Public Policy Recommendations Research Articles

Risk messaging style and its effect on public preparedness for earthquakes: longitudinal intervention-based study

AbstractThis study examines the effect of risk communication styles (fear-based versus empowerment-based) on households’ earthquake preparedness. An online longitudinal study with intervention and control groups was conducted using a representative sample of the adult population in Israel. The change in the reported level of preparedness was assessed through Repeated Measures ANOVA with interaction effects for both the risk communication style and gender. The Analysis revealed a significant difference in reported levels of earthquake preparedness over time (F(1.697,303.70) = 102.58, p < 0.001; partial η2 = 0.36). However, no statistically significant interaction was found with the risk communication style (p = 0.55). Borderline significance (p = 0.04) was observed in the three-way interaction (time-intervention-gender). Gender (β = 0.19), age (β = 0.21), perceived earthquake likelihood (β = 0.14), and sense of preparedness (β = 0.28) were significant predictors in multivariate regression analysis. While consistently showing that participants exposed to empowering information reported higher earthquake preparedness, the research hypothesis was not substantiated. Recommendations for public health policy are discussed.

Strategic policy options to improve quality and productivity of biomedical research.

Emerging societal expectations from biomedical research and intensifying international scientific competition are becoming existential matters. Based on a review of pertinent evidence, this article analyzes challenges and formulates public policy recommendations for improving productivity and impact of life sciences. Critical risks include widespread quality defects of research, particularly non-reproducible results, and narrow access to scientifically sound information giving advantage to health misinformation. In funding life sciences, the simultaneous shift to nondemocratic societies is an added challenge. Simply spending more on research will not be enough in the global competition. Considering the pacesetter role of the federal government, five national policy recommendations are put forward: (i) funding projects with comprehensive expectations of reproducibility; (ii) public-private partnerships for contemporaneous quality support in laboratories; (iii) making research institutions accountable for quality control; (iv) supporting new quality filtering standards for scientific journals and repositories, and (v) establishing a new network of centers for scientific health communications.

Human resources and induction in public policy: Advancing critical cosmopolitan aims

This paper focuses on the role of public policy in human resources and induction programs to increase the number of Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers (TOCIT). To that end, we provide an overview of the public policy landscape, followed by an exemplar that provides a vision of possibilities currently being enacted. We end by advancing specific public policy recommendations and their implications.

Seasonal and spatial variations in concentration, diversity, and antibiotic resistance of ambient bioaerosols in an arid region

The airborne microbiome significantly influences human health and atmospheric processes within Earth's troposphere and is a crucial focus for scientific research. This study aimed to analyze the composition, diversity, distribution, and spatiotemporal characteristics of airborne microbes in Qatar's ambient air. Air samples were collected using a sampler from ten geographically or functionally distinct locations during a period of one year. Spatial and seasonal variations significantly impacted microbial concentrations, with the highest average concentrations observed at 514 ± 77 CFU/m3 for bacteria over the dry-hot summer season and 134 ± 31 CFU/m3 for fungi over the mild winter season. Bacterial concentrations were notably high in 80% of the locations during the dry-hot summer sampling period, while fungal concentrations peaked in 70% of the locations during winter. The microbial diversity analysis revealed several health-significant bacteria including the genera Chryseobacterium, Pseudomonas, Pantoea, Proteus, Myroides, Yersinia, Pasteurella, Ochrobactrum, Vibrio, and fungal strains relating to the genera Aspergillus, Rhizopus Fusarium, and Penicillium. Detailed biochemical and microscopic analyses were employed to identify culturable species. The strongest antibiotic resistance (ABR) was observed during the humid-hot summer season, with widespread resistance to Metronidazole. Health risk assessments based on these findings indicated potential risks associated with exposure to high concentrations of specific bioaerosols. This study provides essential baseline data on the natural background concentrations of bioaerosols in Qatar, offering insights for air quality assessments and forming a basis for public health policy recommendations, particularly in arid regions.

