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Title: Strong association between birth month and reproductive performance of Vietnamese women.
Author: Huber S; Fieder M
Source: American Journal of Human Biology. 2009 Jan-Feb;21(1):25-35.
Abstract: Epidemiological studies on premodern and modern Western societies indicate that birth season may influence female reproduction. Nothing is known, however, about this effect in developing economies. Many of the latter are characterised by tropical climates with a rainy season associated with lower food availability and a greater prevalence of infectious diseases. We therefore predict that an association between birth month and reproductive output, if it exists, should be related to the rainy season. To test this prediction, we analysed census data of Vietnam obtained from IPUMS-International (Vietnam 1999 Population and Housing Census). Based on 493,853 women born between 1950 and 1977 and thus aged 22 to 49 years, we found that the time series of mean offspring count per month of birth has a highly significant period of 12 months (power = 46.871, P < 0.00001). Our results further indicate that the 12-month periodic signal has a maximum in July and a minimum in January. Accordingly, the peak corresponds to birth during the rainy season, the low if the third pregnancy month concurs with the rainy season. The month of birth is therefore clearly associated with the later reproductive performance of Vietnamese women, strongly supporting the assumption that environmental and maternal conditions during early development exert long-term effects on reproductive functioning. Provided the rainy season adversely affects developmental processes due to inadequate food and/or high infection risk, the association reported here points to a critical period of reproductive development during early pregnancy.
Language: English
Keywords:
VIETNAM | RESEARCH REPORT | EPIDEMIOLOGY | CENSUS | WOMEN | REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR | TIME FACTORS | SEASONAL VARIATION | CLIMATE | CHILDBIRTH | FOOD SECURITY | Asia, Southeastern | Asia | Developing Countries | Public Health | Health | Population Statistics | Research Methodology | Demographic Factors | Population | Fertility | Population Dynamics | Environment | Pregnancy Outcomes | Pregnancy | Reproduction | Food Supply | Natural Resources
Document Number: 330492

Peer Reviewed

Title: Distribution and chromosomal characterization of the Anopheles gambiae complex in Angola.
Author: Calzetta M; Santolamazza F; Carrara GC; Cani PJ; Fortes F
Source: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2008;78(1):169-175.
Abstract: Mosquitoes of the Anopheles gambiae complex (N = 1,336) were sampled (2001-2005) across Angola to identify taxa, study inversion polymorphisms, and detect the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium falciparum. Anopheles gambiae s.s. was found in all sites; it was characterized as M-form in localities of the tropical dry and semi-desertic belts, whereas the S-form was predominant in comparatively more humid and less anthropized sites. Both forms were characterized by low degrees of chromosomal polymorphism based solely on the 2La inversion, a pattern usually associated with An. gambiae populations from forested, humid, and derived savanna areas. Unexpectedly, this pattern was also observed in M-form populations collected in dry/pre-desertic areas, where this form largely predominates over An. arabiensis, which was also detected in central/inland sites. Anopheles melas was found in northern coastal sites. Three of 534 An. gambiae s.s. were positive for P. falciparum CS-protein, whereas none of the 105 An. melas were positive. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
ANGOLA | RESEARCH REPORT | GENETIC TECHNIQUES | ANIMALS | CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES | INSECTS | PROTEINS | GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS | CLIMATE | DESERTIFICATION | Africa, Southern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Developing Countries | Laboratory Examinations and Diagnoses | Examinations and Diagnoses | Medical Procedures | Medicine | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care | Health | Natural Resources | Environment | Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities | Diseases | Disease Transmission Control | Prevention and Control | Physiology | Biology | Population | Environmental Degradation
Document Number: 325614

Peer Reviewed

Title: The relationship between terrorist activities and cases of malaria in the eastern and south-eastern regions of Turkey, 1984 - 1998.
Author: Cetin I; Egri M; Celbis O; Toprak S; Ozag K
Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2008 Mar;102(3):255-258.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine whether cases of malaria are related to terrorist activities that have occurred in the eastern and south-eastern regions of Turkey. Some of the determinants related to malaria have been investigated using a national dataset for 11 provinces located in these regions of Turkey. In these regions, both terrorist activity and cases of malaria were common from 1984 to 1998. A multiple regression technique was used to identify the variables that are significantly associated with cases of malaria. Annual incidence of malaria was chosen as the dependent variable along with three independent (explanatory) variables: annual number of terrorist incidences, people per healthcare technician and number of thick blood films per 100 000 people. Based on this analysis, it is determined that the annual number of terrorist incidences has been associated with the annual number of malaria cases in these regions of Turkey since the beginning of terrorist activity in 1984. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
TURKEY | RESEARCH REPORT | CLIENTS | MALARIA | EPIDEMIOLOGY | TRANSMISSION | RISK FACTORS | VIOLENCE | SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS | ENVIRONMENT | CLIMATE | Europe, Southeastern | Europe | Developing Countries | Program Activities | Programs | Organization and Administration | Parasitic Diseases | Diseases | Public Health | Health | Infections | Biology | Behavior | Socioeconomic Factors | Economic Factors
Document Number: 324573

Peer Reviewed

Title: The effects of genetic and seasonal factors on reproductive success.
Author: Gloria-Bottini F; Bottini N; La Torre M; Magrini A; Bergamaschi A
Source: Fertility and Sterility. 2008 May;89(5):1090-1094.
Abstract: The objective was to search for possible effects of two polymorphisms and of the solar cycle of illumination on reproductive success. The design used was the study of haptoglobin (Hp) and ACP1 polymorphisms in consecutive puerperae and analysis of phenotype distribution in relation to time of conception. The setting was the Maternity Department of Penne Hospital, Penne, Italy. The patient(s) were three hundred sixty-eight consecutive healthy pueperae from the Caucasian population. The distribution of Hp and ACP1 phenotypes depends on the phase of the solar cycle at conception. Women homozygous for Hp with low ACP1 activity are more likely to conceive in the first part of the year. Women heterozygous for Hp with medium-high ACP1 activity are more likely to conceive in the last part of the year. In the first months of the year there is a steady increase in solar illumination, and this phase corresponds to the best period for reproduction in most plants and animals. This period is also the coldest inthe Italian latitudes. Although humans are not seasonal breeders, it is possible that women having a genetic background best adapted to the metabolic demand of the cold period of the year will respond better to reproductive stimuli, resulting in a higher probability of conceiving in the first part of the year. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
ITALY | RESEARCH REPORT | WOMEN | GENETICS | CLIMATE | SEASONAL VARIATION | SPERM CAPACITATION | FERTILIZATION | REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR | ENVIRONMENT | Europe, Southern | Europe | Developed Countries | Demographic Factors | Population | Biology | Population Dynamics | Reproduction | Fertility
Document Number: 327226

