World Health Organization

About: World Health Organization is a government organization based out in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 13330 authors who have published 22232 publications receiving 1322023 citations. The organization is also known as: World Health Organisation & WHO.

Prevention and control of iodine deficiency in pregnant and lactating women and in children less than 2-years-old: conclusions and recommendations of the Technical Consultation

Abstract: The Consultation reached a general consensus on several important issues. First, that universal salt iodisation‡ (USI) remains the key strategy to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders. Second, that where USI has been effective for at least 2 years, with salt adequately iodised and consumed by more than 90% of the population 1 , it can be reasonably expected that the iodine needs of women of child-bearing age and pregnant and lactating women are covered by their diet, and that the iodine stored in the thyroid gland is sufficient to ensure adequate hormone synthesis and secretion. Third, that iodised salt may not provide enough iodine to meet a child’s needs during complementary feeding, especially if the mother is only marginally iodine sufficient, unless complementary foods are fortified with iodine. It may be necessary therefore to give additional iodine to makesure that requirements are met until such time as the child starts to eat the normal family food. Finally, there was consensus that monitoring of both iodised salt quality and iodine nutrition are important to ensure that an optimal state of iodine nutrition is reached and then sustained. The Consultation made several specific recommendations concerning requirements, indicators and strategies to control iodine deficiency disorders in pregnant and lactating women, and in children less than 2-years-old.

Analyzing Health Equity Using Household Survey Data: A Guide to Techniques and Their Implementation

Abstract: This book shows how to implement a variety of analytic tools that allow health equity - along different dimensions and in different spheres - to be quantified Questions that the techniques can help provide answers for include the following: Have gaps in health outcomes between the poor and the better-off grown in specific countries or in the developing world as a whole? Are they larger in one country than in another? Are health sector subsidies more equally distributed in some countries than in others? Is health care utilization equitably distributed in the sense that people in equal need receive similar amounts of health care irrespective of their income? Are health care payments more progressive in one health care financing system than in another? What are catastrophic payments? How can they be measured? How far do health care payments impoverish households? This volume has a simple aim: to provide researchers and analysts with a step-by-step practical guide to the measurement of a variety of aspects of health equity Each chapter includes worked examples and computer code The authors hope that these guides, and the easy-to-implement computer routines contained in them, will stimulate yet more analysis in the field of health equity, especially in developing countries They hope this, in turn, will lead to more comprehensive monitoring of trends in health equity, a better understanding of the causes of these inequities, more extensive evaluation of the impacts of development programs on health equity, and more effective policies and programs to reduce inequities in the health sector

Defining obesity risk status in the general childhood population: Which cut-offs should we use?

Abstract: During the past two decades, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children has increased worldwide. Excess fat in childhood is a risk factor for later adult disease and is associated with im...

Tobacco taxes as a tobacco control strategy

Abstract: Background Increases in tobacco taxes are widely regarded as a highly effective strategy for reducing tobacco use and its consequences. Methods The voluminous literature on tobacco taxes is assessed, drawing heavily from seminal and recent publications reviewing the evidence on the impact of tobacco taxes on tobacco use and related outcomes, as well as that on tobacco tax administration. Results Well over 100 studies, including a growing number from low-income and middle-income countries, clearly demonstrate that tobacco excise taxes are a powerful tool for reducing tobacco use while at the same time providing a reliable source of government revenues. Significant increases in tobacco taxes that increase tobacco product prices encourage current tobacco users to stop using, prevent potential users from taking up tobacco use, and reduce consumption among those that continue to use, with the greatest impact on the young and the poor. Global experiences with tobacco taxation and tax administration have been used by WHO to develop a set of ‘best practices’ for maximising the effectiveness of tobacco taxation. Conclusions Significant increases in tobacco taxes are a highly effective tobacco control strategy and lead to significant improvements in public health. The positive health impact is even greater when some of the revenues generated by tobacco tax increases are used to support tobacco control, health promotion and/or other health-related activities and programmes. In general, oppositional arguments that higher taxes will have harmful economic effects are false or overstated.