Friday, February 27, 2009

[EQ] Determinants and Prevention of Low Birth Weight - A Synopsis of the Evidence

Determinants and Prevention of Low Birth Weight:

A Synopsis of the Evidence

 

Arne Ohlsson.  Prakeshkumar Shah

The Institute of Health Economics (IHE), Edmonton, AB, Canada  2008

 

Available online as PDF file [284p.] at: http://www.ihe.ca/documents/IHE%20Report%20LowBirthWeight%20final.pdf

 

“……Low birth weight (defined as a birth weight of less than 2500 grams) is associated with fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, impaired cognitive development, and the advent of chronic diseases in later life….”

 

“……This book is a synopsis (an overview of summaries and individual studies) of the evidence on the determinants related to low birth weight births and the effectiveness of strategies and interventions to prevent them. It consists of 16 chapters. The first two chapters provide general background information on the incidence, survival rates, and consequences of low birth weight births and a summary of the approach used to identify and synthesize the extensive literature on the subject. Chapters 3 to 15 provide succinct overviews of the evidence base for the myriad determinants and interventions for low birth weight births addressed in the literature. The final chapter provides a useful reference guide to the contents of the book in the form of tabulated summaries of the evidence and

conclusions….”

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

CHAPTER 1:   Introduction 1

CHAPTER 2:   Methods of the Synopsis

CHAPTER 3:   Maternal Demographical Factors

CHAPTER 4:   Maternal Anthropometric Characteristics

CHAPTER 5:   Intergenerational Influences, Paternal and Fetal Factors

CHAPTER 6:   Maternal Medical Factors

CHAPTER 7:   Pregnancy with Multiple Fetuses

CHAPTER 8:   Race/Ethnicity and Psychosocial Factors/Stress/Socioeconomic Factors

CHAPTER 9:   Lifestyle Factors

CHAPTER 10: Environmental Factors

CHAPTER 11: Occupational Factors, Noise, Violence and Maternal Trauma

CHAPTER 12: Nutritional Factors/Interventions

CHAPTER 13: Infections

CHAPTER 14: Antenatal Care and Early Detection of At-Risk Fetuses

CHAPTER 15: Secondary Prevention for Preterm Birth and Fetal Growth Restriction

CHAPTER 16: Summary and Conclusions

Glossary of Terms

 

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This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
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“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.

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[EQ] How Much Should We Spend on Mental Health?

How Much Should We Spend on Mental Health?

 

Kim-Lian Lim, Department of Economics, National University of Singapore

Philip Jacobs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta and Institute of Health Economics, Edmonton, Alberta

Carolyn Dewa, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario

The Institute of Health Economics (IHE), Edmonton, AB, Canada  2008

 

Available online as PDF file [64p.] at: http://www.ihe.ca/documents/Spending%20on%20Mental%20Health%20Final.pdf

 

“…..The question of “How much should we spend on mental health?” has been raised in several eminent national and provincial reports on health care. It is a very far-reaching question and so, not surprisingly, has been approached in different ways. In this monograph we present an economic overview of the economic approaches to this question.

 

We first present an explanation of the different notions of cost, in order to clarify what is being measured. We then present four different approaches that have been used in a variety of contexts to address the issue of government spending – the Benchmark Approach, the Behavioral Approach, the Budgeting Approach and the Economic Evaluation or Cost-Benefit Approach. Finally, we present examples of the use of two of these approaches in the Canadian context. …”

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Chapter 1 – Introduction

Chapter 2 – What Costs and Expenditures are We Addressing?

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Expenditure and Cost Measures

2.3 Alternative Measures of Economic Burden

2.4 How Much Should We Spend on Mental Health?

Chapter 3 – How Much Do We Spend on Mental Health?

3.1 Introduction .

3.2 Prevalence of Mental Disorders, Substance Use Disorders and Suicide

3.3 Disease Burden

3.4 Estimates of Economic Costs

3.5 Alternative Measures of Economic Burden

3.6 Relative Cost and Expenditure Ratios

Chapter 4 – How Do We Decide How Much to Spend on Mental Health?

4.1 Introduction

4.2 The “Benchmark” Approach .

4.3 The Behavioral Approach

4.4 The Budgeting Approach

4.5 The Economic Evaluation Approach

Chapter 5 – How Much We Should Spend on Mental Health

5.1 Introduction

5.2 The “Benchmark” Approach

5.3 The Budgeting Approach

5.4 Why Do We Need More Mental Health Dollars?

5.5 Assumptions for Estimating How Much More We Need to Spend Using the Budgeting Approach

5.6 A Rough Estimate of How Much More We Need to Spend

5.7 Conclusion

References

 

 

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This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.

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    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.  

[EQ] Trade and health: an agenda for action

Trade and health: an agenda for action

 

Prof Richard D Smith PhD a , Kelley Lee PhD b, Nick Drager PhD c

a Health Policy Unit, Department of Public Health and Policy, and Centre on Global Change and Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

b Centre on Global Change and Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

c Department of Ethics, Equity, Trade and Human Rights, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

 

The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9665, Pages 768 - 773, 28 February 2009

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61780-8C

 

Summary: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(08)61780-8/fulltext

 

“…..The processes of contemporary globalisation are creating ever-closer ties between individuals and populations across different countries. The health of a population, and the systems in place to deliver health care, are affected increasingly by factors beyond the population and health system.

 

The Lancet's Series on trade and health has provided an overview of these links between international trade, trade liberalisation, and health, and raised the key issues that face the health community. In this final paper in the Series, we call for a substantial and sustained effort by those within the health profession to engage with issues of trade, to strengthen institutional capacity in this area, and to place health higher on the agenda of trade negotiations.

 

The rapid rise of trade agreements and treaties, as well as trade that occurs beyond these institutional boundaries, means that further action is required by a range of actors, including WHO, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization (WTO), regional agencies, foundations, national governments, civil society, non-governmental organisations, and academics.

 

The stewardship of a domestic health system in the 21st century requires a sophisticated understanding of how trade affects, and will affect, a country's health system and policy, to optimise opportunities to benefit health and health care while minimising the risks posed though the assertion of health goals in trade policy. To acheive this will place a premium on all those engaged in health to understand the importance of trade and to engage with their counterparts involved in trade and trade policy….….”

 

 

*      *      *     *

This message from the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO, is part of an effort to disseminate
information Related to: Equity; Health inequality; Socioeconomic inequality in health; Socioeconomic
health differentials; Gender; Violence; Poverty; Health Economics; Health Legislation; Ethnicity; Ethics;
Information Technology - Virtual libraries; Research & Science issues.  [DD/ KMC Area]

“Materials provided in this electronic list are provided "as is". Unless expressly stated otherwise, the findings
and interpretations included in the Materials are those of the authors and not necessarily of The Pan American
Health Organization PAHO/WHO or its country members”.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PAHO/WHO Website: http://66.101.212.219/equity/

Archives - Join/remove: http://listserv.paho.org/Archives/equidad.html

 

 

    IMPORTANT: This transmission is for use by the intended recipient and it may contain privileged, proprietary or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient or a person responsible for delivering this transmission to the intended recipient, you may not disclose, copy or distribute this transmission or take any action in reliance on it. If you received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by email to infosec@paho.org, and please dispose of and delete this transmission. Thank you.