PLOS Global Public Health

Acceptability of tongue swabs for tuberculosis screening in migrant settings in northern Italy: A qualitative study Human migrations, driven by economic hardship, conflict, and climate change, complicate the global fight against tuberculosis (TB). New strategies are needed to improve the screening of migrants for a...

New study in PLOS GPH from Northern Italy: migrants overwhelmingly prefer supervised self‑swabbing over sputum collection for TB screening—simple, private, and easy to use. But language barriers, trust gaps, and low health literacy still limit uptake.

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Health technology assessment system in Switzerland: Current state, gaps, and prospects for improvement Switzerland maintains a distinct HTA system that often aligns with EU requirements and reflects its unique healthcare governance model, with structured processes led by the Federal Office of Public He...

Switzerland’s HTA landscape is structured but fragmented. New PLOS GPH study shows strong interest in expansion—but low political support, funding gaps, and limited integration across cantons hold it back. Authors call for a national HTA agency to close the gap.

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No more single stories: The case of global adolescent pregnancy care

A powerful new Essay in PLOS Global Public Health challenges the dominant “prevention‑only” narrative around adolescent pregnancy. It calls for epistemic justice and investment in local scholarship to better support pregnant adolescents worldwide.

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New research published in @plosglobalpublichealth.org shows nearly one‑third of American adolescents have diabetes or prediabetes.

Findings highlight the need for early screening measures in routine pediatric care to help identify emerging risk and support more equitable prevention.

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New study from Central Java shows antibiotics are easy to access without prescriptions, while knowledge about proper use is low. Social, economic & cultural factors drive self‑medication—highlighting the need for community‑focused stewardship. #AMR #GlobalHealth

plos.io/4rTg07C

NEW in PLOS Global Public Health:

New research highlights how Native American families navigated worsened food & water access during COVID‑19—drawing on resilience, family support, and traditional foodways to protect young children’s nutrition. #IndigenousHealth #FoodJustice

plos.io/409wMmW

Re-imagining health research to include the voices of justice-impacted individuals People with prior justice system involvement experience health disparities, yet are often underrepresented in research. We sought to 1) explore the perspectives of individuals with prior justice invol...

Justice‑impacted individuals are interested in research but face real participation barriers. Collaboration with advocacy groups can improve inclusion and strengthen health equity work. #JusticeHealth #PublicHealth

NEW in PLOS Global Public Health

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Expert consensus on pre-eclampsia risk screening tools for low- and middle-income countries: Development of a new Target Product Profile Risk screening tools can identify women at high-risk for developing pre-eclampsia, allowing for timely preventative care and monitoring. However, tools that are accurate, feasible and affordable for l...

Published today in PLOS Global Public Health:

New Target Product Profiles (TPPs) developed to guide affordable, accurate pre‑eclampsia risk screening tools for LMICs—built with global stakeholder input to address real-world gaps. #MaternalHealth #GlobalHealth

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Principles and priorities for integrated tuberculosis screening and care: A modified Delphi consensus exercise Tuberculosis predominates in communities with multiple health and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Tuberculosis diagnosis presents an opportunity for expanded health services to tuberculosis-affected ho...

NEW in PLOS Global Public Health:

Global experts across 60+ countries strongly back integrated TB care—better outcomes, broader screening, and a clear mandate to act. #Tuberculosis #GlobalHealth

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New research published in PLOS Global Public Health:

Almost 1-in-3 American adolescents has diabetes or prediabetes, with waist-to-height ratio the strongest independent predictor of prediabetes/diabetes, reveals survey of 1,998 adolescents (10-19 years) from 2021-2023

plos.io/3MEkobs

The influence of paternal preconception health on birth defects and head circumference: A scoping review While paternal environmental exposures and lifestyle factors can influence sperm epigenetic states and affect fetal development, this area of research remains relatively underexplored. This comprehens...

A new scoping review finds that paternal preconception health and exposures can influence congenital risks and early development—an area still often overlooked. The authors call for bringing fathers more fully into preconception care.

