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The development of healthcare in China in the context of social and economic transformations

- Gong, Yihong, Jiang, Xiaoli

  • Authors: Gong, Yihong , Jiang, Xiaoli
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: The International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society Vol. 2, no. 3 (2013), p. 89-100
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  • Description: Healthcare in imperial China was predominantly covered by private practices using traditional Chinese medicine treatment. There were no national initiatives for health cover. Infant mortality was high, and life expectancy was very low. During the nationalist government era between 1911 and 1949, some public healthcare was established and hospitals similar to those in the West became available. Immunisation was accessible and infectious diseases were largely controlled. However, wars, poverty, and a severe shortage of trained doctors were prevalent. As a result, the child mortality rate remained high and people's life expectancy showed little improvement. After the 1949 Communist revolution, many changes were made by the Chinese government to improve the healthcare system. It was ideology driven. As a result of these changes, the life expectancy of the Chinese people has gradually increased. However, the economic reforms over the last 30 years have brought new challenges and opportunities to the healthcare system. The size of the Chinese population and increased inequality in the society are acute issues facing the government and the people. This paper reviews the development of the Chinese healthcare system and reveals social and economic changes in relation to this development. The paper seeks to provide an historical overview of the issues involved in the development of healthcare in China and to contribute to a better understanding of the Chinese healthcare system

The Development of the Lunchtime Enjoyment of Activity and Play Questionnaire

- Hyndman, Brendon, Telford, Amanda, Finch, Caroline, Ullah, Shahid, Benson, Amanda

  • Authors: Hyndman, Brendon , Telford, Amanda , Finch, Caroline , Ullah, Shahid , Benson, Amanda
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of School Health Vol. 83, no. 4 (2013), p. 256-264
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  • Description: Background: Enjoyment of physical activity is as an important determinant of children's participation in physical activity. Despite this, there is an absence of reliable measures for assessing children's enjoyment of play activities during school lunchtime. The purpose of this study was to develop and assess the reliability of the Lunchtime Enjoyment of Activity and Play (LEAP) Questionnaire. Methods: Questionnaire items were categorized employing a social-ecological framework including intrapersonal (20 items), interpersonal (2 items), and physical environment/policy (17 items) components to identify the broader influences on children's enjoyment. An identical questionnaire was administered on 2 occasions, 10days apart, to 176 children aged 8-12years, attending a government elementary school in regional Victoria, Australia. RESULTS: Test-retest reliability confirmed that 35 of 39 LEAP Questionnaire items had at least moderate kappa agreement ranging from .44 to .78. Although 4 individual kappa values were low, median kappa scores for each aggregated social-ecological component reached at least moderate agreement (.44-.60). Conclusions: This study confirms the LEAP Questionnaire to be a reliable, context-specific instrument with sound content, and face validity that employs a social-ecological framework to assess children's enjoyment of school play and lunchtime activities. © 2013, American School Health Association.
  • Description: 2003010857

The different impact of positive-neutral and negative-neutral ENSO regimes on Australian tropical cyclones

- Chand, Savin, Tory, Kevin, McBride, John, Wheeler, Matthew, Dare, Richard, Walsh, Kevin

  • Authors: Chand, Savin , Tory, Kevin , McBride, John , Wheeler, Matthew , Dare, Richard , Walsh, Kevin
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Climate Vol. 26, no. 20 (October 2013), p. 8008-8016
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  • Description: The number of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the Australian region exhibits a large variation between different ENSO regimes. While the difference in TC numbers and spatial distribution of genesis locations between the canonical El Nino and La Nina regimes is well known, the authors demonstrate that a statistically significant difference in TC numbers also exists between the recently identified negative-neutral and positive-neutral regimes. Compared to the negative-neutral and La Nina regimes, significantly fewer TCs form in the Australian region during the positive-neutral regime, particularly in the eastern subregion. This difference is attributed to concomitant changes in various large-scale environmental conditions such as sea level pressure, relative vorticity, vertical motion, and sea surface temperature.

