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In this article, I first set out a conceptualisation of globalised violence. I then reflect upon how psychology networks in general and community psychology networks in particular appear to have positioned themselves publicly in relation to the violence of the recent bombing and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. I ask whether networks of Community Psychologists are able/willing to publicly position themselves in regards to these specific events and the levels of globalised violence in general. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) remains a major global public health problem. SAM cases are treated using ready‐to‐use therapeutic food (RUTF) at a dosage of ∼200 kcal/kg/day per the standard treatment protocol (STD). Emerging evidence on simplifications to the standard protocol, which among other adaptations, includes reducing the daily RUTF dosage, indicates that it is effective and safe for treating children with SAM. In response to a foreseen stock shortage of RUTF, the government of Afghanistan endorsed the temporary use of a modified treatment protocol in which the daily RUTF dosage was prescribed at 1000 kcal/day (irrespective of body weight) until the child achieved moderate acute malnutrition status (weight‐for‐height z‐score ≥ −3 or mid‐upper arm circumference [MUAC] ≥ 115 mm), at which point 500 kcal/day was prescribed until cured (modified treatment protocol [MTP]). In this paper, we report the results of this nonweight‐based daily RUTF dosage experience. Data of 2042 children with SAM, treated using either the STD protocol (n = 269) or the MTP protocol (n = 1773) from August 2019 to March 2021 in five provinces, were analyzed. The per‐protocol analyses confirmed noninferiority of MTP protocol when compared to STD protocol for recovery rate [93.3% vs. 90.2%; ∆ (95% confidence interval, CI) = 3.1 (−0.9; 7.2) %] and length‐of‐stay [82.6 vs. 75.6 days; ∆ (95% CI) = 6.9 (3.3; 10.5) days], considering the margin of noninferiority of −10% and +14 days, respectively. Weight gain velocity was smaller in the MTP protocol group than in the STD protocol group [3.7 (1.7) vs. 5.2 (2.9) g/kg/day; ∆ (95% CI) = −1.5 (−1.8, −1.2); p < 0.001]. The STD group had a significantly higher mean than the MTP group for absolute MUAC gain [∆ (95% CI) = 1.7 (1.0; 2.3) mm; p < 0.001] and the MUAC velocity [∆ (95% CI) = 0.29 (0.20; 0.37) mm/week; p < 0.001]. Our results confirm the noninferiority of a nonweight‐based daily dosage and support the endorsement of this modification as an alternative to the standard protocol in resource‐constrained contexts. Key messages: More evidence supporting the use of the nonweight‐based daily ready‐to‐use therapeutic food (RUTF) dosage for treating uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (SAM), in specific contexts, is needed.Our real‐world prospective nonrandomized study showed that the fixed nonweight‐based daily RUTF dosage protocol is as effective as the standard weight‐based protocol for treating uncomplicated SAM in children <5 in the Afghanistan context.Our findings support the reflection of a nonweight‐based daily RUTF dosage in resource‐constrained contexts in national and global policies and guidelines to improve coverage of all children in need of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Afghanistan is grappling with a severe health crisis marked by a high prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, and the added strain of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The nation's healthcare system, already fragile, faces formidable challenges. Socioeconomic constraints, including limited resources and financial barriers, hinder healthcare accessibility, leading to delayed or inadequate care. Environmental factors, such as poor sanitation and crowded living conditions, exacerbate the transmission of diseases, especially waterborne illnesses. Governance issues, encompassing transparency, corruption, and political instability, disrupt healthcare efficiency and resource allocation. Addressing these multifaceted issues is vital to enhance Afghanistan's healthcare system and overall well‐being. The withdrawal of international support has exacerbated these challenges. The primary research goal is to deeply understand Afghanistan's health system, focusing on the major disease burdens: Tuberculosis, Malaria, AIDS, COVID‐19, Measles, Hepatitis, and Cholera. The study aims to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of current approaches, presenting a comprehensive view of challenges and opportunities within the Afghan healthcare system. The research concludes by highlighting policy implications, practical implementation, and offering recommendations for future endeavors. Methodology: This paper provides a thorough analysis of the literature concerning infectious diseases in Afghanistan and the enhancement of the healthcare system in the nation. A systematic exploration of the literature was conducted through PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The search terms used encompassed "Tuberculosis" OR "TB," "Malaria," "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" OR "AIDS," "Human immunodeficiency virus" OR "HIV," "COVID‐19," "Measles," "Hepatitis virus," "Cholera," "Health system improvement," and "Afghanistan." Additionally, external sources like UNICEF, CDC, and WHO were referenced. Results: In conclusion, while improving access to vital medicines and vaccines is crucial for enhancing health outcomes in Afghanistan, significant challenges must be addressed to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of such strategies. The Afghan health system's fragile governance, corruption, logistical complexities, and failure to address broader social and economic factors pose significant risks and obstacles to the implementation of proposed health strategies. Therefore, the strategies discussed in this analysis align with key Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3, and their successful implementation will have implications not only for the health and well‐being of Afghanistan but also for global health. Conclusion: Hence, by adopting a comprehensive approach with complementary interventions as discussed, we can address issues in the Afghan health system and reduce transmissible diseases' burden, thereby building a better world for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty was already a main problem in Afghanistan even before, but it has exacerbated due to the pandemic. However, the actual impact of the pandemic on households had not been investigated. This study provides such analysis using data obtained from a strictly random survey of 1060 households in the capital of Balkh, the fourth most populated province in Afghanistan. Using headcount ratio and poverty gap measures and both income and expenditure approaches, the results show that an additional 12% of households fell below the poverty line, from an already high of 75% before the pandemic. The poverty gap index rises to 34%, but the computed Gini coefficient indicates no significant change in inequality. Poor governance and corruption in Afghanistan are major impediments to address the issue of poverty. This paper suggests several measures which can be implemented to have effective policies and governance to alleviate poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The use and manufacture of methamphetamine has increased in Afghanistan in recent years. Recent research and reports have pointed to the ephedra plant, which grows wildly, as a key source of ephedrine used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. This paper aimed to estimate the relative efficiencies and scale of inputs required to manufacture methamphetamine in Afghanistan. Methods: Monte Carlo simulations model of the amount of ephedra or cold medications needed to render a pure kilogram of methamphetamine in Afghanistan, accounting for uncertainty in ranges of key parameters informed from the literature and elsewhere. Final estimates were extrapolated to recent seizure totals. Results: For dried ephedra, the median estimate is 196.8 kg (25th–75th percentiles 119.3–346.6 kg) needed to produce 1 kg of methamphetamine compared with 27.9 kg (25th–75th percentiles 21.9–36.8 kg) for cold medications. Nearly 2.7 t of methamphetamine were seized in Afghanistan in 2021. Assuming a purity range of 50%–90%, some 266–478 t of dried ephedra or 38–68 t of cold medication would need to have been processed. Conclusion: Simulated estimates show that considerable amounts of either ephedra or cold medication are needed to produce 1 kg of methamphetamine in Afghanistan. This raises questions about the plausibility of ephedra as the dominant source of Afghanistan's methamphetamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article comments on the paper by B. Pardo and colleagues about the production of methamphetamine in Afghanistan. Topics discussed include the role of ephedra in the expansion of methamphetamine production in the country, the uncertainty of the Taliban's ban on drug production, and the possible increase in the manufacture of methamphetamine or other synthetic substances using synthetic precursors.

This paper presents the results of the mineralogical, petrographic and chemical study of different archaeological samples related to terracruda sculptures and other elements that were part of the architectural decoration of the Buddhist sites of Tepe Narenj and Qol‐e‐tut (Kabul, Afghanistan; fifth to 11th centuries CE). The main objective of the study was to characterize the samples using an archaeometric approach. The study helped to better understand the materials involved in the modeling of Afghan sculptures and their processing, such as the different nature of the clay layers and the finishing 'stucco' coating. The results further indicate that similarities exist among the manufacturing process of the studied samples and that used today by an ancient caste of clay artists in West Bengal (India), suggesting the existence of a continuous technological tradition that deserves to be further explored in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the results of an experiment conducted before the 2021 regime change in Afghanistan that examined how different types of information strategies affected private sector support for a hypothetical peace agreement with the Taliban. We compared the impact of historical, pecuniary, and religious information on the stated preferences of Afghan business elites and employees in Kabul. The results show that historical information had less of an effect than pecuniary information on respondents' probability of accepting a peace agreement with the Taliban but a slightly larger effect than religious information. Although the context of the study has dramatically changed, the findings can inform practitioners and policymakers in mediating future peace negotiations in Afghanistan and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a critical analysis of the level of disaster preparedness among households in the Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan. Based on an analysis of baseline data collected as part of a project aimed at strengthening the disaster response in this province, this paper emphasizes the complexities of disaster preparedness among Afghan households, including a critical gap in knowledge, a lack of resources, and limitations in existing community responses to disasters. The findings reveal that less economic security, less knowledge of emergencies and emergency plans, being a female head of household, and having prior disaster experience tended to predict lower levels of preparedness among households. Disaster‐preparedness interventions targeted at improving the knowledge of hazards and hazard plans, as well as enhancing the livelihood and income security of affected households, could minimize the negative impact of disasters. Because most households relied on social networks and indigenous preparedness measures, future research should examine the nature of such measures and their effectiveness in mitigating the impact of disasters on this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite sustained scholarly interest in post‐conflict states, there has not been a thorough review and analysis of associated methodology and the challenges of conducting research in these contexts. Addressing this gap, this paper directs attention to the particular effects of these settings on access and data quality and their ramifications for the resulting scholarship. It assesses the intrinsic challenges of performing fieldwork in these environments, drawing on both relevant social science literature and the authors' experiences of carrying out research in Afghanistan and Timor‐Leste. The study demonstrates that the post‐conflict environment moulds research design and, consequently, influences how questions are answered as well as the questions asked. Moreover, it highlights ways to mitigate these issues. This work is of relevance to scholars planning to engage in field research and to researchers reflecting upon their work, as well as to policymakers who are considering undertaking programmes or commissioning research in post‐conflict areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we assess the long‐term effect of floods on food security (as measured by calorie and micronutrient consumption) by applying an instrumental variable approach to data from the Afghanistan National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment survey. To identify the determinants of this effect, we also estimate how floods affect per capita yearly household income and poverty status. We find that exposure to flooding during a 12‐month period decreased daily calorie consumption by approximately 60 kcal while increasing the probability of iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C deficiency by 11, 12, and 27 percentage points, respectively. Controlling for price shocks and income only marginally reduces this flood effect on food security, suggesting that impaired livelihoods (rather than price hikes) are its primary driver. We further determine that exposure to this natural disaster decreases income by about 3% and makes flood‐affected households about 3 percentage points more likely to be poor. Lastly, we show that experience of floods is strongly and significantly associated with lower diet quality and quantity, and with engaging in consumption smoothing coping strategies, such as buying food on credit and taking loans. These findings underscore the serious direct impact of floods on both diet and effective behavioral responses to such shocks while emphasizing the need for targeted micronutrient supplementation in disaster relief and food aid measures even after the period of natural disaster emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its introduction in UNDP's Human Development Report 1994, ‘human security’ has been a topic of lively debate. The purpose of this paper is to explore empirically how human security has been treated in National Human Development Reports (NHDRs), produced in 13 countries since 1997 with different definitions and points of focus. We use an inductive approach to examine how these stand up to the criticisms levelled in the literature against broader concepts of human security. The NHDRs of Afghanistan, Latvia, Macedonia and Bangladesh are of particular interest, both because of their rich analysis and because of the originality of the methodology they use. The paper concludes that broader definitions of human security are operational for both analysis and policy making. Limits to define a core of high-priority concerns with human security can be set after exploring the concerns of people in specific situations rather than before. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a basic hypothesis that the volume of emergency assistance any humanitarian crisis attracts is determined by three main factors working either in conjunction or individually. First, it depends on the intensity of media coverage. Second, it depends on the degree of political interest, particularly related to security, that donor governments have in a particular region. Third, the volume of emergency aid depends on strength of humanitarian NGOs and international organisations present in a specific country experiencing a humanitarian emergency. The empirical analysis of a number of emergency situations is carried out based on material that has never been published before. The paper concludes that only occasionally do the media play a decisive role in influencing donors. Rather, the security interests of Western donors are important together with the presence and strength of humanitarian stakeholders, such as NGOs and international organisations lobbying donor governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study, of significant importance to healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, and organizations involved in child healthcare and malnutrition in Afghanistan, aimed to estimate the out‐of‐pocket expenditure (OOPE) in patients under 5 years old with severe malnutrition in a children's hospital in Herat Province, Afghanistan. Method: This study employed a meticulously designed cross‐sectional descriptive‐analytical approach with practical results. The research population consisted of families with malnourished children under 5 who were referred to Herat Children's Hospital. Data was collected using a comprehensive standard World Health Organization questionnaire to gather demographic information from children in Herat. A carefully selected convenience sampling method was used, with 300 referring patients participating in face‐to‐face interviews with the supervisors of these children. After obtaining personal consent and coordinating with health officials, interviews were conducted with the caregivers of children under 5 who suffered from severe malnutrition. The data was then analyzed using robust descriptive statistics, quantitative variables, mean and standard deviation, frequency, and relative frequency. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the factors that most influenced direct payments from patients' pockets, ensuring the reliability and validity of the findings. Results: The results showed that OOPE in both households with seven and less than seven people and more than seven people was 68%. The findings indicated that among the residents of Herat referred to the studied hospital, these people spent 54% of the treatment costs directly out of pocket. In contrast, people in the rural areas of Herat pay 69% of the treatment costs to receive medical services straight out of pocket. The critical point is that 93% of the families have incurred catastrophic expenses to treat their children suffering from severe malnutrition. The research revealed that the patient's location and the education level of the head of the household were the most significant factors affecting out‐of‐pocket payments by patients. Conclusion: Increasing OOPE in rural Afghanistan poses a significant obstacle to equitable healthcare services and access to appropriate medicines. To support the goal of universal healthcare coverage, geographic imbalances, and broad health financing options must be addressed. Strengthening insurance coverage and more government assistance can significantly reduce these patients' out‐of‐pocket payments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inherited bleeding disorders in Afghanistan: The current situation amid COVID-19 However, these packages did not include rare diseases such as haemophilia.8 This paper aims to elucidate the challenges haemophilia patients face in Afghanistan. Keywords: Afghanistan; challenges; COVID-19; Haemophilia; inherited bleeding disorders EN Afghanistan challenges COVID-19 Haemophilia inherited bleeding disorders e579 e580 2 07/21/21 20210701 NES 210701 INTRODUCTION Inherited bleeding disorders consist of a heterogeneous sort of diseases that reflect abnormalities of blood vessels, coagulation proteins and platelets.1 Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common type of these bleeding disorders, followed by haemophilia A and haemophilia B, which are both x-linked recessive disorders, mainly affecting men.2 Haemophilia occurs in all ethnic groups throughout the world. [Extracted from the article]

This paper examines individual and organizational resilience processes among members of The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, (RAWA), an Afghan women's underground resistance organization located in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since 1977, RAWA has used humanitarian and political means to educate, serve, and motivate women and to advocate for peace, secular democracy, and human rights. The authors analyzed 110 qualitative interviews, collected in Pakistan and Afghanistan between December 2001 and July 2002. An iterative coding framework identified processes of resilience and domain specific stressors (risks) and resources (protective factors) at the individual and organizational level. Further analysis found that these process codes clustered by function into components of an operational model of individual and organizational resilience. While individual and organizational resilience are described by the same model, these two levels of resilience were found to operate in synergy as well as in conflict. Although this paper explores a unique setting, we argue that a better understanding of resilience processes in general will come from increased attention to context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unclear how international donors' stated commitment to ownership and partnership ‘translates’ in fragile state or ‘post-conflict’ settings. The very notion of ownership is violently contested in Afghanistan and donors have to negotiate with, and choose between, multiple state and non-state interlocutors. The developmentalist principles outlined in the 2005 Paris Declaration may carry little meaning in such contexts and their application can have paradoxical effects that impede the emergence of broad-based ownership. The limitations of, and alternatives to, developmentalist approaches in fragile states, are explored here with reference to donor policies and practices in Afghanistan, focusing on the period following the 2001 Bonn Agreement. This paper examines how aid policies and programmes have become part of a complex bargaining game involving international actors, domestic elites, and societal groups. It argues that international donors' failure to appreciate or engage sensitively and strategically with these bargaining processes, when combined with contradictory intervention objectives, has contributed to the steady unravelling of a fragile war-to-peace transition in Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper by Noor et al. in this issue provides important and interesting data on the incidence and outcomes of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia in Afghanistan. The age of patients is much lower than we are used to seeing in the West, reflecting in part the particular demographics of the country; these data provide an important first step to identifying areas for improvement. Commentary on: Noor et al. Demographic and clinical characteristics of acute myeloid leukaemia diagnosed and treated at tertiary level in Afghanistan. Br J Haematol 2023;203:404–410. