Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Cheyann J. Heap, Hannah Maria Jennings, Kaaren Mathias, Himal Gaire, Farirai Gumbonzvanda, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Garima Gupta, Sumeet Jain, Bidya Maharjan, Rakchhya Maharjan, Sujen Man Maharjan, Pashupati Mahat, Pooja Pillai, Martin Webber, Jerome Wright, Rochelle Burgess
Summary: This review addresses the lack of conceptual clarity around 'participation' in mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by exploring how 'participation' is applied, what it means, and what key mechanisms contribute to change in participatory interventions for mental health in LMICs.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Divya Sussana Patil, Ajay Bailey, Uday Narayan Yadav, Sobin George, Marco Helbich, Dick Ettema, Lena Ashok
Summary: This realist review examines the mechanisms of urban mobility infrastructure interventions and policies for older adults in low- and middle-income countries, and identifies factors that contribute to the success or failure of these interventions. The study finds that behavior change communication interventions are cost-efficient and have a long-term impact in increasing awareness among older adults about safety, social inclusion, and transportation options. Improved transport infrastructure leads to a shift from private to public transportation. Effective governance and stakeholder involvement are crucial for sustainable urban transport infrastructure.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jessica M. Phan, Sangmin Kim, Doan Thi Thuy Linh, Lisa A. Cosimi, Todd M. Pollack
Summary: This review discusses technology-based interventions for HIV in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Telehealth has the potential to expand HIV healthcare access in LMICs, but faces challenges such as cost, infrastructure, and regulatory approval.
CURRENT HIV/AIDS REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Development Studies
Jonas Jessen, Jochen Kluve
Summary: This study highlights that tax incentives and information interventions are particularly effective in promoting formalization of firms and workers. Worker registration as an outcome shows significantly better results than other outcomes. Large-scale policies tend to be more effective than singular programs, especially in a more promising labor market context.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Jessie Seiler, Tanya E. Libby, Emahlea Jackson, J. R. Lingappa, W. D. Evans
Summary: This study identified gaps in social media-based behavior change interventions in low- and middle-income countries, including settings, types and sectors of interventions, length of follow-up, evaluation techniques, use of theoretical and conceptual models, and discussions on privacy implications of social media use.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Fan Yang, Zhihui Li, S. V. Subramianian, Chunling Lu
Summary: This cross-sectional study of 282,757 young women in 51 LMICs found that less than one-third had correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS, with disparities associated with rural residence, poverty, and low education levels. Among young women in 40 LMICs with multiple surveys, there was a significant increase in knowledge in 24 countries and a significant decrease in 10 countries. These findings suggest that future HIV prevention campaigns in LMICs should focus on young women with disadvantaged socioeconomic status.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Delia Grace
Summary: Foodborne diseases (FBD) have gained attention on the development agenda since 2015. The health burden of FBD is comparable to malaria, with over 90% of cases occurring in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC). FBD also have significant impacts on nutrition, gender, equity, and the environment. The paper discusses options for managing FBD in LMIC, highlighting the need for better investment and evaluation. A systematic literature review offers recommendations for an integrated framework to evaluate food safety interventions in LMIC, ensuring scalability and sustainability.
Review
Immunology
Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu, Seggane Musisi, Colin M. Smith, Megan Von Isenburg, Benedict Akimana, Ani Shakarishvili, Jean B. Nachega, Edward J. Mills, Dixon Chibanda, Marcelo Ribeiro, Anna Williams, John A. Joska
Summary: This study highlights the different effects of various interventions on mental health issues among PLWH in LMICs and emphasizes the importance of intervention components in determining intervention effectiveness. It provides recommendations for future scale-up of culturally appropriate interventions in LMICs based on successful evaluations.
JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Linlin Zhang, Derrick Ssewanyana, Marie-Claude Martin, Stephen Lye, Greg Moran, Amina Abubakar, Kofi Marfo, Joyce Marangu, Kerrie Proulx, Tina Malti
Summary: This study conducted a meta-analytic review of early childhood interventions in low- and middle-income countries, finding that parenting interventions have positive effects on children's cognitive, language, and motor development, particularly among vulnerable populations. Group sessions and high program dose interventions are associated with stronger intervention effects.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Sonja Klingberg, Bipin Adhikari, Catherine E. Draper, Edna N. Bosire, Priscilla Tiigah, Deborah Nyirenda, Ferdinand C. Mukumbang
Summary: This study aims to generate an understanding of community engagement in non-communicable disease research using a realist review approach. It seeks to examine the effectiveness, reasons, circumstances, and target population of community engagement without assuming that such practices result in more ethical research or effective interventions. Through a combination of theoretical and empirical literature, realist interviews, and stakeholder consultation, the study will provide critical insights for research and community engagement in low- and middle-income countries.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Anju Vaidya, Padam Simkhada, Andrew Lee, Susan Jones, Ferdinand C. Mukumbang
Summary: The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing rapidly, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), accounting for 85% of premature deaths in the region. A realist review approach is proposed to understand how and why the WHO's package of essential non-communicable diseases interventions (PEN) works in preventing and controlling NCDs. The review process includes clarifying the scope, searching for evidence, developing program theories using realist logic, and synthesizing evidence to draw conclusions.
Article
Psychiatry
Afzal Javed, Cheng Lee, Hazli Zakaria, Robert D. Buenaventura, Marcelo Cetkovich-Bakmas, Kalil Duailibi, Bernardo Ng, Hisham Ramy, Gautam Saha, Shams Arifeen, Paola M. Elorza, Priyan Ratnasingham, Muhammad Waqar Azeem
Summary: Mental health disorders present a growing global public health challenge, particularly affecting the poor; stigma associated with mental health leads to various negative impacts and is exacerbated by comorbidities with physical health issues; combating stigma requires a comprehensive approach involving policy-making, awareness programs, and improving access to mental health services.
ASIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Anna Cabanes, Carolyn Taylor, Carly Malburg, Phuong Thao D. Le
Summary: This scoping review aimed to assess the type of supportive care interventions for cancer patients across the cancer care continuum in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). The findings suggest that providing different types of supportive services in less-resourced settings, even when health systems are fragmented and fragile, can improve the mental and physical health as well as the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients.
SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Thinley Dorji, Tanawin Nopsopon, Saran Tenzin Tamang, Krit Pongpirul
Summary: The uptake of HPV vaccination in low- and middle-income countries varies significantly, with some countries having initiated vaccination programs while others face challenges and gaps.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Khaing Nwe Tin, Chetta Ngamjarus, Siwanon Rattanakanokchai, Jen Sothornwit, Apiwat Aue-aungkul, Aye Kyawt Paing, Porjai Pattanittum, Nampet Jampathong, Pisake Lumbiganon
Summary: To increase the uptake of cervical cancer screening in low- and middle-income countries, researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of 24 studies. The results suggest that single interventions such as phone call reminders, SMS reminders, community self-sampling, and free subsidized services can improve screening uptake. Combined interventions, such as health education interventions and SMS plus e-voucher, may have better effects than single interventions. These findings should be cautiously applied due to low certainty of evidence.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anil Sigdel, Hardik Sapkota, Subash Thapa, Anu Bista, Anil Rana
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Anjana Rai, Md Nuruzzaman Khan, Subash Thapa
MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION
(2020)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Subash Thapa, Anja Leppin, Rikke Kristensen, Mette Just Bonde, Arja R. Aro
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Subash Thapa, Arja R. Aro
Summary: In rural areas of Nepal, there is a prevalent menstrual taboo that hinders the effectiveness of interventions aimed at addressing it. Factors such as reluctance from local stakeholders, stigma faced by women abandoning chhaupadi, poverty, illiteracy, and resistance from community leaders contribute to the limited success of these interventions. Multilevel, multisectoral interventions with active community participation could be more effective in breaking the menstrual taboo and improving menstrual health and hygiene practices in this context.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Subash Thapa, Jesper B. Nielsen
Summary: This study found that patients aged 50-80 years with low health literacy are more likely to use daily medications and have poorer self-rated health, especially among men and those with lower socioeconomic status. Low health literacy is associated with perceptions that taking prescribed medicines daily is difficult, forgetting to take prescribed medicines, lower satisfaction with life, and poor self-assessed health.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jesper B. Nielsen, Ivar S. Kristiansen, Subash Thapa
Summary: The minimum benefit required for individuals aged 50-80 years to accept a preventive treatment in terms of prolongation of a disease-free life (PODL) varies widely, with most people requiring a PODL of over 2 years. Factors such as education, income, age, and smoking status are associated with the requested minimum benefit. Most individuals require larger health benefits than average preventive medications can offer.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Som Kumar Shrestha, Subash Thapa, Don Vicendese, Bircan Erbas
Summary: Women's justification of IPV is associated with decreased utilization of a wide range of maternal health care services, particularly in contraceptive methods, antenatal care visits, number of antenatal care services, institutional delivery, and postnatal care. Increasing levels of IPV justification are associated with a decreasing trend in antenatal care visits and institutional delivery. Women justifying IPV are less likely to have at least one antenatal care visit in urban areas compared to rural areas.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Subash Thapa, Jesper B. B. Nielsen
Summary: In this study, it was found that some Danes have inaccurate estimations of their chances of reaching the average life expectancy. It was also found that psychological and behavioral factors are associated with the accuracy of life expectancy estimations. Initiatives based on behavior change theories could improve the agreement between subjective and statistical life expectancy, especially for those with inaccurate estimations.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kimmo Herttua, Subash Thapa, Linda Juel Ahrenfeldt, Tapio Paljarvi
Summary: This study examined the risk of site-specific incident cancer in representative transport, rescue, and security industries. The results showed that the adjusted cancer incidence was higher in male workers in seafaring and land transport, and in female workers in seafaring, land transport, aviation, and police force. Overall, tobacco and physical inactivity were identified as the most significant risk factors for cancer.
ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Subash Thapa, Kedir Y. Ahmed, Allen G. Ross
LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
O. T. Tewogbola, S. Thapa
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
V. Abdelkarim, S. Thapa
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Subash Thapa, Jesper Bo Nielsen, Abdullah M. Aldahmash, Fatima R. Qadri, Anja Leppin
Summary: The study found that the majority of healthcare professionals and students at a university hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were willing to use digital health tools in patient care. The willingness to use these tools was associated with attitude and self-efficacy among healthcare professionals, and with the current year of study and self-efficacy among students. There were no significant differences in willingness between physicians and nurses, as well as between medical and nursing students.
JMIR MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Sharad Shrestha, Arja R. Aro, Bipna Shrestha, Subash Thapa
Summary: In Nepal, there are governmental and community-based programmes in place for elderly care but their successful implementation and overall effectiveness are not well understood. The government offers monthly allowances, pensions, and free health care specifically targeting the elderly, but there is a lack of proper health and social security systems for the elderly. Nepalese communities provide emotional and spiritual support to the elderly through neighborhood-based and religious-based groups, though the impact on their health and well-being is not well understood.
SAGE OPEN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Leena Eklund Karlsson, Anne Leena Ikonen, Kothar Mohammed Alqahtani, Pernille Tanggaard Andersen, Subash Thapa