PUBLIC HEALTH REVIEWS最新文献

Objectives: Various studies have shown that social adversity, such as loneliness or low SES, are linked with worse cognitive outcomes, though underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear. This scoping review aims to summarize existing evidence on biological processes that may serve as mediators underlying this association.

Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, studies measuring social adversity, cognition, and at least one biological mechanism were included. Results were summarized narratively and in tabular formats.

Results: Twelve studies (n = 12) examined links between social adversity, cognition, and biological mechanisms. Inflammation, allostatic load, genetics and genetic aging markers were the three main biological mechanisms identified as potential mediators.

Conclusion: Several studies suggest that these biological mechanisms may mediate the link between social adversity and cognitive decline. However, further research is needed to clarify these complex relationships, which are crucial for developing targeted interventions, especially for socially disadvantaged populations.

Objectives: The G5 Sahel countries have faced political instability and terrorist activities for over a decade. With the regional lack of water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH), there is an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. This scoping review aims to document WaSH-related health outcomes associated with terrorist activities, identify gaps in the humanitarian and political response and propose actionable recommendations to address them.

Methods: We followed the PRISMA standards, including literature from PubMed and Web of Science. Country-specific timeframes for terrorist activities were used.

Results: Data was extracted from 54 out of 2,320 publications on 22 December 2023. While malnutrition and diarrheal diseases were frequently reported as health outcomes - consistent with inadequate WaSH services - the lack of studies directly linking these outcomes to terrorist activities is notable. Only one article explicitly established a direct link between health outcomes and terrorist activities.

Conclusion: The scarcity of studies directly linking terrorist activities to health outcomes reveals a significant research gap and highlight the need for more focused investigations into the health impacts of political violence in the Sahel region.

Objectives: Understanding how discourse surrounding influenza pandemics evolves over time can reveal shifts in scientific and public health priorities. This study reconstructs such discourse between 1889 and 1981 by identifying and comparing key research themes and trends in articles in predecessor journals of Swiss Medical Weekly (SMW).

Methods: A corpus of articles containing the terms "influenza," "flu," and "epidemic" from five pandemic periods was compiled. We conducted a keyword-based content analysis, categorizing articles into 31 sub-keywords within five broad categories, and comparing their frequencies. Co-occurrence maps were generated using VOSviewer, and relevant articles were closely read.

Results: A total of 352 articles were identified, with the highest number published between 1918 and 1924. Most prevalent themes across all periods were "Epidemiology and disease dynamics," "Complications," and "Acute clinical manifestations and management." A key shift in focus occurred with the introduction of influenza vaccination after the 1940s, as attention increasingly turned towards immunity and the role of vaccinations.

Conclusion: Despite major medical developments, similar themes were seen across the observed pandemic periods in SMW. This study provides an important first step towards constructing such discourses.

Objectives: The purpose of this study, as a systematic review and meta-analysis, is to summarize the evidence on the effects of occupational exposure to VOCs on sleep quality.

Methods: We used five electronic bibliographic databases to identify eligible studies. Three groups of keywords were applied in the search strategy. In evaluating the quality of studies and risk of bias, we utilized the Joanna Briggs Institute tools and the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Exposures (ROBINS-E) instruments, respectively. The pooled values were also calculated by meta-analysis.

Results: 37 articles were included in the study. There was a consistent finding that exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) adversely affected sleep in workers across various professions. The pooled value of the odds ratio of sleep problems because of exposure to VOCs was 1.60 [95% CI (1.01, 2.19)].

Conclusion: Most studies indicated that occupational exposure to VOCs can significantly influence the sleep of workers in various professions. The exposure can be associated with a variety of sleep problems.

Objective: The systematic review reveals a lack of research on financing universal health coverage (UHC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to examine the financing mechanisms used, identify the main challenges faced, and gather insights from successful experiences to inform future reforms in LMICs.