Title: Population growth and climate change. Universal access to family planning should be the priority [editorial]
Author: Guillebaud J; Hayes P
Source: BMJ. British Medical Journal. 2008 Aug 2;337(7664):247-248.
Abstract: The world's population now exceeds 6700 million, and humankind's consumption of fossil fuels, fresh water, crops, fish, and forests exceeds supply. These facts are connected. The annual increase in population of about 79 million means that every week an extra 1.5 million people need food and somewhere to live. Every person born adds to greenhouse gas emissions, and escaping poverty is impossible without these emissions increasing. Resourcing contraception therefore helps to combat climate change, although it is not a substitute for high emitters reducing their per capita emissions. As doctors, we must help to eradicate the many myths and non-evidence based medical rules that often deny women access to family planning. We should advocate for it to be supplied only wisely and compassionately, and for increased investment, which is currently just 10% of that recommended at the UN's Population Conference in Cairo. We must not put pressure on people, but by providing information on population and the environment, and appropriate contraception for everyone (and by their own example), doctors should help to bring family size into the arena of environmental ethics, analogous to avoiding patio heaters and high carbon cars. (excerpt)
Language: English
Keywords:
GLOBAL | DEVELOPING COUNTRIES | CRITIQUE | POPULATION GROWTH | CLIMATE | ENVIRONMENT | PREGNANCY, UNPLANNED | CONTRACEPTION | CONTRACEPTIVE AVAILABILITY | PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Reproductive Behavior | Fertility | Family Planning | Program Evaluation | Programs | Organization and Administration
Document Number: 327946

Title: The relationship between rainfall and human density and its implications for future water stress in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Author: le Blanc D; Perez R
Source: Ecological Economics. 2008 Jun 15;66(2-3):319-336.
Abstract: This paper estimates the relationship between average rainfall and population density in Sub-Saharan Africa in order to assess the consequences of climate and demographic changes in terms of future water stress in that region. Geographic Information System (GIS) data on density and rainfall and climate change scenarios are combined in order to identify areas which will be subject to increased pressures stemming from excessive population, given their precipitation levels. We first describe the empirical relationship existing between average yearly rainfall and density over sub-Saharan Africa. The limit of 900 mm of annual rainfall appears to define the threshold below which water constitutes a binding constraint to higher densities. Above that threshold, density and rainfall are not spatially correlated. In a second stage, we identify areas subject to water stress. In our framework, those are defined as zones belonging to the right end of the distribution of densities conditional on average rainfall. In a last step, localized population projections and changes in rainfall predicted by two mainstream climate change scenarios are utilized to assess the respective impacts of those two factors on the changes in extent and distribution of high-stress zones over the continent between 2000 and 2050. If population growth follows projected trends, density increases across the continent should lead to a significant increase in the extent of such zones, especially around the Sahel belt and in Eastern Africa. The impact of changes in rainfall is more difficult to assess, because climate models differ locally as regards projections of yearly rainfall, especially in intermediate zones such as the Sahel. If, according to the predictions of most climate models, the Sahel were to experience average rainfall increases, these would ease, though not offset totally, the pressure stemming from demographic growth in that region. In contrast, in most of Eastern Africa, predicted drops in average rainfall would work in the same direction as demographic changes to increase the pressure on significant parts of the territory. In Southern Africa, demographic stagnation is likely to mitigate significantly the impact of climate change. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
AFRICA, SUB SAHARAN | RESEARCH REPORT | THEORETICAL MODELS | CLIMATE | ENVIRONMENT | POPULATION DENSITY | ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES | WATER SUPPLY | POPULATION DYNAMICS | POPULATION PRESSURE | Developing Countries | Africa | Research Methodology | Population Distribution | Geographic Factors | Population | Natural Resources | Demographic Factors | Carrying Capacity
Document Number: 327066

Title: Climatic change and Chinese population growth dynamics over the last millennium.
Author: Lee HF; Fok L; Zhang DD
Source: Climatic Change. 2008 May;88(2):131-156.
Abstract: The climate-population relationship has long been conceived. Although the topic has been repeatedly investigated, most of the related works are Eurocentric or qualitative. Consequently, the relationship between climate and population remains ambiguous. In this study, fine-grained temperature reconstructions and historical population data sets have been employed to statistically test a hypothesized relationship between temperature change and population growth (i.e., cooling associated with below average population growth) in China over the past millennium. The important results were: (1) Long-term temperature change significantly determined the population growth dynamics of China. However, spatial variation existed, whilst population growth in Central China was shown to be responsive to both long- and short-term temperature changes; in marginal areas, population growth was only sensitive to short-term temperature fluctuations. (2) Temporally, the temperature-population relationship was obscured in some periods, which was attributable to the factors of drought and social buffers. In summary, a temperature-population relationship was mediated by geographic factors, the aridity threshold, and social factors. Given the upcoming threat posed by climate change to human societies, this study seeks to improve our knowledge and understanding of the climate-society relationship. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
CHINA | RESEARCH REPORT | QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH | THEORETICAL MODELS | CLIMATE | POPULATION GROWTH | POPULATION DYNAMICS | GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS | GLOBAL WARMING | POPULATION PRESSURE | Asia, Eastern | Asia | Developing Countries | Research Methodology | Environment | Demographic Factors | Population | Carrying Capacity | Natural Resources
Document Number: 326400

