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Rethinking cross-border health systems for contexts of mobility and forced displacement 重新思考流动和被迫流离失所背景下的跨境卫生系统
Pub Date : 2026-01-09 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmhs.2026.100172
Fouad Fouad , Kyu Kyu Than , Maria Paola Bertone , Sophie Witter , Nyi Nyi Kyaw , Ibrahim R. Bou-Orm
Health systems today are deeply affected by conflicts, forced displacement, and other stressors such as climate change. Traditional health system frameworks, while influential, often assume stable, territorially bounded national systems and do not fully capture the realities of mobility, contested authority, and health care seeking and delivery across borders. This paper explores how health systems operate in contexts where both internationally recognized borders and internal power lines shape the dynamics of health provision for displaced and mobile populations. Drawing on illustrative cases from Northwest Syria and Myanmar, we examine how health systems adapt across and beyond borders in the absence of formal national response. In Syria, humanitarian cross-border mechanisms, local governance bodies, and mobile referral networks have sustained care despite fragmented authority. In Myanmar, ethnic health organizations, diaspora networks, and transnational supply chains have long supported communities in border areas, with populations frequently moving across borders into Thailand, China, and Bangladesh to access essential care. We propose a new approach to cross-border health systems that includes recognizing the roles of non-state and humanitarian actors, enabling flexible financing and workforce recognition across jurisdictions, and developing interoperable data systems sensitive to mobility. By incorporating these dimensions, health systems can be better understood and supported in ways that reflect the realities of forced displacement and mobility in complex conflict-affected settings.
当今的卫生系统深受冲突、被迫流离失所以及气候变化等其他压力因素的影响。传统的卫生系统框架虽然有影响力,但往往假定稳定的、有领土界限的国家系统,并没有充分把握流动性、有争议的权威以及跨境寻求和提供卫生保健的现实。本文探讨了卫生系统如何在国际公认的边界和内部电力线塑造流离失所者和流动人口卫生服务动态的背景下运作。根据叙利亚西北部和缅甸的说明性案例,我们研究了在没有正式国家应对措施的情况下,卫生系统如何跨界和跨界适应。在叙利亚,尽管权力分散,但人道主义跨境机制、地方治理机构和移动转诊网络维持了医疗服务。在缅甸,少数民族卫生组织、侨民网络和跨国供应链长期以来一直为边境地区的社区提供支持,人口经常跨境进入泰国、中国和孟加拉国,以获得基本医疗服务。我们提出了一种跨境卫生系统的新方法,包括承认非国家和人道主义行为体的作用,实现跨司法管辖区的灵活融资和劳动力认可,以及开发对流动性敏感的可互操作数据系统。通过纳入这些方面,可以更好地理解和支持卫生系统,以反映受复杂冲突影响环境中被迫流离失所和流动的现实。
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引用次数: 0
Integrating family planning into Nigeria’s public health insurance: Challenges, opportunities, and feasibility for enhanced primary health care 将计划生育纳入尼日利亚的公共健康保险:加强初级保健的挑战、机遇和可行性
Pub Date : 2026-01-08 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmhs.2026.100169
Emmanuel Nwala , Ayan Jha , Sa’id Gaya , Jay Gribble , Frances Ilika
In Nigeria, integrating family planning (FP) into the essential benefits package under public health insurance is pivotal to improving reproductive health and combating poverty. The government’s commitment to achieve 90 % health insurance coverage by 2030 presents a timely opportunity to expand FP access and affordability. Through policy analysis, stakeholder interviews across 11 states, and a multi-stakeholder roundtable, we identified key barriers including inadequate and inefficient public financing, donor over-reliance, weak procurement, and workforce shortages. While some states have integrated FP, coverage remains fragmented with variations in services offerings. Key stakeholders advocated for comprehensive integration of FP services into primary healthcare and public health insurance, ensuring access to education, counseling, and a full range of contraceptives. Services were proposed to be tiered as primary (for all facilities) and secondary (for advanced facilities). Sustainable integration shall require a phased approach with necessary insurance premium adjustments. A blended payment model combining capitation and fee-for-service was recommended for provider compensation. Addressing the shortage of skilled FP providers, particularly for long-acting reversible contraceptives, requires training programs like the Community-Based Health Research Innovative Training and Services Program to equip frontline health workers. These actions can support integration, ensure equitable contraceptive access, and advance Nigeria’s health sector reforms.
