Influence of Supply-side Factors on Access to Healthcare: An Empirical Analysis of Service Delivery in Sierra Leone | Chapter 8 | An Overview of Disease and Health Research Vol. 8

The capacity of the health system to respond timely and adequately to the health needs of the people is critical to averting deaths, especially in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. The robustness and responsiveness of a country’s health system predict access to a range of health services, including maternal and child health (MCH) services.  The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the influence of five (5) health system characteristics (i. type of health provider, ii. level of facility, iii. availability of essential medicines, iv. availability of basic equipment, and v. type of facility) on access to MCH services in Sierra Leone. This study was guided by Bryce, Victora, Boerma, Peters, and Black’s framework for evaluating the scale-up to millennium development goals for maternal and child survival. The study was a secondary analysis of the Sierra Leone 2017 Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) dataset, which comprised 100% (1,284) of the country’s health facilities. Data analysis included bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions. In the bivariate analysis, all the independent variables showed statistically significant association with access to MCH services and achieved a p-value < .001. In the multivariate analysis, however, only 3 predictors explained 38% of the variance (R² = .380, F (5, 1263) = 154.667, p<.001). The type of health provider significantly predicted access to MCH services (β =.549, p <.001) as did the availability of essential medicines (β= .255, p<.001) and the availability of basic equipment (β= .258, p <.001). According to the study findings, the availability of the right mix of health providers, essential medicines, and basic equipment significantly influenced access to MCH services, regardless of the level and type of health facility. The study has highlighted the relative influence of health system access to MCH services. The findings would inform efforts towards broadening strategies to address weak health system blocks to optimise access to quality MCH services, which ultimately can contribute towards the reduction of maternal and child mortality rates in Sierra Leone and similar contexts.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Alhassan Fouard Kanu
Institute for Health Professionals Development (IHPD), Sierra Leone and Paris Graduate School, France.

 

Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/aodhr/v8/6993

 

Exposure to Environmental Chemical Contaminants and Infant Diseases: Constant Hazard? | Chapter 6 | Recent Updates in Disease and Health Research Vol. 3

 This study made a brief review on the major toxic chemical contaminants, routes and forms of exposure and their possible associations with diseases in childhood. The exposure to environmental chemical contaminants: lead, mercury, agrochemicals, PCBs, dioxins and BPA are characterized by situations of constant danger to healthy child development. Such substances have harmful effects on various systems and organs, but scientific attention has been focused on hormonal and neurobehavioral abnormalities in childhood. The child's physiological demands and behavioral features increase the risk of childhood and adult disease caused by exposure to these contaminants.  It has been observed that in recent decades, there have been few scientific advances, especially in emerging countries, regarding the understanding of the mechanisms involving the toxicity of one or multiplex biotics in low doses during the critical stages of development of the human organism. There is great concern regarding the organochlorine compounds that act as endocrine disrupters and are highly persistent and bio accumulative. In order to reduce the risks of a child being exposed to environmental pollutants, as well as to diagnose and track health issues resulting from this dangerous situation to human life, managers, health professionals, and researchers worldwide are recommending further studies and efforts regarding the applicability of preventive measures and monitoring of indicators in children's environmental health.

Author(s) Details:

Marcela de Abreu Moniz,
Department of Nursing, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.

Aline Cerqueira Santos Santana da Silva,
Department of Nursing, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.

Jane Baptista Quitete,
Department of Nursing, Fluminense Federal University, Brazil.

Rayssa Bravo de Oliveira Vollmer,
St. Anthony’s Hospital, FL, United States.

Ingrid da Silva Souza,
Fluminense Federal Institute, Brazil.

Laura Ferreira Peixoto Lima,
Fluminense Federal Institute, Brazil.

Maria Eduarda Nunes Cordeiro,
Fluminense Federal Institute, Brazil.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/RUDHR-V3/article/view/13552

Effect of Iron Therapy in Preventing Recurrent Febrile Seizures | Book Publisher International

 The study experimentally determines the effect of iron therapy in preventing recurrent febrile seizures. 74 children admitted or attending outpatient department/casualty of the Institute of Child Health, Medical College, Kottayam from February 2014 to November 2014 with the first episode of febrile seizures having iron deficiency anemia were divided into 2 groups of 37 each. One group was given elemental iron at a dose of 3 mg/kg/d till the hemoglobin was more than 12. Both groups were followed up for a total of eight months. The group given iron was found to have a significantly lower recurrence rate of febrile seizure compared to the control group. This study shows that iron therapy by keeping hemoglobin in the normal range is effective in preventing recurrent febrile seizures. However, a large randomized study is needed to establish the effectiveness of iron therapy in reducing the recurrence of febrile seizures.

Author(s) Details:

Parvathy Anitha Rajeev, MD,
One Brooklyn Health - Interfaith Medical Center, USA.

Tutul Chowdhury, MD,
One Brooklyn Health - Interfaith Medical Center, USA.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/EITPRFS/article/view/12421

Infant Feeding in Rural Areas of Koro, North Cote D’Ivoire: A Community Solution Perspective| Chapter 9 | Selected Topics in Humanities and Social Sciences Vol. 3

 In the rural parts of Koro, this article attempts to establish a community diagnostic and design implementation strategies for the control and improvement of newborn feeding and infant health. In Côte d'Ivoire, infant feeding is a serious child health issue. As a result of this predicament, a participatory community health method was implemented in Koro's rural area. It was a qualitative study with the Koro community as the focus group. Social mobilisation, community diagnosis, and the reparation workshop are the three components of the study. As a result, the most pressing issues surrounding newborn feeding in the United States have been addressed. The problems in the community, as well as their remedies, were recognised, and an action plan for healthy infant feeding was created. The rejection of colostrum, non-observance of exclusive breastfeeding, incorrect introduction of supplemental foods, the burden of fieldwork demand on mothers, and early discontinuation of breastfeeding are among the most pressing issues. The key remedies evaluated based on the replies received include: teaching the community's mothers to change their ways. Supporting mothers in the process of dietary diversification and quitting breastfeeding by changing their perceptions about colostrum. In order to improve newborn feeding, an implementation action plan based on a dynamic and community collaborative structure was created. It looks to be useful as a health monitoring tool for the Koro rural community.

Author (s) Details

Adou Serge Judicaël Anoua
Alassane Ouattara University, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire.

Mohamed Sow
Alassane Ouattara University, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire.

Gondo Cesaire Goue
Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, Ivory Coast.


View Book :- https://stm.bookpi.org/STHSS-V3/article/view/2299