Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health最新文献

{"title":"Dog Owners' Willingness to Pay for Rabies Vaccine and Associated Factors in Selected Zones of Amhara Region, Ethiopia.","authors":"Samuel Derso Tezera, Belayneh Zelalem, Atsedemariam Nigus Gedamu, Shewatatek Melaku Asefa, Jean Claude Manirambona, Sefinew Alemu Mekonnen, Inne Nauwelaers, Peter Delputte","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00554-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00554-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To understand the dog owners' willingness to pay (WTP) for rabies vaccines to control rabies and influencing factors in selected zones of Amhara region, Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Questionnaire data were collected from 403 dog owners selected for this purpose. Contingent valuation method was used to evaluate WTP. The interval regression analysis was used to identify factors associated to owners' WTP for rabies vaccine.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The majority of dog owners (65%) were WTP for suggested price bid amounts, but some had shown variability when it comes to specific price bid amounts, namely their WTP decreased when the price of the vaccine increased. The mean WTP for rabies vaccine was 38.61 ETB (0.471USD) per year. Government employees were 18.5 (95% CI: 5.55-26.10, P value <0.003) times more likely WTP for rabies vaccine compared to farmers. Respondents who believe that vaccines prevent diseases were 19.5 times more likely to be WTP for rabies vaccine.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although majority of dog owners were WTP for rabies vaccine, increasing awareness of the importance of vaccination in disease control and increasing availability of rabies vaccine by low price would increase the chances of controlling rabies through vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13350602/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148411890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Households' Income Sources on Child's Multidimensional Poverty in South Africa.","authors":"Thonaeng Charity Molelekoa","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00607-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00607-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Poverty is extensively acknowledged as a multidimensional phenomenon and has been the subject of extensive research all over the world. When it comes to child poverty, the impacts differ significantly due to the critical stages of physical, cognitive and socioemotional growth which make them vulnerable to the negative impacts of poverty. This paper analysed the impact of households' income sources on child's (0-17 years) fuzzy multidimensional poverty indicators in South Africa. The South African General Household Survey (GHS) datasets for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 were used. The data were collected using the stratified two-stage sampling method with sampled households comprising 25,915, 25,224, and 20,083 children in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The fuzzy set methodology was used to compute child's multidimensional poverty indicator (MPI), which was later analysed with the Tobit regression model and treatment effects potential outcome framework using regression adjustment estimator. The results of the Tobit regression indicate that geography type, residence in Eastern Cape, North-West and Limpopo provinces, parental presence and income sources significantly (p < 0.01) influenced child's fuzzy multidimensional poverty. Additionally, children identified as Coloured, Indian/Asian and White and those who were biological children of household heads had significantly lower (p < 0.01) poverty. With respect to the Average Treatment Effect (ATE) and the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATET), the results showed that children from households that were receiving social grants, salaries, income from business, remittances, pensions and other sources of income had significantly lower (p < 0.01) fuzzy MPI, when compared to the control group. In contrast, children from households that were receiving once off grants had significantly higher fuzzy MPI significantly (p < 0.01) higher compared to the control group. It was concluded that some income sources possess MPI reducing tendency. Therefore, development programmes to enhance households' access to them are recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13638849/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148411863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disease Elimination Is Not Eradication: Rethinking \"Disease-Free\" Certification in Global Health amid the Global Resurgence of Measles, Polio, and Cholera.","authors":"Adanze Nge Cynthia","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00606-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00606-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Disease elimination, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), denotes the sustained reduction of pathogen transmission to zero within a defined geographic area through ongoing public health intervention. In practice, however, certification of elimination status has frequently operated as a terminal designation, reshaping funding and signalling that a problem has been resolved. This perspective argues that such a conception is both scientifically untenable and operationally hazardous. Drawing on three concurrent, well-documented resurgences, measles across the Americas and Europe, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) in high-income settings, and accelerating global cholera mortality, this paper identifies three mechanistically distinct but institutionally convergent pathways through which disease control gains erode: immunological erosion driven by unvaccinated birth-cohort accumulation, virological re-emergence via vaccine-derived pathogen variants in under-immunised populations, and structural collapse of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in conflict-affected settings. Across all three, a shared governance failure is evident: post-certification frameworks reward achievement rather than mandate sustained maintenance. Four targeted reforms are proposed, pathway-sensitive post-certification monitoring, quantitative threshold-triggered status reviews, integration of structural resilience metrics, and reform of public-facing elimination communication. Disease elimination is better understood as a condition of managed equilibrium than as a milestone: it is not secured by certification, it is continuously earned.