在尼日利亚,将计划生育纳入公共健康保险下的一揽子基本福利,对于改善生殖健康和消除贫困至关重要。政府承诺到2030年实现90% %的医疗保险覆盖率,这为扩大计划生育的可及性和可负担性提供了及时的机会。通过政策分析、11个州的利益相关者访谈和多方利益相关者圆桌会议,我们确定了主要障碍,包括公共融资不足和效率低下、对捐助者的过度依赖、采购不力和劳动力短缺。虽然一些州已经整合了计划生育,但由于服务提供的差异,覆盖范围仍然分散。主要利益攸关方主张将计划生育服务全面纳入初级保健和公共健康保险,确保获得教育、咨询和各种避孕药具。建议将服务分为初级(针对所有设施)和二级(针对高级设施)。可持续的整合需要分阶段进行,并进行必要的保费调整。建议采用按人头计酬和按服务收费相结合的混合支付模式作为提供者补偿。解决熟练的计划生育提供者短缺的问题,特别是长效可逆避孕药具提供者短缺的问题,需要培训方案,如社区卫生研究创新培训和服务方案,以装备一线卫生工作者。这些行动可以支持一体化,确保公平获得避孕药具,并推进尼日利亚卫生部门改革。
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引用次数: 0
From crisis to resilience: Catalysing epidemic and pandemic preparedness through National Public Health Institutes 从危机到复原力:通过国家公共卫生研究所促进流行病和大流行病的防范
Pub Date : 2025-12-29 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100165
Thanitsara Rittiphairoj , Catherine Smallwood , Moa Herrgard , Wasiq Khan
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) in responding to global health emergencies. This commentary examined the contributions and challenges of NPHIs in four countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), including Somalia, Morocco, Pakistan, and Jordan, during the pandemic response. Drawing on country case studies, we highlighted shared achievements, unique contributions, and operational challenges. Key successes included strengthening public health surveillance systems, expanding laboratory testing capacities, establishing emergency operations centers, and advancing pandemic-related research. However, several systemic challenges impeded effective response, including insufficient funding, workforce shortages, weak health information systems, unclear leadership roles, lack of standardized operating procedures, and limited evidence use in policymaking. Based on these experiences, we proposed key strategies to strengthen NPHIs and improve pandemic preparedness. These included securing sustainable financing (e.g., contingency funds), coordinating donor support, investing in workforce training and simulations, improving peripheral laboratory infrastructure and data integration, developing standardized, multisectoral protocols led by NPHIs, strengthening international partnerships for surveillance and resource mobilization, and enhancing risk communication and community engagement. The paper emphasized the importance of sustained political commitment and long-term investment in NPHIs to build resilient health systems capable of effectively responding to future health threats.
2019冠状病毒病大流行凸显了国家公共卫生机构在应对全球突发卫生事件中的关键作用。本评论审查了东地中海区域四个国家(包括索马里、摩洛哥、巴基斯坦和约旦)在应对大流行期间的贡献和挑战。根据国别案例研究,我们强调了共同成就、独特贡献和业务挑战。取得的主要成就包括加强公共卫生监测系统、扩大实验室检测能力、建立应急行动中心以及推进与大流行有关的研究。然而,一些系统性挑战阻碍了有效应对,包括资金不足、劳动力短缺、卫生信息系统薄弱、领导角色不明确、缺乏标准化操作程序以及决策中证据使用有限。根据这些经验,我们提出了加强国家公共卫生信息和改进大流行防范的关键战略。这些措施包括确保可持续融资(如应急基金)、协调捐助方支持、投资于劳动力培训和模拟、改善外围实验室基础设施和数据整合、制定由国家卫生组织牵头的标准化多部门协议、加强监测和资源调动方面的国际伙伴关系,以及加强风险沟通和社区参与。该文件强调了持续的政治承诺和对非公共卫生信息的长期投资的重要性,以建立能够有效应对未来卫生威胁的有弹性的卫生系统。
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引用次数: 0
From legacy systems to real-time response: VPD-SMART implementation and its impact on public health surveillance in Paraguay and the Americas 从遗留系统到实时响应:VPD-SMART的实施及其对巴拉圭和美洲公共卫生监测的影响
Pub Date : 2025-12-29 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100166
Claudia Ortiz , Felipe A. Millacura , Christian Atavillos , Pamela Bravo-Alcántara , Juan Espinoza , Victor Osorio , Carolina Baeza , Paola Ojeda , Fernando Revilla , Carmelita Pacis , Susana Bobadilla , Faviola Araceli , Pablo Del Medico , Carlos Tejo , Enzo Rossi , Fabian Ordoñez , Silvana Zapata-Bedoya , Emilia Cain , Pilar Tavera , Mirta Magarinos , Martha Velandia-Gonzalez
In the Americas, traditional public health surveillance systems often face a significant data-use gap, hindering a timely response to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). This manuscript details the implementation of VPD-SMART, a novel DHIS2-based system, as a digital transformation initiative to enhance VPD surveillance and bridge this gap. We analyze Paraguay's transition from the legacy Integrated Surveillance Information System (ISIS) to VPD-SMART, focusing on how its functionalities, including real-time decentralized data collection and enhanced analysis, improve the performance of health information systems. We find that the transition to VPD-SMART significantly improved data quality, consistency, and timeliness. A quantitative analysis showed a notable increase in data completeness and a rise in consistency for key variables from 54 % to 97 %. The average time for data entry also decreased, shifting from a weekly to a daily basis. Qualitative findings confirm that the system empowers health authorities with real-time, data-driven insights. By examining these challenges and opportunities, we provide empirical evidence on how leveraging DHIS2 can enhance public health surveillance and inform similar digital transformation efforts in other low- and middle-income countries.
在美洲,传统的公共卫生监测系统往往面临着巨大的数据使用差距,阻碍了对疫苗可预防疾病的及时应对。本文详细介绍了VPD- smart的实施,这是一种基于dhis2的新型系统,作为加强VPD监测和弥合这一差距的数字化转型举措。我们分析了巴拉圭从传统的综合监测信息系统(ISIS)向VPD-SMART的过渡,重点关注其功能(包括实时分散数据收集和增强分析)如何改善卫生信息系统的性能。我们发现,向VPD-SMART的过渡显著提高了数据质量、一致性和及时性。定量分析显示,数据完整性显著提高,关键变量的一致性从54 %提高到97 %。数据输入的平均时间也减少了,从每周变为每天。定性调查结果证实,该系统使卫生当局能够获得实时的、数据驱动的见解。通过研究这些挑战和机遇,我们提供了经验证据,说明如何利用DHIS2加强公共卫生监测,并为其他低收入和中等收入国家的类似数字化转型工作提供信息。
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引用次数: 0
Challenges and opportunities for policy development on digital health equity in four Canadian jurisdictions 加拿大四个司法管辖区数字卫生公平政策制定的挑战和机遇
Pub Date : 2025-12-24 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100164
James Shaw , Caroline Tait , Ubaka Ogbogu , Lorian Hardcastle , Ewan Affleck , Ivar Mendez , Ambreen Sayani , Sheryl Spithoff , Simone Shahid , Sumaya Mehelay , Heather Ross , Janine Badr , Amy Ma , Jean-Louis Denis
Digital health equity is an increasingly important topic, understood here as an aspirational state where everyone has access to the health-related digital technologies that support them in meeting their health-related needs. Despite strong emerging evidence regarding policy options to promote digital health equity, little policy action has been taken internationally to implement these options. The purpose of this paper is to report on a qualitative research project that explores the challenges and opportunities for policy development and implementation on digital health equity in four Canadian jurisdictions: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. We completed an Intersectionality-Based Policy Analysis, involving in-depth qualitative interviews with 23 participants, including both policy actors (i.e., those in positions to develop and/or implement digital health equity policy) and community leaders (i.e., those in positions advocating for the needs of structurally marginalized communities). Our findings illustrate a set of foundational policy options and more tailored policy programs for digital health equity, including the development of equity-focused accountability processes in new funding for digital health innovation. We also found challenges related to the political structure of Canada as a federation, and novel challenges related to the development of policy for digital health equity specifically. In our discussion, we explore three policy development challenges in detail: conflicting views on the priority status of health equity, challenges in building long-term partnerships with community for policy development, and conflicting views on the role of technology vendors in public policy for health care.
