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Healthcare availability, practices and development

Section edited by Benjamin Bellows

This section considers studies addressing all aspects of access to and availability of healthcare, healthcare knowledge, practices, and beliefs, as well as studies of healthcare development and training in rural and/or developing areas.


  1. When it comes to gender-based violence (GBV), migrant women and girls represent the most vulnerable group. GBV can happen at any stage of migrants’ flight and/or during the asylum process. It has severe conseq...

    Authors: Mirjam D. Rodella Sapia, Tenzin Wangmo, Stéphanie Dagron and Bernice S. Elger
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2020 20:25
  2. Illicit financial flows (IFFs) drain domestic resources with harmful social effects, especially in countries which are too poor to mobilise the revenues required to finance the provision of essential public go...

    Authors: Bienvenido Ortega, Jesús Sanjuán and Antonio Casquero
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2020 20:15
  3. Various countries in the world have achieved promising progress in promoting, protecting and guaranteeing sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHRs) since the 1994 International Conference on Population and...

    Authors: Tariku Tadesse, Mesay Hailu Dangisso and Teshome Abuka Abebo
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2020 20:4
  4. Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a cultural practice associated with health consequences, women rights and deprivation of dignity. Despite FGM/C-related health consequences, circumcised women may e...

    Authors: Samuel Kimani, Caroline W. Kabiru, Jacinta Muteshi and Jaldesa Guyo
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2020 20:3
  5. Research into the mistreatment of women during childbirth has increased over recent years. Overt violence is an important focus of research, but recently there has been increasing recognition that there are ot...

    Authors: Maura Lappeman and Leslie Swartz
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2019 19:30
  6. In the context of global health, the work of nurses is of key importance, given their role as diplomats in global health and as fundamental forces in the construction of global partnerships. This study seeks t...

    Authors: Carla Aparecida Arena Ventura, Isabel Amelia Costa Mendes, Simone de Godoy, Laís Fumincelli, Mirella Castellano Souza and Valtuir Duarte Souza Junior
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2019 19:27
  7. Sexual violence is a global health problem. After ratifying the Convention of Istanbul in 2016, this Belgian study was set up to map the perspective of victims of rape on the current sexual violence care provi...

    Authors: Laura Peeters, Anke Vandenberghe, Bavo Hendriks, Christine Gilles, Kristien Roelens and Ines Keygnaert
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2019 19:21
  8. In 2010, a shelter programme was established in the Netherlands to provide social and health services for trafficked people. This article describes how service users in this programme conceptualized and experi...

    Authors: Roderik F. Viergever, Nicki Thorogood, Tamara van Driel, Judith RLM Wolf and Mary Alison Durand
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2019 19:3
  9. In Mozambique, the widow is traditionally required to undergo a cleansing ritual called pita-kufa, which generally involves several sessions of unprotected sexual intercourse with the brother of her deceased husb...

    Authors: Germano Vera Cruz, Aniceto Mateus and Priscilla S. Dlamini
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2018 18:37
  10. Despite 20 years of democracy, South Africa still suffers from profound health inequalities. Gender roles and norms are associated with individuals’ vulnerability that lead to ill-health. For instance, gender ...

    Authors: Mayara Fontes Marx, Leslie London and Alex Müller
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2018 18:33
  11. Maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) is still the major public health problem in about 25 countries, mainly in Africa and Asia. However, the utilization of intervention strategies, like tetanus toxoid (TT) immu...

    Authors: Meseret Delesa Anatea, Tesfaye Hambisa Mekonnen and Berihun Assefa Dachew
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2018 18:27
  12. With an increasing migrant population globally the need to organize interpreting service arises in emergency healthcare to deliver equitable high-quality care. The aims of this study were to describe interpret...

    Authors: Christina Lundin, Emina Hadziabdic and Katarina Hjelm
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2018 18:23
  13. Despite global declaration of the right to life as a fundamental human right and substantial progress in reducing childhood mortality, unacceptably high number of children still die before their fifth birthday...

    Authors: Girma Temam Shifa, Ahmed Ali Ahmed and Alemayehu Worku Yalew
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2018 18:14
  14. In Ghana, adolescents constitute about a quarter of the total population. These adolescents make reproductive health decisions and choices based on their knowledge and the availability of such choices. These r...

    Authors: Joseph Maaminu Kyilleh, Philip Teg-Nefaah Tabong and Benson Boinkum Konlaan
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2018 18:6
  15. Emphasis on HIV testing as a gateway to prevention, treatment and care has grown tremendously over the past decade. In turn, this emphasis on testing has created a demand for new policies, programs, and techno...

    Authors: Marilou Gagnon, Martin French and Yamilee Hébert
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2018 18:5
  16. Sexual violence is widespread, yet relatively few survivors receive healthcare or complete treatment. In low and middle-income countries, community health workers (CHWs) have the potential to provide support s...

