Health Goals Research Articles

WELL-BEING AMONG SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LEARNERS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

This literature review synthesizes a wide range of scholarly articles and official documents to explore the multifaceted concept of well-being, particularly in the context of education and mental health. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, ecological systems theory, and positive psychology, the review provides a comprehensive examination of the various dimensions that contribute to individual well-being. Key themes include the importance of addressing physical, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of well-being within educational settings, as well as the role of holistic wellness programs in promoting overall health and happiness. The review highlights the significance of subjective well-being as a subjective evaluation of an individual's quality of life, emphasizing the need for comprehensive measurement tools that capture both hedonic and eudaimonic aspects of well-being. Furthermore, the review discusses the relationship between well-being and academic achievement, underscoring the reciprocal nature of this association. It also explores the impact of social support networks, emotional intelligence, and coping strategies on well-being outcomes, emphasizing the importance of fostering open communication channels and providing access to support services for students. Moreover, the review addresses emerging challenges and opportunities in the field, such as the growing recognition of mental health literacy as a public health goal and the increasing use of technology, including social media and virtual reality, to assess and enhance well-being. Finally, it discusses relevant policy initiatives, including mental health legislation and educational reforms aimed at promoting student well-being and resilience. Overall, this literature review provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between well-being, education, and mental health, offering implications for research, practice, and policy development in these critical areas.

Health Motivation in the Influencer Era: Analyzing Entertainment, Personal, and Social Media Role Models

ABSTRACT This research explored how personal and entertainment role models motivate an individual’s health goals, and how following a role model on social media affects this process. A survey of 404 adults revealed that identifying a personal role model, such as a family member, friend, or healthcare professional, had a stronger influence on health motivation in comparison to identifying an entertainment role model. Additionally, our findings indicated that following any role model on social media, whether a personal acquaintance or a celebrity, enhanced motivation. Role model attributes that mediated these relationships included perceived similarity, and in some instances, positive and negative norm deviance. This study highlights the importance of leveraging role model relationships in health communication campaigns and developing authentic influencer-driven health initiatives that feature relatable entertainment figures. Additionally, this research supports the need for further examination of how a role model’s perceived positive or negative norm deviance influences motivational capability. We discuss implications for the motivational theory of role modeling, health promotion, and entertainment education.

Effect of DASH Diet Intervention on Hypertensive, Diabetic and Heart Ailments: A Systematic Review

Pakistan health sector still lacks the proper machinery to meet the requirements of the increasing population. The millennium is marked with lifestyle changes from high/ moderate activity to sedentary lifestyle. This has a negative consequence on the health on young and adults equally. The prevalence of hypertension is 35%, 3% diabetes and 29% cardiovascular diseases. The score is still not confirmed as the census is unbailable to grasp the local situation as experienced by medical staff on ground. In these conditions, nutrition therapy may play its pivotal role in the prevention and maintenance of current disease situation in the country. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, DASH diet, has shown remarkable effects in such patients. These menu guidelines help to stabilize the health balance of life through maintenance of weight, sodium levels in the body and bad fat deposition. DASH plans are recommended with slight dietary modifications and exercise to keep up with health goals. The major portion of diet is based on fruits and vegetables and plenty of water intakes daily. This intervention has promising effects till now.