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polish bilateral development aid program for Afghanistan is perceived as an integral part of international efforts to rebuild the war-torn country. It was focused on Ghazni province in South Eastern part of Afghanistan, where a Polish part of a local Provincial Reconstruction Team was established in 2008. This paper analyses the outputs and challenges of the Polish Development Program for Ghazni province. Based on a field research, it shows that Polish development aid program for Ghazni was not well thought out in the then and current development and security situation. Research results indicated that Polish development aid in Ghazni had some major weaknesses, and in fact, it was contributing mainly to the infrastructure development in the province capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores a new avenue of the hierarchisation of mobility amongst voluntary and involuntary return migrants to Afghanistan. We introduce the concept of multidimensional and multi-local embeddedness as an analytical approach to the multi-sited experience of migration, which merges transnationalism and integration into one analytical framework. Drawing on an in-depth case study that focuses on the life histories of 35 Afghan returnees from European countries, we argue that socio-economic differences that existed prior to migration are reinforced by the migration experience, which results in strongly differentiated patterns of multidimensional embeddedness and transnational mobility. These patterns reinforce previously existing socio-economic stratification and restrict expectations of return migration and development. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws on practice theory to examine aspiring youths' pursuit of higher education in Afghanistan. It finds that plans and actions are mediated through youths' families, communities, and solidarity networks. As a result, the personal improvement and enhanced reputational status that aspiring youth seek is structurally connected to processes of social reproduction and social change. The paper is based on over 100 in-depth interviews conducted with youth in Afghanistan by an undergraduate research team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper brings a relational perspective to studies of citizenship beyond national borders. Analysing the responses of 16 to 19-year-old young people in Bradford ( UK) to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we demonstrate the complex entanglements of young people's lives with international politics and develop a relational conceptualisation of citizenship. Departing from the scalar logics and universalising assumptions upon which many definitions of cosmopolitan citizenship are based, we show that youth citizenship across and beyond national borders evolves from specific lines of connection and disconnection that are actualised and modified in performances of citizenship identities, giving rise to diverse political positions and dissent, both with the state and between young people. We conclude with some suggestions for translating these ideas into youth citizenship practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data from Afghanistan collected prior to and during the 2007-2008 food price crisis, this paper illustrates that caloric intake is an ineffectual indicator for monitoring the onset of food insecurity. Unconditional Quantile Regression estimates indicate that the most vulnerable of households, which cannot afford to make substantial cuts to calories, exhibit no decline in caloric intake in response to increasing wheat prices. In contrast, households with high-calorie diets experience large declines. The estimates also reveal declines in dietary diversity across the entire distribution of households. The most vulnerable households may be sacrificing diet quality to maintain calories, with the potential for serious and long-term health consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the winter season of 2004-2005, annual snow assessments have been conducted for the major watersheds of Afghanistan using multispectral (AVHRR and MODIS) and passive microwave (SSM/I and AMSR-E) remote sensing technologies. Because of limited ground-based observations of precipitation and snow pack conditions, remote sensing provides a unique opportunity to assess these conditions at different scales offering an appraisal of current conditions from a historical context. This paper describes the methodology that has been developed over the past seven winter seasons, wherein bi-weekly snow products and assessments are produced including the following: current snow-covered area (SCA) at regional and watershed scales; estimation of SCA by elevation band; current snowpack volume [snow water equivalent (SWE)] for each watershed with a historical perspective (1987-present); snow condition outlook by watershed; general summary of snow conditions based on remote sensing products and limited ground-based observations; and if warranted, a snow melt flooding advisory. Further analysis of these snow products and assessments are presented. Moreover, comparisons between both available passive microwave estimates of SWE (SSM/I and AMSR-E) for all watersheds differ in magnitude yet exhibit similar historical trends. The SSM/I versus AMSR-E historical differences in SWE for each of the major Afghanistan watersheds are quantified and show a strong relationship ( R2 = 96%) to the mean elevation of the watershed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disability and poverty have a complex and interdependent relationship. It is commonly understood that persons with disabilities are more likely to be poor and that poverty may contribute to sustaining disability. This interdependency is revealed not only through an examination of poverty in terms of income but also on a broader scale through other poverty related dimensions. Just how robust is this link? This paper compares data collected from household surveys in Afghanistan and Zambia, and explores the potential link between multidimensional poverty and disability. We find evidence of lower access to health care, education and labour market for people with disabilities, whatever is the disability status, but poverty measured by an asset index is not statistically different between people with and without disabilities. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article critically examines the entanglements between 'security' and the geopolitical and geo-economic formations that assist in the cyclical continuation of conflict. The author questions the biopolitical configurations of state and private forms of militarised security. The author's approach to this research addresses the spatial and corporeal aspects of civilian security in contemporary conflicts zones - with a specific focus on Afghanistan. Drawing on the work of feminist political geographers, this article highlights the corporeal as a key site of analysis for the everyday and seemingly apolitical spaces occupied by civilians living amidst political conflict. This descriptive analysis of security and insecurity focuses on four specific areas: (1) Afghan civilian security measures, (2) domestic spaces as sites of security and violence, (3) mobile forms of security and insecurity and (4) the divergent perceptions and experiences of security/insecurity between international civilian workers living in Afghanistan and Afghan civilian citizens. While macro-scale analyses of security and civilian agency in various locations are important for geographic inquiry, it remains imperative that geographers and other social scientists examine the particularities of specific conflict sites