    Authors: Anne Gatuguta, Barbra Katusiime, Janet Seeley, Manuela Colombini, Isaac Mwanzo and Karen Devries
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2017 17:28
  17. Pneumonia is among the leading causes of avoidable deaths for young children globally. The main burden of mortality falls on children from poor and rural families who are less likely to obtain the treatment th...

    Authors: Florida Muro, Judith Meta, Jenny Renju, Adiel Mushi, Hilda Mbakilwa, Raimos Olomi, Hugh Reyburn and Helena Hildenwall
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2017 17:27
  18. Evidence shows ethnic-inequality is a very effective variable in the Community and individual health associated outcomes. This study focused on gaining a deeper understanding of people’s perception on inequali...

    Authors: Arezoo Yari, Saharnaz Nedjat, Mohsen Asadi-Lari and Reza Majdzadeh
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2017 17:24
  19. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are 8 international development goals voluntarily adopted by 189 nations. The goals included health related aims to reduce the under-five child mortality rate by two-thi...

    Authors: Christopher P. Morley, Dongliang Wang, Emily M. Mader, Kyle P. Plante, Lindsey N. Kingston and Azadeh Rabiei
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2017 17:18
  20. There is a global concern regarding how households could be protected from relatively large healthcare payments which are a major limitation to accessing healthcare. Such payments also endanger the welfare of ...

    Authors: James Akazili, John Ele-Ojo Ataguba, Edmund Wedam Kanmiki, John Gyapong, Osman Sankoh, Abraham Oduro and Di McIntyre
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2017 17:13
  21. This research aimed to identify and explore the experiences of Black registrars in their training in the Western Cape’s academic hospitals in order to identify structures, practices, attitudes and ideologies t...

    Authors: Nicola Thackwell, Leslie Swartz, Sipho Dlamini, Lebogang Phahladira, Rudzani Muloiwa and Bonginkosi Chiliza
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2016 16:31
  22. Migration from Thailand to Sweden has increased threefold over the last 10 years. Today Thailand is one of the most common countries of origin among immigrants in Sweden. Since the year 2000, new HIV cases are...

    Authors: Eva Åkerman, Per-Olof Östergren, Birgitta Essén, Cecilia Fernbrant and Ragnar Westerling
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2016 16:25
  23. A human rights approach to maternal health is considered as a useful framework in international efforts to reduce maternal mortality. Although fundamental human rights principles are incorporated into legal an...

    Authors: Andrea Solnes Miltenburg, Fleur Lambermon, Cees Hamelink and Tarek Meguid
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2016 16:17
  24. Childhood immunization rates are at an all-time high globally, and national data for China suggests close to universal coverage. Refugees from North Korea and their children may have more limited health care a...

    Authors: Hyun Jung Chung, Seung Hyun Han, Hyerang Kim and Julia L. Finkelstein
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2016 16:13
  25. Existing evidence shows that the majority of people with epilepsy in lower and middle income countries are not receiving appropriate treatment and care. Although this problem has been reported as one of the fa...

    Authors: Mpoe Johannah Keikelame and Leslie Swartz
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2016 16:9
  1. This study aimed to determine the awareness among fifth-grade girls and boys of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), cancer, and human papillomavirus (HPV), and to determine the factors associated with intent...

    Authors: Hae Won Kim
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2015 15:4
  2. Men’s participation is crucial to the success of family planning programs and women’s empowerment and associated with better outcomes in reproductive health such as contraceptive acceptance and continuation, a...

    Authors: Mihretie Kassa, Amanuel Alemu Abajobir and Molla Gedefaw
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2014 14:33
  3. Nepal is experiencing a significant ‘treatment gap’ in mental health care. People with mental disorders do not always receive appropriate treatment due to a range of structural and individual issues, including...

    Authors: Natassia F Brenman, Nagendra P Luitel, Sumaya Mall and Mark J D Jordans
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2014 14:22
  4. The unnecessary and unsafe use of injections is common in developing countries like Nepal. Policymakers have an important role in promoting rational and safe injection use. Hence, the present study was carried...

    Authors: Sudesh Gyawali, Devendra Singh Rathore, Pathiyil Ravi Shankar, Manisha Maskey and Vikash Kumar KC
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2014 14:21
  5. Despite a substantial decrease in child mortality in Ethiopia over the past decade, neonatal mortality remains unchanged (37/1000 live-births). This paper describes a qualitative study on beliefs and practices...

    Authors: Tedbabe Degefie, Yared Amare and Brian Mulligan
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2014 14:17
  6. Male involvement in contraceptive use is increasingly becoming a global reproductive health issue. Vasectomy is one of the two male modern contraceptive methods espoused by the National Family Planning Policy ...

    Authors: Philip Baba Adongo, Placide Tapsoba, James F Phillips, Philip Teg-Nefaah Tabong, Allison Stone, Emmanuel Kuffour, Selina F Esantsi and Patricia Akweongo
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2014 14:16
  7. Female Genital Cutting (FGC) anchored in a complex socio-cultural context becomes significant at the interface of access of health and social services in host countries. The practice of FGC at times, understoo...

