📄 Category

public and global health

433 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

Evaluation of dual-active ingredient long-lasting insecticidal nets against wild resistant malaria vectors in Tanzania: a series of experimental hut trials

This experimental hut trial in Tanzania demonstrates that dual-active ingredient long-lasting insecticidal nets, particularly Interceptor G2 and Veeralin, significantly outperform pyrethroid-only nets against highly resistant *Anopheles funestus* populations but show no significant advantage against predominantly *An. arabiensis* populations.

Martin, J., Lines, J., Messenger, L. A., Bernard, E., Clarke, S. E., Antony, S., Churcher, T. S., Dee, D. P., Fotso-Togu (…)2026-07-30
📄 public and global health

The Politics of Implementing the COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Programme in Ghana: A Qualitative Exploration Study

This qualitative study explores how complex political dynamics, governance challenges, and stakeholder interactions shaped the implementation of Ghana's COVID-19 mass vaccination programme, highlighting the critical need for transparent governance, improved coordination, and local manufacturing capacity to strengthen future pandemic preparedness in resource-constrained settings.

Akpakli, D. E., Nyamedor, R. A., Haruna, R., Iddrisu, M.2026-07-30
📄 public and global health

Psychological Distress and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms among Medical Students in Vietnam: Associations with Non-Contact and Contact Sexual Violence Exposure

A 2025 cross-sectional study of 555 medical students in Northern Vietnam reveals that exposure to both contact and non-contact sexual violence is a significant, independent predictor of increased psychological distress and post-traumatic stress symptoms, underscoring the urgent need for trauma-informed mental health support in the region.

Phan, N. T. M., Hoang, V. T. H., Tran, A. Q., Daigle, L., Doan, T. N. T., Yount, K.2026-07-29
📄 public and global health

Association between coastal residence since birth and blood pressure among adolescents: a cross-sectional comparative study

This cross-sectional study of 1,056 adolescents in Bangladesh reveals that residing in high-salinity coastal areas since birth is independently associated with significantly elevated systolic blood pressure, even after adjusting for confounding factors like diet and body mass index.

Hossain, I., Aktaruzzaman, M. M., Khan, M. A. S., Khan, M. H.2026-07-29
📄 public and global health

Stroke Knowledge and Its Determinants Among At-Risk Middle-Aged Adults in a Semi-Urban Nigerian Community

Although 93.7% of at-risk middle-aged adults in a semi-urban Nigerian community were aware of stroke, only 35.4% possessed adequate combined knowledge of its symptoms and risk factors, with good heart disease knowledge and a prior hypertension diagnosis identified as key positive predictors of comprehensive stroke literacy.

Ubaka, C. M., Ikeanyi, C. N., Odeke, D. A., Ugochukwu, E. J., Eshiet, U., Isah, A.2026-07-28
📄 public and global health

Death, Culture, and Conflict: A Qualitative Study on Sociocultural Practices and Their Implications for Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

This qualitative study in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo reveals how conflict-disrupted sociocultural practices, including stigmatized burial rituals and spiritual attributions of blame, hinder the disclosure and reporting of maternal and perinatal deaths, thereby undermining surveillance systems and necessitating culturally responsive, community-engaged interventions.

Mary, M., Chimanuka Murhimaalika, C., Chiribagula Zalinga, C., Mugisho Byamungu, C., Mwene-Batu, P., Grant, E., Bigirina (…)2026-07-27
📄 public and global health

Implementation and early outcomes of a dedicated diabetes and hypertension clinic in rural Haiti: A 24-month retrospective cohort study

This 24-month retrospective cohort study demonstrates that while a dedicated diabetes and hypertension clinic is feasible to establish in rural Haiti and yields significant blood pressure improvements among returning patients, it faces critical challenges with high early attrition (54% single-visit rate) and limited durable glycemic control, highlighting the urgent need to prioritize patient retention and health-system investment.

Moise, K., Larco, P., Charlotin, E. D., Mexis, K., Jean-Baptiste, E., Larco, N. C.2026-07-27
📄 public and global health

Adverse and benevolent childhood experiences and depression among women in rural Pakistan

This study of 804 women in rural Pakistan reveals that while adverse childhood experiences increase the risk of maternal depression, benevolent childhood experiences independently reduce depressive symptoms and buffer the negative impact of low-to-moderate adversity, highlighting the importance of fostering positive developmental resources alongside reducing exposure to trauma.

Gallis, J. A., Pan, Y., Wright, R., Kachoria, A., Lin, W.-C., Frost, A., Kim, M. K., Sikander, S., Maselko, J.2026-07-24
📄 public and global health

"Blame the bats again": YouTube reactions to the 2026 Ebola public health emergency reveal mistrust, misinformation, and geopolitical anxiety

This study analyzes YouTube comments regarding the 2026 Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda, revealing that public discourse is characterized by a complex mix of mistrust, misinformation, and geopolitical anxiety alongside religious and cultural interpretations, thereby highlighting the urgent need for health communication strategies that address these multifaceted dimensions to rebuild public trust.

NANTALAGA, K. C., Nantege, A.2026-07-24
📄 public and global health

Prevalence and determinants of Skilled Birth Attendance Among Women Who Delivered in the Past 12 Months in Sene East District, Ghana: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

This community-based cross-sectional study in Ghana's Sene East District found that skilled birth attendance among recent mothers is suboptimal at 64.9%, with previous delivery history and distance to health facilities identified as significant determinants.

Akesem, M. A., Ankomah, D., Appiah, J. K., Nlamba, E. W., Dorgbetor, C. I.2026-07-24