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The effect of a livelihoods intervention in an urban slum in India : do vocational counseling and training alter the attitudes and behaviour of adolescent girls?

MENSCH, Barbara S
et al
2004

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This paper examines whether an experimental intervention for girls aged 14-19 that provided reproductive health information, vocational counseling and training, and assistance with opening savings accounts in slum areas of Allahabad in Uttar pradesh, India, had an effect on their attitudes and behaviours. A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design was used in which adolescent girls were compared with girls of the same age residing in control-area slums. Although the livelihoods program was acceptable to parents and feasible to implement, the project had only a minimal impact on the behaviour and attitudes of adolescent girls taking part in the project. Girls exposed to the intervention were significantly more likely to have knowledge of safe spaces, be a member of a group, score higher on the social skills index, be informed about reproductive health, and spend time on leisure activities than were the matched control respondents. No effect was found on gender role attitudes, mobility, self-esteem, work expectations, or on number of hours visiting friends, performing domestic chores, or engaging in labour market work

Communication in participatory approaches to health care

DUNN, Alison
2004

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This policy brief is concerned with the involvement of district-level health workers in participatory approaches at community level. Using participatory approaches improves healthworkers' communication skills and validates community knowledge. This emerged from a study carried out by the Malaria Knowledge Programme (MKP) in Ghana where it was clear that the interaction and communication that took place between health workers and community members provided opportunities for dialogue and building new relationships

Using research to inform health policy : barriers and strategies in developing countries

HENNINK, Monique
STEPHENSON, Rob
2004

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Looks at the uptake of health research into policy in four developing countries - Malawi, Tanzania, India and Pakistan. Identifies a range of barriers to effective dissemination and uptake of research results based on interviews with researchers, policy-makers and a range of stakeholders. Makes recommendations for donor support to developing country research capacity and greater involvement of practitioners and policy-makers in the south in research priorities and applications

An information system and medical record to support HIV treatment in rural Haiti

FRASER, H S
et al
2004

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Recent studies have shown the feasibility of treating HIV/AIDS in developing countries. Lack of infrastructure, including information and communication systems, is considered a barrier to successful HIV treatment programmes. Internet based information systems offer a way to provide communication infrastructure in remote, resource-poor areas such as rural Haiti. A web based medical record system can be effectively used to track clinical outcomes, laboratory tests and drug supplies, and create reports for funding agencies. Development and evaluation of practical, low cost clinical information systems should be a priority in rolling out HIV treatment in developing countries

The 10/90 report on health research 2003-2004

GLOBAL FORUM FOR HEALTH RESEARCH
2004

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This site contains up-to-date information on progress in helping correct the 10/90 gap in health research. It includes reports from 1999, 2000, 2001/2002 and 2003/2004. The most recent, the fourth since Global Forum for Health Research formed in 1998, covers progress in helping correct the 10/90 gap (that only ten per cent of health research funds are spent on 90 per cent of the world's problems) over the past two years. It focusses on health and health research as sound economic investments; priority setting in health research; progress in measuring the 10/90 gap; research capacity strengthening; information networks in health research; gender; the MDGs and health research; and networks in the priority research areas

Tecnologías y Sistemas de Información al servicio de la salud|[Technologies and systems of information in health]

ARELLANO Rodríguez, Madelein
GAMBOA Cáceres, Teresa
2004

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The purpose of this article is to discuss the potential of the technologies of information in health and to characterise in a preliminary way the subsystems of information in health according to the nature of the information. Although the investigation is fundamentally bibliographical conceptual, it is based on an empirical study of the systems of information in two Venezuelan regions with local governments of different political orientation. Concludes that responsive systems of information in health should contain information coming from different sources: epidemiological, clinical, nutritional, sociodemographic, environmental and occupational, scientific-technique and administrative, and merit as much attention in health as administration of resources. Therefore, coordinated action of ministries of health is required with different institutions

Programme experiences : youth AIDS network - Latin America and the Caribbean

COMMUNICATION INITIATIVE
2004

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In an effort to build networks for youth HIV/AIDS prevention, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has collaborated with international organisations and YouthNet to create an email network of adolescent health specialists. PAHO's Child and Adolescent Health and HIV/AIDS/Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) units are leading the effort, which focuses on youth AIDS prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean. This article examines the experiences of organisers of the programme, in which members receive the Youth HIV Action newsletter and Breaking the Silence advocacy sheet, among other publications

The effectiveness of web-based vs non-web-based interventions : a meta-analysis of behavioural change outcomes

WANTLAND, D J
et al
2004

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The use of the Internet to deliver web-based interventions to patients is increasing rapidly. The use and effectiveness of web-based interventions to encourage an individual's change in behaviour compared to non-web-based interventions have not been substantially reviewed; hence this meta-analysis was undertaken. This article presents a systematic review of web-based therapies intended to encourage an individual's behaviour change. Sixteen of seventeen included studies revealed the outcomes of improved knowledge and/or improved behavioural outcomes for participants using web-based interventions. Outcomes included increased exercise time, knowledge of nutritional status, slower health decline