    Authors: Bilkis Vissandjée, Shereen Denetto, Paula Migliardi and Jodi Proctor
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2014 14:13
  8. The effects of malnutrition on health status and survival of children has been the subject of extensive research for several decades. Malnutrition affects physical growth, cognitive development of children, mo...

    Authors: Allan R Were, Felix N Kioli, Kennedy Onkware, Elizabeth O Onyango, Sussy Gumo and Collins Ouma
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:47
  9. Under the National Rural Health Mission, the current emphasis is on achieving universal institutional births through incentive schemes as part of reforms related to childbirth in India. There has been rapid pr...

    Authors: Bharati Sharma, Gayatri Giri, Kyllike Christensson, Ramani KV and Eva Johansson
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:41
  10. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has focused its attention on appraising health development assistance projects and redirecting efforts towards health system strengthening. This study aimed to...

    Authors: Motoyuki Yuasa, Yoshie Yamaguchi and Mihoko Imada
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:39
  11. Authors: Natalie Willis, Sophie Hill, Jessica Kaufman, Simon Lewin, John Kis-Rigo, Sara Bensaude De Castro Freire, Xavier Bosch-Capblanch, Claire Glenton, Vivian Lin, Priscilla Robinson and Charles S Wiysonge
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:37

    The original article was published in BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:23

  12. Myths and misconceptions about TB can serve as a barrier to efforts at reducing stigmatisation of people infected and affected by the disease. Understanding such drivers of myths and misconceptions is importan...

    Authors: Joshua Amo-Adjei and Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:38
  13. Vaccination is a cost-effective public health measure and is central to the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality. However, childhood vaccination coverage remains sub-optimal in many settings...

    Authors: Natalie Willis, Sophie Hill, Jessica Kaufman, Simon Lewin, John Kis-Rigo, Sara Bensaude De Castro Freire, Xavier Bosch-Capblanch, Claire Glenton, Vivian Lin, Priscilla Robinson and Charles S Wiysonge
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:23

    The Erratum to this article has been published in BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:37

  14. The measurement of condom use self-efficacy requires contextually suitable, valid and reliable instruments due to variability of the scale across nations with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. This st...

    Authors: Debebe Shaweno and Emebet Tekletsadik
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:22
  15. Over the last fifty years, the number of centenarians has dramatically increased. The centenarian rate (CR) is representative of the general longevity prevalent in a nation; it indicates the number of individu...

    Authors: Jong In Kim
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:16

    The Erratum to this article has been published in BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:26

  16. People have the right to make choices regarding their own sexuality, as far as they respect the rights of others. The knowledge of those rights is critical to youth’s ability to protect themselves from unwante...

    Authors: Yohannes Mehretie Adinew, Abebaw Gebeyehu Worku and Zelalem Birhanu Mengesha
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:12
  17. A third of sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) population comprises persons aged 10–24 years. These youth are growing up in a context marked by pervasive poverty, limited educational opportunities, high HIV/AIDS preval...

    Authors: Caroline W Kabiru, Chimaraoke O Izugbara and Donatien Beguy
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:11
  18. Although much attention has been given to increasing the number of health workers, less focus has been directed at developing models of training that address real-life workplace needs. Makerere University Scho...

    Authors: Joseph KB Matovu, Rhoda K Wanyenze, Susan Mawemuko, Olico Okui, William Bazeyo and David Serwadda
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:8
  19. Unsafe injection practices and injection overuse are widespread in developing countries harming the patient and inviting risks to the health care workers. In Nepal, there is a dearth of documented information ...

    Authors: Sudesh Gyawali, Devendra S Rathore, Bhuvan KC and P Ravi Shankar
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:3
  20. Poor quality housing is an infringement on the rights of all humans to a standard of living adequate for health. Among the many vulnerabilities of those without adequate shelter is the risk of disease spread b...

    Authors: J Daniel Kelly, M Bailor Barrie, Rachel A Ross, Brian A Temple, Lina M Moses and Daniel G Bausch
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:2
  21. While there are biomedical drugs for managing diabetes mellitus, some patients with diabetes use traditional medicine. The aim of the study was to explore why patients with diabetes use traditional medicine fo...

    Authors: Elizeus Rutebemberwa, Muhamadi Lubega, Sheila K Katureebe, Abanga Oundo, Francis Kiweewa and David Mukanga
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2013 13:1
  22. Taiwan has been dispatching an increasing number of short-term medical missions (STMMs) to its allied nations to provide humanitarian health care; however, overall evaluations to help policy makers strengthen ...

    Authors: Ya-Wen Chiu, Yi-Hao Weng, Chih-Fu Chen, Chun-Yuh Yang, Hung-Yi Chiou and Ming-Liang Lee
    Citation: BMC International Health and Human Rights 2012 12:37