Developing Criteria for Complementary Health Insurance (CHI) Benefit Packages for a Medical Service Insurance Organization in Iran: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Introduction: Development of Complementary Health Insurance (CHI) benefit packages has always been one of the main challenges of Health Insurance Organizations in Iran. Records related to developing a health insurance package in Iran show that there is no specific criterion for developing such packages.  This study aimed at developing criteria for providing CHI benefit packages presented by the Medical Service Insurance Organization in Iran. Methods: The current research is a qualitative and applied research which has been conducted in 2014. The sample size included 24 authorities in the domain of CHI, and a semi-structured interview was used for collecting data. Data analysis was based on framework method applying Atlas-Ti 5.2 software. Results: Nineteen main themes and 53 sub-themes and finally 20 criteria were identified for four main dimensions of the benefit package including the insured, commitments of insurance services, financial resources and Medical Service Insurance Organization special priorities. Conclusion: In this study, various criteria were identified for developing CHI. It seems that applying important criteria such as equity, clinical guidelines, effectiveness, and efficiency of CHI benefit package presented by Medical Service Insurance Organization can decrease the shortcomings of the current system and using standardization can lead to targeting the service benefit package, removing its defects and improving the health of insured people

Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic

International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health Developing Criteria for Complementary Health Insurance (CHI) Benefit Packages for a Medical Service Insurance Organization in Iran: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Abstract Introduction: Development of Complementary Health Insurance (CHI) benefit packages has always been one of the main challenges of Health Insurance Organizations in Iran. Records related to developing a health insurance package in Iran show that there is no specific criterion for developing such packages. This study aimed at developing criteria for providing CHI benefit packages presented by the Medical Service Insurance Organization in Iran. Methods: The current research is a qualitative and applied research which has been conducted in 2014. The sample size included 24 authorities in the domain of CHI, and a semi-structured interview was used for collecting data. Data analysis was based on framework method applying Atlas-Ti 5.2 software. Results: Nineteen main themes and 53 sub-themes and finally 20 criteria were identified for four main dimensions of the benefit package including the insured, commitments of insurance services, financial resources and Medical Service Insurance Organization special priorities. Conclusion: In this study, various criteria were identified for developing CHI. It seems that applying important criteria such as equity, clinical guidelines, effectiveness, and efficiency of CHI benefit package presented by Medical Service Insurance Organization can decrease the shortcomings of the current system and using standardization can lead to targeting the service benefit package, removing its defects and improving the health of insured people

Digital Media-based Health Intervention on the promotion of Women’s physical activity: a quasi-experimental study

Abstract Background Technological advances have caused poor mobility and lower physical activity among humankind. This study was conducted to assess the impact of a digital media-based (multi-media, internet, and mobile phone) health intervention on promotion of women’s physical activity. Methods In this quasi-experimental study, 360 women were divided into case and control groups. The digital media-based educational intervention was conducted in two months in the case group electronically, using mail and Internet and telephone platforms. Physical activity was measured using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) that estimated women’s physical activity rate in the previous week. Data was analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics (ANOVA, chi-square, paired and independent t-tests) using SPSS 20. Results The mean score of knowledge, attitude and level of physical activity in the control group were not significantly different before and after the intervention. While in the case group, this difference before and after the intervention was significant (p < 0.001), and mean scores of the above-mentioned factors increased after the intervention. Conclusions Using innovative and digital media-based health education can be effective in improving health-based behavior such as physical activity. Therefore, it seems necessary to develop user-based strategies and strengthen the behavioral change theories and hypotheses based on digital media for effective influence on behavior. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), IRCT20160619028529N5 . Registered December 24, 2017 [retrospectively registered]

MAPPING LOCAL PATTERNS OF CHILDHOOD OVERWEIGHT AND WASTING IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES BETWEEN 2000 AND 2017

A double burden of malnutrition occurs when individuals, household members or communities experience both undernutrition and overweight. Here, we show geospatial estimates of overweight and wasting prevalence among children under 5 years of age in 105 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2000 to 2017 and aggregate these to policy-relevant administrative units. Wasting decreased overall across LMICs between 2000 and 2017, from 8.4% (62.3 (55.1–70.8) million) to 6.4% (58.3 (47.6–70.7) million), but is predicted to remain above the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025. Prevalence of overweight increased from 5.2% (30 (22.8–38.5) million) in 2000 to 6.0% (55.5 (44.8–67.9) million) children aged under 5 years in 2017. Areas most affected by double burden of malnutrition were located in Indonesia, Thailand, southeastern China, Botswana, Cameroon and central Nigeria. Our estimates provide a new perspective to researchers, policy makers and public health agencies in their efforts to address this global childhood syndemic