Ecuador was among the countries most severely affected by COVID-19, a consequence of its distinct geographical and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. This study seeks to assess the pandemic's burden in Ecuador during 2020 by quantifying Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Furthermore, it investigates the spatial relationship between Years of Life Lost (YLL) and cantonal-level sociodemographic factors, aiming to identify regional disparities and underlying social determinants that contributed to the observed inequities in health outcomes.

Despite the popularity of social media among children and adolescents, there is comparatively little research on social media influencer marketing, particularly in the context of harmful products. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of advertisements for alcohol, vaping, and cannabis products/brands promoted by social media influencers popular with Canadian children and adolescents on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok and analyze the marketing techniques used.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 74% of global deaths, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bearing a disproportionate burden. In Bangladesh, NCDs are responsible for 66% of all deaths, projected to rise to 75% by 2030. A major contributor to this trend is the high consumption of free sugars, particularly through sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Although SSB taxation has been shown to reduce sugar consumption and improve health outcomes, Bangladesh has yet to implement such a tax. This study explores the perspectives of key stakeholders involved in the development of a proposed sugar tax on foods and non-alcoholic beverages in Bangladesh.

Human and economic burden of psychological distress (PD) are well known. However, how PD and its various classifications impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its various domains such as physical function (PF), role physical (RP), mental health (MH) and role emotional (RE) is poorly understood.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. Inappropriate antibiotic use by healthcare workers contributes significantly to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Indonesian primary healthcare workers in diagnosing and treating paediatric CAP, alongside challenges in guideline adherence.

Financial risk protection is a core component of Universal Health Coverage. Rural residents in China continue to face the higher risk of catastrophic health expenditure. Developing a health insurance system for rural residents that ensures affordability and sustainability is critical to advancing Universal Health Coverage. This study aims to assess rural residents' preferences and willingness to pay for inclusive commercial health insurance.

Placental malaria (PM) is among the leading public health problems associated with adverse outcomes for the mother, the foetus, and the newborn, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although there are many studies published on PM in SSA, comprehensive evidence for targeted interventions is limited. Thus, this study aimed to synthesize evidence on the prevalence, predictors, and adverse perinatal outcomes of PM in SSA.

Physical activity (PA) is critical for healthy ageing, helping prevent chronic and cardiometabolic conditions, improving quality of life (QoL), and preventing premature mortality among older adults. However, determinants of PA levels and their association with QoL among older adults in Ghana remain understudied. This study examined factors influencing PA levels and QoL among older adults in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.

 Long COVID (LC) presents significant challenges for working age individuals, leading to major inequalities in access to work, employment and relevant support. This study investigates the workplace support provided to people with Long COVID (PwLC) in the UK, focusing on their return-to-work (RTW) experiences. It encompasses perspectives from both PwLC and managers of PwLC.

Sub-Saharan Africa is still the region having the highest burden of under-five mortality rate in the world. Of 4.8 million under-five deaths in 2023, more than 80 percent of under-five death reported from Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. While previous studies have examined the determinants of under-five mortality in individual countries, there is limited evidence on its spatial distribution and multilevel determinants across the region. This study aimed to examine the spatial pattern and identify significant factors of under-five mortality in Sub-Saharan African countries.

Sporting activity is regarded as one of the key determinants of energy expenditure and is often recommended as a part of weight management. However, on a population basis the general long-term impact of initiating or modifying sporting activities on body mass index (BMI) remains insufficiently understood. This longitudinal study examines the relationship between sporting activity intensity, measured via metabolic equivalent task scores (MET), and BMI trajectories over a five-year period in a representative Dutch sample. Moderating effects of age, gender, and baseline BMI were assessed to identify population subgroups with differential responsiveness.

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified existing health and social inequities, disproportionately impacting rural and under-resourced urban communities. Community-led coalitions that leverage the experiences and strengths of diverse stakeholders can play a crucial role in addressing these disparities.

China is experiencing rapid population aging and increasing dementia cases. Although existing evidence suggests a link between social participation (SP) and cognitive function (CF) in older adults, few studies have explored their long-term patterns and interplay across urban-rural groups.

Improving communication between NHS primary and secondary care services should reduce inefficiencies, improve patient care, and provide a source of accurate data for audit and research. Using general practice (primary care) and adult hearing aid services (secondary care) as examples, this study aimed to investigate the: (i) information primary care want from secondary care services during referral processes and what information secondary care can provide, (ii) barriers and facilitators for coding and providing this information, and (iii) targets for interventions to improve communication.

Disasters are events that spread throughout the affected regions' surrounding areas. These events had immediate and long-term effects on Mariana and Brumadinho. This study aimed to assess the impact of mining disasters on the Unified Health System (SUS), based on the profile of hospitalization services used, the number of hospital admission authorizations, total costs, and the number of deaths in the municipalities of Mariana and Brumadinho before and after the disasters, using the chapters of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).

Physical inactivity is a growing concern in Nepal, contributing to the emerging burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Community-based interventions led by Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) hold the potential to promote physical activity (PA) effectively. This study reports on the development of educational materials, training procedures, and the outcome of the training on FCHVs’ knowledge and awareness about PA and its relationship with NCDs, as well as their feedback on training and intervention implementation.

Food advertising, which largely affects the most vulnerable children, contributes to childhood obesity by fostering the consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages. Portugal passed Act 30/2019 which introduces food advertising restrictions targeted at children. The aim of this study was to assess the Act's effectiveness in reducing the exposure of children under 14 years of age to television advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages.

Leading global causes of death are noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which affect mostly low- and middle-income countries. Over 90% of all NCD deaths occur in China, where multimorbidity, which is associated with adverse social circumstances, is an emerging health priority. Rates in China are significantly higher than the rest of the world. The purpose of this study was to investigate, using structural equation modeling (SEM), the relationships and pathways between lifestyle and socioeconomic factors and the prevalence of chronic noncommunicable disease (NCD) multimorbidity in rural Southwest China, an area with limited resources, a high degree of ethnic diversity, and an increasing prevalence of multimorbidity.

Refugee newcomers in the United States experience pronounced disparities in healthcare access, shaped not only by individual-level or material constraints but also by systemic and structural inequities. Perceived discrimination, particularly when compounded by intersecting identities such as race and sex, may significantly influence these access barriers. This study investigates the relationship between perceived discrimination and healthcare access barriers among resettled refugees, examining whether this relationship is statistically associated with biological sex and moderated by race and sex.

This study investigates the efficiency of entomological surveillance programs in East Azerbaijan Province, focusing on Points of Entry (PoEs) along the Aras River, for the early detection of invasive Aedes. Given the increasing risk of dengue fever due to the presence of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti in neighboring regions, the research aims to assess the distribution of these mosquitoes and other potential vectors.