International Health: Volume 16, Issue 3, May 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.
This month’s Editor’s Choice article is a commentary by Seghers et al., which highlights the global problem of the shortfall of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) for the treatment of syphilis, group A streptococcal infections, acute rheumatic fever, and rheumatic heart disease. Recent reports in the media have shown that this is now a serious problem in the USA where there is a 27 year high in the number of syphilis cases. further straining the BPG supply. (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/05/syphilis-cases-antibiotic-shortage, https://www.devex.com/news/supply-of-one-of-the-world-s-oldest-antibiotics-under-threat-105935).
Shortages of many essential drugs are becoming increasingly frequent globally (www.thelancet.com Vol 401 March 4, 2023) and despite this problem receiving increased attention in recent years (e.g., WHO drug information Vol.30 No. 2 2016), it is clear that, as Seghers et al state, proactive measures need to be taken to both understand and mitigate the factors contributing to these shortages in drug supply and availability.
Editor’s Choice article
Securing the supply of benzathine penicillin: a global perspective on risks and mitigation strategies to prevent future shortages. Frederic Seghers, Melanie M Taylor, Andrew Storey, Jicui Dong, Teodora C Wi, Rosemary Wyber, Kate Ralston, Boniface Dongmo Nguimfack. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 279–282, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad087
Review article
Experience of stigma among persons with type 2 diabetes in Africa: a systematic review. Samuel Akyirem, Emmanuel Ekpor. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 231–239, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad045
The prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis infection among the female population of Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis .Zeinab Moghadamizad, Javad Yazdizadeh Khalili, Meysam Olfatifar, Milad Badri, Sasan Khazaei. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 240–251, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad059
Prevalence and predictors of traditional medicine use among persons with diabetes in Africa: a systematic review. Emmanuel Ekpor, Eric Osei, Samuel Akyirem. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 252–260, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad080
Systematic review on cumulative HIV viraemia among people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral treatment and its association with mortality and morbidity. Anita Mesic, Tom Decroo, Eric Florence, Koert Ritmeijer, Josefien van Olmen, Lutgarde Lynen. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 261–278, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad093
Original articles
Prevalence and determinants of cardiovascular risk factors in Lesotho: a population-based survey. Lucia González Fernández, Emmanuel Firima, Ravi Gupta, Mamoronts'ane Pauline Sematle, Makhebe Khomolishoele, Manthabiseng Molulela, Matumaole Bane, Raphaela Meli, Mosa Tlahali, Tristan Lee. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 313–324, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad058
Is the neglected tropical disease mass drug administration campaign approach an effective strategy to deliver universal health coverage? A case study of the Liberia neglected tropical disease programme. Andrew Tate, Karsor Kollie, Laura Senyonjo, Hugh Sturrock, Phil Downs, Simon Bush, Alex Bedell, David Molyneux. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 283–292, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad035
Outcomes of a multifaceted intervention to prevent eclampsia and eclampsia-related deaths in Nigerian referral facilities. Friday Okonofua, Bola F Ekezue, Lorretta Favour Ntoimo, Victor Ohenhen, Kingsley Agholor, Wilson Imongan, Rosemary Ogu, Hadiza Galadanci. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 293–301, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad044
Unmet need for contraception among women in Benin: a cross-sectional analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey. Paa Akonor Yeboah, Leticia Akua Adzigbli, Priscilla Atsu, Samuel Kwabena Ansong-Aggrey, Collins Adu, Abdul Cadri, Richard Gyan Aboagye. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 302–312, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad049
Knowledge and use of chorhexidine gel in umbilical cord care among postpartum women at Poly General Hospital, Enugu, Southeast Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. Chidinma E Israel, Kareen O Attama, Hope Chizolum Opara, Chikaodili N Ihudiebube-Splendor, Ngozi J Omotola. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 334–343, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad061
Influence of type of cooking fuel on risk of hypertension among reproductive-age women in sub-Saharan Africa: insights from nationally representative cross-sectional surveys. Castro Ayebeng, Joshua Okyere, Kwamena Sekyi Dickson. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 325–333, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad060
Longitudinal investigation of factors influencing mental health during centralized quarantine for COVID-19. Haoran Yu, Wenyan Huang, Xin Yang, Hao Yang, Hui Ma, Ning Zhang. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 344–350, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad062
Comparison of standard and modified human landing catching techniques for blackfly collection. Kareen Atekem, Philippe Nwane, Rogers Nditanchou, Anita Jeyam, Aude Wilhelm, Richard Selby, Louise Hamill, Elena Schmidt, Ruth Dixon, Daniel Boakye Author Notes. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 351–356, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad066
The heterogeneous impacts of government on health system efficiency in China's new health reform, 2010–2019. Jianghua Zhang, Baojie Guo, Xuemei Fu, Xing Lin Feng. International Health, Volume 16, Issue 3, May 2024, Pages 357–367, https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihad068