FITNOURISH: Smart Nutrition Tracker for Fitness Enthusiasts

In today’s health-conscious society, individuals are increasingly recognizing the importance of nutrition in optimizing their overall health and wellness. However, the conventional approach to nutrition often fails to consider the unique needs and preferences of individuals, resulting in generic dietary recommendations that may not be effective or sustainable. The Personalized Nutrition Analyzer is a cutting-edge system designed to address this gap by providing tailored nutrition recommendations and meal planning services based on each user’s specific characteristics, dietary preferences, and health goals. By leveraging advanced technology and data analytics, this sophisticated system empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their dietary intake, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes and enhanced well-being. The Personalized Nutrition Analyzer revolutionizes dietary guidance by offering tailored nutrition recommendations and meal planning services to individuals striving for optimal health and wellness. Through meticulous analysis of user input, dietary preferences, and health objectives, the system provides personalized meal plans, nutrient analyses, and insightful guidance to facilitate informed decision-making regarding dietary choices. In a world where health consciousness is paramount, traditional one-size-fits-all dietary approaches often overlook individual nuances, leading to suboptimal outcomes. However, the Personalized Nutrition Analyzer bridges this gap by leveraging sophisticated technology and data analytics to customize dietary strategies according to each user’s unique characteristics and goals. By empowering users with personalized insights and actionable recommendations, the system promotes sustainable lifestyle changes and fosters improved health outcomes

Patient Experiences With a Multidisciplinary Fibroid Program

Study ObjectiveAlthough medical, interventional, and surgical treatment options for fibroids have expanded over the last decade, many patients are not thoroughly counseled about all available therapies. Patients desire a more comprehensive approach with shared decision-making tailored to their health goals. The aim of this study is to assess patient knowledge regarding treatment options before and after consultation with a multidisciplinary fibroid center. DesignProspective survey study. SettingAcademic medical center in New York, NY. Patients and ParticipantsPatients who presented for initial consultation with a multidisciplinary fibroid program from July 2021 through January 2022. InterventionsPatients were offered same-day office consultation with a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon (MIGS) followed by a telemedicine visit with an interventional radiologist (IR) within 3 weeks of the appointment request. Collaborative discussions were held between providers regarding patient care. Patients were asked to complete the survey following both appointments. Data was collected regarding demographics, prior evaluation of fibroids, knowledge about treatment options, and overall experience. ResultsA total of 102 patients completed the survey (response rate 77%). A majority (55.9%) had known about their fibroids for at least 2 years. Most patients sought out the fibroid program for a 2nd (28.4%), 3rd (22.5%) or 4th (7.8%) opinion. Notably, 35.3% of patients who had previously been seen by an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) were not offered any treatment. Of those who had been offered treatment, 24.5% were counseled on medical management with oral contraceptives, 28.4% on surgical options, and 5.9% on uterine artery embolization. Nearly all patients (86.3%) endorsed that they would not have sought 2 separate consultations had it not been for the program. Patients were overall well-informed after their experience, with 95.1% reporting they were more knowledgeable about their options and none reporting the 2 separate consults created more confusion for them. ConclusionMany patients with symptomatic fibroids seeking secondary opinions have not been adequately counseled on fibroid management options. A collaborative approach to fibroid management better educates patients, provides an opportunity to be thoroughly counseled by the specialists performing either surgical or interventional procedures, and increases patient knowledge about fibroid treatment options.

Health engagement in national climate commitments of small island developing states: A content analysis of Caribbean nationally determined contributions

ObjectiveTo investigate how health is incorporated into the NDCs of Caribbean SIDS and their financing challenges. MethodsThe study analysed the NDCs of sixteen Caribbean SIDS using content analysis to investigate their level of engagement with health. ResultsCaribbean SIDS have a high level of reference with health in their NDCs relative to other developing countries which is expected to increase as they update them. All sixteen countries included health in their NDCs, mostly with regard to adaptation to be achieved by 2025/2030. Five countries provided targets in health aimed at increasing climate resilience. This may be explained by the region's poor health profile, high exposure to climate change and disasters, inadequate health infrastructure and resources and dependence on external finance. There was hardly any information on how countries intend to finance their health goals. ConclusionInclusion of health in Caribbean SIDS NDCs could increase obligation to climate action at domestic and regional levels and attract international climate finance. The Caribbean should seek out funds that make finance available to tackle health-related risks from climate change. It is imperative that Caribbean SIDS compute and state their climate finance needs in health if they are to attract international finance and raise donor and investor confidence. Caribbean SIDS have the opportunity to advocate for and be an example for the integration of health into climate change policy and politics to encourage global cooperation, boost countries’ climate change aspirations and ramp up international climate finance.

