Informal settlements and the care of children 0-3 years of age: a qualitative study.

Background: There is a rapid increase in urbanization with a high percentage of people living in poverty in urban informal settlements. These families, including single parents, are requiring accessible and affordable childcare. In Mlolongo, an informal settlement in Machakos County in Nairobi metropolitan area, Kenya, childcare centres, referred to as 'babycares' are increasing in number. They are being provided by local community members without attention to standards or quality control. The study objective was to understand parents', caregivers' and community elders' experiences and perceptions in terms of the quality of babycares in Mlolongo to inform the design and implementation of improved early childcare services. Methods: Using a community-based participatory research philosophy, a qualitative study including focus group discussions with parents, community elders and babycare centre employees/owners (referred to as caregivers) was conducted in Mlolongo. Results: A total of 13 caregivers, 13 parents of children attending babycares, and eight community elders participated in the focus groups. Overall, community elders, parents and caregivers felt that the babycares were not providing an appropriate quality of childcare. The reported issues included lack of training and resources for caregivers, miscommunication between parents and caregivers on expectations and inappropriate child to caregiver ratio. Conclusion: The deficiencies identified by respondents indicate a need for improved quality of affordable childcare to support early child development in these settings. Efforts need to be invested in defining effective models of early childcare that can meet the expectations and needs of parents and caregivers and address the major challenges in childcare quality identified in this study.

Medical education and population health-A framework in the design of a new undergraduate program.

Health sciences curricular planners are challenged to add new content to established education programs. There is increasing pressure for content in public health, health systems, global health, and planetary health. These important areas often compete for curricular time. What is needed is a convergence model that builds a common framework within which students can integrate areas and better align this knowledge to the individual client or patient who they have responsibility to support. A population health framework is proposed for health sciences education programs that supports a common conceptual understanding of population health. The framework links five thematic areas that have influence on health and wellbeing and a sixth element that defines the range of methodologies essential to understanding health and wellbeing, from the individual to the population. The five areas providing convergence are: (1) the biopsychosocial development of the individual, (2) the socioeconomic factors that influence health and wellbeing, (3) the physical natural and built environment including climate, (4) the continuum of public health and health care systems, and (5) the nation state and global relationships. Using this framework, students are encouraged to think and understand individual health and wellbeing in context to the population and to utilize the appropriate methodological tools to explore these relationships. Planning for a new undergraduate medicine program illustrates the curricular elements that will be used to support student learning with foundation knowledge applied and tracked throughout the program. The proposed framework has application across health sciences disciplines and serves to build a common understanding that supports cross professional communication and collaboration.

Population Health Science: A Core Element of Health Science Education in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa suffers an inordinate burden of disease and does not have the numbers of suitably trained health care workers to address this challenge. New concepts in health sciences education are needed to offer alternatives to current training approaches.A perspective of integrated training in population health for undergraduate medical and nursing education is advanced, rather than continuing to take separate approaches for clinical and public health education. Population health science educates students in the social and environmental origins of disease, thus complementing disease-specific training and providing opportunities for learners to take the perspective of the community as a critical part of their education.Many of the recent initiatives in health science education in sub-Saharan Africa are reviewed, and two case studies of innovative change in undergraduate medical education are presented that begin to incorporate such population health thinking. The focus is on East Africa, one of the most rapidly growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa where opportunities for change in health science education are opening. The authors conclude that a focus on population health is a timely and effective way for enhancing training of health care professionals to reduce the burden of disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

Prevention of Congenital Disorders and Care of Affected Children: A Consensus Statement.

As the Sustainable Development Goals are adopted by United Nations member states, children with congenital disorders remain left behind in policies, programs, research, and funding. Although this finding was recognized by the creation and endorsement of the 63rd World Health Assembly Resolution in 2010 calling on United Nations member states to strengthen prevention of congenital disorders and the improvement of care of those affected, there has been little to no action since then. The Sustainable Development Goals call for the global health and development community to focus first and foremost on the most vulnerable and those left behind in the Millennium Development Goal era. To maximize the opportunity for every woman and couple to have a healthy child and to reduce the mortality and severe disability associated with potentially avoidable congenital disorders and their consequences for the children affected, their families and communities, and national health care systems, we propose priority measures that should be taken urgently to address this issue.

Risks to early childhood health and development in the postconflict transition of northern Uganda.

Research from numerous fields of science has documented the critical importance of nurturing environments in shaping young children's future health and development. We studied the environments of early childhood (birth to 3 years) during postconflict, postdisplacement transition in northern Uganda. The aim was to better understand perceived needs and risks in order to recommend targeted policy and interventions. Methods. Applied ethnography (interview, focus group discussion, case study, observational methods, document review) in 3 sites over 1 year. Results. Transition was a prolonged and deeply challenging phase for families. Young children were exposed to a myriad of risk factors. Participants recognized risks as potential barriers to positive long-term life outcomes for children and society but circumstances generally rendered them unable to make substantive changes. Conclusions. Support structures were inadequate to protect the health and development of children during the transitional period placing infants and young children at risk. Specific policy and practice guidelines are required that focus on protecting hard-to-reach, vulnerable, children during what can be prolonged and extremely difficult periods of transition.

