-TB affected households in the Republic of Moldova in 2016. We included adult patients (age ≥18 years) with RR/MDR-TB who had been in inpatient (intensive phase) or outpatient (continuous phase) treatment for at least 2 months. Unfavourable treatment outcome, such as failure, death or lost to follow-up, was the primary outcome variable. The definition of catastrophic TB-related costs followed the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines: costs due to TB ≥20% of annual household income. Log-binomial regression was used to assess association between the outcome and catastrophic TB-related costs adjusting for other socio-demographic, behavioural and clinical covariates. In total 287 RR/MDR-TB patients (78% males, mean age 42 years) were included. Of them, 30% experienced catastrophic TB-related costs. Overall, one in five patients (21%) had unfavourable treatment outcome, such as treatment failure (5%), death (8%) or lost to follow-up (8%). The experience of catastrophic TB-related costs was not associated with unfavourable treatment outcome [adjusted relative risk (aRR)=0.88, 95% CI: 0.50–1.50]. Major factors independently associated with unfavourable TB treatment outcomes were poverty (aRR=2.07; 95% CI: 1.06-4.07), urban residence (aRR=1.99; 95% CI: 1.12-3.52) and positive HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) status (aRR=2.61; 95% CI: 1.31-4.89). As a result, we failed to find an association between catastrophic costs and treatment outcomes of RR/MDR-TB patients in the Republic of Moldova. However, we found that patients from poor households and urban areas were twice more likely to achieve unfavourable TB treatment outcomes disregarding whether they experienced catastrophic costs or not. Also, TB/HIV patients and urban residents were identified as the most vulnerable groups with higher risk of unfavourable treatment outcome and TB-related costs.

Body and dieting concerns of pre-adolescent South African girl children

There has been an increase in research that focuses on female adolescents and adult women concerns relating to body image and dieting concerns. However, research on body and dieting concerns of specifically pre-adolescents is still a neglected area of research in comparison with female adolescents and adult women. Pre-adolescents are either research participants as part of a group, which includes younger children, or part of a group of adolescents. This article addresses the body and dieting concerns of pre-adolescent females as a group on their own. A qualitative study was conducted, and data were collected by using a vignette with semi-structured questions. The data were analysed by using a thematic analysis. The results indicated that although the girls presented a ‘polite’ discourse that all girls should be accepted irrespective of weight, when they were futher engaged with during the interviews this was not reflective of their world view. Negative attributes were projected onto the heavier girl in the vignette, and the discourse of acceptance was linked to feelings of pity and sympathy as fat girls were ‘handicapped’ albeit not because of their own doing. Thin girls were linked to positive traits, such as kind, happy and with leadership potential. The pre-teens in the sample were all very familiar with terms related to food restrictions (dieting), and a number of them had indulged in dieting behaviour to lose weight. The research was conducted in one province in South Africa and provides baseline data for a bigger study, which includes other provinces, as well as girls from rural areas and girls from schools in poorer urban areas. The results indicated that the pre-teen girls have internalised gendered notions of what it means to be female and being thin is integrally linked to what patriarchy has constructed as the ideal female body.Contribution: This article is grounded within the discipline of Psychology. However, the scholarly contribution it intersects with include the disciplines of Public Health, Education and Gender Studies. It provides and engages a discourse at the intersections of the Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines, contributing to knowledge which is interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary.

Critical Entrepreneurship Education in General Education and TVET: Two Concepts of Practice in a South African Township

Abstract This paper examines the dominant approach to entrepreneurship education in the South African education system regarding the crisis of youth unemployment. It draws on the case of the public-school sector, in conjunction with the technical vocational education and training (TVET) subsector of the post-school education sector. The comparison of the entrepreneurship education sector plan for public schools with the discourse on TVET reform shows that entrepreneurship education similarly follows the čskills perspective’ with a dominant focus on the formal economy, which is informed by a human-capital based and productivist approach to education. The authors argue that this understanding of entrepreneurship education employs a too narrow perspective on youth unemployment as it overlooks individual capabilities and agency and can contribute to an experience of youth unemployment as individual failure. The authors expand this argument by suggesting a critical entrepreneurship education approach, which is outlined based on two programmes at primary-school and post-school education (TVET) level in a poor urban area. The authors argue that a critical entrepreneurship education approach contributes to learning for capabilities, social justice and democratic citizenship.

Trade Liberalization and Income Distribution in Vietnam: Dynamic CGE Approach*

This study examines the influence of trade liberalization on income distribution among different household groups in Vietnam using the dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) framework. To accomplish this objective, we developed a multi‐sector, multi‐household dynamic CGE model and the corresponding social accounting matrix for Vietnam. Our simulation results show that in the long run, all household groups can enjoy an improvement in their welfare because the increase in the budget for consumption of all groups is large enough to outweigh the negative effect of changes in consumption prices. We also find that while trade liberalization is positively associated with economic growth and national welfare, it also increases the income disparities between rich and poor households, between rural and urban areas, and among rural people as well as among urban people.

