Determining optimal strategies for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a synopsis of an evidence synthesis study.

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesised evidence on the effectiveness, comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for primary cardiovascular disease prevention.

Methods: Five systematic reviews and meta-analyses were conducted using rigorous methods, including comprehensive searches, duplicate screening, risk-of-bias assessments and adherence to reporting guidelines.

Identifying optimal primary prevention interventions for major cardiovascular disease events and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and hierarchical network meta-analysis of RCTs.

Background: Cardiovascular disease accounts for substantial mortality and healthcare costs worldwide. Numerous interventions exist for primary prevention but lack head-to-head comparisons on long-term impacts.

Objective: To determine the comparative effectiveness of interventions for primary cardiovascular disease prevention through network meta-analysis of randomised trials.

Gaps in vaccine clinical trials in Africa: A mixed scoping review and bibliometric analysis before, during, and post- COVID-19 pandemic.

Africa's participation in vaccine trials has historically been limited, but the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for greater involvement. This study explores vaccine clinical development in Africa, emphasizing its importance for global health security. Using a scoping review and bibliometric analysis, we examined 662 vaccine trials conducted before, during, and after the pandemic.

Income and education disparities in childhood malnutrition: a multi-country decomposition analysis.

Introduction: Childhood malnutrition is a complex issue with a range of contributing factors. The consequences of malnutrition are severe, particularly for children. This study aims to identify the factors contributing to inequality gaps in childhood malnutrition.

Susceptibility and infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 in children versus adults, by variant (wild-type, alpha, delta): A systematic review and meta-analysis of household contact studies.

Importance: Understanding the susceptibility and infectiousness of children and adolescents in comparison to adults is important to appreciate their role in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To determine SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and infectiousness of children and adolescents with adults as comparator for three variants (wild-type, alpha, delta) in the household setting. We aimed to identify the effects independent of vaccination or prior infection.

Quantifying the increased risk of illness in malnourished children: a global meta-analysis and propensity score matching approach.

Background: Childhood morbidity and mortality continue to be major public health challenges. Malnutrition increases the risk of morbidity and mortality from illnesses such as acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, fever, and perinatal conditions in children. This study explored and estimated the magnitude of the associations between childhood malnutrition forms and child morbidity.

Assessment of Depressive Symptoms and Sociodemographic Correlates of Adult Patients Attending a National Health Insurance Clinic at a Tertiary Hospital, Southwest Nigeria.

Background: Depression affects individuals across all age groups, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds. Socio-demographic correlates of depression may include factors such as age, gender, education level, income, and marital status. These factors, including the presence of chronic diseases, have been shown to impact the prevalence and severity of depression.

Assessing Africa's child survival gains and prospects for attaining SDG target on child mortality.

This study assessed Africa's child survival gains and prospects for attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target 3.2. We analysed multiple country-level secondary datasets of 54 African countries and presented spatial analysis.

Interventions for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: umbrella review of systematic reviews.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. The aim of this overview of systematic reviews was to compare the effectiveness of different pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Methods: A structured search of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects archive was conducted to find systematic reviews that reported the effect of various pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease from inception to March 2021.

Neighbourhood effect and inequality in access to essential health services among mother-child paired samples: a decomposition analysis of data from 58 low- and middle-income countries.

Introduction: Neighbourhood effect on health outcomes is well established, but little is known about its effect on access to essential health services (EHS). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the contributing factors to access to EHS in slum versus non-slum settings.

Methodology: The most recent data from 58 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted between 2011 and 2018 were used, including a total of 157,000 pairs of currently married women aged 15-49 and their children aged 12-23 months.

Navigating the nutritional paradox: The impact of sustainable development targets on childhood wasting and overweight prevalence.

In 2015, the United Nations member states endorsed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to chart a path towards a better future for all. Childhood malnutrition, particularly wasting, remains a critical global health challenge, disproportionately affecting children under five in low- and middle-income countries. This study evaluates the impact of achieving selected Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets on reducing childhood malnutrition, with a specific focus on wasting and overweight.

A multilevel analysis of the determinants of HIV testing among men in Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Demographic and Health Surveys across 10 African countries.

Sub-Saharan Africa, the epicenter of the HIV epidemic, has seen significant reductions in new infections over the last decade. Although most new infections have been reported among women, particularly adolescent girls, men are still disadvantaged in accessing HIV testing, care, and treatment services. Globally, men have relatively poorer HIV testing, care, and treatment indices when compared with women.

The potential impact of policies and structural interventions in reducing cardiovascular disease and mortality: a systematic review of simulation-based studies.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the potential effect of different structural interventions for preventing cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Medline and EMBASE were searched for peer-reviewed simulation-based studies of structural interventions for prevention of cardiovascular disease. We performed a systematic narrative synthesis.