and situations in order to avoid one-size-fits-all responses to or analyses of political conflict - and subsequently flattening civilian experiences through aggregated forms of knowledge production. This paper seeks to investigate several key aspects of feminist political geography by examining the multiple and varied experiences of the everyday within this conflict zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of positive outcomes associated with strong psychological sense of community (PSOC) has grown worldwide. Yet most research explores PSOC as a uni-dimensional (positive) variable operating in a single referent community. Theoretical and empirical literature has suggested, however, that PSOC can be positive, neutral or negative (Brodsky in J Commun Psychol 24(4):347–363, ; Brodsky et al. in Psychological sense of community: Research, applications and implications. Kluwer, New York ) and since people live in multiple physical and relational communities, there may be multiple PSOCs (M-PSOC) operating simultaneously and interactively (Brodsky and Marx in J Commun Psychol 29(2):1–18, ). This paper explores the operation of M-PSOC in the lives of Afghan women, and male supporters, who belonged to a resistance organization before, during and after the Taliban regime. Decisions to join and stay in this community can be explained, in part, through the differentiation of positive, organizational-level PSOC from negative, macro-community-level PSOC. In addition, M-PSOC suggests unique cultural meanings of the terms “community” and “choice.” Findings have implications for cross-cultural community work and for fostering resilient sub-communities in the face of macro and societal-level risks and oppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the emergence and modus operandi of Muslim faith-based aid organisations from the West, particularly those from the United Kingdom. Through case studies of Islamic Relief Worldwide and Muslim Hands, it examines the actual and potential added value generated by these humanitarian players in Muslim-majority contexts at times when aid actors from or associated with the West are being perceived by some as instrumental to the political agendas of Western powers, or are being confronted with the consequences thereof. The study analyses Muslim faith-based aid organisations' transnational networks, their implementing partnerships with local faith-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and their security position within and their access to insecure contexts, drawing on field examples and opinion from Central Asia, Iraq and Pakistan. It thereby argues that there is ground for an expansion of the role of Muslim aid actors, because of the existence of social and political realities in the field that cannot be always effectively tackled by the dominant international development approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to contribute to an improved information management and exchange between humanitarian organisations and military agents in complex emergencies. To do so, a theoretical information management process model was developed and applied to the case of information management between International Security Assistance Force troops and humanitarian organisations such as Cordaid, DACAAR and the International Office for Migration in Kabul, Afghanistan. Based on this analysis the main shortcomings and problems in each stage of the information management process were identified. These include a lack of structured information databases, the absence of identification of information needs, and an over-classification of documents by the military. Using a logical framework analysis, six major improvement tactics were developed, including the creation of more overlap in rotations of personnel, the specification of aims and tasks regarding information management, the improvement of skills and competences of personnel involved, and the introduction of regular joint civil–military evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Title. A disaster preparedness and response project in Afghanistan: participants' perceptions. Aim. This paper is a report of a study to describe Emergency Mobile Unit team members’ and healthcare professionals’ perceptions of a disaster preparedness and response project and to explore the elements of participation that could support its sustainability. Background. Many developing countries have limited preparedness for disaster response. There is a need to better understand the role of national and local participation, and their interplay. We also need to consider the moderation and eventual planned withdrawal of international humanitarian organizations’ support. Afghanistan is one example of a country in postdisaster development where the opportunity arose for an in-depth study of disaster preparedness and response. Method. Data were collected in Finland and Afghanistan in 2004 using an ethnographic approach, with seven thematic interviews ( n = 8) and two focus groups ( n = 7). The participants were Afghan healthcare professionals and expatriates who had facilitated Emergency Mobile Unit training. Findings. Constraints in the project arose from uncoordinated implementation and poor job satisfaction, in addition to intrinsic characteristics of the situation. A second theme to emerge was that participation was a positive response to health emergencies. Thirdly, a need for further development and overall support for Emergency Mobile Units was clearly evident. Conclusion. Improved coordination and measures to increase job satisfaction for national aid workers are needed, and a more positive knowledge-based response system and continued overall support for emergency mobile teams. Involving disaster-affected people and the local community, especially women, in health development projects will help to ensure both success and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the cost-effectiveness of, and the return on the investment in, the 2002 catch-up and the 2003 follow-up measles campaigns in Afghanistan from the perspective of the donor. The catch-up campaign targeted nearly 12 million children aged between six months and 12 years, while the follow-up campaign targeted over five million children aged between 9 and 59 months. Both campaigns successfully vaccinated approximately 96 per cent of the respective target populations, and are expected to avert an estimated 301,000 measles deaths over the next 10 years. The average cost per dose of measles vaccine delivered was USD 0.40. The cost per death prevented is USD 23.6, assuming a case fatality rate of 10 per cent and a discount rate of three per cent. With more than 42,000 measles deaths avoided for every one million US dollars spent, the campaigns are an excellent public health investment for precluding childhood mortality in a country affected by a complex emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in which the researcher and the participants come from different contexts and communities always presents challenges. This paper is based on qualitative, community-based research carried out by a U.S. researcher in Pakistan and Afghanistan with an underground Afghan women's humanitarian and political organization. Written from the perspectives of two authors, one an organization insider and the other the outside researcher, it presents some unique examples of diversity challenges, while also illuminating issues that exist in subtle ways even in more common research experiences. Within the context of multiple diversities, two challenges to bridging diversity are discussed: (1) Can or should all diversities be bridged? and (2) Can narrow attention to diversity lead to ignoring similarities? We argue that the definitions of success and failure in bridging diversity are themselves