Survey of "northern" child and maternal health research being conducted in Canada.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to better understand the scope of research being conducted by Canadian paediatric and maternal health centres on the topic of maternal child health of northern populations. In addition, the results are intended to help assess the prospects for the creation of a research network dedicated to this topic. STUDY DESIGN: Questionnaire study complemented with review of database. METHODS: Data were collected using a short questionnaire with qualitative and quantitative questions. Surveys were sent by email to members of two Canadian national paediatric groups, representing 17 organizations. Supplementary information was obtained through review of the database for research funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and by the International Polar Year Program. RESULTS: Response was limited, with most input coming from academic environments with a strong commitment to research conducted among northern populations. Research focuses included health as well as other disciplines. The definition of "the North" provided by respondents fit generally within the operational definition identified by the researchers. CONCLUSIONS: The topic of maternal and child health is more thoroughly examined among rural and remote populations than specifically among northern populations. The existence of a type of network, the evidence of a lack of inter-institutional communication and the identified need for support lead to the conclusion that a formal research network would be of benefit. Research is already funded by national funding agencies, suggesting that there may be an opportunity to collaborate with a national agency in the development of an appropriate network.

Waiting for child developmental and rehabilitation services: an overview of issues and needs.

Concern about the length of time that children, young people, and families may have to wait to access assessment, diagnostic, interventional, therapeutic, and supportive child developmental and rehabilitation (CDR) services is widespread, but adequate data collection and research on this issue remain limited. We review key concepts and issues relevant to waiting for CDR services from the published literature, a national workshop devoted to this topic, and international experience. We conclude that gaps in data, evidence, and consensus challenge our ability to address the issue of waiting for CDR services in a systematic way. A program of research coupled with actions based on consensus-building is required. Research priorities include acquiring evidence of the appropriateness and effectiveness of different models of intervention and rehabilitation services, and documenting the experience and expectations of waiting families. Consensus-building processes are critical to identify, categorize, and prioritize 'sentinel' components of CDR service pathways: (1) to reduce the inherent complexity of the field; (2) to create benchmarks for waiting for these respective services; and (3) to develop definitions for wait-time subcomponents in CDR services. Collection of accurate and replicable data on wait times for CDR services can be used to document baseline realities, to monitor and improve system performance, and to conduct comparative and analytic research in the field of CDR services.

A more rational approach to new-product development.

Companies often treat new-product development as a monolithic process, but it can be more rationally divided into two parts: an early stage that focuses on evaluating prospects and eliminating bad bets, and a late stage that maximizes the remaining candidates' market potential. Recognizing the value of this approach, Eli Lilly designed and piloted Chorus, an autonomous unit dedicated solely to the early stage. This article demonstrates how segmenting development in this way can speed it up and make it more cost-effective. Two classes of decision-making errors can impede NPD, the authors say. First, managers often ignore evidence challenging their assumptions that projects will succeed. As a result, many projects go forward despite multiple red flags; some even reach the market, only to fail dramatically after their introduction. Second, companies sometimes terminate projects prematurely because people fail to conduct the right experiments to reveal products' potential. Most companies promote both kinds of errors by focusing disproportionately on late-stage development; they lack the early, truth-seeking functions that would head such errors off. In segmented NPD, however, the early-stage organization maintains loyalty to the experiment rather than the product, whereas the late-stage organization pursues commercial success. Chorus has significantly improved NPD efficiency and productivity at Lilly. Although the unit absorbs just one-tenth of Lilly's investment in early-stage development, it delivers a substantially greater fraction of the molecules slated for late Phase II trials--at almost twice the speed and less than a third of the cost of the standard process, sometimes shaving as much as two years off the usual development time.

The first meta-analysis of randomized controlled surgical trials in cerebral palsy (2002).

This study is a comparative analysis and meta-analysis of three randomized clinical trials. Children with spastic diplegia received either 'selective' dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) plus physiotherapy (SDR+PT) or PT without SDR (PT-only). Common outcome measures were used for spasticity (Ashworth scale) and function (Gross Motor Function Measure [GMFM]). Baseline and 9- to 12-month outcome data were pooled (n=90). At baseline, 82 children were under 8 years old and 65 had Gross Motor Function Classification System level II or III disability. Pooled Ashworth data analysis confirmed a reduction of spasticity with SDR+PT (mean change score difference -1.2; Wilcoxon p<0.001). Pooled GMFM data revealed greater functional improvement with SDR+PT (difference in change score +4.0, p=0.008). Multivariate analysis in the SDR+PT group revealed a direct relationship between percentage of dorsal root tissue transected and functional improvement. SDR+PT is efficacious in reducing spasticity in children with spastic diplegia and has a small positive effect on gross motor function.

