{"title":"Community behavioural resilience and STIs: Predictors of pandemic preparedness in a low-resource setting in Cameroon.","authors":"Clarisse Engowei Mbah, Lum Abienwi Ambe, Ebogo-Belobo Jean Thierry, Makoge Valerie","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihag093","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihag093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) infect 374 million people annually, with sub-Saharan Africa bearing the highest burden. Community behavioural resilience remains poorly understood in low-income settings, creating a critical gap in STI pandemic preparedness. This study identifies predictors of willingness to adopt protective behaviours during a hypothetical STI outbreak in rural Cameroon.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a community-based survey in 2022 among residents of three riverine health areas in the Bafia Health District, Cameroon. Participants (N=372; 202 females [54.3%], 170 males [45.7%]) ≥18 y of age were enrolled; 336 with complete data were included in regression analyses. All participants were assessed for STI knowledge (awareness of 10 pathogens), self-reported STI history, current symptoms, willingness to undertake STI screening and willingness to abstain from sexual intercourse in a hypothetical STI pandemic scenario. Multivariable logistic regression identified independent predictors of willingness to abstain.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 336 participants, 247 (73.5%) reported a willingness to abstain from sexual intercourse during a hypothetical STI pandemic. The strongest independent predictors of protective intention were willingness to undertake STI screening (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 10.3 [95% confidence interval {CI} 4.55 to 24.2], p<0.001) and self-reported history of an STI (aOR 4.88 [95% CI 2.16 to 11.5], p<0.001). Knowledge of Chlamydia trachomatis (aOR 3.91 [95% CI 1.16 to 13.0], p=0.026) and hepatitis B (aOR 3.50 [95% CI 1.55 to 8.02], p=0.003), as well as age 30-39 y (aOR 5.94 [95% CI 1.51 to 28.3], p=0.016), were also significant predictors. In this study, a low overall STI knowledge score was paradoxically associated with higher odds of protective intention (aOR 10.7 [95% CI 1.57 to 76.7], p=0.016). The wide CI reflects statistical instability from small cell counts, thus the estimates should be regarded as exploratory.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Community behavioural intentions during a hypothetical STI pandemic are driven more by experiential factors (personal STI history and willingness to seek testing) than by general STI knowledge. These findings are based on stated behavioural intentions in a hypothetical scenario, not observed behaviour. Still, the implication is clear. Pandemic preparedness policies must therefore integrate experiential drivers, including routine asymptomatic screening and accessible diagnostic services, to strengthen community behavioural resilience. This experience-aware model offers scalable insights for low- and middle-income countries and global health security planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149026415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Measuring continuity of essential health services during floods: lessons from southeastern Bangladesh.","authors":"Sajjad Hossain, Aditto Nandi, Miss Hridy Akter","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihag095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihag095","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149031814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Helen M Nabwera, Meera Parekh, Brezesky K Gaetean, Florence Achieng Were, Schadrac Agbla, Hellen C Barsosio, Linda Tindi, Mwanamvua Boga, Mary Kimani, Dan Juma, Laura Kiige, Alexander Manu, Simon Kariuki, Martha K Mwangome, Thidar Pyone, Melissa Gladstone, Matthews Mathai
{"title":"An exploratory study to describe the growth and neurodevelopmental status of low birthweight infants in the context of a community-based mother-to-mother peer support implementation program in Kenya.","authors":"Helen M Nabwera, Meera Parekh, Brezesky K Gaetean, Florence Achieng Were, Schadrac Agbla, Hellen C Barsosio, Linda Tindi, Mwanamvua Boga, Mary Kimani, Dan Juma, Laura Kiige, Alexander Manu, Simon Kariuki, Martha K Mwangome, Thidar Pyone, Melissa Gladstone, Matthews Mathai","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihag076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihag076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This article examines changes in mothers' knowledge of low birthweight (LBW; <2500 g) infant care practices in a study assessing the feasibility and acceptability of peer mother support post-discharge, explores the acceptability of the intervention among mothers and healthcare workers and describes the post-intervention growth and neurodevelopmental status of the LBW infants.