Modernization and development: impact on health care decision-making in Uganda

Uganda has faced numerous challenges over the past 50 years from overcoming political conflict and civil unrest, to rapid population growth, to combating the HIV epidemic and ever-growing health needs. Women in Uganda have had a major role to play in the health of families and communities. The researchers' purpose in this study, undertaken in rural Uganda, was to

• a) identify a people-centered definition of development,
• b) compare it to the process of modernization, and
• c) investigate how these processes have changed the role women play in decision-making, in areas directly and indirectly related to their health and that of their families.

Twenty-two men and women participated in focus group discussion and completed questionnaires. Based on our analysis of discussions it appears that both modernization and development have impacted health positively and negatively. Key themes distilled from interviews included that modernization has led to the breakdown of families; increased maternal ...

Mapping dementia-friendly communities across Europe

‘Mapping dementia-friendly communities across Europe’ is a study commissioned by EFID (European Foundation's Initiative on Dementia) and undertaken by the Mental Health Foundation in 2014 and 2015.

The research originated from a shared interest, by the foundations engaged in EFID, to conduct an analysis of concepts and practices of what it is commonly referred to as ‘dementia-friendly communities’ (DFCs) and similar initiatives across Europe.

The aim of the report is to provide practical information, guidance and examples to support good practice around sustainable, inclusive and supportive environments for people living with dementia and their carers. The report is accompanied by an online collection of case studies that illustrate the diversity of ‘dementia-friendly community’ activity in Europe.

The executive summary of the study is available here: ‘Mapping dementia-friendly communities across Europe’ 

The full report is available here: “Mapping dementia-friendly communities across Europe: a study commissioned by EFID”. 

Promoting Policy, Systems, and Environment Change to Prevent Chronic Disease: Lessons Learned From the King County Communities Putting Prevention to Work Initiative.

Initiatives that convene community stakeholders to implement policy, systems, environment, and infrastructure (PSEI) change have become a standard approach for promoting community health. To assess the PSEI changes brought about by the King County, Washington, Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative and describe how initiative structures and processes contributed to making changes.

European Forum for Primary Care 2017 Conference: The Citizen Voice in Primary Care

The main themes of this conference are,

1 - Promoting participative citizenship in healthcare 

Sub-themes:

Citizen oriented healthcare

Health literacy

Citizen participation in health research

Procedures to listen to the public voice

IT to citizen participation in health

Patients and communities’ leagues and commissions and their relevance for health organizations.

Parallel themes

2 - Informal Care

3 - Mediterranean Health

NACIC2021 – 1st North American Conference on Integrated Care, Toronto, Canada

Key role of governance and accountability to achieve integrated people-centred health services

Models of integrated care continue to evolve globally with the goal to deliver more integrated people-centred health services. These models are characterized by innovative collaborations and partnerships across sectors. One enduring question relates to the best governance structures for these complex, multi-player systems and networks. Governance encompasses all aspects of managing health services delivery to support health system goals, including financing, human resources, and technology, and it is a critical instrument to strengthen public and institutional performance.

The current pandemic is a good reminder that circumstances and environments strongly influence health and well-being. It emphasizes the need to focus on whole-systems health, which cuts across political, economic, and social landscapes. Whole-system health requires governance that is agile and can respond quickly to emerging changes to manage the complex interdependent partnerships in integrated health systems. It further points to the need for diffusion of governance from a state/health services centred ...

The key role of palliative care in response to the COVID-19 tsunami of suffering

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought a tsunami of suffering that is devastating even well resourced countries. The disease has wreaked havoc on health systems and generated immense losses for families, communities, and economies, in addition to the growing death toll. In this most challenging time, health responders can take advantage of palliative care know-how to focus on compassionate care and dignity, provide rational access to essential opioid medicines, and mitigate social isolation at the end of life and caregiver distress. 

Realising the True Value of Integrated Care: Beyond COVID-19

Stronger and more resilient care systems and communities are better able to cope, respond and adapt to new challenges and crises such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. They are able to quickly come together to ‘act as one’ and collaborate across disciplines and sectors towards a common goal. This is the essence of integrated care and this is what the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC) stands for – creating a more connected health and care system.

Supporting Resilient Communities in Times of Public Health Crisis

Communities, universal health coverage and primary health care

Universal health coverage (UHC) depends on a strong primary health-care system. To be successful, primary health care must be expanded at community and household levels as much of the world’s population still lacks access to health facilities for basic services. Abundant evidence shows that community-based interventions are effective for improving health-care utilization and outcomes when integrated with facility-based services. Community involvement is the cornerstone of local, equitable and integrated primary health care.

Primary health care: health systems, communities and the planet

Primary health care led recovery from COVID-19 in Costa Rica for underserved communities

Communities in Costa Rica were badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A project in 2020, coordinated by the government of Costa Rica and PAHO/WHO country office showed that community engagement in primary health care could be a path to better tackling wider health and social challenges.