📄 Category

public and global health

434 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

Future health gain from increasing physical activity in Australia, including multiple physiological effects of physical activity, and falls and injury risk: A simulation study

A simulation study projects that increasing physical activity across Australia would significantly improve population health, reduce premature deaths, and boost economic output, although the net health and economic benefits are maximized by helping the least active individuals meet guidelines rather than pushing the entire population to maximum activity levels due to diminishing returns and injury risks at extreme exertion.

Bourke, E. J., Wilson, T., Maddison, R., Blakely, T.2026-03-30
📄 public and global health

Urogenital schistosomiasis in women of reproductive age in Kilifi County, Kenya

This study in Kilifi County, Kenya, reveals a substantial prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis among women of reproductive age and identifies haematuria as the strongest independent predictor of infection, underscoring the need to integrate screening into reproductive health services.

KARIUKI, H. W., Nyasore, S. M., Muthini, F. W., Mwangi, P. W., Mwandi, J. M., Makazi, P., Mureithi, M. W., Bulimo, W. D. (…)2026-03-27
📄 public and global health

Animal husbandry and environmental conditions are associated with cefotaxime-resistant Escherichia coli in yard soil in peri-urban Malawi

A cross-sectional study in peri-urban Malawi reveals that animal husbandry practices, specifically the lack of nighttime animal enclosure, and soil moisture are significantly associated with higher abundances of cefotaxime-resistant *E. coli* in household yard soil, whereas factors like sanitation and antibiotic use were not.

Budden, E., Niven, C. G., Clark, B., Floess, E., Chirwa, B., Matekenya, M., Cadono, S., Chavula, J., Chisamanga, V., Dzi (…)2026-03-27
📄 public and global health

Persistent Racial Inequities in Acute Kidney Injury Among U.S. Hospitalizations: A Nationwide Cohort Analysis

This nationwide cohort analysis of 2022 U.S. hospitalizations reveals that significant racial and ethnic disparities in acute kidney injury incidence, dialysis utilization, and mortality persist even after adjusting for clinical and socioeconomic factors, underscoring the critical role of structural inequities in kidney health outcomes.

Tai, B., Okonkwo, C.2026-03-27
📄 public and global health

Reproductive Ageing in Women (RAW) Questionnaire: multi-phase development and validation of a questionnaire for the classification of menopause stage

This paper presents the multi-phase development and validation of the Reproductive Ageing in Women (RAW) Questionnaire, a new tool designed to improve the consistency and inclusivity of menopausal stage classification by integrating menstrual characteristics, age, and symptoms, which demonstrated strong validity, reliability, and concordance with biological markers like FSH.

Schaumberg, M. A., Dean, M. M., Pernoud, L., Gardiner, P. A., Noll, J. L.2026-03-27
📄 public and global health

Social, economic, and environmental disparities in device-measured 24-hour movement behaviours in a nationally representative cohort of older English adults

This study of a nationally representative cohort of older English adults reveals significant social, economic, and environmental disparities in device-measured 24-hour movement behaviors, showing that older, unmarried, and lower-wealth individuals tend to be less active and more sedentary, while rural residents are more active than urban dwellers.

Brocklebank, L., Steptoe, A., Bloomberg, M., Doherty, A.2026-03-27
📄 public and global health

Assessment of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) Ownership, Utilization, and Associated Barriers in Malaria-Endemic Communities of Ethiopia

This 2024–2025 study of nearly 9,200 Ethiopian households reveals that while LLIN ownership is substantial at 71.5%, actual utilization remains below the critical 80% threshold due to barriers such as lack of hanging skills and seasonal misconceptions, necessitating a strategic shift toward skill-based interventions and targeted education.

Waldetensai, A., Tasew, G., Yewhalaw, D., Takie, H., Gidey, B., Kinde, S., Gemechu, F., Yirga, S., Kinfe, E., Hailemaria (…)2026-03-27
📄 public and global health

Beyond Access: Racial Differences in Income-Related Gains in Tooth Retention by Dental Care Context

This study of US adults reveals that while higher household income is associated with greater tooth retention across all racial groups, the magnitude of these income-related gains is significantly larger for White adults than for Black and Mexican American adults, particularly in problem-focused dental care settings, suggesting that expanding access alone may be insufficient to eliminate racial oral health inequities.

McCormick, K. M.2026-03-27
📄 public and global health

HOW COMMUNITY PHARMACIES CAN RAISE UTERINE CANCER AWARENESS AMONG WOMEN FROM ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS

This qualitative study of 15 pharmacy staff reveals that while community pharmacies have significant potential to raise uterine cancer awareness among ethnic minority women through culturally tailored interventions, realizing this potential requires structured staff education and formalized pathways for timely patient referral.

Omar, H., Chitrakar, A., Patel, M., Darko, N., Moss, E.2026-03-26
📄 public and global health

Socio-environmental typologies of dengue risk at multiple spatial scales of the urban landscape

This study utilizes an urban systems framework and hierarchical cluster analysis in Ibagué, Colombia, to demonstrate that dengue risk is significantly influenced by multi-scale socio-environmental typologies, with high-density commercial areas showing increased incidence while diverse, intermixed urban landscapes exhibit protective effects.

Santos Vega, M., Diuk-Wasser, M., Kache, P.2026-03-26