📄 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

Cardiovascular Risk Factors Identified Among Homeless Adults in San Francisco: Recommendations for Evidence-Based Outreach Services From a Quality Improvement Initiative

A quality improvement initiative assessing unsheltered adults in San Francisco revealed a high prevalence of acute cardiovascular risks, particularly severe hypertension, underscoring the urgent need for targeted outreach, primary care referrals, and health education to mitigate future cardiovascular events.

Valliant, S. J., Rodriguez, I., Lee, A., Kulik, C., Punzalan, R., Holbrook, L., Tamayo, R., Mendoza, R., Puig, M., Ander (…)2026-03-24
📄 public and global health

Validation of HemoCue method and development of a revised hemoglobin cut-off to detect anemia in children aged 6-24-months

This study validates the HemoCue method against the gold-standard DCM method in children aged 6–24 months in Bangladesh and proposes a revised hemoglobin cut-off of 11.00 g/dL to correct the underestimation of anemia prevalence caused by HemoCue's tendency to overestimate hemoglobin levels.

Mahfuz, M., Khan, A.-R., Hasan, S. M. T., Hossain, M. S., Rezwan, A. H. M., Mahfuz, M. T., Alam, M. A., Ahmed, T.2026-03-24
📄 public and global health

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Cost of Community-Based Self-monitoring among Sex Workers Testing Positive for COVID-19 in Zimbabwe: A Mixed-methods Study.

A mixed-methods study in Zimbabwe demonstrates that a co-developed intervention providing risk-differentiated support and two-week food packs to sex workers testing positive for COVID-19 was feasible, acceptable, and cost-effective, though addressing stigma remains crucial for optimizing future implementation.

Kabonga, I., Mangenah, C., Watadzaushe, C., Madanhire, C., Ruhode, N., Dunkley, Y., Karin, H., Corbett, E. L., Cowan, F. (…)2026-03-23
📄 public and global health

Facilitators and barriers to dietary choices among older adults living in rural Edo, South-south, Nigeria

This qualitative study in rural Edo, Nigeria, reveals that while older adults possess knowledge of healthy diets and cultural preferences, their dietary choices are predominantly constrained by structural barriers such as economic instability, limited market access, and inadequate government policies, necessitating systemic interventions to support healthy ageing.

Idiakheua, O. D., Williams, E. A., Abass, O. A., Idiakhua, E. J., Ranawana, V., Akparibo, R.2026-03-23
📄 public and global health

Principles and performance of wastewater concentration methods for environmental surveillance of viruses: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 49 studies evaluates six wastewater concentration principles, revealing that while magnetic bead-based and flocculation methods show superior performance for enveloped and non-enveloped viruses respectively, no single method universally dominates, highlighting the need for context-specific selection in environmental surveillance.

Akello, J. O., Bellekom, B., Shaw, A. G., Grassly, N. C.2026-03-23
📄 public and global health

Living hi: GBMSM narratives of pleasure, risk, and everyday hi-fun (chemsex) navigation in Thailand

This qualitative study of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Thailand reveals that while "hi-fun" (chemsex) offers a vital space for pleasure, intimacy, and community acceptance, it also entails significant risks, highlighting the urgent need to shift from abstinence-focused policies toward flexible harm reduction and structural reforms that prioritize dignity, safety, and equity.

Waratworawan, W., Samoh, N., Rodger, A. J., Prabowo, H., Lai, G., Phanuphak, N., Srichau, S., Ngamee, V., Bourne, A., Gu (…)2026-03-23
📄 public and global health

Acceptability of advanced Controlled Human Infection Models; the case of a pneumococcal challenge in people living with HIV and mycobacterial challenge with Bacillus Calmette Guerin in Malawi

This study conducted in Malawi reveals that while people living with HIV and the broader community generally accept the use of advanced Controlled Human Infection Models for pneumococcal and tuberculosis research, they emphasize the critical need for robust safety measures, informed consent, and culturally sensitive community engagement.

Chirwa, A. E., Gunda, C., Songolo, S., Nsomba, E., Toto, N., Makhaza, L., Mailboy, M., Ngoliwa, C., Chamtunga, L., Reube (…)2026-03-23
📄 public and global health

What works, for whom, and under what circumstances for recipients of training in opportunistic behaviour change conversations: a mixed methods realist evaluation protocol

This mixed-methods realist evaluation protocol aims to determine how Healthy Conversation Skills (HCS) training enables diverse service providers to effectively deliver Making Every Contact Count (MECC) interventions by identifying which specific training elements work, for whom, and under what circumstances to inform future adaptations and public health policy.

Nichol, B., Rodrigues, A. M., Anderson-Weaver, R., Dalkin, S., Hunter, R., Brown, H., Morganer, C., Stuart, B., Albury (…)2026-03-23
📄 public and global health

Community-Led Diagnosis of Urogenital Schistosomiasis Using a Low-Cost, Point-of-Care Microscopy Toolkit in Rural Nigeria: A mixed-methods study

This mixed-methods study demonstrates that a low-cost, point-of-care microscopy toolkit enables community health workers in rural Nigeria to accurately diagnose urogenital schistosomiasis with rapidly improving accuracy over time, validating a feasible community-led strategy for disease elimination.

McCarthy, W. C., Crain, C. J., Olubodun, T., George, I. A., Birk, S. L., Ekpo, U. F., Mogaji, H., Leng, H. T., Kathiresa (…)2026-03-22
📄 public and global health

Evaluating tuberculosis treatment outcomes and predictors in five Southern African countries: A multi-country cohort analysis

This multi-country cohort analysis of 1,438 tuberculosis patients across five Southern African sites reveals that while 80% achieved successful treatment outcomes, the overall 15% rate of unsuccessful outcomes (death, loss to follow-up, or failure) exceeds WHO targets and is significantly predicted by multidrug-resistant TB, lack of formal education, and low BMI, highlighting an urgent need for improved retention and management strategies.

Ndhlovu, M., Wuethrich, L., Huwa, J., Thawani, A., Chiwaya, G., Kudzala, A., Chintedza, J., Muula, G., Evans, D., Rafael (…)2026-03-20