Health conditions of migrant children and adolescents from Latin America and Caribe: A narrative review.

The presence of children and adolescents in migratory flows is growing in Latin America and the Caribbean. Little is known about migration's effects on these groups' health. This article aims to investigate the evidence available on the access and use of healthcare services by migrant children and adolescents in Latin America and the Caribbean. We seek to explore the role of social determinants of health at different levels in the health conditions of these groups. Also, to identify potential recommendations for healthcare systems and public policy to address them. For this purpose, a narrative review of 52 publications was carried out based on a search of scientific literature in the Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. Five relevant topics were identified: use of emergency care associated with lack of healthcare access, preventive services, and other social determinants of health; exposure to preventable infectious diseases; mental health; sexual and reproductive health; and vaccinations and dental health. We conclude that the evidence shows the need to address the inequities and disadvantages faced by migrant children from a perspective of social determinants of health and policies that consider health as a human right regardless of the migratory status of children and adolescents, as well as that of their parents or primary caregivers.

Reflections on being a Thai transman through the lens of the reproductive justice framework

Transmen are a crucial gender group within the umbrella of transgender identities, yet there remains a lack of understanding regarding their gender identities and sexualities. Transmen often face challenges related to gender discrimination and inequalities, particularly in accessing government services such as healthcare and social welfare, and in securing legal recognition of their gender identity and rights. This article explores the challenges faced by transmen in Thailand. It through a discussion of the lived experiences and gender identities of Thai transmen by examining the societal context through existing literature and qualitative interviews of transmen on their own. The aim is to examine the specific local context of Thai transmen using a reproductive justice approach to examine how transmen experience gender discrimination when challenging the dominant cis-normative gender norms in Thai society. Understanding these challenges can contribute to creating fundamental knowledge for a better understanding of transmen’s identities and inform recommendations for public policies that support greater gender diversity and a more inclusive environment. Importantly, supporting legal gender recognition based on self-identified gender can promote reproductive justice for transgender people.

Demand study of freight transportation via railway of four commodity groups: A case study on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast Route

Having railway mobility as an option among transportation modes is of prime importance for the freight logistics of a country and the overall performance of its commerce sector. This work presents a case study in Costa Rica, where freight transportation via railway was formerly available during the last century but has not been in full service since 1995. Specifically, this paper assesses the link connecting the capital city of San Jose to the port of Caldera on the Pacific Ocean coast, henceforth referred to as the “Pacific Coast Route”. Although government institutions and industries alike have stressed the importance of its reactivation in recent years, few efforts have been made to specifically study this route with a level of detail that enables them to understand the composition of freight markets.This study presents a novel demand estimation differentiated by four types of commodities developed to calculate the potential amount of goods that could flow through this corridor, measured in monetary terms and as volumes. Trends in the expected share were analyzed to identify variables that may improve the attractiveness of the railway service and the participation of clients along the route from the country's main economic activities which includes the following: agriculture & livestock, manufacturing, minerals, and forestry.The four-step transportation model was chosen for its suitability towards this case study; where available data sets were limited, the information was aggregated into yearly values, and the network was defined with few transportation zones. Activity-based models were not feasible in this case due to the lack of information on complete routes and volume flows. The model evaluated a first scenario given the present design of the route and a second scenario involving improvements in the alignment and the addition of a new segment.Regarding the opportunities of moving goods according to their type, in terms of volume, minerals (48 %) and agricultural (31 %) have the largest shares of participation in this region, followed by manufacturing (20 %) and forestry products (1 %). However, the manufacturing sector stands out in financial terms, accounting for 71 % of the total value of goods mobilized in the study area.It was found that the demand is most sensible for changes in the service fare, while the benefits of shorter travel times and a larger attraction area in scenario 2 were not significant. A service fee of $USD 2.35/ton in average is recommended to reach a 30 % modal shift towards the railway (following the European Commission's goals to reduce CO2 emissions from freight transportation in 2030).Finally, recommendations for public policies are provided to the entities in the country in the sectors of Agriculture, Health, Energy and Environment, Transportation, and Public Services. The suggestions aim to develop the new railway project with a holistic perspective, considering the inclusion of less profitable economic activities of the surrounding communities that require connectivity, compliance with environmental commitments, and design for resilience while aiming for a financially feasible business model.

