📄 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

Detection of iron and zinc in human skin using non-invasive Raman spectrophotometer - A validation study among children under five years of age living in sub-Saharan Africa

This validation study in rural Burkina Faso and Kenya found that while the non-invasive Cell-/SO-Check Raman spectrophotometer is unsuitable for clinical diagnosis of iron and zinc deficiencies in children under five due to poor agreement with standard biomarkers, it may still be useful for ranking zinc status in population-based studies.

Abidha, C. A., Amevor, B. S., Mank, I., Oguso, J., Mbata, M., Coulibaly, B., Denkinger, C. M., Sorgho, R., Sie, A., Muok (…)2026-04-24
📄 public and global health

Impact of prescription-free access to sexually transmitted infection screening tests in medical-biological laboratories: cross-sectional analysis of data from clinical laboratories in France.

This cross-sectional analysis of French clinical laboratory data from 2025–2026 demonstrates that the 2024 reform enabling prescription-free STI screening significantly increased testing uptake among young men and improved the detection of bacterial infections like Chlamydia, while prescription-based access remained crucial for identifying viral and chronic infections.

Gil-Salcedo, A., Gazzano, V., Arsene, S., Durand, A., Roger, S., Prots, L., Laurencin, N., Chanard, E., Duez, A., Le Nao (…)2026-04-24
📄 public and global health

Factors Associated with Malaria Vaccine Hesitancy Among Caregivers of Children 6-59 Months, In Ugenya Sub County, Siaya County, Kenya: A cross - Sectional Mixed Study

This cross-sectional mixed-methods study conducted in Ugenya Sub County, Kenya, reveals that 42.9% of caregivers exhibit malaria vaccine hesitancy, driven by a combination of demographic factors (such as being single or younger), structural barriers like poor facility access, and the persistent influence of social media misinformation despite high general knowledge levels.

Ochieng', E. A., Muita, J. W., Olewe, T.2026-04-23
📄 public and global health

Factors influencing repeated decisions to decline cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV in Jos, Nigeria: a qualitative study

This qualitative study of 27 women living with HIV in Jos, Nigeria, reveals that despite recognizing the severity of cervical cancer, repeated decisions to decline screening are driven by multilevel barriers—including misinformation, logistical constraints, emotional fears, and anticipated stigma—that outweigh perceived benefits, suggesting that uptake could be improved through integrated fear-reduction counseling, stigma-sensitive care, and streamlined service delivery.

Abubakar, A., Inuwa, S. M., Ali, M. J., Abdullahi, K. M., Doe, A., Ngaybe, M. G. B., Madhivanan, P., Musa, J.2026-04-23
📄 public and global health

The gap between recommendation and reform: Quantifying government compliance with coronial recommendations across all Australian jurisdictions

This study analyzes over 9,000 coronial findings and 2,000 government responses across Australia to reveal that legislative frameworks, rather than case specifics, are the primary drivers of compliance, highlighting the need for standardized, substantive response laws modeled on Queensland's approach to bridge the gap between safety recommendations and government action.

Farquhar, H. L.2026-04-22
📄 public and global health

The Acceptability and Impact of the Community-Based Blood Pressure Group pilot intervention in Zimbabwe.

The Community-Based Blood Pressure Group pilot intervention in Zimbabwe was highly acceptable and effective, significantly improving participants' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding hypertension while reducing the proportion of individuals with uncontrolled blood pressure.

Mhino, F. M., Ndanga, A., Chivandire, T., Sekanevana, C., Mpandaguta, C. E., Mwanza, T., Mutengerere, A., Scott, S., Chi (…)2026-04-22
📄 public and global health

Analyzing Access to Surgical Services in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan: A Baseline Cross-Sectional Assessment to Inform National Surgical Policy and Planning

A May 2024 baseline assessment of public healthcare facilities in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan, reveals that while essential Bellwether surgical procedures are performed, access to quality and affordable care is severely compromised by critical deficits in workforce, financing, and infrastructure, necessitating a national policy and strategic plan to address these gaps.

Deng, M. D. A., Alayande, B. T., Sheferaw, E. D., Ngutete Mukundwa, P., Fofanah, T., Peter, M. B., Kuron, D., Bekele, A. (…)2026-04-22
📄 public and global health

On the robustness of ethnic and socio-cultural determinants of healthcare decision-making autonomy among Hausa, Fulani, and Kanuri women in Northern Nigeria.

This study utilizing 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data reveals that among Hausa, Fulani, and Kanuri women in Northern Nigeria, ethnicity and rural residence are robust determinants of healthcare decision-making autonomy, persisting even after controlling for education and wealth, thereby indicating that economic interventions alone are insufficient to overcome entrenched socio-cultural barriers.

OGUNETIMOJU, A. M., AJEBORIOGBON, S. A.2026-04-22
📄 public and global health

Feasibility and acceptability of contextually adapted AVATAR therapy for distressing voices in Ethiopia and India: a study protocol for the AVATAR3 study

This study protocol outlines the AVATAR3 initiative, which aims to contextually adapt and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of the digital AVATAR therapy for distressing voices in Low- and Middle-Income countries through participatory implementation hubs in Ethiopia and India.

Ward, T., Alem, A., Craig, T. K. J., Sinha Deb, K., Devi, S., Fekadu, A., Gumley, A., Hanlon, C., Kelly, R., Manyazewal (…)2026-04-21
📄 public and global health

Evolving concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic: A content analysis of free-text reports from the UK COVID-19 Public Experiences (COPE) study cohort over a two-year period

This longitudinal content analysis of over 41,000 free-text reports from the UK COPE study reveals that public concerns about COVID-19 evolved significantly over two years, shifting from a primary focus on harming others to a greater emphasis on personal harm, while overall concern levels declined and reflected changing perceptions of risk and responsibility.

Phillips, R., Wood, F., Torrens-Burton, A., Glennan, C., Sellars, P., Lowe, S., Caffoor, A., Hallingberg, B., Gillespie (…)2026-04-19