Background:The COVID-19 pandemic and governments’attempts to contain it are negatively affecting young children’s health and development in ways we are only beginning to understand and measure.Responses to the pande...Background:The COVID-19 pandemic and governments’attempts to contain it are negatively affecting young children’s health and development in ways we are only beginning to understand and measure.Responses to the pandemic are driven largely by confining children and families to their homes.This study aims to assess the levels of and associated socioeconomic disparities in household preparedness for protecting young children under the age of five from being exposed to communicable diseases,such as COVID-19,in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs).Methods:Using data from nationally representative household surveys in 56 LMICs since 2016,we estimated the percentages of young children under the age of five living in households prepared for communicable diseases(e.g.,COVID-19)and associated residential and wealth disparities at the country-and aggregate-level.Preparedness was defined on the basis of space for quarantine,adequacy of toilet facilities and hand hygiene,mass media exposure at least once a week,and phone ownership.Disparities within countries were measured as the absolute gap in two domains—household wealth and residential area-and compared across regions and country income groups.Results:The final data set included 766,313 children under age five.On average,19.4%of young children in the 56 countries lived in households prepared for COVID-19,ranging from 0.6%in Ethiopia in 2016 to 70.9%in Tunisia in 2018.In close to 90%of countries(50),fewer than 50%of young children lived in prepared households.Young children in rural areas or in the poorest households were less likely to live in prepared households than their counterparts.Conclusions:A large portion of young children under the age of five in LMICs were living in households that did not meet all preparedness guidelines for preventing COVID-19 and caring for patients at home.This study highlights the need to ensure all families in LMICs have the means to prevent the spread of the pandemic or other communicable illnesses to young children during pandemics.展开更多
EDITOR'S NOTE: The National Working Committee for Children and Women (NWCCW) issued a national report on child development on May 27. The three-chapter report discusses the policies adopted and actions taken by th...EDITOR'S NOTE: The National Working Committee for Children and Women (NWCCW) issued a national report on child development on May 27. The three-chapter report discusses the policies adopted and actions taken by the government to protect the legitimate rights and interests of children in the last few years. It also illustrates the improvements and progress made in children's health and education, and pinpoints the problems and future challenges facing the nation on child development issues. The full text of the report follows:展开更多
Introduction:Result-Based Financing(RBF)is an umbrella term for financial mechanisms that link incentives to outputs or outcomes.International development agencies are promoting RBF as a viable financing approach for ...Introduction:Result-Based Financing(RBF)is an umbrella term for financial mechanisms that link incentives to outputs or outcomes.International development agencies are promoting RBF as a viable financing approach for the realization of universal health coverage,with numerous pilot trials,particularly in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs).There is limited synthesized evidence on the performance of these mechanisms and the reasons for the lack of RBF institutionalization.This study aims to review the evidence of RBF schemes that have been scaled or institutionalized at a national level,focusing on maternal,newborn,and child health(MNCH)programming in LMICs.Methods:A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)guidelines.The authors identified and reviewed country-level RBF evaluation reports for the period between January 2000 and June 2019.Data were extracted from both published and gray literature on RBF application in MNCH using a predesigned matrix.The matrix headers included country of application;program setting;coverage and duration;evaluation design and methods;outcome measures;and key findings.A content thematic analysis approach was used to synthesize the evidence and emerging issues.Results:The review identified 13 reports from 11 countries,predominantly from Sub-Saharan Africa.Performancebased financing was the most common form of RBF initiatives.The majority of evaluation designs were randomized trials.The evaluations focused on outputs,such as coverage and service utilization,rather than outcomes.RBF schemes in all 11 countries expanded their scope,either geographically or accordingly in terms of performance indicators.Furthermore,only three studies conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis,and only two included a discussion on RBF’s sustainability.Only three countries have institutionalized RBF into their national policy.On the basis of the experience of these three countries,the common enabling factors for institutionalization seem to be political will,domestic fund mobilization,and the incorporation of demand-side RBF tools.Conclusion:RBF evidence is still growing,partial,and inconclusive.This limited evidence may be one of the reasons why many countries are reluctant to institutionalize RBF.Additional research is needed,particularly regarding costeffectiveness,affordability,and sustainability of RBF programs.展开更多
