Articles

Factors in the HIV risk environment associated with bacterial vaginosis among HIV-negative female sex workers who inject drugs in the Mexico-United States border region

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of vaginitis among women worldwide and is associated with increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. We aimed to determ...

Authors: Jennifer P. Jain, Claire C. Bristow, Heather A. Pines, Alicia Harvey-Vera, Gudelia Rangel, Hugo Staines, Thomas L. Patterson and Steffanie A. Strathdee

Parental physical activity is associated with objectively measured physical activity in young children in a sex-specific manner: the GECKO Drenthe cohort

Physical activity (PA) is important in combating childhood obesity. Parents, and thus parental PA, could influence PA in young children. We examined whether the time spent at different intensities of PA and th...

Authors: Silvia I. Brouwer, Leanne K. Küpers, Lotte Kors, Anna Sijtsma, Pieter J. J. Sauer, Carry M. Renders and Eva Corpeleijn

Parental socioeconomic position and midlife allostatic load: a study of potential mediators

The mechanisms underlying the association of parental socioeconomic position with later life allostatic load remain unclear. The present study aims to examine potential pathways underlying this association: pe...

Authors: Dinne S. Christensen, Trine Flensborg-Madsen, Ellen Garde, Åse M. Hansen, Jolene M. Pedersen and Erik L. Mortensen

Parental perceptions of children’s exposure to tobacco smoke: development and validation of a new measure

It is estimated that around 40% of children worldwide are exposed to tobacco smoke, largely by their parents. Discrepancies between biochemical measures of exposure and parental report imply that parents may b...

Authors: Vicki Myers, Shoshana Shiloh and Laura Rosen

Effectiveness and safety of electronic cigarettes among sole and dual user vapers in Kuantan and Pekan, Malaysia: a six-month observational study

Current studies on electronic cigarettes (ECs) have assessed the smoking cessation effectiveness and safety of EC among sole EC users. However, in Malaysia and elsewhere, most EC users also smoke conventional ...

Authors: Mohamad Haniki Nik Mohamed, Azizur Rahman, Shazia Jamshed and Syed Mahmood

Factors associated with regular counselling attendance of HIV outpatients of a national referral hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia: a cross sectional study

Counselling has been shown to improve adherence to medication in people living with HIV (PLHIV). The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with regular counselling attendance of patients taki...

Authors: M. Pane, E. I. Sianturi, Yin Mei Fiona Kong, Philip Bautista, Herlina and K. Taxis

Objectively measured physical activity in population-representative parent-child pairs: parental modelling matters and is context-specific

Evidence for the context-specific influence of parental modelling on physical activity (PA) in childhood remains inconclusive. This nationwide Swiss study assessed the cross-sectional association between objec...

Authors: Bettina Bringolf-Isler, Christian Schindler, Bengt Kayser, L. Suzanne Suggs and Nicole Probst-Hensch

Examining the relationships between walkability and physical activity among older persons: what about stairs?

Walkability is considered an important dimension of healthy communities. However, variable associations between measures of walkability and physical activity have been observed, particularly among older person...

Authors: Nancy Edwards and Joshun Dulai

‘You don’t throw these things out:’ an exploration of medicines retention and disposal practices in Australian homes

Consumers most commonly discard unwanted medicines in household rubbish or drains, however, there are global concerns over the extent, environmental impact and health risks. When consumers procure or store med...

Authors: Fiona Kelly, Sara McMillan, Jean Spinks, Emilie Bettington and Amanda J. Wheeler

Spatial heterogeneity and correlates of child malnutrition in districts of India

Despite sustained economic growth and reduction in money metric poverty in last two decades, prevalence of malnutrition remained high in India. During 1992–2016, the prevalence of underweight among children ha...

Authors: Junaid Khan and Sanjay K Mohanty

A program evaluation of an in-school daily physical activity initiative for children and youth

The school system is one setting in which children’s physical activity levels may be increased through daily physical activity (DPA) policies and initiatives. Adherence to DPA policies is typically poor and re...

