Beyond constructs and principles: addressing gender-related barriers to high, equitable immunization coverage.

The global immunization community has only recently recognized that addressing gender-related barriers to vaccination is critical to improving equity and increasing protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. USAID's MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity project aims to strengthen routine immunization programs to overcome entrenched obstacles to reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children while supporting the introduction of other new vaccines given over the life course. From the outset, the project recognized the need to mainstream gender into its global and country level work, incorporating gender considerations into all phases of the program cycle, from assessment to activity design, strategic communications, monitoring, evaluation, and continuous learning.

Adherence to antihypertensives in the United States: A comparative meta-analysis of 23 million patients.

Adherence to antihypertensives is crucial for control of blood pressure. This study analyzed factors and interventions that could affect adherence to antihypertensives in the US. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase were searched on January 21, 2022 and December 25, 2023 for studies on the adherence to antihypertensives in the US.

Global COVID-19 case fatality rates influenced by inequalities in human development and vaccination rates.

Aim: COVID-19 has exerted distress on virtually every aspect of human life with disproportionate mortality burdens on older individuals and those with underlying medical conditions. Variations in COVID-19 incidence and case fatality rates (CFRs) across countries have incited a growing research interest regarding the effect of social factors on COVID-19 case-loads and fatality rates. We investigated the effect of population median age, inequalities in human development, healthcare capacity, and pandemic mitigation indicators on country-specific COVID-19 CFRs across countries and regions.

Adverse event following vaccine surveillance in Kaduna State, Northwestern Nigeria (January 2018 -June 2019): analysis of health facility´s records.

Introduction: Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) are one of the main reasons for inadequate immunization coverage in Kaduna State, and AEFI underreporting serves as a barrier to achieving goals of global pharmaco-vigilance for vaccine. The purpose of this study is to estimate the completeness of variables in the AEFI line-listing forms, calculate AEFI reporting rates by Local Government Areas & vaccine type and profile the reported cases according to their reactions.

Methods: we conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study of primary surveillance records.

Predictors of placental malaria in Upper West Regional Hospital-Ghana.

Background: Placental malaria (PM) poses life-threatening complications to pregnant women as they are at increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with malaria. This study examined the factors associated with placental malaria in the Upper West Regional Hospital (UWR).

Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out among pregnant women delivering at Upper West Regional Hospital.

Local diagnostic reference levels for digital mammography: Two hospitals study in northwest, Nigeria.

Background: Mammography involves the use of low energy X-rays to image the breast tissue. Although low dose radiation is used, the use of ionising radiation implies the risk of inducing breast cancer. Thus, the study established local DRLs for digital mammography for in-house dose optimisation.

Descriptive Epidemiology of Childhood Disability Prevalence by Sex in the Mississippi Delta and Appalachian Regions.

Background: Evidence suggests a rise in childhood disability rates across the United States with males and those with lower socioeconomic status bearing greater burden. We investigated childhood disability rates in the Mississippi Delta (MDR) and Appalachian regions (AR) in comparison to other parts of the country.

Methods: Using data from the US Census Bureau, we calculated childhood disability rates by type and sex at national, regional, and subregional levels.

Effect of healthcare spending on the relationship between the Human Development Index and maternal and neonatal mortality.

Background: Several factors affect morbidity and mortality the world over. Previous research shows mortality rates are higher among individuals of lower socio-economic status. We investigated the trajectory of neonatal (NM) and maternal (MM) mortality between 2010 and 2014 and the effect of healthcare spending on the relationship between the Human Development Index (HDI) and NM and MM.

Social determinants of cancer incidence and mortality around the world: an ecological study.

Cancer continues to be a leading cause of mortality and morbidity the world over. While the incidence of cancer is projected to increase by 70% over the next two decades, some research findings suggest a disproportionate distribution of new cancer cases and attendant fatalities across certain regions of the world, with poor and lower income countries worse affected at a time when advances in cancer research, medical technology, and drug development are giving rise to better cancer survival in developed countries. In this study, the role of selected social determinants of health in gauging cancer outcomes relative to incidence across various countries in different regions of the world was explored.

Inequality as a Powerful Predictor of Infant and Maternal Mortality around the World.

Background: Maternal and infant mortality are highly devastating, yet, in many cases, preventable events for a community. The human development of a country is a strong predictor of maternal and infant mortality, reflecting the importance of socioeconomic factors in determinants of health. Previous research has shown that the Human Development Index (HDI) predicts infant mortality rate (IMR) and the maternal mortality ratio (MMR).