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JAMA study findings call for more targeted interventions in LMICS for malnutrition and infections for children under age 2, as well as for pregnant women

Newborn baby sleeps on the forearm of a man

An original investigation of 77 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) published in JAMA Network found that 82% of under 5 child deaths occurred before age 2, with over half occurring in the neonatal period. Authors include faculty member S (Subu) V Subramanian, visiting scientist Rockli Kim, and their colleagues Omar Karlsson and Andreas Hasman. The study also spotlights diarrhea and pneumonia as two significant causes for child death over 2…

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Addressing payment challenges faced by front-line health care workers in LMICs — a call for research to incentivize better patient care

A person receiving a Digitial payment via a cell phone

The conceptual model detailed in this Commentary in BMJ Global Health illustrates how payment digitation for health care workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) could help to improve health systems, and incentivize more streamlined, effective patient care. Five of the Commentary authors are Harvard Pop Center affiliates, including former PGDA Fellow Margaret McConnell, and faculty affiliates Sebastian Bauhoff, Kevin Croke, Stéphane Verguet, and Marcia Castro.

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Study aims to advance prevention of HIV/AIDS among young women in low- and middle-income countries

Head shot of Chunling Lu and Subu Subramanian

Two researchers affiliated with the Harvard Pop Center (Chungling Lu, PhD, and S V Subramanian, PhD) and their colleagues assessed levels of knowledge of HIV/AIDS and associated socioeconomic disparities among young women between the ages of 15-24 using Demographic Health Surveys from 51 low- and middle-income countries completed between 2002–2018.  Their findings, published in JAMA Network Open, point to there being a need to increase knowledge of HIV/AIDS across this…

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Study finds less than 20% of those 15 years and older in LMICs consume recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables

various fruits and veggies

Several researchers associated with the Harvard Pop Center are among the authors of a new study that examines whether young adults and adults in low- and middle-income countries are consuming the amount of produce recommended by the WHO on a daily basis to help prevent noncommunicable diseases.

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When it comes to lowering infant mortality rates in LMICs, a hopeful future may depend on looking back

Head shots of Nancy Krieger and S V Subramanian

Harvard Pop Center faculty members Nancy Krieger, PhD, and S (Subu) V Subramanian, PhD, and lead author Amiya Bhatia, a Harvard Pop Center graduate student affiliate, have authored a paper published in The Milbank Quarterly that makes the case for why low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) should take a deeper look into early 20th-century United States history for some constructive ways to lower their infant mortality rate.

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Non-health government expenditure found to be associated with reduction in infant mortality rate inequalities in LMICs

A study published in Health Economics, Policy and Law has found non-health government spending to be associated with lower inequalities in infant mortality rates in low- and middle-income countries, whereas health government expenditure was not. Harvard Pop Center faculty member Mauricio Avendano is an author on the study.

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A closer look at the effects of unconditional cash transfers in LMICs

A review of 21 studies in Africa, the Americas and South-East Asia finds that although unconditional cash transfers may not have a large impact on the use of health services by children and adults in LMICs, they appear to have a positive impact on some health outcomes, the chances of attending school, and healthcare expenses.

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Global health researchers call for development of local research capacity within LMICs

A team of global health experts, including Harvard Pop Center faculty members Stephen Tollman and Kathleen Kahn, have authored a Comment in The Lancet Global Health that makes a case for why strengthening local research capacities within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is needed to most effectively pinpoint issues, and develop and govern system-wide solutions. The team offers a detailed list of action steps that could be taken to ensure that such a…

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