Challenges and obstacles implementing evidence-based food fortification policy in a high-income country.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes food fortification as one of the most cost-effective and beneficial public health measures available. Mass fortification policies and regulations can reduce health disparities, including in high-income countries, by improving micronutrient intake among food-insecure or high-risk populations without changing their diet or behavior. While international health organizations have traditionally prioritized technical assistance and grants to medium and low-income countries, it is important to recognize that micronutrient deficiencies may also pose an important yet underappreciated public health problem in many high-income countries.

Correction to: micronutrient deficiency conditions: Global Health issues.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/BF03391600.].

Establishing undergraduate public health education: process, challenges, and achievements in a case study in Israel.

Background: In this paper, we describe the development process of the first undergraduate public health baccalaureate program, in the Ashkelon Academic College in Israel. Expansion of degree-granting colleges in Israel is part of the democratization of higher education providing access to and increasing educational opportunities for groups underrepresented in universities. The main objectives of the program at Ashkelon Academic College have been to open accessible and affordable career opportunities for current workers in the health system and for new entries to health careers for academic advancement in a peripheral and relatively poor region of the country.

Vitamin K supplementation to prevent hemorrhagic morbidity and mortality of newborns in India and China.

Background: Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) can cause prolonged and bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) among newborns, which can be life-threatening or lead to long-term morbidity. The aim of this review article is to reiterate empirical evidence to support the argument that vitamin K should be mandatory for newborns in India and China, as well as in other countries with a high burden of neonatal deaths.

Data Sources: Studies were integrated from the PubMed/MEDLINE database search, as well as related literature available elsewhere.

The key role of government in addressing the pandemic of micronutrient deficiency conditions in Southeast Asia.

Micronutrient deficiency conditions are a major global public health problem. While the private sector has an important role in addressing this problem, the main responsibility lies with national governments, in cooperation with international agencies and donors. Mandatory fortification of basic foods provides a basic necessary intake for the majority and needs to be supported by provision of essential vitamin and mineral supplements for mothers and children and other high risk groups.

The role of schools of public health in capacity building.

Public health has been an enormously effective instrument for improving life expectancy and quality of life. Historically a sphere of governmental activity led by physicians and staffed by sanitarians and nurses, public health has evolved to become a multi-facetted field of societal activity. It engages many agencies and community action in reducing infectious and non-communicable diseases as well as many aspects of lifestyle and health equity.

Addressing the sluggish progress in reducing maternal mortality in India.

Although some progress has been made in India, achievement of the Fifth Millennium Development Goal (MDG5; ie, 75% reduction in maternal mortality ratio [MMR] from 1990 by 2015) target seems to be unattainable by 2015. Failure of the National Population Policy, 2000, and the National Health Policy, 2002, to reduce the MMR demanded a new direction, leading to the establishment of a National Rural Health Mission in 2005. This commentary addresses both the real achievements and the hurdles faced in India's stagnating progress in maternal health.

Prioritizing maternal and child health in independent South Sudan.

With its independence secured on 9th July 2011, the Republic of South Sudan faces a daunting task to improve public health and primary care in one of the poorest countries in the world. Very high maternal and child mortality rates must be a major concern for the new national government and for the many international agencies working in the country. Poor maternal health outcomes are primarily due to poor prenatal, delivery and post natal care services in health facilities, coupled with low literacy, widespread poverty, and poor nutrition among the general population.

A systematic review of interventions to increase awareness, knowledge, and folic acid consumption before and during pregnancy.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review of studies designed to increase awareness of knowledge about, and consumption of folic acid before and during pregnancy.

Data Sources: Studies were identified from Cochrane Library, Medline, and the references of primary studies and reviews.

Study Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria: Studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental interrupted time series studies, follow-up studies, case-control studies, and before-and-after studies, all of which were conducted between 1992 and 2005 on women ages 15 to 49 years and/or health professionals, evaluating awareness and/or knowledge and/or consumption of folic acid both before and after intervention.

Standardized mortality ratios by region of residence, Israel, 1987-1994: a tool for public health policy.

Background: Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) are used internationally to compare health status across regions and to identify high risk areas for investigation of specific diseases, for funding determination, and for planning purposes.

Objective: To ascertain regional differences in SMRs by sub-District in Israel for 1987-1994.

Method: The indirect method of standardization of mortality rates with adjustment for age, gender, and continent of birth was used to calculate SMRs by major cause of death, by sub-District of residence for the Jewish population of Israel.

Addition of essential micronutrients to foods--implication for public health policy in Israel.

Micronutrient deficiencies have reoccupied the center stage of public health policy with the realization that folic acid deficiency results in neural tube defects and possibly other birth defects as well as ischemic heart disease. These, in turn, have raised an older debate on food fortification policy for the elimination of iodine, iron and vitamin D deficiencies. Data from the First Israeli National Health and Nutrition Survey (MABAT 2000) provided an impetus to develop an active national nutrition policy aimed to improve the nutritional status of iodine, iron, vitamins A and D and B-vitamins, including folate.

Developing schools of public health in countries of Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Countries of Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States are facing a combination of difficulties in health including high rates of mortality from preventable diseases, and pressures for reform of their health care systems. The development of schools of public health is an important priority for international aid and for national government attention. This provides a challenge of integrating experience from many countries in the industrialized world and academic centers of excellence in the field of public health.