Language of instruction in schools in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.

Based on the theory of change, we gather, organize, and synthesize the evidence on the impact of three language of instruction (LOI) choices (teaching in mother tongue [MT] with later transition, teaching in a non-MT language, or teaching in two or more languages at one time) on literacy and biliteracy outcomes. We focus on quantitative and qualitative studies of LOI interventions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and consider languages that are commonly spoken in the developing world. As such, we include studies that examine transfers from local languages to English, but not those evaluating transfers from local languages to languages that are less spoken in LMICs (e.

Comorbidities do not mitigate the effect of habitual physical activity on the reduction of healthcare costs among adults with cardiovascular diseases: A mediation analysis.

Background: Habitual Physical activity (HPA) is a non-pharmacological strategy to prevent and control chronic diseases, and it plays an important role in minimizing healthcare costs.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between HPA and healthcare costs from the perspective of the Brazilian National Healthcare System, and to establish the mediating role of comorbidities in this relationship among patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Design And Setting: This longitudinal study was conducted in a medium-sized Brazilian city and included 278 participants assisted by the Brazilian National Healthcare System.

PROTOCOL: Language of instruction in schools in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.

To address the evidence gap in making effective language of instruction (LOI) decisions, we propose a systematic review of the role of LOI choices in education programs and policies on literacy outcomes in multilingual educational contexts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Grounded in a multidisciplinary theory of change (ToC) describing what factors link LOI choices and literacy outcomes, we will gather, organize, and synthesize the evidence on the specific role of the three LOI choices described in the ToC (teaching in mother tongue [MT] with later transition, teaching in a non-MT language, or teaching in two or more languages at one time) and its impact on literacy and biliteracy outcomes. We will focus our systematic review and meta-analysis only on quantitative and qualitative intervention studies from LMICs as these have the highest relevance for decision making in multilingual LMIC contexts.

Cost-analysis and cost-effectiveness of physical activity interventions in Brazilian primary health care: a randomised feasibility study.

Physical exercise programs have been carried out in primary health care in Brazil and have provided good results in terms of effectiveness, their economic contribution has not been investigated yet. The aim of the study is to verify the feasibility of brief counseling physical activity intervention and to compare its economic cost and cost-effectiveness with supervised physical exercise intervention in primary care. A multi-arm parallel feasibility trial, with equal randomization [1:1:1] was conducted in Basic Health Units in Brazil.

Mobile health apps to reduce sedentary behavior: a scoping review.

Given the continued increase in mobile health applications (apps) aimed at healthcare and the recognition of sedentary behavior (SB) as a public health problem, the goal of this scoping review study was to summarize the effects of interventions based on mobile health apps designed to reduce SB in adults, with a specific focus on SB. The electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, SportDISCUS, Web of Science, and manual searches in reference lists were conducted on papers published up to September 2020. Nine out of the 897 studies researched were included and composed the descriptive synthesis.