Measles resurgence in Armenia: unmasking health system vulnerabilities and crafting comprehensive eradication strategies - a review.

Measles is an acute febrile illness associated with rashes, fever and life-threatening complications. It is a vaccine-preventable disease with the Measles Mumps Rubella(MMR) vaccine but a recent global trend unveils a resurgence of measles in various parts of the world including Armenia. Measles was declared eliminated from Armenia in 2021 before reports of local outbreaks surfaced in 2023. The WHO identified discrepancies in the vaccination coverage during COVID-19. Measles also poses a great financial burden as a public health issue worldwide. Sociocultural factors impacting measles transmission are maternal education, healthcare access, migration, vaccine hesitancy, and socioeconomic status (Table 3). Efforts to control and eradicate measles from Armenia are run by a collaborative approach of national and international health bodies such as United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), WHO, Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), and the Ministry of Health. Thus, the resurgence of measles can be managed through widespread patient education, innovative approaches, strengthening the healthcare system and addressing vaccine hesitancy, sociocultural barriers, and humanitarian emergencies. This review investigates the complicated dynamics of measles inside Armenia's health system in depth. A thorough examination of measles incidence and immunization patterns highlights the shift from few cases and high vaccination rates to a comeback caused by imported viruses. The causes of its recurrence have been thoroughly investigated, including reduced immunization programs and vaccine hesitancy. The research delves further into the 'One Health' idea, assessing the possibility of interspecies transmission among nonhuman primates and examining the environmental factors that influence measles transmission. Among the challenges are weaknesses within Armenia's health system as well as the possibility of interruptions from the COVID-19 outbreak. In measles vaccination status, the combination of maternal education, postnatal care, and socioeconomic variables exposes the larger drivers at work. The study concludes with a comprehensive set of public health policy recommendations covering vaccination promotion, surveillance, healthcare provider education, public awareness, international collaboration, data analysis, law enforcement, emergency preparedness, research, and coordination. The research sheds light on the tangled web of measles dynamics, health system resilience, and contextual subtleties via this multifaceted approach, inviting readers to investigate the multiple strategies required for eliminating measles in Armenia.

Sugar addiction and its role in obesity among adolescents residing in an urban field practice area of Bagalkot: A cross-sectional study

Obesity, a multi-factorial process is showing an increasing trend among children and adolescents leading to increased prevalence of insulin resistance, paving the way for cardio-metabolic risk factors. It has been proposed that certain food items as well as eating habits are addictive in a way that is similar to substances of abuse. Thus, this study was conducted among adolescents to determine the frequency of sugar addiction, the influencing factors and its association with obesity. A cross-sectional study was designed and 250 late adolescents (17–19 years old) chosen from colleges coming under urban field practice area of Bagalkot were enrolled in the study. A self-administered questionnaire which consisted of three sections - socio-demographic details, validated Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS) and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) was used to collect data regarding sugar addiction and physical activity in our study. Sugar addiction was found among 7.6%of adolescents and it was associated with overweight and obesity which was statistically significant (X=42.72, p<0.0001). Factors which significantly contributed to sugar addiction among adolescents were; adolescents staying in hostel (p<0.001), working mother’s (p<0.0001) and socio-economic status (p=0.02). Univariate analysis (unadjusted odds ratio) showed that risk factors such as sugar addiction (Odds ratio 9.6, 95% C.I. 2.18-42.8, p=0.003) and reduced physical activity (Odds ratio 3.8, 95% C.I. 2.02-7.26, p=0.0001) were associated with overweight and obesity.Incorporation of measures against hyper palatable sugary foods into public health policy recommendations and a further detailed evaluation regarding sugar addiction may provide a new insight and help in prevention and treatment of obesity.

