Urban Health Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

2025, Asian Journal of Dairy and Food Research, Volume 44 Issue 3 (June 2025)

Background: Instant baby porridge contains ingredients that allow it to be served instantly, eliminating the need for lengthy cooking process as the case with traditional porridges. Thanks to the 88.00% carbohydrates that it contains, banana flour can be utilized for instant baby porridge. As in the process of producing any flour, drying is a critical phase in the production of banana flour. According to previous studies Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria are resistant to drying. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of Power level and length of drying in the microwave on the total reduction of Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria and to determine the combination of microwave power and duration, which results in the most elevated total reduction of Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria. Methods: A completely randomized design (CRD) was employed in this investigation and microwave power was the first component. (100, 200, 300 watts) and the second factor being drying duration (10s, 20s, 30s). Result: The research findings indicated that the microwave power and drying time and their interactions affected the total reduction of Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria. The greatest decrease in total Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria was found in the treatment of 300 watts for 30 seconds at a total microbe of 4.75 log CFU/g, color for lightness (L*) 75.76; for redness (a*) +2.98; for yellowness (b*) +16.42; ash content of 3.45%; amount of protein of 3.04%; content of fat 0.67% and carbohydrates content of 84%.

2025, International Journal of Mosquito Research

Vectorborne diseases account for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. This is especially true for resource-poor countries and poor and marginalized populations. The current study was carried out during May 2016 – April 2017 Elfasher Locality, North Darfur State, Sudan to determine to determine seasonal and geographical distribution, and larval habitats of Aedes mosquitoes. A cross-sectional surveys was conducted. The sample size of households (HH) surveyed for the productivity of immature stage was calculated following WHO (2011) in four Almasani, Elsalam, Enasr and Alreef neighborhoods. Larval collection was carried out three days/ month between 07:00-01:00 hr. Larvae and pupae from containers collected identified in the laboratory. Data was analyzed using SPSS version. 20. Ae. aegypti was the predominant species the locality. Out of 480 HH visited, 69 were found positive for larvae (14.4%). A total of 1,724 potential breeding sites were reported and 5.5% proved to be pos...

2025, BMC Public Health

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Incarceration can increase HIV risk behaviors for individuals involved with the criminal justice system and may be a driver of HIV acquisition within the community. We used an agent-based model to simulate HIV transmission in a sexual-contact network representing heterosexual African American men and women in Philadelphia to identify factors influencing the impact of male mass incarceration on HIV acquisition in women. The model was calibrated using surveillance data and assumed incarceration increased the number of sexual contacts and decreased HIV care engagement for men post-release. Incarceration of a partner increased the number of sexual contacts for women. We compared a counterfactual scenario with no incarceration to scenarios varying key parameters to determine what factors drove HIV acquisition in women. Results: Setting the duration of male high-risk sexual behavior to two years post-release increased the number of HIV transmissions to women by more than 20%. Decreasing post-release HIV care engagement and increasing HIV acquisition risk attributable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) also increased the number of HIV transmissions to women. Changing the duration of risk behavior for women, the proportion of women engaging in higher risk behavior, and the relative risk of incarceration for HIV-infected men had minimal impact. The mass incarceration of African American men can increase HIV acquisition in African American women on a population-level through factors including post-release high-risk behaviors, disruption of HIV care engagement among formerly incarcerated men, and increased STI prevalence. These findings suggest that the most influential points of intervention may be programs seeking to reduce male risk behaviors and promote HIV care engagement post-release, as well as STI testing and treatment programs for recently incarcerated men, as well as women with incarcerated partners.

2025, Sexually Transmitted Infections

Group sex events (GSEs) among heterosexuals and other groups may facilitate STI transmission by contributing to rapid partner exchange and links to high-risk partners. 12 Using baseline (in-prison) data from DISRUPT (Disruption of Intimate Stable Relationships Unique to the Prison Term) (n=142), a cohort study conducted among African-American men incarcerated in North Carolina, USA, who were in committed heterosexual relationships at prison entry, we measured preincarceration GSE participation and other sexual risk behaviours. We tested urine samples for STI (chlamydia, gonorrhoea and trichomoniasis) using nucleic acid amplification tests. Approximately 16% reported GSE participation. GSE was strongly associated with STI (adjusted OR=6.59, 95% CI 1.78 to 24.42) but not with sexual risk behaviours (table ). Since GSE participation was not associated with sexual risk behaviours, the association of GSE participation with infection suggests that GSEs may facilitate STI transmission through sex with infected partners. Programmes might intervene at GSE venues or through off-site approaches to GSE attendees. Preliminary results from this analysis were presented at the 2014 STD Prevention Conference.

2025, Revista panamericana de salud pública = Pan American journal of public health

To investigate spatial tuberculosis (TB) distribution patterns and the association between living conditions and incidence of the disease in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. An ecological study with neighborhood as the unit of analysis. Data was collected from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, SINAN) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, IBGE). Rates of TB incidence were transformed and smoothed. Spatial analysis was applied to identify spatial auto-correlation and "hotspot" areas of high and low risk. The relationship between TB and living conditions was confirmed by spatial linear regression. The incidence of TB in Salvador displayed heterogeneous patterns, with higher rates occurring in neighborhoods with poor living conditions in 1995 - 1996. Over the study period, disease occurrence declined, particularly in less-privileged strata. In 2004 - 2005, the...

2025, Annals of Hepatology

Background. Hepatitis C (HCV) is more prevalent in African Americans than in any other racial group in the United States. However, African Americans are more likely to be deemed ineligible for HCV treatment than non-African Americans. There has been limited research into the origins of racial disparities in HCV treatment eligibility. Aim. The purpose of this study was to compare medical and non-medical characteristics commonly assessed in clinical practice that could potentially contribute to HCV treatment ineligibility disparities between African American and non-African American patients. Material and methods. Patients with confirmed HCV RNA considering treatment (n = 309) were recruited from university-affiliated and VA liver and infectious disease clinics. Results. African Americans and non-African Americans did not differ in prevalence of lifetime and current psychiatric disorders and risky behaviors, and HCV knowledge. HCV clinical characteristics were similar between both gro...

