More Evidence on the Impact of India's Conditional Cash Transfer Program, Janani Suraksha Yojana: Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of the Effects on Childhood Immunization and Other Reproductive and Child Health Outcomes

Background: In 2005, India established a conditional cash transfer program called Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), to increase institutional delivery and encourage the use of reproductive and child health-related services. Objective: To assess the effect of maternal receipt of financial assistance from JSY on childhood immunizations, post-partum care, breastfeeding practices, and care-seeking behaviors. Methods: We use data from the latest district-level household survey (2007–2008) to conduct a propensity score matching analysis with logistic regression. We conduct the analyses at the national level as well as separately across groups of states classified as high-focus and non-high-focus. We carry out several sensitivity analyses including a subgroup analysis stratified by possession of an immunization card. Results: Receipt of financial assistance from JSY led to an increase in immunization rates ranging from 3.1 (95%CI 2.2–4.0) percentage points for one dose of polio vaccine to 9.1 (95%CI 7.5–10.7) percentage points in the proportion of fully vaccinated children. Our findings also indicate JSY led to increased post-partum check-up rates and healthy early breastfeeding practices around the time of childbirth. No effect of JSY was found on exclusive breastfeeding practices and care-seeking behaviors. Effect sizes were consistently larger in states identified as being a key focus for the program. In an analysis stratified by possession of an immunization card, there was little to no effect of JSY among those with vaccination cards, while the effect size was much larger than the base case results for those missing vaccination cards, across nearly all immunization outcomes. Conclusions: Early results suggest the JSY program led to a significant increase in childhood immunization rates and some healthy reproductive health behaviors, but the structuring of financial incentives to pregnant women and health workers warrants further review. Causal interpretation of our results relies on the assumption that propensity scores balance unobservable characteristics

Декларация Международной педиатрической ассоциации об условиях пребывания детей в местах принудительного содержания на границе Соединенных штатов Америки

The International Pediatric Association, devoted to the well-being of children across the globe and composed of 169 national, regional and subspecialty pediatric societies representing over one million pediatricians, caring for more than one billion children, issues the following declarationМеждународная педиатрическая ассоциация (IPA), основная деятельность которой направлена на решение проблем, связанных с охраной здоровья и социального благополучия детей во всем мире, объединяет 169 национальных, региональных, профессиональных и специализированных педиатрических обществ и свыше 1 млн педиатров, заботящихся более чем об 1 млрд детей. IPAвыпускает следующую декларацию.Авторы выступают от имени Исполнительного и Постоянного комитета IP

Needs, beliefs and barriers for contraceptive use among women in a low resource setting in Tamil Nadu: a qualitative study

Background: The decline in fertility rate based on the National Health Profile is attributed to the choice of permanent sterilisation as the preferred method of contraception among Indian women. The uptake of spacing methods has declined over the years in many parts of India related to low awareness about options other than sterilisation. Hence understanding the needs, beliefs and barriers of women regarding contraceptive use can identify the factors behind their choice of contraceptive methods. This study aims to explore the needs, beliefs and barriers of women in using different methods of contraception in a low-resource area of urban Vellore, Tamil Nadu.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in three underserved areas of urban Vellore served by the secondary care hospital of a private academic institution. A descriptive qualitative method was chosen. Focus group discussion was carried out among study participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data.Results: The need for contraceptive use was felt after completing the families determining the type of method chosen. Fear of impending side-effects of commonly available spacing methods of contraception limited their use. The results highlight the forceful use of intra-uterine device among study participants reflecting the incentive-based family planning services implemented in most Indian states.Conclusions: Our study reinforces that neither the availability of contraceptives nor forceful implementation of policies will increase the utilisation of contraceptives. There is a need for community-based education on the indications, types and side-effects of reversible methods of contraception

Ending preventable newborn deaths in a generation.

The end of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) era was marked in 2015, and while maternal and child mortality have been halved, MGD 4 and MDG 5 are off-track at the global level. Reductions in neonatal death rates (age <1 month) lag behind those for post-neonates (age 1-59 months), and stillbirth rates (omitted from the MDGs) have been virtually unchanged. Hence, almost half of under-five deaths are newborns, yet about 80% of these are preventable using cost-effective interventions. The Every Newborn Action Plan has been endorsed by the World Health Assembly and ratified by many stakeholders and donors to reduce neonatal deaths and stillbirths to 10 per 1000 births by 2035. The plan provides an evidence-based framework for scaling up of essential interventions across the continuum of care with the potential to prevent the deaths of approximately three million newborns, mothers, and stillbirths every year. Two million stillbirths and newborns could be saved by care at birth and care of small and sick newborns, giving a triple return on investment at this key time. Commitment, investment, and intentional leadership from global and national stakeholders, including all healthcare professionals, can make these ambitious goals attainable

