SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Economic Conditions”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources

PubMed1989

Contrasting the economic outlook for dentistry and medicine.

Since 1978, expenditures for dental services, adjusted for inflation, have been almost level while the total number of dentists increased. Applicants and enrollments at American dental schools have decreased. The most important uncertainty clouding the economic future of dentistry is the impact of declines in dental disease on the demand for dental services. Medicine is also undergoing change and has experienced many of the same forces at work in dentistry. However, continuing innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of disease form a stable foundation for the demand for physicians' services, which should provide favorable economic conditions for practicing physicians. The major uncertainties for medicine are changes in the structure, finance, and reimbursement of physicians services which may result from efforts to control the cost of these new technologies.

Career Choice↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Demographic and social profile of suicide mortality in Australia.

"In Australia, death rates from suicide of young and middle-aged men increased between the early 1970s and the early 1990s, whereas those of older men and of women declined markedly. The article identifies the possible extent of underreporting of suicides. The study then examines variations in the incidence of suicide by selected social characteristics of the population: marital status, social class and economic conditions, province of residence and country of birth. It closes by suggesting a tentative conceptual model linking social structures with levels of suicide." (SUMMARY IN ITA AND FRE)

Australia↗

PubMed1985

The development of orthopaedic appliances and low cost aids in "least developed countries".

The constant reminder of ever-increasing costs and problems in regard to medical care in industrialized countries highlights the need for simplified, low cost, orthopaedic appliances for use in the non-industrialized areas of the world. Those who are engaged in the field of Orthopaedic Technology should withstand the temptation to propagate unreservedly the technologies of industrialized nations. Nowadays the so-called "non-appropriate technologies" have become the target of frequent criticism. The transfer of technology may offer visible progress in selected areas to a limited number of people but it conceals the danger of ignoring fundamental socio-economic conditions that affect the majority of people. During the United Nations Year of the Disabled, a group of international experts unanimously came to the conclusion that the current cooperation between industrialized and Third World countries requires revision leading to a new order. The consensus demanded a new emphasis on the development of technical orthopaedic services which would take into account the unique economic, social, cultural and environmental factors of each region. This paper examines the practices of technical orthopaedics in a "least developed country" and lays down principles and practical applications which could serve as a foundation for a more appropriate approach in this field.

Developing Countries↗

PubMed1988

[Epidemiologic survey in the Vila Nova slum in the municipality of Duque de Caxias-RJ (July/1988)].

Due to the high endemicity of Hansens Disease in the "Duque de Caxias Municipality", Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, an Epidemiological Survey of "Vila Nova" slum was planed. The goal was to verify the prevalence of skin diseases of sanitary concern and, also, to analise the socio-economical conditions of the population, especially those related with environment sanitation. 45% dwellings were visited and 86% of the population (1903 persons) screened by dermoneurological examination performed by auxiliary personnel. Tables show frequency of skin disease that received treatment on domiciliary basis. 19 cases were suspicious of Hansen's Disease. The social profile was assessed through the study of several parameters of the population: --economical, sanitation, personal and home hygiene.

Brazil↗

PubMed1982

[The effect of Robert Koch's discovery and investigations on the development of the therapy of tuberculosis].

The discovery of the tuberculous bacillus and the methods of cultivation have been fundamental prerequisite for the development of the therapy of tuberculosis. Substances with antimycobacterial activity in vitro even in low concentrations have been found out already by Robert Koch, however not any effective ones in vivo. The cultural demonstration of tubercle bacilli is not only important for diagnosis but the essential criterion of efficacy of the drugs and for the success of treatment. Experiments with cultures of tuberculous mycobacteria represented the basis for detection of new antituberculous drugs, for the elucidation of the mechanism of their effect, for the inquiry of the type of antituberculous activity and the basic mechanism of the development of resistance. Out of these the principles for avoiding of that has been built up. Cultures are also used for the principal and individual determination of the concentration of antituberculous drugs in blood and organs. By the excellent efficacy of the causal antituberculous therapy it is possible to cure all kind of tuberculosis without any surgical interventions which are now needless. The results of in vitro-experiments on cultures represented also the starting point for the further development of antituberculous treatment. One-phasic or two-phasic intermittent treatment and short-course therapy have simplified treatment and marked it easier, which is supervised under ambulatory conditions, too. They lowered the costs for drugs and staff considerably. The causes of relapses, which have become now the main problem instead of resistance, could been investigated by means of tuberculous cultures. The possibilities of the realisation in practice of the obtained knowledge in the scale of a country are demonstrated on the example of the GDR and referred to the social and economical conditions, of which Robert Koch already had drawn the attention.

