Spatial profiling of geographical accessibility to maternal healthcare and coverage of maternal health service utilisation in Nepal: a geospatial analysis based on demographic and health survey.

Background: Information on geographical accessibility to maternal healthcare (MHC) and coverage of maternal health service utilisation at high spatial resolution in Nepal are important for evidence-based health planning.

Methods: Based on the Nepal Health Facility Registry dataset in 2022, we measured the geographical accessibility to MHC facilities across Nepal. Using data from 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey and other sources, we assessed the relationships between geographical accessibility and the utilisation of the three major healthcare services (ie, four or more antenatal care (ANC) visits, institutional delivery and postnatal care (PNC) check-up), by applying Bayesian geostatistical models.

Perspective: Global Burden of Iodine Deficiency: Insights and Projections to 2050 Using XGBoost and SHAP.

Iodine deficiency (ID) poses a significant global public health challenge. This study aimed to analyze trends from 1990 to 2021 and project future patterns ≤2050 using the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model, with Shapley additive explanations (SHAP), to identify key factors and inform public health strategies. Data on ID from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study were used to model and predict its burden ≤2050 using XGBoost, with SHAP enhancing model interpretability.

Development of Bayesian segmented Poisson regression model to forecast COVID-19 dynamics based on wastewater data: a case study in Nanning City, China.

Introduction: COVID-19 has caused tremendous hardships and challenges around the globe. Due to the prevalence of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic carriers, relying solely on disease testing to screen for infections is not entirely reliable, which may affect the accuracy of predictions about the pandemic trends. This study is dedicated to developing a predictive model aimed at estimating of the dynamics of COVID-19 at an early stage based on wastewater data, to assist in establishing an effective early warning system for disease control.

Assessment of the application of the FA280-a fully automated fecal analyzer for diagnosing clonorchiasis: a mixed-method study.

Background: Clonorchiasis is an important foodborne parasitic disease in China caused by Clonorchis sinensis. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of this disease is vital for treatment and control. Traditional fecal examination methods, such as the Kato-Katz (KK) method, are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and have limited acceptance.

The cognition, behaviours and social environment related to Clonorchis sinensis infection in China: a qualitative study.

Background: Cognition, behaviours and social environment are associated with Clonorchis sinensis infection, a prevalent liver fluke disease in China. This study aimed to use social cognitive theory (SCT) to investigate these three aspects and their interaction in an endemic area.

Methods: We conducted three semi-structured focus group discussions in Da'ao town, Jiangmen city, Guangdong Province, China.

Geographical accessibility to healthcare by point-of-interest data from online maps: a comparative study.

Geographical accessibility is important for promoting health equity, and calculating it requires the locations of all existing healthcare facilities in a region. Authoritative location data collected by governments is accurate but mostly not publicly available, while point-of-interest (POI) data from online sources, such as Baidu Maps and AutoNavi Maps are easily accessible. However, the accuracy of the latter has not been thoroughly analyzed.

Model-inferred timing and infectious period of the chickenpox outbreak source.

Background: In May 2024, a chickenpox outbreak was reported at Xiasha Primary School located in Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, China, with a total of 12 cases identified. Despite thorough on-site investigations, the source of infection remained undetected. The purpose of our study was to infer the timing and duration of the infectious period of the initial case using modeling techniques, thereby deducing the identity of the source.

Global Incidence of Diarrheal Diseases-An Update Using an Interpretable Predictive Model Based on XGBoost and SHAP: A Systematic Analysis.

Background: Diarrheal disease remains a significant public health issue, particularly affecting young children and older adults. Despite efforts to control and prevent these diseases, their incidence continues to be a global concern. Understanding the trends in diarrhea incidence and the factors influencing these trends is crucial for developing effective public health strategies.

Validity of the Chinese multimorbidity-weighted index in measuring disease burden using health check-ups data in primary care.

Background: As multimorbidity becomes common that imposes a considerable burden to patients, but the extent to which widely-used multimorbidity indexes can be applied to quantify disease burden using primary care data in China is not clear. We applied the Chinese Multimorbidity-Weighted Index (CMWI) to health check-ups data routinely collected among older adults by primary care, to examine its validity in measuring multimorbidity associated risks of disability and mortality in annual follow-ups.

Methods: The study utilized data from annual health check-ups of older adults, which included information on individual age, sex, and 14 health conditions at primary care in a district of Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.

New sexually transmitted HIV infections from 2016 to 2050 in Guangdong Province, China: a study based on a dynamic compartmental model.