The global impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis: A thematic scoping review, 2020-2023.

This thematic scoping review of publications sought to understand the global impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis (TB), interpret the scope of resonating themes, and offer policy recommendations to stimulate TB recovery and future pandemic preparedness. Publications were captured from three search engines, PubMed, EBSCO, and Google Scholar, and applicable websites written in English from January 1, 2020, to April 30, 2023. Our scoping review was limited to publications detailing the impact of COVID-19 on TB. Original research, reviews, letters, and editorials describing the deleterious and harmful--yet sometimes positive--impact of COVID-19 (sole exposure) on TB (sole outcome) were included. The objective was to methodically categorize the impacts into themes through a comprehensive review of selected studies to provide significant health policy guidance. Two authors independently screened citations and full texts, while the third arbitrated when consensus was not met. All three performed data extraction. Of 1,755 screened publications, 176 (10%) covering 39 countries over 41 months met the inclusion criteria. By independently using a data extraction instrument, the three authors identified ten principal themes from each publication. These themes were later finalized through a consensus decision. The themes encompassed TB's care cascade, patient-centered care, psychosocial issues, and health services: 1) case-finding and notification (n = 45; 26%); 2) diagnosis and laboratory systems (n = 19; 10.7%) 3) prevention, treatment, and care (n = 22; 12.2%); 4) telemedicine/telehealth (n = 12; 6.8%); 5) social determinants of health (n = 14; 8%); 6) airborne infection prevention and control (n = 8; 4.6%); 7) health system strengthening (n = 22; 13%); 8) mental health (n = 13; 7.4%); 9) stigma (n = 11; 6.3%); and 10) health education (n = 10; 5.7%). Heterogeneity of publications within themes. We identified ten globally generalizable themes of COVID-19's impact on TB. The impact and lessons learned from the themed analysis propelled us to draft public health policy recommendations to direct evidence-informed guidance that strengthens comprehensive global responses, recovery for TB, and future airborne pandemic preparedness.

Impact of tourism activity on the Mexican economy (2010-2019)

This document aims to describe the impact of tourism activity, between 2010 and 2019, on the Mexican economy. Specifically, it will analyze statistically relevant variables such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment, investment, and others, to finally suggest some public policy recommendations that could improve the living conditions of the population in the country's tourist development centers.

How different attributes are weighted in professionals' decision-making in Pediatric Dentistry-a protocol for guiding discrete choice experiment focused on shortening the evidence-based practice implementation for dental care.

Important evidence has been constantly produced and needs to be converted into practice. Professional consumption of such evidence may be a barrier to its implementation. Then, effective implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinical practice leans on the understanding of how professionals value attributes when choosing between options for dental care, permitting to guide this implementation process by maximizing strengthens and minimizing barriers related to that. This is part of a broader project investigating the potential of incorporating scientific evidence into clinical practice and public policy recommendations and guidelines, identifying strengths and barriers in such an implementation process. The present research protocol comprises a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) from the Brazilian oral health professionals' perspective, aiming to assess how different factors are associated with professional decision-making in dental care, including the role of scientific evidence. Different choice sets will be developed, either focusing on understanding the role of scientific evidence in the professional decision-making process or on understanding specific attributes associated with different interventions recently tested in randomized clinical trials and available as newly produced scientific evidence to be used in clinical practice. Translating research into practice usually requires time and effort. Shortening this process may be useful for faster incorporation into clinical practice and beneficial to the population. Understanding the context and professionals' decision-making preferences is crucial to designing more effective implementation and/or educational initiatives. Ultimately, we expect to design an efficient implementation strategy that overcomes threats and potential opportunities identified during the DCEs, creating a customized structure for dental professionals. https://osf.io/bhncv .