Molecularly imprinted polymer photoelectrochemical sensor for the detection of triazophos in water based on carbon quantum dot-modified titanium dioxide.

Widely used organophosphorus pesticide triazophos (TAP) can easily cumulate in aquatic system due to its high stability chemically and photochemically and thus posing significant threat to aquatic creatures and humans' health. Urging demand for rapid determiningTAP in water has risen. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing turns out to be a good candidate for its simplicity in fabrication and swiftness in detection. Nevertheless, traditional PEC sensors often lack selectivity as their signal generation primarily relies on the oxidation of organic compounds in the electrolyte by photo-induced holes. To address this limitation, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) can be in combined with PEC sensors to significantly enhance the selectivity. Here, we present a novel approach utilizing a PEC sensor enhanced by carbon-modified titanium dioxide molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP/C/TiO2 NTs). Carbon quantum dot (CQD) modification of titanium dioxide nanotube arrays (C/TiO2 NTs) was achieved through a one-step anodization process, effectively enhancing visible light absorption by narrowing the band gap of TiO2, and CQDs also function as sensitizer accelerating charge transfer for improved and stable photocurrent signals during detection. Our method further incorporates MIPs to heighten the selectivity of the PEC sensor. Electro-polymerization using cyclic voltammetry was employed to polymerize MIPs with pyrrole as the functional monomer and triazophos as the target molecule. The resultant MIP/C/TiO2 NT sensor exhibited remarkable sensitivity, with a detection limit of 0.03nM (S/N = 3), alongside exceptional selectivity and stability for triazophos detection in water. This offers a promising avenue for efficient, cost-effective, and rapid monitoring of pesticide contaminants in aquatic environments, contributing to the broader goals of environmental preservation and public health.

Preserving cognitive vitality: Value of cognitive rehabilitation in addressing cognitive deficits in the elderly.

The recent advancements in medical sciences has resulted in not only increasing life expectancy of the elderly but has also improved survival rate in elderly with neurological disorders including those with head trauma . This has resulted in an increasing number of persons with cognitive deficits. Cognitive functions such as executive functioning and memory play an important role in success of a rehabilitation programme and therefore can positively contribute to public health goals. Considering cognitive decline at present has no cure and pharmacological therapies have a limited role, efforts are usually made to delay the onset and progression of cognitive decline and improve quality of life. Literature suggests that active life style, regular exercise, actively performing activities of daily living can have a significant impact on cognitive skills. In addition different models of cognitive rehabilitation and approaches can be integrated into practice to improve cognitive reserve and cause neuroplastic changes to facilitate cognitive function by providing cognitive stimulus and training. Moreover with technological advancements, the computerized cognitive intervention field is growing. This usually integrates conventional cognitive intervention with digital smart devices to provide an engaging and cost effective alternate approach. This review aims to highlight the importance of cognitive rehabilitation and suggest a few evidence based approaches that may be considered by rehabilitation professionals to promote and improve cognitive rehabilitation in Pakistan.

Exploring the Ethical Dimensions of Mandatory Immunization Discourse for School Attendance in Indonesia

Mandating complete vaccination for school attendance is still in the discourse for the future policy in Indonesia. Like any other policy, this discourse needs to be given an open space to be looked in a critical point view of ethic. This article critically examines the ethical dimensions surrounding the discourse of implementing mandatory immunization for school attendance in Indonesia, employing a multi-faceted ethical analysis. A case study utilizing moral reasoning through the lenses of utilitarianism, Kantian ethics, virtue ethics, and principlism was employed. From a utilitarian standpoint, mandatory vaccination is ethically justifiable, emphasizing its potential to yield substantial health benefits for society, reduce healthcare spending, and contribute to economic growth. The straightforward nature of this intervention, unlike other complex public health measures, makes it an appealing strategy for increasing vaccination coverage. However, Kantian, non-maleficence, and autonomy perspectives introduces ethical complexities, as mandatory immunization may be perceived as infringing upon individual beliefs and personal choice. The article advocates for open and honest discussions, understanding religious perspectives, and fostering trust in governmental decision-making to address these concerns. Virtue ethics are explored to underscore the importance of cultivating social responsibility in the success of public health measures. It further emphasizes the need for a just implementation of the policy, treating the specific needs of regions. In conclusion, the article posits that while the benefits of mandatory immunization are substantial, ethical considerations demand a delicate balance between promoting public health goals and respecting individual freedom. It suggests that achieving immunization targets necessitates a comprehensive approach, including respecting individual choices, building trust, widespread education on vaccine benefits and risks, and ensuring sustainable financing and vaccine procurement across all segments of Indonesia.