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13624242/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148411892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Transfusion-transmitted Infections among Blood Donors in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan: A Single-Center Cross-sectional Study.","authors":"Salwa M A Dahesh, Muhammad Asif, Muhammed K Shah, Mufakkir Aziz, Muhammad Nadeem, Amira M Roshdy","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00601-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00601-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although the highly prophylactic precautions and measures for keeping safe blood transfusions, transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) still constitute a remarkably significant risk in medicine. Few documents recorded the situation of TTIs in Dera Ismail khan (D.I. Khan) district, Pakistan so this study aimed to assess the prevalence of TTIs among blood donors in the district, to update and enhance the management of a secure blood supply.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Regional Blood Centre in D.I. Khan, encompassing all eligible blood donors over three months. Screening for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and syphilis was performed by using chemiluminescence immunoassay, while malaria parasite testing was performed by immunochromatographic technique.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results revealed that a total of 1221 people had attended the Regional Blood Center in D.I. Khan for blood donation. Only 1129 (92.46%) individuals were permitted to be screened as pre-donation scanning measures for TTIs, while the rest had medical histories that prevented them from donating. Out of 1129, eight (0.7%) were only females, and 1121 (99.29%) were males. The majority of donors, 550 (48.9%), were aged 30 years or younger. The number of voluntary donors, 87 (7.7%), was lower than the number of professional paid donors, 1042 (92.3%). The prevalence of TTIs among all donors was 60 (5.31%). The prevalence of syphilis, HBV, HCV, HIV, and malaria were 1.94%, 1.50%, 1.32%, 0.35%, and 0.17%, respectively. The infection rates among positive donors were notable for syphilis 22 (36.66%), hepatitis B 17 (28.0%), hepatitis C 15 (25.0%), HIV 4 (6.66%), and malaria 2 (3.33%). Professional paid donors showed slightly higher rates of TTIs 57 (5.47%) than that among voluntary donors 3 (3.44%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study reflected the high prevalence of TTIs among blood donors in D. I. Khan, Pakistan. It also emphasized the role of blood screening, where the most prevalent TTIs were syphilis, HBV, HCV, HIV, and malaria. Encouraging voluntary blood donors and health education provide the community with safer blood with a higher quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13346409/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148404875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Characterization of Methicillin and Aminoglycoside-Resistant Staphylococcus Species from Drinking Water and Clinical Samples in Dutsin-Ma, Northwestern Nigeria.","authors":"Emmanuel Dayo Alabi, Kamala Abdullahi, Habib Suleiman Mahmud, Ayodele Timilehin Adesoji","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00605-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00605-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species (MRSS) are a global public health threat, causing substantial morbidity, mortality, and economic burden. Understanding the characteristics of MRSS from various niches can support the control of these bacterial species. Herein, we examined the prevalence, biofilm formation, hemolytic activity, and selected aminoglycoside resistance genes in MRSS isolates from potable water and clinical samples in Dutsin-Ma, northwestern Nigeria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 200 samples, including 100 water and 100 clinical samples, were collected and analyzed. Staphylococcus species was recovered following standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination were performed using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion and microdilution methods, respectively. Methicillin-resistant isolates were defined as those resistant to cefoxitin with elevated oxacillin MICs. Coagulase production, biofilm formation, and hemolytic activity were assessed using slide coagulase test, Congo red agar and blood agar, respectively. Multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates were selected for PCR to detect tuf and selected aminoglycoside resistance genes. Fisher's exact test was performed to check for a significant difference in their occurrence (p ≤ α 0.05).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty (15%) isolates were putatively identified, comprising both coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS): 19 (63.3%) from the clinical samples and 11 (36.7%) from the water sources. Of these, 17 strains (41.2%, 7/17) from wound swabs and 58.8% (10/17) from water samples were MDR and methicillin resistant. Virulence traits were present in isolates from both sources; however, there was no significant difference (p ≤ α 0.05) in their occurrence in CoPS and CoNS isolates from both source. Of the selected MDR strains, 16 /17 (94.1%) revealed at least one virulence trait (coagulase, hemolysis, or biofilm). PCR confirmed that 23.5% (4/17) of the selected MDR isolates exclusively from water samples harbored at least one of ant(4')-Ia, aph(2')-Ib, aph(3')-IIIa, or aac(6'), which encode aminoglycoside resistance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest the potential role of potable water as a dissemination route for MDR MRSS in the study locality. Further studies are needed to identify the circulating species and sequence types (STs), and to evaluate the prevalence of other antibiotic resistance genes.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13365066/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148404845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Challenges and Barriers in Implementation of National Tuberculosis Elimination Program Guidelines at Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers in India: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Praveen Kumar Anand, Devanshi Patel, Ghisaram Dewasi, Janesh Kumar Gautam","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00538-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00538-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in India. Malnutrition and TB form a vicious cycle, where malnutrition predisposes a child to acquire TB, while TB could exacerbate undernutrition. In India, Nutritional Rehabilitation Centers (NRCs) provide therapeutic nutrition and medical care to address malnutrition in children. The National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) was integrated into India's NRCs in 2012 for early detection of TB among malnourished children; however, its implementation remains suboptimal. The present study aims to identify the challenges and barriers in implementing NTEP guidelines at NRCs in India through systematic review of literature.