Dialogues in health最新文献

{"title":"Stroke caregiving in Asia: A scoping review of caregiver burden","authors":"Junaedi Yunding ,&nbsp;Lalu Muhammad Saleh ,&nbsp;Takdir Tahir ,&nbsp;Atjo Wahyu ,&nbsp;Andi Indahwaty Sidin ,&nbsp;Muhammad Arsyad ,&nbsp;Saldy Yusuf ,&nbsp;Nurmulia Wunaini Ngkolu","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Caregiver burden in stroke care is a major issue in Asia, influenced by cultural norms, socioeconomic disparities, and variations in healthcare systems.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This scoping review aimed to map and synthesize evidence on the levels and domains of caregiver burden among stroke caregivers in Asian countries.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, SCOPUS, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect for full-text English-language articles published between 2020 and 2025. This review followed the PRISMA-ScR framework. Studies were screened using predefined criteria, and data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form. Thematic analysis was applied to identify burden domains and cross-country variations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Fifteen studies from China, Iran, India, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Turkey, and Pakistan were included. Eight burden domains were identified, with physical and emotional burden being the most predominant. Variations between countries were associated with cultural expectations, gender roles, socioeconomic conditions, and healthcare infrastructure. Countries with stronger health systems report a more manageable burden, while those with weaker systems experience higher financial and emotional stress.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This scoping review underscores the urgent need for health policies that prioritize caregiver support through financial assistance, psychoeducation, mental health services, and digital innovation. Community-based strategies tailored to the sociocultural context are crucial for improving caregiver well-being and optimizing post-stroke recovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100281"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimating global public health security preparedness capacity: The contribution of SPAR and JEE","authors":"Kamal Bishowkarma ,&nbsp;Cynthia Bell ,&nbsp;Shanlong Ding ,&nbsp;Robert Nguni ,&nbsp;Luca Vernaccini ,&nbsp;Peter Mala ,&nbsp;Stéphane de la Rocque ,&nbsp;Jun Xing ,&nbsp;Dick Chamla ,&nbsp;Mary Stephen ,&nbsp;Reuben Samuel ,&nbsp;Ihor Perehinets ,&nbsp;Phuong Nam Nguyen ,&nbsp;Nirmal Kandel ,&nbsp;Stella Chungong","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100282","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>To promote transparency and mutual accountability in global public health security among WHO States Parties, Article 54 of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) obliges State Parties to regularly report capacities to prevent, protect against, control, and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease. Two prominent tools for assessing capacities, a mandatory State Parties Annual Self-Assessment (SPAR) and a voluntary Joint External Evaluation (JEE), cover similar concepts and structure, but agreement between the tools has not been assessed in a long term global analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This ecological study compared quantitative capacity scores from 1445 indicator-matched paired observations from 108 SPAR and JEE assessments completed in the same year, by 93 States Parties, between 2016 and 2023. Mixed effects methods were used to estimate mean agreement for each indicator, comparing tool editions/years, regions, and income groups.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Overall, SPAR scores were higher than JEE scores, with the least agreement observed with indicators scoring near Level 3–4 capacity. However, consistency between SPAR and JEE evaluations improved recently, particularly in the latest 2022–2023 editions where 25 of the 28 matched indicator capacity scores were not significantly different on average. Three indicators with significant score disagreement pertained to infection prevention and control, health-care association infection surveillance, and national IHR focal point functions.</div></div><div><h3>Interpretation</h3><div>Improved alignment between SPAR and JEE, particularly in recent editions, combined with the identification of remaining indicator disagreement, strengthens the evidence base for continued improvement in these essential assessment tools.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100282"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Global epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of arboviruses: A systematic review of surveillance, control strategies, and emerging threats","authors":"Ebrahim Abbasi","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arboviral diseases, transmitted primarily by <em>Aedes</em> mosquitoes, represent a growing global health challenge. The spread of dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever has been associated with factors such as climate change, urbanization, and increased global mobility. We conducted a systematic review of the literature published between January 2000 and December 2024, screening 487 studies, of which 11 met predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the final synthesis (PROSPERO registration: CRD42021231605). The review integrates evidence from epidemiological reports, molecular surveillance studies, and evaluations of control strategies across endemic and emerging regions. Findings indicate a marked geographic expansion of major arboviruses beyond traditional endemic zones, with multiple studies reporting substantial increases in incidence in temperate regions over the past two decades. Molecular analyses consistently demonstrate high genetic diversity and ongoing viral evolution, reflecting adaptation to environmental