Modeling Health Video Consumption Behaviors on Social Media: Activities, Challenges, and Characteristics

Many people now watch health videos, such as diet, exercise, mental health, COVID-19, and chronic disease videos, on social media. Most existing studies focused on video creators, leaving the motivations and practices of viewers underexplored. We interviewed 18 participants, surveyed 121 respondents, and derived a model characterizing consumers' video consumption practices on social media. The practices include five main activities: deciding to watch videos driven by various motivations, accessing videos on social media through a socio-technical ecosystem, watching videos to meet informational, emotional, and entertainment needs, evaluating the credibility and interestingness of videos, and using videos to achieve health goals. Through an iterative video consumption process, individuals strategically navigate across multiple platforms, seeking better accessibility, higher reliability, and cultivating a stronger motivation. They actively look for longer and more in-depth videos. We further identified challenges consumers face while consuming health videos on social media and discussed design implications and directions for future research.

No gene by stressful life events interaction on individual differences in adults' self-control.

Difficulty with self-control, or the ability to alter impulses and behavior in a goal-directed way, predicts interpersonal conflict, lower socioeconomic attainments, and more adverse health outcomes. Etiological understanding, and intervention for low self-control is, therefore, a public health goal. A prominent developmental theory proposes that individuals with high genetic propensity for low self-control that are also exposed to stressful environments may be most at-risk of low levels of self-control. Here we examine if polygenic measures associated with behaviors marked by low self-control interact with stressful life events in predicting self-control. Leveraging molecular data from a large population-based Dutch sample (N = 7,090, Mage = 41.2) to test for effects of genetics (i.e., polygenic scores for ADHD and aggression), stressful life events (e.g., traffic accident, violent assault, financial problems), and a gene-by-stress interaction on self-control (measured with the ASEBA Self-Control Scale). Both genetics (β =.03 -.04, p <.001) and stressful life events (β = .11 -.14, p <.001) were associated with individual differences in self-control. We find no evidence of a gene-by-stressful life events interaction on individual differences in adults' self-control. Our findings are consistent with the notion that genetic influences and stressful life events exert largely independent effects on adult self-control. However, the small effect sizes of polygenic scores increases the likelihood of null results. Genetically-informed longitudinal research in large samples can further inform the etiology of individual differences in self-control from early childhood into later adulthood and its downstream implications for public health.

Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Sleep, Depression, and Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women

Objectives: Menopause is a normal life stage that frequently brings with it emotional and physical difficulties that affect women’s Quality of life (QoL) and interfere with their ability to sleep. The objective of this study was to examine how postmenopausal women (PMWs) responded to supervised aerobic exercise training versus unsupervised Walking in terms of sleep, QoL, and depression. In addition, the impact on body composition was also assessed as a secondary outcome measure. Material and Methods: Fifty PMWs (aged 45–60) were divided into two groups at random: The control group (n = 25) performed standard unsupervised Walking, and the experimental group (n = 25) performed scheduled supervised aerobic exercise training. The Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the 36-item short-form survey, the beck depression inventory (BDI), and the body mass index (BMI) were among the evaluations used in the 6-week, 3-day program. Results: Remarkable advancements (P &lt; 0.05) were noted in the aerobic training cohort. The experimental group increased total sleep duration by 37.9% and fell asleep 44.8% faster, resulting in a noteworthy 61.7% improvement in the PSQI score. BDI scores improved by 55.6%, and there was a 6.8% variation in BMI between the groups. Conclusion: A 6-week aerobic intervention can improve sleep quality, reduce menopausal symptoms, and enhance life quality in PMW. Furthermore, the results revealed that a regulated exercise group may offer more benefits than an unregulated one. This observation underscores the potential advantages of structured and monitored aerobic exercise program in achieving specific health and fitness goals.

