The role of non-governmental organizations in the health sector in the occupied Palestinian territory: a cross-sectional qualitative study

Background Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have had an important role in the Palestinian health sector before and after the creation of the Palestinian Ministry of Health (PMoH) in 1994. Few studies have addressed the role of NGOs in the Palestinian health sector. The aim of this study was to investigate the current role of local and international NGOs (INGOs) in the development of the Palestinian health system’s policies and programmes. Methods A qualitative study of nine semi-structured interviews was conducted with key representatives from the main actors in the Palestinian health sector: the PMoH, five local NGOs and three INGOs. After obtaining verbal consent, interviews were conducted from October to December 2014, and focused on the NGO’s scope of work, priority setting, regulation, coordination and influence on national health policies. Findings The majority of the local NGOs focused on primary healthcare and rehabilitation, while most of the INGOs worked on health development and emergency response. Local NGOs and INGOs complemented the work of the PMoH in health-service provision. Both were constrained by the predetermined national health strategy set by the PMoH without the active involvement of other actors. INGOs’ activities were constrained by pre-determined international health agendas, available funding and restrictions related to the military occupation. The coordination mechanism between the PMoH, local NGOs, and INGOs is limited to a health and nutrition cluster, a partnership of organisations that is committed to providing needs and evidence-based responses, with little effect on policies and plans. Despite available methods to avoid duplication and fragmentation of work and to fill service provision gaps, some NGOs agreed that the limited coordination and discontinuity of certain projects restrict their ability to fully meet the health needs of the Palestinian population.We thank all the organisations and individuals who agreed to participate in the interviews and the faculty and staff from the Institute of Community and Public Health at Birzeit University for their support, advice and guidance

Cross-Sectional but Not Prospective Association of Accelerometry-Derived Physical Activity With Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents

Objectives: This study aims to quantify the cross-sectional and prospective associations between quality of life (QoL) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).Methods: This study was based on the Swiss children’s Objectively measured PHYsical Activity cohort. The primary endpoint is the overall QoL score and its six dimensions. The main predictor is the average time spent in MVPA per day. Linear mixed effects and linear regression models respectively were used to investigate the cross-sectional and prospective associations between MVPA and QoL.Results: There were 352 participants in the study with complete data from baseline (2013–2015) and follow-up (2019). MVPA was positively associated with overall QoL and physical wellbeing (p = 0.023 and 0.002 respectively). The between-subject MVPA was positively associated with the overall QoL, physical wellbeing, and social wellbeing (p = 0.030, 0.017, and 0.028 respectively). Within-subject MVPA was positively associated with physical wellbeing and functioning at school (p = 0.039 and 0.013 respectively). Baseline MVPA was not associated with QoL 5 years later.Conclusion: Future longitudinal studies should employ shorter follow-up times and repeat measurements to assess the PA and QoL association

DataSheet1_Cross-Sectional but Not Prospective Association of Accelerometry-Derived Physical Activity With Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents.docx

Objectives: This study aims to quantify the cross-sectional and prospective associations between quality of life (QoL) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).Methods: This study was based on the Swiss children’s Objectively measured PHYsical Activity cohort. The primary endpoint is the overall QoL score and its six dimensions. The main predictor is the average time spent in MVPA per day. Linear mixed effects and linear regression models respectively were used to investigate the cross-sectional and prospective associations between MVPA and QoL.Results: There were 352 participants in the study with complete data from baseline (2013–2015) and follow-up (2019). MVPA was positively associated with overall QoL and physical wellbeing (p = 0.023 and 0.002 respectively). The between-subject MVPA was positively associated with the overall QoL, physical wellbeing, and social wellbeing (p = 0.030, 0.017, and 0.028 respectively). Within-subject MVPA was positively associated with physical wellbeing and functioning at school (p = 0.039 and 0.013 respectively). Baseline MVPA was not associated with QoL 5 years later.Conclusion: Future longitudinal studies should employ shorter follow-up times and repeat measurements to assess the PA and QoL association.</p

Empowerment for the right to health: the use of the most significant change- methodology in monitoring

Quantitative evaluations might be insufficient for measuring the impact of interventions promoting the right to health, particularly in their ability to contribute to a greater understanding of processes at the individual, community, and larger population level through which certain results are obtained. This paper discusses the application of a qualitative approach, the most significant change- (MSC) methodology, in the Philippines, Palestine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and El Salvador between 2010 and 2013 by Third World Health Aid and its partner organizations. MSC is based on storytelling through which the central question-what changes occurred?-is developed in terms of, who did what, when, why, and why was it important?- The approach focuses on personal stories that reflect on experiences of change for individuals over time. MSC implementation over several years allowed the organizations to observe significant change, as well as evolving types of change. Participants shifted their stories from how the programs helped them- and what they could do to help others benefit from the programs- to what they could do to help their organizations.- The MSC technique is useful as a complement to quantitative methods, as it is a slow, participatory, and intensive endeavor that builds capacity while being applied. This makes MSC a useful monitoring tool for programs with participatory and empowering objectives.sch_iih17pub5080pub