Peer Reviewed

Title: Respiratory syncytial virus infection and disease in infants and young children observed from birth in Kilifi district, Kenya.
Author: Nokes DJ; Okiro EA; Ngama M; Ochola R; White LJ
Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2008 Jan 1;46(1):50-57.
Abstract: In developing countries, there are few data that characterize the disease burden attributable to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and clearly define which age group to target for vaccine intervention. Six hundred thirty-five children, recruited during the period 2002-2003, were intensively monitored until each experienced 3 epidemics of RSV infection. RSV infection was diagnosed using immunofluorescence of nasal washing specimens collected at each episode of acute respiratory infection. Incidence estimates were adjusted for seasonality of RSV exposure. For 1187 child-years of observation (CYO), a total of 409 (365 primary and 82 repeat) episodes of RSV infection were identified. Adjusted incidence estimates of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), severe LRTI, and hospital admission were 90 cases per 1000 CYO, 43 cases per 1000 CYO, and 10 cases per 1000 CYO, respectively, and corresponding estimates among infants were 104 cases per 1000 CYO, 66 cases per 1000 CYO, and 13 cases per 1000 CYO, respectively. The proportion of cases of all-cause LRTI, and severe LRTI and hospitalizations attributable to RSV in the cohort was 13%, 19%, and 5%, respectively. Fifty-five percent to 65% of RSV-associated LRTI and severe LRTI occurred in children aged >6 months. The risk of RSV disease following primary symptomatic infection remained significant beyond the first year of life, and one-quarter of all reinfections were associated with LRTI. RSV accounts for a substantial proportion of the total respiratory disease in this rural population; we estimate that 85,000 cases of severe LRTI per year occur in infants in Kenya. The majority of this morbidity occurs during late infancy and early childhood-ages at which the risk of disease following infection remains significant. Disease resulting from reinfection is common. Our results inform the debate on the target age group and effectiveness of a vaccine. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
KENYA | RESEARCH REPORT | INFANT | CHILDREN | RURAL AREAS | CLIMATE | VIRAL DISEASES | RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS | SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS | SEASONAL VARIATION | HOSPITALS | RISK FACTORS | Developing Countries | Africa, Eastern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Geographic Factors | Environment | Diseases | Infections | Population Dynamics | Health Facilities | Delivery of Health Care | Health | Biology
Document Number: 323112

10.

Title: Addressing diarrhea prevalence in the West African Middle Belt: social and geographic dimensions in a case study for Benin.
Author: Pande S; Keyzer MA; Arouna A; Sonneveld BG
Source: International Journal of Health Geographics. 2008 Apr 23;7(17):[17] p.
Abstract: Background: In West Africa, the Northern Sahelian zone and the coastal areas are densely populated but the Middle Belt in between is in general sparsely settled. Predictions of climate change foresee more frequent drought in the north and more frequent flooding in the coastal areas, while conditions in the Middle Belt will remain moderate. Consequently, the Middle Belt might become a major area for immigration but there may be constraining factors as well, particularly with respect to water availability. As a case study, the paper looks into the capacity of the Middle Belt zone of Benin, known as the Oueme River Basin (ORB), to reduce diarrhea prevalence. In Benin it links to the Millennium Development Goals on child mortality and environmental sustainability that are currently farthest from realization. However, diarrhea prevalence is only in part due to lack of availability of drinking water from a safe source. Social factors such as hygienic practices and poor sanitation are also at play. Furthermore, we consider these factors to possess the properties of a local public good that suffers from under provision and requires collective action, as individual actions to prevent illness are bound to fail as long as others free ride. Methods: Combining data from the Demographic Health Survey with various spatial data sets for Benin, we apply mixed effect logit regression to arrive at a spatially explicit assessment of geographical and social determinants of diarrhea prevalence. Starting from an analysis of these factors separately at national level, we identify relevant proxies at household level, estimate a function with geo-referenced independent variables and apply it to evaluate the costs and impacts of improving access to good water in the basin. Results: First, the study confirms the well established stylized fact on the causes of diarrhea that a household with access to clean water and with good hygienic practices will, irrespective of other conditions, not suffer diarrhea very often. Second, our endogeneity tests show that joint estimation performs better than an instrumental variable regression. Third, our model is stable with respect to its functional form, as competing specifications could not achieve better performance in overall likelihood or significance of parameters. Fourth, it finds that the richer and better educated segments of the population suffer much less from the disease and apparently can secure safe water for their households, irrespective of where they live. Fifth, regarding geographical causes, it indicates that diarrhea prevalence varies with groundwater availability and quality across Benin. Finally, our assessment of costs and benefits reveals that improving physical access to safe water is not expensive but can only marginally improve the overall health situation of the basin, unless the necessary complementary measures are taken in the social sphere. Conclusion: The ORB provides adequate water resources to accommodate future settlers but it lacks appropriate infrastructure to deliver safe water to households. Moreover, hygienic practices are often deficient. Therefore, a multifaceted approach is needed that acknowledges the public good aspects of health situation and consequently combines collective action with investments into water sources with improved management of public wells and further educational efforts to change hygienic practices.
Language: English
Keywords:
BENIN | RESEARCH REPORT | CLINICAL RESEARCH | CASE STUDIES | EPIDEMIOLOGIC METHODS | CHILDREN | PREVALENCE | DIARRHEA | GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS | CLIMATE | WATER SUPPLY | HYGIENE | COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL | Africa, Western | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Developing Countries | Research Methodology | Studies | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Measurement | Diseases | Environment | Natural Resources | Public Health | Health | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care
Document Number: 327689

11.

12.

Title: Change and continuity in a pastoralist community in the high Peruvian Andes.
Author: Postigo JC; Young KR; Crews KA
Source: Human Ecology. 2008 Aug;36(4):535-551.
Abstract: Pastoralists of the high Andes Mountains raise mixed herds of camelids and sheep. This study evaluates the land use of herdsmen who are confronted by both socioeconomic and climate changes in Huancavelica, central Peru. Land use/ land cover change (LULCC) was measured through satellite imagery, and pastoralists' capacity to adapt to socioenvironmental changes was evaluated through interviews and archival research. The most dynamic LULCCs between 1990 and 2000 were large increases in wetlands and a loss of permanent ice. We conclude that the people's responses to these changes will depend on availability of institutions to manage pastures, other household resources, and perceptions of these biophysical changes. Socioenvironmental change is not new in the study area, but current shifts will likely force this community to alter its rules of access to pastures, its economic rationales in regards to commodities produced, and the degree of dependence on seasonal wage labor. In this scenario, households with a greater amount of livestock will fare better in terms of assets and capital that will allow them to benefit from the increasing presence of a market economy in a landscape undergoing climate change. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
PERU | RESEARCH REPORT | QUALITATIVE RESEARCH | QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH | RURAL POPULATION | AGRICULTURAL WORKERS | LAND SUPPLY | LAND TENURE | LAND AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT | AGRICULTURE | CLIMATE | ECONOMIC FACTORS | South America, Western | South America | Latin America | Americas | Developing Countries | Research Methodology | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Labor Force | Human Resources | Natural Resources | Environment | Socioeconomic Factors | Rural Development | Macroeconomic Factors
Document Number: 327976

13.

