Articles

Factors influencing unmet need for family planning among Ghanaian married/union women: a multinomial mixed effects logistic regression modelling approach

Unmet need for family planning is high (30%) in Ghana. Reducing unmet need for family planning will reduce the high levels of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal and neonatal morbidity and morta...

Authors: Chris Guure, Ernest Tei Maya, Samuel Dery, Baaba da-Costa Vrom, Refah M. Alotaibi, Hoda Ragab Rezk and Alfred Yawson

Doctoral School Day in Public Health

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Test-retest reliability of adolescents’ self-reported physical activity item in two consecutive surveys

National monitoring of school-aged physical activity (PA) behaviours is necessary to inform policy makers. The Finnish School-aged Physical Activity (FSPA – LIITU in Finnish) is a physical activity monitoring ...

Authors: Kwok Ng, Riikka Hämylä, Jorma Tynjälä, Jari Villberg, Tuija Tammelin, Lasse Kannas and Sami Kokko

Talking health: trusted health messengers and effective ways of delivering health messages for rural mothers in Southwest Ethiopia

Access to trusted health information has contribution to improve maternal and child health outcomes. However, limited research to date has explored the perceptions of communities regarding credible messenger a...

Authors: Shifera Asfaw, Sudhakar Morankar, Muluemebet Abera, Abebe Mamo, Lakew Abebe, Nicole Bergen, Manisha A. Kulkarni and Ronald Labonté

Evolution of educational inequalities in life and health expectancies at 25 years in Belgium between 2001 and 2011: a census-based study

Reducing socio-economic health inequalities is a public health priority, necessitating careful monitoring that should take into account changes in the population composition. We analyzed the evolution of educa...

Authors: Françoise Renard, Brecht Devleesschauwer, Herman Van Oyen, Sylvie Gadeyne and Patrick Deboosere

Low consumption of fruits and vegetables among adults in Uganda: findings from a countrywide cross-sectional survey

Adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables has protective benefits against development of coronary heart disease, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, approximately 2.7 million d...

Authors: Steven Ndugwa Kabwama, Silver K. Bahendeka, Ronald Wesonga, Gerald Mutungi and David Guwatudde

Challenges and opportunities towards the road of universal health coverage (UHC) in Nepal: a systematic review

Universal health coverage (UHC) assures all types of health service and protects all citizens financially in any conditions due to illness. Globally, the UN sustainable development goal (SDG) provides high pri...

Authors: Chhabi Lal Ranabhat, Chun-Bae Kim, Ajanta Singh, Devaraj Acharya, Krishna Pathak, Basundhara Sharma and Shiva Raj Mishra

Development and psychometric evaluation of the diabetic Men’s dietary behaviors inventory based on the theory of reasoned action

Unhealthy dietary behaviors have progressively increased the prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Thus, assessing such behaviors and their associated beliefs by valid measurement tools seems essential. This study ...

Authors: Fataneh Goodarzi, Marzieh Araban, Ahmad Ali Eslami and Fereshteh Zamani-Alavijeh

Contribution of chronic diseases to educational disparity in disability in France: results from the cross-sectional “disability-health” survey

This study aimed 1) to assess whether the contribution of chronic conditions to disability varies according to the educational attainment, 2) to disentangle the contributions of the prevalence and of the disab...

Authors: Clémence Palazzo, Renata T. C. Yokota, Jean Tafforeau, Jean-François Ravaud, Emmanuelle Cambois, Serge Poiraudeau, Herman Van Oyen and Wilma J. Nusselder

Depressive and anxiety symptoms and associated factors among postnatal women in Enugu-North Senatorial District, South-East Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Postnatal depression (PND) and anxiety (PNA) among women are prevalent and impairing health problems, with adverse outcomes for mothers and their infants. This study assessed the prevalence of depression, anxi...