数字卫生公平是一个日益重要的主题,这里将其理解为一种理想状态,即每个人都能获得与健康相关的数字技术,支持他们满足与健康相关的需求。尽管在促进数字卫生公平的政策选择方面出现了强有力的证据,但国际上几乎没有采取政策行动来实施这些选择。本文的目的是报告一个定性研究项目,该项目探讨了加拿大四个司法管辖区(阿尔伯塔省、萨斯喀彻温省、安大略省和魁北克省)数字卫生公平政策制定和实施的挑战和机遇。我们完成了一项基于交叉性的政策分析,涉及对23名参与者的深入定性访谈,其中包括政策行为者(即那些制定和/或实施数字卫生公平政策的人)和社区领导人(即那些倡导结构边缘化社区需求的人)。我们的研究结果说明了一套基本的政策选择和更有针对性的数字健康公平政策计划,包括在数字健康创新的新资金中发展以公平为重点的问责制流程。我们还发现了与加拿大作为联邦的政治结构相关的挑战,以及与数字健康公平政策制定相关的新挑战。在我们的讨论中,我们详细探讨了三个政策制定方面的挑战:关于卫生公平优先地位的相互冲突的观点,在与社区建立政策制定长期伙伴关系方面的挑战,以及关于技术供应商在卫生保健公共政策中的作用的相互冲突的观点。
{"title":"Challenges and opportunities for policy development on digital health equity in four Canadian jurisdictions","authors":"James Shaw ,&nbsp;Caroline Tait ,&nbsp;Ubaka Ogbogu ,&nbsp;Lorian Hardcastle ,&nbsp;Ewan Affleck ,&nbsp;Ivar Mendez ,&nbsp;Ambreen Sayani ,&nbsp;Sheryl Spithoff ,&nbsp;Simone Shahid ,&nbsp;Sumaya Mehelay ,&nbsp;Heather Ross ,&nbsp;Janine Badr ,&nbsp;Amy Ma ,&nbsp;Jean-Louis Denis","doi":"10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100164","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100164","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Digital health equity is an increasingly important topic, understood here as an aspirational state where everyone has access to the health-related digital technologies that support them in meeting their health-related needs. Despite strong emerging evidence regarding policy options to promote digital health equity, little policy action has been taken internationally to implement these options. The purpose of this paper is to report on a qualitative research project that explores the challenges and opportunities for policy development and implementation on digital health equity in four Canadian jurisdictions: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec. We completed an Intersectionality-Based Policy Analysis, involving in-depth qualitative interviews with 23 participants, including both policy actors (i.e., those in positions to develop and/or implement digital health equity policy) and community leaders (i.e., those in positions advocating for the needs of structurally marginalized communities). Our findings illustrate a set of foundational policy options and more tailored policy programs for digital health equity, including the development of equity-focused accountability processes in new funding for digital health innovation. We also found challenges related to the political structure of Canada as a federation, and novel challenges related to the development of policy for digital health equity specifically. In our discussion, we explore three policy development challenges in detail: conflicting views on the priority status of health equity, challenges in building long-term partnerships with community for policy development, and conflicting views on the role of technology vendors in public policy for health care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101183,"journal":{"name":"SSM - Health Systems","volume":"6 ","pages":"Article 100164"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145885009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Utilization of healthcare services by informal workers: Evidence from Assam 非正式工人对保健服务的利用:来自阿萨姆邦的证据
Pub Date : 2025-12-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100163
Kanchan Devi , Vandana Upadhyay