Title: Climate change and infectious disease: A dangerous liaison?
Author: Senior K
Source: Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2008 Feb;8(2):92-93.
Abstract: The potential impact of climate change was highlighted at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (Dec 3-14) by Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, who said that "Today, we are at a crossroads, one path leading towards a comprehensive new climate agreement, and the other towards oblivion". One important concern is the consequence that climate change will have on global infectious disease incidence. The poorest countries of the developing world will, say commentators, bear the brunt. "Economic forecasts expect climate change to diminish global gross domestic product by around 5% in the coming decades. The bulk of this global decline will hit areas already reeling under HIV and tuberculosis epidemics", says David Fisman (Ontario Provincial Public Health Laboratory, Toronto, Canada). For diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV, which both have profound economic drivers, the indirect economic consequences of climate change-forced migration caused by flooding, failed agriculture, and conflicts related to diminished water resources-are likely to impede disease control efforts further. "Climate change will also have a direct impact on the usual suspects - malaria, dengue fever, and diarrhoeal illness will increase in incidence - and will likely continue to do the greatest damage to human health globally", says Fisman. (excerpt)
Language: English
Keywords:
GLOBAL | CRITIQUE | DATA REPORTING | CLIMATE | CHANGES | GLOBAL WARMING | DISEASES | INFECTIONS | PUBLIC HEALTH | RISK FACTORS | Data Collection | Research Methodology | Environment | Social Change | Sociocultural Factors | Health | Biology
Document Number: 324037

14.

Peer Reviewed

Title: Population challenges for Bangladesh in the coming decades.
Author: Streatfield PK; Karar ZA
Source: Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition. 2008 Sep;26(3):261-72.
Abstract: Bangladesh currently has a population approaching 150 million and will add another 100 million before stabilizing, unless fertility can soon drop below replacement level. This level of fertility decline will require a change in marriage patterns, which have been minimal so far, even with increasing female schooling. It would also benefit from a long-awaited shift to long-term contraception. In addition to the consequence of huge population size, the density of population is already five times that of any other 'mega' country (> 100 million), a very challenging situation for an agricultural society. Most of the future growth will be urban, increasingly in slums. Numbers of young people will not increase, but numbers of older people will increase 10-fold this century, creating a large burden on the health system, especially for chronic illnesses. High density of population means that agricultural land is virtually saturated, with very limited capacity to expand food production. Climate change may have dramatic impacts on agriculture, through flooding and drought resulting from weather changes and geopolitical influences on transborder rivers. Rising sea-levels and consequent salinity will affect crops and require shifts to alternative land use. Serious long-term planning is needed for meeting the growing needs of the population, both for distribution and consumption.
Language: English
Keywords:
BANGLADESH | CRITIQUE | DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS | POPULATION | POPULATION PROJECTION | MARRIAGE PATTERNS | BELOW REPLACEMENT FERTILITY | CONTRACEPTION | POPULATION DENSITY | URBANIZATION | DEMOGRAPHIC AGING | CLIMATE | AGRICULTURE | Developing Countries | Asia, Southern | Asia | Research Methodology | Estimation Techniques | Marriage | Nuptiality | Demographic Factors | Population Decrease | Population Dynamics | Family Planning | Population Distribution | Geographic Factors | Urban Population Distribution | Environment | Macroeconomic Factors | Economic Factors
Document Number: 328892

15.

Title: HIV / AIDS, climate change and disaster management: Challenges for institutions in Malawi.
Author: Suarez P; Givah P; Storey K; Lotsch A
Source: [Washington, D.C.], World Bank, Development Research Group, Sustainable Rural and Urban Development Team, 2008 May. 35 p. (Policy Research Working Paper No. 4634)
Abstract: Southern African institutions involved in disaster management face two major new threats: the HIV/ AIDS pandemic (eroding organizational capacity and increasing vulnerability of the population), and climate change (higher risk of extreme events and disasters). Analyzing the combined effects of these two threats on six disaster-related institutions in Malawi, the authors find evidence of a growing gap between demand for their services and capacity to satisfy that demand. HIV/AIDS leads to staff attrition, high vacancy rates, absenteeism, increased workload and other negative effects enhanced by human resources policies and financial limitations. Many necessary tasks cannot be carried out adequately with constraints such as the 42 percent vacancy rate in the Department of Poverty and Disaster Management Affairs, or the reduction of rainfall stations operated by the Meteorological Service from over 800 in 1988 to just 135 in 2006. The authors highlight implications of declining organizational capacity for climate change adaptation, and formulate recommendations. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
MALAWI | RESEARCH REPORT | LITERATURE REVIEW | DATA ANALYSIS | HIV INFECTIONS | AIDS | CLIMATE | NATURAL DISASTERS | EPIDEMIOLOGY | HEALTH POLICY | PUBLIC HEALTH | Developing Countries | Africa, Southern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Research Methodology | Viral Diseases | Diseases | Environment | Health | Policy | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors
Document Number: 327308

16.

Peer Reviewed

Title: Performance and usefulness of the Hexagon rapid diagnostic test in children with asymptomatic malaria living in the Mount Cameroon region.
Author: Wanji S; Kimbi HK; Eyong JE; Tendongfor N; Ndamukong JL
Source: Malaria Journal. 2008 May 22;7:89.
Abstract: Rapid and correct diagnosis of malaria is considered an important strategy in the control of the disease. However, it remains to be determined how well these tests can perform in those who harbour the parasite, but are asymptomatic, so that rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) could be used in rapid mass surveillance in malaria control programmes. Microscopic and immunochromatographic diagnosis of malaria were performed on blood samples from the hyperendemic Mount Cameroon region. Thin and thick blood films were stained with Giemsa and examined under light microscopy for malaria parasites. The RDT was performed on the blood samples for the detection of Plasmodium species. In addition, the performance characteristics of the test were determined using microscopy as gold standard. Results revealed 40.32% to be positive for microscopy and 34.41% to be positive for the RDT. Parasites were detected in a greater proportion of samples as the parasite density increase. Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant Plasmodium species detected in the study population either by microscopy or by the RDT. Overall, the test recorded a sensitivity and specificity of 85.33% and 95.05% respectively, and an accuracy of 91.40%. The sensitivity and specificity of the RDT increased as parasite densities increased. The Hexagon Malaria Combi test showed a high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing malaria in asymptomatic subjects and so could be suitable for use in mass surveillance programmes for the management and control of malaria. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
CAMEROON | RESEARCH REPORT | CHILDREN | CLIMATE | IMMUNOLOGICAL EFFECTS | EXAMINATIONS AND DIAGNOSES | MALARIA PREVENTION | TESTING | RISK FACTORS | TRANSMISSION | Developing Countries | Africa, Western | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Environment | Immunity | Immune System | Physiology | Biology | Medical Procedures | Medicine | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care | Health | Malaria | Parasitic Diseases | Diseases | Measurement | Research Methodology | Infections
Document Number: 327211

17.

