International Health: Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024

12 Sep 2024

International Health is an Open Access journal that aims to stimulate scientific and policy debate and provide a forum for analysis and opinion sharing for individuals and organisations engaged in all areas of global heath.

The Editor’s Choice article is on ‘Global knowledge and attitudes towards Mpox (monkeypox) among healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis’, from Abdolreza Sotoodeh Jahromi et al. In this article, they explore the knowledge and attitudes towards mpox (monkeypox) among healthcare workers in light of the 2022 outbreak of Mpox. This epidemic of Clade 2 Mpox spread rapidly world-wide from the initial cluster of cases identified in the UK. This systematic review highlighted the low level of health care workers (HCW) knowledge on Mpox and, surprisingly, little difference between the general public’s knowledge and that of HCWs.

The current public health emergency of Mpox was declared in August 2024 – a global alert supposed to help marshal resources to control the disease. Hopefully, HCWs are better informed about Mpox now – but for Africa, vaccines are again in short supply and significant challenges still exist in accessing diagnostics for early detection and prevention. More resources are now available for HCWs and the public regarding information on outbreaks for health care workers from the WHO outbreak toolkit, available here.

Lessons from the field

In our own eyes: ethical dilemmas and insights encountered by researchers conducting qualitative research in high ambient temperatures in Kilifi, Kenya

A Lusambili, S Chabeda, P Khaemba

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 475–478, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad115

 

Editor’s Choice: Global knowledge and attitudes towards mpox (monkeypox) among healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abdolreza Sotoodeh Jahromi, Mohammad Jokar, Nader Sharifi, Sirus Kashkooli, Karamatollah Rahmanian, Vahid Rahmanian

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 487–498, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad094

 

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Guesh Mebrahtom, Abrha Hailay, Teklewoini Mariye, Teklehaimanot Gereziher Haile, Goitom Girmay, Kidane Zereabruk, Woldu Aberhe, Degena Bahrey Tadesse

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 499–511, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihae011

 

Association between women's empowerment and fertility preferences in Ghana

Louis Kobina Dadzie, Hilda Yengnone, James Boadu Frimpong, Ebenezer Agbaglo, Abdul-Aziz Seidu, Bright Opoku Ahinkorah

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 512–522, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihae043

Original Articles

Community health workers to reduce unmet surgical needs in an urban slum in India: an implementation study

Kranti Vora, Falguni Salvi, Shahin Saiyed, Chinmayi Desai, Rajendra Joshi, Keyur Buch, Dileep Mavalankar, Rahul M Jindal

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 523–528, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad072

 

High prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis among primary schoolchildren in Southwest Ethiopia: the need for health strategies alongside mass drug administration

Asrat Meleko, Dorin Brener Turgeman, Naomi Caplan, Sarit Baum, Nisan K Zerai, Willemijn Zaadnoordijk, Michal Bruck, Galia Sabar, Zvi Bentwich, Rachel Golan

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 529–533, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad083

 

Influence of the new dispersible fixed-dose combination anti-Tuberculosis drug on treatment adherence among children with Tuberculosis in Osun State, Nigeria

Obioma Chijioke-Akaniro, Patrick A Akinyemi, Sunday Asuke, Chukwuma Anyaike, Ndubuisi A Uwaezuoke, Urhioke Ochuko, Emperor Ubochioma, Amos Omoniyi, Corinne S Merle, Soji Daniel

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 534–543, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad104

 

Application of a count regression model to identify the risk factors of under-five child morbidity in Bangladesh

Md Ismail Hossain, Abu Sayed Md Ripon Rouf, Md Rukonozzaman Rukon, Shuvongkar Sarkar, Iqramul Haq, Md Jakaria Habib, Faozia Afia Zinia, Tanha Akther Tithy, Asiqul Islam, Md Amit Hasan, Mir Moshiur, Md Shakil Ahmed Hisbullah

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 544–552, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad107

 

Stigma associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Sri Lanka: development of a conceptual framework

Hasara Nuwangi, Lisa Dikomitis, Kosala G Weerakoon, Chandani Liyanage, Thilini C Agampodi, Suneth B Agampodi

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 553–561, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihae021

 

Season, household registry and isolated birth defects: a population-based case-control study in Danyang, China

Shuhan Miao, Liqun Liu, Yanlin Tang, Hongyan Ge

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 562–567, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihae034

Commentary

Is the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator a decoupling mechanism?

Abiodun E Awosusi

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 568–570, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihae032

Erratum

Erratum to: deployment of vaccine cold chain equipment in resource-limited settings: lessons from the Gavi Cold Chain Optimization Platform in Cameroon

International Health, Volume 16, Issue 5, September 2024, Page 571, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihae027