Conducting EcoHealth research: Basic skills. Report of a training workshop held on 24–25 November 2016

International Development Research Centr

Conducting EcoHealth research: Basic skills. Report of a training workshop held on 26–27 September 2016

International Development Research Centr

Air pollution and health in India: A review of the current evidence and opportunities for the future

"Air pollution is a major and growing risk factor for ill health in India, contributing significantly to the country’s burden of disease. As per the Global Burden of Disease comparative risk assessment for 2015, air pollution exposure contributes to approximately 1.8 million premature deaths and 49 million disability adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost, ranking it among the top risk factors for ill health in India. Home to 10 of the top 20 cities with the highest annual average levels of PM2.5 as per the WHO Urban Ambient Air Quality Database (2016), and with several studies showing a worsening trend over time it is safe to say that rapid urbanization and industrial development have adversely affected urban air quality due to vehicular and industrial emissions. Simultaneously, over two-thirds of rural Indians caught in the ‘chulha trap’ use biomass fuels such as wood, dung or coal to satisfy their cooking and heating needs, resulting in smoke-filled homes and extremely high levels of exposure especially to women and children. Rural and urban India are both affected by poor air quality. There is, however, heterogeneity in sources and pollutant profiles. For instance, use of cooking fuels varies between urban and rural households, vehicular density is vastly different in cities and villages, and differing climatology and geography across India affects regional and seasonal levels of ambient air pollution. Air pollution has been termed a democratizing force but it is far from that, as it propagates existing environmental injustices. Studies have shown that children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to air pollution exposure. Air pollution exposure has shown to slow lung development in children , affect cognitive development , and has resulted in high levels of mortality from respiratory infections . The elderly are more likely to develop chronic respiratory and cardiac illnesses as a result of long-term exposure, and are more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes during episodic high pollution events. Vulnerable also are those of a lower socio-economic status, with studies showing they are more susceptible to insults from air pollution exposure for a variety of reasons including occupation, housing, cooking fuel use, the common link being poverty While environment, health and development are frequently pitted in adversarial roles in the discourse on economic growth, published evidence argues that they are very much in consonance. A study published by the World Bank in 2016 revealed that air pollution cost India approximately 8% of its GDP or $560 billion in 2013, as a result of lost productivity due to premature mortality and morbidity. This study, while a great first step, failed to capture the healthcare costs of treating air pollution-induced illnesses, which if factored in, could produce a far larger number.

Implementation pathway report: Community Resource Person An intervention by the Technical Support Unit Uttar Pradesh, India, February 2015

A report describing the methodology behind an implementation pathway for the Community Resource Person innovation being implemented by the Technical Support Unit (a large-scale collaboration between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Uttar Pradesh government) in Uttar Pradesh, India

IDEAS Private Sector Study of Maternal Newborn Child Health Data Sharing in Uttar Pradesh, India

IDEAS presented to the Uttar Pradesh Technical Support Unit (a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the work of the Uttar Pradesh health system) on 3 September 2014 on a study of how the private sector can share data with the public sector to help the public sector with resource planning: Study overview In support of TSU’s Objective 3a • Sub-obj: Create robust systems for data collection, analysis, and planning to improve programme management (e.g.HMIS) Utility of the findings •To jointly develop and test a strategy for data sharing on key MNCH services with the private health sector in UP. Aim of the present study •To explore current data management and reporting systems for MNCH data in the private sector, and barriers and facilitators to obtaining private sector data and setting up such system

Strength of linkages between public and NGO sectors in India: A case study for potential engagement opportunities in Uttar Pradesh

Aradhana Srivastava presented at the Health Systems in Asia conference in Singapore on December 2013: Presentation outline •Introduction •Methods •Profile of selected service providers •Elements of NGO-health system linkages •Findings on level & type of linkage •Challenges in effective linkage •Conclusion: key findings & recommendation

Experiences, anecdotes and images : reflections from an EcoHealth Study in a Japanese encephalitis prone district of North India