Antitubercular Agents↗

PubMed2003

Height cycles in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Spectral analysis of the physical stature of Americans and Europeans in the 18th and 19th centuries reveals a cyclical structure similar to the traditional view of the business cycle: a longer cycle with a length of 7-10 years, and a shorter cycle with a length of 3-5 years. The correlation between height cycles and cycles of economic variables such as grain prices indicates an influence of economic cycles on physical stature. The phase shift between the cycles indicates that economic conditions are especially important for growth in infancy. In part, this result is due to a cumulative effect: born into a recessionary period, a child is likely to face several cyclical downturns during the growing years.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Socio-biological associations of bacteriuria in pregnancy.

The prevalence and socio-biological relations of bacteriuria in Trinidadian pregnant women were investigated. The prevalence of bacteriuria was found to be 16.7% and it was more common in the 30-39 year age group, among parous women, among Negroes, and in patients with a low family income and overcrowded living conditions. Symptoms were present in 19% of bacteriuric patients and almost one-third gave a past history of urinary tract infection. Only 10% had been previously exposed to sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhea and herpetic genital infections. Because of the serious consequences to mother and foetus, we advocate quantitative urine cultures for all antenatal patients, especially those coming from disadvantaged socio-economic conditions.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Modelling land use change with generalized linear models--a multi-model analysis of change between 1860 and 2000 in Gallatin Valley, Montana.

This paper develops an approach to modelling land use change that links model selection and multi-model inference with empirical models and GIS. Land use change is frequently studied, and understanding gained, through a process of modelling that is an empirical analysis of documented changes in land cover or land use patterns. The approach here is based on analysis and comparison of multiple models of land use patterns using model selection and multi-model inference. The approach is illustrated with a case study of rural housing as it has developed for part of Gallatin County, Montana, USA. A GIS contains the location of rural housing on a yearly basis from 1860 to 2000. The database also documents a variety of environmental and socio-economic conditions. A general model of settlement development describes the evolution of drivers of land use change and their impacts in the region. This model is used to develop a series of different models reflecting drivers of change at different periods in the history of the study area. These period specific models represent a series of multiple working hypotheses describing (a) the effects of spatial variables as a representation of social, economic and environmental drivers of land use change, and (b) temporal changes in the effects of the spatial variables as the drivers of change evolve over time. Logistic regression is used to calibrate and interpret these models and the models are then compared and evaluated with model selection techniques. Results show that different models are 'best' for the different periods. The different models for different periods demonstrate that models are not invariant over time which presents challenges for validation and testing of empirical models. The research demonstrates (i) model selection as a mechanism for rating among many plausible models that describe land cover or land use patterns, (ii) inference from a set of models rather than from a single model, (iii) that models can be developed based on hypothesised relationships based on consideration of underlying and proximate causes of change, and (iv) that models are not invariant over time.

Agriculture↗

PubMed2004

Epidemiology of nephrolithiasis today.

The epidemiology of nephrolithiasis differs according to geographical area and socio-economic conditions. In Italy the prevalence of the disease in 1993 was 17.2/1,000 inhabitants, most patients are men and elderly. The relative risk increased in subjects with family history for calculosis, with the tendency to eat protein-rich food and with overweight and body mass index (MBI) >32 kg/m2. Calcium oxalate and/or phosphate stones account for almost 70% of all renal stones observed in economically developed countries.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Inequality of child mortality among ethnic groups in sub-Saharan Africa.