Authors: Emily Bremer, Jeffrey D. Graham, Scott Veldhuizen and John Cairney

Supermarket retailers’ perspectives on healthy food retail strategies: in-depth interviews

Excess calorie consumption and poor diet are major contributors to the obesity epidemic. Food retailers, in particular at supermarkets, are key shapers of the food environment which influences consumers’ diets...

Authors: Olivia Martinez, Noemi Rodriguez, Allison Mercurio, Marie Bragg and Brian Elbel

Development and convergent validity of new self-administered questionnaires of active transportation in three African countries: Kenya, Mozambique and Nigeria

There is currently a rapid physical activity transition taking place in developing countries that includes a decrease in active transportation. Building on findings from an earlier systematic review, this pape...

Authors: Vincent O. Onywera, Richard Larouche, Adewale L. Oyeyemi, Antonio Prista, Kingsley K. Akinroye, Sylvester Heyker, George E. Owino and Mark S. Tremblay

Time-use and environmental determinants of dropout from organized youth football and tennis

Many adolescents drop out of organized sports. Lack of motivation and competing priorities are known as important reasons for dropout. However, time use factors as well as environmental determinants have been ...

Authors: Ineke Deelen, Dick Ettema and Carlijn B. M. Kamphuis

Does mandatory reporting legislation increase contact with child protection? – a legal doctrinal review and an analytical examination

Within Canadian provinces over the past half-century, legislation has been enacted to increase child protection organization (CPO) involvement in situations of child maltreatment (CM). This study had two objec...

Authors: Lil Tonmyr, Ben Mathews, Margot E. Shields, Wendy E. Hovdestad and Tracie O. Afifi

Social network and HIV risk behaviors in female sex workers: a systematic review

Social network characteristics have an important role in understanding HIV transmission among female sex workers. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize and critically appraise the existing stu...

Authors: Zahra Jorjoran Shushtari, Seyed Ali Hosseini, Homeira Sajjadi, Yahya Salimi, Carl Latkin and Tom A. B. Snijders

Predictors of postpartum contraceptive use in rural Tigray region, northern Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis

Postpartum family planning services is one of the recommended public health intervention aimed at reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortalities. However, there is a paucity studies in rural Tigray regi...

Authors: Teklehaymanot Huluf Abraha, Berhe Beyene Gebrezgiabher, Berihu Gidey Aregawi, Desta Siyoum Belay, Lidiya Tsegay Tikue and Getachew Mebrahtu Welay

Examining the relationship between sports participation and youth developmental outcomes for socially vulnerable youth

Research has shown that sports participation is positively related to youth developmental outcomes, but it is still unknown if sports participation relates to these outcomes among socially vulnerable youth. He...

Authors: Sabina Super, Niels Hermens, Kirsten Verkooijen and Maria Koelen

Two decades of tobacco use prevention and control policies in Cameroon: results from the analysis of non-communicable disease prevention policies in Africa

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the world today. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed efficient and inexpensive “best buy” interventions for prevention of tobacco use ...

Authors: Clarisse Mapa-Tassou, Cecile Rénée Bonono, Felix Assah, Jennifer Wisdom, Pamela A. Juma, Jean-Claude Katte, Zakariaou Njoumemi, Pierre Ongolo-Zogo, Leopold K. Fezeu, Eugene Sobngwi and Jean Claude Mbanya

Biopsychosocial predictors and trajectories of work participation after transdiagnostic occupational rehabilitation of participants with mental and somatic disorders: a cohort study

Group-based transdiagnostic occupational rehabilitation programs including participants with mental and somatic disorders have emerged in clinical practice. Knowledge is sparse on subsequent participation in c...

Authors: Karen Walseth Hara, Johan Håkon Bjørngaard, Henrik Børsting Jacobsen, Petter C. Borchgrevink, Roar Johnsen, Tore C. Stiles, Søren Brage and Astrid Woodhouse

The evolution of non-communicable diseases policies in post-apartheid South Africa

Redressing structural inequality within the South African society in the post-apartheid era became the central focus of the democratic government. Policies on social and economic transformation were guided by ...

Authors: Catherine Ndinda, Tidings P. Ndhlovu, Pamela Juma, Gershim Asiki and Catherine Kyobutungi

Non-communicable disease prevention policy process in five African countries authors

The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan Africa is causing further burden to the health care systems that are least equipped to deal with the challenge. Countries are developing...

Authors: Pamela A. Juma, Shukri F. Mohamed, Beatrice L. Matanje Mwagomba, Catherine Ndinda, Clarisse Mapa-tassou, Mojisola Oluwasanu, Oladimeji Oladepo, Opeyemi Abiona, Misheck J. Nkhata, Jennifer P. Wisdom and Jean-Claude Mbanya

“Everything else comes first”: a mixed-methods analysis of barriers to health behaviors among military spouses

Military spouses are integral to the health of their families, but have demonstrated elevated levels of stress, depression, and anxiety. Participating in health behaviors such as physical activity and healthy ...

Authors: Emily L. Mailey, Carrie Mershon, Jillian Joyce and Brandon C. Irwin

Influence of the WHO framework convention on tobacco control on tobacco legislation and policies in sub-Saharan Africa

The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, enforced in 2005, was a watershed international treaty that stipulated requirements for signatories to govern the production, sale, dist...

Authors: Jennifer P. Wisdom, Pamela Juma, Beatrice Mwagomba, Catherine Ndinda, Clarisse Mapa-Tassou, Felix Assah, Misheck Nkhata, Shukri F. Mohamed, Oladepo Oladimeji, Opeyemi Oladunni, Mojisola Oluwasanu, Saliyou Sanni, Jean-Claude Mbanya and Catherine Kyobutungi

Safer tattooing interventions in prisons: a systematic review and call to action

Worldwide more than ten million people are detained at any given time. Between 5 and 60% of people experiencing incarceration report receipt of a tattoo in prison – mostly clandestine, which is associated with...

Authors: Nguyen Toan Tran, Célestine Dubost, Stéphanie Baggio, Laurent Gétaz and Hans Wolff

Facilitators and barriers in the formulation and implementation of tobacco control policies in Kenya: a qualitative study

Tobacco use has serious public health implications for both smokers and non-smokers and significant economic implications on health care spending for governments. Tobacco-related deaths are preventable through...

Authors: Shukri F. Mohamed, Pamela Juma, Gershim Asiki and Catherine Kyobutungi

Analysis of tobacco control policies in Nigeria: historical development and application of multi-sectoral action

Tobacco use is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases and policy formulation on tobacco is expected to engrain international guidelines. This paper describes the historical development of tobacco co...

Authors: Oladimeji Oladepo, Mojisola Oluwasanu and Opeyemi Abiona

Assessment of the multi-sectoral approach to tobacco control policies in South Africa and Togo

Tobacco use is the world’s leading preventable cause of illness and death and the most important risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases (...

Authors: Saliyou Sanni, Charles Hongoro, Catherine Ndinda and Jennifer P. Wisdom

Alcohol policies in Malawi: inclusion of WHO “best buy” interventions and use of multi-sectoral action

Harmful use of alcohol is one of the most common risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases and other health conditions such as injuries. World Health Organization has identified highly cost-effective interven...

Authors: Beatrice L. Matanje Mwagomba, Misheck J. Nkhata, Alex Baldacchino, Jennifer Wisdom and Bagrey Ngwira

Multi-sectoral action in non-communicable disease prevention policy development in five African countries

The rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa requires a multi-sectoral action (MSA) in their prevention and control. This study aimed to generate evidence on the extent of MSA application in NCD prev...

Authors: Pamela A. Juma, Clarisse Mapa-tassou, Shukri F. Mohamed, Beatrice L. Matanje Mwagomba, Catherine Ndinda, Mojisola Oluwasanu, Jean-Claude Mbanya, Misheck J. Nkhata, Gershim Asiki and Catherine Kyobutungi

Introduction: Non-communicable disease prevention policies in six African countries

Authors: Pamel A. Juma and Jennifer Wisdom

Sero-prevalence of yellow fever and related Flavi viruses in Ethiopia: a public health perspective

Yellow fever (YF) is a viral hemorrhagic fever, endemic in the tropical forests of Africa and Central and South America. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes infected with the yellow fever virus (YFV). Eth...