A behind-the-scenes account of an EcoHealth research study that identified sources, pathways and risk drivers in Ecosystems of Japanese Encephalitis in Kushinagar District of Uttar Pradesh in 2011-14The study team that worked on the theme of “Identifying Sources, Pathways and Risk Drivers in Ecosystems of JE in an Epidemic-Prone North Indian District”, as part of their data collection amassed many interviews, built an impressive photo bank and captured nuggets from multiple interactions in formal and semi-formal settings. While the quantitative side of the study examined the eco-epidemiology of the disease, the qualitative arm looked at societal and health system factors, which could influence JE transmission and disease outcomes. Based on experiences of data collectors, an NGO partner, researchers, field staff and select core team members, it captures their anecdotal experiences through words and visuals, adding more depth and meaning to the overall narrative that might be useful to project managers and researchers. The JE Book on “Impressions, Anecdotes and Images from a Japanese Encephalitis Prone District of North India” emerged out of this conviction – that there was a larger story to be told. These pages from the lives of those who lived in Kushinagar will serve to guide researchers, policy makers, programme managers, donors and corporates in ways that will ensure the work will be carried forward. The final objective for all those who were associated with the project remains to step up awareness, contribute to system strengthening and build the capacities of communities to safeguard themselves and prevent JE related death

International Conference on “New Directions for Public Health Education in Low and Middle Income Countries”, Hotel Taj Krishna, Hyderabad, India, 12 - 14 August 2008

The table of contents for this item can be shared with the requester. The requester may then choose one chapter, up to 10% of the item, as per the Fair Dealing provision of the Canadian Copyright ActThe conference brings together a wide range of public health experts from all continents to examine how to reconfigure public health education to meet complex contemporary challenges and respond to new opportunities that are evident or emerging in developing countries. It explores issues relevant to curricular content and pedagogical methods of public health education in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), while defining competencies and potential career tracks of public health professionals being trained in LMICs

Air pollution and health in India: A review of the current evidence and opportunities for the future

"Air pollution is a major and growing risk factor for ill health in India, contributing significantly to the country’s burden of disease. As per the Global Burden of Disease comparative risk assessment for 2015, air pollution exposure contributes to approximately 1.8 million premature deaths and 49 million disability adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost, ranking it among the top risk factors for ill health in India. Home to 10 of the top 20 cities with the highest annual average levels of PM2.5 as per the WHO Urban Ambient Air Quality Database (2016), and with several studies showing a worsening trend over time it is safe to say that rapid urbanization and industrial development have adversely affected urban air quality due to vehicular and industrial emissions. Simultaneously, over two-thirds of rural Indians caught in the ‘chulha trap’ use biomass fuels such as wood, dung or coal to satisfy their cooking and heating needs, resulting in smoke-filled homes and extremely high levels of exposure especially to women and children. Rural and urban India are both affected by poor air quality. There is, however, heterogeneity in sources and pollutant profiles. For instance, use of cooking fuels varies between urban and rural households, vehicular density is vastly different in cities and villages, and differing climatology and geography across India affects regional and seasonal levels of ambient air pollution. Air pollution has been termed a democratizing force but it is far from that, as it propagates existing environmental injustices. Studies have shown that children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to air pollution exposure. Air pollution exposure has shown to slow lung development in children , affect cognitive development , and has resulted in high levels of mortality from respiratory infections . The elderly are more likely to develop chronic respiratory and cardiac illnesses as a result of long-term exposure, and are more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes during episodic high pollution events. Vulnerable also are those of a lower socio-economic status, with studies showing they are more susceptible to insults from air pollution exposure for a variety of reasons including occupation, housing, cooking fuel use, the common link being poverty While environment, health and development are frequently pitted in adversarial roles in the discourse on economic growth, published evidence argues that they are very much in consonance. A study published by the World Bank in 2016 revealed that air pollution cost India approximately 8% of its GDP or $560 billion in 2013, as a result of lost productivity due to premature mortality and morbidity. This study, while a great first step, failed to capture the healthcare costs of treating air pollution-induced illnesses, which if factored in, could produce a far larger number.