{"title":"Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Towards Herpes Zoster and Vaccination in Japan Using the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior Model: a Mixed-Methods Study.","authors":"Yuki Suzaki, Shinichi Imafuku, Jing Chen, Jennifer Si, Viola Xiang, Vince Grillo, Takahiko Imai, Jerusha Naidoo, Sumitra Shantakumar","doi":"10.3389/ijph.2025.1608121","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ijph.2025.1608121","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards herpes zoster (HZ) and HZ vaccination in Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This mixed-methods study was conducted across two phases. In Phase 1, concept elicitation interviews were conducted with the public (N = 24) and physicians (N = 6), and the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behavior model of behavioral change was used to identify themes surrounding KAP. These themes were validated in Phase 2 via self-administered quantitative surveys conducted with a larger group of respondents (public: N = 600; physicians: N = 60).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Despite high awareness of HZ (92.9%-94.0%) and HZ vaccination (76.0%-80.4%) among the public, knowledge about HZ, HZ vaccination rates (13.1%-32.0%), and intention to vaccinate (12.6%-18.2% among non-HZ-vaccinated respondents) were low. Public respondents were likely to vaccinate against HZ upon physician recommendation (78.7%-84.0%), but physician recommendation was limited by barriers including perceived low patient willingness (51.7%) and vaccine cost (51.7%). Various forms of government support could encourage patient-physician discussions regarding HZ and aid HZ vaccination uptake among the public (30.0%-53.3%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings may inform public health strategies to overcome barriers to HZ vaccine uptake in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":14322,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Public Health","volume":"70 ","pages":"1608121"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13021562/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147573898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guomiao Zhang, Huiqin Mei, Qichao Sheng, Yang Chen, Xinlv Zhang, Anthony Diwon, Hui Wang, Yuxin Chen, Ziyi Wang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Qingyang Mao, Dapeng Li, Chao Zheng, Guangyun Mao, Fang Shi
{"title":"Global Burden of Type 2 Diabetes Attributable to Behavioral Risks: Insights and Projections to 2050 Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.","authors":"Guomiao Zhang, Huiqin Mei, Qichao Sheng, Yang Chen, Xinlv Zhang, Anthony Diwon, Hui Wang, Yuxin Chen, Ziyi Wang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Qingyang Mao, Dapeng Li, Chao Zheng, Guangyun Mao, Fang Shi","doi":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1608765","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1608765","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the burden of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) attributable to behavioral risks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Utilizing the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data for secondary modeling, we analyzed the burden of T2D attributable to behavioral risks, stratified by age, gender, risk factors, and regions. A Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model projected burden trajectories from 2022 to 2050 under the continuation of historical trends.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 1990 to 2021, global deaths and DALYs of T2D attributable to behavioral risks increased by 133.87% and 187.68%. The greatest rises in ASMR and ASDR occurred in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Southern Sub-Saharan Africa. Dietary risks remained the primary contributor, whereas the T2D burden attributable to high alcohol use exhibited the steepest increase from 1990 to 2021. The global ASMR and ASDR increased exponentially with age and were consistently higher in males. Projections from the BAPC model indicate that ASDR is expected to continue increasing through 2050.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>T2D burden attributable to behavioral risks is increasing rapidly, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and public health education.</p>","PeriodicalId":14322,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Public Health","volume":"71 ","pages":"1608765"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13014043/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147520956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jennifer Giovanoli Evack, Charles Abongomera, James Okuma, Johanna Kurscheid, Yeabio Melake, Afona Chernet, Tesfalem Ghebreghiorghis, Anna Verjans, Fiona Vanobberghen, George Abongomera, Jan Fehr, Naser Morina, Daniel H Paris
{"title":"Mental Health and Resilience in Eritrean and Somali Refugees in Switzerland: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Jennifer Giovanoli Evack, Charles Abongomera, James Okuma, Johanna Kurscheid, Yeabio Melake, Afona Chernet, Tesfalem Ghebreghiorghis, Anna Verjans, Fiona Vanobberghen, George Abongomera, Jan Fehr, Naser Morina, Daniel H Paris","doi":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1608308","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1608308","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>In this study, we determined the frequency of clinically relevant mental health conditions among Eritrean and Somali refugees in Basel and Zurich, Switzerland and assessed their levels of resilience.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study among refugees aged ≥16 years involved validated questionnaires, screening for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), somatic disorders, anxiety, depression, and assessments of alcohol use and resilience.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 102 participants were young (median age 34 years), Eritrean (N = 88; 86%), males (N = 62), with long periods of staying in Switzerland (median 8.6 years). Almost three-quarters (N = 69/99; 70%) had high resilience scores (median 86). We found low frequencies of moderate or severe symptoms of PTSD (7%), anxiety (0%) and depression (1%). However, symptoms for somatic disorders (18%) and harmful levels of alcohol use (12%) were more common.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>While the overall levels of resilience are impressively high, a large proportion of participants exhibited symptoms of somatic disorders and harmful levels of alcohol use - well beyond the early adaptation phase. This highlights the need for long-term mental healthcare beyond the time of arrival to ensure their wellbeing.</p>","PeriodicalId":14322,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Public Health","volume":"71 ","pages":"1608308"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13013081/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147521029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Małgorzata Niemiec, Maria Stec, Jacek Grzybowski, Urszula Cegłowska, Anna Wiśniewska, Kacper Hałgas, Kinga Czepczor, Maciej Podolski, Bartosz Gruchlik, Gabriela Orzeł-Łomozik, Daniel Cieśla, Mariusz Gąsior, Tomasz Hryniewiecki, Przemysław Leszek, Alida L P Caforio, Katarzyna Mizia-Stec