The effect of different adjuvants on immune parameters and protection following vaccination of sheep with a larval-specific antigen of the gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus

- Piedrafita, David, Preston, Sarah, Kemp, Joanna, De Veer, Michael, Sherrard, Jayne, Kraska, Troy, Elhay, Martin, Meeusen, Els

  • Authors: Piedrafita, David , Preston, Sarah , Kemp, Joanna , De Veer, Michael , Sherrard, Jayne , Kraska, Troy , Elhay, Martin , Meeusen, Els
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: PLoS ONE. Vol. 8, no. 10, (Art. no.e78357) (2013), p. 1-8
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  • Description: It has recently been recognised that vaccine adjuvants play a critical role in directing the nature of a vaccine induced effector response. In the present study, several adjuvants were evaluated for their ability to protect sheep after field vaccination with the larval-specific Haemonchus contortus antigen, HcsL3. Using a suboptimal antigen dose, aluminium adjuvant was shown to reduce the cumulative faecal egg counts (cFEC) and worm burden by 23% and 25% respectively, in agreement with a previous study. The addition of Quil A to the aluminium-adjuvanted vaccine brought cFEC back to control levels. Vaccination with the adjuvant DEAE-dextran almost doubled the protection compared to the aluminium-adjuvanted vaccine resulting in 40% and 41% reduction in cFEC and worm counts compared to controls. Examination of skin responses following i.d. injection of exsheathed L3, revealed that cFEC was negatively correlated with wheal size and tissue eosinophils for the DEAE-dextran and aluminium-adjuvanted groups respectively. These studies have for the first time shown the potential of DEAE-dextran adjuvant for helminth vaccines, and discovered significant cellular correlates of vaccine-induced protection. Funding: Australian Research Council Linkage grant LP0668945 and the ARC-Centre of Excellence in Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics. The funders have no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscrip

The effect of partial gelatinization of corn starch on its retrogradation

- Fu, Zong-qiang, Wang, Li-Jun, Li, Dong, Zhou, Yuguang, Adhikari, Benu

  • Authors: Fu, Zong-qiang , Wang, Li-Jun , Li, Dong , Zhou, Yuguang , Adhikari, Benu
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Carbohydrate Polymers Vol. 97, no. 2 (2013), p. 512-517
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  • Description: The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of partial gelatinization of starch on its retrogradation using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The Avrami equation was used to predict the evolution of starch retrogradation kinetics. The degree of retrogradation in starch samples partially gelatinized 64 ?C (S64), 68 ?C (S68) and 70 ?C (S70) and control (S25) increased with storage time. The retrogradation enthalpies of S68 and S70 were almost four times as high as that of S64. The S25 and S64 had dominant A-type crystalline pattern while S68 and S70 showed dominant B-type crystalline pattern. The growth of remainder crystals was faster in S25 and S64, while both the nucleation and growth rates of new crystals were faster in S68 and S70. The Avrami model was found to represent the retrogradation kinetics data of these partially gelatinized starch samples quite satisfactorily (R2 > 0.95). © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
  • Description: C1

The effect of prescribed fluid consumption on physiology and work behavior of wildfire fighters

- Raines, Jenni, Snow, Rodney, Petersen, Aaron, Harvey, Jack, Nichols, David, Aisbett, Brad

  • Authors: Raines, Jenni , Snow, Rodney , Petersen, Aaron , Harvey, Jack , Nichols, David , Aisbett, Brad
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Applied Ergonomics Vol. 44, no. 3 (2013), p. 404-413
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  • Description: The purpose of this study was to examine 1) wildfire fighters' ability to consume the prescribed fluid volume (1200 mL h-1), 2) the effect of fluid intake on plasma sodium and hydration, and 3) the effect of fluid intake on firefighters' heart rate, core temperature and activity during emergency suppression shifts. Methods: Thirty-four firefighters were divided into ad libitum (AD, n = 17) and prescribed (PR, n = 17) drinking groups. Results: PR drinkers did not meet the prescribed fluid target, yet consumed over double the volume of AD drinkers. No differences between groups in plasma sodium or hydration were noted. PR drinking resulted in lower core temperature between 2 and 6 h. This did not coincide with reduced cardiovascular strain, greater work activity or larger distances covered when compared to AD drinkers. Conclusion: Extra fluid consumption (above AD) did not improve firefighter activity or physiological function (though PR firefighters core temperature was lower earlier in their shift). Firefighter can self-regulate their fluid consumption behavior and work rate to leave the fireground euhydrated. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and The Ergonomics Society.