2025, PLOS ONE

Studies from high income countries (HIC) have generally shown higher osteoporotic fracture rates in urban areas than rural areas. Low bone mineral density (BMD) increases susceptibility to fractures. This review aimed to assess whether urbanicity is consistently associated with lower BMD globally. Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Global Health (-April 2013) were searched for articles investigating differences in bone mineral content (BMC) or BMD between urban and rural areas. Ratio of means (RoM) of BMD were used to estimate effect sizes in meta-analysis, with an exception for one study that only presented BMC data. Fifteen articles from eleven distinct populations were included in the review; seven populations from four high income countries and four from three low and middle income countries (LMIC). Meta-analysis showed conflicting evidence for urban-rural difference in BMD; studies from high income countries generally showed higher BMD in rural areas while the results were more mixed in studies from low and middle income countries (HIC RoM = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.03 to 0.06; LMIC RoM = -0.04: 95% CI: -0.1 to 0.01). Urban-rural differences of bone mineral density may be context-specific. BMD may be higher in urban areas in some lower income countries. More studies with robust designs and analytical techniques are needed to understand mechanisms underlying the effects of urbanization on bone mass accrual and loss.

2025, Southeast Asian journal of health professionals

As the populations of age groups of 16-18 years continue to indulge in smoking as a lifestyle habit, it becomes more important to understand the reasoning behind the same. Therefore, Dental professionals act as the first line of defence towards finding the right solution. A clear understanding of the prevalence of smoking among dental students is necessary in order to understand the attitudes and perspective of such a young adult studying in a dental college. The aim of this study is to analyse the smoking habits among students of dental colleges and try to gauge a deeper knowledge about their outlook. The present study was conducted through a survey-based questionnaire prepares on Google Forms to assess the prevalence of smoking, knowledge and attitudes about the habit of a group of 150 dental college students ranging from first year to internship. Survey data was first collated in Microsoft Excel, and thereafter analysed using statistical methods such as Pivot Table Technique, Subtotal Formula, Ratio Analysis, averages, weighted percentages and mean calculations. It was concluded that a need for a smoke-free campus, stricter restrictions against smoking in campus and counselling for the users of cigarettes is necessitated.

2025, International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics

2025, somalipanda.com

One Health is more than a framework of health—it is a philosophy of interconnectedness, recognising that human, animal, and environmental health are deeply intertwined. As a musicologist and sonic historiographer, I approach this not through data alone, but through rhythms of lived experience, echoes of memory, and the soundscapes of cultural continuity.
In both urban density and tribal isolation, health is not merely biomedical. It is emotional, cultural, sonic. It is about what we remember, what we forget, and what we pass on. The emerging issues of One Health must therefore be read as a cultural manuscript—where public health, indigenous voice, and environmental memory are interwoven.

2025, Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal

Failure to address women's health, including their reproductive health needs, increases health care costs and social inequity. This descriptive study assessed the reproductive and non-reproductive health status of women over 15 years old in poverty pockets in the southern region of Jordan. Two villages were selected using purposive sampling and all women in the villages were invited to participate in a "healthy family week": 259 responded to the invitation. Although 49.4% of the surveyed women were overweight or obese, only 8.5% had high blood pressure. Reproductive health concerns included the high proportions of women married at an early age (15-20 years) (76.8%), having 5+ children (43.1%) and with haemoglobin level < 12 g/dL, indicating anaemia (55.5%). Urinary tract infection was the most common health problem (29.0%). Health care providers should be sensitized to the health needs of Jordanian women in general and those living in disadvantaged areas in particular.

2025, Global Public Health

This study considers care-seeking patterns for maternal morbidity in Mumbai's slums. Our objectives were to document women's self-reported symptoms and care-seeking, and to quantify their choice of health provider, care-seeking delays and referrals between providers. The hypothesis that care-seeking sites for maternal morbidity mirror those used for antenatal care was also tested. We analysed data for 10,754 births in 48 slum areas and interviewed mothers about their illnesses and care-seeking during pregnancy. Institutional care-seeking was high across the board (!80%), and higher for 'trigger' symptoms suggestive of complications (!88%). Private-sector care was preferred, and increased with socio-economic status, although public providers also played an important role. Most women sought treatment at the same site they received their antenatal care, most were treated within 2 days, and less than 2% were referred to other providers. Our findings suggest that poor women in Mumbai recognise symptoms of obstetric complications and the need for health care. However, that more than 80% also sought care for minor conditions implies that the tendency to seek institutional care for serious conditions reflects a broader picture of care-seeking for all illnesses. The role of private health-care providers needs greater recognition, and further research is required on provider motivations and behaviour.

2025, Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine

This study explored the impact of the 1995 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, bombing on the spouses and significant others of a volunteer sample of Oklahoma City firefighters who participated in the bombing rescue effort. Twenty-seven partners of Oklahoma City firefighters participated in this study, conducted 42 to 44 months after the bombing. These partners were assessed using a structured diagnostic interview and a companion interview to examine exposure, rates of psychiatric disorders and symptoms, functioning, health, and relationships. Coping and perception of the firefighter partner's response were also examined. Some of the women were exposed directly; most knew someone who had been involved in the disaster, and all reported exposure through the media. The rate of psychiatric disorders in the women following the disaster was 22%, essentially unchanged from before the incident. One developed bomb-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most were satisfied with their work performance; 15% reported that their health had worsened since the bombing, and more than one third reported permanent changes in relationships as a result of the bombing. Most coped by turning to friends or relatives, with less than 10% seeking professional help. Many described symptoms in their firefighter mate; all reported that their mate had been affected by the experience, and one half said their mate had fully recovered. The mates of these firefighters fared relatively well in terms of psychiatric disorders, symptoms, and ability to function. The prevalence of bomb-related posttraumatic stress disorder was considerably lower in this sample than in samples of individuals more directly exposed to the bombing, although some reported changes in relationships and health. The results suggest the need for further study of the impact of interpersonal exposure in those who provide support for rescue-and-recovery workers in major terrorist incidents.