Sport and governance: peacebuilding in communities affected by the armed conflict in Colombia

Five decades of victimizing events have affected the lives of Colombians and exposed them to diverse forms of violence. The conflict’s consequences were evident in the weakening of the bonds between citizens because of limited cooperation and the loss of faith in country institutions. The limitation of the government is to guide the country amid great social conflicts in an exercise of territorial governance. The community improve their own mechanisms to contribute to local development under a peacebuilding approach to overcome social vulnerabilities. The research study focuses on highlighting the collective capabilities that a community sport experience promotes among members of communities affected by social conflicts for an effective contribution to promote positive change. The study used qualitative descriptive methods of inquiry and six in depth semi structured interviews. The study offers five public policy recommendations based on the results: the evidence to local governments and the national government in Colombia.

Análisis de los patrones espaciales del desarrollo y pobreza en Costa Rica

This paper aims to analyze the relationships between the different dimensions of poverty and development from a multidimensional and spatial perspective. Methodologically, this research is composed of two phases. The first, a descriptive statistics analysis of the Multidimensional Poverty Index and the Human Development one, was carried out, departing from the definitions of territoriality used in Costa Rica (rural-urban and by planning regions) with county-level data. In second place, a cluster analysis, with K-means method, was developed with a database of 32 variables for development and poverty at the country level. About the results, we discovered that the typologies of rural and urban areas are significant but can be self-explanatory; the category of planning regions reveals relevant patterns in the center-periphery dynamics, particularly due to asymmetries between the center, the Pacific coast and, the Atlantic coast and borders. The cluster analysis confirms these patterns, showing that in terms of development, the country seems to be divided into 3 regions, while in terms of poverty is possible to identify 4. Concluding with some public and economic policy recommendations.

Administrative Economies of Scale in the Malaysian States: A Panel Data Analysis

ABSTRACT There is ongoing concern over administrative performanceamong the different Malaysian states. Using panel data econometric approach, this paper investigates administrative scale effects and the determinants of administrative intensity in the thirteen states and three federal territories in Malaysia over the period 2005 to 2020. Our results indicate that both production labor inputs and population jointly have a scale effect on administrative intensity. There is an inverted U-shaped scale impact from population size and a U-shaped scale effect from production labor input on administrative intensity in Malaysia. Several public policy recommendations are suggested for the improvement of Malaysian administrative performance.

Contrasting Objective and Perceived Risk: Predicting COVID-19 Health Behaviors in a Nationally Representative U.S. Sample.

Individuals confronting health threats may display an optimistic bias such that judgments of their risk for illness or death are unrealistically positive given their objective circumstances. We explored optimistic bias for health risks using k-means clustering in the context of COVID-19. We identified risk profiles using subjective and objective indicators of severity and susceptibility risk for COVID-19. Between 3/18/2020-4/18/2020, a national probability sample of 6,514 U.S. residents reported both their subjective risk perceptions (e.g., perceived likelihood of illness or death) and objective risk indices (e.g., age, weight, pre-existing conditions) of COVID-19-related susceptibility and severity, alongside other pandemic-related experiences. Six months later, a subsample (N = 5,661) completed a follow-up survey with questions about their frequency of engagement in recommended health protective behaviors (social distancing, mask wearing, risk behaviors, vaccination intentions). The k-means clustering procedure identified five risk profiles in the Wave 1 sample; two of these demonstrated aspects of optimistic bias, representing almost 44% of the sample. In OLS regression models predicting health protective behavior adoption at Wave 2, clusters representing individuals with high perceived severity risk were most likely to report engagement in social distancing, but many individuals who were objectively at high risk for illness and death did not report engaging in self-protective behaviors. Objective risk of disease severity only inconsistently predicted health protective behavior. Risk profiles may help identify groups that need more targeted interventions to increase their support for public health policy and health enhancing recommendations more broadly.