Social emotional literacy(SEL)interventions are widely implemented through schools,with growing evidence for a range of positive child outcomes.Increasingly,such interventions are delivered on online platforms.To date...Social emotional literacy(SEL)interventions are widely implemented through schools,with growing evidence for a range of positive child outcomes.Increasingly,such interventions are delivered on online platforms.To date,there is limited evidence about digital SEL interventions in low-and middle-income countries(LMIC).The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of children,parents and facilitator of the potential value of addressing SEL via tailored digital intervention.The intervention was designed to help children,in Brazil,to cope during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.The intervention was delivered via a digital platform to groups of three children for 45 min per week for nine.Thirteen children,nine parents and nine facilitators were interviewed following the completion of the intervention.The data was analysed through a codebook thematic approach,which led to three themes:empowerment,participatory aspects of the intervention and digital adaptation.Overall,children’s SEL development was reported to be supported during the COVID-19 pandemic,by the application of new skills outside the sessions.Children reported a number of empowering factors such as being heard and belonging.A range of useful participatory tools were identified including storytelling,games,drawings and videos.Blended SEL interventions involving both face-to-face and web-based facilitation could be developed within a tiered model of universal mental health promotion and targeted prevention.Access to online platforms would increase reach to large numbers of children in LMIC,especially in contexts of disadvantage.展开更多
The treatment of hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection in children is difficult as few options are available. The standard therapy is combination pegylated interferon (PEG–IFN) α-2a or 2b and ribavirin, and the duration...The treatment of hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection in children is difficult as few options are available. The standard therapy is combination pegylated interferon (PEG–IFN) α-2a or 2b and ribavirin, and the duration of therapy depends on HCV genotype. New oral drug therapies available for adults have stil not been approved for treatment in children. Here, we review the causes of HCV infection in children, the therapeutic options for children, and the side effects of these treatments. The problems faced by physicians managing HCV infection in children less than 12 years of age in a developing country are also discussed.展开更多
基金UKRI Collective Fund Award(Grant Ref:ES/T003936/1)to the University of Oxford,UKRI ESRC GCRF,Harnessing the power of global data to support young children’s learning and development:Analyses,dissemination and implementation。
文摘Background:The COVID-19 pandemic and governments’attempts to contain it are negatively affecting young children’s health and development in ways we are only beginning to understand and measure.Responses to the pandemic are driven largely by confining children and families to their homes.This study aims to assess the levels of and associated socioeconomic disparities in household preparedness for protecting young children under the age of five from being exposed to communicable diseases,such as COVID-19,in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs).Methods:Using data from nationally representative household surveys in 56 LMICs since 2016,we estimated the percentages of young children under the age of five living in households prepared for communicable diseases(e.g.,COVID-19)and associated residential and wealth disparities at the country-and aggregate-level.Preparedness was defined on the basis of space for quarantine,adequacy of toilet facilities and hand hygiene,mass media exposure at least once a week,and phone ownership.Disparities within countries were measured as the absolute gap in two domains—household wealth and residential area-and compared across regions and country income groups.Results:The final data set included 766,313 children under age five.On average,19.4%of young children in the 56 countries lived in households prepared for COVID-19,ranging from 0.6%in Ethiopia in 2016 to 70.9%in Tunisia in 2018.In close to 90%of countries(50),fewer than 50%of young children lived in prepared households.Young children in rural areas or in the poorest households were less likely to live in prepared households than their counterparts.Conclusions:A large portion of young children under the age of five in LMICs were living in households that did not meet all preparedness guidelines for preventing COVID-19 and caring for patients at home.This study highlights the need to ensure all families in LMICs have the means to prevent the spread of the pandemic or other communicable illnesses to young children during pandemics.