and host pressures. The review also highlights persistent challenges in disease control, including widespread insecticide resistance, uneven surveillance capacity, and limitations in vaccine deployment. Emerging interventions such as Wolbachia-based vector control, genetically modified mosquitoes, and newer dengue and chikungunya vaccines show promise but require integration within broader surveillance, health-system, and governance frameworks. Overall, the findings underscore the need for coordinated, multisectoral approaches to strengthen early detection, improve control strategies, and mitigate the growing global burden of arboviral diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100280"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078082","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gendered role disruption in women with rheumatoid arthritis: A phenomenological study in Kashmir","authors":"Zakir Hussain Gadda ,&nbsp;Mohmad Saleem Jahangir,&nbsp;Aneesa Shafi","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100279","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100279","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach to explore the day-to-day social role experiences of women living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in Kashmir. Participants were recruited through purposive and theoretical sampling until data saturation was reached. The study included 15 women, aged 21 to 67 years, with a clinical diagnosis of RA. Most of these women participants were married homemakers. Data were collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed with the help of Colaizzi's method. Results revealed that the challenges posed by RA, including pain, discomfort and progressive disability, have curtailed the patients' ability to fulfill their culturally assigned social roles. Such limitations increased their vulnerability to impaired well-being and a loss of identity and purpose. Furthermore, RA has increased patients' dependence on others, which diminished their perceived significance both within and beyond their familial boundaries. As a result, they have adopted various strategies to adapt to the changing demands and expectations associated with their social roles. The study findings emphasize the need for active family involvement in RA care to promote empathy and support. Moreover, healthcare providers need to address not only the physical aspects of RA, but also its under-recognized emotional, psychological, and sexual impacts to improve the quality of care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100279"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of parental stress, depression, anxiety, and somatisation: Mediating role of coping behaviours among mothers of preterm infants in Ghana","authors":"Jacob Owusu Sarfo ,&nbsp;Crescens Osei Bonsu Ofori ,&nbsp;Priscilla Yeye Adumoah Attafuah ,&nbsp;Nuworza Kugbey ,&nbsp;Dean Kormla Attigah ,&nbsp;Newton Isaac Gbordzoe ,&nbsp;Josephine Cudjoe Sarfo","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100278","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Parenting a preterm infant is a stressful experience that can significantly impact maternal mental health. This cross-sectional study examined the association of parental stress with depression, anxiety, and somatisation in 120 Ghanaian mothers of preterm infants, as well as the mediating role of maternal coping behaviours.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Mediation analyses using the Lavaan package in JASP software indicated that parental stress had significant direct associations with depression and anxiety in both models, but not with somatisation. The association between stress and somatisation emerged only when coping strategies were included. Adaptive coping played a limited mediating role, significant only for somatisation. In contrast, maladaptive coping significantly mediated the relationships between parental stress and all three mental health outcomes, indicating a stronger explanatory role in how stress translates into psychological symptoms.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Maladaptive coping appears to be a key mechanism linking parental stress to poor mental health among Ghanaian mothers of preterm infants. Interventions that reduce maladaptive coping and strengthen effective coping strategies may help mitigate depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in this population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100278"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977629","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use of lethal weapons to kill protesters by Bangladesh police: A discussion analyzing 253 deaths of July 24 revolution","authors":"Md Abu Bakkar Siddik ,&nbsp;Md Syful Islam ,&nbsp;Sheikh Muzzammil Hussen ,&nbsp;Md. Khalid Syfullah","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100277","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100277","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of lethal force by law enforcement against protesters is a critical issue in Bangladesh, where police actions during the July 24 Revolution resulted in more than a thousand recorded deaths. This study analyses the circumstances, demographics, and geographic distribution of these fatalities through a quantitative content analysis of national newspaper reports of 253 deaths, verified through a multi-step validation process to reduce bias. The findings reveal that young adults aged 18 to 29 accounted for 58.1% of victims, underscoring the historical role of youth in political mobilization. Lethal bullets were responsible for 78.66% of deaths, with most fatalities occurring on the spot (77.47%) and predominantly at demonstration sites (75.89%). The chest (46.64%) and head (29.25%) were the most frequently targeted areas, suggesting intentional use of lethal force inconsistent with international norms on proportionality and necessity. These patterns illustrate how the securitization of dissent discursively frames protesters as threats, legitimizing violent repression consistent with broader theories of state violence. In doing so, the findings extend global debates on protest policing by showing how securitization discursively legitimized the lethal targeting of youth protesters in a South Asian context. By situating Bangladesh within South Asian and global debates on protest policing, the study contributes to understanding how state violence undermines democratic participation and public health. The analysis aligns with the World Health Organization's objectives on reducing violence and promoting human rights. While limited by reliance on media reports and cross-sectional data, the findings highlight the need for future research on long-term impacts and for context-specific reforms in accountability, training, and oversight.