relative terms, grounded in this very diversity. Further, even when research fails to bridge diversity it may, in fact, not only honor and respect that diversity, but ultimately lead to a better understanding of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partnership was established in 1998 to address the worldwide malaria burden through a new approach. It was founded by four multilateral agencies that were already committed to supporting malaria control: the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Bank and the World Health Organization. In contrast to previous campaigns, RBM focuses on strengthening existing health services to ensure that malaria can be controlled through an integrated approach, rather than through creation and maintenance of a separate structure. Field experience of RBM is rarely documented in the open scientific literature, making it difficult to judge its success and apply lessons learned to other settings. This paper aims at improving on this by documenting experience of RBM support in Afghanistan during initial post-conflict reconstruction. From the analysis some recommendations emerged: (i) technical in-country support needs to be provided for a number of years, as short postings are likely to provide only temporary solutions and may fail to contribute towards medium or long-term development; (ii) the role and responsibilities of support staff need to be clear to all RBM partners; (iii) part of this role should be to act as focal point, in an attempt to improve on coordination and (iv) if possible, support staff should be seconded to the MoH, to avoid association of the RBM initiative with a specific international organization and to further the multi-sectorial partnership approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Pregnancy is an important and natural event in a woman's life. It represents a time of substantial social and bio‐psychological challenges for a pregnant woman that may increase vulnerability to emotional disturbances such as depression, anxiety, and stress (DAS). This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of DAS among pregnant women in Herat city of Afghanistan. Methods: This hospital‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted between July and November 2019, on 691 Dari‐speaking pregnant women aged 15‐49 years, who attended the antenatal clinic of Herat Razaei Maternity Hospital. The interview process involved the use of a structured questionnaire that collected data on sociodemographic characteristics of participants, as well as the validated Dari‐translated version of DASS‐42 questionnaire. A χ2 test was used to test for association between categorical data. Forward likelihood ratio was used to assess the strength of association between sociodemographic variables and DAS; independently. The significance level was set to 0.05 and the confidence interval to 95% in all statistical analyses. Statistical analyses were performed in IBM SPSS Statistics (version 27). Results: The mean age of participants was 26.17 ± 6.06. The overall prevalence of DAS among study participants were 42.8%, 40.0%, and 59.5%, respectively. Planning of current pregnancy, women's health, husband's health, women's nutrition, family support, husband's support, women's education, women's employment, and family economy were significantly associated with DAS, while gestational age was not significantly associated with DAS. Conclusion: The prevalence of DAS among pregnant women in Herat city of Afghanistan is very high. Considering scientific evidence on high prevalence and associated factors of DAS among pregnant women, policymakers, public health authorities, and medical practitioners must devote significant attention in reducing the magnitude of these mental disorders and/or reducing their impact on women, their families, and the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On June 21st, a Mw6.2 earthquake struck the Afghan‐Pakistan‐border‐region, situated within the India‐Asia collision. Thousand thirty‐nine deaths were reported, making the earthquake the deadliest of 2022. We investigate the event's rupture processes by combining seismological and geodetic observations, aiming to understand what made it that fatal. Our Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar‐constrained slip‐model and regional moment‐tensor inversion, confirmed through field observations, reveal a sinistral rupture with maximum slip of 1.8 m at 5 km depth on a N20°E striking, sub‐vertical fault. We suggest that not only external factors (event‐time, building stock) but fault‐specific factors made the event excessively destructive. Surface rupture was favored by the rock foliation, coinciding with the fault strike. The distribution of Peak‐Ground‐Velocity was governed by the sub‐vertical fault. Maximum slip was large compared to other events globally and might have resulted in peak‐frequencies coinciding with resonance‐frequencies of the local buildings and demonstrates the devastating impact of moderate‐size earthquakes. Plain Language Summary: The June 2022 devastating M6.2 Afghanistan earthquake has caused a high depth toll, making it the deadliest earthquake of 2022. This is notable and partly intriguing as the earthquake size is much smaller than other events that happened in 2022. Therefore, we combine a range of geophysical, geodetic and geological methods to understand how exactly the subsurface ruptured during the earthquake. We suggest that it was a combination of the local circumstances (the event time, as it hit at night time, and the building stock) and the geometry of the rupture surface together with the local geology that made this event particularly deadly. More generally, this study shows the excessive hazard and impact caused by moderate‐size earthquakes. Key Points: We combine Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, moment tensor inversion, field mapping and Peak‐Ground‐Velocity (PGV) simulations to investigate the rupture processesThe event had a sinistral rupture with maximum slip of 1.8 m at 5 km depth on a N20°E striking, sub‐vertical faultCoincidence of large slip, fault geometry and alignment of rock foliation with strike enhanced PGV and the destructiveness of the event [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brokers have long been scrutinised for their purported disloyalty, but brokers' own attachments and expectations remain largely neglected. This article contributes to scholarship by shifting from the much‐discussed betrayal by brokers, to betrayal of brokers. It maps three forms of betrayal—interpersonal, institutional and ideological—drawing on unique empirical material, including interviews with Afghan interpreters who worked for western armies. It argues that the betrayal of brokers is facilitated by conditions of reduced demand and weak social ties in an unequal global order. When brokers' remit is largely dictated by their patron, brokers stand more to lose than to gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A comprehensive review of the surgical management of injuries sustained by deployed members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) during Operation SLIPPER and HIGHROAD in Afghanistan has not previously been undertaken. Understanding the mechanism of injury, injury types sustained and surgical intervention undertaken should provide valuable information for future health planning and surgical capability determination. Methods: Retrospective chart review of scanned medical records of injured personnel identified through casualty register examination was undertaken. Results: There were 259 ADF personnel injured in Afghanistan between January 2002 and December 2021, of which 53 were seriously (SI), or very seriously injured (VSI). Case notes for 90 of 101 casualties including those