This booklet examines the challenges involved in providing assistance to landmine victims, many of whom cannot be provided with sufficient care because of poverty and a lack of health facilities. It also highlights the responsibilities of states to the Ottawa Convention and the new protocol on explosive remnants of war (ERW), and encourages increased efforts by both health-care systems and governments to support the victims
This study reveals that there are major differences between the South and the North regarding issues involving persons with disabilities. It shows that the North provides devices for disabled persons and maintains high standards in disability; whereas countries in the South have weak acts of parliament, in addition to the fact that much of the South does not have social security benefits
This report was produced for the UK Department for International Development's (DFID) Disability Knowledge and Research Programme. Disability statistics in low-income countries have so far largely comprised impairment-based prevalence figures. It is argued that prevalence in itself is of limited interest and that there is a need for data that can describe, analyse and compare the situation among individuals with disabilities, as well as contribute to increased knowledge about the link between disability and poverty. By using the conceptual scheme inherent in the ICF (international classification of functioning, disability and health) model, an alternative approach to disability statistics may be developed. As an alternative to dividing the population into disabled and non-disabled, activity limitation and/or restrictions in social participation can be measured as a continuous variable among all regardless of the presence of any impairment. We thus have two different approaches for developing disability statistics, and it is argued that they will both provide useful information
Over the past decade a rapidly expanding body of literature has demonstrated the existence of disparities in health and health care. While consensus has not emerged regarding the causes of disparities, they are generally thought to be related to sociocultural, behavioural, economic, environmental, biologic, or societal factors. To effectively address disparities, several authorities have suggested the need for greater information technology research and investments. eHealth researchers may be able to make significant contributions in this area through research and its applications. This paper begins with a historical overview of health disparities in the United States and Europe. It then discusses the role that the Internet, and access to the Internet, may play in the genesis of health disparities. Finally, this paper closes with a discussion of the potential benefits of eHealth applications and the possible contributions of the field to overcoming disparities in health and health care
This publication addresses the issues of health problems and malnutrition in Bolivia. Specifically, it analyses the association between a bidimensional measure of child heath (composed of height an weight scores) and a set of child nutrition determinants related to physical and cultual contexts, the mother's characteristics, household assets and access to public services. A major finding is that geogrpahical and cultural variables are significant determinants of nutritional status and that the role of the mother's anthropometrical characteristics is substantial. This publication is aimed at quite a technical audience, and all the information is qualified by detailed statistics. Section 4.2 focuses particularly on cultural variables and how this affects nutrition in young children
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child publishes its interpretations of the content of human rights provisions, in the form of 'General Comments' on thematic issues. This 'General Comment' paper is about implementing child rights in early childhood. The definition of early childhood here is children from birth, through infancy and the pre-school years. Previous information available on the subject of human rights and early childhood development has been centred around child mortality, birth registration and health care. This paper aims to encourage recognition that ealy childhood is a critical period for the realisation of rights. Research has highlighted the particular risks to young children from malnutrition, disease, poverty, neglect, social exclusion and a range of other adversities. Proper prevention and intervention strategies during early childhood have the potential to impact positively on young children's current well being and future development
This publication is the final report arising from a Plan International campaign on universal birth registration. Article 7 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that 'the child shall be registered immediately after birth and shall have the right to a name and the right to acquire a nationality'. Most recent statistics estimate that 36 percent of children are currently not registered. Without a birth certificate, children may have difficulty proving to officials that they are eligible for assistance at times of personal and national crisis. They may have problems accessing human rights such as care and education. They can be at risk of exclusion and not fulfilling their potential by operating at a disadvantage within social, cultural, economic and political spheres. This campaign aims to ensure that evey child is registered at birth
This is a publication produced by the United Nations Children's Fund and is a statistical analysis of birth registration. Birth registration is a fundamental human right and an essential means of protecting a child's identity. This objective of this study is to present available empirical evidence to understand which factors are associated with children who obtain a birth certificate. By analysing levels of birth registration in the context of other health, education and poverty indicators, the study points to opportunities to integrate advocacy and behaviour change campaigns for birth registration with early childhood care and immunisation. By linking birth registration to early childhood care programmes, a legal hurdle can become a helpful referral to promote improved health, education and protection for disadvantaged children and their caretakers. Particular references to ethnic groups and minorities appear on page 12 and on page 22
In 2002 the Christian Children's Fund commissioned a comprehensive study on the experience and the impact of poverty on children. The results were published in a series of five working papers and are aimed at community organisations working on breaking multigenerational poverty. This working paper points out that programmes must be sensitive to the several contexts that simultaneously influence the child's development -- the ecology the child is in, the developmental period, and the social, cognitive, emotional and physical domain. Cultural practices form a central component of a child's context. The second half of the paper explores the ways in which cultures structure the experience of childhood. It stresses that cultural practices and local knowledge are integral in all developmental contexts. The paper focuses on children of all ages, but is aware of the different needs of the child at the different developmental stages, as outlined on page 12. The paper takes a very general worldwide geographical viewpoint, which contributes to some useful overall theories, discussion points and conclusions that can be applied to a variety of programmes around the world
This report has been produced by the Task Force on Child Health and Maternal Health. It identifies technical interventions needed to address the problems of high rates of maternal mortality, continued child deaths due to preventable illnesses, unmet need for sexual and reproductive health services, and weak and fragile health systems. The report also asserts that policymakers must act now to change the fundamental societal dynamics that currently prevent those most in need from accessing quality health care
In Vietnam there is growing concern about the potential social impact of rapid economic changes. The extent and type of social connectedness, or social capital, may be changing...The Young Lives project in Vietnam allows the examination of the relationship between maternal social capital and child well-being. With a sample of 1,953 mothers of one-year-olds and 954 mothers of eight-year-olds across five provinces, this study examines whether maternal social capital is associated with child health
Although enrolment in primary schools in Peru is very high, more than half of primary school children are one or more grades below the norm for their age. Furthermore, evaluations have shown that, when tested, Peruvian school children score well below the norms expected for their age. Their scores are also below the average levels of countries with similar socio-economic circumstances...This study investigates whether social capital is associated with educational progress and achievement
"Child health in general and long-term nutritional status in particular are related to family characteristics and assets (including maternal education) and community characteristics (including access to public services), as well as to child-specific characteristics...This paper particularly explores how mothers' education interacts with access to clean water and sewerage, availability and quality of health facilities, proximity to paved or engineered roads, and access to electricity"
This paper examines the extent and characteristics of extra classes among eight-year-old children in the Young Lives study conducted in Vietnam. It tests for association between taking extra classes and learning outcomes (numeracy, reading and writing skills)
This paper is based on a study which sought to understand the impact on child labour and child schooling of public policy interventions formulated within the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP), and how changes are mediated through gender and rural/urban differences
This paper attempts to establish a link between micro-level outcomes and macro-level policy initiatives with respect to eight-year-old children’s primary school enrolment in Ethiopia. The paper uses data from a 2002 survey of 1000 rural and urban households with eight-year-old children sampled from food insecure communities in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Addis Ababa Regional States
This paper explores some of the less obvious factors affecting children’s nutritional status in Ethiopia. It is based on information collected in 2002 from 1001 households with eight-year-old children mainly from food insecure communities in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Addis Ababa Regional States
