This publication is one of a series of practical field guides produced by the Pan American Health Organization with best practice guidance for immunisation programmes in the region. This guide describes the strategies that have made the elimination of neonatal tetanus in the Americas possible, highlighting the progress made in surveillance to identify and monitor high-risk areas as well as immunisation activities geared towards women of childbearing age who live in those areas. Sections cover: epidemiology, clinical aspects, case definitions and investigations, surveillance, data analysis, control in high risk areas, programme monitoring, vaccine storage and supply.

Comprehensive, thoroughly updated, and expanded, Neuromuscular Disorders in Clinical Practice, Second Edition encompasses all disorders of the peripheral nervous system, covering all aspects of neuromuscular diseases from diagnosis to treatment. Mirroring the first book, this two-volume edition is divided into two parts. Part one discusses the approach to neuromuscular disorders, covering principles and basics, neuromuscular investigations, and assessment and treatment of neurological disorders. Part two then addresses the complete range of specific neuromuscular diseases: neuronopathies, peripheral neuropathies, neuromuscular junction disorders, muscle ion channel disorders, myopathies, and miscellaneous neuromuscular disorders and syndromes. Neuromuscular Disorders in Clinical Practice, Second Edition is intended to serve as a comprehensive text for both novice and experienced practitioners. General neurologists as well as specialists in neuromuscular medicine and trainees in neuromuscular medicine, clinical neurophysiology and electromyography should find this book inclusive, comprehensive, practical and highly clinically focused. Additionally, specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation, rheumatology, neurosurgery, and orthopedics will find the book of great value in their practice.

This practical guide contains seven modules targeted at district and health facility staff. It intends to meet the demands to improve immunization services so as to reach more infants in a sustainable way, building upon the experiences of polio eradication. It includes materials adapted from polio on planning, monitoring and use of data to improve the service, that can be used at any level. Revising the manual has been a team exercise. There are contributions from a large number of experts, organizations and institutions. This new edition has seven modules. Several new vaccines that have become more readily available and used in recent years have been added. Also the section on integration with other health interventions has been expanded as exciting opportunities and experiences have become evident in the years following the previous edition. Module 1: Target diseases and vaccines Module 2: The vaccine cold chain Module 3: Ensuring safe injections Module 4: Microplanning for reaching every community Module 5: Managing an immunization session Module 6: Monitoring and surveillance Module 7: Partnering with communities.

The evaluation of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) by the Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (DCP3) focuses on maternal conditions, childhood illness, and malnutrition. Specifically, the chapters address acute illness and undernutrition in children, principally under age 5. It also covers maternal mortality, morbidity, stillbirth, and influences to pregnancy and pre-pregnancy. Volume 3 focuses on developments since the publication of DCP2 and will also include the transition to older childhood, in particular, the overlap and commonality with the child development volume. The DCP3 evaluation of these conditions produced three key findings: 1. There is significant difficulty in measuring the burden of key conditions such as unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, nonsexually transmitted infections, infertility, and violence against women. 2. Investments in the continuum of care can have significant returns for improved and equitable access, health, poverty, and health systems. 3. There is a large difference in how RMNCH conditions affect different income groups; investments in RMNCH can lessen the disparity in terms of both health and financial risk.

Each year more than 4 million children are born with birth defects. This book highlights the unprecedented opportunity to improve the lives of children and families in developing countries by preventing some birth defects and reducing the consequences of others. A number of developing countries with more comprehensive health care systems are making significant progress in the prevention and care of birth defects. In many other developing countries, however, policymakers have limited knowledge of the negative impact of birth defects and are largely unaware of the affordable and effective interventions available to reduce the impact of certain conditions. Reducing Birth Defects: Meeting the Challenge in the Developing World includes descriptions of successful programs and presents a plan of action to address critical gaps in the understanding, prevention, and treatment of birth defects in developing countries. This study also recommends capacity building, priority research, and institutional and global efforts to reduce the incidence and impact of birth defects in developing countries.

"This fourth volume of the Global Burden of Disease and Injuries Series provides the reader with information on the epidemiology and burden of major infectious and parasitic diseases. As with previous volumes of the Global Burden of Disease study, the chapters in this book detail the situation as experienced in the year 1990. Since then the epidemiology of some of the conditions described has changed, and where this is the case the authors have added a brief paragraph acknowledging this. The chapters therefore do not provide a detailed update on the current burden of disease, which is accommodated in the documentation of the Global Burden of Disease 2000 and published elsewhere."--Preface.

World Health Statistics 2013 contains WHO's annual compilation of health-related data for its 194 Member States and includes a summary of the progress made towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and associated targets. This year it also includes highlight summaries on the topics of reducing the gaps between the world's most-advantaged and least-advantaged countries and on current trends in official development assistance (ODA) for health. As in previous years World Health Statistics 2013 has been compiled using publications and databases produced and maintained.

The essential text for all healthcare professionals wanting a complete, up-to-date practical reference book on medicine in Africa.

This casebook collects 64 case studies each of which raises an important and difficult ethical issue connected with planning, reviewing or conducting health-related research. The book's purpose is to contribute to thoughtful analysis of these issues by researchers and members of research ethics committees (REC's known in some places as ethical review committees or institutional review boards) particularly those involved with studies that are conducted or sponsored internationally. . This collection is envisioned principally as a tool to aid educational programs from short workshops on research.