Urban-Rural Disparities in Non-Adherence to Iron Supplementation Among Pregnant Women Aged 15 to 49 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Adherence to iron supplementation is influenced by systemic barriers, including poor healthcare infrastructure, shortage of healthcare providers, and limited access to antenatal care (ANC) services. These challenges are more pronounced in rural areas. However, evidence on urban-rural disparities in non-adherence to iron supplementation remains limited, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Ten-year exposure to household air pollution is associated with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Study Objectives: The impact of household air pollution (HAP) on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) was unclear from the literature. We aimed to investigate the associations between HAP exposure over 10 years and OSA in middle-aged adults.

Methods: Using the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS), seven longitudinal HAP profiles were previously identified using information on household heating, cooking, mould, active and passive smoking exposure collected at two ages spanning 10 years (at mean ages 43 and 53 years).

Is Iron Supplementation Associated with Infant Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa and Does Birth Weight Modify These Associations?

Iron supplementation during pregnancy is associated with several health benefits, including a reduced risk of maternal anaemia and improved neonatal outcomes such as lower rates of low birth weight, infection, and anaemia in infancy. However, its impact on neonatal and post-neonatal mortality remains unclear in resource-limited settings, where adherence to maternal iron supplementation is low. This study examined the association between maternal iron supplementation and neonatal and post-neonatal mortality and explored whether low birth weight (LBW) modifies those associations.

Extreme Weather, Vulnerable Populations, and Mental Health: The Timely Role of AI Interventions.

Environmental disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations who face compounded risks due to intersectional factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, rural residence, and cultural identity. These events exacerbate mental health challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and underserved areas of high-income countries (HICs). Addressing these disparities necessitates inclusive, culturally competent, intersectional, and cost-effective strategies.

Footwear Toe-Box Shape and Medial Forefoot Pressures in Women With Hallux Valgus.

Background: Narrow fitting footwear is a modifiable risk factor for the development of hallux valgus (HV). Despite this, the pressure that footwear exerts at the medial forefoot has not been fully evaluated in people with HV. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether the toe box of footwear habitually worn by women with HV is associated with pressure exerted on the medial forefoot.

Do Maternal Factors Modify the Associations Between Iron Supplementation and Low Birth Weight in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Iron supplementation is recommended to reduce low birth weight (LBW) but its impact in Africa is underexplored. This study examines factors that may modify the effects of maternal iron supplementation on LBW in sub-Saharan Africa. Health Survey data from 26 sub-Saharan countries, including 149,346 woman-infant pairs, were analyzed.

Associations Between Occupational Exposures and Cough Subclasses Among Middle-Aged Australians.

Background And Objective: The evidence around occupation-related chronic cough is conflicting and current definitions of chronic cough cannot capture its heterogeneity. Using our recently characterised novel cough subclasses, we aimed to identify subclass-specific occupational risks.

Methods: Using data from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS), occupational exposures up to age 53 years were coded using the ALOHA+ Job Exposure Matrix, into ever-exposure (no, only-low, ever-high) and cumulative exposure.

Australian general practitioners' knowledge, attitudes and prescribing intentions for e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid: a nationwide baseline and 12-month follow up survey.

Background: The Australian Government introduced a major policy change tightening regulations regarding the access to nicotine containing e-cigarettes in October 2021. We assessed general practitioners' (GPs) knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and intentions to prescribe nicotine containing e-cigarettes for smoking cessation. We compared baseline data near the time of policy change with data collected from these GPs 12-months later.

Psychological factors associated with pain and function in adults with hallux valgus.

Introduction: Psychological factors are linked to pain and function in various musculoskeletal conditions, but their impact on hallux valgus is unclear. Health-related quality of life declines with increasing severity of hallux valgus, affecting not only foot pain and physical function, but also general health, vitality and mental health. Previous studies have reported inconsistent associations between psychological factors, such as anxiety and depression, and surgical outcomes, which might relate to variability in measurement approaches.

Early-to-Midlife Body Mass Index Trajectories and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Risk 10 Years Later.

Background And Objective: While short-term weight changes are known to influence obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the impact of body mass index (BMI) changes over the life course has been poorly documented. We examined the association between BMI trajectories from childhood to middle age and adult OSA, 10 years later.

Methods: Five BMI trajectories were previously identified in the population-based cohort Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS), using eight time-point BMI from age 5 to 43 years.

Lifetime Body Mass Index Trajectories and Contrasting Lung Function Abnormalities in Mid-Adulthood: Data From the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study.

Background And Objective: The impact of lifetime body mass index (BMI) trajectories on adult lung function abnormalities has not been investigated previously. We investigated associations of BMI trajectories from childhood to mid-adulthood with lung function deficits and COPD in mid-adulthood.

Methods: Five BMI trajectories (n = 4194) from age 5 to 43 were identified in the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study.

Aerobiology matters: Why people in the community access pollen information and how they use it.

Background: Globally, many pollen monitoring networks provide the community with daily pollen information, but there are limited data on health consumer uses and benefits. This research investigated why individuals in the community access pollen information, how they use it, and the perceived benefits.

Methods: In- and post-pollen season surveys (2017-2018 and 2018-2019) enquired about symptoms, diagnoses, symptom management, access, benefits and usefulness of pollen information provided by the AusPollen Partnership.

Perceptions of family physicians in Istanbul about e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids: a qualitative study.

