Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit最新文献

{"title":"The threat of institutional stigma against people living with HIV.","authors":"Mazin Barry, Alshaima Hashim, Ruaim Muaygil","doi":"10.26719/2026.32.8.488","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2026.32.8.488","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"32 8","pages":"488-491"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148964097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Challenges of implementing health technology assessment in the Iranian pharmaceutical industry.","authors":"Meysam Behzadifar, Saeed Shahabi, Ahad Bakhtiari, Samad Azari, Mohammad Yarahmadi, Aidin Aryankhesal, Banafsheh Darvishi Teli, Masoud Behzadifar","doi":"10.26719/2026.32.8.521","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2026.32.8.521","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Health technology assessment remains underdeveloped in the Islamic Republic of Iran, with limited systematic application in the pharmaceutical sector.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To identify the challenges facing the development and implementation of health technology assessment in the Iranian pharmaceutical industry.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between August and November 2024 we conducted in-depth interviews with 15 experts who have experience in implementing health technology assessment, on the development and implementation of health technology assessment in the pharmaceutical sector of Islamic Republic Iran. We used MAXQDA version 12 for data management and analysed the data using the Braun and Clarke's 6-step thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The major challenges identified were the absence of centralised health technology assessment governance for pharmaceuticals, insufficient and unstable funding, resistance to change, limited awareness about health technology assessment, limited health technology assessment capacity, absence of a legal enforcement framework, political interference, and the strong influence of pharmaceutical companies. Participants noted the availability of international partnerships on health technology assessment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Several complex and multilevel barriers hinder the development and implementation of health technology assessment in the Iranian pharmaceutical industry. There is a need for actions to strengthen health technology assessment in the country to support evidence-based policymaking, resource optimisation and equitable access to essential medicines.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"32 8","pages":"521-527"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148963905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experiences of mothers and female community health workers accessing and implementing the Marwo Caafimaad programme in Somalia.","authors":"Ayan Mohamed, Kathleen West, James Pfeiffer, Ahmed Ali, Farah Mohamed, Mohamed Ali, Abdirizak Hersi, Abdirisak Artan, Isse Jama, Salma Osman","doi":"10.26719/2026.32.8.492","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2026.32.8.492","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Somalia has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios globally, with low antenatal care coverage and low skilled birth attendance. In Puntland, Somalia, the Marwo Caafimaad programme trains female community health workers to provide reproductive health education, basic care and referrals.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the experiences of mothers and female community health workers accessing and implementing the Marwo Caafimaad programme in Puntland, Somalia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In 2022, we conducted focus group discussions with 45 eligible mothers accessing services through the Marwo Caafimaad programme in 7 villages of Puntland, Somalia, and in-depth interviews with 9 community health workers involved in implementing the programme. We analysed the data thematically using Dedoose version 9.0.107.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mothers valued the programme for providing trusted, home-based support and reducing barriers to care related to distance, cost and family responsibilities. Female community health workers reported strong community acceptance and supportive supervision of the programme. Both groups identified lack of local maternal and child health care centres, shortage of medicines and supplies, inadequate staffing, limited refresher training, and delayed or insufficient remuneration as barriers limiting programme impact.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The services provided by Marwo Caafimaad were highly valued in the remote communities of Puntland, however, resource and workforce constraints limited the impact of these services. Additional investment in local facilities, supplies, remuneration, workforce expansion, and training is needed to strengthen the programme.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"32 8","pages":"492-497"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148963947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Six-year trend of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever cases in Islamic Republic of Iran.","authors":"Hassan Nasirian, Seyyed Amir Yasin Ahmadi, Jalil Nejati, Mehdi Zanganeh Baygi","doi":"10.26719/2026.32.7.446","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2026.32.7.446","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a life-threatening vector-borne disease prevalent in many parts of the world.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To analyse and document the trend of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever cases and fatality in Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Islamic Republic of Iran from 2018 to 2024.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data on suspected cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever for 2018-2024 were collected from the Communicable Disease Center of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Republic of Iran, and analysed using SPSS 27 and Stata 17.