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This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of and factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among low- and middle-income countries.
Databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, LIVIVO, African Journals Online, African Index Medicus (AIM), HINARI, Science Direct, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar and Google were used to retrieve all the relevant articles. The search was carried out from 22 April 2024 to 26 June 2024. Data were analysed via STATA 17 software. With a 95% CI, this meta-analysis with a random-effects model was carried out to determine the pooled prevalence.
The study was conducted in low- and middle-income countries.
Weavers of low- and middle-income countries.
The primary outcome of this study was the prevalence of WMSD.
In this meta-analysis, a total of 21 articles with 7322 study participants were included. The pooled prevalence of WMSDs was 72.20%. Working more than 8 hours per day, working in a chair with no back support, working in an uncomfortable posture, not performing regular physical exercise, lacking knowledge of the causes of WMSD and lacking job satisfaction were factors significantly associated with WMSDs.
A high prevalence of WMSDs among weavers in low- and middle-income countries was recorded. This indicates the need to take effective intervention measures. Rigorous ergonomic training, providing lengthy breaks and building centres for physical exercise, improving workplace ergonomic design and increasing job satisfaction are recommended.
CRD42024561064.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the significance of mathematical modelling in decision-making and the limited capacity in many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Thus, we studied how modelling supported policy decision-making processes in LMICs during the pandemic (details in a separate paper).
We found that strong researcher–policymaker relationships and co-creation facilitated knowledge translation, while scepticism, political pressures and demand for quick outputs were barriers. We also noted that routine use of modelled evidence for decision-making requires sustained funding, capacity building for policy-facing modelling, robust data infrastructure and dedicated knowledge translation mechanisms.
These lessons helped us co-create a framework and policy roadmap for improving the routine use of modelling evidence in public health decision-making. This communication paper describes the framework components and provides an implementation approach and evidence for the recommendations. The components include (1) funding, (2) capacity building, (3) data infrastructure, (4) knowledge translation platforms and (5) a culture of evidence use.
Our framework integrates the supply (modellers) and demand (policymakers) sides and contextual factors that enable change. It is designed to be generic and disease-agnostic for any policy decision-making that modelling could support. It is not a decision-making tool but a guiding framework to help build capacity for evidence-based policy decision-making. The target audience is modellers and policymakers, but it could include other partners and implementers in public health decision-making.
The framework was created through engagements with policymakers and researchers and reflects their real-life experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its purpose is to guide stakeholders, especially in lower-resourced settings, in building modelling capacity, prioritising efforts and creating an enabling environment for using models as part of the evidence base to inform public health decision-making. To validate its robustness and impact, further work is needed to implement and evaluate this framework in diverse settings.
by Alemneh Kabeta Daba, Mary Murimi, Kebede Abegaz, Dejene Hailu
BackgroundChildren are recommended to consume animal source foods (ASF) as part of diversified diets. However, ASF consumption practice of infant and young children (IYC) is less studied and contributing factors are not exhaustively identified. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess consumption of ASF and identify associated factors among 6–23 months old IYC from selected rural districts in Ethiopia.
MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in a total of 606 IYC from selected rural districts of Oromia and Sidama regional states in Ethiopia. A two-stage sampling technique was used to select participants. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Frequencies, percentages and mean scores with standard deviations were generated to describe participants and report univariate outcomes. Consumption of ASF was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify contributing factors contributed to IYC’s ASF consumption practice.
ResultsDairy, eggs and meat were consumed by 41.2%, 16.4% and 2.3% of IYC, respectively. Household food security increased odds of dairy [AOR = 1.66 (95%CI: 1.16 2.38), P = 0.006], eggs [AOR = 2.15 (95%CI: 1.33, 3.49), P = 0.002] and meat [AOR = 5.08 (95%CI: 1.09, 23.71), P = 0.039] consumption. Cow [AOR = 1.86 (95%CI: 1.28, 2.70), P = 0.001], donkey [AOR = 1.83 (95%CI: 1.08, 3.11), P = 0.024] and chicken [AOR = 1.53 (95%CI: 1.05, 2.22), P = 0.027] ownership increased the odds of dairy consumption. Grades 5–8 [AOR = 1.74 (95%CI: 1.06, 2.86), P = 0.028] or ≥9 [AOR = 2.96 (95%CI: 1.62, 5.42), P Conclusions
Low proportion of children consumed ASF. Household food security, livestock ownership, household income, root crop production and maternal education contributed to ASF consumption. Nutrition sensitive agricultural extension activities aided by nutrition education should be considered and evaluated for their effect on IYC’s ASF consumption practice.
We investigated the inflammatory (IL-1 alpha) and thermal (infrared thermography) reactions of healthy sacral skin to sustained, irritating mechanical loading. We further acquired digital photographs of the irritated skin (at the visible light domain) to assess whether infrared imaging is advantageous. For clinical context, the skin status was monitored under a polymeric membrane dressing known to modulate the inflammatory skin response. The IL-1 alpha and infrared thermography measurements were consistent in representing the skin status after 40 min of continuous irritation. Infrared thermography overpowered conventional digital photography as a contactless optical method for image processing inputs, by revealing skin irritation trends that were undetectable through digital photography in the visual light, not even with the aid of advanced image processing. The polymeric membrane dressings were shown to offer prophylactic benefits over simple polyurethane foam in the aspects of inflammation reduction and microclimate management. We also concluded that infrared thermography is a feasible method for monitoring the skin health status and the risk for pressure ulcers, as it avoids the complexity of biological marker studies and empowers visual skin assessments or digital photography of skin, both of which were shown to be insufficient for detecting the inflammatory skin status.
FreshRSS 