Medical geography in public health and tropical medicine: case studies from Brazil

Within the last few decades, the multitude of infrastructural and environmental changes associated with population growth, human migration, and economic development have catalyzed the emergence and re-emergence of many infectious diseases worldwide. The morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases have in turn led to an increased and renewed impetus to gain a better understanding of the etiology, epidemiology, prevention, and control of these diseases in order to achieve better health and well-being, especially for underprivileged populations. Two traditionally separate fields, medical geography and tropical medicine, have recently seen complex and radical paradigm shifts in response to this global situation: medical geography has been developing many new and sophisticated methods of data collection, data manipulation, and spatial analysis that make it more suited for the study of health-related problems; and tropical medicine has been revisiting the fundamental notion that disease is intimately linked to the physical and cultural geographic environments in which humans live. As a result, concepts of medical geography are being more readily employed within tropical disease research, and tropical medicine is embracing geographic methods as a central mainstay in the control, management, and prevention of tropical diseases. As the associations between these two fields continue to grow, a clearer understanding of how they compliment each other will be needed in order to better define their interrelated roles in augmenting human health. This dissertation examines the multifarious relationships that have developed between the fields of medical geography and tropical medicine in recent years by presenting the reader with a brief history of their common origins and a comprehensive review of the techniques and methodologies in medical geography that are frequently employed in tropical disease research. Following this background information, several case studies are investigated that provide examples of how geographic methods can be easily and effectively employed in the analysis of several tropical diseases, including tungiasis, intestinal helminthes, leprosy, and tuberculosis. These case studies demonstrate some of the advantages and disadvantages of current geographic methods employed in health research, and offer a framework for readers who are interested in applying basic geographic concepts to analyze questions of health

Neglect in policy problems: the case of 'neglected tropical diseases'

This thesis is concerned with how previously neglected issues, in this instance tropical diseases, gain prominence on policy agendas, and shows how advocacy and measurement are used to bring issues to the attention of policymakers. The term 'neglected tropical diseases' (NTDs) was coined in the early 2000s to describe lesser-known diseases that existed in the shadow of the high-profile and well-funded “big three” – HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. The case of NTDs demonstrates how a policy problem can be understood amidst connections being drawn or not drawn between issues, and the forms of intervention taken to address neglect in policy. Thus, the central question of this thesis is: How did a re-labeled disease category within a decade result in billions of funding being directed towards a previously 'neglected' issue, with global commitments for control, elimination, and eradication? The analysis is presented in two parts and shows how NTDs have gained acknowledgement and care through the concept of neglect. The first part involves the conceptualization of common characteristics and methods of standardizing a disease grouping, which is far from a straightforward process as various lists of NTDs attest. The second part, through a sociohistorical analysis of the origins and policy development of NTDs, demonstrates how policy appeal is created through the use of both advocacy and measurement, more usually treated as distinct areas within global health policy. It draws on interviews with 55 actors from scientists, to policy officials, NGO workers, and academics, and also undertakes a documentary analysis, which includes historical sources. Using theoretical perspectives from Science and Technology Studies, Public Policy, and Political Economy, this thesis demonstrates what the concept of neglect brings to understanding policy problems. It concludes that both the perception and responses to neglect in policy can be understood in four distinct and overlapping ways, through: information, action, feeling and thought

Visceral Leishmaniasis : Potential for Control and Elimination

Over the past years there has been a steep increase in awareness of visceral leishmaniasis (VL); many large-scale interventions are being implemented and targets for control and elimination have been set. In this thesis the potential of reaching these targets will be explored. To achieve this, the following research questions will be addressed: 1) What is the global health impact when achieving WHOs’ targets for disease elimination and control of 9 neglected tropical diseases, and in particular visceral leishmaniasis? 2) Are veterinarians in the endemic regions of Spain and France aware of the spread of zoonotic VL in Europe and do they implement the guidelines to control the disease? 3) What insights can transmission models provide regarding the feasibility of achieving VL elimination targets on the Indian subcontinent

Infectious diseases snapshot 2008

The axis of CDC's efforts toward prevention, detection, and control of infectious diseases is the Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases. CCID comprises four national centers with unique and complementary missions and capacities. CCID collectively envisions a world safe from infectious diseases and microbial threats, both naturally occurring and those that are intentionally spread. This document provides a snapshot of CCID's budget and highlights many of the policies, programs, and collaborative activities that were undertaken in 2008 to advance CDC's public health mission.Overview -- CCID National Centers [National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID), National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (NCZVED)] -- CDC collaborative partners -- CCID at work abroad--global health -- Infectious diseases budget overview -- CDC advisors on infectious diseases -- Appendix: CCID provides funding to the following international organizations and universities -- Glossary200

Infectious diseases snaphot 2008

The axis of CDC's efforts toward prevention, detection, and control of infectious diseases is the Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases. CCID comprises four national centers with unique and complementary missions and capacities. CCID collectively envisions a world safe from infectious diseases and microbial threats, both naturally occurring and those that are intentionally spread. This document provides a snapshot of CCID's budget and highlights many of the policies, programs, and collaborative activities that were undertaken in 2008 to advance CDC's public health mission.Overview -- CCID National Centers [National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP), National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID), National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (NCZVED)] -- CDC collaborative partners -- CCID at work abroad--global health -- Infectious diseases budget overview -- CDC advisors on infectious diseases -- Appendix: CCID provides funding to the following international organizations and universities -- Glossary200