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Infrastructure, policy and regulatory interventions to increase physical activity to prevent cardiovascular diseases and diabetes: a systematic review

Durão, S.; Burns, J.; Schmidt, B. et al. BMC Public Health (2023) CC

Background Noncommunicable diseases are major contributors to morbidity and mortality worldwide. Modifying the risk factors for these conditions, such as physical inactivity, is thus essential. Addressing the context or circumstances in which physical activity occurs may promote physical activity a...t a population level. We assessed the effects of infrastructure, policy or regulatory interventions for increasing physical activity. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase and clinicaltrials.gov to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs), controlled before-after (CBAs) studies, and interrupted time series (ITS) studies assessing population-level infrastructure or policy and regulatory interventions to increase physical activity. We were interested in the effects of these interventions on physical activity, body weight and related measures, blood pressure, and CVD and type 2 diabetes morbidity and mortality, and on other secondary outcomes. Screening and data extraction was done in duplicate, with risk of bias was using an adapted Cochrane risk of bias tool. Due to high levels of heterogeneity, we synthesised the evidence based on effect direction. Results We included 33 studies, mostly conducted in high-income countries. Of these, 13 assessed infrastructure changes to green or other spaces to promote physical activity and 18 infrastructure changes to promote active transport. The effects of identified interventions on physical activity, body weight and blood pressure varied across studies (very low certainty evidence); thus, we remain very uncertain about the effects of these interventions. Two studies assessed the effects of policy and regulatory interventions; one provided free access to physical activity facilities and showed that it may have beneficial effects on physical activity (low certainty evidence). The other provided free bus travel for youth, with intervention effects varying across studies (very low certainty evidence). Conclusions Evidence from 33 studies assessing infrastructure, policy and regulatory interventions for increasing physical activity showed varying results. The certainty of the evidence was mostly very low, due to study designs included and inconsistent findings between studies. Despite this drawback, the evidence indicates that providing access to physical activity facilities may be beneficial; however this finding is based on only one study. Implementation of these interventions requires full consideration of contextual factors, especially in low resource settings. more

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Quality of stroke guidelines in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Yaria, J.; Gil, A.; Makanjuola, A. et al. Bulletin of the World Health Organization (2021) C_WHO

Objective: To identify gaps in national stroke guidelines that could be bridged to enhance the quality of stroke care services in low- and middle-income countries. Methods: We systematically searched medical databases and websites of medical societies and contacted international organizations. Co... more

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Building better immunity: A life course approach to healthy longevity

Pan American Health Organization PAHO (2023) C_WHO

As the Americas undergo profound demographic change and there are more persons aged 65 years or older than children younger than 5 years, it is crucial to recognize that national immunization programs must be redesigned to ensure comprehensive protection for individuals across the lifespan. By adopt... more

Guide for Pharmacists

India Hypertension Control Initiative (2022) CC

This guide helps pharmacists to understand their role in the hypertension program. From maintaining hypertensive drug stock, to drug dispensing, to recording and reporting, to awareness generation with patients.

2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes: Developed by the task force on the management of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes of the Eur

Marx, N.; Federici, M.; Schütt, K. et al. European Heart Journal (2023) CC

Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) with its manifestations of coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF), and stroke, as well as aortic and peripheral artery diseases. In addition, diabetes is a major risk factor f... more

Compendium of WHO and other UN guidance on health and environment - 2022 update

World Health Organization WHO World Health Organization WHO; UN environment programme; UNDP; unicef (2022) C_WHO

The combined effects from ambient (outdoor) air pollution and indoor (household, in particular) air pollution cause approximately 7 million premature deaths every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, IHD, COPD, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections (1). Air pollution ... more

Malawi’s Community-based Health System Model: Structure, Strategies, and Learning

Devlin, K.; Pandit-Rajani, T.; Egan, F.K. Advancing Partners & Communities (2017) CC

The Community-based Health System Model Series briefs identify and discuss critical health system inputs and processes that have contributed to the implementation and expansion of community-based service delivery in different countries. Countries were selected for their geographic diversity, type o... more

Access to health care for people with disabilities in rural Malawi: what are the barriers?