The informal sector is a crucial part of the economy, yet its workers face significant healthcare access barriers, including financial constraints, long working hours, and limited social security. While research on healthcare utilization in India exists, studies focusing on informal workers, especially at the state level, remain limited. Assam, with its high dependence on the informal economy, presents unique healthcare challenges for this workforce. This study examines inpatient and outpatient healthcare utilization among informal workers in Assam, analysing barriers and sources of care. Using both primary, a cross-sectional household survey was conducted across three districts, Dhubri, Sonitpur, and Dhemaji. Healthcare utilization patterns were analysed using probit and logistic regression models, with model selection based on comparative pseudo values. Key socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related factors were examined to assess their influence on healthcare utilization. The findings reveal significant district-wise disparities, with outpatient care rates higher than inpatient care. Urban residents, insured individuals, and non-migrants utilized both services more frequently. Gender disparities persist, with males accessing more inpatient care except in Dhemaji. SC/ST groups and lower-income populations faced greater barriers, while non-communicable diseases primarily drove inpatient care demand. Key barriers included poor service quality and long distances to healthcare facilities. To improve healthcare utilization among informal workers, policies should focus on strengthening public healthcare infrastructure, expanding financial assistance programs, and improving service quality. Awareness campaigns, socioeconomic equity measures, and effective implementation of universal health coverage initiatives are essential for ensuring equitable healthcare access in Assam.
非正规部门是经济的重要组成部分,但其工人在获得医疗保健方面面临重大障碍,包括财政限制、工作时间长和社会保障有限。虽然有关于印度医疗保健利用情况的研究,但侧重于非正式工人的研究,特别是在邦一级的研究仍然有限。阿萨姆邦高度依赖非正规经济,对这一劳动力提出了独特的保健挑战。本研究调查了阿萨姆邦非正规工人的住院和门诊医疗保健利用情况,分析了护理的障碍和来源。使用这两种初级方法,在杜布里、索尼特普尔和德马吉三个地区进行了横断面家庭调查。使用probit和logistic回归模型分析医疗保健利用模式,模型选择基于比较伪值。研究了关键的社会经济、人口统计和健康相关因素,以评估其对医疗保健利用的影响。研究结果揭示了显著的地区差异,门诊护理率高于住院护理。城镇居民、参保人员和非流动人口使用这两项服务的频率更高。性别差异依然存在,除了德马吉,男性获得的住院治疗更多。SC/ST群体和低收入人群面临更大的障碍,而非传染性疾病主要推动了住院护理需求。主要障碍包括服务质量差和保健设施距离远。为了提高非正规工人的医疗保健利用率,政策应侧重于加强公共医疗保健基础设施,扩大财政援助计划,提高服务质量。提高认识运动、社会经济公平措施和有效实施全民健康覆盖倡议对于确保阿萨姆邦公平获得医疗保健至关重要。
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引用次数: 0
Readiness of health facilities to provide HIV testing and counseling and TB services in Nepal: Findings from a 2021 Nepal Health Facility Survey 尼泊尔卫生机构是否准备好提供艾滋病毒检测和咨询以及结核病服务:2021年尼泊尔卫生机构调查结果
Pub Date : 2025-12-18 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100160
Kiran Acharya , Ali Mirzazadeh , Keshab Deuba

Introduction

HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) are major public health challenges in Nepal, requiring well-prepared health systems to provide effective care. We assessed the readiness of Nepal’s health facilities to provide HIV testing and counseling (HTC) and TB services.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of 359 health facilities providing HTC and TB services using data from the 2021 Nepal Health Facility Survey. We used WHO Service Availability and Readiness Assessment manual, focusing on key domains such as trained staff, guidelines, equipment, diagnostics, and medicines/commodities to calculate readiness scores. We reported the readiness scores for HTC and TB services across different types of facilities. Further, the multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between exposures and the HTC and TB service readiness.