Impact of Microclimate on Perception and Physical Activities in Public Spaces of New Urban Areas in Beijing, China

The development of new urban areas in Beijing has alleviated overcrowding in old urban centers and has ample public spaces for recreational activities. However, these public spaces are not ideally designed and have not been as successful as expected. Few studies have investigated the ineffective use of these public spaces in terms of microclimatic and thermal comfort factors. Our study investigated microclimatic factors, the subjective assessment of thermal comfort, the intensity of human activities, and the spatial features of public spaces in conjunction with surrounding buildings in a mixed commercial and residential complex in the Fangshan District, Beijing. We used a mixed-methods approach comprising microclimate measurements, questionnaires (n = 150), spatiotemporal behavior mapping, and field measurements. Our results showed that the human perception of the microclimate is related to the exposure duration and other microclimatic factors. The perception of people who spend longer periods outdoors is often inconsistent with objectively measured thermal comfort values. Activity intensity (low, medium, and high) was also related to the duration of time spent outdoors. Microclimatic factors affect the number of people at different activity intensities and the trajectory of the activities. Different spatial features cause different microclimate formations and can directly influence the human subjective assessment of thermal comfort. This study uniquely links the microclimate to human perceptions, physical activities, and spatial features in service of redesigning public spaces. We developed a comprehensive methodology that expands the post-occupancy evaluation and proposes new urban public space designs that consider microclimates. This study also provides a new perspective for promoting physical activity by enhancing the thermal comfort of the environment to achieve physical and mental health goals.

Cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis of screening and preventive interventions for cardiovascular disease in Myanmar: an economic modelling study

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality in Myanmar. Despite the burden, CVD preventive services receive low government and donor budgets, which has led to poor CVD outcomes. We conducted a cost-effective analysis and a budget impact analysis on CVD prevention strategies recommended by the WHO. A Markov model was used to analyse the cost and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) from healthcare provider and societal perspectives. We calculated transition probabilities from WHO CVD risk data and obtained treatment effects and costs from secondary sources. Subgroup analysis was performed on different sex and age groups. We framed the budget impact analysis from a healthcare provider perspective to assess the affordability of providing CVD preventive care. The most cost-effective strategy from the healthcare provider perspective varied. The combination of screening, primary prevention, and secondary prevention (Sc-PP-SP) (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio [ICER]: US$1574/QALY) is most cost-effective at the three times gross domestic product (GDP) per capita threshold, while at one time the GDP per capita threshold, secondary prevention is the most cost-effective strategy (ICER: US$160/QALY). Sc-PP-SP is the most cost-effective strategy from the societal perspective (ICER: US$647/QALY). Among age groups, intervention at age 45 years appeared to be the most cost-effective option for both men and women. The budget impact revealed the Sc-PP-SP would avert 55,000 acute CVD events and 28,000 CVD-related deaths with a cost of US$157 million for the first year of CVD preventive care. A combination of screening, primary prevention, and secondary prevention is cost-effective to reduce CVD-related deaths in Myanmar. This study provides evidence for the government and development partners to increase investment in and support for CVD prevention. These findings not only provide a basis for efficient resource allocation but also underscore the importance of adopting a total cardiovascular risk approach to CVD prevention, in alignment with global health goals. Pilot grant from Duke Global Health Institute, USA.

Toward Heart-Healthy and Sustainable Cities: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association.