2025

BACKGROUND: Ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) is associated with greater longevity and reduced morbidity, but no research on ICH has been conducted in Jamaica. We estimated the prevalence of ICH in urban Jamaica and evaluated associations between ICH and community, household and individual socioeconomic status (SES). METHODS: Cross-sectional study using data from 360 men and 665 women, age ≥20 years in urban Jamaica. ICH was defined as having seven characteristics: current non-smoking, healthy diet, moderate physical activity, and normal body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol. Logistic regression, weighted for survey design, quantified association between the outcome (≥5 ICH characteristics [ICH-5]), and exposure variables (tertiles of community median land value [MLV], tertiles of household assets and educational attainment). RESULTS: Prevalence of ICH (7 characteristics) was 0.51%, while prevalence of ICH-5 was 22.9% (male 24.5%, female 21.5%, p=0.447). In sex-s...

2025, European Journal of Oncology

Aims. Exposure to asbestos represents an important risk factor for the onset of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. An association with gastrointestinal and bile duct adenocarcinoma may also be possible. Patients and methods. In 2007, 55 patients with bile duct neoplasm who were admitted to our centre were investigated extensively about their exposure to known risk factors for their pathology and about exposure to asbestos. For each patient their medical history, their past, recent and current pathology was collected in detail. Information on the workplace and characteristics of their working environment, job description, use and frequency of direct and indirect exposure to asbestos, sources of non-occupational exposure, residential and daily life background was collected. Exposure to asbestos is considered significant only in cases where the latency period is equal to or longer than ten years. Results. From the medical history of the 55 cases, it emerged that 18 had been exposed t...

2025, Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Summary. Approximately 3.2 million persons are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the U.S.; most are not aware of their infection. Our objectives were to examine HCV testing practices to determine which patient characteristics are associated with HCV testing and positivity, and to estimate the prevalence of HCV infection in a high‐risk urban population. The study subjects were all patients included in the baseline phase of the Hepatitis C Assessment and Testing Project (HepCAT), a serial cross‐sectional study of HCV screening strategies. We examined all patients with a clinic visit to Montefiore Medical Center from 1/1/08 to 2/29/08. Demographic information, laboratory data and ICD‐9 diagnostic codes from 3/1/97–2/29/08 were extracted from the electronic medical record. Risk factors for HCV were defined based on birth date, ICD‐9 codes and laboratory data. The prevalence of HCV infection was estimated assuming that untested subjects would test positive at the ...

2025, American Journal of Public Health

Objectives. We evaluated an intervention designed to identify patients at risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) through a risk screener used by primary care providers. Methods. A clinical reminder sticker prompted physicians at 3 urban clinics to screen patients for 12 risk factors and order HCV testing if any risks were present. Risk factor data were collected from the sticker; demographic and testing data were extracted from electronic medical records. We used the t test, χ2 test, and rank-sum test to compare patients who had and had not been screened and developed an analytic model to identify the incremental value of each element of the screener. Results. Among screened patients, 27.8% (n = 902) were identified as having at least 1 risk factor. Of screened patients with risk factors, 55.4% (n = 500) were tested for HCV. Our analysis showed that 7 elements (injection drug use, intranasal drug use, elevated alanine aminotransferase, transfusions before 1992, ≥ 20 lifetime sex partners,...

2025, Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal

We report an outbreak of acute diarrhoea due to Aeromonas sobria in Benghazi which occurred during a 1-month period in 1997. Of 69 patients admitted with acute gastroenteritis, 28 were positive for A. sobria based on the production of gas from glucose, the production of acetoin, hydrogen sulfide and lysine decarboxylase and on aesculin hydrolysis and fermentation of arabinose and salicin. The strains were sensitive to chloramphenicol, co-trimoxazole, tetracycline and gentamicin but resistant to ampicillin and carbenicillin. We were unable to trace the source of the infection

2025, Journal of Urban Health-bulletin of The New York Academy of Medicine

A self-administered survey was distributed to members of The Big Cities Health Coalition, a group of Health Officers/Commissioners from 17 of the largest US metropolitan health departments. The survey asked participants about their chronic disease priorities, data sources, budgets, and funding sources as well as examples of successful chronic disease interventions. Members of the Coalition discussed the survey results in a scheduled conference call. Chronic diseases account for 70% of all deaths nationwide on average, yet the health departments surveyed allocated an average of 1.85% of their budgets to chronic disease. Average chronic disease spending per inhabitant was 2.33,withamedianof2.33, with a median of 2.33,withamedianof1.56. Among the group's top chronic disease priorities were asthma, diabetes, tobacco, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nearly half of the group's chronic disease spending was on tobacco. Chronic disease funding sources varied across localities, but direct federal funding was minimal. In 14 cities serving a combined 37 million people (13% of the US population), direct federal chronic disease funding totaled 8.7million,anaverageof8.7 million, an average of 8.7million,anaverageof0.24 per capita. The group described successful chronic disease interventions, particularly related to tobacco and asthma.

