📄 medicine

Dormitory Peer Effects on Physical FitnessDecline in Chinese Undergraduates:A Dual-Cohort Longitudinal Study with Hierarchical Linear Modeling

This dual-cohort longitudinal study of 4,157 Chinese undergraduates reveals that dormitory peer effects significantly shape physical fitness trajectories, with dormitory clustering emerging as a stronger predictor of senior-year fitness outcomes than BMI or sex, thereby highlighting the potential of targeted dormitory interventions during the freshman-sophomore transition to combat fitness decline.

Jing Gao, Dong Lin, Meiye Chen, Jianfeng Hu2026-07-08
📄 medicine

Development and Preliminary Psychometric Evaluation of the PQoL-34 Questionnaire for the Comprehensive Assessment of Quality of Life During Pregnancy and Family Preparedness for Childbirth: A Cross-Sectional Online Study in Southern Kazakhstan

This cross-sectional study in southern Kazakhstan developed and preliminarily validated the PQoL-34 questionnaire, demonstrating its high content validity, strong internal consistency, and convergent validity as a comprehensive tool for assessing quality of life during pregnancy and family readiness for childbirth.

Gulzira Dolanova¹, Gulzat Sarsenbayeva¹, Kulzhamila Kenessova¹2026-07-08
📄 medicine

Household WASH Conditions and Skilled Birth Attendance Among Women in Nigeria

Using 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data, this study found that while socioeconomic and informational factors significantly influence skilled birth attendance utilization among Nigerian women, household Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) conditions were not significantly associated with its use after adjusting for these confounders.

Henry Osaro Aisagbonhi, Olugbenga Timothy Oyeku, Ogunde Gabriel2026-07-08
📄 medicine

Maternal HIV and the Risk of Low Birth Weight and Preterm Birth in Western Kenya: Evidence from a Prospective Cohort Using Propensity Score Methods

This prospective cohort study in Western Kenya demonstrates that despite universal antiretroviral therapy use, maternal HIV infection remains independently associated with a significantly increased risk of low birth weight and preterm birth, a finding robustly confirmed through weighted propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting methods.

Fredrick Onduru, Victor Mudhune, Edwin Kiplelgo, Caleb Sagam, Harun Owuor, Joyce Were, Broline Sagini, Sarah Hawi, Zacch (…)2026-07-08✓ Author reviewed
📄 medicine

Demand for Family Planning among Married Women of Childbearing Age in the North-West and South-West Geo-political Zones in Nigeria

Using 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data, this study reveals that despite the North-West having higher fertility and lower contraceptive use, the demand for modern family planning is significantly higher in the South-West, with education and the number of living children serving as common predictors across both regions while other factors vary by location.

Ayo Stephen Adebowale2026-07-08
📄 medicine

Clinical Course and In-Hospital Complications of Fungal Sepsis in a Very Preterm Infant: A Case Report

This case report details the complex clinical course of a very preterm infant who developed *Candida albicans* sepsis and meningitis, leading to severe complications including intraventricular hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, and congenital cataract, thereby underscoring the critical need for early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management in such high-risk neonates.

Mevlane Islami Limani2026-07-08
📄 medicine

Sarcopenia and handgrip strength, but not muscle mass, are associated with gastrointestinal disease: evidence from a nationwide cohort in China

Based on a nationwide Chinese cohort study, sarcopenia and low handgrip strength are significant predictors of both prevalent and incident gastrointestinal diseases, whereas muscle mass alone does not predict future risk, highlighting the superior value of assessing muscle function over quantity in this context.

Shaohui Su, Yue Zhuo, Rong Yuan, Dong Mu, Liang Zhang, Xuan Wang, Shanhong Tang2026-07-08
📄 medicine

Development and Psychometric Validation of the CaregiverCPP Scale for Caregivers of Children With Central Precocious Puberty: A Multicenter Study in China

This multicenter study in China developed and psychometrically validated the 38-item CaregiverCPP scale, a reliable and valid disease-specific instrument designed to assess the unique experiences, burdens, and decision-making drivers of caregivers managing children with central precocious puberty.

Xiao Yu, Shuxia Ding, Wenli Lu, Jing Chen, Shuangxi Cheng, Wei Gu, Qiao Wang, Gaohui Zhu, Yan Sun, Xiaoping Luo2026-07-08