RBM communications assessment : challenges and opportunities in Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda

SHUFFELL, Sara
2004

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This report is from an assessment carried out between October 2002 and April 2003 in Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. It was part of a Roll Back Malaria Communications Assessment as an initial stage in the process to develop effective and inclusive national malaria communication strategies in RBM participating countries across Africa. It notes the challenges that are raised in the context of development communications in Africa: the absence of basic malaria communications strategies, poor visibility of National Malaria Control Programmes, and lack of regional coordination and information sharing to name a few. There are, however, many opportunities to develop better malaria communications listed in the report

Enhancing research uptake through communication, networking and capacity development

DUNN, Alison
2004

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This brief paper describes the research methodology employed by the Malaria Knowledge Programme, and key lessons learned. The programme aimed to enhance the impact of its work through strengthening information and communication flows, involving Southern researchers and institutions and creating international networks for the improvement of research communication throughout its work. Using examples, this paper illustrates how the programme engaged with dynamics of research, policy making and practice, in accordance with DFID recommendations

eHealth for health-care delivery : strategy 2004-2007

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
2004

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Information and communication technologies have a crucial role to play in the delivery of health care, particularly in developing countries. This document outlines the WHO programme on eHealth for health-care delivery (eHCD), which aims to help decision and policy makers to create the conditions for the integration of eHealth solutions into the health system. Health technologies can be very effective in disease prevention, diagnosis and patient management and care, but the modality of implementation may vary according to the specific needs of a country. The document sets out priorities and operational framework of the programme, and spells out the goals to be achieved by 2007

Implementing telemedicine technology : lessons from India

SOOD, S P
2004

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Review of a 'challenging' pilot scheme in telemedicine in India. Lessons learned include keeping the objectives of the project in small modules and keeping the deliverables within sight. An account of some of the challenges faced while developing telemedicine technology in India serves as a useful example for upcoming telemedicine programmes in other low-resource countries

First study of teledermatology in Mexico : a new public health tool|Primer estudio de teledermatología en México. Una nueva herramienta de salud pública

LEPE, V
MONCADA, B
CASTANEDO-CAZARES, J P
et al
2004

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This article reports on a study to evaluate efficacy and reliability of asynchronous teledermatology for diagnosis of skin diseases. Fifty patients with dermatologic disorders were seen in a poor tropical rural zone, first by non-dermatologists in conventional consultation and then by dermatologists to obtain a diagnosis (gold standard). The latter step consisted of evaluation of filmed lesions by another group of dermatologist later on. Results: there was a high concordance of diagnosis between the two groups of dermatologists when kappa analysis was performed. Conclusion: it appears important to use these technological advances in developing-countries to improve delivery of health care

Liverpool school of tropical medicine : Malaria knowledge programme. Annual report 2003-2004 : reduction in the suffering by improving the management of malaria through better intervention and control of malaria.’

LIVERPOOL SCHOOL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE (LSTM)
2004

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The report shows the overall activities of the Malaria Knowledge Programme during 2003-2004. It initially outlines the research activities and the new knowledge outputs. Using a framework developed by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine's Vulnerability and Health Alliance the report contains an evaluation of the implications and effects of the research findings on those most vulnerable to the effects of malaria

Promoting mental health : concepts - emerging evidence - practice, summary report... in collaboration with the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and the University of Melbourne

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO). Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
VICTORIAN HEALTH PROMOTION FOUNDATION, AUSTRALIA
2004

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This summary report and the full report on which it is based describe the concepts relating to promotion of mental health, the emerging evidence for effectiveness of interventions, and the public health policy and practice implications

Advancing equity in health in Southern Africa : EQUINET publications 1998-2004

EQUINET
Ed
2004

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This CD-ROM provides a collection of EQUINET publications from 1998 to 2004 and includes dozens of policy papers, discussion papers, reports, resolutions, toolkits and training materials. EQUINET, the Regional Network on Equity in Health in Southern Africa, is a network of professionals, civil society members, policy makers, officials and other stakeholders and aims to promote equity and social justice in health.

Working positively : a guide for NGOs managing HIV/AIDS in the workplace

UK CONSORTIUM ON AIDS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
December 2003

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With HIV prevalence rates of over 20% in many sub-Saharan African countries, and with infection rates rising rapidly in other parts of the world, NGOs are funding that HIV/AIDS is affecting not only programme work but also staff. If NGOs are to be credible in these communities, they need to be seen to be addressing HIV/AIDS internally in a way that is consistent with their external messages. However, developing a workable comprehensive solution that covers policy, education and prevention, and treatment and care is not easy. This guide looks at the key issues involved in developing a workplace strategy and how different NGOs and commercial organisations are approaching these issues through a series of case studies. It also provides a guide to the key components of a successful strategy and a list of useful reference documents

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