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The labour market situation of people with disabilities in EU25

SHIMA, Isilda
ZOLYOMI, Eszter
ZAIDI, Asghar
February 2008

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This policy brief explores the participation of disabled people in the work force across 25 European states, and ways to shift the labour market for disabled people from one of passive compensation to one in which they are actively integrated. This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in disability, employment and development

Local voices : a community perspective on HIV and hunger in Zambia

DUCK, Natalie
HAUENSTEIN SWAN, Samuel
2008

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This report documents the findings of a six month qualitative research project that provided HIV orphans, vulnerable children and their carers, living in the Kitwe district in Zambia, with the opportunity to discuss and document the difficulties they face providing food, water and healthcare for their families. The report shows the direct impact of HIV & AIDS on the economic and social well being of both household and communities

Closing the gap in a generation : health equity through action on the social determinants of health|Final report of the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
2008

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This is the final report of the World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health (2005-2008). The report gives three main recommendations: 1 improve daily living conditions 2. Tackle the inequitable distribution of power, money, and resources 3. Measure and understand the problem and assess the impact of action. The Commission was created to provide evidence on policies that improve health by addressing the social conditions in which people live and work. The report is addressed to WHO, national governments, civil society, and other global organizations

Social determinants of health in countries in conflict : a perspective from the Eastern Mediterranean region

WATTS, Susan
SIDDIQI, Sameen
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO), Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
2008

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The objectives of this review are to: assess the impact of conflict on the health of people in affected countries of the Region; document how conflict affects social determinants, and thus results in adverse health outcomes; present the results of an innovative qualitative study that captures civilian suffering and resilience in a conflict setting, through collaboration with civil society organizations; identify some examples of activities and interventions that may help to mitigate the impact of these conflicts on the health and well-being of affected populations; and identify policy implications. The study identifies three social determinants that have a bearing on health and are peculiar to a conflict setting: the loss of human rights, breaches of medical neutrality, and progression from stress to distress and disease that results from constant, unremitting exposure to a life-threatening situation. This review was requested by the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health

Rethinking poverty : making policies that work for children

GRADUATE PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, THE NEW SCHOOL
2008

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This conference highlighted new methodologies, exploratory research, and policy options applied to child poverty issues and focused on creative and strategic approaches in the current development environment, including in situations of post-conflict or food insecurity, in the context of Islamic law, under economic and political transition, as well as in the context of western, industrialised countries. This was the fourth annual conference on child poverty and social policy organised by UNICEF and The New School

The medical peace work textbook

ROWSON, M
MELF, K
Eds
2008

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This textbook provides an introduction to medical peace work and includes chapters relating to human rights; the causes and health effects of war and violent conflict; how health workers can promote peace-building and reconstruction; and the health and well-being needs of refugees and immigrants. The book is aimed at doctors, nurses, public health workers and other health professionals, and students. This e-textbook is part of an online course on Medical Peace Work. The book can be consulted, downloaded, or printed for free without registering for the course

Social enterprise as market regulation : non-governmental interventions in essential medicines wholesaling to low income countries

MACKINTOSH, Maureen
2008

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"This paper explores the under-studied role of social enterprise as traders and regulatory actors in the international wholesale markets for essential medicines and their impact on accessibility, quality and prices in these perverse markets, drawing on an interview survey of European-based socially oriented wholesalers supplying the medicines market for sub-Saharan Africa. The paper argues that these enterprises play an important role in regulating price and quality and hence in improving access to medicines by the poor. However they face challenging market and political conditions. The paper analyses the motivations and organisational structures that sustain social and ethical commitment in this market, drawing on theories of social enterprise and non-profit business, and surveys the challenges and constraints. It then examines the formal international and national regulatory interventions in the international markets and their effects on social enterprise, in the context of a substantial institutional divide between the medicines-related campaigning of the large international NGOs and the activities of these market-oriented social enterprises"

Autism : a guide for criminal justice professionals

THE NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY
2008

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"This guide provides background information about autistic spectrum disorders. It aims to assist all professionals working in the criminal justice system, who may come into contact with someone who has autism, particularly police officers, solicitors, barristers, magistrates, justices of the peace, the judiciary and the courts"

Reflections on poverty and disability : a review of literature

KAMPEN, Marlies V
ZIJVERDEN, Ingrid M
EMMETT, Tony
2008

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This study carried out a review of literature describing the relationship between poverty and disability, in order to establish the evidence base for this relationship. Several authors seem to accept the existence of this link, even without a sound research basis. Articles and books were scrutinized to find out what sources were used in these publications to conclude that there was evidence for a strong relationship between disability and poverty. Peer-reviewed articles were used as much as possible.

It was found that cultural determinants play the greatest role in the process of disability leading to poverty. Monetary factors are also essential determinants when it comes to poverty as a result of disability. The relationship between disability and poverty seems to be a vicious circle. Most of the literature concerning poverty and disability is based on non- rigorous (literature) studies.

Relating disability to poverty and vice versa is a complex matter that needs to consider several interdependent factors that influence this process.

 

 

Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal, Vol 19, No 1

Disability and development: is the rights model of disability valid in the Arab region? An evidence-based field survey in Lebanon and Jordan

NAGATA, Kozue Kay
2008

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This paper reviews the process and outcome of constructing a "rights model of disability" which is culturally specific to Jordan and Lebanon. The objective of the empirical part was, to survey the current level of attitudes of non-disabled people towards their disabled fellows in Jordan, and to compare the attitudes of Lebanon's university students towards five different categories of disabled people (mentally disabled people, psycho-socially disabled people, physically disabled people, hearing impaired people and visually impaired people) to highlight the variations and diversity among them. It also examined the relationship between the attitudes and various demographic and social characteristics of the respondents. The set of findings was further tested and triangulated through meta-analysis of individual views expressed in the qualitative studies.

