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Impressions of psychiatry in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan

Bennett AE

Biol Psychiatry, 1976 Jun;11(3):345-53.
PMID: 938700
Spatial analysis of aquatic food access can inform nutrition-sensitive policy

Bennett A, Rice E, Muhonda P, Kaunda E, Katengeza S, Liverpool-Tasie LSO, et al.

Nat Food, 2022 Dec;3(12):1010-1013.
PMID: 37118314 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00642-4

Aquatic foods are critical for food and nutrition security in Malawi, but it is unclear which populations benefit from different aquatic foods and what factors shape food access. Spatial analysis of food flows across value chains from Lake Malawi to domestic consumers shows that usipa (Engraulicypris sardella) reaches more consumers than chambo (Oreochromis karongae) across all Malawi districts, particularly rural populations. Higher number of markets, nutrient content, and overall supply coupled with lower retail prices and volumes make usipa more accessible to consumers than chambo. Spatial analysis of food flows can guide policymakers towards supporting fisheries that reach vulnerable populations and designing interventions that enhance physical and economic access to fish.
Fulltext Characterizing the genetic diversity and population structure of Plasmodium knowlesi in Aceh Province, Indonesia

Kariodimedjo PP, Fadila N, Fine SR, Trimarsanto H, Cotter C, Trianty L, et al.

PLoS One, 2025;20(3):e0318608.
PMID: 40067800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318608

As in other parts of Southeast Asia, efforts to achieve or sustain malaria elimination in Indonesia have been threatened by the emergence of human infection with the primate species P. knowlesi. To understand the transmission dynamics of this species, investigation of P. knowlesi genetic diversity and population structure is needed. A molecular surveillance study was conducted in two phases between June 2014 and September 2018 at five primary health facilities in Aceh Province, Indonesia, an area nearing malaria elimination. Dried blood spot samples were collected from patients presenting with suspected malaria and testing positive for malaria by microscopy. PCR was performed for molecular confirmation and species identification. Forty-six samples were confirmed to be P. knowlesi, of which 41 were amplified with genotyping targeting ten known P. knowlesi microsatellite markers. For samples within a site, nearly all (9 of 10 loci) or all loci were polymorphic. Across sites, multiple identical haplotypes were observed, though linkage distribution in the population was low (index of association (IAS) = 0.008). The parasite population was indicative of low diversity (expected heterozygosity [HE] = 0.63) and low complexity demonstrated by 92.7% monoclonal infections, a mean multiplicity of infection of 1.06, and a mean within-host infection fixation index (FST) of 0.05. Principal coordinate and neighbour-joining tree analyses indicated that P. knowlesi strains from Aceh were distinct from those reported in Malaysia. In a near-elimination setting in Indonesia, we demonstrate the first evidence that P. knowlesi strains were minimally diverse and were genetically distinct from Malaysian strains, suggesting highly localized transmission and limited connectivity to Malaysia. Ongoing genetic surveillance of P. knowlesi in Indonesia can inform tracking and planning of malaria control and elimination efforts.
Child and adolescent psychiatry in the Far East: A 5-year follow up on the Consortium on Academic Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Far East (CACAP-FE) study

Hirota T, Guerrero A, Sartorius N, Fung D, Leventhal B, Ong SH, et al.

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 2019 Feb;73(2):84-89.
PMID: 30471156 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12800

AIM: Data pertaining to child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) training systems are limited as extant research has mostly been derived from one-time data collection. This 5-year follow-up survey collects updated information on CAP training systems in the Far East, allowing for the tracking of system changes over the past 5 years.
METHODS: Data were obtained from 18 countries, or functionally self-governing areas, in the Far East, 17 of which were also included in the original study. An online questionnaire was completed by leading CAP professionals in each country. Questions were expanded in the present study to capture the contents of CAP training.
RESULTS: When compared to data from the original study, there has been progress in CAP training systems in the last 5 years. Specifically, there has been an increase in the number of countries with CAP training programs and national guidelines for the training. In addition, the number of CAP departments/divisions affiliated with academic institutions/universities has increased. Findings from 12 of 18 countries in the present study provide data on clinical contents. All informants of the present study reported the need for more child and adolescent psychiatrists and allied professionals.
CONCLUSION: Despite progress in CAP training systems over the last 5 years, the need for more professionals in child and adolescent mental health care in all the relevant areas in this region have yet to be adequately addressed. Continued national efforts and international collaborations are imperative to developing and sustaining new CAP training systems while facilitating improvements in existing programs.
Fulltext Recognize fish as food in policy discourse and development funding

Bennett A, Basurto X, Virdin J, Lin X, Betances SJ, Smith MD, et al.

Ambio, 2021 May;50(5):981-989.
PMID: 33454882 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-020-01451-4

The international development community is off-track from meeting targets for alleviating global malnutrition. Meanwhile, there is growing consensus across scientific disciplines that fish plays a crucial role in food and nutrition security. However, this 'fish as food' perspective has yet to translate into policy and development funding priorities. We argue that the traditional framing of fish as a natural resource emphasizes economic development and biodiversity conservation objectives, whereas situating fish within a food systems perspective can lead to innovative policies and investments that promote nutrition-sensitive and socially equitable capture fisheries and aquaculture. This paper highlights four pillars of research needs and policy directions toward this end. Ultimately, recognizing and working to enhance the role of fish in alleviating hunger and malnutrition can provide an additional long-term development incentive, beyond revenue generation and biodiversity conservation, for governments, international development organizations, and society more broadly to invest in the sustainability of capture fisheries and aquaculture.