Background: Family physicians (FPs) are the first point of contact for people who smoke who are seeking to quit smoking in Türkiye. We aimed to explore Turkish FPs knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of e-cigarettes as smoking cessation aids.

Methods: Eleven in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with FPs in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Comparing spiritual wellbeing and illness perceptions between cancer patients from culturally and linguistically diverse and those from mainstream backgrounds in Australia.

Objective: Cancer presents a significant health challenge, particularly within culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations. Religious, spiritual, and personal beliefs regarding illness may mitigate its psychological and physical impacts, varying with CALD status. This study aims to assess illness perceptions in Australian cancer patients from both CALD and Anglo-Australian backgrounds and to explore the associations between spiritual wellbeing and illness perceptions within these groups.

Infant BMI trajectories as early risk markers of poor psychosocial health in preadolescence.

Background: Common mental disorders often emerge during childhood and adolescence, and their prevalence is disproportionately elevated among those affected by obesity. Early life growth patterns may provide a useful target for primordial prevention; however, research is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to identify distinct body mass index (BMI) trajectories during the first year of life and to assess their associations with psychosocial outcomes in preadolescence (9-13 years).

BMI trajectories from infancy to 18 years and mental health in emerging adulthood.

Background: Studies exploring early life-course BMI trajectories and subsequent mental health outcomes are limited but may provide important insights for early intervention. We investigated associations between BMI trajectories from 0 to 18 years and mental health outcomes in emerging adulthood.

Methods: Data were obtained from 434 participants in the Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study (MACS).

Is Oral Iron and Folate Supplementation during Pregnancy Protective against Low Birth Weight and Preterm Birth in Africa? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Despite recent evidence demonstrating iron and folate supplementation reduces the risk of low birth weight and preterm births, synthesis of the evidence is not sufficient to understand their impacts in Africa.

Method: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, CHINAL, Web of Science, Cochrane databases, and Google Scholar were searched for the published and grey literature. Either iron-only, folate-only, or iron-folic acid (IFA) oral supplementation during pregnancy was the primary exposure/intervention.

The Effects of Maternal Iron and Folate Supplementation on Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes in Africa: A Systematic Review.

Background: Iron and folate deficiency are prevalent in pregnant women in Africa. However, limited research exists on the differential effect of oral iron-only, folate-only, or Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation on adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes. This systematic review addresses this gap, focusing on studies conducted in Africa with limited healthcare access.

Childhood infections, asthma and allergy trajectories, and chronic rhinosinusitis in middle age: A prospective cohort study across six decades.

Introduction: Evidence on the early life risk factors of adult CRS, and the history of asthma and allergies across the life course, is limited.

Aim: To investigate relationships between respiratory infective/allergic conditions in childhood, and asthma and allergies across the life course and CRS in middle age.

Methods: Data were from the population-based Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS) cohort, first studied in 1968 when aged 6-7 years (n = 8583) and serially followed into middle age (n = 3609).

Is the addition of running retraining to best standard care beneficial in runners with medial tibial stress syndrome? Protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Running retraining is commonly used in the management of medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The primary aim of this study is to determine if the addition of running retraining to best standard care is beneficial in the management of runners with MTSS.

Methods: This study is an assessor-blinded and participant-blinded, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial.

Does oral iron and folate supplementation during pregnancy protect against adverse birth outcomes and reduced neonatal and infant mortality in Africa: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis?

Globally, one-third of pregnant women are at risk of iron deficiency, particularly in the African region. While recent findings show that iron and folate supplementation can lower the risk of adverse birth outcomes and childhood mortality, our understanding of its impact in Africa remains incomplete due to insufficient evidence. This protocol outlines the systematic review steps to investigate the impact of oral iron and folate supplementation during pregnancy on adverse birth outcomes, neonatal mortality and infant mortality in Africa.

Neonatal Vitamin D and Associations with Longitudinal Changes of Eczema up to 25 Years of Age.

Background: Early-life vitamin D is a potentially modifiable risk factor for the development of eczema, but there is a lack of data on longitudinal associations.

Method: We measured 25(OH)D3 levels from neonatal dried blood spots in 223 high-allergy-risk children. Latent class analysis was used to define longitudinal eczema phenotype up to 25 years (4 subclasses).

Effectiveness of footwear and foot orthoses in reducing medial metatarsophalangeal joint pressure in women with hallux valgus.

Background: Hallux valgus is a common condition where the subluxation of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and lateral deviation of the hallux at the interphalangeal joint creates difficulty with footwear fit. Footwear and foot orthoses are commonly prescribed nonsurgical treatments for hallux valgus.

Research Question: Do extra-width footwear and foot orthoses influence peak pressure at the medial aspect of the metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints in women with hallux valgus?

Methods: Community-dwelling women with symptomatic hallux valgus underwent gait testing when wearing their own shoes and when wearing extra-width footwear fitted with three-quarter length, arch-contouring prefabricated foot orthoses.

Determinants of Smoking Cessation Outcomes and Reasons for Relapse in Patients Admitted to a Smoking Cessation Outpatient Clinic in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of smoking cessation outcomes and reasons for relapse following smoking cessation treatment. Using a mixed-method design, 179 patients were recruited from the Smoking Cessation outpatient clinic of Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital between May 2016 and May 2017. Quantitative data were collected via questionnaires or from patient files and qualitative data were obtained via 5 focus group interviews with 28 patients who relapsed to smoking following treatment.