In Jordan, the attitude of 191 randomly selected non-disabled people was studied, using a Scale of Attitudes towards Disabled Persons (SADP). The participants from 4 communities of Jordan, exhibited overall negative attitudes towards disabled people. Socio-economic-demographic characteristics showed almost no difference regarding their attitudes towards disabled people.

In Lebanon, a more complex scale, composed of four sub-scales, namely a, "Baseline Survey of Student Attitudes towards People with a Disability" was used, to survey 94 university students' attitudes towards five different categories of disabled people, and a set of indices for future comparison was constructed. The results indicated the same pattern of gradations of attitude differences (found in other countries) towards persons with physical or sensory impairments (better), intellectual impairment (middle) and mental illness (worse). The main findings of this empirical field research showed particularly negative public attitudes towards people with intellectual impairment and mental illness in Lebanon.

Finally, the validity of the proposed rights model of disability and the empirical findings of this study, were further examined and co-validated through analysis of the collective views of those who took part in the questionnaire surveys and the participatory focus group discussions, which took place in Lebanon in 2005 and 2007, and in Jordan in 2005, as well as a series of intensive on-line and/or telephone interviews of a few informants comprising of disabled persons and experts. The policy implications of the findings are discussed.

 

Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal, Vol 19, No 1

Cash transfers : real benefit for children affected by HIV and AIDS

D'ALLESANDRO, Christina
et al
October 2007

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This briefing looks at the benefits of cash transfers to children affected by HIV and AIDS and outlines a pilot study in Malawi. While cash transfers alone are not the solution, they can be an important element of an overall care package for children. Cash transfers are gaining increased support as a means to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on children, and potentially decrease their risk of HIV infection. Regular and predictable cash transfers can provide a consistent income and help reduce the burden of care for households with children

Social assistance and disability in developing countries

MARRIOTTT, Anna
GOODING, Kate
July 2007

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This study draws on the existing discourse to investigate social assistance to disabled people in developing countries. By taking the perspective of key stakeholders it examines the characteristics of mainstream and targeted social assistance programmes to understand how to best reach and benefit disabled people and organisations in the developing world. This resource would be useful for anyone with an interest in disability and development

People with disabilities in India : from commitments to outcomes

O'KEEFE, Philip
et al
May 2007

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This report explores the social and economic factors that impact the lives of disabled people in India. It examines the ways in which public sector interventions can improve the quality of life they experience and it presents the socio-economic profile of people with disabilities, addresses the societal attitudes they live with, and discusses the root causes of disability in India. This work would be useful for anyone with an interest in disability and development

Socio-economic differences in health, nutrition and population : Cote D'Ivoire 1994

GWATKIN, Davidson R
et al
April 2007

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This report presents data about health, nutrition and population status of people in Cote d'Ivoire, service use, and related matters among individuals belonging to different socio-economic classes. The principal focus is on differences among groups of individuals defined in terms of the wealth or assets of the households where they reside. This is one of a series of reports about 56 developing countries. This is an expanded and updated version of the series published in 2000

Social cash transfers and children affected by HIV and AIDS : background paper

GREEN, Maia
2007

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This paper considers core issues around social cash transfers in relation to children and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. It provides an overview of evidence regarding the potential impacts of social cash transfers for vulnerable children, including those affected by HIV & AIDS. It examines the implications of programme design for reaching vulnerable children and considers the capacity constraints affecting scale up in the region

Neglected diseases : a human rights analysis

HUNT, Paul
et al
2007

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This report introduces and explores some of the connections between neglected tropical diseases (those affecting people living in developing countries, particularly in rural areas) and human rights with a view to urging all parties concerned to work collaboratively in identifying the practical implications of applying human rights to the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects for neglected diseases

Impact of socio-economic rehabilitation on leprosy stigma in Northern Nigeria: findings of a retrospective study

EBENSO, Bassey
FASHONA, Aminat
AYUBA, Mainas
IDAH, Mike
ADEYEMI, Gbemiga
S-FADA, Shehu
2007

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This study explored the perceptions of people affected by leprosy regarding impact of socio-economic rehabilitation (SER) on stigma-reduction. The study combined a quantitative questionnaire (the P-scale) with semi-structured interviews of 20 individual SER participants, five focus group discussions and 10 key informant interviews. The P-scale results showed four men suffered significant participation restrictions (scores of >12 points) in finding work and in social integration. The narratives of SER participants, focus groups and key informants showed that SER improved self-esteem, financial independence, acquisition of new skills, and access to public institutions. The authors speculate that through the pathway of improvements in economic and living conditions, SER is beginning to influence the process of social interaction, resulting in positive attitudinal change towards SER participants. The subjective opinions of interviewees suggest that improved self-esteem, positive family and community support for SER participants and increasing participation in community activities are indications of stigma-reduction.

 

Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal, Vol 18, No 2

Living conditions among people with activity limitations in Zambia : a national representative study

EIDE, Arne H
LOEB, ME
September 2006

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This report presents the findings of a study about the livelihoods of people with disability in Zambia using both individual data and data from household surveys with and without people with disabilities. The report, one of a series of regional research reports to establish baseline data on living conditions among people in Southern Africa, looks at the fields of health, employment, education, living conditions and services for people with disabilities

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