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The systematic review was conducted across six databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, WHO Global Index Medicus, Semantic Scholar, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2010 and 2024. The systematic review protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO web portal with Registration ID No. CRD42025644172. The quality of individual studies included in the evidence synthesis was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) - Version 2018. A narrative synthesis approach, following the SWiM (Synthesis Without Meta analysis) guidelines, was employed for data analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 1,374 records identified through database searches, four studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final synthesis. Key challenges and barriers reported in implementation of TB screening and diagnosis were (1) underutilization of diagnostics, (2) human resource constraints, (3) sample collection issues, (4) treatment gaps, and (5) infrastructural limitations. Addressing these barriers with context-specific innovative strategies is essential to improve TB screening and diagnosis among malnourished children admitted in NRCs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This systematic review highlights that while NRCs play a crucial role in managing SAM, the underutilization of diagnostic tools, limitations in human resources, difficulties in sample collection, and infrastructural and logistical barriers have resulted in the potential underdiagnosis of TB in this vulnerable population. This systematic review provides valuable insights into the issues that must be addressed to improve TB diagnosis among SAM children admitted at NRCs in India.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13631133/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148404866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dyslipidemia in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Population-Based Studies (2000-2025).","authors":"Abdulaziz Fahd Alkaabba, Yasir Ibrahim Alsenaidi, Ibrahim Abdullah Bin Ahmed, Arwa Ahmed AlQahtani, Mansuor A Alanazi, Abdullah Hammad Altemani","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00603-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00603-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Dyslipidemia is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and a growing public health concern in Saudi Arabia, where rapid lifestyle changes and rising obesity and diabetes rates have intensified the burden. Although multiple regional studies exist, no comprehensive synthesis of prevalence, awareness, treatment, control, and risk factors has been conducted.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We systematically reviewed observational studies on dyslipidemia in Saudi Arabia published between January 2000 and March 2025. Following the PRISMA 2020 framework, six databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) were searched, and 27 studies were found eligible. Data on study characteristics, diagnostic criteria, and most pertinent outcomes were extracted. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist for prevalence studies was used for quality assessment. No protocol was prospectively registered. Meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects modeling to obtain pooled prevalence estimates; studies that did not meet pooling criteria were summarized narratively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 12 studies eligible for meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of dyslipidemia was 43.0% (95% CI: 41.8-44.1%) with considerable heterogeneity (I² = 97.2%). Individual estimates ranged from 20.3% to 82.4%. Awareness, treatment, and control data were derived from narrative synthesis, with awareness as low as 19%, treatment coverage below 30%, and typically less than 20% achieved lipid control. Risk factors commonly associated with dyslipidemia included obesity, diabetes, hypertension, older age, male sex, and physical inactivity, although these associations were based on cross-sectional data and do not imply causality. Adolescents and young adults showed elevated dyslipidemia in narrative-only studies. Most included studies were cross-sectional and of moderate risk of bias.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia but remains inadequately diagnosed, treated, and controlled. The findings indicate a need for national screening programs, lifestyle modification programs, and non-communicable disease management programs to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13504018/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148391041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Economic Losses from Premature Under-Five Mortality due to Diarrhoeal Diseases in South Asia: Trends, Aetiologies, and Key Risk Factors.","authors":"Bijaya Kumar Padhi, Manya Soni, Vijay Kumar, Amogh Verma, Prajnasini Satapathy, Sorabh Lakhanpal, Rekha Arcot, Do-Youn Lee, Prakasini Satapathy","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00598-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00598-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Diarrhoeal diseases remain a major cause of under-five mortality in South Asia despite global health progress. This study quantifies the economic losses due to premature under-five deaths from diarrhoeal diseases, analyzing trends, aetiologies, and risk factors across five South Asian countries between 2010 and 2023.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using data from the datasets published by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and World Bank indicators, the study applied the human capital approach to estimate the present value of lost future labour income associated with diarrhoeal deaths among children under five. Losses were estimated in both purchasing power parity (PPP)-adjusted and nominal U.S. dollars to reflect real productivity losses and fiscal implications, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>While age-standardized mortality and DALY rates declined significantly across South Asia (EAPC - 5.2 for both), the economic burden of premature mortality due to childhood diarrhoeal diseases remained substantial. India accounted for the largest absolute loss in future labour income, estimated at USD 5,581 million PPP, followed by Pakistan (USD 1,571 million PPP) and Bangladesh (USD 360 million PPP). When expressed relative to national GDP using nominal estimates, Pakistan experienced the highest proportional economic loss, equivalent to approximately 0.055% of GDP in 2023, followed by India (0.020%), Bangladesh (0.012%), and Nepal (0.005%). Major etiological agents included rotavirus, Shigella, and Escherichia coli, while unsafe water, poor sanitation, and child undernutrition were the leading attributable risk factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and policy implications: </strong>Despite epidemiological gains, diarrhoeal diseases continue to impose substantial economic and developmental costs in South Asia. Strengthened investments in WASH infrastructure, nutrition, and vaccination programs can yield dual benefits by saving lives and reducing future productivity losses. Integrating child health strategies into national economic planning is imperative for sustainable growth.