Authors: Olaoluwa S. Agbaje, Joy I. Anyanwu, Prince I. C. Umoke, Tochi E. Iwuagwu, Cylia N. Iweama, Eyuche L. Ozoemena and Ijeoma R. Nnaji

Estimating levels of HIV testing coverage and use in prevention of mother-to-child transmission among women of reproductive age in Zambia

Mother to child transmission of HIV (MTCT) still remains a challenge affecting many countries. Globally, an estimated 150,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2015, over 90% of them in Sub-Saharan Afri...

Authors: Brian Muyunda, Paul Mee, Jim Todd, Patrick Musonda and Charles Michelo

Heterogeneous global health stock and growth: quantitative evidence from 140 countries, 1990–2100

In the prevailing economic perspective, health is viewed as a type of capital stock that yields ‘healthy days’ in human society. However, evaluations of this health capital stock are still limited to specific ...

Authors: Isma Addi Jumbri, Shinya Ikeda and Shunsuke Managi

Prevalence and associated factors of anemia among adolescent girls attending high schools in Dembia District, Northwest Ethiopia, 2017

Anemia is a global public health problem affecting both developing and developed countries. In Ethiopia, Adolescent girls are more vulnerable to anemia because of gender norms can leave girls disproportionatel...

Authors: Kedir Abdela Gonete, Amare Tariku, Sintayehu Daba Wami and Terefe Derso

The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitemia and associated factors among adults in Dembia district, northwest Ethiopia, 2017

Malaria is still a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries including Ethiopia. Its prevalence has been declining among Ethiopian adults, especially in Dembia district. However, it...

Authors: Mesafint Fekadu, Melaku Kindie Yenit and Ayenew Molla Lakew

“To survey or to register” is that the question for estimating population incidence of injuries?

Measuring the true incidence of injury or medically attended injury is challenging. Population surveys, despite problems with recall and selection bias, remain the only source of information for injury inciden...

Authors: Dritan Bejko, Maria Ruiz-Castell, Anna Schritz, Bjarne Laursen, Rupert Kisser, Wim Rogmans, Ronan A. Lyons, Huib Valkenberg, Samantha Turner, Robert Bauer, Gabrielle Ellsaesser and Nathalie de Rekeneire

Does treatment of short or stunted children aged 6–59 months for severe acute malnutrition using ready to use therapeutic food make them overweight? Data from Malawi

Using mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) to identify severe acute malnutrition (SAM) tends to identify younger and stunted children compared to alternative anthropometric case-definitions. It has been asserted...

Authors: Paul Binns and Mark Myatt

A comparative analysis of socioeconomic inequities in stunting: a case of three middle-income African countries

Despite increased economic growth and development, and existence of various policies and interventions aimed at improving food security and nutrition, majority of countries in sub-Saharan Africa have very high...

Authors: Coretta M. P. Jonah, Winnie C. Sambu and Julian D. May

Exploring the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of health care professionals on viral hepatitis notification in Gauteng, South Africa, 2015

Data on viral hepatitis in South Africa is scarce. Although viral hepatitis A, B and C are notifiable conditions in South Africa, discrepancies have been noted in the number of viral hepatitis cases notified b...

Authors: Eva D. Mathatha, Jack M. Manamela, Alfred Musekiwa and Nishi Prabdial-Sing

Implementation of human biomonitoring in the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories, Canada (2016–2017)

Human biomonitoring represents an important tool for health risk assessment, supporting the characterization of contaminant exposure and nutrient status. In communities where country foods (locally harvested f...

Authors: Mylène Ratelle, Kelly Skinner, Matthew J. Laird, Shannon Majowicz, Danielle Brandow, Sara Packull-McCormick, Michèle Bouchard, Denis Dieme, Ken D. Stark, Juan Jose Aristizabal Henao, Rhona Hanning and Brian D. Laird

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about homelessness and willingness-to-pay for housing-first across 8 European countries: a survey protocol

Most European countries report rising numbers of people experiencing homelessness. For those with mental disorders, interventions are centered on achieving mental health and drug rehabilitation alongside housi...