2025, Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine

2025, American Journal of Public Health

An emerging approach to public health emergency preparedness and response, community resilience encompasses individual preparedness as well as establishing a supportive social context in communities to withstand and recover from disasters. We examine why building community resilience has become a key component of national policy across multiple federal agencies and discuss the core principles embodied in community resilience theory—specifically, the focus on incorporating equity and social justice considerations in preparedness planning and response. We also examine the challenges of integrating community resilience with traditional public health practices and the importance of developing metrics for evaluation and strategic planning purposes. Using the example of the Los Angeles County Community Disaster Resilience Project, we discuss our experience and perspective from a large urban county to better understand how to implement a community resilience framework in public health prac...

2025, The Urban World , Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES) of All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIILSG), Mumbai

E-governance has gained momentum, particularly
in the context of global governance of urban
spaces. Cities in the developing world have been
frequently criticized for being denied equality and
overcrowding, sluggish governance, lack of
housing and hygiene, poor quality of basic services,
and rampant corruption. Therefore, technology,
connectivity, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are
now considered a possible solution to address these
concerns. In this context, this paper attempts to
study the electronic governance system of the
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). It
purports to study it analytically and provides a
descriptive understanding of the initiatives
undertaken by the BMC and the implications of
these initiatives for civic issues. The paper argues
that electronic governance-related initiatives have
the potential to bring 'ease of doing governance';
thus, urban local bodies will be better equipped to
address key civic issues. While interviewing the
BMC officer on the issue, the researcher found that
what is lacking is inter-departmental coordination;
there is also the presence of multiple agencies with
overlapping responsibilities. In addition, the issue
of the digital divide that exists in general in our
country requires policy attention to achieve the
goals of seamless e-governance and ease of
governance. In the age of Internet of Things (IoT)
and 5G technology, urban local bodies such as
BMC need to reinvent itself continually to better deliver services electronically and make the
process of governance uncomplicated in the true
sense of the term.
Keywords: E-governance, Ease of doing
governance, Civic issues, BMC.

2025, Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical

Foi estudada a distribuição dos enteroparasitos mais freqüentes na população de Assis, São Paulo, de 1990 a 1992. Foram analisados 18.366 exames oriundos de seis postos de atendimento sanitário (PAS): Vila Marialves, Vila Progresso, Centro, Vila Xavier, Vila Fiúza e Vila Bonfim. A prevalência de enteroparasitoses geral foi 23,3%. Os enteroparasitos mais encontrados foram: Giardia intestinalis (8,7%), Ascaris lumbricoides (5,5%), Trichuris trichiura (2,4%) e Hymenolepis nana (1,9%). Na Vila Marialves, região de baixo nível sócio-econômico essas freqüências foram, respectivamente: 17%; 13,1%; 5,9% e 4,2%. A faixa etária 3 a 12 anos apresentou maior número de indivíduos parasitados. Estabeleceu-se uma correlação entre as condições de saneamento básico, expressos pelo número de ligações de água e esgoto, e a freqüência de parasitoses. Houve queda na freqüência de parasitoses nos PAS entre 1990 e 1992, coincidindo com o aumento do número de ligações de água e esgoto nestas regiões.

2025, Journal of Urban Health

participants. Survey participants were predominantly Latinx (87%) and women (65%). The most common reported uses of the 1000werefoodandrent.Mostparticipants(791000 were food and rent. Most participants (79%) reported that without the 1000werefoodandrent.Mostparticipants(791000 cash transfer they would have had difficulty paying for basic expenses or making ends meet, with specific positive effects reported related to food, housing, and ability to work. The majority of survey participants reported that receiving the cash assistance somewhat or greatly improved their physical health (83%) and mental health (89%). Qualitative interview results generally supported the survey findings.

2025, Journal of Urban Health

Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) are a population at the intersection of two minority statuses-racial minority and sexual minority. Membership in either group, compared to white or heterosexual group membership, may increase one's risk of negative childhood and adult experiences. Baseline data from an HIV intervention efficacy trial (the Black Men Evolving Study) were used to explore the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among 536 BMSM and associations between ACEs and adult mental and physical health outcomes. Overall, the prevalence of ACEs was high among this sample of BMSM with almost 90% experiencing at least one ACE. Findings revealed that ACE score was significantly associated with adult mental health (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.12, 1.30]), but not with adult physical health. All ACEs were significantly associated with mental health, but only physical neglect and household substance abuse were significantly associated with physical health (AOR = 1.69, 95% CI [1.02, 2.74] and AOR = 1.57, 95% CI [1.03, 2.40], respectively). The findings support the need for interventions targeting improved adult health outcomes, particularly for minority groups, to consider the impact of early adversity on health and wellness. Keywords Adverse childhood experiences . ACEs . Black men . Men who have sex with men

2025, Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine

One of the fundamental methodological challenges in research is to construct a design that provides a scientifically valid fit between the problem to be investigated and the procedures selected for data collection and analysis. This challenge is particularly daunting in the study of health disparities because of the layers of complexity superimposed upon the basic scientific question by the introduction of concepts and variables that are socially constructed, imprecisely defined, and at times politically charged. A strong research design can provide an "architectural plan" or "blueprint" for research on the most difficult conceptual challenges. In this blueprint, variables must be operationally defined and carefully measured to answer the research questions objectively and accurately. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), recognizing that huge disparities exist among population groups across a variety of health conditions, has prioritized health disparities research as an area for funding support. An NIH-wide committee on health disparities was formed in 2001 to develop a strategic plan for setting standards with the objective of eliminating health disparities in the United States. In addition, each of the twenty-seven Institutes and Centers was charged with developing its own health disparities plan. The NIH defines a health disparity population as "a population where there is a significant disparity in the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality or survival rates in the population as compared to the health status of the general population" (p. 7). 1 The National Institute on Drug Abuse has made significant progress in its efforts to promote research to reduce health disparities. Among these efforts was a scientific meeting on health disparities, entitled "Advancing Research to Reduce Drug Abuse and HIV/AIDS Health Disparities: Methodological Considerations" held on June [21][22] 2004 in Bethesda, Maryland. The focus of this scientific meeting was on (1) the identification of methodological innovations and strategies that have strengthened the science of drug abuse epidemiology, services, and prevention research and drug-related HIV/AIDS research and (2) the inclusion of health disparities scholars in discussions about building standards and highlighting critical directions for future research and methodological innovation on these topics. Drs. Jones and Crump are with the