The effect of stud configuration on rotational traction using the studded boot apparatus

- Twomey, Dara, Connell, Monique, Petrass, Lauren, Otago, Leonie

  • Authors: Twomey, Dara , Connell, Monique , Petrass, Lauren , Otago, Leonie
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Sports Engineering Vol. 16, no. 1 (2013), p. 21-27
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  • Description: Due to its associated injury risk, rotational traction is a frequently measured natural turf surface property. The most commonly used equipment, the studded boot apparatus (SBA), consists of a circular stud configuration that does not replicate the stud pattern on a regular football boot and may under or over estimate the surface traction. The aim of this study was to establish potential differences in the rotational traction measured between the current stud configuration on the SBA and the stud configuration on the most commonly used Australian football boots. The original studded boot had significantly higher rotational traction than the moulded stud sole or bladed sole. Location, quality and time tested all interacted significantly with the rotational traction measured. The current SBA may not accurately represent the rotational traction experienced by football players, and consequently may not be the most appropriate configuration to assess the relationship between rotational traction and injuries. © 2012 International Sports Engineering Association.
  • Description: 2003010831

The effects of a formal exercise training programme on salivary hormone concentrations and body composition in previously sedentary aging men

- Hayes, Lawrence, Grace, Fergal, Sculthorpe, Nicholas, Herbert, Peter, Ratcliffe, John, Kilduff, Liam, Baker, Julien

  • Authors: Hayes, Lawrence , Grace, Fergal , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Herbert, Peter , Ratcliffe, John , Kilduff, Liam , Baker, Julien
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: SpringerPlus Vol. 2, no. 18 (2013), p. 1-5
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  • Description: Alteration in body composition, physical function, and substrate metabolism occur with advancing age. These changes may be attenuated by exercise. This study examined whether twenty eight, previously sedentary males (62.5 +/- 5.3 years of age; body mass of 89.7 +/- 16.4 kg) adhering to the ACSM minimum guidelines for aerobic exercise for six weeks would improve exercise capabilities, body composition and salivary hormone profiles. After six weeks of adhering to the guidelines, salivary testosterone and vo(2max) (absolute and relative) increased (p < 0.05), whilst body fat percentage and body mass decreased (p < 0.05). Peak power output, fat free mass and cortisol values were not significantly different. Interestingly, salivary testosterone correlated inversely with body fat percentage (R(2) = .285, p = 0.011). These results suggest that despite previous inactivity, older males can achieve improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition and anabolism by adhering to simple lifestyle changes.

The energy consumption and color analysis of freeze/microwave freeze banana chips

- Jiang, Hao, Zhang, Min, Liu, Yin, Mujumdar, Arun, Liu, Huihua

  • Authors: Jiang, Hao , Zhang, Min , Liu, Yin , Mujumdar, Arun , Liu, Huihua
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Food and Bioproducts Processing Vol. 91, no. 4 (2013), p. 464-472
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  • Description: This study investigated the energy consumption of preparing banana chips by freeze drying (FD) and microwave freeze drying (MFD) methods. The results in this study showed that the energy consumption for 400 g fresh banana (about 95 g dried samples) by FD process and MFD process are about 35.73 × 10 6 J (9.92 kW h) and 21.76 × 106 J (6.57 kW h), respectively. Compared to the traditional FD process, MFD can save up to 35.7% energy and 40% drying time. Increasing the heating power in the secondary drying stage of MFD process had been confirmed to result in decrease in both the energy consumption and drying time. After increasing the microwave power in the secondary drying stage from 1.0 W/g to 1.5 W/g in MFD process, total energy consumption is about 18.12 × 106 J (5.56 kW h) and drying time can be reduced from 360 min to 270 min. The sensory evaluation of produced banana chips at different drying conditions (1.0 W/g, 1.5 W/g and 2.0 W/g) revealed that the sensory properties are acceptable by the customers except the 2 W/g microwave power dried product. Thus, the method that increased the heating powder in the secondary drying stage of the MFD process could potentially be an effective method to reduce the energy consumption without seriously sacrificing the color of the end product. © 2013 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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The historic importance of the dingo in aboriginal society in Victoria (Australia) : A reconsideration of the archival record

