Health insurance enrollment and maternal health service utilization using Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 2022.

Background: Maternal health services utilization is essential in the reduction of maternal mortality. Despite the implementation of a national health insurance scheme in 2003, Ghana still reports universal health coverage service index below the global average. This study investigates the association between health insurance coverage and maternal health service utilization.

Risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases among government employees in Nepal: insights from a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy work environments and occupational stress increase the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among government employees, impacting healthcare costs and productivity. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypertension, prediabetes, and diabetes, and identify risk factors among government employees in Nepal.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 994 government employees.

The Global Health Security Index and Its Role in Shaping National COVID‑19 Response Capacities: A Scoping Review.

Following the introduction of the Global Health Security Index (GHSI), the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic emerged as an unprecedented global health crisis, underscoring the need for robust health security frameworks and preparedness measures. This study conducts a scoping review to analyze the existing literature on the GHSI and assess national COVID‑19 responses across different countries. A comprehensive search of electronic databases (EBSCO, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) was conducted for articles published from 2020 to 2024.

Impact of Ghana's fee exemption policy on maternal health service utilisation: an inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis of pooled national data.

Background: Fee exemption policies are key strategies for reducing the barriers to accessing maternal health services and improving maternal and child health outcomes. This study used pooled national data to determine the impact of Ghana's user fee exemption policy on maternal health service utilisation since it was implemented in 2008.

Methods: Using four rounds of cross-sectional data from national surveys on women with live births, we conducted an inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis to evaluate the causal effects of Ghana's user fee exemption policy intervention on the timing of first antenatal care (ANC) visit, completion of four or more ANC visits and facility-based delivery as indicators of maternal health service utilisation.

Effectiveness of menstrual hygiene management training to enhance knowledge, attitude, and practice among adolescents in Sindhupalchowk, Nepal.

Background: Menstrual Health (MH) knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) are highly affected by access to information regarding menstruation. Despite being included in the school curriculum, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education is often not delivered in practice. School-based educational interventions have been shown to be effective in promoting MH.

Serum bilirubin subgroups and cancer risk: Insights with a focus on lung cancer.

Background: Bilirubin is a potent antioxidant that neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS). While previous studies have predominantly focused on the association between total bilirubin and cancer risk, this study evaluates the association of different bilirubin subgroups with cancer risk in men and women.

Methods: Data were derived from the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II cohort, including 133,630 participants.

Non-communicable comorbidities in pulmonary tuberculosis and healthcare utilization: a cross-sectional study of 2021 Indonesian national health insurance data.

Background: Limited research exists on the comorbidity of pulmonary tuberculosis with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and its implications for healthcare utilization in Indonesia. The lack of investigation into NCD comorbidity among pulmonary tuberculosis patients could adversely affect both the healthcare system and the national health insurance scheme. Understanding the NCD comorbidity among pulmonary tuberculosis patients, associated factors, and healthcare utilization is crucial for ensuring the effective and efficient delivery of health services.