{"title":"What Do We Know About Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Poland in the Period 2016-2021 Based on Data From the Public Health System?","authors":"Małgorzata Niemiec, Maria Stec, Jacek Grzybowski, Urszula Cegłowska, Anna Wiśniewska, Kacper Hałgas, Kinga Czepczor, Maciej Podolski, Bartosz Gruchlik, Gabriela Orzeł-Łomozik, Daniel Cieśla, Mariusz Gąsior, Tomasz Hryniewiecki, Przemysław Leszek, Alida L P Caforio, Katarzyna Mizia-Stec","doi":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1608693","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1608693","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of the study was to comprehensively characterize the population of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients in Poland in 2016-2021, including the analysis of annual incidence, prevalence, comorbidities, and therapeutic paths.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Polish National Health Fund database. The analysis included a registered annual incidence and prevalence rates, mortality, prognosis, and data on patients pathways in the healthcare system.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2016, the registered annual incidence of HCM diagnosis in Poland was 1,494 cases (3.89/100,000), decreasing to 808 cases (2.11/100,000) in 2021. Despite the decline in new diagnoses, the registered prevalence of HCM increased from 13,271 cases (34.53/100,000) in 2016 to 13,880 cases (36.23/100,000) in 2021, indicating improved patient survival. Annual mortality rose from 824 deaths (2.14/100,000) in 2016 to 1,022 deaths (2.67/100,000) in 2021, with the highest mortality observed in older adults (60+ years).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study highlights significant underdiagnosis of HCM in Poland. Mortality in HCM population remains high, underscoring the need for improvement in earlier detection and comprehensive care strategies in Polish healthcare system.</p>","PeriodicalId":14322,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Public Health","volume":"71 ","pages":"1608693"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13014042/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147520716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Health and Socio-Economic Impacts of Climate-Related Displacement in Bangladesh's Chars: Causal Evidence From a Household Survey.","authors":"Juan A de Castro, Laurentiu Guinea","doi":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1608475","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1608475","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess health and socio-economic impacts of climate-related displacement in North-East Bangladesh chars and examine links between non-governmental services, disease burden and migration.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed a household survey of 480 women aged 15-55 from nine intervention and three comparison chars, collected between March and June 2022. Using a quasi-experimental framework and estimators of the average treatment effect, we compared displaced and non-displaced households and households in chars with and without Friendship health and education services. We constructed indices of disease burden, migration and socio-economic conditions, each scaled 0-100.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Displaced households had lower disease burden scores than non-displaced households after adjusting for socio-economic covariates. This pattern is consistent with improved access to services among some displaced groups, but may also reflect reporting differences and selection into the observed displaced population. Migration intensity was higher in chars where Friendship operates than in comparison chars, suggesting programme placement in areas with stronger migration pressures.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Climate-related displacement interacts with service access, vulnerability and selection in complex ways; targeted interventions can reduce disease burden but do not necessarily lower migration pressures.</p>","PeriodicalId":14322,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Public Health","volume":"71 ","pages":"1608475"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13013082/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147521062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jiin Kim, Carolina Fellinghauer, Jsabel Hodel, Youngtae Cho, Wanho Kim, Carla Sabariego
{"title":"Development of a Functioning Measurement Scale for the South Korean Population Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.","authors":"Jiin Kim, Carolina Fellinghauer, Jsabel Hodel, Youngtae Cho, Wanho Kim, Carla Sabariego","doi":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1609047","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1609047","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to develop a functioning metric for the Korean general population using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and to evaluate its psychometric properties.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A Partial Credit Model (PCM) calibrated functioning items from KNHANES on a 0-100 scale. Psychometric properties examined, including item fit, unidimensionality, local item dependency (LID), targeting, and differential item functioning (DIF) across age, sex, and region.