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100277"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How the One Health approach can make effective the World Health Organization’s recommendations on integrated management of childhood illnesses: Case of community-based home management of malaria in the Ferlo of Matam, Senegal","authors":"Jean Standeur Nabi Kaly ,&nbsp;Ibrahima Mamby Keita ,&nbsp;Elhadji Doucoure ,&nbsp;Fatoumata Binetou Sall ,&nbsp;Abdoulaye Mamadou BA ,&nbsp;Abdoulaye Alfred Mango ,&nbsp;Birama Louis Gomis ,&nbsp;Mor Talla Dieng ,&nbsp;Mohamadou Ndao ,&nbsp;Seydou Mamadou Diallo ,&nbsp;Aida Diop ,&nbsp;Khalifa Ababacar Fall ,&nbsp;Omar Coly ,&nbsp;Ousseynou Cisse ,&nbsp;Moustapha Faye ,&nbsp;Ibrahima Diallo ,&nbsp;Aliou Thiongane","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100276","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2026.100276","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Malaria remains a major cause of illness and death among children under five in Senegal, particularly in remote areas inhabited by transhumant herders who have limited access to health services. To address these gaps, the National Malaria Control Program implemented a community-based home management (CBHM) strategy in the <em>Ferlo</em> region of Matam, integrating One Health principles to engage animal and environmental health actors.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was carried out describing the said CBHM-<em>Ferlo</em> strategy. Data were collected by document review and activity report exploitation on the DHIS2 platform. It focused on the IMCI target group (children under five) living in a mobile (transhumance) mode. The community-based home care providers (CBHCPs) were selected within and by their own transhumant herder's community to early detect and care of childhood illness (diarrhea, respiratory infection, malaria, etc.) on the one hand; and to reinforce vitamin A supplementation, deworming and immunization coverage on the other hand.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The strategy's principle was “<em>Making the home, the first ‘hospital’ of communities</em>” with a total of 2307 cases seen by CBHCPs including 1464 cases of fever. The malaria testing rate of 98.9 % with a positivity rate of 21.1 %, 96.4 % of which were on artemisinin-based combination therapies. Regarding diarrhea, 209 cases were detected with 67.9 % of treatment rate based on oral rehydration solution and zinc. In terms of respiratory infections, cough/cold occurred in 96.5 % of cases, and pneumonia cases were treated 55.6 % of cases with amoxicillin. Finally, 1156 children were supplemented with vitamin A, while 443 children were dewormed, and 129 children were raised awareness and referred for immunization.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Thus, CBHM-<em>Ferlo</em> strategy improved the care of childhood illness in Matam in 2024, and above all highlights the added value of One Health and transdisciplinary approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100276"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Institutional mechanisms excluding rehabilitation from medical education in Central Africa: A mixed-methods case study from Cameroon with implications for WHO regional strategy implementation","authors":"Ibrahim Npochinto Moumeni ,&nbsp;France Mourey ,&nbsp;Faustin Atemkeng Tsatedem ,&nbsp;Kossi Oyene ,&nbsp;Yacouba Njankouo Mapoure","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2025.100274","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2025.100274","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Access to rehabilitation services in sub-Saharan Africa is severely limited, with the WHO reporting that more than 63 % of people in the region do not receive needed rehabilitation services. This study analyzes how the exclusion of rehabilitation from medical curricula in Cameroon affects care access and evaluates implications for implementing the WHO Regional Strategy to Strengthen Rehabilitation in Health Systems 2025–2035.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We employed a sequential mixed-methods design comprising: (1) qualitative interviews with medical education leaders (<em>n</em> = 12) from 7 medical schools, analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis; and (2) clinical observation of 847 consecutive rehabilitation consultations over 24 months at Bafoussam Regional Hospital, evaluating referral patterns, prescription quality, and geographic patient distribution. We implemeted and assessed a 4 h rehabilitation education module for 2 promotions (year five) medical students.