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A mixed methods exploratory study, using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with mothers, healthcare providers and peer mothers was conducted in three health facilities in Homa Bay County, western Kenya. Peer mothers delivered the interventions (including breastfeeding support) to mother-LBW infant pairs at 24 h post-discharge and six other time points until 3 months after birth. Infant anthropometric assessments were done at birth, discharge and 3 months after birth, while neurodevelopmental assessment was done only at 3 months using the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data. A thematic framework was used to analyse the qualitative data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty mother-LBW infant pairs were enrolled in the study, but only 55 were included in the analysis because 5 mothers and their LBW infants were lost to follow-up. The median birthweight was 2050 g, median discharge weight was 2100 g and median weight gain 3 months after birth was 2820 g. The weight-for-age z-scores increased by 0.3 from birth to 3 months; similarly, the weight-for-length z-score increased by approximately 0.2. However, the length for age Z-score decreased by 0.3. At 3 months, 96% (n=53) of LBW infants had achieved their gross motor, 71% (n=42) fine motor, 89% (n=49) language and 100% social milestones. The intervention improved maternal knowledge and practice of recommended LBW infant care strategies, promoted resilience and enhanced family relationships.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This exploratory study suggests that a mother-to-mother peer support intervention improved maternal knowledge, care practices and empowerment in the post-discharge care of LBW infants in a resource-limited setting. Further refinement and rigorous evaluation are needed to generate robust evidence on its effectiveness and impact on growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148978441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rural-urban disparities in the population practicing open defecation in Somalia, 2000-24: a longitudinal equity analysis.","authors":"Abdirasak Sharif Ali, Mohamed Abdirahim Omar, Yahye Sheikh Abdulle Hassan, Mohamed Mustaf Ahmed","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihag088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihag088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Open defecation remains a sanitation issue in Somalia. We assessed the prevalence and rural-urban inequality from 2000 to 2024.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 25 country-level estimates from the WHO Health Inequality Data Repository, derived from the WHO and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme. Version 7.0 of the Health Equity Assessment Toolkit calculated the rural-urban differences, prevalence ratios, population attributable risks, and population attributable fractions, with urban residence as the reference. Producer adjustments were retained; the toolkit did not generate sampling weights. We used annual point estimates because the uncertainty intervals were unavailable.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Rural open-defecation prevalence decreased from 83.47% in 2000 to 26.40% in 2024, urban prevalence from 10.78% to 1.76%, and national prevalence from 59.30% to 14.44%. The rural-urban difference narrowed from 72.69 to 24.65 percentage points, whereas the prevalence ratio increased from 7.74 to 15.04 as urban prevalence declined. In 2024, the population attributable risk was -12.69 percentage points, and the population attributable fraction was -87.85%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The prevalence of rural areas remained higher. The narrowing absolute difference and rising prevalence ratio show why both measures are important. The findings support context-specific rural sanitation planning and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal target 6.2.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148921528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Vision-related quality of life in glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration patients from a middle-income country.","authors":"Renato Maia Macchione, Patrícia Asperti Ottaiano-Poli, Caroline Schiave Germano-Morrel, Kenzo Saito Tomishige, Niro Kasahara","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihag089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihag089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vision-related quality of life (VRQoL)-vision's impact on one's social, emotional and economic well-being-has not been extensively studied in patients living in middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to compare the VRQoL among age-related macular degeneration (AMD), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal subjects in Brazil.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a case-control, cross-sectional study. Patients with AMD or POAG and normal controls underwent a complete eye examination; all participants answered the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25). Each item was scored and an overall composite score was calculated and compared among groups with an analysis of variance test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The sample included 60 patients with AMD, 64 with POAG and 60 controls. All groups were matched for age, gender, ethnic distribution and comorbidities. The VFQ-25 total score was lower in both AMD (50.6±20.9) and POAG (61.8±20.4) as compared with controls (89.2±9.1, p<0.001); scores for AMD patients were lower than for POAG patients (p<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Brazilian patients with POAG, and especially AMD, presented significantly lower VRQoL scores, underscoring the need to improve the care of patients with visual impairment in Brazil.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148913947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Reagan Daniel Emoru, Leung Hei Lok Lancelot, Teddy Mbabazi, Francis Xavier Kasujja, Nicholas Bbosa, Sheila Balinda, Nambusi Kyegombe, Iris Martine Blom, Charles Ssemugabo, Moffat Nyirenda, Andy Haines