sustaining VSI, SI and those classified as being in satisfactory condition, but likely requiring surgery and/or returned to Australia following trauma, were available for review. Most patients with VSI/SI required surgery (93%) and most were returned to Australia following injury (91%). Almost two‐thirds (64.4%) of initial surgery was undertaken at a Role 2 E medical treatment facility (MTF). Gun‐shot wound (GSW) was the commonest injuring mechanism (47%) followed by blast injury (39.6%). Orthopaedic (32.2%) and soft tissue initial wound surgery (47.1%) were the commonest surgical procedures. Discussion: Surgical management of military trauma was undertaken at multiple sites by multiple surgical teams from different nationalities delivering exceptional results and conforming to modern principles of damage control surgery. The military trauma system is distinctly different from its civilian counterpart with dispersion of assets requiring multiple episodes of casualty movement between echelons of care rather than centralization at level 1 trauma centres. Despite this, excellent results are achievable. Strengthening lines of communication and documentation would reinforce the ability of the military trauma system to continue to provide such results, and regular oversight and review of surgical caseload would align military trauma surgery with civilian standards. The benchmark set by the United States Department of Defense Trauma Registry should be replicated for Australian led combat operations and modified to facilitate interoperability to support future coalition combat operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The report by the United Nations in 2020 stated that Afghanistan was ranked 118th position in the e‐participation index which shows the low level of adoption among the Afghan citizens to online services offered by the e‐government websites in Afghanistan. As no previous research has been conducted to explore the influential factors on the adoption of e‐government websites in Afghanistan, this research fills the research gap by exploring the impact of website quality factors, trust factors, and technology adoption factors on intention to use e‐government websites from the citizens' perspective in Afghanistan. This research also investigates the impact of factors on the adoption of governmental websites at three levels (information, interaction, and transaction) of e‐government maturity. As part of the current research, the unified model of e‐government adoption (UMEGA) model was extended by integrating website quality factors and trust factors, which were extracted based on an extensive literature review. To validate the model, a survey of 294 Afghan citizens was conducted in four provinces of Afghanistan. The data were then analyzed using the partial least square‐structured equation modeling (PLS‐SEM) technique. The result revealed that websites quality, technology adoption, and trust factors have major impacts on the adoption of e‐government websites in Afghanistan, the impact of which varies depending on the level of e‐government maturity. Public administrators, officials, policymakers, website designers, and researchers have potential implications from the findings of this research regarding the adoption of governmental websites in Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The departing point of this study is to understand the implications of 'nation‐building' as a Western initiative in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2004–2021) particularly in terms of the local conceptualisation of nation or millat. Based on this larger question, the goal of this study is to reveal the idea of nation as presented in the discourse of education constructed by the state of Afghanistan. To this end, the study employs three major primary resources: official state documents, school textbooks and expert interviews conducted at the Ministry of Education in Afghanistan. Pursuing a qualitative research methodology, the study uncovers four major elements that make up the idea of the 'nation of Afghanistan' or the millat‐e Afghanistan: (1) Islam, (2) watan (homeland), (3) qawm and (4) Afghaniyat (Afghanness). Reflecting a very specific understanding of nation that is peculiar to the context of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, this study concludes that the Western‐imposed form of nation has a local content which struggles hard to keep the idea of nation together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the most common forms of leishmaniasis in Afghanistan, which is caused by different Leishmania species that are transmitted to humans by sandflies. Its clinical manifestations are very diverse and depend on a variety of parasite and host factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For too long international humanitarian aid has neglected the primary responsibility of the state to assist and protect its citizens in times of disaster. A focus on the role of the state in contexts where governments are active parties to a conflict and are failing to live up to these responsibilities is difficult and underpins many of the recurring dilemmas of humanitarian action. The fundamental principles of humanitarian action should offer a framework for principled engagement with governments in situations of conflict but too often they are still interpreted as shorthand for ignoring governments. Using principles to inform engagement with both states and other international actors engaged in crises could provide a way forward. However, this would need to be a humanitarian agenda that engages with developing country governments, with non-OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) donors, and with the stabilisation and security agendas of Western governments, and not one that attempts to ring-fence an ever-shrinking isolationist humanitarian space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe the effect of adaptations to a person‐centred care with short oral regimens on retention in care for rifampicin‐resistant TB (RR‐TB) in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Methods: The study included people with RR‐TB registered in the programme between 01 October 2016 and 18 April 2021. From 19 November 2019, the programme implemented a trial investigating the safety and effectiveness of short oral RR‐TB regimens. During the trial, person‐centred care was adapted. We included the data from people living with RR‐TB treated in the period before and after the care model was adapted and applied Kaplan‐Meier statistics to compare rates of retention in care. Results: Of 236 patients registered in the RR‐TB programme, 146 (61.9%) were registered before and 90 (38.1%) after the model of care was adapted. Before adaptations enhancing person‐centred care, pre‐treatment attrition was 23.3% (n = 34/146), whilst under the adapted care model it was 5.6% (n = 5/90). Attrition on treatment was 22.3% (n = 25/112) before adaptations, whilst during the study period none of the participants were lost‐to‐follow‐up on treatment and 3.3% died (n = 3/90). Conclusions: As person‐centred care delivery and treatment regimens were adapted to better fit‐specific contextual challenges and the needs of the target population, retention in care improved amongst people with RR‐TB in Kandahar, Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Haemophilia is a well‐known bleeding disorder that affects people worldwide. The main therapeutic strategy is regular infusion of exogenous factor VIII to ensure an optimal haemostatic standard. Morbidity and mortality of individuals with haemophilia has decreased in developing countries due to improvement in early detection, advanced treatments, and comprehensive population outreach efforts. However, individuals with bleeding disorders in