📄 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

Understanding Social Ecological Factors of Firearm Safety Engagement Among Latino(a/e/x) and Hispanic Adults Near Albuquerque, New Mexico: a Concurrent Mixed-Methods Study

This concurrent mixed-methods study of Latino and Hispanic adults near Albuquerque, New Mexico, reveals that higher collective efficacy, informal social control, and specific sociodemographic factors significantly promote firearm safety engagement, while highlighting the need for community-driven interventions to address social ecological barriers and reduce firearm-related harms.

Richardson, M.-A., Logie, C., Sharpe, T., Teixeira, S.2026-03-26
📄 public and global health

Projected long-term impacts of US funding cuts on TB and HIV in South Africa and the TB Programme response

Mathematical modeling projects that unmitigated US funding cuts for TB and HIV programs in South Africa between 2025 and 2035 could reverse years of progress by causing hundreds of thousands of additional infections and deaths, underscoring the urgent need for rapid domestic and programmatic responses to avert these catastrophic outcomes.

Kubjane, M., Jamieson, L., Johnson, L. F., Boffa, J., Subrayen, P., Abdullah, F., Ndjeka, N., Lebina, L., Naidoo, P., Mo (…)2026-03-26
📄 public and global health

Feasibility, Acceptability and Potential Efficacy of the Group Problem Management Plus Intervention among adults in Kenya: A quasi-experimental study

This quasi-experimental study demonstrates that the lay provider-delivered Group Problem Management Plus (gPM+) intervention is feasible, acceptable, and effective in significantly reducing depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms among adults in urban informal settlements in Kenya.

Mwangala, P. N., Omondi, K., Abubakar, A.2026-03-25
📄 public and global health

Mother-infant linked UK electronic birth cohorts representing 17.5 million births harmonised to the OMOP common data model

This paper describes the successful harmonization of five diverse UK electronic birth cohorts, encompassing over 17.5 million births, into the OMOP Common Data Model to create a standardized, federated resource that enables large-scale, reproducible maternal and child health research across England, Scotland, and Wales without sharing individual-level data.

Seaborne, M., Durbaba, S., Mendez-Villalon, A., Giles, T., Gonzalez-Izquierdo, A., Hough, A., Sanchez-Soriano, C., Snell (…)2026-03-25
📄 public and global health

Effectiveness of Lesser Known Herbal Sedatives for Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 studies suggests that certain herbal sedatives, particularly chamomile and Melissa officinalis, may significantly improve insomnia outcomes, though the strength of this evidence is limited by substantial heterogeneity and a high risk of bias in the included trials.

Paracha, M. A., Khan, S. A. J., Zarkaish, R., Fazal, F., Khan, M. D., Ahmad, M.2026-03-25
📄 public and global health

Modelling malaria routine surveillance data to inform seasonal malaria chemoprevention strategy in Moissala, Southern Chad

This study utilized a climate-informed mathematical model calibrated with routine surveillance data from Moissala, Chad, to demonstrate that seasonal malaria chemoprevention reduced under-five malaria cases by 26% and identified a five-round schedule starting in mid-June as the optimal strategy for maximizing case reduction.

Putney, N., Sayyad-Hilario, J., Ukawuba, I., Grandesso, F., Singh, S., Safari, P. D., Pothin, E., Filippini, B., Djovoun (…)2026-03-25
📄 public and global health

Phylogenetic Insights into SARS-CoV-2 Introductions and Spread in Georgia

This study utilizes a hybrid maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylodynamic approach on nearly 10,000 SARS-CoV-2 Delta sequences to reveal that Georgia experienced at least 344 viral introductions with significant detection delays, identifying South Central Georgia as a critical transmission source despite lower case numbers, thereby providing actionable insights for optimizing public health surveillance and resource allocation.

Veytsel, G. E., Lyu, L., Stott, G., Carmola, L., Dishman, H., Bahl, J.2026-03-25
📄 public and global health

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes in Poultry Feeds and Ready-to-Eat Foods: A Farm-to-Fork Study in Conflict-Affected Maiduguri, Nigeria

This study reveals significant prevalence and multidrug resistance of Salmonella, Shigella, and Listeria monocytogenes in poultry feeds and ready-to-eat foods within conflict-affected Maiduguri, Nigeria, highlighting critical upstream contamination, matrix-specific resistance patterns, and the urgent need for enhanced One Health surveillance and hygiene interventions.

Ali, H. B., Maladi, B. A., Alhassan, F. A., Bwalla, J. J., Tom, I. M., Ajagbe, J. M., Usman, M., Baba, A. S., Usman, Y.2026-03-24
📄 public and global health

Nicotine and tobacco product use among US middle and high school students, 2024-25

Based on 2024–2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey data, overall nicotine and tobacco use among US middle and high school students slightly declined, yet the landscape shifted significantly toward increased disposable e-cigarette use, frequent consumption, and dominant preferences for specific brands and flavors.

Sun, H., Jiang, Y., Tattan-Birch, H. O., Fan, S., Cox, S., Jackson, S. E.2026-03-24
📄 public and global health

Global burden of preterm birth among newborns from 1990 to 2023 and projections to 2050: a retrospective trend analysis and projection study

This study analyzes global preterm birth trends from 1990 to 2023 and projects them to 2050, revealing that while mortality and disability-adjusted life years have significantly declined, prevalence is rising and the burden remains disproportionately high in low socio-demographic index regions, necessitating targeted interventions for vulnerable populations.

Wan, H., Zhong, X., Zhang, X.2026-03-24