Health Equity: 01/20/10

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

[EQ] Socioeconomic aspects of neglected tropical diseases - Mapping, monitoring, and surveillance of neglected tropical diseases: towards a policy framework

Mapping, monitoring, and surveillance of neglected tropical diseases: towards a policy framework

MC Baker a, E Mathieu b, FM Fleming c, M Deming b, JD King d, A Garba e, JB Koroma f, Prof M Bockarie g, A Kabore h, DP Sankara a, Prof DH Molyneux g
a RTI International, Washington, DC, USA

b Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

c Schistosomiasis Control Initiative, Imperial College, London, UK

d The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA, USA

e NTD Control Program, RISEAL, Niamey, Niger

f National Onchocerciasis Neglected Tropical Diseases Control Program, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone

g Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK

h Liverpool Associates of Health, Liverpool, UK

The Lancet, Volume 375, Issue 9710, 16 January 2010

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)61458-6/abstract

“……As national programmes respond to the new opportunities presented for scaling up preventive chemotherapy programmes for the coadministration of drugs to target lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, and trachoma, possible synergies between existing disease-specific policies and protocols need to be examined.

In this report we compare present policies for mapping, monitoring, and surveillance for these diseases, drawing attention to both the challenges and opportunities for integration. …”

Socioeconomic aspects of neglected tropical diseases

Lesong Conteh a, Thomas Engels b, David H Molyneux c
a London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

b IBF International Consulting, Brussels, Belgium

c Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK

The Lancet, Volume 375, Issue 9710, 16 January 2010

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)61422-7/abstract

“…….Although many examples of highly cost-effective interventions to control neglected tropical diseases exist, our understanding of the full economic effect that these diseases have on individuals, households, and nations needs to be improved to target interventions more effectively and equitably. We review data for the effect of neglected tropical diseases on a population's health and economy.

We also present evidence on the costs, cost-effectiveness, and financing of strategies to monitor, control, or reduce morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases………..”

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[EQ] Poverty, Near-Poverty, and Hardship around the Time of Pregnancy

Poverty, Near-Poverty, and Hardship around the Time of Pregnancy

Paula Braveman, Kristen Marchi ; Susan Egerter Center on Social Disparities in Health, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

Soowon Kim, Health Improvement Program, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University, Stanford

Marilyn Metzler, Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta

Tonya Stancil, Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention, and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta

Moreen Libet, Epidemiology, Assessment and Program Development, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program, Center for Family Health, California Dep. of Public Health, Sacramento, CA
Maternal and Child Health Journal - Matern Child Health J (2010) 14:20–35

Available online at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/r161186rx520h647/fulltext.pdf

URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/l5257p66q62v/?p=b37b5088db704099baddb82e5b2fc7cd&pi=0

“…..To describe income levels and the prevalence of major hardships among women during or just before pregnancy.
We separately analyzed 2002–2006 population based postpartum survey data from California’s Maternal and Infant Health Assessment (n = 18,332) and 19 states participating in CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (n = 143,452) to examine income and several hardships
(divorce/separation, domestic violence, homelessness, financial difficulties, spouse/partner’s or respondent’s involuntary job loss or incarceration, and, in California only, food insecurity and no social support) during/just before pregnancy.

In both samples, over 30% of women were poor (income B100% of federal poverty level [FPL]) and 20% near-poor (101–200% FPL); and around 60% of low-income (poor or near-poor) women experienced at least one hardship.

While hardship prevalence decreased significantly as income increased, many non low-income women also experienced hardships; e.g., in California, 43% of all women and 13% with incomes [400% FPL experienced one or more hardships. These findings paint a disturbing picture of experiences around the time of pregnancy in the United States for many women giving birth and their children, particularly because 60% had previous births.

The high prevalence of low income and of serious hardships during pregnancy is of concern, given previous research documenting the adverse health consequences of these experiences and recognition of pregnancy as a critical period for health throughout the life course. Low income and major hardships around the time of pregnancy should be addressed as mainstream U.S. maternal-infant health and social policy issues…..”

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.