{"title":"Navigating the climate-health nexus: an interest-holder analysis of the public health gaps in Uganda's climate response.","authors":"Reagan Daniel Emoru, Leung Hei Lok Lancelot, Teddy Mbabazi, Francis Xavier Kasujja, Nicholas Bbosa, Sheila Balinda, Nambusi Kyegombe, Iris Martine Blom, Charles Ssemugabo, Moffat Nyirenda, Andy Haines","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihag090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihag090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Climate change is increasingly recognised as a major threat to health in Uganda, yet gaps in implementation, financing and coordination may limit the country's climate-health response. This study aimed to understand how national-level interest-holders perceive the availability, adequacy and functioning of policy, governance and financing mechanisms for integrating health into climate action.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In-depth interviews were conducted with nine key interest-holders purposively selected from ministries, departments and agencies responsible for health, climate change, planning and finance and from academic institutions engaged in climate and health programming and research. A total of 14 individuals were approached and 9 agreed to participate. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Saturation was assessed iteratively by monitoring whether successive interviews yielded new codes or substantively new themes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Interest-holders described a relatively strong climate policy and legal framework that increasingly recognises health but does not fully operationalise climate-health action. Implementation was reported to be constrained by underfunding, fragmented and siloed governance and weak subnational capacity. Climate-related hazards were reported to be damaging health facilities, disrupting access to care and increasing climate-sensitive disease burdens, while local innovations and emerging climate-smart practices remain too limited to guide implementation at scale. Major gaps in evidence for effective health-focused adaptation and mitigation and in climate-health training and public education were identified as limiting the ability of decision-makers, health workers and communities to anticipate and respond to climate risks.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Uganda's relatively robust climate policy framework is undermined by incomplete implementation, driven by constrained financing, limited evaluation and fragmented delivery systems. Strengthening climate-resilient health systems will require embedding climate-health policies into routine health planning and financing, empowering local action using climate information and investing in research, training and public education. Cross-sectoral actions grounded in whole-government and multisectoral governance approaches are also essential to address climate-health challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148913818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Designing equitable and effective partnerships for transformative health outcomes in Port Loko District, Sierra Leone: a grassroots public health perspective.","authors":"Morlai Sesay","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf159","DOIUrl":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf159","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Port Loko District, Sierra Leone, has for a long time suffered from abject health inequalities fuelled by top-down, externally imposed health interventions without the support of community participation and sustainable institutions. My field experience shows that equitable and effective partnerships based on the five pillars of participatory co-design, mutual capacity development, democratization of information, resource allocation with equity prioritization and ongoing feedback with cultural humility hold the key to revolutionary health outcomes. Health alliances should solidify co-leadership by communities in leadership, invest in local data systems and tie funding with open, equity-driven processes to ensure sustainable gains in health.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":"689-692"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13530296/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146195778","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}
Ali Asghari, Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, Roumina Norouzi, Shayan Heidari, Farshad Kakian, Ali Pouryousef, Milad Badri, Farajolah Maleki, Maryam Kazem Pour
{"title":"A global overview of microsporidia infection in HIV/AIDS patients: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Ali Asghari, Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, Roumina Norouzi, Shayan Heidari, Farshad Kakian, Ali Pouryousef, Milad Badri, Farajolah Maleki, Maryam Kazem Pour","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf163","DOIUrl":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to update the global estimates of microsporidia prevalence, species/genotype distribution and clinical correlates among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of international databases was conducted for studies published between 1 January 2017 and 11 October 2025. Pooled prevalence and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using a random effects model with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-nine studies from 18 countries (24 cross-sectional, 15 case-control) were included. The pooled prevalence of microsporidia among HIV/AIDS patients was 12% (95% CI 8.9 to 16), significantly higher than in controls (1.9%; odds ratio 5.7 [95% CI 3.33 to 9.74]). A higher pooled prevalence of microsporidia infection was observed in studies published after 2020 (15.9%), in those with sample sizes ≤100 participants (19.2%), in patients with CD4 counts ≤200 cells/μl (58.4%) and in males (64.9%). The highest country-specific prevalence rates were reported from Malaysia (60.9%), Mexico (48.3%), Malawi (37.0%) and South Africa (32.9%). Enterocytozoon bieneusi was the predominant species, accounting for 24 identified genotypes, followed by Encephalitozoon intestinalis, E. cuniculi and E. hellem.