developing countries like Afghanistan do not have access to such therapeutic facilities. Aims: The goals of this study were to determine the causes of death and findings related to death among in individuals with bleeding disorders in Afghanistan. Methods: This study conducted as a retrospective cross‐sectional study of 387 individuals with bleeding disorders (mainly haemophilia) in Afghanistan. Results: All registered individuals with bleeding disorders in Afghanistan were interviewed by telephone. Among the 387 individuals with bleeding disorders, there were 136 deaths. Most deaths occurred in individuals aged 1–15 years (66.2%). Intracranial haemorrhage was the leading cause of death in individuals with haemophilia A and B. Conclusion: These findings revealed that supply of coagulation factor concentrates, facilities for haemostasis diagnosis, and trained haematologists is inadequate in Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: The competitive nature of the aid world means agencies often struggle to convince donors of the merits of investing in the sectors in which they work. This context, unsurprisingly, influences the process of their situational and needs analysis, which donors in turn rely on heavily to inform their own programming. An inherent risk is that the groups who receive the most support may not necessarily be the most vulnerable but rather those whose interests are championed by the most powerful actors. Purpose: This article explores the contradiction between the roles of aid actors as providers of specialist knowledge, and promoters of particular beneficiaries. Specifically, it analyses the evolution of UNHCR's discourse regarding the needs of returning refugees in Afghanistan over the period 2001–2015. Methods: An interdisciplinary mixed‐methods approach is employed, consisting of over 70 interviews, analysis of around 3,000 Afghanistan‐focused contemporary media articles and UNHCR documents, and limited quantitative data analysis. Findings: The study finds that, as the relative needs of returnees diminished in comparison to the wider Afghan population, UNHCR's official pronouncements conversely portrayed these needs as increasing as a way to focus donor attention on an area that would otherwise receive a diminished level of support. Policy implications: These findings have important implications for policy‐makers both in Afghanistan and more generally. They show the need to go beyond aid agencies' public pronouncements and critically examine in depth the sources of data on which they are based. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Malnutrition contributes to direct and indirect causes of maternal mortality, which is particularly high in Afghanistan. Women's nutritional status before, during, and after pregnancy affects their own well‐being and mortality risk and their children's health outcomes. Though maternal nutrition interventions have documented positive impact on select child health outcomes, there are limited data regarding the effects of maternal nutrition interventions on maternal health outcomes globally. This scoping review maps policies, data, and interventions aiming to address poor maternal nutrition outcomes in Afghanistan. We used broad search categories and approaches including database and website searches, hand searches of reference lists from relevant articles, policy and programme document requests, and key informant interviews. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed by type of source document, such as studies with measures related to maternal nutrition, relevant policies and strategies, and programmatic research or evaluation by a third party with explicit interventions targeting maternal nutrition. We abstracted documents systematically, summarized content, and synthesized data. We included 20 policies and strategies, 29 data reports, and nine intervention evaluations. The availability of maternal nutrition intervention data and the inclusion of nutrition indicators, such as minimum dietary diversity, have increased substantially since 2013, yet few nutrition evaluations and population surveys include maternal outcomes as primary or even secondary outcomes. There is little evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that target maternal nutrition in Afghanistan. Policies and strategies more recently have shifted towards multisectoral efforts and specifically target nutrition needs of adolescent girls and women of reproductive age. This scoping review presents evidence from more than 10 years of efforts to improve the maternal nutrition status of Afghan women. We recommend a combination of investments in measuring maternal nutrition indicators and improving maternal nutrition knowledge and behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major concern of employees during times of war and conflict is apparently physical survival. But how are top managers of small‐sized companies enhancing the generation of novel and useful ideas by their employees in such physically dangerous business environments? In Afghanistan, as a war‐torn country, this research examined for the first time how getting closer to employees—which is conceptualized as internal marketing orientation culture in our study—directly affects the generation of novel and useful ideas by employees in the workplace. Our analysis is based on survey data from 81 newly established small‐sized companies in Afghanistan. Results indicate a mediating role of employees' perceived psychological safety on the relationship between internal market orientation culture and employees' creative work involvement. Moreover, we discuss the impact of employees' creative work involvement on small‐sized firm competitiveness improvement in general. Finally, we extend our implications in the context of the componential theory model of creativity, which might also serve as a framework for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While more girls are now attending school in Afghanistan than prior to 2010, there is a lack of evidence on how school attendance is helping their cognitive development. We use data from a large sample of all‐girls state‐funded school students to estimate for the first time the "learning profile" for Afghanistan. Students enrolled in grades 4 to 9 were assessed using the Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and the Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA) test items. We find that higher grade progression (particularly in grades 6–9) leads to almost no gain in numeracy (addition and subtraction) skills that should have been achieved in early grades. Similar results follow from the analysis of student performance in the EGRA test, particularly in oral reading fluency (correct words read per minute) and oral reading comprehension (number of correct answers out of 12). These findings warn that simply enrolling girls in school without improving the relationship between grade completion and learning is unlikely to transform the lives of women in Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined characteristics of Afghan youth who intend to stay in Afghanistan, a generation of young people critical to rebuilding the country. A survey of 232 young adults residing in Kabul assessed various demographic, health and psychological factors. The majority of participants reported that they had no intent to seek asylum, and our analyses showed that these individuals were financially stable, physically healthier, experienced less stress, resilient and more hopeful for their country's sociopolitical future when compared to those intending on seeking asylum. Findings provide justification for renewing a social contract that assures various protections and opportunities for social advancement. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]