2025, Lancet (London, England)

2025, Family Practice

Background. The traditional concept of continuity of care, i.e. care from the cradle to the grave, is no longer sustainable in modern society. Objective. The aim of this study was to propose a definition of 'continuity of care' based on the experiences of a group of practising Australian GPs. Method. Five focus group discussions were conducted to explore the understanding and practice of continuity of care, the individual's measurement of having achieved continuity of care in his/her practice and the advantages/disadvantages of providing continuity of care. The experiences of this group of GPs points towards three essential aspects to help with a definition of continuity of care. Firstly it requires a stable care environment, secondly good communication to build a responsible doctor-patient relationship and thirdly the goal of achieving an improvement of the patient's overall health.

2025, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Starting from a previous experience carried out by the working group “Building and Environmental Hygiene” of the Italian Society of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (SItI), the aim of the present work is to define new strategic goals for achieving a “Healthy and Salutogenic City”, which will be useful to designers, local governments and public bodies, policy makers, and all professionals working at local health agencies. Ten key points have been formulated: 1. climate change and management of adverse weather events; 2. land consumption, sprawl, and shrinking cities; 3. tactical urbanism and urban resilience; 4. urban comfort, safety, and security perception; 5. strengths and weaknesses of urban green areas and infrastructures; 6. urban solid waste management; 7. housing emergencies in relation to socio-economic and environmental changes; 8. energy aspects and environmental planning at an urban scale; 9. socio-assistance and welfare network at an urban scale: importance of a rational ...

2025, Journal of Urban Health-bulletin of The New York Academy of Medicine

This study examined whether costs associated with tuberculosis (TB) screening and directly observed preventive therapy (DOPT) among drug injectors attending a syringe exchange are justified by cases and costs of active TB cases prevented and examined the impact of monetary incentives to promote adherence on cost-effectiveness. We examined program costs and projected savings using observed adherence and prevalence rates and literature estimates of isoniazid (INH) preventive therapy efficacy, expected INH hepatoxicity rates, and TB treatment costs; we conducted sensitivity analyses for a range of INH effectiveness, chest X-ray (CXR) referral adherence, and different strategies regarding anergy among persons affected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). For 1,000 patients offered screening, incorporating real observed program adherence rates, the program would avert 179,934inTBtreatmentcosts,foranetsavingsof179,934 in TB treatment costs, for a net savings of 179,934inTBtreatmentcosts,foranetsavingsof123,081. Assuming a modest risk of TB among HIV-infected anergic persons, all strategies with regard to anergy were cost saving, and the strategy of not screening for anergy and not providing DOPT to HIV-infected anergic persons resulted in the greatest cost savings. If an incentive of $25 per person

2025, Archivos de cardiología de México

aim: To know the metabolic syndrome and its components prevalence in Mexico City adolescents sample. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 772 men and 1078 women, 12 to 16 years old, from 8 randomly selected public junior high schools in Mexico City. Anthropometric variables, lipids, lipoproteins, Apo AI and B, glucose and insulin were determined. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 12.5%, 11.15% in men and 13.5% en women (p ns). The most frequently metabolic syndrome component found in México City adolescents was low HDL-C levels (38%), followed by hypertriglyceridemia (25.5%), hypertension (19.2%), central obesity (11.8%) and elevated fasting glucose (1.7). Except by the hypertriglyceridemia, higher in woman than in men, 28.2% vs. 21.6%, p < 0.001, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome components was similar between males and females. The high prevalence of biochemical and physiological factors of metabolic syndrome, associated with overweight and obesity in Mexico City ado...

2025, Latin American Journal of …

2025, The Journal of Pan-African Studies

This study examined the racial and ethnic disparities in access to dental care and delayed care in older people. Data from the 2010, Greater Cincinnati Community Health Status Survey (GCCHSS) on oral health, of 2,077 subjects aged 45 - 75 to explore access to dental care and delayed dental care differences between Hispanic (n = 297), African Americans (n = 445), and White Appalachian (n = 1335) adults in Cincinnati, Ohio. The GCCHSS consist of self-reported measures of oral health. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted using weighted data. Results from adjusted logistic regressions indicated significant racial and ethnic differences between White Appalachians and minority examined groups. African Americans were significantly less likely than White Appalachians to visit a private dentist office, and were more likely to visit the hospital emergency room to have their mouth examined for sores. Hispanics were significantly less likely to visit a dental clinic, but ...

2025, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Reducing exposure to degraded air quality is essential for building healthy cities. Although air quality and population vary at fine spatial scales, current regulatory and public health frameworks assess human exposures using county-or city-scales. We build on a spatial analysis technique, dasymetric mapping, for allocating urban populations that, together with emerging fine-scale measurements of air pollution, addresses three objectives: (1) evaluate the role of spatial scale in estimating exposure; (2) identify urban communities that are disproportionately burdened by poor air quality; and (3) estimate reduction in mobile sources of pollutants due to local tree-planting efforts using nitrogen dioxide. Our results show a maximum value of 197% difference between cadastrally-informed dasymetric system (CIDS) and standard estimations of population exposure to degraded air quality for small spatial extent analyses, and a lack of substantial difference for large spatial extent analyses. These results provide the foundation for improving policies for managing air quality, and targeting mitigation efforts to address challenges of environmental justice.