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Microsporidia remain a significant opportunistic pathogen in HIV/AIDS patients. Strengthened molecular surveillance, standardized diagnostic protocols and integration of microsporidia screening into HIV/AIDS care are essential to improve outcomes and control transmission.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":"705-718"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13530294/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146068178","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}
Onaedo Ilozumba, Paul Tsaku, Sopna Choudhury, Sunday Udo, Pius Sunday, Antje Lindenmeyer, Richard Lilford, Frances Griffiths
{"title":"How sustainable are self-help interventions in the post-funding period? Qualitative findings from integrated leprosy communities in Nigeria.","authors":"Onaedo Ilozumba, Paul Tsaku, Sopna Choudhury, Sunday Udo, Pius Sunday, Antje Lindenmeyer, Richard Lilford, Frances Griffiths","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf140","DOIUrl":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Time-limited, externally funded self-help groups (receiving training, equipment and access to seeds) are typically evaluated during the funding period. However, their sustainability beyond this phase remains understudied.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective qualitative study explored the post-funding sustainability of two 6-y self-help interventions (2013-2019) for groups in integrated leprosy communities in central Nigeria. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 stakeholders (beneficiaries, implementers and funders) and supplemented by document analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings revealed that most activities ceased after funding ended, with limited evidence of sustained benefits. In one community, sewing initiatives persisted, while the other showed no lasting impact. Challenges included inadequate maintenance of provided equipment (e.g. sewing machines, tricycles) and systemic barriers such as insecure land tenure and limited educational access.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The study highlights the fragility of externally funded self-help models in marginalised communities. Sustainability requires integration with broader economic systems and infrastructure support. Funders should prioritise long-term planning alongside short-term interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":"719-725"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13530288/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145783468","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":"Determinants of tuberculosis infection and disease in paediatric patients in the Czech Republic after tuberculosis exposure.","authors":"Luboš Bača, Martin Magner, Karolína Doležalová","doi":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf151","DOIUrl":"10.1093/inthealth/ihaf151","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a transmissible pathogen most commonly acquired through contact with an infectious individual. Early initiation of tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment (TPT) in high-risk populations can substantially reduce the risk of TB infection (TBI) and/or progression to active disease. Our objectives were to identify risk factors for children and adolescents developing TBI and TB after exposure and to evaluate the diagnostic utility of chest computed tomography (CT).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A 6.5-year retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single centre in the Czech Republic to assess risk factors for TBI and TB in children and adolescents (0-18 y).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 335 children included in the study (median age 6.85 y), TBI was diagnosed in 83 (25%) and TB in 39 (12%). Chest CT in 45 high-risk contacts identified TB in an additional 13 participants. The key TB risk factor was index patients having smear-positive TB (odds ratio [OR] 11.35), while older age of contacts (OR 0.83) and non-household exposure (OR 0.23) had a lower risk of TB. TBI risk increased with age (OR 1.21), index smear-positive patients (OR 4.66) and when the father was the index patient (OR 2.91). Ukrainian refugee children had higher risks of TB (relative risk 3.4). Adherence to TPT in those who qualified was good.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Risk factors for TBI and TB were identified, including children being from Ukraine. Chest CT may aid in early diagnosis of TB.</p>","PeriodicalId":49060,"journal":{"name":"International Health","volume":" ","pages":"767-772"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13530277/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145806331","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}