Inequality in access to quality healthcare is a major health policy challenge in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the major sources of inequity in healthcare utilization using a population-based household survey from urban Nepal. A cross-sectional survey was conducted covering 9177 individuals residing in 1997 households in five municipalities of Kathmandu valley between 2011 and 2012. The concentration index was calculated and a decomposition method was used to measure inequality in healthcare utilization, along with a horizontal inequity index (HI) to estimate socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare utilization. Results showed a significant pro-rich distribution of general healthcare utilization in all service providers (Concentration Index: 0.062, P < 0.001; HI: 0.029, P < 0.05) and private service providers (Concentration Index: 0.070, P < 0.001; HI: 0.030, P < 0.05). The pro-rich distribution of probability in general healthcare utilization was attributable to inequalities in the level of household economic status (percentage contribution: 67.8%) and in the self-reported prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension (36.7%) and diabetes (14.4%). Despite the provision of free services by public healthcare providers, our analysis found no evidence of the poor making more use of public health services (Concentration Index: 0.041, P = 0.094). Interventions to reduce the household economic burden of major illnesses, coupled with improvement in the management of public health facilities, warrant further attention by policy-makers.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czv137 | DOI Listing |
Childs Nerv Syst
January 2025
Ph.D. Human Genetics Program, Molecular Biology and Genomics Department, Human Genetics Institute "Dr. Enrique Corona-Rivera", University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico.
Background: Central nervous system tumors (CNSTs) represent a significant oncological challenge in pediatric populations, particularly in developing regions where access to diagnostic and therapeutic resources is limited.
Methods: This research investigates the epidemiology, histological classifications, and survival outcomes of CNST in a cohort of pediatric patients aged 0 to 19 years within a 25-year retrospective study at the Civil Hospital of Guadalajara, Mexico, from 1999 to 2024.
Results: Data was analyzed from 273 patients who met inclusion criteria, revealing a higher incidence in males (51.
Eur J Pediatr
January 2025
Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Zaragoza, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009, Saragossa, Spain.
Unlabelled: Most of the available tools to assess adherence to Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) were constructed for adults, having limited applicability to children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to validate a specific questionnaire to assess adherence to MedDiet in children aged 3 to 6 years (MED4CHILD questionnaire). The validation was performed in a baseline examination of a cohort of children who were recruited in schools in seven cities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Microbiol
January 2025
Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute (RVSRI), Agricultural Research, Education and Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
Brucella spp. is the bacterium responsible for brucellosis, a zoonotic infection that affects humans. This disease poses significant health challenges and contributes to poverty, particularly in developing countries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Orthop Trauma Surg
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedics, The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, UK.
Introduction: The combined effect of diabetes mellitus and obesity (Diabesity) on total knee replacement (TKR) outcomes is unclear. This study aimed to assess whether diabesity influenced functional outcomes and complication rate following primary TKR.
Materials And Methods: This case-controlled study compared the independent effects of obesity, diabetes, and diabesity on TKR outcomes.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2025
Textile and Clothing College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
Fiber-based strain sensors, as wearable integrated devices, have shown substantial promise in health monitoring. However, current sensors suffer from limited tunability in sensing performance, constraining their adaptability to diverse human motions. Drawing inspiration from the structure of the spiranthes sinensis, this study introduces a unique textile wrapping technique to coil flexible silver (Ag) yarn around the surface of multifilament elastic polyurethane (PU), thereby constructing a helical structure fiber-based strain sensor.
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