HIV research output in African Countries between 1986-2020.

HIV literature has grown exponentially since it was named the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Bibliometric analysis is a practical approach for quantitatively and qualitatively assessing scientific research. This work aims to describe HIV research output in Africa by country from 1986 until 2020.

Health inequalities in infectious diseases: a systematic overview of reviews.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic overview of reviews was to synthesise available evidence on inequalities in infectious disease based on three dimensions of inequalities; inclusion health groups, protected characteristics and socioeconomic inequalities.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and OpenGrey databases in November 2021. We included reviews published from the year 2000 which examined inequalities in the incidence, prevalence or consequences of infectious diseases based on the dimensions of interest.

Socioeconomic Macro-Level Determinants of Hypertension: Ecological Analysis of 138 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Aim: To assess the relative importance of major socioeconomic determinants of population health on the burden of hypertension in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

Methods: Country-level data from 138 countries based on were used for correlation and linear regression analyses of eight socioeconomic predictors of hypertension: current health expenditure, domestic general government health expenditure per capita, GDP per capita, adult literacy rate, unemployment rate, urban population, multidimensional poverty index, and total population.

Results: The median prevalence of age-standardised hypertension was 25.

Trends in the Intraindividual Double Burden of Overweight/Obesity and Anemia among Adult Women Living in 33 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Secondary Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys from 2000-2019.

Background: Changes in overweight/obesity and anemia among women have been investigated in multiple studies, but the rate at which their coexistence at the individual level has evolved remains unknown.

Objectives: We aimed to 1) document trends in the magnitude and inequalities of the co-occurrence of overweight/obesity and anemia; and 2) compare these with overall trends in overweight/obesity, anemia, and the co-occurrence of anemia with normal weight or underweight.

Methods: For this cross-sectional series study, we used 96 Demographic and Health Surveys from 33 countries with available anthropometric and anemia data among nonpregnant adult women (20-49 y old; n = 1,648,308).

Malaria profile and socioeconomic predictors among under-five children: an analysis of 11 sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: African region accounts for 95% of all malaria cases and 96% of malaria deaths with under-five children accounting for 80% of all deaths in the region. This study assessed the socioeconomic determinants of malaria prevalence and provide evidence on the socioeconomic profile of malaria infection among under-five children in 11 SSA countries.

Methods: This study used data from the 2010 to 2020 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).

Association between gender-based violence and hypertension among women in the Kyrgyzstan Republic.

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a significant global public health problem and the most prominent human rights violation severely impacting women's health and wellbeing. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the association between gender-based violence and hypertension in Kyrgyzstan Republic.

Methods: This study was conducted using population-based data of women from the 2018 Kyrgyzstan Demographic and Health Survey.

Individual and contextual factors associated with childhood malnutrition: a multilevel analysis of the double burden of childhood malnutrition in 27 countries.

Background: Malnutrition is a key global health challenge and a major contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality. In recent times, the contrasting coexistence of undernutrition including micronutrient deficiencies and overweight/obesity called double burden of malnutrition has been noted at individual, household or population level and/or at different times in life. The objective of this study was to examine individual, neighborhood and country level factors that are associated with the double burden of childhood malnutrition.

Obesity burden by socioeconomic measures between 2000 and 2018 among women in sub-Saharan Africa: A cross-sectional analysis of demographic and health surveys.

Background: The increasing global burden of obesity especially in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) accentuates the need for critical action. In the absence of evidence-based approaches to mitigate recent obesity trends, the likelihood of reaching global obesity targets will be almost zero.

Objective: This study examined the obesity prevalence in Sub-Sahara Africa and observed transitions on the burden of obesity prevalence over time.

Addressing missed opportunities for cervical cancer screening in Nigeria: a nursing workforce approach.

Cervical cancer is the commonest gynaecological cancer affecting women, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the availability of evidence on multiple prevention pathways, including vaccination and screening, the cervical cancer burden continues to increase, especially in LMICs. This disease typifies health inequality as more than 85% of related morbidity and mortality occur among women of low socio-economic status residing in developing countries.

One Hundred Years of Hypertension Research: Topic Modeling Study.

Background: Due to scientific and technical advancements in the field, published hypertension research has developed substantially during the last decade. Given the amount of scientific material published in this field, identifying the relevant information is difficult. We used topic modeling, which is a strong approach for extracting useful information from enormous amounts of unstructured text.

Household Air Pollution and High Blood Pressure: A Secondary Analysis of the 2016 Albania Demographic Health and Survey Dataset.

Background: Hypertension is a significant public health problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aimed to examine the association between household air pollution (HAP) and blood pressure using data from the 2016 Albania Demographic Health and Survey (DHS). Methods: We computed the odds ratio (OR) for the prevalence of hypertension between respondents exposed to clean fuels (e.