Authors: Mesfin Mengesha Tsegaye, Berhane Beyene, Workenesh Ayele, Almaz Abebe, Israel Tareke, Amadou Sall, Sergio Yactayo, Messeret E. Shibeshi, Erin Staples, Desalegn Belay, Abrham Lilay, Abebe Alemu, Emana Alemu, Adugna Kume, Alemnesh H/Mariam, Olivier Ronveaux…

Vaginal washing and lubrication among female sex workers in the Mexico-US border region: implications for the development of vaginal PrEP for HIV prevention

To assess the potential acceptability and inform the development of behaviorally-congruent vaginal douche- or gel-based HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) products, we examined vaginal washing and lubrication...

Authors: Heather A. Pines, Shirley J. Semple, Steffanie A. Strathdee, Craig W. Hendrix, Alicia Harvey-Vera, Pamina M. Gorbach, Carlos Magis-Rodríguez, Gustavo Martinez and Thomas L. Patterson

Time trends and future prediction of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis in opencast coal mine in China based on the APC model

The opencast coal mine is a specific mine differing from the underground mine. There are differences in the way into the ore body, the organization of production, transport technology and other aspects. This s...

Authors: Yuting Li, Wei Xian, Haodi Xu, Jinbin Sun, Bing Han and Hongbo Liu

Pain and self-rated health among middle-aged and older Canadians: an analysis of the Canadian community health survey―healthy aging

Pain is an important health problem adversely affecting functionality and quality of life. Though self- rated health (SRH) is a major predictor of mortality, its relationship with pain is not well understood. ...

Authors: Batholomew Chireh and Carl D’Arcy

How adverse childhood experiences relate to single and multiple health risk behaviours in German public university students: a cross-sectional analysis

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been shown to be linked to health risk behaviours (HRBs). This study aims to identify risk factors for ACEs and to examine the associations between ACEs and single and...

Authors: Jascha Wiehn, Claudia Hornberg and Florian Fischer

Epidemiology of birth defects based on surveillance data from 2011–2015 in Guangxi, China: comparison across five major ethnic groups

The causes of birth defects (BDs) are complex and include genetic and environmental factors and/or their interactions. More research is needed to describe the epidemiology of BDs within specific regions of Chi...

Authors: Jichang Chen, Xuemei Huang, Bo Wang, Yu Zhang, Chokechai Rongkavilit, Dingyuan Zeng, Yongjiang Jiang, Ba Wei, Chawla Sanjay and Eric McGrath

Correction to: Complex multiple risk intervention to promote healthy behaviours in people between 45 to 75 years attended in primary health care (EIRA study): study protocol for a hybrid trial

It has been highlighted the original article (1) contained a typesetting mistake in the authorship, and that author Caterine Vicens was omitted.

Authors: Edurne Zabaleta-del-Olmo, Haizea Pombo, Mariona Pons-Vigués, Marc Casajuana-Closas, Enriqueta Pujol-Ribera, Tomás López-Jiménez, Carmen Cabezas-Peña, Carme Martín-Borràs, Antoni Serrano-Blanco, Maria Rubio-Valera, Joan Llobera, Alfonso Leiva, Caterina Vicens, Clara Vidal, Manuel Campiñez, Remedios Martín-Álvarez…

Population-level factors associated with maternal mortality in the United States, 1997–2012

In contrast to peer nations, the United States is experiencing rapid increases in maternal mortality. Trends in individual and population-level demographic factors and health trends may play a role in this cha...

Authors: Daniel B. Nelson, Michelle H. Moniz and Matthew M. Davis

Social relationships in adolescence and heavy episodic drinking from youth to midlife in Finland and Sweden — examining the role of individual, contextual and temporal factors

Applying the Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model of the bioecological theory, this study considers whether proximal processes between the individual and the microsystem (social relationships within family...