The Constitutionality of the Proportionality Test to Prove Money Laundering

For years, combating money laundering has been a priority for the Mexican State. Frontal attack strategies have been used against criminal groups but have not yielded the expected effectiveness, as violence continues to escalate. This work begins with an assessment of the legal punishments applied to cases of money laundering in Mexico. Subsequently, it presents the fundamental rights that might be compromised in the process of collecting evidence and explores the use of the proportionality test as a parameter and method to ask judges to accept only admissible evidence to thus avoid issues of unconstitutionality. Finally, some evidence that can be employed to substantiate money laundering offenses and secure convictions are outlined. Furthermore, recommendations for public policy are made to address and enhance the efforts of stakeholders engaged in combating this crime, since to date, effectiveness in obtaining convictions has been remarkably low.

Addressing the Racial Wealth Gap and Structural Racism Through Increased Black Entrepreneurship: An Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Perspective

Black households trail other racial groups when it comes to economic factors such as employment, income, and wealth. As discussed in this paper, a significant issue that contributes to these disparities is lower rates of new venture creation and successful business ownership within Black communities. While research has sought to explain this underperformance, no consensus has been reached. Moreover, the role of systemic racism has been underexplored. Improving Black entrepreneurship could help reduce the racial economic gaps and understanding the reasons for diminished Black new venture creation is vital for the development of effective public policy solutions. Utilizing an entrepreneurial ecosystem framework, and a systemic racism theory lens, we discuss challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs and present a model illustrating the issues. It is argued that racism has resulted in lower access to inter-connected resources within Black entrepreneurial ecosystems which has hindered new venture creation and productive entrepreneurship. We provide broad public policy recommendations for improving Black entrepreneurial ecosystems, including greater access to financial capital, mentoring, and entrepreneurship education through Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed and future research directions are offered.

Air pollution and cardiovascular diseases

This comprehensive literature review explores the intricate relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular diseases, emphasizing the global significance of this environmental concern. The study delves into key air pollutants, including Particulate Matter (PM), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ozone (O3), and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), revealing their associations with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The detrimental effects involve systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. The review meticulously analyzes epidemiological studies, such as the UK Biobank study, linking long-term exposure to ambient air pollution, specifically PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx, with increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Specific populations, characterized as susceptible or vulnerable, are identified, including adults over 60 and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Studies examining genetic variations, blood pressure changes, and meteorological variables contribute to understanding individual susceptibility. The review highlights the role of air pollution in influencing sleep patterns, physical activity, and temperature-related cardiovascular strain. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing air pollution as a modifiable risk factor, providing evidence of its association with cardiovascular risk factors and Dyslipidemia. The impact of air pollution on diverse cardiovascular outcomes, including heart failure, stroke, and ischemic heart disease, is discussed. The review underscores the urgent need for public health interventions and policy recommendations to mitigate air pollution's adverse effects. Recognizing air pollution as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, the study advocates for proactive measures to reduce pollution, promoting cardiovascular health and creating a cleaner environment for future generations.

Improving rural property tax instruments: A case study of Sinaloa, Mexico

The objective of this work on the Rural Property Tax is to make a proposal to improve the instruments for statistical information on both income and investment spending. A qualitative methodology is proposed to make transparent from which community the tax is generated and how to decide the expenditure in public works for rural communities. Finally, public policy recommendations are made such as the suggestion that investment spending should not be concentrated in a small group of communities but should be distributed strategically for the well-being of the rural population. In this regard, it is important that the municipal government reaches agreements with ejido commissaries, syndics and commissaries so that there is a positive economic, social, cultural and political impact. Likewise, the creation of fiscal observatories to follow up on the route of income generated by the tax and the investment spending executed with the said resources. Truth is that the great importance of this tax for Sinaloa’s municipal public finances has not yet been fully appreciated. Among the findings was the preferential treatment given to taxpayers engaged in aquaculture and vegetable exports by paying a lower rate than that established in the law; while agricultural and livestock activities pay a higher rate; there is also a lack of transparency in the selection process of the communities that will benefit from investments for public works. Recommendations for future research may be to address how the public works bidding process is conducted; what experiences exist of tax observatories that monitor both the collection and the correct exercise of public expenditure of this tax; also explore why there is no public policy focused on benefiting the most marginalized communities in Sinaloa’s municipalities with public works.