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 433 registered cases, 91 were confirmed and 16 were probable. Fatality rate was 11%. The highest number of cases was reported in 2019 (n = 167) and the lowest was in 2024 (n = 15), indicating a decreasing trend. The number of cases was higher during the winter months (<i>P</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although there is a decreasing trend in the incidence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Islamic Republic of Iran, targeted interventions are needed to strengthen prevention, diagnosis and treatment, especially during the winter months.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"32 7","pages":"446-453"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148803372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The quality of death certificates depends on the training, competence and independence of the issuers, and the intensity of the investigation into the cause of death.","authors":"Sounira Mehri, Josef Finsterer","doi":"10.26719/2026.32.7.482","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2026.32.7.482","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"32 7","pages":"482"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148803447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advantages and disadvantages of mobile phones for students.","authors":"Sinda Zarrouk, Josef Finsterer","doi":"10.26719/2026.32.7.477","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2026.32.7.477","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"32 7","pages":"477-478"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148803537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The emerging epidemic threat of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Pakistan requires global health action.","authors":"Arshad Islam, Asad Zia, Yasar Mehmood Yousafzai, Amir Muhammad","doi":"10.26719/2026.32.7.409","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2026.32.7.409","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"32 7","pages":"409-412"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148803454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Why does Pakistan lag in the use of fibrinolytics in patients with ischemic stroke?","authors":"Muhammad Ahsan, Taher Janoowala, Tehreem Farooq, Ali Ahmad","doi":"10.26719/2026.32.7.480","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2026.32.7.480","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"32 7","pages":"480-481"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148803504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Closing blind spots in laboratory biosafety and biosecurity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.","authors":"Hanan H Balkhy","doi":"10.26719/2026.32.7.406","DOIUrl":"10.26719/2026.32.7.406","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Laboratory biosafety and biosecurity have long been regarded as highly technical disciplines focused on containment practices and the safe handling of infectious agents. Their purpose is to protect laboratory personnel, communities, and the environment from accidental exposure, loss, theft, misuse, or intentional release. That framing is no longer sufficient. A biological incident that begins in one laboratory can rapidly become a national emergency, cross borders and threaten global health security.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"32 7","pages":"406-408"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148803621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socioeconomic inequalities in noncommunicable disease mortality in Islamic Republic of Iran.","authors":"Efat Mohamadi, Amirhossein Takian, Fateme Yaftian, Alireza Olyaeemanesh, Ali Sheidaei, Fatemeh Ghavidel, Ramin Heshmat, Ardeshir Khosravi, Gita Shafiee","doi":"10.26719/2026.32.7.437","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26719/2026.32.7.437","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Limited evidence on the socioeconomic inequalities in mortality due to noncommunicable disease hampers the development and implementation of policies to improve health equity in Islamic Republic of Iran.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the socioeconomic inequalities in mortality caused by major noncommunicable diseases across provinces and districts in Islamic Republic of Iran.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We obtained data for all deaths attributed to noncommunicable disease (1 105 000) for the period 2016-2018 across 429 districts in 31 provinces of Islamic Republic of Iran. We also obtained aggregated household income and expenditure data from the statistical centre. We analysed the data with R version 4.5.1, using the index of disparity to measure inequality and regression-based relative index of inequality to measure socioeconomic inequalities in noncommunicable disease mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average noncommunicable disease mortality ranged from 36.02 per 100 000 population in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad to 73.06 per 100 000 in Golestan. The index of disparity was >40% in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, and <20% in Semnan and Qazvin. Cardiovascular disease mortality showed the highest difference between adjacent socioeconomic groups, decreasing from 144.1 to 118.5 per 100 000 population between the first and second groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Noncommunicable disease mortality varied across provinces and socioeconomic groups, particularly for cardiovascular disease mortality. To reduce inequalities in mortality due to noncommunicable disease within and between the provinces, there is a need to strengthen health inequality monitoring using evidence on the causes of death, risk factors and the social determinants of health.</p>","PeriodicalId":93985,"journal":{"name":"Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit","volume":"32 7","pages":"437-445"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148803420","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}