{"title":"Body composition and the monitoring of non-communicable chronic disease risk.","authors":"J C K Wells, M K Shirley","doi":"10.1017/gheg.2016.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/gheg.2016.9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is a need for simple proxies of health status, in order to improve monitoring of chronic disease risk within and between populations, and to assess the efficacy of public health interventions as well as clinical management. This review discusses how, building on recent research findings, body composition outcomes may contribute to this effort. Traditionally, body mass index has been widely used as the primary index of nutritional status in children and adults, but it has several limitations. We propose that combining information on two generic traits, indexing both the 'metabolic load' that increases chronic non-communicable disease risk, and the homeostatic 'metabolic capacity' that protects against these diseases, offers a new opportunity to improve assessment of disease risk. Importantly, this approach may improve the ability to take into account ethnic variability in chronic disease risk. This approach could be applied using simple measurements readily carried out in the home or community, making it ideal for M-health and E-health monitoring strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":44052,"journal":{"name":"Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2016-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/gheg.2016.9","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36192732","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Changing phenotype and disease behaviour of chronic pancreatitis in India: evidence for gene-environment interactions.","authors":"P K Garg, D Narayana","doi":"10.1017/gheg.2016.13","DOIUrl":"10.1017/gheg.2016.13","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The idiopathic variety of chronic pancreatitis (CP) in India particularly in Kerala state was earlier called 'tropical pancreatitis' with peculiar features: early age of onset, severe malnutrition, diabetes and poor prognosis. A change in disease phenotype and behaviour has been observed recently.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To review the changing profile of CP in India and examine its relationship with environmental influences and socio-economic development.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Relevant studies on CP in India were reviewed along with social and economic parameters in Kerala over the past 4 decades.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There has been a definite change in the phenotype of CP in India with onset in mid twenties, better nutritional status, and a much better prognosis compared with the reports in 1970s. Genetic susceptibility due to genetic mutations particularly in <i>SPINK1, CFTR, CTRC</i>, and <i>CLDN2/MORC4</i> genes is the most important factor and not malnutrition or dietary toxins for idiopathic CP suggesting the term 'tropical pancreatitis' is a misnomer. We observed a close relationship between socio-economic development and rising income in Kerala with late onset of disease, nutritional status, and better prognosis of CP.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Changing profile of CP in India and better understanding of risk factors provide evidence for gene-environmental interactions in its pathobiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":44052,"journal":{"name":"Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2016-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/gheg.2016.13","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36192741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hoang Van Minh, Tran Quynh Anh, Nguyen Thi Thuy Nga
{"title":"Health insurance drop-out among adult population: findings from a study in a Health and demographic surveillance system in Northern Vietnam 2006-2013.","authors":"Hoang Van Minh, Tran Quynh Anh, Nguyen Thi Thuy Nga","doi":"10.1017/gheg.2016.14","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/gheg.2016.14","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The coverage of health insurance as measured by enrollment rates has increased significantly in Vietnam. However, maintaining health insurance to the some groups such as the farmer, the borderline poor and informal workers, etc. has been very challenging. This paper examines the situation of health insurance drop-out among the adult population in sub-rural areas of Northern Vietnam from 2006 to 2013, and analyzes several socio-economic correlates of the health insurance drop-out situation. Data used in this paper were obtained from Health and Demographic Surveillance System located in Chi Linh district, an urbanizing area, in a northern province of Vietnam. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the level and distribution of the health insurance drop-out status. Multiple logistic regressions were used to assess associations between the health insurance drop-out status and the independent variables. A total of 32 561 adults were investigated. We found that the cumulative percentage of health insurance drop-out among the study participants was 21.2%. Health insurance drop-out rates were higher among younger age groups, people with lower education, and those who worked as small trader and other informal jobs, and belonged to the non-poor households. Given the findings, further attention toward health insurance among these special populations is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":44052,"journal":{"name":"Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2016-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/gheg.2016.14","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36192740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The potential and value of epidemiology in curbing non-communicable diseases.","authors":"A Patel, R Webster","doi":"10.1017/gheg.2016.10","DOIUrl":"10.1017/gheg.2016.10","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have reached pandemic levels globally and pose a major threat to social and economic development worldwide. The discipline of epidemiology has done much to bring this issue to the forefront of global health. Epidemiological approaches have broadened our understanding of the impact of NCDs in widening socioeconomic disparities. Over a number of decades, this discipline has also contributed to the development of many preventive measures and treatments of known efficacy and safety. However, epidemiology also has a critical role to play in better translating these discoveries into practice, through the new science of implementation. As we strive to achieve the \"25 by 25\" goal of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from common NCDs by 2025, the discipline of epidemiology will need to continuously evolve to remain an essential tool for public health action.</p>","PeriodicalId":44052,"journal":{"name":"Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2016-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5870425/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36192739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J G Lavoie, D Kornelsen, L Wylie, J Mignone, J Dwyer, Y Boyer, A Boulton, K O'Donnell