Stunting and Anemia in Children from Urban Poor Environments in 28 Low and Middle-income Countries: A Meta-analysis of Demographic and Health Survey Data

Child malnutrition remains a global concern with implications not only for children’s health and cognitive function, but also for countries’ economic growth. Recent reports suggest that global nutrition targets will not be met by 2025. Large gaps are evident between and within countries. One of the largest disparities in child malnutrition within counties is between urban and rural children. Large disparities also exist in urban areas that have higher rates of child malnutrition in the urban poor areas or slums. This paper examines stunting and anemia related to an urban poverty measure in children under age 5 in 28 low and middle-income countries with Demographic and Health Survey data. We used the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) definition to define urban poor areas as a proxy for slums. The results show that in several countries, children had a higher risk of stunting and anemia in urban poor areas compared to children in urban non-poor areas. In some countries, this risk was similar to the risk between the rural and urban non-poor. Tests of heterogeneity showed that these results were not homogeneous across countries. These results help to identify areas of greater disadvantage and the required interventions for stunting and anemia.

Improving nutritional status among urban poor children in sub-Saharan Africa: An evidence-informed Delphi-based consultation.

In sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), rapid urbanisation coupled with the high prevalence of infant and young child (IYC) undernutrition in low‐income settings means that interventions to support IYC nutrition are a priority. Little is known about how urbanisation influences IYC feeding (IYCF) practices, and evidence‐based interventions to improve IYC health/nutrition in the urban poor are lacking. Therefore, this research aimed to (a) systematically review evidence on interventions for improving the nutritional status of IYC aged 6–23 months living in urban poor areas (PROSPERO CRD42018091265) and (b) engage stakeholders to identify the highest ranking evidence gaps for improving IYCF programmes/policies. First, a rapid systematic review was conducted. This focused on the literature published regarding nutrition‐specific and nutrition‐sensitive complementary feeding interventions in urban poor areas, specifically low‐income informal settlements, in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). Six intervention studies met the review inclusion criteria. Intervention adherence was generally high, and indicators of maternal knowledge and IYC nutritional intake typically increased because of the interventions, but the impact on anthropometric status was small. Second, stakeholders working across SSA were engaged via a Delphi‐based approach to identify priority areas for future intervention. Stakeholders reported that a situational analysis was required to better understand IYCF in urban poor areas, particularly the causes of IYC undernutrition, and highlighted the need to involve local communities in defining how future work should proceed. Together, these findings indicate a need for more evidence regarding IYCF and the factors that drive it in urban poor areas across LMIC settings, but particularly in SSA.

EXPLORING FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE MAINSTREAMING OF GENDERED ENERGY INTERVENTIONS IN POOR URBAN ENVIRONMENTS: A STRUCTURED LITERATURE REVIEW

Energy sectors are faced with the interconnected challenges of urbanisation and providing a growing population with accessible and sustainable energy that facilitates economic development, energy security, and poverty reduction. The Sustainable Development Goals address issues that include poverty, gender equality, energy, and sustainable cities, and highlight the need to improve the lives of poor communities and to address economic marginalisation. However, recent studies show that poor urban areas have a considerable number of female-lead households. Energy is a critical input for these households, resulting in women being increasingly vulnerable to unsustainable energy consumption patterns and energy insecurity. In this article, a structured literature review is conducted to investigate energy technologies that contribute to energy security among energy-poor women. The key factors to consider in the mainstreaming of a gender perspective into energy technology innovations are then identified and contextualised. How these factors can help achieve the sustainable development goals and contribute to ensuring sustainable energy sectors is also highlighted.

THE STATE OF THE ART OF GENDERED ENERGY INNOVATIONS: A STRUCTURED LITERATURE REVIEW

The impact of restricted access to sustainable energy is the worst in vulnerable urban poor areas, and so an alternative approach to energy innovations is needed. To explore the possibilities for energy innovations, gender needs to be taken into account. This is especially relevant in the sub-Saharan African context, as most households are female-headed. This paper aims to explore the current state of gendered energy innovations by using a multivocal approach; it thus focuses on the existing body of knowledge at the gender—energy interface. The study is conducted in two parts: first, ‘state of the art’ is conceptualised using a multilevel approach; second, a structured literature review on gendered energy innovations is conducted in light of the structured understanding of ‘state of the art’. There is definitely room for new innovations to use gender as a strategy for solving energy security problems in urban poor environments.