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Using data from 5,413 adults, 14 functioning items were used to construct the metric. Model fit was achieved through a testlet solution. Item fit and unidimensionality were acceptable, with no LID observed. Reliability was adequate, though targeting indicated items were easy for the sample. Limited DIF by age was detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study developed a standardized, policy-relevant functioning metric using national health data. The developed functioning metric captures lived health and complements traditional indicators of mortality and morbidity. The study highlights the value of repurposing routine survey data for monitoring population health. Given increasing demand for health assessment in ageing societies, this metric supports evidence-based policymaking and long-term planning for Korea.</p>","PeriodicalId":14322,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Public Health","volume":"71 ","pages":"1609047"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13006414/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147512010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From Glycemic Control to Weight-Centered Therapy: A Paradigm Shift in Type 2 Diabetes and Its Public Health Promise.","authors":"Yigitcan Sar","doi":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1608891","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2026.1608891","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14322,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Public Health","volume":"71 ","pages":"1608891"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13002506/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147498508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bringing Cervical Cancer Screening Closer to Women: Feasibility of Artificial Intelligence and Remote Assessment in Primary Health Care.","authors":"Saritha Shamsunder, Leela Digumarti, Bhagyalaxmi Nayak, Vasantha Dasari, Archana Mishra, Anita Kumar, Sony Nanda, Jugal Kishore, Nishi Choudhary","doi":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1609094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2026.1609094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objective was to assess the feasibility of image-based methods for screening and triaging women in a single visit by: (i) a trained but inexperienced nurse, (ii) remote expert review via a web system, (iii) an artificial intelligence (AI) model.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sexually active, non-pregnant women (25-65 years) were screened using visual inspection method Cervical images captured with Smart Scope® CX were assessed independently by nurses, remote experts, and AI, with assessors blinded to each other. Referrals for colposcopy were based on remote expert evaluations followed by colposcopy/biopsy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 871 women screened, AI identified 205 positives; experts identified 201. Colposcopy was performed on 69 women, 40 of them had a biopsy. Compared to histopathology, AI achieved 86.7% sensitivity, 92.0% specificity, and 90.0% accuracy (AUC = 0.894). Remote experts showed high sensitivity (86.7%) but low specificity (32%) and accuracy (52.5%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study provides proof of concept for the feasibility of the AI-driven Smart Scope® CX test as a single-visit \"screen-and-triage\" tool in primary healthcare settings. Additionally, remote expert assessment demonstrating performance comparable to colposcopy indicates its potential as an alternative triage method in low-resource settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":14322,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Public Health","volume":"71 ","pages":"1609094"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12999539/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147498258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mainstreaming Mistrust: The Shift in US Vaccine Policy Under the Trump Administration.","authors":"Sanjin Musa, Amy Estlund, Megan A Berman","doi":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1609574","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2026.1609574","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14322,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Public Health","volume":"71 ","pages":"1609574"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13001027/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147498539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Leida C Tolentino, Joao Filipe G Monteiro, Cláudia Brito Pires, Antónia Fortes
{"title":"Movement Disorders in Cabo Verde: Epidemiology, Access Barriers, and Public Health Implications in an Aging Island Population.","authors":"Leida C Tolentino, Joao Filipe G Monteiro, Cláudia Brito Pires, Antónia Fortes","doi":"10.3389/ijph.2026.1608728","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2026.1608728","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Movement disorders (MDs), including Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor, are growing causes of disability globally. Yet, data on MDs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Cabo Verde, remain scarce. This study aimed to estimate MD prevalence and incidence, identify at-risk groups, and evaluate access to care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A multi-site, country-level cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2024, including 110 adults with confirmed MDs. Data were obtained via clinical record reviews, interviews, and a structured questionnaire. Analyses included descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression, and thematic analysis of open-text responses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The age-standardized MD prevalence was 17 per 100,000 population (95% CI: 13-20), with higher rates in men [19 (14-25)] and in those over 60 [117 (89-145)]. PD accounted for 79% of cases. While 78% used pharmacotherapy, 70% faced moderate or severe difficulties accessing medication, and 35% of those who sought therapy reported facing barriers. Fifty-one percent experienced a significant life impact.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings reveal significant access challenges and rising MD burden, underscoring the need for early diagnosis, decentralized services, and public health system strengthening in LMICs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14322,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Public Health","volume":"71 ","pages":"1608728"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13003321/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147498610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}