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Interviews revealed three mechanisms maintaining rehabilitation's exclusion from medical education: coercive (all 12 interviewees noted absence from accreditation requirements), normative (10/12 cited professional hierarchies that devalue rehabilitation), and mimetic (8/12 described uncritical curriculum replication from other schools). Analysis of 847 rehabilitation consultations showed that only 4.8 % of prescriptions included adequate clinical context; nearly half of patients (47 %) traveled over 100 km to access care. Physician specialty (OR = 3.7, 95 % CI: 2.1–6.4), recent graduation (OR = 1.9, 95 % CI: 1.1–3.2), and personal rehabilitation experience (OR = 4.3, 95 % CI: 2.5–7.6) predicted higher-quality referrals. The 4-h educational intervention at University of Dschang improved students' rehabilitation knowledge from 41.3 % to 78.7 % (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) and referral confidence from 23 % to 87 % (p &lt; 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The exclusion of rehabilitation from medical curricula in Cameroon is associated with widespread “Single Practitioner Syndrome”—a phenomenon where care becomes centralized around rare practitioners, creating systemic inefficiencies and access barriers. Even minimal educational interventions show potential for significant improvement in knowledge and referral practices. Implementation of the WHO Regional Strategy will require addressing these foundational educational barriers while acknowledging resource constraints in Central African health systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100274"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adapting and mitigating: an exploratory Delphi approach to climate change impacts on healthcare institutions in Switzerland","authors":"Rafaël Weissbrodt ,&nbsp;Pauline Roos ,&nbsp;Bozica Krsmanovic ,&nbsp;Typhaine Maïko Juvet ,&nbsp;Sandrine Corbaz-Kurth ,&nbsp;Claude-Alexandre Fournier ,&nbsp;Stéphanie Hannart ,&nbsp;Valentino Piana","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2025.100275","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2025.100275","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change is increasing morbidity and mortality, exacerbating the imbalance between care needs and available resources. Peer-reviewed literature and international frameworks have emphasized the importance of health system resilience in the face of this growing stressor. Because effective action plans must be tailored to specific national, regional, or local contexts, this study focuses on Switzerland—a Central European country with a high-performing acute care system that is notably energy-intensive and heavily reliant on fossil fuels and imported supplies. Given that temperatures in Switzerland are rising faster than the Northern Hemisphere average, adapting the healthcare system and reducing its energy consumption are critical challenges. The study provides a systematic overview of the anticipated impacts of climate change on the Swiss healthcare institutions and explores their adaptation and mitigation needs. Employing a Delphi approach with ten international climate experts across three phases—semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis, prioritization, and final consensus—we developed a concise conceptual model comprising seven dimensions: (1) Health problems related to climate change, (2) Changing care needs and expectations, (3) Impacts on the functioning of healthcare institutions, (4) Vulnerability of healthcare institutions to the physical impacts of climate change, (5) Contextual factors, (6) Adaptation measures, and (7) Mitigation measures. A typology of items was created for each dimension. Of the 114 final items, 102 were deemed important with strong consensus. The findings complement existing evidence and aim to support healthcare institutions in assessing their external and internal environments to enhance resilience.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100275"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cause-variations in neonatal mortality across Europe and Africa; evidence from a 20-year retrospective dataset and clinical practice guidelines","authors":"Frank Adusei-Mensah ,&nbsp;Ahmed Ould Boudia ,&nbsp;Richard Osei Agjei ,&nbsp;Luqman Awoniyi ,&nbsp;Ismaila Temitayo Sanusi ,&nbsp;Jussi Kauhanen","doi":"10.1016/j.dialog.2025.100272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.dialog.2025.100272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Global health disparities highlight significant inequities between regions such as Africa and Europe. This present study aims to: (i) compare the trends of the leading causes of neonatal mortalities across Europe and Africa over the past two decades; (ii) analyze the impact of clinical practice guidelines on neonatal mortality trends; and (iii) explore variations in cause-specific neonatal mortality rates between the regions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Recent mortality data (2002−2022) were extracted from the WHO database on neonatal mortality for WHO member countries. A comparative non-parametric statistical analysis was conducted on the dataset. Additionally, a scoping review of clinical practice guidelines for both continents was performed, followed by a trend analysis and interrupted time series analysis to explore the impact of these guidelines on neonatal mortality rates.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We observed marked regional differences in the causes of neonatal mortality. In Africa, rates were notably high for conditions including birth asphyxia, prematurity, and infections. Europe showed lower mortality levels with more stable trends. A steady decline in European mortality was significantly associated with a higher volume of published clinical practice guidelines compared to Africa.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Neonatal mortality trends differ significantly between Europe and Africa, with declining rates in Europe and stable or rising rates in Africa. Regional variation in leading causes is evident. The presence of context-specific clinical guidelines is linked to improved outcomes, underscoring the need for tailored, evidence-based interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":72803,"journal":{"name":"Dialogues in health","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100272"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}