BACKGROUND Nepal has been receiving foreign aid since the early 1950s. Currently, the country's health care system is heavily dependent on aid, even for the provision of basic health services to its people. Globally, the mechanism for the dispersal of foreign aid is becoming increasingly complex. Numerous stakeholders are involved at various levels: donors, intermediary organisations, project-i...

BACKGROUND Often new arrivals from refugee backgrounds have experienced poor health and limited access to healthcare services. The maternal and child health (MCH) service in Victoria, Australia, is a joint local and state government operated, cost-free service available to all mothers of children aged 0-6 years. Although well-child healthcare visits are useful in identifying health issues early...

It is argued that health policy is determined by many influences, including research evidence. However, the evidence base needs further development if it is to be used effectively. If health policy is to promote equity in child health, then it must not be confined to health services. This article is, essentially, a personal perspective on UK health policy for children, particularly as it relate...

Health is no longer defined by the narrow ‘germ theory’ of disease; the holistic approach has recognized that health is multifactorial 1 . In addition, the link between education and health is now well established, and growth in literacy rates, particularly among women, has been shown to have a positive impact on health 2 . The 2006 Nepal Demographic Health Survey showed large discrepancies in ...

With the enactment of comprehensive health reform, reimbursement for a variety of health care services will likely depend on evidence to support that provision. Understanding what constitutes "evidence" will have a profound effect on the range of clinical care provided. A too-narrow definition may have a considerable impact on pediatric care in particular: much of current child health care requ...

Paediatricians need to know what local and national information strategy is about so that they are included in the debates taking place at both levels and secondly because the possession of relevant and accurate information about the child health services is becoming vital in the fight for a share of limited NHS resources. The NHS has an Information Management Group as part of the executive whi...

BACKGROUND Despite continued national and international efforts, access to improved water and sanitation remains limited in many developing countries. The health consequences of lacking access to water and sanitation are severe, and particularly important for child development. METHODS To investigate the associations between child health and access to water and sanitation, we merged all avail...