"Global health"

Nearly 31% of the Ghanaian population are adolescents, and these populations persistently face high rates of teenage pregnancies and unsafe abortions. This is despite sexual and reproductive health (SRH) being taught in the school curriculum. In this qualitative study, we explore the factors affecting adolescents' access to, and experiences of, SRH services in Accra, Ghana. We conducted 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with adolescents and 13 key informant interviews (KIs) in Ghana. The FGDs were conducted with school-going and out-of-school adolescents...

After often gruelling journeys, some refugees arrive at secure locations with severe injury or illness. Others find themselves shortly thereafter facing a life-limiting health condition. Palliative care has been the focus of recent research, and of academic and aid sector dialogue. In this study, we ask: What are experiences and needs of patients and care providers? What opportunities and obstacles exist to enhance or introduce means of reducing suffering for patients facing serious illness and injury in crisis settings? We present findings of a qualitative sub-study within a larger programme of research exploring moral and practical dimensions of palliative care in humanitarian crisis contexts...

Malaria is a global health problem that causes 1.5-2.7 million deaths worldwide each year. Resistance to antimalarial drugs in malaria parasites and to insecticides in vectors is one of the most serious issues in the fight against the disease. Moreover, the lack of an effective vaccine against malaria is still a major concern. Recent developments in nanotechnology have resulted in new prospects for the fight against malaria, especially by obtaining metal nanoparticles (NPs) that are less toxic, highly biocompatible, environmentally friendly, and less expensive...

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: To protect the health of young people from the harmful impacts of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), China has enacted various policies and regulations since 2018. As of October 1, 2022, the Electronic Cigarette Management Measures were put into action. They prohibited the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, permitting only those of plain tobacco flavor to be sold. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: The illegal market for flavored e-cigarettes, often disguised as milk tea cups, cola cans, and violent bear images, continues to flourish...

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: The mortality rate and disease burden associated with falls among the elderly in China are on the rise. Interventions can play a crucial role in preventing and managing falls. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: The application of the "5E" injury prevention strategy led to a decrease in both the occurrence of falls and the likelihood of subsequent falls. Regular physical activity and maintaining a positive outlook were identified as protective measures against falls, while sleep issues and hearing impairment were found to increase the risk of falling...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

INTRODUCTION: To examine the recent trends in child injury mortality in China. METHODS: Injury mortality data of 2010-2021 for children and adolescents aged 0-19 years were from the China Health Statistics Yearbook. Injury mortality disparities across urban vs. rural locations, gender, and age groups were scrutinized. Annual percent change (APC), average annual percent change (AAPC), and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI ) were estiamted usimg Joinpoint regression models...

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: The global burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is on the rise. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: In 2019, 5.58 million individuals in China were affected by CKD related to hypertension, leading to 70,260 fatalities and 1.69 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The most affected groups were men, older individuals, and residents of western China. Over the period from 2010-2019, the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) remained constant, and the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) showed a decreasing trend...

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality in Myanmar. Despite the burden, CVD preventive services receive low government and donor budgets, which has led to poor CVD outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a cost-effective analysis and a budget impact analysis on CVD prevention strategies recommended by the WHO. A Markov model was used to analyse the cost and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) from healthcare provider and societal perspectives...

Snakebite envenoming is a global health issue that affects millions of people worldwide, and that causes morbidity rates surpassing 450,000 individuals annually. Patients suffering from snakebite morbidities may experience permanent disabilities such as pain, blindness and amputations. The (local) tissue damage that causes these life-long morbidities is the result of cell- and tissue-damaging toxins present in the venoms. These compounds belong to a variety of toxin classes and may affect cells in various ways, for example, by affecting the cell membrane...

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: Brucellosis, mainly caused by Brucella melitensis ( B. melitensis ), is regarded as a significant zoonotic disease in China. In Weihai, located at the eastern end of the Shandong Peninsula, brucellosis has been in a low epidemic phase for the past five years. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: This was the initial report of a brucellosis outbreak in the last five years. Strains of B. melitensis bv. 3 from Weihai and other cities showed a close genetic relationship, suggesting a potential common ancestry...

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: Given the challenges presented by drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis (TB) and the rising mobility of the population, achieving the objective of eradicating TB appears uncertain. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: The examination of TB incidence trends in 10 high-burden countries (HBCs) indicated a steady rise in cases, with India and China jointly accounting for nearly 70% of the burden. Projections for the future show diverse trajectories in these countries, with potential difficulties in reaching the TB elimination target, especially in Nigeria, Congo, and South Africa...

INTRODUCTION: A retrospective study based on sentinel surveillance was conducted in 10 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) in China to enhance the understanding of the epidemiological characteristics of human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs). METHODS: From January 2019 to June 2023, respiratory specimens were collected from individuals with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and screened for four HPIVs serotypes and other common respiratory viruses using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: The inclusion of meningococcal vaccines in the National Immunization Program (NIP) over several years has significantly reduced the incidence of meningococcal meningitis in China to historic lows. Worldwide, there has been a diversification of meningococcal serogroups, leading to a shift in dominant serogroups in China from serogroup A to serogroups C and B, accompanied by a rise in reports of serogroups Y and W. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: An outbreak of serogroup Y Neisseria meningitidis (Nm ) in a secondary vocational school involved a single confirmed severe case and 24 individuals with laboratory-confirmed Nm carriage...

Drowning remains a significant global health concern, claiming over 300,000 lives annually, with a disproportionate impact on young individuals in low-and middle-income countries. Conventional mechanical ventilation, while common, falls short in addressing the hypoxemia and hypercapnia often observed in severe near-drowning cases. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vvECMO) emerges as a critical intervention for cardiopulmonary failure post-drowning. This case report delves into the pivotal role of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in a near-drowning-related pathology...

Protozoa exert a serious global threat of growing concern to human, and animal, and there is a need for the advancement of novel therapeutic strategies to effectively treat or mitigate the impact of associated diseases. Omega polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-PUFAs), including Omega-3 (ω-3) and omega-6 (ω-6), are constituents derived from various natural sources, have gained significant attention for their therapeutic role in parasitic infections and a variety of essential structural and regulatory functions in animals and humans...

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC?: Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) was linked to endocrine hormone disruption in the reproductive system. Nonetheless, it was unclear which specific components of PM2.5 were primarily responsible for these associations. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: The study presented the initial epidemiological evidence that brief exposure to PM2.5 can elevate estradiol levels in postmenopausal women. Various particle components had unique effects, with water-soluble ions and specific inorganic elements like Ag, As, Cd, Hg, Ni, Sb, Se, Sn, and Tl potentially playing significant roles in increasing estradiol levels...

INTRODUCTION: Radon (222 Rn or 222 radon) is a radioactive gas emitted from building materials, foundations, and soil. Children are especially susceptible to radon exposure, underscoring the need to assess indoor radon levels in kindergartens. This study monitored radon concentrations in 37 Beijing kindergartens from June to October 2023. METHODS: A random sample of 37 kindergartens was selected from 18 administrative districts in Beijing. The indoor radon concentration was measured using the solid track accumulation method, with radon detectors continuously monitored over a 3-month period...

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- and S. Rissen are emerging serotypes of Salmonella that require close monitoring for antimicrobial resistance and containment of their spread. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: The study aimed to identify antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in S. 1,4,[5],12:i:- and S. Rissen strains isolated from environmental sewage in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using single nucleotide polymorphism data to assess genetic relatedness among strains, offering insights for Salmonella infection outbreak investigations in the future...