Peer Reviewed

Title: Outcome of hospital deliveries of women living at high altitude: A study from Lhasa in Tibet.
Author: Yangzom Y; Qian L; Shan M; La Y; Meiduo D
Source: Acta Paediatrica. 2008;97:317-321.
Abstract: The aim was to describe rates of neonatal mortality, low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA), and relate outcome to ethnicity and perinatal risk factors of liveborn infants of hospital deliveries in Lhasa. The differences in these variables between ethnic Tibetans and non-Tibetans were also studied. Data were prospectively collected on the outcome of all liveborn infants born in four hospitals in the urban area of Lhasa, Tibet, in 2005. A total of 2540 liveborn infants were recorded. The rates of LBW, preterm birth and SGA were 13.6%, 5.7% and 22.2%, respectively. Neonatal mortality rate was 42/1000 for the infants born alive in the hospitals. Lower GA, vaginal delivery, foetal distress and lack of prenatal care, but not ethnicity, were associated with increased risk of death in multivariate logistic regression. Tibetans had higher BW and lower rates of LBW, SGA, need of oxygen supplementation and maternal hypertension, but higher rates of foetal distress, caesarean section, multiple births and low Apgar scores. This study provided a profile of perinatal-neonatal care of hospital newborn infants in Lhasa, Tibet. The rates of neonatal mortality, LBW and SGA were high. The findings suggest ethnic differences in perinatal-neonatal adaptation to high altitude. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
CHINA | RESEARCH REPORT | PROSPECTIVE STUDIES | WOMEN | INFANT, PREMATURE | CLIMATE | ALTITUDE | CHILDBIRTH | LOW BIRTH WEIGHT | NEONATAL MORTALITY | PREMATURE BIRTH | Asia, Eastern | Asia | Developing Countries | Studies | Research Methodology | Demographic Factors | Population | Infant | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Environment | Pregnancy Outcomes | Pregnancy | Reproduction | Birth Weight | Body Weight | Physiology | Biology | Infant Mortality | Mortality | Population Dynamics
Document Number: 324862

18.

Peer Reviewed

Title: Global climate change and children's health.
Author: Committee on Environmental Health
Source: Pediatrics. 2007 Nov;120(5):1149-1152.
Abstract: There is broad scientific consensus that Earth's climate is warming rapidly and at an accelerating rate. Human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, are very likely (> 90% probability) to be the main cause of this warming. Climate-sensitive changes in ecosystems are already being observed, and fundamental, potentially irreversible, ecological changes may occur in the coming decades. Conservative environmental estimates of the impact of climate changes that are already in process indicate that they will result in numerous health effects to children. The nature and extent of these changes will be greatly affected by actions taken or not taken now at the global level. Physicians have written on the projected effects of climate change on public health, but little has been written specifically on anticipated effects of climate change on children's health. Children represent a particularly vulnerable group that is likely to suffer disproportionately from both direct and indirect adverse health effects of climate change. Pediatric health care professionals should understand these threats, anticipate their effects on children's health, and participate as children's advocates for strong mitigation and adaptation strategies now. Any solutions that address climate change must be developed within the context of overall sustainability (the use of resources by the current generation to meet current needs while ensuring that future generations will be able to meet their needs). Pediatric health care professionals can be leaders in a move away from a traditional focus on disease prevention to a broad, integrated focus on sustainability as synonymous with health. This policy statement is supported by a technical report that examines in some depth the nature of the problem of climate change, likely effects on children's health as a result of climate change, and the critical importance of responding promptly and aggressively to reduce activities that are contributing to this change. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
GLOBAL | RECOMMENDATIONS | CHILDREN | HEALTH PERSONNEL | CHILD HEALTH | CLIMATE | GLOBAL WARMING | PLANNING | DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE | PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY | ADVOCACY | SOCIAL PROTECTION | HEALTH POLICY | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Health | Environment | Organization and Administration | Programs | Communication | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors | Policy
Document Number: 322150

19.

Title: Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the organization.
Author: United Nations. Secretary-General
Source: New York, New York, United Nations, 2007. [74] p. (A/62/1) General Assembly, Official Records, Sixty-second Session, Supplement No. 1 (A/62/1).
Abstract: This, my first annual report, comes at a time when the Member States and the peoples of the world are asking the United Nations to do more - in more spheres of activity, in more locations, in more challenging circumstances - than at any point in the Organization's history. While the surging demand for our services is daunting, we must not shrink from this challenge. Indeed it should be welcomed. This is a sign not only of the many pressing needs in the world today, but also of the increasing recognition that they can best be addressed collectively, through the world's only truly universal instrument, the United Nations. In order to tackle effectively the full range of challenges coming our way, however, we will need to narrow the gap between aspiration and achievement. Enhancing our ability to deliver results consistently and effectively will require the full commitment of our Member States, as well as the reform and reorientation of the Organization. (excerpt)
Language: English
Keywords:
GLOBAL | ANNUAL REPORT | DEVELOPMENT PLANNING | GOALS | SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT | PEACEKEEPING | WAR | HUMAN RIGHTS | HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE | DEMOCRACY | HIV PREVENTION | AIDS PREVENTION | TREATMENT | CARE AND SUPPORT | GLOBAL WARMING | CLIMATE | SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | Economic Factors | Planning | Organization and Administration | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors | Financial Activities | Political Systems | HIV Infections | Viral Diseases | Diseases | AIDS | Medical Procedures | Medicine | Health Services | Delivery of Health Care | Health | Environment | Economic Development
Document Number: 308888

20.

