public and global health papers

Public and global health examines how we protect communities from disease, manage outbreaks, and improve well-being across the world. This vital field connects diverse research on everything from infectious disease control and vaccination strategies to the social factors that shape our collective health. Because these studies often impact policy and daily life, understanding them quickly is more important than ever.

At Gist.Science, we track every new preprint published in this category on medRxiv to ensure you never miss a breakthrough. We process each submission to provide both plain-language explanations for general readers and detailed technical summaries for experts, making complex findings accessible to everyone.

Below are the latest papers in public and global health, freshly summarized from the most recent medRxiv releases.

📄 public and global health

Neonatal Hypothermia at and after Admission: Burden and Associations with Outside Air Temperature and Neonatal Ward Temperature in Four Sub Saharan African Countries Implementing with the NEST360 Alliance

This retrospective study across four Sub-Saharan African countries reveals that neonatal hypothermia remains highly prevalent at and after admission despite most units meeting minimum temperature standards, with significant associations found between hypothermia risk and cooler ward or outside temperatures, particularly during nighttime hours.

Mar, M., Bohne, C. A., Wainaina, J., Johari, M. T., Okello, G., Gicheha, E., Paul, C., Richards-Kortum, R., Oden, M., La (…)2026-07-07

📄 public and global health

Which African Countries are at Risk of Missing SDG 3.2? Bayesian Mapping of Under-Five Mortality Using UNICEF 2024 Data

Using 2024 UNICEF data and Bayesian spatial forecasting, this study reveals that significant geographical inequalities persist across Africa, with 41 of 49 countries unlikely to achieve the SDG 3.2 under-five mortality target by 2030, highlighting the urgent need for prioritized interventions in high-risk regions like West Africa.

Oladimeji, D. M., Mustapha, A. K., Ekop, E. E.2026-07-07

📄 public and global health

Global COVID-19 vaccination uptake across the emergency and early post-emergency periods, 2021-2024

This paper analyzes global COVID-19 vaccination data from 2021 to 2024, revealing that while primary series coverage reached high levels among older adults and health workers by the end of 2023, significant disparities persisted across income groups and regions, with lower booster uptake and limited 2024 coverage highlighting the urgent need for sustainably financed adult immunization platforms.

Brooks, D. J., Germann, A., Craw, L., Dumolard, L., Nedelec, Y., Acma, A., Schultz, C., Mboussou, F., Atagbaza, A., Dosh (…)2026-07-06

📄 public and global health

Assessing Rehabilitation Systems in Conflict: A Policy Analysis of Prosthetic and Orthotic Services in Gaza, Palestine

This policy analysis of the Rehabilitation Task Force's documents reveals that while Gaza's prosthetic and orthotic sector excels in policy formulation, the intentional destruction of infrastructure and withholding of resources have critically undermined its capacity to deliver essential products, personnel, and services, necessitating urgent international intervention to restore care for persons with disabilities.

Riccio-Ackerman, F., Meah, T., Elessi, K., Alkhatib, H., Mohammadi, F., Afifi, R., Herr, H., Totah, D.2026-07-04

📄 public and global health

Biological Pathways Linking Integrated Interventions to Infant Growth in the first 6 months of life: Findings from a Mediator Analysis of the WINGS Randomized Controlled Trial

A mediation analysis of the WINGS randomized controlled trial in Delhi, India, reveals that an integrated preconception-to-childhood intervention package significantly improved infant weight-for-age at six months primarily by enhancing fetal growth and reducing the incidence of small-for-gestational-age births.

Chowdhury, R., Tripathi, D., Devi, S., Taneja, S., Majumder, P. P., Strand, T. A., Pandey, R. M., Kurpad, A. V., Mukherj (…)2026-07-04

📄 public and global health

Implementation outputs and outcomes of a community-based maternal and newborn care model in rural Galmudug, Somalia: an implementation research study

This implementation research study evaluates a community-based maternal and newborn care model in rural Galmudug, Somalia, finding that while the program achieved high acceptability, coverage, and competency among community health workers, its long-term sustainability and equitable reach require addressing systemic challenges such as workload, referral pathways, and the needs of marginalized groups.

Kozuki, N., Kimemia, G., Abdi, H. A., Abdi, A., Maalim, A., Mothupi, M. C., Miris, M., Mohamud, A. M., Nanda, G., Omar (…)2026-07-04

📄 public and global health

Health-system readiness for integrating ceiling nets into malaria vector control in Kenya: perspectives of health managers

This study reveals that health system managers in Kenya's Lake Victoria basin view ceiling nets as a feasible and acceptable complementary vector control strategy, provided that implementation addresses systemic bottlenecks through community engagement, task-shifting to community health promoters, and strengthened supply chains.

MBUGUA, S. M., Kongere, J., Kagaya, W., Mwaura, P., Ko, Y., Omondi, P., Mujuni, M., Kasililika, A., Kisiangani, I., Kano (…)2026-07-04

📄 public and global health

Variability in Health Literacy and Learning Preferences on Peripheral Arterial Disease Among Chinese-speaking Communities in California

This study reveals that Peripheral Artery Disease awareness is critically low among Chinese-speaking communities in California and highlights significant regional variations in preferred health information sources, underscoring the need for tailored, community-based education strategies.

Shih, C.-D., Pookun, P., Zhang, B., Yuan, J., Lim, K., Senagbe, K. M., Tan, T.-W., Rosario, E. R.2026-07-01

📄 public and global health

Mortality from birth through adolescence: Trends, Determinants, and Insights from a Longitudinal Cohort in Benin

This longitudinal cohort study in semi-rural Benin reveals that child mortality from birth to 14 years is concentrated in early life and primarily driven by neonatal respiratory distress and subsequent malaria, highlighting the critical need for improved neonatal care and scaled-up malaria prevention strategies.

Barry, K. M., Cruz, M., Alao, M. J., Zoumenou, R., Fermanian, C., Massougbodji, A., Bodeau-Livinec, F.2026-06-29

📄 public and global health

Microbiological Quality of Weaning Foods and Hygiene-Related Risk Factors in Peri-Urban, Lusaka Zambia

A study in peri-urban Lusaka, Zambia, found that 29% of weaning foods were contaminated with *E. coli*, with animal source foods posing a significantly higher microbiological risk than porridge or non-animal foods, highlighting critical gaps in household hygiene practices that need to be addressed in nutrition guidelines.

Chipungu, J., Ngosa, D., Bick, S., Davies, K., Mwila-Kazimbaya, K., Sharma, A., Braun, L., Chilengi, R., Knee, J., Dreib (…)2026-06-29

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