2025, Journal of Entomology and Zoology studies

The aim of this study is to determine the distribution and abundance of Aedes sp. Mosquitoes in Barkatullah University, Bhopal. Methods: Ovitraps were randomly placed in the university campus. The sampling was completed after 10 independent trips. For each trip 30 ovitraps were installed and recovered after 7 days, but they all are examined daily from the next day of installation. Results: The mixed infestation of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus was observed in campus area. The abundance of Aedes population was indicated by Ovitrap index (OI) which ranged from 40%-89.28% and the Mean number of larvae per ovitrap which ranged from 3. 35-10.60. In this study, ovitrap data indicated Ae. albopictus were dominant species in all the trips compared to Ae. aegypti populations. Although the presence of Aedes aegypti population ranged from 16.07%-24.48%, whereas the presence of Aedes albopictus population ranged from 75.51%-83.92%. Conclusion: This study indicates that ovitrap is a sensitive, fast, more efficient tool to attract gravid females of mosquitoes to oviposit, and also to detect the presence of Aedes mosquitoes as compared to larval survey.

2025, Harm Reduction Journal

Background
Pharmacies are critical healthcare partners in community efforts to eliminate bloodborne illnesses.
Pharmacy sale of sterile syringes is central to this effort.
Methods
A “secret shopper” syringe purchase study was conducted in the fall of 2022 with 38 community
pharmacies in Maricopa and Pima Counties, Arizona. Pharmacies were geomapped to within 2 miles of
drug copping/use areas. Daytime venue sampling was used whereby three separate investigators with
lived/living drug use experience attempted to purchase syringes without a prescription. Investigator
response when prompted for purchase rationale was “to protect myself from HIV and hepatitis C.” A 24
item instrument measured sales outcome, pharmacy staff interaction (neutral/positive/hostile), and the
buyer’s subjective experience.
Results
Only 24.6% (n = 28) of 114 purchase attempts across the 38 pharmacies resulted in syringe sale. Less
than one quarter (21.1%) of pharmacies always sold while 44.7% never sold. Independent and food store
pharmacies tended not to sell syringes. There emerged distinct pharmacy staff interactions characterized
by body language, customer query, normalization or othering, response to purchase request and closure.
Pharmacy discretion and pharmacy policy not to sell syringes without a prescription limited sterile
syringe access. Investigators reported frequent and adverse emotional impact due to pharmacy staff
negative and stigmatizing interactions.
Conclusions
Pharmacies miss opportunities to advance efforts to eliminate bloodborne infections by stringent no-sale
policy and discretion about syringe sale. Regulatory policy focused on retail pharmacy syringe sale and
use of pharmacy discretion is likely necessary to achieve public health goals of elimination of bloodborne
infections in Arizona

2025, Contemporary Drug Problems

Background: In 2021, NYC implemented overdose prevention center (OPC) services at two existing syringe exchange programs, allowing people to use pre-obtained drugs on-site. Although OPCs in Canada, Western Europe, and Australia have demonstrated their feasibility and benefits towards reducing overdose risk and drug-related harm, there is less data on how people who use drugs (PWUD) conceptualize the benefits and any potential drawbacks of using OPCs. Methods: In June-August 2022, we conducted 26 semistructured interviews with people in New York City who used unprescribed opioids. Interviews lasted 30-60 min and were conducted remotely using Zoom and later transcribed by a professional service. Data were then coded, using AtlasTi, into meaningful categories using a thematic approach based on the aims of the study and existing literature. Results: Most participants had heard of OnPoint and reported a willingness to use it. They described the ability of OnPoint staff to reverse an overdose quickly and the presence of naloxone, oxygen, and other supplies as the primary benefits. Yet, many also noted that OPCs provide PWUD with a place to escape from the weather and/or avoid law enforcement. Participants also reported concerns about how far PWUD would be willing to travel or wait to use an OPC and for the autonomy of PWUD in the context of formal, sanctioned OPCs. Conclusions: Results suggest that many PWUD in NYC are

2025, Addiction

Aims To examine possible differences between crack users and crack non-users across Canada. Design Cohort study of illicit opioid and other drug users in five cities across Canada. Setting Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, Canada. Participants Regular illicit opioid and other street drug users not in treatment at time of assessment. Measurements Participants (n = 677) were assessed at baseline ( ) by way of an intervieweradministered questionnaire, a psychiatric diagnostic instrument (Composite International Diagnostic Interview), and salivary antibody tests for infectious disease. Findings Approximately half the sample had used crack in the past 30 days, although prevalence rates differed strongly between study sites. When examined by discriminant analysis, crack users in the study population were more likely to have: no permanent housing, have illegal and sex work income, indicate physical health problems and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, use walk-in clinics, use heroin and to have been arrested and in detention (in past year). They were less likely to report depressive symptoms, and use Dilaudid (hydromorphone) and alcohol. Conclusion These results illustrate crack users' pronounced social marginalization (as expressed by homelessness and high involvement in illegal activities) as well as extensive health problems compared to non-crack users in the Canadian context. The development of targeted interventions-addressing the dynamics of social marginalization-of this population is urgently needed.

2025, Comparative Studies in Society and History

Over the last two decades, since scholarly writing on India witnessed an "urban turn," numerous historians have analyzed the role of the improvement trust in the redevelopment of Indian cities in the twentieth century, most specifically those of Bombay, Calcutta, and Delhi. This paper revisits and reassesses some of their key arguments to suggest that rather than studying the "failures" of the individual trusts to foster sanitary built environments, we should pay attention to the contingent workings of the city trusts that were constitutively designed for such failures. Using a comparative analysis of the Bombay and Calcutta improvement trusts, this paper offers a retelling of the history of twentieth-century Indian urbanism through the inauguration of an "improvement regime." It posits that a structural analysis of the trust's legal and financial framework opens innovative ways of reading "improvement" as a new, twentieth-century language, technology, and rationality of urban governance. The improvement trust devised the art of spatiotemporal management to secure the city's built environment-rather than its residents-against future uncertainties. The paper takes us through various episodes in the career of the improvement trust-its introduction of technocratic rule, partnership with private investors, speculation in the urban land market, and finally emergence as the city's leading rentier-in short, the "new developments" that we associate with neoliberal urbanism today. Rather than mapping these developments as neoliberal inventions, this paper invites readers to view them as the slow and (dis)continuous unraveling of a centuryold improvement regime.