Peer Reviewed

Title: Malaria returns to Kenya's highlands as temperatures rise.
Author: Alsop Z
Source: Lancet. 2007 Sep 15;370(9591):925-926.
Abstract: Not so long ago, malaria was thought to have been eradicated in Kisii and Nairobi, places high enough and cool enough that malaria and the mosquito vectors that carry it were not able to return after a combination of insecticide and lower temperatures cleared them from Kenya's highlands in the 1960s. But a subtle rise in the temperatures across Africa made it possible for the disease to creep back into places like Kisii during the late 1980s. In the past 6 years, the disease has even managed to overwhelm health facilities in the lush, chilly highlands on the flanks of Mount Kenya-a place where it had not been documented for 50 years. Since she opened her clinic in 2005, Nyanja says she has seen quite a few patients who have contracted malaria inside Kibera itself. The resurgence of malaria in the east African highlands has shown how small changes in climate can influence the geography of some tropical diseases. (excerpt)
Language: English
Keywords:
KENYA | CRITIQUE | POPULATION AT RISK | MALARIA | FEVER | SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS | GLOBAL WARMING | CLIMATE | INSECTS | Developing Countries | Africa, Eastern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Research Methodology | Parasitic Diseases | Diseases | Body Temperature | Physiology | Biology | Environment | Disease Transmission Control | Prevention and Control
Document Number: 320412

21.

Title: How much did property rights matter? Understanding food insecurity in Zimbabwe: A critique of Richardson.
Author: Andersson JA
Source: African Affairs. 2007 Oct;106(425):681-690.
Abstract: Zimbabwe's current crisis arguably constitutes one of Africa's most contentious issues. What once appeared to be a thriving economy exporting maize to neighbouring countries has turned, in the course of a few years, into a country facing recurrent food shortages. Craig Richardson's recent article in African Affairs explores the collapse of Zimbabwe's economy from an economic perspective, linking annual rainfall figures to GDP growth. He finds that, in this agriculture-dominated economy, 'sudden changes in government policy', rather than drought conditions, are responsible for the recent break of the relation between these two variables. Richardson sees government's 'expropriation of commercial farmland' in 2000 as 'the most important reason for the economy's collapse',1 exemplifying a popular, but problematic, perspective on Zimbabwe's economic crisis. Characteristic of this perspective is its focus on the post-2000 collapse and the tendency to blame all of Zimbabwe's economic ills on recent government policy. This article seeks to counter this kind of short-term cause and effect reductionism: first, because it thrives at the expense of an historically informed understanding of the underlying causes of crisis and government reaction (however malevolent such reactions may have been), and second, because it might contribute to undue optimism for a post-Mugabe era and, possibly, ill-informed policy formulation. (excerpt)
Language: English
Keywords:
ZIMBABWE | HISTORICAL REVIEW | GOVERNMENT | AGRICULTURAL WORKERS | LAND TENURE | FOOD SECURITY | ECONOMIC FACTORS | SOCIAL POLICY | CLIMATE | AGRICULTURE | Developing Countries | Africa, Southern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors | Labor Force | Human Resources | Socioeconomic Factors | Food Supply | Natural Resources | Environment | Policy | Macroeconomic Factors
Document Number: 321892

22.

Title: Sudden shift or migratory drift? FulBe herd movements to the Sudano-Guinean region of West Africa.
Author: Bassett TJ; Turner MD
Source: Human Ecology. 2007 Feb;35(1):33-49.
Abstract: A significant change in the geography of livestock raising over the past 30 years is the southerly movement of FulBe herds into the humid Sudanian and Guinean savannas of West Africa. The literature suggests that the severe droughts of the early 1970s and mid-1980s were the driving force behind this southern expansion of mobile livestock raising. The conventional view is that drought forced herders to seek greener pastures to the south, an area that zebu cattle have previously avoided because of the presence of tsetse flies, the vector of animal sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis). This "sudden push" hypothesis places Sahelian herds in savanna pastures in a matter of a 1-3 years. This stimulus-response model runs counter to our observations and understanding of the social and ecological processes influencing FulBe herd movements. We challenge the "sudden shift" thesis at the regional scale by arguing that the southerly expansion of FulBe herds has proceeded according to a more complex temporal frame that includes generational, biological, and social historical timeframes and periodicities. We distinguish between short-term shifts ("test movements") and more permanent shifts ("migration movements"). These mobility patterns are linked to contingent factors such as cattle diseases, drought, and political instability, as well as to more structural and adaptive features such as the establishment of social networks, herding contracts, and cattle cross-breeding. Shifts in livestock ownership and the social differentiation among herders are important variables for understanding changes in herd movements. We conclude that the permanent shift of herds to the humid savannas of West Africa has been preceded by a series of social and agroecological adjustments that operate on decadal and generational time scales. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
AFRICA, WESTERN | RESEARCH REPORT | MIGRATION | CLIMATE | SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | ANIMALS | Developing Countries | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Environment | Agriculture | Macroeconomic Factors | Economic Factors | Natural Resources
Document Number: 315366

23.

Peer Reviewed

Title: Reducing the impact of climate change.
Author: Brown H
Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2007 Nov;85(11):824-825.
Abstract: The most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that there is overwhelming evidence that humans are affecting climate and it highlighted the implications for human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) is helping countries respond to this challenge, primarily by encouraging them to build and reinforce public health systems as the first line of defence against climate-related health risks. (excerpt)
Language: English
Keywords:
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES | WHO | POPULATION AT RISK | GOVERNMENT | CLIMATE | GLOBAL WARMING | PUBLIC HEALTH | DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE | EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES | EMERGENCY SERVICES | PILOT PROJECTS | UN | International Agencies | Organizations | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors | Research Methodology | Environment | Health | Medical Procedures | Medicine | Health Services | Studies
Document Number: 323434

24.
Title: Global climate change and women's health.
Author: Duncan K
Source: Women and Environments. 2007 Spring-Summer;(74-75):10-11.
Abstract: For the first twenty years that climate change garnered international attention, gender issues were not on the agenda - although women (1) are generally poorer than men, and (2) are more dependent than men on primary resources (e.g. agriculture) that are threatened by changes in climate. Women often shoulder the responsibility for the household water supply and its purification; in Kenya, for example, carrying water may use up to 85% of a woman's daily energy intake. Because women collect water, manage its household use, and grow irrigated and rain-fed crops, they know water's availability, quality, and reliability. Furthermore, as a result of this division of labour, women often come into contact with poor-quality water, and are more vulnerable to water-related diseases than are men. These diseases kill between five and twelve million people per year, most of them women and children. Millions more are sickened with diarrhoea, hepatitis, and trachoma that would be preventable with access to clean water and health care information. Women then also bear the main burden of caring for those who are ill. Yet, women, in most parts of the world, remain almost invisible in decision-making about climate change. (excerpt)
Language: English
Keywords:
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES | CRITIQUE | WOMEN | CLIMATE | ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION | WOMEN'S HEALTH | GENDER ISSUES | ECONOMIC FACTORS | Demographic Factors | Population | Environment | Environmental Degradation | Health | Sociocultural Factors
Document Number: 308320

25.

