Suchergebnisse

Drowning is a leading cause of child death in the coastal Sundarbans region of India due to the presence of open water, lack of supervision and poor infrastructure, but no prevention programs are currently implemented. The World Health Organization has identified interventions that may prevent child drowning in rural low-and middle-income country contexts, including the provision of home-based barriers, supervised childcare, swim and rescue training and first responder training. Child health programs should consider the local context and identify barriers for implementation. To ensure the sustainability of any drowning prevention programs implemented, we conducted a qualitative study to identify the considerations for the implementation of these interventions, and to understand how existing government programs could be leveraged. We also identified key stakeholders for involvement. We found that contextual factors such as geography, cultural beliefs around drowning, as well as skillsets of local people, would influence program delivery. Government programs such as accredited social health activists (ASHAs) and self-help groups could be leveraged for program implementation, while Anganwadi centres would require additional support due to poor resourcing. Gaining government permissions to change Anganwadi processes to provide childcare services may be challenging. The results showed that adapting drowning programs to the Sundarbans context presents unique challenges and program customisation.

BACKGROUND: Media coverage of road traffic collisions (RTCs) may influence preventative action. India experiences some of the highest RTC mortality and morbidity rates globally, but advocacy and effective action to mitigate this has been limited. We conducted an analysis of Indian media in English to assess whether coverage met the WHO's Reporting on Road Safety guidelines for evidence-based reporting of RTCs. METHODS: English-language articles published online between March 2018 and February 2019 were assessed against the seven recommended story angles and seven recommended key elements in the WHO guidelines. RESULTS: 458 articles were included in the analysis. The most common story angle was descriptions of single collisions, which was not a WHO-recommended story angle. These included limited key elements such as use of human story or linking to road safety risks or evidence-based solutions. However, some articles did follow the WHO-recommended story angles, with 22.1% discussing specific road safety solutions and a further 6.3% discussing vulnerable groups. Almost all articles avoided the use of technical language, but only 2.0% explicitly stated that RTCs were preventable. More than half identified at least one evidence-based solution. Very few articles discussed economic or health impacts of RTCs, including the burden they present to the public health system. CONCLUSION: Indian media in English can improve reporting by focusing on human stories and documenting experiences of those injured in RTCs. Coverage should also focus more on evidence-based solutions, emphasising the systems approach which encourages government action rather than changes to individual behaviour.

Drowning has been a neglected health issue, largely absent from the global health and development discourse, until the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution on global drowning prevention in 2021. This policy analysis examines the role of issue characteristics, actor power, ideas, and political contexts in the emergence of drowning prevention, and it also identifies opportunities for future actions. We identified three factors crucial to enhancing prioritisation: (1) methodological advancements in population-representative data and evidence for effective interventions; (2) reframing drowning prevention in health and sustainable development terms with an elevated focus on high burdens in low-income and middle-income contexts; and (3) political advocacy by a small coalition. Ensuring that the UN resolution on global drowning prevention is a catalyst for action requires positioning of drowning prevention within global health and sustainable development agendas; strengthening of capacity for multisectoral action; expansion of research measuring burden and identifying solutions in diverse contexts; and incorporation of inclusive global governance, commitments, and mechanisms that hold stakeholders to account.

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore many issues that will impact public health for years to come –one such impact is on the nexus between transportation and health. Promoting safe, active transport is an activity that has many physical and mental health benefits. During lockdowns, many cities in Latin America imposed infrastructural and legislative changes in order to abide with public health and social mea­sures to reduce virus spread. These ranged from additional bike lanes to reduced speed limits or incentives to purchase bicycles. These cities showed reduced motorized transport, improved air quality and increased active transport, all of which have multiple health and equity benefits. As countries "build back better", promoting active transport offers the most value for investment and improves health and well-being while continuing to offer social distancing. Quantified case studies are needed to have a more comprehensive under­standing of the impact of active transport in various contexts. ; The Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore many issues that will impact public health for years to come –one such impact is on the nexus between transportation and health. Promoting safe, active transport is an activity that has many physical and mental health benefits. During lockdowns, many cities in Latin America imposed infrastructural and legislative changes in order to abide with public health and social mea­sures to reduce virus spread. These ranged from additional bike lanes to reduced speed limits or incentives to purchase bicycles. These cities showed reduced motorized transport, improved air quality and increased active transport, all of which have multiple health and equity benefits. As countries "build back better", promoting active transport offers the most value for investment and improves health and well-being while continuing to offer social distancing. Quantified case studies are needed to have a more comprehensive under­standing of the impact of active transport in various contexts.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of natural disasters on communities in the Barisal division of Bangladesh, exploring community approaches to disaster preparedness and mitigation. SETTING: Communities in all districts of the Barisal division of Bangladesh. PARTICIPANTS: Quantitative data were collected through a cross-sectional household survey (n=9263 households; n=38 981 individuals). Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews (n=7) and focus group discussions (n=23) with key informants. OUTCOME MEASURES: Quantitative research recorded features of natural disaster events from the previous 5 years, documenting risk factors that increase vulnerability to disaster, use of disaster warning systems and evacuation processes. Qualitative research investigated disaster risk perceptions, experiences during and following disaster, and disaster preparedness practices. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 94.7%. Exposure to disaster in the last 5 years was high (82%) with flooding and cyclones considered the greatest threats. Awareness of evacuation processes was low; and only 19% of respondents evacuated their homes at the time of disaster. Drowning during disaster was the primary concern (87%), followed by debt, livestock and crop loss (78%). The qualitative findings indicated prevailing fatalistic perceptions towards natural disasters among community. The consequences of disasters included significant loss of livelihoods and exposure to infections due to poor sanitation. There was also insufficient support for the most vulnerable, particularly women, children and the elderly. Although several community preparedness and practices existed, there was a lack of response to early warning systems. Barriers to disaster response and resilience included financial insecurities, loss of livelihoods and cultural concerns regarding women's privacy. CONCLUSIONS: Critical to achieving disaster resilience is increased government investment in infrastructure and systems-level responses that empower communities. ...