文摘EDITOR'S NOTE: The National Working Committee for Children and Women (NWCCW) issued a national report on child development on May 27. The three-chapter report discusses the policies adopted and actions taken by the government to protect the legitimate rights and interests of children in the last few years. It also illustrates the improvements and progress made in children's health and education, and pinpoints the problems and future challenges facing the nation on child development issues. The full text of the report follows:
文摘Introduction:Result-Based Financing(RBF)is an umbrella term for financial mechanisms that link incentives to outputs or outcomes.International development agencies are promoting RBF as a viable financing approach for the realization of universal health coverage,with numerous pilot trials,particularly in low-and middle-income countries(LMICs).There is limited synthesized evidence on the performance of these mechanisms and the reasons for the lack of RBF institutionalization.This study aims to review the evidence of RBF schemes that have been scaled or institutionalized at a national level,focusing on maternal,newborn,and child health(MNCH)programming in LMICs.Methods:A systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses(PRISMA)guidelines.The authors identified and reviewed country-level RBF evaluation reports for the period between January 2000 and June 2019.Data were extracted from both published and gray literature on RBF application in MNCH using a predesigned matrix.The matrix headers included country of application;program setting;coverage and duration;evaluation design and methods;outcome measures;and key findings.A content thematic analysis approach was used to synthesize the evidence and emerging issues.Results:The review identified 13 reports from 11 countries,predominantly from Sub-Saharan Africa.Performancebased financing was the most common form of RBF initiatives.The majority of evaluation designs were randomized trials.The evaluations focused on outputs,such as coverage and service utilization,rather than outcomes.RBF schemes in all 11 countries expanded their scope,either geographically or accordingly in terms of performance indicators.Furthermore,only three studies conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis,and only two included a discussion on RBF’s sustainability.Only three countries have institutionalized RBF into their national policy.On the basis of the experience of these three countries,the common enabling factors for institutionalization seem to be political will,domestic fund mobilization,and the incorporation of demand-side RBF tools.Conclusion:RBF evidence is still growing,partial,and inconclusive.This limited evidence may be one of the reasons why many countries are reluctant to institutionalize RBF.Additional research is needed,particularly regarding costeffectiveness,affordability,and sustainability of RBF programs.
基金funded by a research grant by the Leicester Institute for Advanced Studies in the UKThe adaptation and delivery of the intervention was supported by the Pampili Company in Brazil.
文摘Social emotional literacy(SEL)interventions are widely implemented through schools,with growing evidence for a range of positive child outcomes.Increasingly,such interventions are delivered on online platforms.To date,there is limited evidence about digital SEL interventions in low-and middle-income countries(LMIC).The aim of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of children,parents and facilitator of the potential value of addressing SEL via tailored digital intervention.The intervention was designed to help children,in Brazil,to cope during the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.The intervention was delivered via a digital platform to groups of three children for 45 min per week for nine.Thirteen children,nine parents and nine facilitators were interviewed following the completion of the intervention.The data was analysed through a codebook thematic approach,which led to three themes:empowerment,participatory aspects of the intervention and digital adaptation.Overall,children’s SEL development was reported to be supported during the COVID-19 pandemic,by the application of new skills outside the sessions.Children reported a number of empowering factors such as being heard and belonging.A range of useful participatory tools were identified including storytelling,games,drawings and videos.Blended SEL interventions involving both face-to-face and web-based facilitation could be developed within a tiered model of universal mental health promotion and targeted prevention.Access to online platforms would increase reach to large numbers of children in LMIC,especially in contexts of disadvantage.
文摘The treatment of hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection in children is difficult as few options are available. The standard therapy is combination pegylated interferon (PEG–IFN) α-2a or 2b and ribavirin, and the duration of therapy depends on HCV genotype. New oral drug therapies available for adults have stil not been approved for treatment in children. Here, we review the causes of HCV infection in children, the therapeutic options for children, and the side effects of these treatments. The problems faced by physicians managing HCV infection in children less than 12 years of age in a developing country are also discussed.
