Impact Assessment and Evaluation: What it is it, how can it be measured and what it is adding to the development of international co-operation.

This article defines impact assessment and evaluation while comparing three different approaches. First, randomized evaluations or random control trials, which aim to maximize quantitative accuracy and solve selection bias. Second, non-experimental methods, where randomization is not possible. Third, participatory techniques. The article also discusses pros and cons of each methodology. Applications and uses in the education sector help to illustrate differences.attribution, foreign aid, contra factual, evaluation, impact assessment

Foreign Aid: reduce poverty? (in Spanish)

Recent studies and approaches to foreign aid effectiveness have concentrated on its impact on economic growth. But aid’s main goal is poverty reduction, not economic growth. In this paper, aid’s impact on poverty, growth, and inequality are analyzed. A 97 country sample is used for the 1981-2001 time period. Both, panel data and cross-section econometric techniques, are used. The main finding is that economic growth reduces poverty, but also aid, although less than growth, and not under linearity assumptions. Data limitations and econometric assumptions lead to the recommendation of adding impact evaluations and country-case studies to “classic” aggregate approaches and methodologies, before coming to false conclusions and empirical evidence of foreign aid’s effect on poverty.aid effectiveness; inequality; growth; poverty

Novel strategies in the use of lopinavir/ritonavir for the treatment of HIV infection in children

Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) is considered by many as the first choice protease inhibitor (PI) for children. This co-formulation avoids the need for children to take ritonavir separately to “boost” the levels of lopinavir. LPV/r has high virologic potency, an excellent toxicity profile and a high barrier to the development of viral resistance. However, LPV/r has poor tolerability of the oral suspension (due to the poor taste of ritonavir), difficult dosing requirements and metabolic side effects, especially hyperlipidemia. The new tablet low-dose formulation (100/25 mg) may allow more convenient antiretroviral treatment in children. Novel strategies of LPV/r in childhood could maximize its advantages. For example, infants infected with HIV despite single dose Nevirapine after birth need effective combination antiretroviral treatment. This can be given using a higher dose of LPV/r with therapeutic drug monitoring. Other novel uses include once daily LPV/r regimens in older children and adolescents and lower doses of LPV/r in certain populations, which may decrease hyperlipidemia. Heavily pre-treated children might benefit from a double PI/r regimen which includes LPV/r. The high potency of LPV/r needs to be balanced with convenient regimens, to enhance adherence and decrease toxicity whenever possible. The aim of this review is to discuss the rationale behind these novel strategies of LPV/r use in pediatric antiretroviral treatment as well as their results and limitations

Actitud alimentaria y su influencia en el aprendizaje de estudiantes en la institución educativa “César Vallejo Mendoza” Soccospata, 2021

Esta investigación tuvo la finalidad de determinar la influencia de la actitud alimentaria en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes de la I.E Secundaria César Vallejo Mendoza ubicado en Soccospata en el año 2021. La metodología usada fue de tipo explicativo y de diseño no experimental, donde nuestra población de estudio estuvo conformada por 59 estudiantes del colegio mencionado; para recoger la información de actitud alimentaria se usó el instrumento (EAT-26) un cuestionario con 18 preguntas adaptado de Psycological Medicine, la escala de calificación fue de tipo Rasch. Los resultados que se obtuvieron fue 13.6% de estudiantes tienen un nivel bueno en actitud alimentaria y 30.5% de los estudiantes tienen un nivel muy malo; 27.1% de los estudiantes tiene un nivel muy malo y malo en la dimensión alimentación; 32.2% de los estudiantes en la dimensión preocupación alimentaria tienen un nivel malo, en cuanto a la bulimia tiene el mismo porcentaje del mismo nivel. Por otro lado, 32.2% de los estudiantes tienen un nivel normal de aprendizaje; en el caso de atención, concentración y memoria 25.4% de los estudiantes presenta un nivel deficiente y 28.8% presenta un nivel muy deficiente. De igual forma, 22% y 25.4% de estuantes presentan un nivel muy deficiente y deficiente respectivamente en la lectura y escritura. Finalmente, se concluye que existe una influencia entre la actitud alimentaria y el aprendizaje de los estudiantes de la I.E. Secundaria César Vallejo Mendoza ubicado en Soccospata en el año 202

La Eficacia de la Ayuda al Desarrollo: el Caso Peruano

Does foreign aid reduce extreme poverty in Peru? Under a quatitative analysis the paper shows big doubts for this hypothesis. Donor fragmentation and inadequate planification are two drivers in the explanation. Impact evaluations are necessary and Peru has enough techical capacity to carry on them. The Peruvian Cooperation Agency should lead the evaluation process and ensure that program recommendations are put in practice after the evaluation reports

La ayuda al desarrollo: ¿reduce la pobreza?

