Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** May 28, 2024
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An Affordable Diarrhea Treatment Could Save Thousands of Children's Lives
Nearly half a million children die every year from one of the most prolific killers on the planet: diarrhea.
Oral rehydration salts--inexpensive packets of salts and sugar--are a lifesaving treatment now widely available in low- and middle-income countries. But medical providers from South Asia to sub-Saharan Africa just don't prescribe them enough. Why?
In a recent study, researchers from RAND, Duke University, the University of Southern California, and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore hired actors in India to pose as worried parents seeking care for a sick child. They found that health care providers often ignored the rehydrating salts--not because they didn't think the treatment would work, but because they didn't think parents would want it. Providers tended to think that parents wanted something more, something stronger. That's a potentially fatal misperception.
When parents did express a preference for rehydrating salts, prescribing rates nearly doubled. This suggests an array of options that could help ensure this treatment reaches more kids who need it. It could be as simple as an informative poster hung up in a pharmacy. Or a WhatsApp campaign could send messages to parents of young kids, encouraging them to ask for rehydrating salts if their child has diarrhea.
Whatever the next step, the findings reveal clear opportunities to potentially save the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.
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Enhancing Workforce Resilience in U.S. Space Command
A resilient workforce--one that can adapt to challenging circumstances--is essential to the U.S. military's readiness and effectiveness. A new RAND study looks at how the recently reestablished U.S. Space Command can improve resilience among its military, civilian, and contract personnel. After conducting workshops with personnel to learn more about their perspectives, our researchers identified key recommendations for the command, including investing in a "one-stop shop" for resilience resources and communications.
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How to Grow the Green Economy in Pittsburgh
Creating and expanding a green economy is a promising opportunity for the seven-county region that makes up the greater Pittsburgh area. In a new report, RAND researchers identify sectors that are key to achieving this goal, including sustainable agriculture, advanced manufacturing, and outdoor recreation. The authors also describe challenges that could negatively affect growth in these sectors, such as failing to educate students about green jobs at an early age, an inability to retain highly trained talent in the region, and an aging workforce and declining population in some areas.
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** RAND Recommends
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- Last week, RAND's Raphael Cohen spoke to Al Arabiya about the implications of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's death for Middle East security and stability.
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- "The United States and its allies should take advantage of Russia's necessary restraint against NATO, and do more to help Ukraine defeat Russia," RAND's Andrew Radin writes in Defense One
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- The UK Armed Forces have a long history of recruiting non-native citizens, including people from the British Commonwealth and Ireland, as well as Nepalese nationals. A new RAND Europe study looks at the unique experiences of these service members.
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** Analyzing the Rise of AI: Insights from RAND
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AI tools are evolving quickly, and decisionmakers are grappling with how to maximize the potential benefits and minimize the risks. Insights from RAND can help. Our researchers have been studying how AI will affect national security, the economy, health care, and much more.
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