Background: In Guangdong Province, China, there is lack of information on the HIV epidemic among high-risk groups and the general population, particularly in relation to sexual transmission, which is a predominant route. The new HIV infections each year is also uncertain owing to HIV transmission from men who have sex with men (MSM) to women, as a substantial proportion of MSM also have female sexual partnerships to comply with social demands in China.

Methods: A deterministic compartmental model was developed to predict new HIV infections in four risk groups, including heterosexual men and women and low- and high-risk MSM, in Guangdong Province from 2016 to 2050, considering HIV transmission from MSM to women.

Spatial-temporal distribution of preterm birth in China, 1990-2020: A systematic review and modelling analysis.

Background: Little is known about the long-term trends of preterm birth rates in China and their geographic variation by province.

Objectives: To estimate the annual spatial-temporal distribution of preterm birth rates in China by province from 1990 to 2020.

Data Sources: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, WANFANG and VIP from January 1990 to September 2023.

The spatial-temporal risk profiling of infection over 50 years implies the effectiveness of control programs in South Korea: a geostatistical modeling study.

Background: Over the past 50 years, two national control programs on infection have been conducted in South Korea. Spatial-temporal profiles of infection risk provide useful information on assessing the effectiveness of the programs and planning spatial-targeted control strategies.

Methods: Advanced Bayesian geostatistical joint models with spatial-temporal random effects were developed to analyze disease data collecting by a systematic review with potential influencing factors, and to handle issues of preferential sampling and data heterogeneities.

Exploring the Association between Oxygen Concentration and Life Expectancy in China: A Quantitative Analysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate and quantify the association between oxygen concentration and life expectancy. The data from 34 provinces and 39 municipalities were included in all analyses. Bayesian regression modeling with spatial-specific random effects was used to quantify the impact of oxygen concentration (measured as partial pressure of oxygen) on life expectancy, adjusting for other potential confounding factors.

Spatiotemporal Distribution of HIV Self-testing Kits Purchased on the Web and Implications for HIV Prevention in China: Population-Based Study.

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) holds great promise for expanding HIV testing. Nonetheless, large-scale data on HIVST behavior are scant. Millions of HIVST kits are sold through e-commerce platforms each year.

The spatial-temporal distribution of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Guangdong Province, China: A geostatistical analysis of data derived from the three national parasitic surveys.

Background: The results of the latest national survey on important human parasitic diseases in 2015-2016 showed Guangdong Province is still a moderately endemic area, with the weighted prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) higher than the national average. High-resolution age- and gender-specific spatial-temporal risk maps can support the prevention and control of STHs, but not yet available in Guangdong.

Methodology: Georeferenced age- and gender-specific disease data of STH infections in Guangdong Province was derived from three national surveys on important human parasitic diseases, conducted in 1988-1992, 2002-2003, and 2015-2016, respectively.

Cost-effectiveness evaluation of different control strategies for Clonorchis sinensis infection in a high endemic area of China: A modelling study.

Clonorchiasis is an important food-borne parasitic disease caused by Clonorchis sinensis infection. The evaluation of long-term cost-effectiveness of control strategies is important for disease control and prevention. The present study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the three recommended strategies (i.

Developing and validating a Chinese multimorbidity-weighted index for middle-aged and older community-dwelling individuals.

Objective: To develop and validate an index to quantify the multimorbidity burden in Chinese middle-aged and older community-dwelling individuals.

Methods: We included 20,035 individuals aged 45 and older from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and 19,297 individuals aged 65 and older from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Health outcomes of physical functioning (PF), basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL and IADL) and mortality were obtained.

Equity of geographical access to public health facilities in Nepal.

Introduction: Geographical accessibility is important against health equity, particularly for less developed countries as Nepal. It is important to identify the disparities in geographical accessibility to the three levels of public health facilities across Nepal, which has not been available.

Methods: Based on the up-to-date dataset of Nepal formal public health facilities in 2021, we measured the geographical accessibility by calculating the travel time to the nearest public health facility of three levels (ie, primary, secondary and tertiary) across Nepal at 1×1 km resolution under two travel modes: walking and motorised.

Economic Burden of Depressive Symptoms Conditions among Middle-Aged and Elderly People with Hypertension in China.

People with hypertension are more prone to incur depressive symptoms, while depressive symptoms have an obvious influence on the healthy functioning, treatment, and management of hypertensive patients. However, there have been limited studies on the association between depression and the economic burden of hypertension. We used data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) to estimate the additional annual direct and indirect economic burden of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients with a multivariable regression model.