Harrison, J.A.K.; Thomson, R.; Banda, H.T. et al. BMC Public Health (2020) CC

People with disabilities experience significant health inequalities. In Malawi, where most individuals live in low-income rural settings, many of these inequalities are exacerbated by restricted access to health care services. This qualitative study explores the barriers to health care access experi... more

Malawi National Communication and Advocacy Strategy for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

United States Agency for International Development; President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief; National AIDS Commission MAlawi (2022) CC

Evidence shows that oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces the risk of contracting HIV during sexual intercourse by more than 90% when taken daily. It is for this reason the National HIV Prevention Strategy 2015-2020 (2018 Revision) emphasises the role of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in ... more

Burden of fungal asthma in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Kwizera, R.; Musaazi, J.; Meya, D.B.; et al. PLOS ONE, which is part of the Public Library of Science (PLOS) (2019) CC2

Asthma is one of the neglected diseases in Africa with a high prevalence. Allergic fungal diseases have been reported to complicate asthma progression and treatment outcomes. However, data about fungal asthma and its associated complications are limited in Africa. We aimed to estimate the burden of ... more

Asbestos-related diseases in mineworkers: a clinicopathological study

Ndlovu, N.; Rees, D.; Murray, J.; et al. ERJ Open Research, part of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) (2017) CC

This study compared clinical and autopsy findings for three asbestos-related diseases (asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer) in former asbestos mineworkers, and explored factors that influenced agreement between clinical and autopsy findings using data from two compensation systems. In South Afr... more

Barriers and determinants of asthma control in children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review

Mphahlele, R.E.; Kitchin, O.; Masekela, R. BMJ Open (2021) CC

The article "Barriers and determinants of asthma control in children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review" analyzes factors contributing to poor asthma control in African youth. Based on studies conducted between 2014 and 2019 in Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa, the review identifies key... more

Risk factors for asthma among schoolchildren who participated in a casecontrol study in urban Uganda

Mpairwe, H.; Namutebi, M.; Nkurunungi, G. et al. eLife (2019) CC

Data on asthma aetiology in Africa are scarce. We investigated the risk factors for asthma among schoolchildren (5–17 years) in urban Uganda. We conducted a case-control study, among 555 cases and 1115 controls. Asthma was diagnosed by study clinicians. The main risk factors for asthma were tertia... more

Monitoring asthma in children

Pijnenburg, M.W.; Baraldi, E.; Brand, P.L. et al. European Respiratory Journal (2015) CC

The goal of asthma treatment is to obtain clinical control and reduce future risks to the patient. To reach this goal in children with asthma, ongoing monitoring is essential. While all components of asthma, such as symptoms, lung function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and inflammation, may exist i... more

Addressing gender inequalities in national action plans on antimicrobial resistance

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2024) C_WHO

National action plans on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) often overlook the critical intersection of gender, despite evidence that exposure and susceptibility to infection, health-seeking behaviours, as well as antimicrobial prescribing and use patterns are all influenced by gender.

Ambient air pollution and non-communicable respiratory illness in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the literature

Glenn, B. E.; Espira, L. M.; Larson, M. C.; Larson, P. S. BMC (2022) CC2

Aerosol pollutants are known to raise the risk of development of non-communicable respiratory diseases (NCRDs) such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and allergic rhinitis. Sub-Saharan Africa’s rapid pace of urbanization, economic expansion, and population growt... more

2021 Malawi Sustainability Index and Dashboard Summary

2021 Malawi Sustainability Index and Dashboard Summary (2021) CC2

The HIV/AIDS Sustainability Index Dashboard is a tool completed every two years by President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) teams, host government and partner stakeholders to sharpen the understanding of each country’s sustainability landscape and to assist PEPFAR and other donors in ... more

Breast and cervical cancer screening services in Malawi: a systematic review

Pittalis, C.; Panteli, E.; Schouten, E. et al. BMC (2020) CC2

To identify and to assess factors enhancing or hindering the delivery of breast and cervical cancer screening services in Malawi with regard to accessibility, uptake, acceptability and effectiveness. Systematic review of published scientific evidence. A search of six bibliographic databases and gre... more

Provider-initiated HIV testing and TB screening in the era of universal coverage: Are the right people being reached? A cohort study in Blantyre, Malawi

Mair, L.; Corbett, E. L.; Feasey, H. R. A.; et al. PLOS One (2020) CC2

In a prospective cohort study in Bangwe primary care clinic, Blantyre, Malawi, all adults (18 years or older) presenting with an acute illness were screened for TB symptoms (cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss). Demographic characteristics were linked to exit interview by fingerprint bioidentifi... more

List of key WHO-recommended maternal and newborn health commodities

World Health Organisation (WHO) (2024) C_WHO

This document provides a list of key WHO-recommended maternal and newborn health commodities and aims to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. It consolidates the key and enabling commodities from existing WHO guidelines on maternal and newborn health.