Title: Global health and foreign policy [letter] [reply]
Author: Ellis J; Morarji N; North S; Walpole S
Source: Lancet. 2007 May 19;369(9574):1689-1690.
Abstract: In response to the UK Department of Health's proposal "health is global", we, students at the Centre for International Health and Development, London, endorse this global approach to addressing health issues. We propose four key areas that the strategy must address: inequality and poverty, conflict, climate change, and partnerships. Health must be recognised as being broadly determined and profoundly affected by structural inequalities. Poverty, in particular, is a major cause of ill-health. A strategy to address poverty requires an international approach that acknowledges the imbalance of political power in the global arena. A greater emphasis should be placed on anthropological and epidemiological research to show how imbalances affect health in local contexts. Ultimately this would lead to more economically viable, locally sensitive, and sustainable interventions. Integral to addressing structural inequality is giving developing countries an equal opportunity to gain from trade. The Department of Health should advocate inter national law that ensures corporate responsibility. For example, government legislation should prevent corporations from buying up developing countries' debt and taking countries to court over debt repayments. Transparency and awareness of corporate actions would discourage unethical investments, such as those in the arms trade. With respect to health, the transparency and ethics of the pharmaceutical industry are particularly pertinent. Distribution, research, and development of drugs to combat diseases in developing countries should be paramount. (excerpt)
Language: English
Keywords:
GLOBAL | CRITIQUE | POVERTY | INEQUALITIES | CLIMATE | WAR | SOCIAL CHANGE | Socioeconomic Factors | Economic Factors | Environment | Political Factors | Sociocultural Factors
Document Number: 316685

26.

Peer Reviewed

Title: Influence of usage practices, ethnicity and climate on the skin compatibility of sanitary pads.
Author: Farage M; Elsner P; Maibach H
Source: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 2007 Jun;275(6):415-427.
Abstract: Modern disposable sanitary pads are becoming available worldwide. Regional differences in usage practices, ethnicity, and climate may influence their skin compatibility. Pad usage practices depend on culture, economics, and menstrual physiology. Daily usage is higher in Japan and but lower in Nigeria compared to North America or Western Europe. Evidence for ethnic differences in skin irritant susceptibility is not compelling. Dark skin may be less susceptible to certain irritants than fair skin; the Japanese may experience a higher degree of sensory irritation than Caucasians. Ambient conditions such as high temperature and humidity increase the skin temperature and skin surface moisture under sanitary pads by small but measurable amounts, causing no discernible skin irritation; vapor-permeable pad backings reduce these effects. Cold dry conditions, which can irritate exposed skin, may not affect vulvar skin to the same degree due to its elevated hydration and occlusion. To address the practical significance of these variables, results of prospective clinical trials of sanitary pads performed by industry and academic scientists in North America (Indiana), Mexico, Western Europe (Munich, Athens, Goteborg, Sweden), Eastern Europe (Kiev) and Africa (Abuja, Nigeria) were reviewed. Despite the diverse range of conditions, no significant adverse skin effects were observed with modern pads compared to traditional pad designs. Study participants generally preferred modern pads for performance and comfort. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
NIGERIA | NORTH AMERICA | EUROPE, WESTERN | RESEARCH REPORT | CLINICAL TRIALS | ETHNIC GROUPS | GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS | MENSTRUATION | CLIMATE | HYGIENE | Africa, Western | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Developing Countries | Developed Countries | Americas | Europe | Clinical Research | Research Methodology | Cultural Background | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Reproduction | Environment | Public Health | Health
Document Number: 317123

27.

Peer Reviewed

Title: Association between climate variability and hospital visits for non-cholera diarrhoea in Bangladesh: Effects and vulnerable groups.
Author: Hashizum M; Armstrong B; Hajat S; Wagatsuma Y; Faruque AS
Source: International Journal of Epidemiology. 2007;36:1030-1037
.
Abstract: We estimated the effects of rainfall and temperature on the number of noncholera diarrhoea cases and identified population factors potentially affecting vulnerability to the effect of the climate factors in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Weekly rainfall, temperature and number of hospital visits for non-cholera diarrhoea were analysed by time-series regression. A Poisson regression model was used to model the relationships controlling for seasonally varying factors other than the weather variables. Modifications of weather effects were investigated by fitting the models separately to incidence series according to their characteristics (sex, age, socio-economic, hygiene and sanitation status). The number of non-cholera diarrhoea cases per week increased by 5.1% (95% CI: 3.3-6.8) for every 10mm increase above the threshold of 52mm of average rainfall over lags 0-8 weeks. The number of cases also increased by 3.9% (95% CI: 0.6-7.2) for every 10mm decrease below the same threshold of rainfall. Ambient temperaturewas also positively associated with the number of noncholera diarrhoea cases. There was no evidence for the modification of both 'high and low rainfall' effects by individual characteristics, while the effect of temperature was higher amongst those individuals at a lower educational attainment and unsanitary toilet users. The number of non-cholera diarrhoea cases increased both above and below a threshold level with high and low rainfall in the preceding weeks. The number of cases also increased with higher temperature, particularly in those individuals at a lower socio-economic and sanitation status. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
BANGLADESH | RESEARCH REPORT | INCIDENCE | STATISTICAL STUDIES | CHOLERA | CLIMATE | CLINIC VISITS | DIARRHEA | SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS | SANITATION | SEASONAL VARIATION | Developing Countries | Asia, Southern | Asia | Measurement | Research Methodology | Studies | Bacterial and Fungal Diseases | Infections | Diseases | Environment | Service Statistics | Program Activities | Programs | Organization and Administration | Economic Factors | Public Health | Health | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population
Document Number: 321785

28.