Global health training for pediatric residents.

The FOPO Global Health Working Group concludes that global health experiences are important for pediatric residency training and offers five recommendations: 1) There is a need to articulate clearly the rationale supporting the creation of global health experiences in pediatric residency programs. 2) A core curriculum needs to be established for a consistent and meaningful educational experience. The curriculum should include the underlying principles discussed above and should engage representatives from potential host countries in the development of the curriculum. 3) Promoting the opportunity for a global health experience in all residency programs will require a collaborative effort across programs, perhaps at the national level through the Association of Pediatric Program Directors or through the already established Global Health Education Consortium (GHEC).34 A clearinghouse for curricula and for host organizations/institutions both abroad and within the United States and Canada should be established. 4) Global health training needs to be studied rigorously, and lessons learned should be shared. 5) Pediatric residency programs should respect the rights, autonomy, and confidentiality of patients and families in clinical care, research, and operational programs. The FOPO Global Health Working Group looks forward to serving as a focal point to promote discussion on this important issue to the health of our world's children.

Services for children and youth with chronic health conditions: views of pediatricians in British Columbia.

Canadian research on health services for children and youth with chronic health conditions (CHC) is limited. In a postal survey, pediatricians in British Columbia rated the quality and safety of health care services for children with chronic medical conditions (Ch-Med) lower (mean rating +/- SD on a seven-point scale: 4.86 +/- 1.02 ) than services for children with acute conditions/injuries (5.97 +/- 1.01), and lowest for children with chronic developmental, behavioral and mental health conditions (Ch-DBM; 3.06 +/- 1.17). To improve health care services for CHC, respondents especially favoured improving access to community-based services and resources and to medical specialists and specialized facilities, and the implementation of alternative models of care. Respondents indicated that physician care of children with CHC could be enhanced by extending the physician's role, better integrating medical with other aspects of care and adopting more flexible payment mechanisms. Findings suggest the need for enhancement and innovation in medical services for children with CHC, especially Ch-DBM, but also that solutions need to take account of CHC subcategory, geographic factors and differences in practitioner readiness to embrace change.

Evidence of human herpesvirus 6 infection in 4 immunocompetent patients with encephalitis.

We describe 4 patients with encephalitis due to possible reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection who were enrolled in the California Encephalitis Project. All were immunocompetent and had HHV-6 loads determined in cerebrospinal fluid specimens. Tests for detection of HHV-6 should be considered for individuals with encephalitis.

Use of medical services by methylphenidate-treated children in the general population.

OBJECTIVES: To examine selected medical services for children treated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a general population setting with universal health insurance. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of administrative prescription and health services databases spanning from 1990 to 1996. SETTING: British Columbia, Canada. PATIENTS: Children (<19 years of age) who had received the psychostimulant methylphenidate (MPH; Ritalin) on a chronic basis (chronic-MPH group), who had received MPH on any other basis (nonchronic-MPH group), and who were in a no-MPH comparison group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of individuals who received any of the following services based on claims submitted by qualified practitioners: 1) emergency care, 2) critical care, 3) injury-related diagnostic and treatment services, 4) complementary and alternative medical (CAM) care, and 5) other diagnostic and treatment services (audiometry and allergy testing). RESULTS: Prevalence of services users was higher among MPH-treated than nontreated children for all types of services (except critical care services in the chronic-MPH group) after adjusting for effects of age, sex, socioeconomic status, and geographic setting, with odds ratios ranging from 1.49 to 3.17. There were no differences between the 2 MPH-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Children treated with MPH for ADHD or presumed ADHD are more frequent users of a wide range of medical services than are other children. Findings support and extend existing evidence of increased use of medical services by this population of children. Findings have implications for service planning, including injury prevention, with these children. High utilization of audiometric, allergy, and CAM services warrants further scrutiny.

Country of birth and language spoken at home in relation to illicit substance use.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the association between country of birth, language spoken at home, and lifetime illicit substance use in a Canadian national sample. METHOD: Secondary analysis of data was conducted using a sample of 8,656 persons who were between 15 and 54 years of age in 1994 and who participated in Canada's Alcohol and Other Drugs Survey. RESULTS: Rates of substance use differed among the four groups (42.6% for Canadian-born who spoke official languages, 33.8% for Canadian-born who spoke non-official languages, 35.2% for foreign-born who spoke official languages, and 11.1% for foreign-born who spoke non-official languages). The rate differences persisted after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, religiousness, friends' use of substances, and participation in social activities. INTERPRETATION: More in-depth studies that include culture-specific information are required to explain the rate differences. In addition, alternative preventive strategies may be required to reduce substance use among foreign-born persons.