Results

The overall readiness score for both HTC and TB services was 51 %. Stand-alone HTC centres demonstrated the highest readiness (80 %–100 %), and public hospitals also showed strong readiness for both HTC (69 %) and TB (63 %) services, particularly when equipped with quality assurance systems, routine management meetings, and external supervision. In contrast, basic health care centers and private hospitals demonstrated substantially lower readiness for HTC (47 %–48 %) and TB services (48 %–55 %). Urban facilities had higher readiness than rural facilities (53 % vs. 47 %), and readiness varied across provinces, with Sudurpashchim showing relatively higher scores. Multivariable analysis indicated that private facilities, primary health care centers, and basic health care centers had significantly lower readiness compared to public hospitals. Health facilities in rural locations and those in Karnali Province were associated with lower HTC readiness, whereas Sudurpashchim Province had higher TB readiness. Facilities performing quality assurance had higher readiness for both services, and for HTC services, those receiving external supervision in the past four months also demonstrated significantly improved readiness.

Conclusions

This study highlights critical gaps and subnational variations in HTC and TB service readiness across health facilities in Nepal. Strengthening quality assurance systems, routine supervision, and management practices is essential to improve readiness, particularly in rural areas, basic health care centers, and private hospitals. Investments in infrastructure and targeted interventions are recommended to enhance equitable access to HTC and TB services in Nepal.
艾滋病毒和结核病是尼泊尔主要的公共卫生挑战,需要准备充分的卫生系统提供有效的护理。我们评估了尼泊尔卫生机构提供艾滋病毒检测和咨询(HTC)以及结核病服务的准备情况。方法我们利用2021年尼泊尔卫生设施调查的数据,对359家提供HTC和结核病服务的卫生设施进行了二次分析。我们使用了《世卫组织服务可用性和准备情况评估手册》,重点关注训练有素的工作人员、指南、设备、诊断方法和药品/商品等关键领域,以计算准备情况得分。我们报告了不同类型设施中HTC和结核病服务的准备程度得分。此外,进行了多变量线性回归分析,以评估暴露与宏达电和结核病服务准备之间的关系。结果HTC和TB服务的总体准备度得分为51 %。独立的HTC中心表现出最高的准备程度(80% % -100 %),公立医院也表现出对HTC(69% %)和结核病(63% %)服务的高度准备程度,特别是在配备了质量保证系统、例行管理会议和外部监督的情况下。相比之下,基础卫生保健中心和私立医院对宏达电(47 % -48 %)和结核病服务(48 % -55 %)的准备程度明显较低。城市设施的准备程度高于农村设施(53 %对47 %),准备程度因省而异,苏杜尔帕什奇姆的得分相对较高。多变量分析表明,与公立医院相比,私立设施、初级卫生保健中心和基础卫生保健中心的准备程度明显较低。农村地区和卡纳利省卫生设施的结核病准备度较低,而苏杜尔帕什钦省的结核病准备度较高。执行质量保证的设施对这两项服务的准备程度更高,而对于宏达电服务,在过去四个月接受外部监督的设施也表现出显著改善的准备程度。本研究突出了尼泊尔各卫生机构在宏达电和结核病服务准备方面的重大差距和地方差异。加强质量保证体系、日常监督和管理实践对于提高准备程度至关重要,特别是在农村地区、基础卫生保健中心和私立医院。建议投资于基础设施和有针对性的干预措施,以促进尼泊尔公平获得HTC和结核病服务。
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引用次数: 0
Community health workers’ perspectives on challenges faced by diverse, low-income suburban residents in Long Island, New York, United States 社区卫生工作者对美国纽约长岛不同低收入郊区居民所面临挑战的看法
Pub Date : 2025-12-18 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100162
Tatiana Ramirez, Meshack Achore, Martine Hackett

Background

Serving as a bridge between community members and the healthcare system, community health workers (CHWs) play a vital role in addressing health inequities within their communities. Research on CHWs, particularly in suburban contexts, remains limited. This study aims to identify the challenges faced by diverse, low-income suburban residents in Long Island, New York, United States, through the perspectives of the CHWs who serve these communities.

Methods

Data were collected through demographic surveys and semi-structured interviews with 10 CHWs working in Long Island, New York, from April 2024 to September 2024. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed for themes and sub-themes using Atlas.ti software.