Accounts by journalists of wars in several countries of sub-Saharan Africa in the 1990s have raised concern that ethnic cleavages and overlapping religious and racial affiliations may widen the inequalities in health and survival among ethnic groups throughout the region, particularly among children. Paradoxically, there has been no systematic examination of ethnic inequality in child survival chances across countries in the region. This paper uses survey data collected in the 1990s in 11 countries (Central African Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, and Zambia) to examine whether ethnic inequality in child mortality has been present and spreading in sub-Saharan Africa since the 1980s. The focus was on one or two groups in each country which may have experienced distinct child health and survival chances, compared to the rest of the national population, as a result of their geographical location. The factors examined to explain potential child survival inequalities among ethnic groups included residence in the largest city, household economic conditions, educational attainment and nutritional status of the mothers, use of modern maternal and child health services including immunization, and patterns of fertility and migration. The results show remarkable consistency. In all 11 countries there were significant differentials between ethnic groups in the odds of dying during infancy or before the age of 5 years. Multivariate analysis shows that ethnic child mortality differences are closely linked with economic inequality in many countries, and perhaps with differential use of child health services in countries of the Sahel region. Strong and consistent results in this study support placing the notion of ethnicity at the forefront of theories and analyses of child mortality in Africa which incorporate social, and not purely epidemiological, considerations. Moreover, the typical advantage of relatively small, clearly defined ethnic groups, as compared to the majority in the national population, according to fundamental indicators of wellbeing--child survival, education, housing, and so forth--suggests that many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, despite their widespread poverty, are as marked by social inequality as are countries in other regions in the world.

Africa South of the Sahara↗

PubMed2004

Sexual economics: sex as female resource for social exchange in heterosexual interactions.

A heterosexual community can be analyzed as a marketplace in which men seek to acquire sex from women by offering other resources in exchange. Societies will therefore define gender roles as if women are sellers and men buyers of sex. Societies will endow female sexuality, but not male sexuality, with value (as in virginity, fidelity, chastity). The sexual activities of different couples are loosely interrelated by a marketplace, instead of being fully separate or private, and each couple's decisions may be influenced by market conditions. Economic principles suggest that the price of sex will depend on supply and demand, competition among sellers, variations in product, collusion among sellers, and other factors. Research findings show gender asymmetries (reflecting the complementary economic roles) in prostitution, courtship, infidelity and divorce, female competition, the sexual revolution and changing norms, unequal status between partners, cultural suppression of female sexuality, abusive relationships, rape, and sexual attitudes.

Courtship↗

PubMed2005

Medicaid nursing facility reimbursement in flux: effects of federal regulatory changes and prevailing fiscal conditions, 1978-1998.

Basic concepts and trends are examined in Medicaid nursing facility reimbursements between 1978 and 1998, because Medicaid payment reform is a common budget reduction strategy pursued by state officials. Non-incremental changes in state rate-setting methods, as well as incremental changes in per diem rates and expenditures per recipient, are analyzed. In addition to substantial cross-state variation, results reveal clear trends in reimbursement policy characteristics over time. Not only do these track closely with changes in the federal regulatory environment, but they also track closely with prevailing fiscal and economic conditions. Given the serious ramifications reimbursement policy changes can have for nursing home residents and providers, it is imperative that the impact of federal disengagement from this policy area be understood.

Diagnosis-Related Groups↗

PubMed2005

The Jewish-Arab divide in life expectancy in Israel.

Life expectancy at birth in Israel in 2001 was 77.7 years for males and 81.6 years for females among Jews, and 74.5 and 77.8 years for males and females, respectively, among Israeli Arabs. In spite of vast improvements in health conditions of the two populations since Israel's statehood in 1948, persistent disparities in life expectancy between the two groups have challenged the Israeli socialized health care system. These disparities are influenced primarily by differences between the two population groups in infant and child mortality rates. This early study suggests that the distribution of life expectancy across localities in Israel reflects the distribution of those localities' socio-economic condition index (not including health and medical care), and the distribution of medical services. The positive association between life expectancy and the index is pronounced, however, only within the Jewish population but not among Arabs. While there may be no significant difference in life expectancy among Jews and Arabs living in poorer communities, there are fewer Arabs living in relatively affluent communities. Thus, persistent higher concentration of poverty among Arabs than among Jews has sufficed to maintain the gap in life expectancy between them. In addition, however, there are population-specific effects: wealth and education are more protective among Jews than among Arabs, while medical services are more protective among Arabs.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Chronic outpatient management of asthmatics attending the emergency department: a survey from a country with low income.