Authors: J. M. Petit, S. Loubiere, M. J. Vargas-Moniz, A. Tinland, F. Spinnewijn, R. M. Greenwood, M. Santinello, J. R. Wolf, A. Bokszczanin, R. Bernad, H. Kallmen, J. Ornelas and P. Auquier

Barriers and enablers in the use of respite interventions by caregivers of people with dementia: an integrative review

Due to the increase in the number of people with dementia, relatives often provide in-home care. This care constitutes a cornerstone of the healthcare system, and maintaining these caregivers’ well-being is th...

Authors: Marie-Conception Leocadie, Marie-Hélène Roy and Monique Rothan-Tondeur

Prevalence and factors associated with incomplete immunization of children (12–23 months) in Kwabre East District, Ashanti Region, Ghana

Childhood immunization is one of the most cost effective health interventions but its rate has been declining recently in Ghana. Information on immunization coverage and determinants is needed to improve immun...

Authors: Anthony Wemakor, Gideon Kofi Helegbe, Alhassan Abdul-Mumin, Shadrack Amedoe, Jessica Adjoa Zoku and Ahimah Ivy Dufie

Assessment of knowledge and practices of healthcare workers towards infection prevention and associated factors in healthcare facilities of West Arsi District, Southeast Ethiopia: a facility-based cross-sectional study

The prevention of healthcare associated infections is central to the provision of safe, high quality healthcare. Infections acquired in healthcare facilities are a major public health concern, contributing to ...

Authors: Biniyam Sahiledengle Geberemariyam, Geroma Morka Donka and Berhanu Wordofa

Investigating self-reported health by occupational group after a 10-year lag: results from the total Belgian workforce

Belgium lacks a systematic overview of health differences by occupation. This is the first study to examine self-reported health among 27 occupational groups in Belgium with a lag time of 10 years.

Authors: Laura Van den Borre and Patrick Deboosere

Developing a workplace lactation promotion model in Indonesia using Delphi technique

Working mothers have a higher risk to terminate breastfeeding earlier than stay-at-home mothers. Researchers reported that support from the workplace by creating lactation facilities and develop supportive pro...

Authors: Ray Wagiu Basrowi, Sudigdo Sastroasmoro, Astrid W Sulistomo, Saptawati Bardosono, Aryono Hendarto, Dewi S Soemarko, Ali Sungkar, Levina Chandra Khoe and Yvan Vandenplas

Incorporating environmental variables as precursor background variables of the theory of planned behavior to predict quitting-related intentions: a comparative study between adult and young adult smokers

As previous studies suggest that the theory of planned behavior (TPB) is open to the inclusion of further predictors, identifying a number of additional background variables within the context of the TPB may h...

Authors: Chung Gun Lee, Susan E Middlestadt, Dong-Chul Seo, Hsien-Chang Lin, Jonathan T Macy and Seiyeong Park

Social and material determinants of health in participants in an active labor market program in Barcelona

Unemployment affects the physical and mental health of affected individuals, which can be explained by its direct effect on worsening finances due to the lack of income as well as by its negative psychosocial ...

Authors: Patricia González-Marín, Vanessa Puig-Barrachina, Imma Cortès-Franch, Xavier Bartoll, Lucía Artazcoz, Davide Malmusi, Eva Clotet, Ferran Daban, Elia Díez, Àfrica Cardona and Carme Borrell

Magnitude of prelacteal feeding practice and its association with place of birth in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 2017

Prelacteal feeding is one of the commonest inappropriate child feeding practice which exposes to malnutrition, infection, and neonatal mortality. However, there is no systematic review and meta-analysis that e...

Authors: Wubet Worku Takele, Amare Tariku, Fasil Wagnew, Daniale Tekelia Ekubagewargies, Wondale Getinet, Lema Derseh and Degefaye Zelalem Anlay

A qualitative assessment of business perspectives and tactics of tobacco and vape shop retailers in three communities in Orange County, CA, 2015–2016

In response to the growing awareness and use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), or e-cigarettes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration asserted its regulatory authority over ENDS in May 2016. Fede...