- Cahir, David (Fred), Clark, Ian

  • Authors: Cahir, David (Fred) , Clark, Ian
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Anthrozoos Vol. 26, no. 2 (2013), p. 185-198
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  • Description: Dingoes feature prominently in Australian Aboriginal Creation stories and are also widely regarded as having an intricate relationship with Aboriginal people. A large volume of anthropological work on the complex relationship between Australian Aboriginals and dingoes has determined a considerable uniformity in the human-dingo relationship across northern Australia. Whilst there are many parallels between northern and southern Aboriginal Australia, this reconsideration of the archival record explores the hitherto rarely considered evidence of the relationship between Aboriginal people, British colonizers in Victoria (south-eastern Australia), and dingoes. The data provide an insight into the unique relationship, which indicates some striking differences between northern and southern Aboriginal Australia; especially the utilitarian and symbolic significance of dingoes for Aboriginal communities in south-eastern Australia and how dingoes were used by both Aboriginal people and the colonial usurpers in a bid to spatially dislocate each other. © ISAZ 2013.
  • Description: 2003011040

The importance of a sport-specific stimulus for training agility

- Young, Warren, Farrow, Damian

  • Authors: Young, Warren , Farrow, Damian
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Strength and Conditioning Journal Vol. 35, no. 2 (2013), p. 39-43
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  • Description: The purpose of this article is to review recent evidence to help guide the training of agility. agility skill usually involves reacting to a stimulus before performing a movement with a change of direction or velocity. research has shown that better performers can be distinguished from lower skilled athletes by the ability to quickly and accurately react to opponent's movements, but not to a generic stimulus such as a flashing light. therefore, training for agility should include a perceptual and decision-making component involving reacting to movements of others, and this may be accomplished with evasive drills or smallsided games. Copyright © National Strength and Conditioning Association.
  • Description: 2003011107

The Importance of Foot Care in Older People With Diabetes

- Fortington, Lauren, Geertzen, Jeertzen, Van Netten, Jaap, Van Baal, Jeff, Bus, Sicco, Schaper, Nicolaas

The importance of low-deformation vorticity in tropical cyclone formation

- Tory, Kevin, Dare, Richard, Davidson, Noel, McBride, John, Chand, Savin

  • Authors: Tory, Kevin , Dare, Richard , Davidson, Noel , McBride, John , Chand, Savin
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Vol. 13, no. 4 (2013), p. 2115-2132
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  • Description: Studies of tropical cyclone (TC) formation from tropical waves have shown that TC formation requires a wave-relative quasi-closed circulation: the "marsupial pouch" concept. This results in a layerwise nearly contained region of atmosphere in which the modification of moisture, temperature and vorticity profiles by convective and boundary layer processes occurs undisturbed. The pouch concept is further developed in this paper. TCs develop near the centre of the pouch where the flow is in near solid body rotation. A reference-frame independent parameter is introduced that effectively measures the level of solid-body rotation in the lower troposphere. The parameter is the product of a normalized Okubo-Weiss parameter and absolute vorticity (OWZ). Using 20 yr of ERA-interim reanalysis data and the IBTrACS global TC database, it is shown 95% of TCs including, but not limited to, those forming in tropical waves are associated with enhanced levels of OWZ on both the 850 and 500 hPa pressure levels at the time of TC declaration, while 90% show enhanced OWZ for at least 24 h prior to declaration. This result prompts the question of whether the pouch concept extends beyond wave-type formation to all TC formations world-wide. Combining the OWZ with a low vertical shear requirement and lower troposphere relative humidity thresholds, an imminent genesis parameter is defined. The parameter includes only relatively large-scale fluid properties that are resolved by coarse grid model data (>150 km), which means it can be used as a TC detector for climate model applications. It is also useful as a cyclogenesis diagnostic in higher resolution models such as real-time global forecast models. © 2013 Author(s).