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New health products only save lives if they reach those who need them.

In a new @plosglobalpublichealth.org article, Unitaid’s Janet Ginnard and co-authors examine how market shaping expanded access to HIV, TB, malaria, hepatitis C and Ebola products.

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Advancing global health access through market shaping: Cases and learnings New health products have contributed to major improvements in public health, but many clinically effective interventions still face delays in reaching low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Market ...

Market shaping is quietly transforming global health. This newly published review shows how smarter incentives and coordinated action can speed access to lifesaving tools in LMICs—and the trade-offs to watch as the landscape shifts.

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Training gaps in trans and nonbinary health: Perspectives of resident physicians in Argentina Introduction and aims: A growing number of individuals identify as transgender and nonbinary (TNB), yet most healthcare professionals are not adequately prepared to address their health needs. Provide...

Survey of 173 residents in Argentina shows big gaps in training on trans & non-binary (TNB) health: only 24% felt prepared from med school & 48% felt competent, despite strong support for better education. Training upgrades are essential for equitable care. #MedEd

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How sleep quality and depressive symptoms shape safety behavior in rotating-shift nurses: Insights from mediation and network analyses Safe behavior is critical for nurses to ensure patient safety, yet limited research has examined how physical and psychological health affect safety behavior in rotating-shift nurses. This study aimed...

Study of 1,700+ rotating‑shift nurses shows poor sleep + depressive symptoms are common and tied to lower safety behavior. Depression mediates the sleep–safety link; insomnia and short sleep are key targets. #NursingResearch #ShiftWork

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Beyond biology: Social and geographic determinants of hypertension in rural Alabama communities Hypertension remains a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the United States. Despite advances in detection and treatment, disparities in hypertension prevalen...

NEW: Study of 3,400+ adults in West Alabama shows sharp BP disparities by race, gender, age & zip code—Black men see the steepest systolic rise with age. Local conditions matter. Equity needs place‑based solutions. #HealthEquity #Hypertension

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Well-being of health workers providing maternal and newborn care: A qualitative evidence synthesis Health workers providing maternal and newborn care can experience burnout and emotional distress, which harms their well-being and, consequently, their ability to deliver respectful care. The World He...

NEW in PLOS Global Public Health: A new evidence synthesis pinpoints 8 essentials health workers in #MNCH need to thrive: real support for their physical & mental health, fair pay, safer workplaces, strong identity, respect, and balance.

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Financial and regulatory interventions to reduce unnecessary caesarean sections: An updated scoping review Caesarean section (CS) is a life-saving procedure and a critical component of comprehensive obstetric care, yet CS rates are rising globally beyond levels justified by clinical indications. Growing ev...

Updated #scopingreview shows complex, multi‑component regulatory interventions appear more promising than simple financial reforms for reducing unnecessary CS, but evidence remains low‑certainty and major evaluation gaps persist.

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Interventions to support parents, families and caregivers in caring for preterm or low birth weight infants at home: A systematic review and meta-analysis The aim of this study was to determine what interventions, approaches, or strategies to support mothers/fathers/caregivers and families in caring for preterm (<37 gestational weeks) or low birthweight...

NEW: Supporting parents of preterm + low‑birth‑weight babies works. A new #systematicreview shows home‑based support may boost infant growth, breastfeeding, cognitive development — and reduce maternal stress. Evidence is early, but the potential is big.
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Implementation strategies and economic considerations for point-of-care ultrasound in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A scoping review Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly adopted as a diagnostic tool in low- and middle-income countries due to its accessibility and comparatively low costs. This review aims to synthesise s...

We published a review on #POCUS implementation & cost implications in LMICs. Using CFIR, we show that successful programmes rely on flexible planning, equitable partnerships, and ongoing adaptation—while robust economic evidence remains limited. @plosglobalpublichealth.org doi.org/10.1371/jour...