PURPOSE: Little is known about compliance with international guidelines of asthma management in developing countries where some medications are prohibitively expensive. METHODS: A survey was conducted in asthmatic patients attending the emergency department for acute asthma. Asthma severity was evaluated and conformity of chronic treatment with international guidelines was assessed. Additional features of asthmatic education were also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 127 consecutive patients (mean age 34 +/- 14 years) answered the questionnaire. Mild asthma was present in 19.7% patients, 56.7% had moderate asthma and 23.6% had severe asthma. Of the 124 known asthmatic patients, 33% had no treatment for chronic asthma. In the remaining, treatment adhered to international guidelines in 44% patients. The major cause of treatment inadequacy was the lack of inhaled corticosteroids (64%) or suboptimal dosage of corticosteroids (13%). Conformity to guidelines according to favorable or unfavorable economic conditions was 59% and 33%, respectively (P = 0.036). Treating physicians provided an 'action plan' for managing acute symptoms to 19% patients. Forty percent of asthmatic patients performed correctly the five components of metered dose inhaler use. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals an important proportion of non-treated asthmatic patients. In most asthmatic patients, treatment did not conform with guidelines because of an underutilization of corticosteroids, mainly because of economic obstacles.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1978

Financial status of social security program after the Social Security Amendments of 1977.

The Social Security Amendments of 1977 resulted in substantial improvement in the current and projected financial condition of the OASDI program. This article reviews the causes of the recent operating deficits, describes the effects of the amendments that most influence the program's financial status, and gives projections of income and expenditures under the new law. The revised benefit formula eliminates the "over-indexing" expected to occur under the old provisions and results in stable earnings-replacement ratios under practically all future economic conditions. About one-half of the long-range actuarial deficit was resolved by this step alone. Increases in the contribution and benefit base, along with tax-rate reallocations and increases, prevent the imminent depletion of the OASI and DI trust funds. Increased income due to the higher wage bases is partially offset in later years, however, by greater benefit payments based on the increases in the coverage of total earnings. Overall, under the new law the OASDI program is projected to be financed adequately for about 50 years but significant operating deficits are expected after that. The financial condition of the hospital insurance program was substantially unchanged by the amendments, however, and the HI trust fund is expected to be exhausted in 1988.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗

PubMed1994

Government intervention in cardiovascular disease--help or hindrance? A Swedish viewpoint.

In Sweden the government owns, operates, and finances nearly all health care; therefore, intervention by the government is virtually total. Until recently, government intervention in cardiovascular disease was mainly by allocation of resources through budgets to different hospital departments, based on the advice of expert groups. However, this form of intervention has become ineffective over the last few years as economic conditions have deteriorated and health care spending ceased to grow. Instead, interventions aimed at containing costs and improving the efficiency of health care have now been implemented. The important question in government intervention in health care is whether it will be compatible with clinical and therapeutic freedom and with continued progress in medical research. In the future regulations must be developed with a greater knowledge about the interaction between economic and medical factors in health care in order to provide clinical and therapeutic freedom whilst allowing continued progress in medical research.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Social determinants of loneliness among older Americans.

To further understand loneliness among older persons, a conceptual model, predicated on a social-support perspective, was examined. Results were based on 1,071 participants in the congregate and home-delivered meal programs of the Senior Citizens Nutrition and Activities Program in Hillsborough County, Florida. A series of stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that loneliness was greater among men, those with no children, those with no friends, those more physically disabled, those who subjectively felt that their health was poorer, and those who subjectively felt that their economic condition was inadequate. Not related directly to loneliness but with indirect influence were age, race, education, marital status, and poverty status. Those variables with no direct or indirect effect included rural or urban location, identification of emotional closeness with existing children or friends, and living alone. Theoretically, the results do not fully support the social-support perspective but point to the impact of a broad spectrum of demographic, health, economic, and social factors.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Obstetric urogenital fistula: the Ilorin experience, Nigeria.

A study of thirty-four cases of obstetric urogenital fistula managed over a ten-year period (1st January, 1989 to 31st December, 1998) at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital is reported. The incidence of obstetric urogenital fistula is 1.1 per 1000 births. The condition is associated with illiteracy and poorly supervised delivery. The peak incidence is in 15-19 years age group and primipara accounting for 26.5% and 50% respectively. Prolonged obstructed labour was the most common aetiological factor in 28 (82.4%) of cases. Juxta-cervical region was the most common site of obstetric urogenital fistula. Eight (23.5%) patients were separated/divorced from their husbands. Obstetric urogenital fistula can be prevented by improving socio-economic condition of the populace, educating the populace to utilize health facilities and advice against teenage pregnancy. Labour should be supervised by trained health personnel and difficult labour referred early to appropriate health care facility.

Adolescent↗