Access to and utilisation of GP services among Burmese migrants in London: a cross-sectional descriptive study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: An estimated 10,000 Burmese migrants are currently living in London. No studies have been conducted on their access to health services. Furthermore, most studies on migrants in the United Kingdom (UK) have been conducted at the point of service provision, carrying the risk of selection bias. Our cross-sectional study explored access to and utilisation of General Practice (GP) services by Burmese migrants residing in London. METHODS: We used a mixed-method approach: a quantitative survey using self-administered questionnaires was complemented by qualitative in-depth interviews for developing the questionnaire and triangulating the findings of the survey. Overall, 137 questionnaires were received (a response rate of 57%) and 11 in-depth interviews conducted. The main outcome variables of the study included GP registration, barriers towards registration, GP consultations, barriers towards consultations, and knowledge on entitlements to health care. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, association tests, and a multivariate analysis using logistic regression. The qualitative information was analysed using content analysis. RESULTS: The respondents were young, of roughly equal gender (51.5% female), well educated, and had a fair level of knowledge on health services in the UK. Although the GP registration rate was relatively high (80%, 109 out of 136), GP service utilisation during the last episode of illness, at 56.8% (54 out of 95), was low. The statistical analysis showed that age being younger than 35 years, lacking prior overseas experience, having an unstable immigration status, having a shorter duration of stay, and resorting to self-medication were the main barriers hindering Burmese migrants from accessing primary health care services. These findings were corroborated by the in-depth interviews. CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that having formal access to primary health care was not sufficient to ensure GP registration and health care utilisation. Some respondents faced difficulties in registering with GP practices. Many of those who have registered prefer to forego GP services in favour of self-medication, partly due to long waiting times and language barriers. To ensure that migrants enjoy the health services they need and to which they are entitled, more proactive steps are required, including those that make health services culturally responsiv

Just transitions for a Climate-Resilient Development in Africa – Transforming Dialogue into Action

CCDA-X1, hosted by the Government of Namibia, convened on the theme: “Just transitions for a Climate-Resilient Development in Africa – Transforming Dialogue into Action” in collaboration with Africa’s civil society organisations, academia, development partners, regional and international organisations and the private sector. The conference resulted in the following key messages to be taken forward to COP27 by Namibia

Management of dyslipidaemia in patients with coronary heart disease : Results from the ESC-EORP EUROASPIRE V survey in 27 countries

Background and aims: One of the objectives of the ESC-EORP EUROASPIRE V survey is to determine how well European guidelines on the management of dyslipidaemias are implemented in coronary patients. Methods: Standardized methods were used by trained technicians to collect information on 7824 patients from 130 centers in 27 countries, from the medical records and at a visit at least 6 months after hospitalization for a coronary event. All lipid measurements were performed in one central laboratory. Patients were divided into three groups: on high-intensity LDL-C-lowering-drug therapy (LLT), on low or moderate-intensity LLT and on no LLT. Results: At the time of the visit, almost half of the patients were on a high-intensity LLT. Between hospital discharge and the visit, LLT had been reduced in intensity or interrupted in 20.8% of the patients and had been started or increased in intensity in 11.7%. In those who had interrupted LLT or had reduced the intensity, intolerance to LLT and the advice of their physician were reported as the reason why in 15.8 and 36.8% of the cases, respectively. LDL-C control was better in those on a high-intensity LLT compared to those on low or moderate intensity LLT. LDL-C control was better in men than women and in patients with self-reported diabetes. Conclusions: The results of the EUROASPIRE V survey show that most coronary patients have a less than optimal management of LDL-C. More professional strategies are needed, aiming at lifestyle changes and LLT adapted to the need of the individual patient

Data and Code underlying the article Forest Disturbance and Recovery in Peruvian Amazonia

The data and code in this repository can be used to reproduce the analysis Requena Suarez et al. (2023), "Forest Disturbance and Recovery in Peruvian Amazonia". Spatial datasets used in this study are accessible from the sources cited in Table 1 of the main study. Estimation of disturbance and time since disturbance was done using the AVOCADO algorithm (Decuyper et al, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2021.112829), and Landsat imagery downloaded from Google Earth Engine. The underlying code for AVOCADO can be found in the following GitHub repository: https://github.com/MDecuy/AVOCADO, as well as a tutorial: https://www.pucv.cl/uuaa/labgrs/proyectos/avocado.&nbsp;</p

Data and Code underlying the article Forest Disturbance and Recovery in Peruvian Amazonia

The data and code in this repository can be used to reproduce the analysis Requena Suarez et al. (2023), "Forest Disturbance and Recovery in Peruvian Amazonia". Spatial datasets used in this study are accessible from the sources cited in Table 1 of the main study. Estimation of disturbance and time since disturbance was done using the AVOCADO algorithm (Decuyper et al, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2021.112829), and Landsat imagery downloaded from Google Earth Engine. The underlying code for AVOCADO can be found in the following GitHub repository: https://github.com/MDecuy/AVOCADO, as well as a tutorial: https://www.pucv.cl/uuaa/labgrs/proyectos/avocado.&nbsp;</p