Authors: Noora Berg, Olli Kiviruusu, Christopher G. Bean, Taina Huurre, Tomi Lintonen and Anne Hammarström

“I aspire to look and feel healthy like the posts convey”: engagement with fitness inspiration on social media and perceptions of its influence on health and wellbeing

Fitspiration is a popular social media trend containing images, quotes and advice related to exercise and healthy eating. This study aimed to 1) describe the types of fitspiration content that users access and...

Authors: Michelle Raggatt, Cassandra J. C. Wright, Elise Carrotte, Rebecca Jenkinson, Kate Mulgrew, Ivanka Prichard and Megan S. C. Lim

Quit outcomes among clients ineligible for cessation medication through the state quitline: a retrospective, observational study

Distribution of tobacco cessation medications through state quitlines increases service utilization and quit outcomes. However, some state quitlines have moved to models in which callers are instructed to obta...

Authors: Adrienne B. Lent, Patrick A. O’Connor, Ryan C. Reikowsky, Uma S. Nair and Melanie L. Bell

The quality of life of Croatian women after mastectomy: a cross-sectional single-center study

Measuring the quality of life (QoL) of women with breast cancer is an important aspect of measuring treatment success. In Croatia, no QoL studies have been carried out with a focus on patients after mastectomy...

Authors: Stana Pačarić, Jozo Kristek, Jure Mirat, Goran Kondža, Tajana Turk, Nikolina Farčić, Želimir Orkić and Ana Nemčić

Correction to: Identifying common barriers and facilitators to linkage and retention in chronic disease care in western Kenya

After the publication of the original article [1], it was highlighted that Fig. 1 was incorrectly labeled.

Authors: Beth Rachlis, Violet Naanyu, Juddy Wachira, Becky Genberg, Beatrice Koech, Regina Kamene, Jackie Akinyi and Paula Braitstein

Low potassium and high sodium intakes: a double health threat to Cape Verdeans

Cape Verde presents a high rate of cardiovascular diseases. Low potassium and high sodium intakes are related to cardiovascular diseases. However, studies regarding these two micronutrients continue to be rare...

Authors: Daniela Alves, Zélia Santos, Miguel Amado, Isabel Craveiro, António Pedro Delgado, Artur Correia and Luzia Gonçalves

Decomposing socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol use by men living in South African urban informal settlements

The prevalence of alcohol consumption among males living in urban settlements in South Africa is high. This paper aims to measure socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol use among men residing in informal settle...

Authors: Nozuko Lawana and Frederik Booysen

Sodium and potassium excretion in an adult Caribbean population of African descent with a high burden of cardiovascular disease

High sodium diets with inadequate potassium and high sodium-to-potassium ratios are a known determinant of hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Caribbean island of Barbados has a high prevalence ...

Authors: Rachel M. Harris, Angela M. C. Rose, Ian R. Hambleton, Christina Howitt, Nita G. Forouhi, Anselm J. M. Hennis, T. Alafia Samuels and Nigel Unwin

Epidemiology and surveillance of human animal-bite injuries and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, in selected counties in Kenya, 2011–2016

Human animal-bite injuries are a serious public health problem due to associated risk for rabies virus exposure. Animal-bite injuries especially dog bites are useful indicators for assessing the risk of rabies...

Authors: Jeremiah Ngurimu Ngugi, Alfred Kilango Maza, Owiti Jack Omolo and Mark Obonyo

The role of environmental health in the Basotho male initiation schools: neglected or restricted?

The aim of this paper is to point the Environmental Health (EH) profession in South Africa in the direction of their neglected function. The health inspection of initiation schools is one of the abandoned resp...

Authors: Phoka C. Rathebe

Promoting prompt help-seeking for symptoms – assessing the impact of a gynaecological cancer leaflet on presentations to primary care: a record-based randomised control trial

Information leaflets have been shown to significantly improve awareness of the symptoms of gynaecological cancers and to reduce perceived barriers to seeking medical help. This record-based, parallel, randomis...

Authors: Jackie Campbell, Kirty Vaghela, Stephen Rogers, Michelle Pyer, Alice Simon and Jo Waller