Results

Three main themes emerged from the interview analysis: structural barriers and access, psychosocial and emotional well-being, and navigating systems. CHWs identified several challenges faced by diverse, low-income residents, including transportation, housing, food insecurity, emotional support, mental health resource navigation, immigration, and cultural barriers. CHWs addressed these challenges in various ways, primarily by connecting clients to resources, building relationships with them, and participating in the development of necessary programs and services.

Conclusion

Diverse, low-income suburban residents face numerous challenges that put them at risk for poor health outcomes and reduced quality of life. Community Health Workers (CHWs) have played a crucial role in assisting residents in navigating these challenges, although they have also faced difficulties in the process. Organizations serving these residents should develop improved CHWs resources to effectively meet community needs.
作为社区成员与卫生保健系统之间的桥梁,社区卫生工作者在解决社区内卫生不公平现象方面发挥着至关重要的作用。对社区卫生工作者的研究,特别是在郊区的研究仍然有限。本研究旨在通过为这些社区服务的社区卫生工作者的视角,确定美国纽约长岛郊区低收入居民所面临的挑战。方法于2024年4月至2024年9月,通过人口调查和半结构化访谈对10名在纽约长岛工作的卫生保健员进行数据收集。使用Atlas对访谈记录进行主题和子主题的编码和分析。ti的软件。访谈分析中出现了三个主要主题:结构性障碍和准入、心理社会和情感健康以及导航系统。chw确定了不同低收入居民面临的几个挑战,包括交通、住房、食品不安全、情感支持、心理健康资源导航、移民和文化障碍。卫生院以各种方式应对这些挑战,主要是通过将客户与资源联系起来,与他们建立关系,并参与必要项目和服务的开发。结论:不同的低收入郊区居民面临着许多挑战,这些挑战使他们面临健康状况不佳和生活质量下降的风险。社区卫生工作者在帮助居民应对这些挑战方面发挥了至关重要的作用,尽管他们在这一过程中也面临着困难。为这些居民服务的机构应开发更完善的卫生保健资源,以有效地满足社区的需要。
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引用次数: 0
A mixed-methods study of expanding later abortion care at two U.S. facilities 在两家美国机构扩大晚期堕胎护理的混合方法研究
Pub Date : 2025-12-16 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100161
Tracy A. Weitz , Adrian Davis , Malcolm Wilson Schwartz , Julia E. Kohn
After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion in 2022, many state laws continued to define abortion in relation to the “viability” standard established in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992). Providers often operationalized this concept as an ultrasound reading of 24 weeks’ pregnancy duration, despite broad discretion to determine viability. This study examines how two Illinois facilities expanded abortion services from the commonly accepted 24-week threshold to 28 weeks. We employed a mixed-methods design including an anonymous online staff survey, qualitative interviews with a purposive sample of clinical and non-clinical staff, and analysis of administrative patient data. We aimed to identify factors that enabled or constrained service expansion and to document staff experiences. We used administrative data to assess patient characteristics. To address critiques that research on barriers and facilitators can be overly general, we triangulated findings across data sources with attention to the specific requirements of providing later abortion care. Findings highlight the importance of a supportive organizational culture—characterized by decisive leadership, tolerance for legal risk, commitment to later-care patients, and engagement with an enabling ecosystem. Equally critical was the ability to adapt service delivery, including staffing, clinical flow, pain management, and around-the-clock care. We find evidence that young people, people of color, and people from outside Illinois directly benefited from the expansion. This study contributes to understanding how health systems navigate change in contexts of high stigma, with implications for later abortion care and other contested services.