{"title":"Responding to health inequities: Indigenous health system innovations.","authors":"J G Lavoie, D Kornelsen, L Wylie, J Mignone, J Dwyer, Y Boyer, A Boulton, K O'Donnell","doi":"10.1017/gheg.2016.12","DOIUrl":"10.1017/gheg.2016.12","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the past decades, Indigenous communities around the world have become more vocal and mobilized to address the health inequities they experience. Many Indigenous communities we work with in Canada, Australia, Latin America, the USA, New Zealand and to a lesser extent Scandinavia have developed their own culturally-informed services, focusing on the needs of their own community members. This paper discusses Indigenous healthcare innovations from an international perspective, and showcases Indigenous health system innovations that emerged in Canada (the First Nation Health Authority) and Colombia (Anas Wayúu). These case studies serve as examples of Indigenous-led innovations that might serve as models to other communities. The analysis we present suggests that when opportunities arise, Indigenous communities can and will mobilize to develop Indigenous-led primary healthcare services that are well managed and effective at addressing health inequities. Sustainable funding and supportive policy frameworks that are harmonized across international, national and local levels are required for these organizations to achieve their full potential. In conclusion, this paper demonstrates the value of supporting Indigenous health system innovations.</p>","PeriodicalId":44052,"journal":{"name":"Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2016-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5870470/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36192738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J de Vries, K Littler, A Matimba, S McCurdy, O Ouwe Missi Oukem-Boyer, J Seeley, P Tindana
{"title":"Evolving perspectives on broad consent for genomics research and biobanking in Africa. Report of the Second H3Africa Ethics Consultation Meeting, 11 May 2015.","authors":"J de Vries, K Littler, A Matimba, S McCurdy, O Ouwe Missi Oukem-Boyer, J Seeley, P Tindana","doi":"10.1017/gheg.2016.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/gheg.2016.5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A report on the Second H3Africa Ethics Consultation Meeting, which was held in Livingstone, Zambia on 11 May 2015. The meeting demonstrated considerable evolution by African Research Ethics Committees on thinking about broad consent as a consent option for genomics research and biobanking. The meeting concluded with a call for broader engagement with policy makers across the continent in order to help these recognise the need for guidance and regulation where these do not exist and to explore harmonisation where appropriate and possible.</p>","PeriodicalId":44052,"journal":{"name":"Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2016-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/gheg.2016.5","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36192737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sustainable development goals, universal health coverage and equity in health systems: the Orang Asli commons approach.","authors":"Y S Wong, P Allotey, D D Reidpath","doi":"10.1017/gheg.2016.8","DOIUrl":"10.1017/gheg.2016.8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Universal health coverage is a key health target in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that has the means to link equitable social and economic development. As a concept firmly based on equity, it is widely accepted at international and national levels as important for populations to attain 'health for all' especially for marginalised groups. However, implementing universal coverage has been fraught with challenges and the increasing privatisation of health care provision adds to the challenge because it is being implemented in a health system that rests on a property regime that promotes inequality. This paper asks the question, 'What does an equitable health system look like?' rather than the usual 'How do you make the existing health system more equitable?' Using an ethnographic approach, the authors explored via interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation a health system that uses the commons approach such as which exists with indigenous peoples and found features that helped make the system intrinsically equitable. Based on these features, the paper proposes an alternative basis to organise universal health coverage that will better ensure equity in health systems and ultimately contribute to meeting the SDGs.</p>","PeriodicalId":44052,"journal":{"name":"Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2016-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/gheg.2016.8","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36192736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R Ritte, S Panozzo, L Johnston, J Agerholm, S E Kvernmo, K Rowley, K Arabena
{"title":"An Australian model of the First 1000 Days: an Indigenous-led process to turn an international initiative into an early-life strategy benefiting indigenous families.","authors":"R Ritte, S Panozzo, L Johnston, J Agerholm, S E Kvernmo, K Rowley, K Arabena","doi":"10.1017/gheg.2016.7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/gheg.2016.7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Internationally, the 1000 days movement calls for action and investment in improving nutrition for the period from a child's conception to their second birthday, thereby providing an organising framework for early-life interventions. To ensure Australian Indigenous families benefit from this 1000 days framework, an Indigenous-led year-long engagement process was undertaken linking early-life researchers, research institutions, policy-makers, professional associations and human rights activists with Australian Indigenous organisations and families. The resultant model, First 1000 Days Australia, broadened the international concept beyond improving nutrition. The First 1000 Days Australia model was built by adhering to Indigenous methodologies, a recognition of the centrality of culture that reinforces and strengthens families, and uses a holistic view of health and wellbeing. The First 1000 Days Australia was developed under the auspice of Indigenous people's leadership using a collective impact framework. As such, the model emphasises Indigenous leadership, mutual trust and solidarity to achieve early-life equity.</p>","PeriodicalId":44052,"journal":{"name":"Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2016-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/gheg.2016.7","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36192735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Women and global health: a personal view.","authors":"J A Whitworth","doi":"10.1017/gheg.2016.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/gheg.2016.6","url":null,"abstract":"Women have been recognised as playing a central role in global health over millennia. Hygieia in both Greek and Roman mythology was the goddess of good health, cleanliness and sanitation, and her sisters Panacea, Acesco and Laso were goddesses of remedy, healing and recuperation, respectively. Florence Nightingale became a cult figure during the Crimean War and was a key figure in social reforms designed to improve health care across all levels of society. She is credited as the founder of modern nursing. More recently, a few women have made it to the top in global health, e.g. at international level Gro Harlem Bruntland and now Margaret Chan as Directors General of WHO, and at national level Dame Sally Davies as Chief Medical Officer of the UK (I was the Australian equivalent in the late nineties).","PeriodicalId":44052,"journal":{"name":"Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2016-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/gheg.2016.6","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36192734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Is there a role of pharmacogenomics in Africa.","authors":"A Matimba, M Dhoro, C Dandara","doi":"10.1017/gheg.2016.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/gheg.2016.4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pharmacogenomics has the potential of transforming clinical research and improving healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The role of African genome diversity and the opportunities for pharmacogenomics research are highlighted and will enable discovery of novel genetic mechanisms and validation of established markers. African genomics and biobank consortia will play an important role in building capacity for pharmacogenomics in SSA.</p>","PeriodicalId":44052,"journal":{"name":"Global Health Epidemiology and Genomics","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2016-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1017/gheg.2016.4","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"36192733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}