Authors: Joshua S. Yang and Esther Lee

Associations between environmental quality and infant mortality in the United States, 2000–2005

The United States (U.S.) suffers from high infant mortality (IM) rates and there are significant racial/ethnic differences in these rates. Prior studies on the environment and infant mortality are generally li...

Authors: Achal P. Patel, Jyotsna S. Jagai, Lynne C. Messer, Christine L. Gray, Kristen M. Rappazzo, Stephanie A. Deflorio-Barker and Danelle T. Lobdell

Integrating human rights approaches into public health practices and policies to address health needs amongst Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: a systematic review and meta-ethnographic analysis

The Rohingya people of Myanmar are one of the most persecuted communities in the world and are forced to flee their home to escape conflict and persecution. Bangladesh receives the majority of the Rohingya ref...

Authors: Nidhi Wali, Wen Chen, Lal B. Rawal, A. S. M. Amanullah and Andre M. N. Renzaho

Determinants of health- related quality of life (HRQoL) among deaf and hard of hearing adults in Greece: a cross-sectional study

Hearing loss is an important public health issue, since it has a very negative impact on peoples’ lives, irrespective of the age at which it develops. However, globally there is a noticeable lack of epidemiolo...

Authors: Dialechti Tsimpida, Daphne Kaitelidou and Petros Galanis

Reducing amount and frequency of meal as a major coping strategy for food insecurity

Food insecurity is a global problem affecting many people worldwide, including approximately 220 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia is among the countries severely affected by hunger. However, evid...

Authors: Adino Tesfahun Tsegaye, Amare Tariku, Abebaw Gebeyehu Worku, Solomon Mekonnen Abebe, Mezgebu Yitayal, Tadesse Awoke, Kassahun Alemu and Gashaw Andargie Biks

Evidence-based campaigning

When promoting public health measures, such as reducing smoking, there are many different approaches, for example providing information, imposing legal restrictions, taxing products, and changing cultures. By ...

Authors: Brian Martin

Predictors of mortality among under-five children with severe acute malnutrition, Northwest Ethiopia: an institution based retrospective cohort study

Globally, approximately 19 million children under 5 years are suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income countries including Ethiopia. However,...

Authors: Fasil Wagnew, Debrework Tesgera, Mengistu Mekonnen and Amanuel Alemu Abajobir

Impact of trayless dining intervention on food choices of university students

Students live outside of their family homes for the first time in college and are expected to make their own decisions regarding dietary choices. College food environment could be a major determinant of dietar...

Authors: Janani Rajbhandari-Thapa, Katherine Ingerson and Kristina H. Lewis

Association between self-reported hearing impairment and diabetes: a Brazilian population-based study

Some studies have already explored the relationship between diabetes and hearing loss; however, this relationship has still not been well established, especially due to methodological limitations related to la...

Authors: MO Soares, NSX Oenning, PK Ziegelmann and BNG Goulart

Gender disparity in epidemiological trend of HIV/AIDS infection and treatment in Ethiopia

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been fuelled by gender inequality and disparity resulted in violation of women reproductive right. The “feminization” of the pandemic is more apparent in Sub-Saharan Africa where the ...

Authors: Tadele Girum, Abebaw Wasie, Kifle Lentiro, Ebrahim Muktar, Teha Shumbej, Mesfin Difer, Mulugeta Shegaze and Abdulsemed Worku

Civil servants' demand for social health insurance in Northwest Ethiopia

Absence of reliable health insurance schemes is a key challenge to meet the universal health coverage target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ethiopian health system is characterized by under finan...

Authors: Sahilu Yeshiwas, Mengistu Kiflie, Atinkut Alamirrew Zeleke and Mihiretu Kebede

Self-check with plaque disclosing solution improves oral hygiene in schoolchildren living in a children’s home

The effectiveness of an oral hygiene program for children living in a children’s home has been reported. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the possible effects of self-checking o...