Environmental and social determinants of health in informal settlements in Mbour, Senegal: challenges and policy directions

Rapid urbanization has created many informal settlements around big and secondary cities in Africa, which brings along with specific challenges for global health. In urban informal settlements, residents are often burdened with multiple and overlapping challenges that can undermine the environmental and social determinants of health from poverty to overcrowded, to inadequate infrastructure, all of which can combine to contribute to increased risk of exposures to environmental pathogens that increase infectious like diarrheal diseases in urban poor areas. The purpose of our study was to highlight the most challenges related to environmental and social determinants of health in informal settlements in Mbour, Senegal and to suggest policy directions and interventions to meet these challenges. Geographical and epidemiological surveys using a pre-structured questionnaire with all household heads were carried out to assess the structural and intermediary determinants of health in informal settlements in Mbour. Our results showed that informal settlements residents in Mbour suffer from many challenges like poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and low education attainments, unhealthy environment, lack of water supply and basic sanitation facilities; high prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly diarrheal diseases among under 5 years old children. Specific policy directions should be developed and implemented by policymakers and local authorities to meet these challenges by prioritizing interventions related to water, sanitation and waste management with a view to reducing the environmental and health risks in informal settlements in Mbour. With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on improving health and wellbeing for billions of city-dwellers, ameliorating the immediate living conditions in informal settlements should be viewed as a key strategy to promote health, equitable development and reduce climate change vulnerabilities in this context of global environmental change.

Health Promotion Strategy for Improving Men’s Participation in Family Planning Program in the Underdeveloped Areas, Borders and Islands and Poor Urban Areas

The participation of men in family planning in Indonesia is still very low, where the men who use the MedicalMale Operations (MOP) method are only 0.2% while the condom use is 3.1% (IDHS 2017), Likewise inEast Java only 3.7% of the total new KB participants in 2019. The conditions most in need of attention arein underdeveloped areas, borders, islands and poor areas, which are in dire need of appropriate strategicbreakthroughs. The conditions most in need of attention are underdeveloped areas, borders, islands andpoor areas, which are in need of appropriate strategic breakthroughs. Strengthen the advocacy efforts fornew regional leaders so that the family planning program can continue to run in the regencies/cities withouthaving to start from zero again, provide training to male family planning motivators so that the informationprovided to prospective acceptors is more detailed and accurate and follows up the results of training ofmedical personnel and midwives.

The dynamics of poor urban areas - analyzing morphologic transformations across the globe using Earth observation data

The urban environment is in constant motion, mostly through construction but also through destruction of urban elements. While formal development is a process with long planning periods and thus the built landscape appears static, informal or spontaneous settlements seem to be subject to high dynamics in their ever unfinished urban form. However, the dynamics and morphological characteristics of physical transformation in such settlements of urban poverty have been hardly empirically studied on a global scale or temporal consistent foundation. This paper aims at filling this gap by using Earth observation data to provide a temporal analysis of built-up transformation over a period of ~7 years in 16 documented manifestations of urban poverty. This work applies visual image interpretation using very high resolution optical satellite data in combination with in-situ- and Google Street View images to derive 3D city models. We measure physical spatial structures through six spatial morphologic variables - number of buildings, size, height, orientation, heterogeneity and density. Our temporal assessment reveals inter- as well intra-urban differences and we find different, yet generally high morphologic dynamic across study sites. This is expressed in manifold ways: from demolished and reconstructed areas to such where changes appeared within the given structures. Geographically, we find advanced dynamics among our sample specifically in areas of the global south. At the same time, we observe a high spatial variability of morphological transformations within the studied areas. Despite partly high morphologic dynamics, spatial patterns of building alignments, streets and open spaces remain predominantly constant.

Global COVID-19 Efforts as the Platform to Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Purpose of ReviewIn this commentary, we summarize and put into perspective the recent information that highlights the associations between coronavirus disease and poverty. We also bring attention to another dimension that will most likely exacerbate the severity and long-term sequelae of COVID-19 in impoverished populations, that is, the comorbidities and the presence of tropical infections.Recent FindingsDuring this first half of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a poverty-related neglected disease on at least two fronts. First, is its significant impact in low-income neighborhoods in the USA, the epicenter of the pandemic. Second, is its emergence in poor urban areas of South America, and now in Asia and Africa. In both fronts, the pandemic is contributing heavily towards the loss of public health gains that we managed to achieve globally during the last two decades. Specifically, any advances made as part of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (United Nations, 2020) is eroding, and for the first time, the number of people entering extreme poverty is increasing. Adding to this descent into poverty are new disruptions in ongoing disease control programs, routine vaccination strategies, and a reduction of capacity building efforts globally. Therefore, and as highlighted by many others, we support the notion that a way forward to eliminate this coronavirus pandemic should include linking COVID-19 control to other tropical or poverty-related diseases.SummaryCOVID-19 is slowing or reversing global health and development gains. To be successful and achieve the global goals including the control of pandemics such as the one seen from the COVID-19, we must rely on strong leadership leading to impactful public policies and global collaborations, including global COVID-19 vaccinations, and potentially linking them to programs for childhood and adult vaccinations and programs for malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and neglected tropical disease treatments. Opportunities also include the creation of unique research opportunities and funding models and increase science engagement for international diplomacy. This can only be done with a better understanding of the relationships between coronavirus disease, poverty, and tropical diseases.