Peer Reviewed

Title: Spatial modelling and risk factors of malaria incidence in northern Malawi.
Author: Kazembe LN
Source: Acta Tropica. 2007 May;102(2):126-137.
Abstract: Identifying areas of high risk is crucial for providing targeted antimalarial interventions. This study used ecological spatial regression models to profile spatial variation of malaria risk and analysed possible association of disease risk with environmental factors at sub-district level in northern Malawi. Using malaria incidence data collected between January 2002 and December 2003, we applied and compared Bayesian Poisson regression models assuming different spatial structures. For each model we adjusted for environmental covariates initially identified through bivariate non-spatial models. The model with both spatially structured and unstructured heterogeneity provided a better fit, guided by the model comparison criteria. Malaria incidence was associated with altitude, precipitation and soil water holding capacity. The risk increased with altitude (relative risk (RR): 1.092, 95% interval: 1.020, 1.169) and precipitation (RR: 1.031, 95% interval: 0.950, 1.120). At medium level of SWHC relative to low level, the risk was reduced (RR: 0.521, 95% interval: 0.298, 0.912), while at high level of SWHC relative to low level the risk was raised (RR: 1.649, 95% interval: 1.041, 2.612). Compared to the commonly used standardised incidence ratios, the model-based approach provided homogenous and easy to interpret risk estimates. Generally, the smoothed map showed less spatial variation in risk, with slightly higher estimates of malaria risk (RR > 1) in low-lying areas mostly situated along the lakeshore regions, in particular in Karonga and Nkhatabay districts, and low risk (RR < 1) in high-lying areas along Nyika plateau and Vwaza highlands. The results suggest that the spatial variation in malaria risk in the region is a combination of various environmental factors, both observed and unobserved, and the map only highlights the overall effect of these factors. The results also identified areas of increased risk, where further epidemiological investigations can be carried out. This study, therefore, constitutes an important first step and future models analysed at a sub-district level could be pursued to delineate priority areas for focussing of finite resources. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
MALAWI | RESEARCH REPORT | THEORETICAL MODELS | POPULATION AT RISK | CHILDREN | MALARIA | INCIDENCE | RISK FACTORS | GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS | CLIMATE | ALTITUDE | EPIDEMIOLOGY | Developing Countries | Africa, Southern | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Research Methodology | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Parasitic Diseases | Diseases | Measurement | Biology | Environment | Public Health | Health
Document Number: 317609

29.

Title: Prevalence and management of malaria in Ghana: A case study of Volta Region.
Author: Mba CJ; Aboh IK
Source: African Population Studies. 2007;22(1):137-165.
Abstract: Volta Region, one of Ghana's ten administrative regions, has the highest prevalence of malaria in the country. The present paper assesses the patterns, levels, and trends of malaria prevalence among inhabitants in the 12 districts of the region, and examines whether those at risk of malaria have assess to protective measures and have effective treatment for malaria in Volta Region. The study focused on secondary analysis of data from the Volta Regional bio-statistical office, Ho, the region's capital, supplemented by the 2003 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. The results show that malaria cases are prevalent in the Jasikan, Hohoe, Kpando, Ho and Keta Districts. Districts that lie within the middle and southern belts enjoy two rainy seasons that are conducive to the vector that causes malaria. Overwhelming majority of the in-patients (41.5%) are children aged 0 - 4 years, while the number of the in-patient cases generally decreases with advancing age. The majority of children who had fever in the last two weeks (34.8%) were aged 12 - 23 months, followed by 34.4% for age group 0 - 11 months. The highest malaria cases in the region are from the Hohoe district (24.2%) in year 2003, followed by Ho 20.1% in 2000 and 2002, and Keta (17.2%) also in 2003. The least recorded is the North Tongu with 0.9% for 2 different years (2000 and 2002). It is anticipated that with a considerable reduction in poverty levels, households and communities would become increasingly responsible for the improvement of their health status and quality of life. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
GHANA | RESEARCH REPORT | CASE STUDIES | POPULATION AT RISK | CHILDREN | MALARIA | PREVALENCE | PREVENTION AND CONTROL | BED NETS | CLIMATE | FEVER | Developing Countries | Africa, Western | Africa, Sub Saharan | Africa | Studies | Research Methodology | Youth | Age Factors | Population Characteristics | Demographic Factors | Population | Parasitic Diseases | Diseases | Measurement | Parasite Control | Public Health | Health | Environment | Body Temperature | Physiology | Biology
Document Number: 327286

30.

Title: Moving women: household composition, labor demand and crop choice.
Author: Mbiti IM
Source: [Unpublished] 2007. Presented at the Population Association of America 2007 Annual Meeting, New York, New York, March 29-31, 2007. [49] p.
Abstract: This paper estimates the effect of increases in the relative value of female labor induced by rainfall shocks on the gender composition of rural agricultural households in India. Much of the previous literature in this vein has focused exclusively on the gender composition of young children due to excess female mortality. Using a unique panel dataset from India, I focus instead on the changes in the gender composition of prime aged adults. Rice production is known to be more intensive in female labor than wheat production, and is more dependent on rainfall. I compare how rice and wheat households adjust the composition of their adult membership in response to rainfall shocks that differentially raise the relative marginal products of female labor, controlling for farm and household-level heterogeneity using fixed effects. Consistent with a model of household composition and crop choice in the presence of imperfect labor markets, I find that positive rainfall shocks are associated with an increase in the relative number of prime age females in rice households. Timing of marriage of daughter's of household heads is one of the main mechanisms adjusting the gender composition of prime aged adults in these households. I find that a one standard deviation increase in rainfall decreases the rate of marriage among young adult females in rice households by approximately 10 percent relative to wheat households. Dowries paid out by rice households also decline by a similar magnitude, indicating a rise in the value of female labor. (author's)
Language: English
Keywords:
INDIA | RESEARCH REPORT | DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEYS | WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT | AGRICULTURAL WORKERS | HOUSEHOLDS | LABOR FORCE | AGRICULTURE | PRODUCTION | CLIMATE | SEX RATIO | MARRIAGE PATTERNS | DOWRY | Asia, Southern | Asia | Developing Countries | Population Dynamics | Demographic Factors | Population | Economic Development | Economic Factors | Human Resources | Family and Household | Sociocultural Factors | Macroeconomic Factors | Environment | Sex Distribution | Sex Factors | Population Characteristics | Marriage | Nuptiality
Document Number: 317822


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