📄 Category

public and global health

273 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.

Predicting Salmonella Typhi incidence using prevalence metrics from sentinel studies of community-onset bloodstream infections

This study demonstrates that prevalence metrics from sentinel studies of community-onset bloodstream infections, particularly the proportion of *Salmonella* Typhi among probable pathogens, can accurately predict local typhoid fever incidence levels, offering a pragmatic tool for policymakers to guide vaccine introduction and control strategies where direct incidence data are unavailable.

Hagedoorn, N. N., Murthy, S., Marchello, C. S., Williman, J., Ahmmed, F., Andrews, J. R., Basnyat, B., Carter, A. S., Datta, S., Dehraj, I. F., Doyle, K., Garrett, D. O., Jacob, J., Jeon, H., John, J. (…)2026-02-15📄 public and global health

A mixed-methods study of the scale-up and delivery of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in pastoralist communities of northwest Kenya

A mixed-methods study in northwest Kenya demonstrates that Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention is feasible and highly effective in pastoralist communities when delivered via door-to-door campaigns leveraging trusted Community Health Promoters, achieving 97% initial coverage and 71% full adherence despite challenges related to wealth and mobility.

Menya, D., Kimachas, E., Rotich, B., Kafu, C., Kipkoech, J., Abel, L., Lokwang, R., Dorado, M., Ekai, D., Van Hulle, S., Shonde, A., Osiare, V., Mbugua, E., OMeara, W. P.2026-02-14📄 public and global health

Performance of Fecal Inflammatory Biomarkers to Identify Watery Shigellosis: Findings from the Enterics for Global Health (EFGH) Shigella Surveillance Study

This study demonstrates that incorporating fecal hemoglobin into a diagnostic model significantly improves the identification of watery *Shigella* diarrhea in children across six low- and middle-income countries, offering a practical, low-cost strategy to guide antibiotic treatment beyond current syndromic guidelines.

Ogwel, B., Khanam, F., Badji, H., Charles, M., Qureshi, S., Horne, B., Brennhofer, S. A., Platts-Mills, J. A., Sears, K., Tennant, S., Kim, S., Omore, R., Awuor, A. O., Okonji, C., Iqbal, J., Ahmed, N (…)2026-02-14📄 public and global health

Organisational readiness, facilitators and barriers to the uptake of intravenous iron for the treatment of maternal anaemia in Nigeria: a mixed-methods pre-implementation assessment

This mixed-methods study conducted in Lagos, Nigeria, reveals that healthcare facilities possess high organisational readiness to adopt intravenous iron for maternal anaemia, driven by strong provider motivation and perceived effectiveness, though successful implementation will require strategic planning to address cost, infrastructure, and awareness barriers.

Balogun, M., Obi-Jeff, C., Adelabu, Y., Afolabi, B. B., Ameh, C. A.2026-02-14📄 public and global health

Equity and Transportability of Plasma ATN Phenotypes in a Population-Representative U.S. Aging Cohort

This study of a nationally representative U.S. aging cohort reveals that plasma Alzheimer's disease biomarkers exhibit significant equity gaps and differential transportability across racial, sex, and educational subgroups, with notably lower sensitivity in Black participants and education-dependent effect modifications that challenge their equitable clinical deployment.

Chea, E. F.2026-02-13📄 public and global health

Lessons in Implementing Complex Interventions in a Public Health Emergency: A Process Evaluation of the California Contact Tracing Support Initiative

This paper evaluates a pilot program that integrated Kaiser Permanente’s clinical network with contact tracing efforts in California, finding that while the model showed promise, its implementation was hindered by data-sharing complexities, misaligned organizational visions, and the challenges of adapting to an evolving public health emergency.

Rosser, E., Marx, M., Park, S., Aldos, L., Dutta, R., Grantz, K. H., Lee, K. H., Peeples, L.-M., Gurley, E. S., Lee, E. C.2026-02-11📄 public and global health

The (mis-)alignment of genetic association studies to global health needs

While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) show some alignment with disease burden in high-SDI countries, there is a significant misalignment in low-SDI regions due to a lack of focus on childhood infections, highlighting a need for emerging biobanks to prioritize high-burden neglected conditions to reduce global health inequality.

Alolayet, R., Chong, A. H., Aldridge, R. W., Davey Smith, G., Hemani, G., Walker, J. G.2026-02-11📄 public and global health

Experiences of a Community Engaged Placement Model; Student, educator, and community stakeholder perspectives.

This mixed-methods study evaluates the University of Limerick's Community Engaged Placement model, revealing that while students, educators, and community partners value the development of interprofessional teamwork, cultural responsiveness, and social awareness, the approach also highlights specific clinical skill gaps and underscores the need for structured guidelines to ensure sustainable and impactful placements.

Rushe, E., McCurdy, A., O'Donoghue, M., Boland, P., Dillon, S., O'Leary, D., Goode, A., McGarry, T., Griffin, A., Simiyu, B., Purcell, C.2026-02-09📄 public and global health

Experiences of HPV self-collection among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix

This study of 555 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and people with a cervix reveals a strong preference for HPV self-collection following the 2022 policy change, with 67% of those offered a choice opting for self-collection due to factors like reduced embarrassment and increased bodily control, while highlighting the critical need to ensure all eligible participants are offered a choice and supported in making informed decisions.

Mitchell, L. E., Phillips, E., Jennett, C. J., Bavor, C., Saunders, T., Nightingale, C., Smith, M. A., Whop, L. J., Screen Your Way Investigator Team,2026-02-06📄 public and global health