Methods: We conducted a literature search across seven academic databases, limiting our systematic review to studies published in English and French between 2010 and 2022, which were then included in our qualitative analysis.

Results: A total of 45 studies met the inclusion criteria-most used qualitative (n = 23) or documentary (n = 15) approaches. The majority (n = 37) were published between 2015 and 2022. Using Kutzin's framework, we analyzed health financing functions in LMICs. Key challenges and lessons learned were summarized to improve understanding of ongoing financing issues and opportunities for reform.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes key financing strategies and ongoing challenges in LMICs and provides specific recommendations for countries to prioritize reforms and address health financing gaps. The goal is to speed up progress toward UHC.

Objectives: This review aims to identify the main determinants of various sexual behaviors among in-school and out-of-school adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, using Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory as a framework.

Methods: A systematic review with narrative synthesis was performed of empirical studies about the determinants of sexual behavior among in-school and out-of-school adolescents aged 10 to 19 in sub-Saharan Africa, using quantitative data from Embase, PubMed, PsycInfo, SCOPUS, AJOL, and Google Scholar.

Results: A total of 132 studies were retrieved, identifying determinants of sexual behaviors such as sexual intercourse, sexual initiation at early age, multipartnership, condom use, contraceptive use, sexual abstinence, or sexual violence. Only four of these 132 studies involved out-of-school adolescents. Determinants of adolescent sexual behavior include demographic characteristics, socio-cognitive factors, problem behaviors, experiences, family relations, peers' influence, relationships, school dynamics, education system, health system, information system, sociodemographic characteristics, socio-economic characteristics, religion, and societal values and norms.

Conclusion: To design interventions that address adolescents' sexual and reproductive health needs, public health policymakers must consider the multifaceted and interconnected determinants of sexual behaviors among in-school and out-of-school adolescents.

Background: Schools serve not only as centers of education but also as critical environments for social development and promoting health and well-being of children and adolescents. Conducting health-related research in school settings offers valuable opportunities to identify current health challenges and assess preventive and interventional strategies.

Analysis: Researchers face several challenges when conducting health-related research in schools, including communication barriers, complex coordination among relevant stakeholders, and limited resources.

Policy options: This policy brief, with a special focus on Switzerland, highlighted main challenges and presented options derived from literature, semi-structured interviews, and a stakeholder dialogue to address them. The dialogue included representatives from youth, parents, teachers, school principals, school authorities, and researchers. The results emphasize key options in three main areas: (i) recruitment and motivation, (ii) retention and incentives, and (iii) partnerships and collaboration.

Conclusion: Many of the proposed options do not require large-scale political shifts nor national-level policy changes but can directly be applied in schools and research settings, emphasizing their practical applicability and potential for immediate impact. Ultimately, implementing these options in health-related research in schools can contribute to long-term health and well-being of future generations.

Objectives: Timely detection of infectious disease outbreaks is essential to limit health, social, and economic impacts, yet diagnostic and surveillance gaps persist across Africa. This review applies the 7-1-7 global target framework-detect within 7 days, notify within 1, and respond within 7-to assess strategies for strengthening early detection capacities across African countries.

Methods: We conducted a review of peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, and field evidence published without time span limitations. Key themes were organized around five strategic pillars: diagnostic preparedness, surveillance, workforce development, community engagement, and governance.

Results: Identified bottlenecks include limited diagnostic networks capacity, fragmented surveillance systems, workforce shortages, and underinvestment in digital infrastructure. Promising solutions include diagnostic network optimization, deployment of point-of-care molecular tools, integration of event- and indicator-based surveillance through interoperable platforms, and AI-enabled early warning systems. Field examples from Uganda, Senegal, and Nigeria demonstrate improved timeliness where coordinated investments and multisectoral collaboration have been implemented.

Conclusion: Meeting the 7-1-7 detection target requires integrated, country-owned strategies that align diagnostics, surveillance, workforce, and governance within resilient national health security frameworks, underpinned by sustained domestic investment.