Why a child rights approach to measles vaccination is urgently needed Measles is not a benign rite of passage or an acceptable trade-off. Measles can overwhelm previously healthy children, cause lifelong complications, and kill. It spreads fastest where we allow immunit...

NEW on our blog by Ben Ramalingam:

"Measles is not a benign rite of passage or an acceptable trade-off. It can overwhelm previously healthy children, cause lifelong complications, and kill. It spreads fastest where we allow immunity gaps to widen."

speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2026/02/05/w...

@johnshopkinssph.bsky.social @jhpiego.org @brownpublichealth.bsky.social

The humanitarian-development nexus and sexual and reproductive health interventions in fragile settings: A scoping review The concurrent need for both humanitarian and development assistance in fragile settings and protracted emergencies has been termed the humanitarian-development nexus (HDN) or the humanitarian-develop...

With climate shocks and protracted crises rising, #SRH can’t be an afterthought. This new scoping review shows how to operationalize the humanitarian–development nexus: preparedness, flexible service delivery, and stronger health systems—now.

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Behind the paper: Māori and Pacific People’s perspectives on Group A Streptococcus vaccine development and delivery in Aotearoa, New Zealand In this post, we speak to the authors of a recent PLOS Global Public Health article, Māori and Pacific People’s perspectives on Group A Streptococcus vaccine development and delivery in Aotearoa, New ...

NEW on our blog:

Behind the paper: Māori and Pacific People’s perspectives on Group A Streptococcus vaccine development and delivery in Aotearoa, New Zealand

speakingofmedicine.plos.org/2026/02/04/b...

Insights on the implementation strategies for a potential new tuberculosis vaccine in South Africa Several tuberculosis (TB) vaccines intended for adults and adolescents are in late-stage clinical trials, but there is limited research into how a new TB vaccine would be introduced. South Africa is a...

Our new paper on strategies for implementing a potential new #TB #vaccine in South Africa is now published in @plosglobalpublichealth.org!

doi.org/10.1371/jour...

Improving HIV assisted partner services outcomes by eliciting additional partners after the initial encounter Most assisted partner services (APS) programs elicit partners at the time of HIV diagnosis when index clients may be reluctant to name all partners. Little is known about the benefits of ongoing partn...

New research from @path.org and @uwdgh.bsky.social:

New evidence from Kenya: continuing assisted partner services beyond HIV diagnosis identifies far more new HIV cases—partners named later were ~4× more likely to be newly diagnosed.

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Sleep, physical activity and mental health among 361 French business leaders: A cross-sectional descriptive study Recent studies revealed that more than half of French business leaders are at risk of burnout. They sacrifice sleep, physical activity and often work over 60 hours weekly. Poor sleep and lack of exerc...

NEW RESEARCH: Leadership health isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. This study shows women leaders and leaders of small enterprises face worse sleep, higher stress, and less physical activity—calling for targeted support.

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Reaching the 100 by 2027 target for universal access to rapid molecular diagnostic tests for tuberculosis in Africa: In-sight but out of reach Although WHO recommended rapid molecular diagnostic tools for TB over a decade ago, only about one-third of diagnostic sites in high burden countries have access to them. We conducted a mixed-methods ...

New PLOS GPH paper warns Africa is far off track to reach “100% by 2027” access to rapid molecular TB tests. Despite commitments, coverage, financing, & lab capacity lag badly—turning a bold diagnostic target into a distant promise rather than a looming reality.

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Evaluating the perceived outcome and impact of an integrated knowledge translation approach in the development of an equity reporting guideline: A cross-sectional survey Integrated knowledge translation (IKT) involves active engagement of knowledge users in co-producing research, ensuring their perspectives shape study design, analysis, and reporting. This can strengt...

New study evaluates how integrated knowledge translation shaped development of an equity‑focused reporting guideline. Engaging knowledge users early strengthened relevance, inclusion, & JEDI principles—showing why co‑production matters for better, fairer research.

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