Author: Latest Results

Abstract

Introduction

Armed conflicts have a severe impact on the health of women and children. Global health emergencies such as pandemics and disease outbreaks further exacerbate the challenges faced by vulnerable populations in accessing maternal, neonatal, and child healthcare (MNCH). There is a lack of evidence that summarizes the challenges faced by conflict-affected pregnant women, mothers, and children in accessing MNCH services during global health emergencies, mainly the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics. This scoping review aimed to analyze studies evaluating and addressing barriers to accessing comprehensive MNCH services during Ebola and COVID-19 emergencies in populations affected by conflict.

Methods

The search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using terms related to Ebola and COVID-19, conflicts, and MNCH. Original studies published between 1990 and 2022 were retrieved. Articles addressing the challenges in accessing MNCH-related services during pandemics in conflict-affected settings were included. Thematic analysis was performed to categorize the findings and identify barriers and solutions.

Results

Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Challenges were identified in various MNCH domains, including antenatal care, intrapartum care, postnatal care, vaccination, family planning, and the management of childhood illnesses. Ebola-related supply-side challenges mainly concerned accessibility issues, health workforce constraints, and the adoption of stringent protocols. COVID-19 has resulted in barriers related to access to care, challenges pertaining to the health workforce, and new service adoption. On the demand-side, Ebola- and COVID-19-related risks and apprehensions were the leading barriers in accessing MNCH care. Community constraints on utilizing services during Ebola were caused by a lack of trust and awareness. Demand-side challenges of COVID-19 included fear of disease, language barriers, and communication difficulties. Strategies such as partnerships, strengthening of health systems, service innovation, and community-based initiatives have been employed to overcome these barriers.

Conclusion

Global health emergencies amplify the barriers to accessing MNCH services faced by conflict-affected populations. Cultural, linguistic, and supply-side factors are key challenges affecting various MNCH domains. Community-sensitive initiatives enhancing primary health care (PHC), mobile clinics, or outreach programs, and the integration of MNCH into PHC delivery should be implemented. Efforts should prioritize the well-being and empowerment of vulnerable populations. Addressing these barriers is crucial for achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Abstract

General epistemic polarization arises when the beliefs of a population grow further apart, in particular when all agents update on the same evidence. Epistemic factionalization arises when the beliefs grow further apart, but different beliefs also become correlated across the population. I present a model of how factionalization can emerge in a population of ideally rational agents. This kind of factionalization is driven by probabilistic relations between beliefs, with background beliefs shaping how the agents’ beliefs evolve in the light of new evidence. Moreover, I show that in such a model, the only possible outcomes from updating on identical evidence are general convergence or factionalization. Beliefs cannot spread out in all directions: if the beliefs overall polarize, then it must result in factionalization.

Abstract

Background

Previous initiatives concerning adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education in Low-or-Middle Income Countries (LMICs) have been limited by cultural norms and misinformation perpetuated within families. Responding to the paucity of research on the implementation of SRH interventions in LMICs and limited knowledge regarding their mechanisms, this study undertakes a process evaluation of a parent-focused intervention to promote parent-adolescent communication about SRH in Uganda.

Methods

This paper explores the implementation, contextual factors and mechanisms of impact of the intervention, using the Medical Research Council (MRC) guidelines for process evaluations. Implementation was evaluated through indicators of dose, fidelity and adaptations, acceptability and feasibility. The contextual factors and mechanisms of impact were evaluated to refine the intervention’s causal assumptions. Data was collected during April - October 2021 in South-Western Uganda using a mixed-methods approach, including document analysis, intervention observations, interviews, focus group discussions and most significant change stories.

Results

The acceptability of the intervention was related to its community engagement, the strong rapport with delivery agents, and individual characteristics of participants. Five contextual factors influencing implementation were highlighted; (i) cultural norms, (ii) perceptions about youth SRH, (iii) poverty, (iv) Covid-19 pandemic, and (v) prior research projects in the community. When considering the intervention’s mechanisms of impact, four causal pathways were identified; (i) Awareness of SRH needs helped parents overcome stigma, (ii) Parenting skills training improved SRH communication, (iii) Group learning stimulated shared parenting, and (iv) Group learning improved co-parenting.

Conclusion

The paper presented three key learnings and corresponding recommendations for future research. Firstly, implementation success was credited to meaningful community engagement which improved acceptability and uptake. Secondly, the complex influences of contextual factors highlighted the need for contextual analysis in research studies to inform intervention design. Finally, this evaluation recognised the interplay between mechanisms of impact and suggested further research consider such combined impacts when designing intervention content.

Political polarization leads to distrust. In universities, this can lead to conflict or silence in classes and hinder learning and engagement. Faculty members and leaders can promote depolarization by encouraging constructive dialogue in and out of class, cultivating viewpoint diversity within boundaries and expanding civic spaces.

Political polarization leads to distrust. In universities, this can lead to conflict or silence in classes and hinder learning and engagement. Faculty members and leaders can promote depolarization by encouraging constructive dialogue in and out of class, cultivating viewpoint diversity within boundaries and expanding civic spaces.

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are diverse and provide essential global functions, supporting biodiversity conservation, economic growth, and human welfare. However, they are under threat from human activities such as overexploitation, coastal degradation, and anthropogenic impacts. The present study aimed to explore the level of public awareness and understanding of coastal ecosystems in four coastal cities in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka namely Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Mannar. A three-part questionnaire survey was administered to respondents (n = 641) chosen using a systematic sampling method across four coastal cities in the North from April to November 2022. A key highlight from the study is that approximately 75% of the respondents demonstrated significant awareness and knowledge regarding the degradation of the coastal ecosystem in their respective local areas and 81% reported observing an increase in the trend. The influence of social media for awareness was found in nearly half of the respondents followed by mass media (21%). Encouragingly, there is a positive trend among the respondents in recognizing the roles and responsibilities of the government and local community (58%) in addressing coastal ecosystem degradation and promoting conservation efforts. Overall, respondents from Jaffna and Mannar demonstrated a comparatively higher awareness of coastal ecosystems and their degradation than those from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. Given their role as transitional zones between terrestrial and marine environments, their intricate socio-ecological dynamics, and the requirement for integrated planning and management strategies, it becomes evident that gaining insight into the level of public awareness of coastal ecosystems is of utmost importance.

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are diverse and provide essential global functions, supporting biodiversity conservation, economic growth, and human welfare. However, they are under threat from human activities such as overexploitation, coastal degradation, and anthropogenic impacts. The present study aimed to explore the level of public awareness and understanding of coastal ecosystems in four coastal cities in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka namely Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Mannar. A three-part questionnaire survey was administered to respondents (n = 641) chosen using a systematic sampling method across four coastal cities in the North from April to November 2022. A key highlight from the study is that approximately 75% of the respondents demonstrated significant awareness and knowledge regarding the degradation of the coastal ecosystem in their respective local areas and 81% reported observing an increase in the trend. The influence of social media for awareness was found in nearly half of the respondents followed by mass media (21%). Encouragingly, there is a positive trend among the respondents in recognizing the roles and responsibilities of the government and local community (58%) in addressing coastal ecosystem degradation and promoting conservation efforts. Overall, respondents from Jaffna and Mannar demonstrated a comparatively higher awareness of coastal ecosystems and their degradation than those from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. Given their role as transitional zones between terrestrial and marine environments, their intricate socio-ecological dynamics, and the requirement for integrated planning and management strategies, it becomes evident that gaining insight into the level of public awareness of coastal ecosystems is of utmost importance.