The in vitro anthelmintic effects of plumbagin on newly excysted and 4-weeks-old juvenile parasites of Fasciola gigantica

- Lorsuwannarat, Natcha, Piedrafita, David, Chantree, Pathanin, Sansri, Veerawat, Songkoomkrong, Sineenart, Bantuchai, Sirasate, Sangpairot, Kant, Kueakhai, Pornanan, Changklungmoa, Narin, Chaichanasak, Pannigan, Chansela, Piyachat, Sobhon, Prasert

  • Authors: Lorsuwannarat, Natcha , Piedrafita, David , Chantree, Pathanin , Sansri, Veerawat , Songkoomkrong, Sineenart , Bantuchai, Sirasate , Sangpairot, Kant , Kueakhai, Pornanan , Changklungmoa, Narin , Chaichanasak, Pannigan , Chansela, Piyachat , Sobhon, Prasert
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Experimental Parasitology Vol. 136, no. 1 (2013), p. 5-13
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  • Description: The effect of plumbagin (PB, 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone) against newly excysted juveniles (NEJs) and 4-weeks-old immature parasites of Fasciola gigantica were compared with triclabendazole (TCZ). The anthelmintic efficacy of 1, 10 and 100. μg/ml of PB or TCZ following incubation in vitro for 1-24. h was compared using a combination of relative motility (RM), survival index (SI) and larval migration inhibition (LMI) assays for parasite viability. The RM and SI values of the PB-treated group decreased at a more rapid rate than the TCZ-treated group. For NEJs, the decreased RM values were first observed at 1. h incubation with 1. μg/ml PB, and 90% of flukes were killed at 24. h. In contrast, in TCZ-treated groups a 10-fold higher concentration of TCZ (10. μg/ml) resulted in only 9% dead parasites after 24. h incubation. In 4-weeks-old juvenile parasites, PB reduced the RM value at 10. μg/ml with 100% of flukes dead after 3. h, while TCZ decreased RM values at the concentration of 100. μg/ml but with only 5% of flukes killed at 24. h. NEJs treated with PB exhibited 88%, 99% and 100% of LMIs at the concentrations of 1, 10 and 100. μg/ml, respectively. NEJs incubated with TCZ have an LMI of only 32% at the highest concentration of 100. μg/ml. Similarly PB had a significantly greater killing of immature 4. weeks juvenile stages than TCZ at all concentrations; however, 4-weeks-old juvenile parasites were more resistant to killing by PB or TCZ at all concentrations when compared to NEJs. Further studies were carried out to investigate the alterations of the parasite tegument by scanning electron microscope (SEM). PB caused similar tegumental alterations in 4-weeks-old juveniles as those observed in TCZ treatment but with greater damage at comparative time points, comprising of swelling, blebbing and rupture of the tegument, loss of spines, and eventual erosion, lesion and desquamation of the total tegument. These data indicate that PB had a greater fasciolicidal effect against immature stages of F. gigantica parasites than TCZ and warrant further studies for use as a potential new anthelmintic against Fasciola infections. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

The inactivation kinetics of polyphenol oxidase in mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) during thermal and thermosonic treatments

- Cheng, X., Zhang, Min, Adhikari, Benu

  • Authors: Cheng, X. , Zhang, Min , Adhikari, Benu
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Ultrasonics Sonochemistry Vol. 20, no. 2 (2013), p. 674-679
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  • Description: The effect of thermal and thermosonic treatments on the inactivation kinetics of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) was studied in 55-75°C temperature range. In both the processes, the inactivation kinetics of PPO followed a first-order kinetics (R2 = 0.941-0.989). The D values during thermal inactivation varied from 112 ± 8.4 min to 1.2 ± 0.07 min while they varied from 57.8 ± 6.1 min to 0.88 ± 0.05 min during thermosonic inactivation at the same temperature range. The activation energy during thermal inactivation was found to be 214 ± 17 kJ/mol, while it was 183 ± 32 kJ/mol during thermosonic inactivation. The inactivating effect of combined ultrasound and heat was found to synergistically enhance the inactivation kinetics of PPO. The D values of PPO decreased by 1.3-3 times during thermosonic inactivation compared to the D values of PPO during thermal inactivation at the temperature range. Therefore, thermosonication can be further developed as an alternative to "hot break" process of mushroom. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
  • Description: 2003010582