The impact of polio eradication on routine immunization and primary health care: a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: After 2 decades of focused efforts to eradicate polio, the impact of eradication activities on health systems continues to be controversial. This study evaluated the impact of polio eradication activities on routine immunization (RI) and primary healthcare (PHC). METHODS: Quantitative analysis assessed the effects of polio eradication campaigns on RI and maternal healthcare coverage. A systematic qualitative analysis in 7 countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa assessed impacts of polio eradication activities on key health system functions, using data from interviews, participant observation, and document review. RESULTS: Our quantitative analysis did not find compelling evidence of widespread and significant effects of polio eradication campaigns, either positive or negative, on measures of RI and maternal healthcare. Our qualitative analysis revealed context-specific positive impacts of polio eradication activities in many of our case studies, particularly disease surveillance and cold chain strengthening. These impacts were dependent on the initiative of policy makers. Negative impacts, including service interruption and public dissatisfaction, were observed primarily in districts with many campaigns per year. CONCLUSIONS: Polio eradication activities can provide support for RI and PHC, but many opportunities to do so remain missed. Increased commitment to scaling up best practices could lead to significant positive impacts

Childhood Obesity as a Global Problem: a Cross-sectional Survey on Global Awareness and National Program Implementation

INTRODUCTION: The rising global epidemic of childhood obesity is a major public health challenge. Despite the urgency, there is a lack of data on the awareness and implementation of preventative measures. The aim of this study was to identify areas for improvement in the prevention and management of childhood obesity worldwide. METHODS: A cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to 132 members of national pediatric societies of the International Pediatric Association. RESULTS: Twenty-eight (21.2%) participants, each from a different country across six World Health Organization (WHO) regions completed the survey. Most participants reported that national prevalence data of childhood obesity is available (78.6%), and the number increased during the Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic (60.7%). In most countries (78.6%), the amount of sugar and salt in children's products is provided but only 42.9% enacted regulations on children-targeted advertising. Childhood obesity prevention programs from the government (64.3%) and schools (53.6%) are available with existing support from private or non-profit organizations (71.4%). Participants were aware of WHO's guidance concerning childhood obesity (78.6%), while fewer were aware of The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund's (UNICEF) guidance (50%). Participants reported that WHO/UNICEF guidance acted as a reference to develop policies, regulations and national programs. However, progress was hindered by poor compliance. Lastly, participants provided suggestions on tackling obesity, with responses ranging from developing and reinforcing policies, involvement of schools, and prevention across all life stages. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: There are different practices in implementing prevention measures to counter childhood obesity globally, particularly in statutory regulation on food advertising and national programs. While support and awareness was relatively high, implementation was hindered. This reflects the need for prompt, country-specific evaluation and interventions

The Impact of Polio Eradication on Routine Immunization and Primary Health Care: A Mixed-Methods Study

BACKGROUND: After 2 decades of focused efforts to eradicate polio, the impact of eradication activities on health systems continues to be controversial. This study evaluated the impact of polio eradication activities on routine immunization (RI) and primary healthcare (PHC). METHODS: Quantitative analysis assessed the effects of polio eradication campaigns on RI and maternal healthcare coverage. A systematic qualitative analysis in 7 countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa assessed impacts of polio eradication activities on key health system functions, using data from interviews, participant observation, and document review. RESULTS: Our quantitative analysis did not find compelling evidence of widespread and significant effects of polio eradication campaigns, either positive or negative, on measures of RI and maternal healthcare. Our qualitative analysis revealed context-specific positive impacts of polio eradication activities in many of our case studies, particularly disease surveillance and cold chain strengthening. These impacts were dependent on the initiative of policy makers. Negative impacts, including service interruption and public dissatisfaction, were observed primarily in districts with many campaigns per year. CONCLUSIONS: Polio eradication activities can provide support for RI and PHC, but many opportunities to do so remain missed. Increased commitment to scaling up best practices could lead to significant positive impacts.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the author(s) and published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The published article can be found at: http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/.Keywords: health systems, eradication, poliomyelitis, routine immunizatio

Declaration of the international pediatric association on the conditions of child detention facilities at the borders of the United States Of America

The International Pediatric Association, devoted to the well-being of children across the globe and composed of 169 national, regional and subspecialty pediatric societies representing over one million pediatricians, caring for more than one billion children, issues the following declaratio