Articles: health.
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The Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (HRDC) in Nepal identified the need to evaluate their in-hospital and community programmes. An instrument was developed to provide information regarding the functional level of the children treated by the HRDC as well as to provide information regarding care-givers' attitudes towards disability. Inter-rater reliability of the measure was tested in three regions of Nepal with 49 children. ⋯ Inter-rater reliability coefficients, calculated using a weighted kappa statistic, varied from 0.60 to 1.0. We conclude that the instrument demonstrated an acceptable level of inter-rater reliability in the field setting. Future studies to measure construct and concurrent validity, test-retest reliability and responsiveness of the instrument are recommended as well as testing the instrument in different cultures.
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External pressures have combined to erode the practice of India's traditional medical systems to such an extent that they are in danger of becoming extinct. A better balanced national health policy could go a long way towards reversing this trend.
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The Faisalabad Obstetric Flying Squad was established in 1988 and provides access to emergency obstetric services for the poor women of Faisalabad. The service is highly appreciated by both women and participating dais. The latter receive training from the Mother and Child Welfare Association of Faisalabad and form an integral part of the obstetric care team. ⋯ It would also permit an assessment of the operating costs of the service. One of the reasons the service functions effectively is that it is fully integrated into the general operations of the Allied Hospital. If similar institutional mechanisms can be established there is good reason to think that the Faisalabad Obstetric Flying Squad could be replicated in other developing country settings.