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Jamaica - Second Rural Economic Development Initiative Project : Environmental Assessment : Environmental and Social Management Framework

The development objective of the Second Rural Economic Development Initiative Project for Jamaica is to enhance access to markets and to climate resilient approaches for targeted beneficiaries. Some of the negative impacts include: (i) unnecessary removal of vegetation cover; (ii) creation of soil slippage and soil erosion conditions from excavation and inappropriate placing of excavated matter on slopes; (iii) blockage of drains from construction waste and excavatedmaterials; (iv) ground and surface water pollution; (v) pesticide pollution of soil, ground and surface water; (vi) exposure of workers/farmers to pesticides; (vii) eutrophication of surface water from sewage discharge; (viii) excessive run-off where drainage on roads and off buildingsis inadequate; (ix) inappropriate disposal of solid waste; (x) interruption of vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow or access to amenities; (xi) loss of indigenous or native species; (xii) exposure of workers to occupational health and safety risks; (xiii) discrimination against vulnerable groups including women, children of working age and people with disability; (xiv) forced labour and child labour; Some of the mitigation measures include: (i) re-vegetate cleared area immediately after construction; (ii) excavate impact soil until no trace of petroleum is observed; (iii) all waste must be disposed in an approved landfill or disposal site, in consultation with the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA); (iv) stored waste should be covered with plastic sheeting or other suitable material to minimize dust dispersion; (v) communities must be given prior notice of intended road closures and designated detours; (vi) remote worksites must be equipped with portable chemical toilets, which must be supplied and serviced by an approved contractor; (vii) material delivery must be confined to early mornings/lateevenings (outside of peak periods); (viii) use clean equipment to excavate pit especially there isa risk of coming in contact with groundwater; (ix) trees should be removed only when present a health and safety risk or risk of damage to infrastructure; (x) contractor will be required topreserve trees and other wildlife habitats, which have been identified as natural habitat or well preserved vegetation zones; (xi) store materials and waste to avoid hindrance to traffic and pedestrian movement; (xii) contractor must provide workers with the appropriate safety equipment including hardhats, safety boots, security vest, dust mask, and gloves and ensure that they are worn properly; (xiii) dispose of contaminated and unsuitable material in safe areas and cart away for off-site disposal at approved landfill site; (xiv) contractor must notify the public of any alternative to their normal routes during the construction activities (Jamaica)

Financing of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in Africa: A Scoping Review

Background and Aims: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a critical intervention for cervical cancer prevention in Africa; however, program uptake and scale-up remain limited due to financing constraints. This scoping review mapped existing evidence on HPV vaccine financing in Africa, identifying prevailing funding mechanisms, cost estimates, delivery strategies, and challenges and opportunities for sustainable financing. Methods: Guided by the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we systematically searched nine electronic databases for peer-reviewed studies. Retrieved records were deduplicated and screened against eligibility criteria. Eligible studies underwent data extraction, followed by collation, summarization, and thematic synthesis. All costs were standardized to United States (US) Dollars and further adjusted to a common reference year (2025US) using the US Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) to enable comparison across study years. Results: Twenty-seven peer-reviewed studies were included. The review found heavy dependence on donor support, particularly from Gavi, with limited domestic co-financing across most countries. Per-dose costs ranged from US$0.27-US$19.76 (financial) and US$1.31-US$45.00 (economic) as reported, or US$0.32-US$26.50 and US$1.63-US$60.36 after adjustment to 2025 US; per fully immunized girl, costs ranged from US$6.68-US$40.03 and US$17.31-US$91.19 as reported, or US$8.31-US$53.69 and US$21.53-US$122.31 adjusted. Primary cost drivers included service delivery, personnel, and outreach to out-of-school girls. School-based delivery was more cost-effective in several contexts, and the single-dose schedule consistently showed lower cost with comparable efficacy, enhancing cost-effectiveness and reducing programmatic burden. Willingness to pay exists among private individuals, but out-of-pocket models remain inequitable. Conclusion: Donor funds, mainly Gavi, still drive HPV vaccination in most of Africa. The single-dose schedule cuts costs and logistics while remaining effective. For equitable, sustainable access, African countries must prioritize cost-effective vaccines, boost domestic funding, strengthen health systems, and adopt models that lessen reliance on external support.

Kafayat Aminu, Jimoh Amzat, Rita Amarachi Nwebo et al.