Authors: Yukiko Nagashima, Hideo Shigeishi, Eri Fukada, Hideaki Amano, Masahiro Urade and Masaru Sugiyama

Roadbook for the implementation of next-generation sequencing in clinical practice in oncology and hemato-oncology in Belgium

In the field of oncology research, next-generation sequencing has contributed significantly to the discovery of DNA mutations associated with diagnosis and prognosis. It also aids in the development of targete...

Authors: Els Van Valckenborgh, Aline Hébrant, Aline Antoniou, Wannes Van Hoof, Johan Van Bussel, Patrick Pauwels, Roberto Salgado, Waltruda Van Doren, Anouk Waeytens and Marc Van den Bulcke

Primary health care seeking behaviour of people with physical disabilities in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

People with disabilities constitute about 10% of the total population of Bangladesh. They are more likely to experience poor health than those without disabilities. However, there is a lack of evidence on thei...

Authors: Jhalok Ronjan Talukdar, Ilias Mahmud and Sabina Faiz Rashid

Fidelity monitoring in complex interventions: a case study of the WISE intervention

Researchers face many decisions in developing a measurement tool and protocol for monitoring fidelity to complex interventions. The current study uses data evaluating a nutrition education intervention, Togeth...

Authors: Taren Swindle, James P. Selig, Julie M. Rutledge, Leanne Whiteside-Mansell and Geoff Curran

Equitable health: let’s stick together as we address global discrimination, prejudice and stigma

Tackling discrimination permanently in healthcare is not insurmountable. It is achievable. Discrimination is costly in lives, in healthcare delivery and waste, in human capital, in financial resource and even ...

Authors: Julie Babyar

Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) shows strong geographical variations in children with edema: results from 2277 surveys in 55 countries

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is defined by a mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) less than 115 mm or a weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) less than − 3 but also by the presence of bilateral pitting edema, also ...

Authors: Jose Luis Alvarez, Nicky Dent, L. Browne, Mark Myatt and André Briend

Haemolytic uremic syndrome surveillance in children less than 15 years in Belgium, 2009–2015

The Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is the most severe manifestation of infection with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). In Belgium, the surveillance of paediatric HUS cases is conducted by a sentin...

Authors: S. Jacquinet, K. De Rauw, D. Pierard, N. Godefroid, L. Collard, K. Van Hoeck and M. Sabbe

European Core Health Indicators - status and perspectives

The European Core Health Indicators (ECHI) are a key source of comparable health information for the European Union (EU) and its Member States (MS). The ECHI shortlist contains 88 indicators which were develop...

Authors: Angela Fehr, Mariken J. Tijhuis, Sabrina Hense, Dominika Urbanski, Peter Achterberg and Thomas Ziese

Individual and household risk factors of severe acute malnutrition among under-five children in Mao, Chad: a matched case-control study

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Chad. The reasons behind persistently high prevalence of SAM in the Kanem region are still poorly understood, leaving ...

Authors: Jovana Dodos, Chiara Altare, Mahamat Bechir, Mark Myatt, Brigitte Pedro, Francois Bellet, Jean Lapegue, Joachim Peeters and Mathias Altmann

Health-related costs in a sample of premenopausal non-diabetic overweight or obese females in Antwerp region: a cost-of-illness analysis

People with overweight or obesity are at increased risk for disease later in life which cause important health costs.

Authors: W. Hens, D. Vissers, L. Annemans, J. Gielen, L. Van Gaal, J. Taeymans and N. Verhaeghe

Utility of passive malaria surveillance in hospitals as a surrogate to community infection transmission dynamics in western Kenya

Malaria continued to be the major public health concern in sub-Sahara Africa, thus for better planning of control activities, periodic surveillance of both clinical and asymptomatic cases remains important. Ho...

Authors: Anthony Kapesa, Eliningaya J. Kweka, Guofa Zhou, Harrysone Etemesi Atieli, Erasmus Kamugisha, Humphrey D. Mazigo, Sospatro E. Ngallaba, Andrew K. Githeko and Guiyun Yan