Population and development beyond the first demographic transition: a focus on the experience of east and southeast Asian countries / População e desenvolvimento além da primeira transição demográfica: discussão da experiência de países do leste e sudeste da Ásia / Población y desarrollo más allá de la primera transición demográfica: discusión sobre la experiencia de países del este y sudeste asiático

This paper covers a wide scope, focusing on some trends in East and Southeast Asia that may be of interest to Latin America. The first demographic transition has essentially been completed in both regions. The issue is what should now be the focus of our consideration of population and development? East Asian countries are now stressing issues of ultra-low fertility, and policies to raise fertility. They are not comfortable with the prospect of making up future deficits through international migration. The paper also deals briefly with studies of dynamics of change in mega-urban regions, and argues that comparative studies on Latin America and Asia could be valuable. Issues of poverty, development, and equity are then addressed, with particular emphasis on the role of education as a key to equality and development. One dilemma is that in East Asia, the generally commendable obsession with education is one factor making for very low levels of fertility. Finally, the paper touches on population and environmental issues.

Este artigo é bastante abrangente e se concentra em algumas tendências do Leste e Sudeste da Ásia que podem ser de interesse para a América Latina. A primeira transição demográfica foi concluída em essência em ambas as regiões. A questão atual é qual deve ser o foco de nossa atenção em população e desenvolvimento? Atualmente, os países da Ásia Oriental estão enfatizando as questões de fecundidade ultrabaixa e políticas para fomentar a fecundidade. Esses países não se sentem à vontade com a perspectiva de compensar déficits futuros por meio de migração internacional. Este artigo também discute de forma resumida os estudos de dinâmica de mudança em regiões megaurbanas, e defende a ideia de que estudos comparando a América Latina e a Ásia poderiam ser de grande importância. Em seguida, são discutidas as questões da pobreza, desenvolvimento e equidade, com especial ênfase no papel da educação como fator-chave para a equidade e o desenvolvimento. Um dos dilemas é que a obsessão, em geral admirável, da Ásia Oriental com educação é um dos fatores que determinam os índices muito baixos de fecundidade. Por fim, o artigo aborda questões populacionais e ambientais.

Este artículo es bastante englobador, y se concentra en algunas tendencias del Este y Sudeste asiático que pueden resultar de interés para América Latina. La primera transición demográfica concluyó en esencia en ambas regiones. La cuestión actual es cuál debe ser el foco de nuestra atención en población y desarrollo. Actualmente, los países de Asia Oriental están dando énfasis a las cuestiones de fertilidad ultrabaja y políticas para fomentar la fertilidad. Esos países no se sienten a gusto con la perspectiva de compensar déficits futuros a través de la migración internacional. Este artículo también discute de forma resumida los estudios de dinámica de cambios en regiones megaurbanas, y defiende la idea de que estudios comparando América Latina y Asia podrían ser de gran importancia. A continuación, se discuten las cuestiones de pobreza, desarrollo y equidad, con especial énfasis en el papel de la educación como factor clave para la equidad y el desarrollo. Uno de los dilemas es que la obsesión, en general admirable, de Asia Oriental con la educación es uno de los factores que determina los índices tan bajos de fertilidad. Finalmente, el artículo aborda cuestiones poblacionales y ambientales.

Seroprevalence of HIV infection among the foreign students at Agra during a fifteen year period (1988-2002).

The present study reports a retrospective analysis of data of HIV testing of foreign students from Sub-Saharan Africa, South-East Asia and Europe, studying as well as staying at Agra, over a period of 15 yr (1988 to 2002). Of the 2653 [2092 (78.85%) were from the Sub-Saharan African countries, 377 (14.21%) from the South-East Asian countries, and 184 (6.93%) from the European countries], foreign students tested for HIV, only 26 were found to be positive for HIV-1/2 antibodies by the ELISA, rapid and Western Blot assays. Out of 26 HIV-positive, 17 males and 7 females were from Sub-Saharan Africa and 2 males were from the European countries. The range of HIV-positivity over a period of 15 yr varied greatly. When the five-year (1988-1992, 1993-1997 and 1998-2002) results were compared, the HIV-seropositivity showed a decline from 1.85, 0.50 to 0.36 per cent in the first, second and third 5 yr slots, respectively. While the data were not representative of all foreign students in India, this reflected the population tested in this centre was not a growing focus of HIV infection in this part of the country.

Racial variation in risk factors and occurrence of acute myocardial infarction: comparison between Arab and South Asian men in Kuwait.

BACKGROUND: There are little data available on the rates of occurrence, risk factors and mortality due to acute myocardial infarction among the various ethnic groups living in Middle-East countries. Therefore, we did a study to compare Arabs and South Asians living in Kuwait. METHODS AND RESULTS: The data for this retrospective study were collected from the computerized database of the Coronary Care Unit at the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital (a 476-bed teaching hospital) and the 1997-2000 Census data for the State of Kuwait. Arab and South Asian men above 25 years admitted between September 1997 and August 2000 with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction were included in the study A total of 866 Arabs and 277 South Asian men were admitted. The rate of admission for the entire patient population was two-fold higher among Arabs as compared with South Asians (6.7/1000 population and 3.3/1,000, respectively). Diabetes mellitus was present in 453 Arabs (52.3%) and 109 South Asians (39.4%) (p< or = 0.001) of those >25 years of age. Hypertension was recorded in 247 Arabs (28.5%) and 57 South Asians (20.6%) (p < or = 0.01). Among patients <55 years of age (454 Arabs and 226 South Asians); the rate of admission was 4.0/1,000 in Arabs and 3.5/1,000 in South Asians (not significant). Hypertension was present in 97 Arabs (21.3%) and 43 South Asians (19%) (not significant). Diabetes mellitus was present in 202 Arabs (44.5%) and 80 South Asians (35.4%) (p < or = 0.05). Smoking was recorded in 353 Arabs (77.8%) and 160 South Asians (70.8%) (notsignificant). Hypercholesterolemia was presentin 182 (40.1%) and 88 (39%), respectively (not significant). While in hospital, 11 Arabs and 9 South Asians died (not significant). CONCLUSIONS: Among men >55 and <75 years of age, Arabs had a higher rate of admission with acute myocardial infarction compared with men of South Asian origin. The incidence of diabetes and hypertension was significantly higher among Arabs in this age group. In younger patients (<55 years), the rate of acute myocardial infarction was not different between the two groups; however, diabetes was present more often among Arabs. The smoking rate is very high in both groups and is an important risk factor for both Arab and South Asian men living in the Middle East.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among Asian female house keepers in Abha District, Saudi Arabia.

A group of 5,518 female Asian house keepers working in Abha District of Saudi Arabia was examined (1990 through 1992) to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections. They came from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Thailand. Fresh stool specimens were obtained in special containers and examined by light microscopy of wet smears in normal saline and Lugoll's iodine solution within one hour of collection. The study revealed an overall prevalence of 46.5% which was higher than that reported among the Saudi population. The common parasites found included Trichuris trichiura (28.8%), Ascaris lumbricoides (22.2%), Hookworm (14.9%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.6%), Entamoeba histolytica (1.2%), Hymenolepis nana (0.2%), and Giardia intestinalis (0.1%). The prevalence of intestinal parasites was statistically different among various studied nationalities. The possibility of spreading such diseases throughout the community should be considered in the light of the nature of work of this group being in close contact with different family members. It is recommended that all expatriate workers be checked and treated if necessary on arrival for the first time or from vacation. This policy must be strictly monitored, particularly for female house keepers.