The Interrelations between age, sense of belonging, and depressive symptoms among Australian gay men and lesbians

- McLaren, Suzanne, Gibbs, Petah, Watts, Eboni

  • Authors: McLaren, Suzanne , Gibbs, Petah , Watts, Eboni
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Homosexuality Vol. 60, no. 1 (2013), p. 1-15
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  • Description: Researchers have demonstrated that age is related to depression among gay men and lesbians, with younger adults experiencing more depression than older adults. Other researchers have indicated that a sense of belonging is related to lower levels of depression. This study investigated whether sense of belonging to the gay and lesbian community moderates and mediates the relationship between age and depressive symptoms among gay men and lesbians. An Australian sample of self-identified gay men (n = 346) and lesbians (n = 270) completed the Psychological subscale of the Sense of Belonging Instrument and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results indicated that age and sense of belonging were directly and independently related to depressive symptoms for gay men and lesbians. In addition, for lesbians only, sense of belonging moderated the age-depressive symptom relation. For lesbians with low levels of sense belonging to the lesbian community, age was not associated with depressive symptoms. In contrast, for lesbians with high levels of sense of belonging to the lesbian community, the association between sense of belonging and depressive symptoms decreased with increasing age. Encouraging gay men and lesbians (especially younger lesbians) to become involved in the gay and lesbian community is likely to be beneficial for their mental health. © 2013 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
  • Description: 2003010682

The journal Kai Tiaki's role in developing research capability in New Zealand nursing, 1908-1959

- Wood, Pamela, Nelson, Katherine

  • Authors: Wood, Pamela , Nelson, Katherine
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Nursing Praxis in New Zealand Vol. 29, no. 1 (2013 2013), p. 12-22
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  • Description: The development of research capability in New Zealand nursing can be seen particularly from the 1970s onwards. However, by analysing past issues of Kai Tiaki - the country's longstanding nursing journal - over the five decades following its establishment in 1908, the present authors identified two precursors to this later stage. The journal fostered nurses' awareness of research and consistently promoted nursing scholarship. Successive editors developed nurses' capability in writing about their practice by publishing case studies, the winning essays in competitions run jointly with the professional association and nursing schools, and nurses' articles on practice or professional issues. Although promotion of research awareness and nursing scholarship were not deliberate strategies to develop nursing research capability, they were necessary forerunners to it.

The load-power relationship during a jump squat

- Radford, Chris, Talpey, Scott, Young, Warren

The microinsurance market in Bangladesh : An analytical overview

- Ahsan, Syed, Khalily, M. A. Baqui, Hamid, Syed, Barua, Shubhasish, Barua, Suborna

  • Authors: Ahsan, Syed , Khalily, M. A. Baqui , Hamid, Syed , Barua, Shubhasish , Barua, Suborna
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: The Bangladesh Development Studies Vol. 36, no. 1 (2013), p. 1-54
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  • Description: This paper provides an analytical overview of the current state of the microinsurance market in Bangladesh comprising of products offered by commercial insurance companies, microfinance institutions (MFIs) and those by INAFI’s MIME programme. For the commercial life insurers, available products are characterised by a mix of inadequate risk coverage, excessively high premium rates unrelated to any plausible model of mortality of the insured, lengthy process of claim settlement and, above all, high costs of intermediation. Such products therefore appear unattractive to the vulnerable. The MFIs, on the other hand, mainly offer loan insurance thus minimising lenders’ risks and having a much quicker claim settlement process. Some MFIs also offer a variety of other products (notably, term life, health and livestock insurance). However, the health plans reviewed in the paper clarify that most of these are not examples of true insurance products since the bulk of the risk eventually remains with the insured. The requirement of cash transactions in each step of the way is a further drawback eroding popularity of the products. Finally, it is seen that, while INAFI has been implementing both term and endowment life policies, the premium structure appears rather steep vis-à-vis the cost of risks, presumably reflecting high costs of intermediation. In view of very limited competition in the market for commercial life coverage, regulatory directives may be targeted at improving competition in each segment of the market, thereby fostering innovation and fair play.

The obesity paradox – some methodological considerations and potential physiological mechanisms

- Grace, Fergal, Buchan, Duncan, Kilgore, Lon, Baker, Julien