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13558523/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148375912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strengthening Data Systems and Use for Infectious Outbreak Preparedness in Uganda.","authors":"Ildephonse Nizeyimana, Alex Riolexus Ario, Thumbi Mwangi, Ann Muthiru, Michael Arthur Ofori, Olufemi Adedokun, Ann Mwangi","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00602-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00602-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted a critical lesson for global health systems: effective preparedness depends on timely access to reliable and interconnected health data. Across many countries, fragmented information systems limited the rapid exchange and use of data needed for outbreak detection, response, and decision-making. In Uganda, the recurrent emergence of infectious disease outbreaks, including Ebola, Marburg virus disease, and cholera, has reinforced the importance of resilient and interoperable health information systems. Although substantial progress has been made in strengthening disease surveillance and response mechanisms, persistent challenges continue to affect the country's capacity to generate and utilize high-quality data during public health emergencies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study combined a review of published and grey literature with qualitative inquiry to explore existing challenges in Uganda's health data ecosystem. Six key informants with expertise in health information systems, disease surveillance, and outbreak response participated in in-depth interviews to provide insights into current gaps and potential solutions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The findings revealed several interconnected challenges, including fragmented and poorly integrated information systems, limited access to critical digital infrastructures, incomplete digitalization of data collection processes, and weaknesses in data quality and accessibility. These challenges often result in delays in data sharing and evidence-based decision-making during outbreaks. Participants noted that many of these barriers are well recognized and can be addressed through targeted and relatively modest investments. Key recommendations included accelerating the integration of existing health information platforms, expanding end-to-end digital data collection, increasing investments in health information systems, and strengthening coordination among government agencies and development partners.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Strengthening Uganda's preparedness for future epidemics requires sustained commitment to interoperable health information systems and high-quality data management. Building on the strong foundations already established through collaboration with partners such as World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, targeted investments and enhanced governance mechanisms could address the most pressing system gaps. Advancing these efforts will improve the availability and use of quality health data, enabling more effective surveillance, faster outbreak response, and greater resilience against future public health threats.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13462018/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148368613","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uncovering the hidden burden of congenital anomalies in Ecuador: a national integrated analysis of hospital discharges, mortality records, and live birth statistics (2012-2024).","authors":"Fabricio González-Andrade","doi":"10.1007/s44197-026-00604-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s44197-026-00604-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Congenital anomalies (CA), ICD-10 Q00-Q99 codes, are major causes of infant morbidity and mortality, but national assessments remain limited in countries without integrated birth defect surveillance. This study characterized hospital burden, mortality, and epidemiological patterns of CA among infants in Ecuador.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective descriptive analysis of national administrative records was conducted using data from the INEC. Hospital discharge records covered 2012-2024, while mortality records and live birth statistics were incorporated according to availability. Analyses were restricted to infants under 1 year of age. Descriptive statistics, graphical assessment of temporal patterns, non-parametric comparison between periods, and correlation analyses were applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 43,134 hospital discharge events associated with CA were recorded, with a mean annual count of 3,318. Separately, in the code-level analysis of the 50 most frequent ICD-10 diagnostic codes, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and genitourinary categories accounted for the largest aggregated counts. Hospital discharges decreased significantly during the pandemic/post-pandemic period compared with 2012-2019 (-21.8%, p = 0.0015). Mortality indicators varied across conditions, with higher death-to-discharge ratios in selected cardiac, valve, pulmonary, and body wall anomalies. Hospital discharge rates ranged from 10.67 to 13.18 per 1,000 live births during 2021-2024. Mortality rates ranged from 1.38 to 1.47 per 1,000 live births; however, only 2021 and 2024 mortality values were observed, whereas 2022 and 2023 were interpolated. A moderate correlation was observed between hospital discharges and deaths (r ≈ 0.48).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CA impose a substantial burden on infant health services in Ecuador. Integrating hospital discharge, mortality, and live birth data revealed complementary but non-equivalent dimensions of burden, supporting stronger surveillance, improved data linkage, and timely referral pathways for high-risk conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":15796,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13594058/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148368594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}