Position statement of the Mexican Academy of Pediatrics regarding strategies to prevent respiratory syncytial virus infection in MexicoÓ?s pediatric population

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of acute lower respiratory tract infection, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and hospitalization among infants and young children, with the highest risk of severe disease observed in infants younger than six months, preterm infants, and children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease, immunocompromising conditions, and other underlying comorbidities.In Mexico, available evidence demonstrates a substantial clinical burden and a predominant seasonal circulation from September to March.In recent years, the development of novel preventive strategies has transformed the approach to RSV prevention, particularly through maternal immunization with a bivalent prefusion F protein vaccine and passive immunoprophylaxis with long-acting monoclonal antibodies.This position statement from the Mexican Academy of Pediatrics reviews the epidemiological, clinical, and real-world effectiveness evidence regarding currently available strategies for the prevention of RSV infection in the pediatric population.Maternal vaccination between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation promotes transplacental antibody transfer and provides protection to infants during the first months of life.Monoclonal antibodies, particularly nirsevimab, have demonstrated significant reductions in lower respiratory tract infection, hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and severe RSV-associated disease, with a favorable safety profile.Based on disease burden, national seasonality, availability of preventive products, and the characteristics of the Mexican health care system, the Mexican Academy of Pediatrics proposes a complementary and progressive strategy

Rosa María Wong‐Chew, María del C. Espinosa-Sotero, Ana Elena Limón-Rojas et al.

The Heterogeneous Effects of Illiberal World Society on Child Health, 1960–2024

ABSTRACT Objective This study theorizes how and empirically analyzes the extent linkages to illiberal world culture shape child mortality. Methods I test these arguments using fixed‐effects panel regression models of worldwide country‐year data from 1960 to 2024. Results Affiliations with illiberal intergovernmental organizations and the global density of these organizations are associated with declines in child mortality. In contrast, a higher global proportion of autocracies is associated with increased child mortality. Conclusion Illiberal world‐cultural structures have heterogeneous consequences for child health. These findings offer a new explanation for cross‐national and longitudinal variation in child mortality and explore the boundaries of the emerging literature on the post‐liberal turn in world society.

Steven Andrew Mejia

Determinantes socioeconómicos de la desnutrición crónica infantil en niños menores de cinco años: revisión sistemática

The aim was to analyse the evidence published between 2021 and 2025 on the association between socio-economic and community determinants and chronic child malnutrition in children under five years of age; to this end, a systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, using searches on PubMed/MEDLINE, and SciELO, supplemented by a manual search of the references from the selected studies. Analytical observational studies and meta-analyses published in Spanish, English or Portuguese were included. The search identified 346 records; after removing duplicates and applying the eligibility criteria, 19 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. The results showed that chronic child malnutrition is associated with structural, intermediate and community determinants. Among the most frequently identified factors were poverty and lower household wealth, low maternal educational attainment, membership of indigenous populations, poor housing conditions, inadequate infant feeding practices, recurrent infectious diseases and limited access to safe water, sanitation and primary healthcare services. In conclusion, the evidence analysed shows that chronic child malnutrition is a multifactorial problem linked to social inequalities and environmental conditions. Its prevention requires comprehensive, cross-sectoral interventions that bring together health, education, social protection, food, water and sanitation, with a focus on rural, indigenous and socio-economically vulnerable populations.

Klever Roberto Leguizamo Silva, María Catalina Carvajal Endara

Impact of Armed Conflicts on Neonatal Health: A Scoping Review

Introduction/Objective Armed conflicts threaten maternal and neonatal health, yet evidence on neonatal outcomes remains fragmented. This scoping review mapped evidence on armed conflict’s impact on neonatal health and identified pathways influencing outcomes. Methods This scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Global Health (CABI), and CINAHL were searched, supplemented by Google Scholar and reference-list screening. Articles published from 2006 to 2025 reporting neonatal health outcomes (0-28 days) in conflict-affected settings were included. Maternal and pregnancy-related factors were considered when linked to neonatal outcomes. Twenty-nine articles were synthesized thematically. Results Four overarching themes emerged: (1) war-driven neonatal adversity, (2) health system collapse impact, (3) risks associated with alternative and non-formal care practices, and (4) stress-associated biological and epigenetic changes. Armed conflict was associated with increased neonatal mortality, preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, and neonatal morbidity. Pathways included violence exposure, healthcare disruption, displacement, food insecurity, environmental hazards, and maternal psychological stress. Discussion Conflict affects neonatal health through interconnected biological, social, environmental, and health system pathways. Health system disruption, reduced access to skilled care, unsafe care practices, and maternal stress may compound adverse outcomes. Emerging evidence of epigenetic changes suggests potential longer-term consequences and underscores the need for integrated humanitarian and health system responses. Conclusion Priorities include strengthening health system resilience, ensuring continuity of maternal-newborn services, and integrating context-appropriate maternal mental health and psychosocial support. Further research should identify feasible, culturally responsive, and scalable interventions in underrepresented and protracted conflict settings.

