Search

Monitoring subnational healthcare quality is important for identifying and addressing geographic inequities. Yet, health facility surveys are rarely powered to support the generation of estimates at more local levels. With this study, we propose an analytical approach for estimating both temporal and subnational patterns of healthcare quality indicators from health facility survey data. This method uses random effects to account for differences between survey instruments; space-time processes to leverage correlations in space and time; and covariates to incorporate auxiliary information. We applied this method for three countries in which at least four health facility surveys had been conducted since 1999 - Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania - and estimated measures of sick-child care quality per WHO Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) guidelines at programmatic subnational level, between 1999 and 2020. Model performance metrics indicated good out-of-sample predictive validity, illustrating the potential utility of geospatial statistical models for health facility data. This method offers a way to jointly estimate indicators of healthcare quality over space and time, which could then provide insights to decision-makers and health service program managers.

Abstract Monitoring subnational healthcare quality is important for identifying and addressing geographic inequities. Yet, health facility surveys are rarely powered to support the generation of estimates at more local levels. With this study, we propose an analytical approach for estimating both temporal and subnational patterns of healthcare quality indicators from health facility survey data. This method uses random effects to account for differences between survey instruments; space-time processes to leverage correlations in space and time; and covariates to incorporate auxiliary information. We applied this method for three countries in which at least four health facility surveys had been conducted since 1999 – Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania – and estimated measures of sick-child care quality per WHO Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) guidelines at programmatic subnational level, between 1999 and 2020. Model performance metrics indicated good out-of-sample predictive validity, illustrating the potential utility of geospatial statistical models for health facility data. This method offers a way to jointly estimate indicators of healthcare quality over space and time, which could then provide insights to decision-makers and health service program managers.

Immunization through vaccines among children has contributed to improved childhood survival and health outcomes globally. However, vaccine coverage among children is unevenly distributed across settings and populations. The measurement of inequalities is essential for understanding gaps in vaccine coverage affecting certain sub-populations and monitoring progress towards achieving equity. Our study aimed to characterize the methods of reporting inequalities in childhood vaccine coverage, inclusive of the settings, data source types, analytical methods, and reporting modalities used to quantify and communicate inequality. We conducted a scoping review of publications in academic journals which included analyses of inequalities in vaccination among children. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed and Web of Science and included relevant articles published between 8 December 2013 and 7 December 2023. Overall, 242 publications were identified, including 204 assessing inequalities in a single country and 38 assessing inequalities across more than one country. We observed that analyses on inequalities in childhood vaccine coverage rely heavily on Demographic Health Survey (DHS) or Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) data (39.3%), and papers leveraging these data had increased in the last decade. Additionally, about half of the single-country studies were conducted in low- and middle-income countries. We found that few studies analyzed and reported inequalities using summary measures of health inequality and largely used the odds ratio resulting from logistic regression models for analyses. The most analyzed dimensions of inequality were economic status and maternal education, and the most common vaccine outcome indicator was full vaccination with the recommended vaccine schedule. However, the definition and construction of both dimensions of inequality and vaccine coverage measures varied across studies, and a variety of approaches were used to study inequalities in vaccine coverage across contexts. Overall, harmonizing methods for selecting and categorizing dimensions of inequalities as well as methods for analyzing and reporting inequalities can improve our ability to assess the magnitude and patterns of inequality in vaccine coverage and compare those inequalities across settings and time.

Immunization of pregnant women against tetanus is a key strategy for reducing tetanus morbidity and mortality while also achieving the goal of maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination. Despite substantial progress in improving newborn protection from tetanus at birth through maternal immunization, umbilical cord practices and sterilized and safe deliveries, inequitable gaps in protection remain. Notably, an infant’s tetanus protection at birth is comprised of immunization received by the mother during and before the pregnancy (e.g., through childhood vaccination, booster doses, mass vaccination campaigns, or during prior pregnancies). In this work, we examine wealth-related inequalities in maternal tetanus toxoid containing vaccination coverage before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and at birth for 72 low- and middle-income countries with a recent Demographic and Health Survey or Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (between 2013 and 2022). We summarize coverage levels and absolute and relative inequalities at each time point; compare the relative contributions of inequalities before and during pregnancy to inequalities at birth; and examine associations between inequalities and coverage levels. We present the findings for countries individually and on aggregate, by World Bank country income grouping, as well as by maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination status, finding that most of the inequality in tetanus immunization coverage at birth is introduced during pregnancy. Inequalities in coverage during pregnancy are most pronounced in low- and lower-middle-income countries, and even more so in countries which have not achieved maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination. These findings suggest that pregnancy is a key time of opportunity for equity-oriented interventions to improve maternal tetanus immunization coverage.