2025, Urban Water Scarcity in Addis Ababa City: Hard Versus Soft Path Solutions – A Systematic Review

Background Addis Ababa, which explores the multifaceted challenges of urban water management in the context of rapid urbanization, climate change, and inefficient water system, is the focus of the review. Method The paper employs a systematic review methodology, searching for findings from published and unpublished materials and cross sectional analyzing data from the reviewed materials to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of water resources and management practices in the city. Result Key findings indicate that the existing water supply infrastructure is inadequate to meet the growing demand, leading to significant public health risks, particularly from waterborne diseases. The review highlights the necessity of adopting Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) strategies, which encompass the diversification of water sources, sustainable resource exploitation, and enhanced stakeholder collaboration. Conclusion The recommendations provided in the paper advocate for a holistic approach to water management that integrates supply, sanitation, and land use planning, aiming to improve water security and quality in Addis Ababa. This review underscores the urgency of implementing these strategies to address the pressing water scarcity issues and promote sustainable urban development in the city.

2025, Lancet Oncology

The disruption of health-care systems in conflict-affected regions creates transnational therapeutic geographies, forcing patients with cancer to navigate complex pathways for diagnosis and treatment. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, these geographies, shaped by displacement, sociopolitical barriers, and infrastructural collapse, remain underexplored in oncology research and policy. In this Review, we argue that understanding therapeutic geographies is crucial for addressing the challenges faced by conflict-affected populations. We emphasise two key themes emerging from the existing literature on cross-border cancer care in the war-affected areas of the MENA: first, the need to prioritise therapeutic geographies as a framework for analysing cancer care in conflict zones; and second, the importance of a robust toolkit of social science methods to examine these geographies. By illustrating these dynamics through the example of Iraq-a country that has had four decades of conflict and displacement-we highlight how social science methods can uncover the lived experiences of patients and families undergoing cancer treatments across borders in conflict zones. This patient-centred and transnational perspective is essential for developing regional collaborations to address the systemic challenges of cancer care across the MENA region.

2025, Lancet Oncology

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December, 2024, marked the end of more than five decades of authoritarian rule and sparked new hopes for Syrians. After 14 years of armed conflict that devastated Syria’s medical infrastructure—including targeted attacks on hospitals, mass displacement of medical professionals, and economic upheavals that made treatment unaffordable—the nation faces an enormous task: rebuilding health care. Oncology, long neglected during the conflict, should be a central pillar of this reconstruction

2025, Neuro endocrinology letters

2-Nitrobenzanthrone (2-NBA) has recently been detected in ambient air particulate matter. Its isomer 3-nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA) is a potent mutagen and suspected human carcinogen identified in diesel exhaust. Understanding which enzymes are involved in metabolism of these toxicants is important in the assessment of individual susceptibility. Here, metabolism of 2-NBA and 3-NBA by rat and mouse hepatic microsomes containing cytochromes P450 (CYPs), their reductase (NADPH:CYP reductase), and NADH:cytochrome b5 reductase was investigated under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. In addition, using the same microsomal systems, 2-NBA and 3-NBA were evaluated to be enzymatically activated under anaerobic conditions to species generating 2-NBA- and 3-NBA-derived DNA adducts. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection was employed for the separation and characterization of 2-NBA and 3-NBA metabolites formed by hepatic microsomes of rats and mice under the a...

2025, Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology

Bite avoidance and personal protection measures should be recommended to all travelers. Traveler characteristics and destination-specific factors should be considered when deciding which personal protection measures to recommend. DEET, picaridin, PMD, and IR3535 are insect repellents that provide adequate protection for travelers against arthropod bites, with the exception of IR3535, which should not be recommended for use in malaria-endemic areas. Insecticide-treated clothing in combination with topical insect repellents provides nearly complete protection against arthropod bites. In addition to repellents, further methods of modifying the environment, such as insecticide-treated bed nets should be recommended, particularly for travelers to malaria-endemic areas.

2025

Background Varicocele is the most common correctable cause of infertility in males.
Objectives: This study is designed to evaluate the correlation between occupational and physical activities with 6 incidence and severity of varicocele.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on patients with varicocele in a tertiary referral center in Iran. The International Physical Activity Score Questionnaire (IPAQ) was utilized to evaluate physical activity. Furthermore, the occupational status was assessed using 10 a standard checklist created by an occupational medicine specialist.
Results: 169 patients with a mean age of 29.1 ± 7.3 years were enrolled. Grade 1 varicocele was found in 49.7% of the patients, followed by grade 2 (47.9%), and grade 3 (2.4%). There was no association between varicocele grade and fertility status, diabetes, hypertension, and smoking. 14 There was a significant difference in patients' varicocele grade between low, moderate, and high15 intensity occupations, indicating that the majority of patients with low and moderate-intensity occupations had grade 1 varicocele, whereas most of the patients with high-intensity occupations had grade 2 varicocele. There was a negative correlation between varicocele grade and exercise. 18 On the other hand, there were positive correlations between varicocele grade and squatting, pulling 19 objects, and climbing stairs.
Conclusion: The intensity of occupational activity was associated with the severity of varicocele, and patients with high-intensity occupations had higher grades of varicocele. Physical activities such as squatting, pulling objects, and climbing stairs increase the grade of varicocele, while exercise reduces the grade of varicocele.