Recent studies and approaches to foreign aid effectiveness have concentrated on its impact on economic growth. But aid’s main goal is poverty reduction, not economic growth. In this paper, aid’s impact on poverty, growth, and inequality are analyzed. A 97 country sample is used for the 1981-2001 time period. Both, panel data and cross-section econometric techniques, are used. The main finding is that economic growth reduces poverty, but also aid, although less than growth, and not under linearity assumptions. Data limitations and econometric assumptions lead to the recommendation of adding impact evaluations and country-case studies to “classic” aggregate approaches and methodologies, before coming to false conclusions and empirical evidence of foreign aid’s effect on poverty

A structural analysis of foreign aid to ten Mediterranean countries

Although the literature on aid effectiveness is vast, most of it is based on cross-country studies and does not address the Mediterranean countries as a especial group. To fill this gap, this paper describes the main structural characteristics of overseas development assistance (ODA). ODA is analyzed by country, by donor, and by sector for 1960-2007 in ten Mediterranean countries. Different patterns among recipient countries are found, but a proliferation and concentration of donors is confirmed. A positive correlation between shocks in GDP and ODA is found when the whole sample of countries is analyzed, but when the Mediterranean economies are individually considered, the pro-cyclicality of the ODA is not confirmed, except in the case of Lebanon. FDI, remittances and ODA flows are compared. The three variables are positively correlated. ODA and remittances are indeed less volatile than FDI flows. But, whereas remittances are stable and strategic to Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey, ODA flows to Syria and the Palestinian territories are higher than remittances in volume, but more volatile. Egypt and Turkey are the main destinations of FDI to the region. Finally, it is shown that ODA does not offset the shocks of FDI or remittances

A structural analysis of foreign aid to ten Mediterranean countries

Although the literature on aid effectiveness is vast, most of it is based on cross-country studies and does not address the Mediterranean countries as a especial group. To fill this gap, this paper describes the main structural characteristics of overseas development assistance (ODA). ODA is analyzed by country, by donor, and by sector for 1960-2007 in ten Mediterranean countries. Different patterns among recipient countries are found, but a proliferation and concentration of donors is confirmed. A positive correlation between shocks in GDP and ODA is found when the whole sample of countries is analyzed, but when the Mediterranean economies are individually considered, the pro-cyclicality of the ODA is not confirmed, except in the case of Lebanon. FDI, remittances and ODA flows are compared. The three variables are positively correlated. ODA and remittances are indeed less volatile than FDI flows. But, whereas remittances are stable and strategic to Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey, ODA flows to Syria and the Palestinian territories are higher than remittances in volume, but more volatile. Egypt and Turkey are the main destinations of FDI to the region. Finally, it is shown that ODA does not offset the shocks of FDI or remittances

La evaluación de impacto: qué es, cómo se mide y qué está aportando en la cooperación al desarrollo.

This article defines impact assessment and evaluation while comparing three different approaches. First, randomized evaluations or random control trials, which aim to maximize quantitative accuracy and solve selection bias. Second, non-experimental methods, where randomization is not possible. Third, participatory techniques. The article also discusses pros and cons of each methodology. Applications and uses in the education sector help to illustrate differences

Predictive factors of virological success to salvage regimens containing protease inhibitors in HIV-1 infected children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The impact of HIV drug resistance mutations in salvage therapy has been widely investigated in adults. By contrast, data available of predictive value of resistance mutations in pediatric population is scarce.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A multicenter, retrospective, observational study was conducted in children who received rescue salvage antiretroviral therapy after virologic failure. CD4 counts and viral load were determined at baseline and 6 months after rescue intervention. Genotypic HIV-1 resistance test and virtual phenotype were assessed at baseline.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 33 children met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The median viral load (VL) and median percentage of CD4+ at baseline was 4.0 HIV-RNA log copies/ml and 23.0% respectively. The median duration that children were taking the new rescue regimen was 24.3 weeks (23.8–30.6). Overall, 47% of the 33 children achieved virological response at 24 weeks. When we compared the group of children who achieved virological response with those who did not, we found out that mean number of PI related mutations among the group of responders was 3.8 <it>vs</it>. 5.4 (p = 0.115). Moreover, the mean number of susceptible drugs according to virtual phenotype clinical cut-off for maximal virologic response was 1.7 <it>vs</it>. 0.8 and mean number of susceptible drugs according to virtual phenotype cut-off for minimal virlologic response was 2.7 <it>vs</it>. 1.3 (p < 0.01 in all cases). Eighteen children were rescued with a regimen containing a boosted-PI and virological response was significantly higher in those subjects compared with the others (61.1% <it>vs</it>. 28.6%, p < 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Salvage treatment containing ritonavir boosted-PIs in children with virological failure was very efficient. The use of new tools as virtual phenotype could help to improve virologic success in pediatric population.</p