📄 Category

public and global health

384 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

Effects of Sports App-Based Interventions on Physical Fitness Outcomes among Adolescents and University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 studies involving over 3,000 students demonstrates that sports app-based interventions significantly improve various physical fitness dimensions, including BMI, cardiorespiratory endurance, and muscular strength, though further research is needed to determine optimal intervention dosages.

ZHOU, C., Wan, W. A. M. B., Mazalan, N. S. B., Cao, X.2026-09-07
📄 public and global health

Adaptation needs of an intervention to facilitate tobacco cessation among men attending emergency departments in Nairobi, Kenya

This study utilized a systematic adaptation process involving intercept interviews and stakeholder prioritization to identify and address key barriers—such as rigid response formats, message length, and cost concerns—thereby optimizing the US-based Text2Quit mHealth intervention for effective tobacco cessation among men in Nairobi, Kenya.

Armstrong-Hough, M., Kedera, T., Bosire, M., Obuya, M., Soma, G., Rayo, J., Abroms, L., Ngaruiya, C.2026-09-06
📄 public and global health

Improving rational medicine prescribing at a public district hospital in southwestern Uganda, January-November 2021: a quality improvement initiative

A six-month quality improvement initiative at a public district hospital in southwestern Uganda significantly increased guideline-concordant prescribing and generic medicine use while reducing antibiotic overuse and the average number of medicines per encounter, though high antibiotic rates indicate a need for continued stewardship efforts.

Migisha, R., Namasambi, S., Kwesiga, B., Bulage, L., Ario, A. R.2026-09-06
📄 public and global health

Adolescent Voices on Global Racisms: Lived Experiences, Health Impacts and Demands Across Six Countries

This multi-country study of 93 minoritised adolescents reveals how racism manifests through context-specific social markers to harm mental and physical health, while highlighting the urgent need for a health justice approach that addresses structural inequities and incorporates youth voices into policy.

Sato, P. d. M., English, S., Mannell, J., Ni Chobhthaigh, S., Choi, H., Calderon, M., Nagginda, H. P., Mulindwa, P. H. (…)2026-09-06
📄 public and global health

Functional characterization of duodenal microbiota and associated enteropathy in undernourished Bangladeshi women and gnotobiotic mice

This study characterizes the link between duodenal microbiota and environmental enteric dysfunction in undernourished Bangladeshi women, demonstrating that transplanting their gut bacteria into germ-free mice recapitulates key features of the disease, thereby offering new diagnostic and therapeutic insights.

Pruss, K. M., Chang, Z. L., Hossain, M. S., Rahman, M. M., Mahfuz, M., Coskun, R., Sharmin, R., Rezwan, A., Sarker, S. A (…)2026-09-04
📄 public and global health

Exploring Cultural and Linguistic Equivalence of a Translated Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness Education Manual among Hehe Pregnant Women in Rural Tanzania: A Qualitative Study

This qualitative study involving 56 Hehe pregnant women in rural Tanzania demonstrates that achieving cultural and linguistic equivalence in translated Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness (BPCR) education materials requires community-driven adaptation of terminology to align with local expressions and sociolinguistic norms, rather than relying solely on literal translation.

Mwenda, R. B., Seif, S. A., Stephano, R. O., Moshi, F. V.2026-09-02
📄 public and global health

Community health system vital signs and preventable neonatal mortality in Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe: a cluster-randomised controlled trial

This cluster-randomised controlled trial in Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe, demonstrates that institutionalising a community health system package comprising trained village health workers, functional governance structures, and sustained participatory learning groups significantly reduced preventable neonatal mortality by 57% compared to standard services, highlighting that structural community strengthening is a critical driver of neonatal survival in high-coverage settings.

Gabida, M., Kazonga, E., Bowa, K.2026-08-31
📄 public and global health

Understanding urgent blood-donor mobilisability: a cross-sectional online survey of digitally reachable adults in Ghana

This cross-sectional survey of digitally reachable adults in Ghana reveals that while digital reachability and general willingness to donate are high, actual mobilisability for urgent blood requests is significantly lower and is primarily driven by trust in the health system, digital readiness, and prior donation experience, while being hindered by gender, work schedules, and travel barriers.

Shen, H., Agorinya, I. A., Ayanore, M. A., Brede, M., Chapman, A., Head, M.2026-08-31
📄 public and global health

Longitudinal Tracking and Construct Validity of a Single-Item Physical Activity Measure in the Womens Healthy Ageing Project

This study evaluated the longitudinal tracking and construct validity of a single-item recreational physical activity frequency measure in the Women's Healthy Ageing Project, finding it demonstrates fair-to-moderate longitudinal stability and acceptable cross-sectional validity against established physical activity and function measures, suggesting its utility as a pragmatic tool for women's cohort studies.

Corcoran, D., Szoeke, C., Apostolopoulos, V., Feehan, J.2026-08-31
📄 public and global health

Sleep Quality and Its Association with Life Satisfaction Among Employees in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study

This cross-sectional study of 110 male employees in Dubai reveals that poor sleep quality, particularly driven by shift work and pre-bedtime mobile phone use, is significantly associated with lower life satisfaction, suggesting a need for workplace interventions to promote sleep hygiene.

Ali, S. I., Varatharajan, V., Chacko, S. T., Hazari, A., Varghese, S. M.2026-08-31