Abstract Background Universal health coverage promises equity in access to and quality of health services. However, there is variability in the quality of the care (QoC) delivered at health facilities in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Detecting gaps in implementation of clinical guidelines is key to prioritizing the efforts to improve quality of care. The aim of this study was to present statistical methods that maximize the use of existing electronic medical records (EMR) to monitor compliance with evidence-based care guidelines in LMICs. Methods We used iSanté, Haiti’s largest EMR to assess adherence to treatment guidelines and retention on treatment of HIV patients across Haitian HIV care facilities. We selected three processes of care – (1) implementation of a ‘test and start’ approach to antiretroviral therapy (ART), (2) implementation of HIV viral load testing, and (3) uptake of multi-month scripting for ART, and three continuity of care indicators – (4) timely ART pick-up, (5) 6-month ART retention of pregnant women and (6) 6-month ART retention of non-pregnant adults. We estimated these six indicators using a model-based approach to account for their volatility and measurement error. We added a case-mix adjustment for continuity of care indicators to account for the effect of factors other than medical care (biological, socio-economic). We combined the six indicators in a composite measure of appropriate care based on adherence to treatment guidelines. Results We analyzed data from 65,472 patients seen in 89 health facilities between June 2016 and March 2018. Adoption of treatment guidelines differed greatly between facilities; several facilities displayed 100% compliance failure, suggesting implementation issues. Risk-adjusted continuity of care indicators showed less variability, although several facilities had patient retention rates that deviated significantly from the national average. Based on the composite measure, we identified two facilities with consistently poor performance and two star performers. Conclusions Our work demonstrates the potential of EMRs to detect gaps in appropriate care processes, and thereby to guide quality improvement efforts. Closing quality gaps will be pivotal in achieving equitable access to quality care in LMICs.

L’intervention d’une institution métropolitaine peut-elle remédier à une offre de soins lacunaire pour ses habitants ? Cette interrogation guide l’analyse de l’action nouvelle d’Orléans Métropole en matière de santé. Face au nombre insuffisant de médecins pour couvrir les besoins de la population, les maires interviennent par la création de maisons de santé pluridisciplinaire. Vu l’ampleur des besoins, une réponse strictement communale s’avère néanmoins insuffisante. L’intervention métropolitaine semble légitimée pour coordonner, arbitrer et réguler l’action publique locale. Toutefois, les compétences de la métropole ne sont que partiellement exploitées. En premier lieu, Orléans Métropole a une capacité d’action limitée faute de fondements juridiques explicites pour asseoir sa légitimité et bénéficier d’outils performants. En second lieu, la métropole est à la fois concurrencée à l’échelle extra-métropolitaine par la région et les territoires adjacents, souhaitant échapper à toute satellisation, et à l’échelle intramétropolitaine par les communes membres, souhaitant préserver leur autonomie.

Immunization through vaccines among children has contributed to improved childhood survival and health outcomes globally. However, vaccine coverage among children is unevenly distributed across settings and populations. The measurement of inequalities is essential for understanding gaps in vaccine coverage affecting certain sub-populations and monitoring progress towards achieving equity. Our study aimed to characterize the methods of reporting inequalities in childhood vaccine coverage, inclusive of the settings, data source types, analytical methods, and reporting modalities used to quantify and communicate inequality. We conducted a scoping review of publications in academic journals which included analyses of inequalities in vaccination among children. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed and Web of Science and included relevant articles published between 8 December 2013 and 7 December 2023. Overall, 242 publications were identified, including 204 assessing inequalities in a single country and 38 assessing inequalities across more than one country. We observed that analyses on inequalities in childhood vaccine coverage rely heavily on Demographic Health Survey (DHS) or Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) data (39.3%), and papers leveraging these data had increased in the last decade. Additionally, about half of the single-country studies were conducted in low- and middle-income countries. We found that few studies analyzed and reported inequalities using summary measures of health inequality and largely used the odds ratio resulting from logistic regression models for analyses. The most analyzed dimensions of inequality were economic status and maternal education, and the most common vaccine outcome indicator was full vaccination with the recommended vaccine schedule. However, the definition and construction of both dimensions of inequality and vaccine coverage measures varied across studies, and a variety of approaches were used to study inequalities in vaccine coverage across contexts. Overall, harmonizing methods for selecting and categorizing dimensions of inequalities as well as methods for analyzing and reporting inequalities can improve our ability to assess the magnitude and patterns of inequality in vaccine coverage and compare those inequalities across settings and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared Law Society was created in Paris in 1869 by two young lawyers, Paul Jozon and Alexandre Ribot, with the protection of Professor Edouard Laboulaye. The double aims of this scientific and political project were to contribute at the French liberal movement affirmation and both to make better laws by studying strangers jurisdictional and constitutional system and Law. Irremovable senators nursery, but also a candidate pool of members of Parliament, ministers, ambassadors and prefects, the primary scientific academy quickly turned into a liberal « suggestions box » at the very heart of the new republican public power, at the meeting point of left and right centers, gathering orleanism and opportunism.

Despite their prestigious medieval past, the law faculties of Orléans and Bourges disappeared for a long time after their suppression by the Convention in 1793. Throughout the 19th century, the local elite unsuccessfully petitioned for their reopening. It was not before the 1960s that the reopening of a university in Orléans took place, due to the impulsion of the mayor of Orléans, Roger Secrétain, and the desire to counterbalance the academic influence of Paris, in the context of the creation of the Center region. This new birth was however done on a new basis: the Orleans faculty of law was only a small part of a primarily science and tech-oriented university ; only a small campus of the University of Orleans opened in Bourges.