在美国最高法院于2022年推翻了联邦堕胎权之后,许多州的法律继续根据1973年罗伊诉韦德案(Roe v. Wade)和1992年计划生育联合会诉凯西案(Planned Parenthood v. Casey)中确立的“生存能力”标准来定义堕胎。尽管在确定存活能力方面有广泛的酌情权,但提供者通常将这一概念操作为24周妊娠期的超声读数。本研究考察了伊利诺伊州的两家机构如何将堕胎服务从普遍接受的24周门槛扩大到28周。我们采用混合方法设计,包括匿名在线员工调查,对临床和非临床员工进行有目的的定性访谈,以及对行政患者数据的分析。我们的目的是找出促成或限制服务扩展的因素,并记录员工的经验。我们使用行政资料来评估患者的特征。为了解决关于障碍和促进因素的研究可能过于笼统的批评,我们对数据来源的研究结果进行了三角分析,并关注了提供后期堕胎护理的具体要求。研究结果强调了支持性组织文化的重要性,其特点是果断的领导,对法律风险的容忍,对后期护理患者的承诺,以及参与一个有利的生态系统。同样重要的是适应服务提供的能力,包括人员配置、临床流程、疼痛管理和全天候护理。我们发现有证据表明,年轻人、有色人种和伊利诺伊州以外的人直接受益于扩张。这项研究有助于了解卫生系统如何在高度耻辱的背景下应对变化,对后来的堕胎护理和其他有争议的服务有影响。
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引用次数: 0
Feminist political economy analysis of labor rights and protections of Nepal’s community health workers 尼泊尔社区卫生工作者劳工权利和保护的女权主义政治经济学分析
Pub Date : 2025-12-02 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmhs.2025.100158
Roosa Sofia Tikkanen , Sushmita Pokhrel , Usha Ghimire , Biraj Neupane , Svea Closser , Bernadette Nirmal Kumar
Community health workers are a feminized cadre often engaged informally with low pay and without labor law protections. Feminist political economy (FPE) argues that the undervaluation of health and care workers relates to gendered assumptions around skill and motivation. We examined the labor rights and protections of Nepal’s Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) through an FPE lens to assess the valuation of their work by decision-makers and the opportunity costs of volunteering. Our case study design collected data from 165 documents, 26 semi-structured interviews and five focus groups from four districts in Bagmati province, analysed via thematic analysis using a two-pronged framework derived from the World Health Organization’s recommendations for CHW programs and health workforce labor rights: ‘remuneration fairness’ relative to cost of living, labor market and workload, and ‘social protection’ as insurance, retirement benefits and legal recognition. Remuneration was not considered ‘fair’ relative to living costs, labor market context or their workload, contributing to turnover among younger, higher-educated FCHVs. Social protection gaps persisted around health and life insurance, and retirement compensation was low relative to the longstanding experience of some FCHVs. Although informality impedes FCHVs’ labor rights, some municipalities have added incentives and expanded social protections, in part through female Deputy Mayors and FCHVs elected into local government. Gendered assumptions around time availability and skill persist among policymakers, contributing to the low valuation of FCHV labor.
社区卫生工作者是一个女性化的骨干队伍,通常从事非正式工作,工资低,没有劳动法保护。女权主义政治经济学(FPE)认为,对卫生和护理工作者的低估与围绕技能和动机的性别假设有关。我们通过FPE视角考察了尼泊尔女性社区卫生志愿者(FCHVs)的劳动权利和保护,以评估决策者对其工作的评价和志愿服务的机会成本。我们的案例研究设计收集了来自巴格马提省4个地区的165份文件、26次半结构化访谈和5个焦点小组的数据,通过专题分析,采用了世界卫生组织(World Health Organization)关于卫生保健项目和卫生工作者劳工权利的建议:与生活成本、劳动力市场和工作量相关的“薪酬公平”,以及作为保险、退休福利和法律认可的“社会保护”两方面的框架。相对于生活成本、劳动力市场环境或他们的工作量,薪酬被认为不“公平”,这导致了年轻、受过高等教育的fchv的流动。健康和人寿保险方面的社会保护差距仍然存在,与一些fchv的长期经验相比,退休补偿较低。尽管非正规性阻碍了fchv的劳动权利,但一些市政当局增加了激励措施并扩大了社会保护,部分是通过女性副市长和女性fchv当选为地方政府成员。政策制定者对时间可用性和技能的性别假设持续存在,导致FCHV劳动力的低估值。
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引用次数: 0
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SSM - Health Systems
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