Shela Akbar Ali Hirani, Oladayo Nathaniel Awojobi

Stunting in indigenous Waorani children living near the oil-extraction sites: What can the determinants of health tell us about this?

The Waorani are a recently contacted indigenous group inhabiting oil extraction territories in the Amazon. This study aimed to analyse the prevalence of stunting and explore its association with health determinants in Waorani children under 5 years of age. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 102 children. Mothers were surveyed about biological, socioeconomic, environmental and health service determinants. Bivariate, multivariate and weight-adjusted logistic regression models were performed. A total of 39.2% of the children exhibited stunting. Health determinants such as male sex (OR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.63-4.64), short maternal stature (OR = 4.96, 95% CI: 2.38-10.84), child age (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.02-1.05), reduced dietary diversity (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.27-4.53) were associated with a higher prevalence of stunting. Prenatal care was also associated with stunting (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.16-2.21, for two or more checkups), with a potential reverse causality effect. Tall birth height (OR 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13-0.57) was associated with a lower prevalence of stunting. No socioeconomic differences were found related to stunting. The health determinants model may have limitations in socioeconomically homogeneous populations. Stunting prevention policies should take this model into account, contextualised to the specific territory.

María F. Rivadeneira, Andrea Bravo-Díaz, José Cóndor et al.

Short-term familiarity shapes social preference but not word learning in preschoolers

Children learn language in social environments shaped by interactions with caregivers and other adults. Prior research suggests that even brief familiarity with a social partner can facilitate some types of learning, but it remains unclear whether short-term familiarity influences children's word learning. Across two studies, we examined whether short-term familiarity with an experimenter affected children's performance on a novel-label generalization task. In Study 1, younger children (22–37 months) were taught and tested by an experimenter with whom they had completed a 10-min interactive free-play session or a different unfamiliar experimenter. Children performed similarly in the familiar and unfamiliar conditions, and a Bayes-factor analysis provided moderate evidence favoring no difference between conditions. In Study 2, older children (49–69 months) completed blocked training-testing with both familiar and unfamiliar experimenters and a resource-allocation measure of social preference. Children showed a social preference for the familiar experimenter, but their generalization performance did not differ significantly between experimenters; the Bayesian evidence regarding a familiarity effect was inconclusive, although it favored no difference. Together, these findings suggest that brief familiarity can shape children's expressed social preference without producing a corresponding measurable advantage on a structured word-generalization task with equivalent linguistic input.

Jina Ahn, Erica A. Cartmill, Catherine M. Sandhofer

The Effects of Mexico's Child Marriage Ban on Adolescent Fertility, Domestic Violence, and Female Labor Income

Child marriage—defined as a formal or informal union before the age of 18—has been a widespread practice in Mexico, particularly in rural and Indigenous regions. Historically, Mexican law permitted girls to marry at 14 and boys at 16, provided they had parental or judicial consent. This legal framework raised major concerns regarding the rights, health, education, and economic prospects of girls and adolescents. In response, the country enacted a reform to the Federal Civil Code in 2014, setting the minimum legal age for marriage at 18 with no exceptions. This study evaluates the impact of the child marriage ban in Mexico on three key outcomes. First, it analyzes the incidence of births to adolescent mothers. Second, it evaluates the effect on gender-based violence, using hospital discharges due to domestic violence as an indicator. Finally, it considers women’s empowerment, measured by labor income as reported in household surveys. <div> <br> </div> <div> The empirical strategy relies on a difference-in-differences design, leveraging both the temporal variation in the reform's implementation and the historical heterogeneity in child marriage prevalence at the municipal level. The analysis compares cohorts of women exposed and not exposed to the reform within each municipality, controlling for fixed effects at the municipal, cohort and year levels. This methodology allows estimation of how the reform’s impact varies according to the pre-existing intensity of child marriage in each municipality. The findings indicate that the reform is associated with a greater reduction in adolescent births in municipalities with high prior prevalence of child marriage. In addition, there is evidence of increased labor income among women in those areas, as well as an increase in reported cases of domestic violence. This latter result may reflect greater detection, increased willingness to report, or improved institutional responsiveness following the reform. Overall, these results suggest that the public policy not only restricted access to child marriage, but also contributed to improving the well-being of young women. </div>

Marco Campos