TABLE OF CONTENTS
Volume 28, Issue 4 (2007)
THEORY IS THE EYE OF PRACTICE
Special Section Editors' Introduction
Special Section: Small Arms and Light Weapons in Africa – A Major Challenge to Public Health and Development
Maria Valenti, Phyllis Freeman and Anthony Robbins
J Public Health Pol 28: 387-388; doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200151
Articles
Armed Violence: A Health Problem, a Public Health Approach
Leaders of a special project of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War describe a public health crisis in many African countries caused by small arms and light weapons. These weapons kill hundreds of thousands of people each year, leaving millions more maimed, injured, disabled, and traumatized. They summarize efforts to reduce the adverse health effects, beginning with public health surveillance and actions to influence policy.
Maria Valenti, Christin M Ormhaug, Robert E Mtonga and John Loretz
J Public Health Pol 28: 389-400; doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200150
Taming the Tools of Violence
A Norway-based scholar who organizes conferences for African and European researchers discusses the lethality of guns, gaps in African data, and international agreements that can be used to mobilize support for public health approaches to curbing small arms injuries and deaths in Africa.
Nicholas Marsh
J Public Health Pol 28: 401-409; doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200153
Firearm Injuries in Nairobi, Kenya: Who Pays the Price?
The Kenyan affiliate of International Physicans for the Prevention of Nuclear War studied firearm injured patients who reached Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi during a six month period in 2006 to learn incidence, prevalence, and costs charged to patients for hospital care.
Florian Hugenberg, Walter Odhiambo Anjango, Angela Mwita and Dedan Opondo
J Public Health Pol 28: 410-419; doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200152
Gun Violence in Nigeria: A Focus on Ethno-Religious Conflict in Kano
The Nigerian affiliate of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War sponsored a study of small arms and light weapons in northern Nigeria to learn about the relationship of these weapons to ethno-religious tensions. They found firearm injuries to be linked to riots between Christians and Muslims.
Ime A John, Aminu Z Mohammed, Andrew D Pinto and Celestine A Nkanta
J Public Health Pol 28: 420-431; doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200155
A Multinational Injury Surveillance System Pilot Project in Africa
These authors discuss their pilot of an epidemiological surveillance system at emergency departments for intentional, violent injuries in selected hospitals in Zambia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, and Kenya. Their goal is to organize an ongoing system to gather reliable data on injuries for comparisons across countries and analyses to generate better evidence-based recommendations to public health authorities.
Diego E Zavala, Simon Bokongo, Ime A John, Senoga Ismail Mpanga, Robert E Mtonga, Zakari Mohammed Aminu, Walter Odhiambo and Peter Olupot-Olupot
J Public Health Pol 28: 432-441; doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200154
Defining Outbreak: Breaking Out of Confusion
Intrigued by the emotionally charged use of terms like "outbreak," "epidemic," and "pandemic" in the life sciences literature, the news media, and clinical practice when discussing SARS, avian flu and other infections, these authors explore the implications of imprecision and argue for greater exactitude.
Eileen A O'Neil and Elena N Naumova
J Public Health Pol 28: 442-455; doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200140
Control of Blinding Eye Diseases in Leprosy: Strategies for India
Writing from India, home to those bearing 52% of the worldwide burden of leprosy, the authors review India's strategy for Vision 2020, a global initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness caused by leprosy, and suggest improvements.
N M Prasad and S R Prasad
J Public Health Pol 28: 456-464; doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200149
'Carers' of People with Mental Health Problems: Proposals in Current Public Mental Health Policy in Nine Countries
This study investigates how public mental health policy addresses the role and needs of those who care for people with mental health problems and concludes that both existing policies and proposals for improvement remain inadequate.
Iain K Crombie, Linda Irvine, Lawrence Elliott and Hilary Wallace
J Public Health Pol 28: 465-481; doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200146
The Federation Pages
WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations FREE
J Public Health Pol 28: 482-483; doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3200156