2025, PLoS ONE

Background: In light of the limitations of the current case finding strategies and the global urgency to improve tuberculosis (TB) case-detection, a renewed interest in active case finding (ACF) has risen. The WHO calls for more evidence on innovative ways of TB screening, especially from low-income countries, to inform global guideline development. We aimed to assess the feasibility of community-based ACF for TB among the urban poor in Cambodia and determine its impact on case detection, treatment uptake and outcome. Methods: Between 9/2/2012-31/3/2013 the Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE conducted a door-to-door survey for TB in deprived communities of Phnom Penh. TB workers and community health volunteers performed symptom screening, collected sputum and facilitated specimen transport to the laboratories. Fluorescence microscopy was introduced at three referral hospitals. The GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) was performed at tertiary level for individuals at increased risk of HIV-associated, drug-resistant or smear-negative TB. Mobile phone/short message system (SMS) was used for same-day issuing of positive results. TB workers contacted diagnosed patients and referred them for care at their local health centre. In 14 months, we screened 315.874 individuals; we identified 12.201 aged $15 years with symptoms suggestive of TB; 84% provided sputum. We diagnosed 783, including 737 bacteriologically confirmed, TB cases. Xpert testing yielded 41% and 48% additional diagnoses among presumptive HIV-associated and multidrug-resistant TB cases, respectively. The median time from sputum collection to notification (by SMS) of the first positive (microscopy or Xpert) result was 3 days (IQR 2-6). Over 94% commenced TB treatment and 81% successfully completed it. Our findings suggest that among the urban poor ACF for TB, using a sensitive symptom screen followed by smear-microscopy and targeted Xpert, contributed to improved case detection of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB, shortening the diagnostic delay, and successfully bringing patients into care.

2025, O Mundo da saúde

A tuberculose encontra-se entre as doenças infecciosas do mundo com alta morbimortalidade. Possui a descontinuidade do tratamento como desafio a ser enfrentado para reduzir os casos de resistência aos fármacos e mortalidade. O objetivo foi identificar áreas prioritárias para o controle dos casos de abandono do tratamento da tuberculose (TB) no município de Recife. Tratou-se de estudo ecológico, realizado com casos novos de TB diagnosticados em Recife e registrados no Sistema de Informação e Agravos de Notificação entre 2012 a 2014. A variável desfecho foi a média da proporção de abandono do tratamento da TB por setor censitário. Para composição desta variável foram geocodificados todos os endereços dos casos novos de tuberculose e os de abandono do tratamento no triênio investigado. Para avaliação da autocorrelação espacial foi utilizado o Índice Global de Moran. Foram registrados e geocodificados 641 casos de abandono. O valor do Índice Global de Moran foi 0,0313816 (p=0,03) e, por meio do Moran Map, foram identificados 153 setores com significância estatística espacial, destes 43 com alta prioridade para intervenção em saúde distribuídos em 21 bairros. Identificou-se áreas prioritárias para o monitoramento da adesão ao tratamento da tuberculose. O uso dos setores censitários permite a realização de intervenções em saúde para melhor qualidade da assistência aos doentes e redução dos desfechos desfavoráveis com racionalidade dos recursos públicos por ser o menor nível de desagregado territorial disponível, dinâmica populacional e socioeconômica semelhante entre os residentes. Palavras-chave: Tuberculose. Recusa do paciente ao tratamento. Análise espacial. Educação em saúde. Atenção primária à saúde. A tuberculose encontra-se entre os maiores problemas de saúde pública mundial exigindo múltiplas facetas na elaboração de estratégias de controle da doença. São amplamente reconhecidas as condições de vulnerabilidades entre populações inseridas no contexto de pobreza para a TB. Para demonstrar a magnitude do problema, no ano de 2019, 10 milhões de pessoas, no mundo, desenvolveram a tuberculose 1 . No ano de 2020, o Brasil encontrou-se na 19º posição entre os 30 países prioritários para o controle da tuberculose referentes aos dados de 2019 1 . Além disso, apresentou

2025, Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária

Toxoplasma gondii, the agent for toxoplasmosis, has worldwide distribution. Horses normally play a secondary role in its life cycle, but movement around urban areas, feeding on grass and the increasing use of carthorses for gathering recyclable material in some urban areas of Brazil may increase their exposure to T. gondii infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of anti-T. gondii antibodies in carthorses in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, PR. IgG antibodies against T. gondii were detected using the indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) (titers ≥ 64). Seventeen (17.0%) of the 100 horses sampled were seropositive. There were no statistical differences in relation to sex (p = 0.28) or age (p = 0.15). Our findings suggest that carthorses are exposed to T. gondii infections and that no associations with age or sex exist.

2025, Journal of Urban Health-bulletin of The New York Academy of Medicine

Lower neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Black women have a higher CVD risk and are more likely to live in poor neighborhoods than white women. We examined the association of neighborhood SES with several CVD biomarkers using data from the Black Women's Health Study (BWHS), a follow-up study of US black women reporting high levels of education and income. Blood specimens of 418 BWHS participants were assayed for Creactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin A1C (hgA1C), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. US Census block group data were linked to the women's addresses to reflect neighborhood SES. Multivariable-adjusted mixed linear regression models that adjusted for person-level SES and for cardiovascular risk factors were used to assess CRP, hgA1C, and HDL levels in relation to quintiles of neighborhood SES. Women living in the poorest neighborhoods had the least favorable biomarker levels. As neighborhood SES increased, CRP decreased (P for trend = 0.01), hgA1C decreased (P for trend = 0.07), and HDL increased (P for trend = 0.19). These associations were present within strata of individual educational level. The present findings suggest that neighborhood environments may affect physiological processes within residents independently of individual SES.