Nearly 56% of the global population lives in cities, with this number expected to increase to 6.6 billion or >70% of the world's population by 2050. Given that cardiometabolic diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in people living in urban areas, transforming cities and urban provisioning systems (or urban systems) toward health, equity, and economic productivity can enable the dual attainment of climate and health goals. Seven urban provisioning systems that provide food, energy, mobility-connectivity, housing, green infrastructure, water management, and waste management lie at the core of human health, well-being, and sustainability. These provisioning systems transcend city boundaries (eg, demand for food, water, or energy is met by transboundary supply); thus, transforming the entire system is a larger construct than local urban environments. Poorly designed urban provisioning systems are starkly evident worldwide, resulting in unprecedented exposures to adverse cardiometabolic risk factors, including limited physical activity, lack of access to heart-healthy diets, and reduced access to greenery and beneficial social interactions. Transforming urban systems with a cardiometabolic health-first approach could be accomplished through integrated spatial planning, along with addressing current gaps in key urban provisioning systems. Such an approach will help mitigate undesirable environmental exposures and improve cardiovascular and metabolic health while improving planetary health. The purposes of this American Heart Association policy statement are to present a conceptual framework, summarize the evidence base, and outline policy principles for transforming key urban provisioning systems to heart-health and sustainability outcomes.

Loneliness in medicine and relational ethics: A phenomenology of the physician-patient relationship

Loneliness in medicine is a serious problem not just for patients, for whom illness is intrinsically isolating, but also for physicians in the contemporary condition of medicine. We explore this problem by investigating the ideal physician-patient relationship, whose analogy with friendship has held enduring normative appeal. Drawing from Talbot Brewer and Nir Ben-Moshe, we argue that this appeal lies in a dynamic form of companionship incompatible with static models of friendship-like physician-patient relationships: a mutual refinement of embodied virtue that draws both persons together. The ideal physician-patient relationship has a dialectical character that fosters each member's improvement of phenomenologically recognizing and embodying moral virtues. A key component of this dynamic is a commitment to the common goal of the patient's health, realized through joint interactivities and conversations over time. The physician's presence to the patient's suffering—understood best as an alienating phenomenological condition for the patient—orients and discloses possibilities for virtuous caregiving by structuring the meanings of the goals, conversations, and joint narrative constitutive of their relationship. Presence to suffering, paradoxically, is perhaps an important prerequisite for this dynamic partnership. These activities dialectically build an interpretive horizon of understanding through which moral goods and character refinement—in and for the other—may become revealed for both persons in their shared being-in-the-world. This analysis of suffering, mood, and revealing of (possible) moral goods has implications for addressing the modern problem of loneliness for patients and physicians, who are increasingly inhibited from building flourishing relationships with each other.

Feasibility of diabetes self-management coaching program for individuals with type 2 diabetes in the Ethiopian primary care setting: a protocol for a feasibility mixed-methods parallel-group randomized controlled trial.

Diabetes mellitus is the third most prevalent chronic metabolic disorder and a significant contributor to disability and impaired quality of life globally. Diabetes self-management coaching is an emerging empowerment strategy for individuals with type 2 diabetes, enabling them to achieve their health and wellness goals. The current study aims to determine the feasibility of a diabetes self-management coaching program and its preliminary effectiveness on the clinical and psychosocial outcomes in the Ethiopian primary healthcare context. The study will employ a mixed-method feasibility randomized controlled trial design. Forty individuals with type 2 diabetes will be randomly allocated to treatment and control groups using block randomization. The primary feasibility outcomes include acceptability, eligibility, recruitment, and participant retention rates, which will be computed using descriptive analysis. The secondary outcomes are self-efficacy, self-care activity, quality of life, and glycated hemoglobin A1c. For normally distributed continuous variables, the mean difference within and between the groups will be determined by paired sample Student t-test and independent sample Student t-test, respectively. Non-parametric tests such as the Mann-Whitney U test, the Wilcoxon signed rank test, and the Friedman analysis of variance test will determine the median difference for variables that violated the normality assumption. A repeated measure analysis of variance will be considered to estimate the variance between the baseline, post-intervention, and post-follow-up measurements. A sample of 10 volunteers in the treatment group will participate in the qualitative interview to explore their experience with the diabetes self-management coaching program and overall feasibility. The study will follow a qualitative content analysis approach to analyze the qualitative data. Qualitative and quantitative findings will be integrated using a joint display technique. Evidence reveals diabetes self-management coaching programs effectively improve HbA1c, self-efficacy, self-care activity, and quality of life. This study will determine the feasibility of a future large-scale randomized controlled trial on diabetes self-management coaching. The study will also provide evidence on the preliminary outcomes and contribute to improving the diabetes self-management experience and quality of life of individuals with type 2 diabetes. The trial was registered online at ClinicalTrials.gov on 12/04/2022 and received a unique registration number, NCT05336019, and the URL of the registry is https://beta. gov/study/NCT05336019 .

The COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Hepatitis C Virus Circulation and Genotypic Frequencies-Implications for Hepatitis C Prevention, Treatment and Research.

Hepatitis C is regarded as a global health issue caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. HCV is targeted for elimination by 2030 as a global public health goal. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed human circulation and prevented access to diagnostics and treatment to many other diseases, including hepatitis C. COVID-19 impacted HCV global elimination efforts with implications not fully comprehended yet. The high genetic variability in HCV makes the development of vaccines and pan-genotypic drug therapies a difficult task. Changes in the dynamics of HCV impose new challenges for public health and opportunities for future research. Meta-analysis, the follow up of new cases and sampling of HCV patients compared with previously available data are options for investigating the possible changes. The determination of HCV genotypes and subtypes is important for understanding viral dynamics and treatment; therefore, the changes in genotype and subtype prevalences can directly affect such processes. Recent results in the literature already suggest changes in HCV dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic, both considering viral circulation and differential genotypic frequencies in distinct geographic areas. In this context, we propose a further examination of these trends using different approaches to provide support for the hypothesis that the COVID-19 pandemic affected HCV circulation, since these findings would have important implications for hepatitis C prevention, treatment and research.

From Policy to Practice: A Review of Africa’s Public Health Policy

Africa faces persistent health challenges, from infectious diseases to non-communicable illnesses, necessitating robust public health policies. However, the translation of these policies into effective practice remains a substantial challenge across the continent. This study employed a rigorous literature review, and policy analysis to shed light on the multifaceted factors impeding the successful transition from policy formulation to tangible health outcomes. Findings indicates that while Africa has made substantial progress in crafting health policies that align with global health goals, critical gaps persist in their execution. Major challenges include resource limitations, weak health infrastructure, insufficient capacity building, and complex socio-cultural dynamics that influence health behaviors and practices. In addition, bureaucratic hurdles, corruption, and lack of political will are identified as systemic barriers to policy implementation. The study highlights the need for adaptive and evidence-based policy making rigorous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress, and a multifaceted approach to bridge these gaps and address challenges. This includes strategic investments in healthcare infrastructure and workforce development, enhancing collaboration between governments and international partners, and fostering community engagement to ensure policies resonate with local contexts.

Improving cyberbullying detection through multi-level machine learning

Cyberbullying is a known risk factor for mental health issues, demanding immediate attention. This study aims to detect cyberbullying on social media in alignment with the third sustainable development goal (SDG) for health and well-being. Many previous studies employ single-level classification, but this research introduces a multi-class multi-level (MCML) algorithm for a more detailed approach. The MCML approach incorporates two levels of classification: level one for cyberbullying or not cyberbullying, and level two for classifying cyberbullying by type. This study used a dataset of 47,000 tweets from Twitter with six class labels and employed an 80:20 training and testing data split. By integrating bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) and MCML at level two, we achieved a remarkable 99% accuracy, surpassing BERT-based single-level classification at 94%. In conclusion, the combination of MCML and BERT offers enhanced cyberbullying classification accuracy, contributing to the broader goal of promoting mental health and well-being.