To assess the level of health system responsiveness (HSR) and its associated factors among outpatients attending primary healthcare units (PHCU) in Arba Minch, South Ethiopia.

Facility-based cross-sectional study.

Three PHCUs (one primary hospital and two health centres) in Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia.

A total of 379 outpatients aged 18 years and above were selected using a systematic random sampling.

Primary outcome: level of HSR, measured across seven domains (communication, confidentiality, basic amenities, dignity, choice, prompt attention and autonomy) using a 28-item tool adapted from the WHO HSR framework. Secondary outcome: factors associated with HSR, identified via bivariate and multivariable linear regression.

The overall HSR was 59.4%. The highest-performing domains were confidentiality (73.9%) and dignity (70.7%), while the choice of healthcare provider was rated lowest (34.6%). In multivariable linear regression analysis, factors significantly associated with HSR score were travel time to reach the health facility on foot (β = –0.26, 95% CI –0.37 to –0.14); out-of-pocket payment for transport (β = –6.51, 95% CI –8.33 to –4.70); patient satisfaction score (β=1.57, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.88) and perceived quality of healthcare score (β=0.32, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.49).

HSR among outpatients in PHCU was moderate, with several individual and service-related factors associated with patient experiences. These findings suggest the need for focused interventions to improve responsiveness domains, although more research is required to demonstrate causal relationships.

To assess determinants of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine non-uptake among adolescent girls in Ethiopia.

Community-based cross-sectional study.

Ethiopia.

A weighted sample of 5341 adolescent girls.

A secondary analysis was conducted using the 2024 Ethiopian National Immunization Evaluation Survey dataset. A two-stage stratified sampling technique was used to select 467 enumeration areas (EAs). Within each EA, 30 households with adolescent girls aged 15–18 were systematically selected. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to identify individual-level and/or household-level, and community-level determinants. Associations were presented using adjusted ORs with 95% CIs and statistical significance was set at p

Individual and household-level determinants of HPV vaccine non-uptake include age 17–18 years (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.41; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.72), illiteracy (AOR=3.03; 95% CI 2.14 to 4.28), not currently attending school (AOR=2.84; 95% CI 2.24 to 3.60), poor knowledge (AOR=8.91; 95% CI 6.63 to 11.99), unfavourable attitude (AOR=4.24; 95% CI 3.34 to 5.37) and living in the poorest households (AOR=1.48; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.10). Community-level determinants were urban residence (AOR=1.40; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.95); and living in Addis Ababa (AOR=2.73; 95% CI 1.29 to 5.74), Afar (AOR=4.73; 95% CI 2.08 to 10.77), Dire Dawa (AOR=2.69; 95% CI 1.21 to 5.98), Harari (AOR=2.09; 95% CI 1.05 to 4.14) and Somali (AOR=3.68; 95% CI 1.61 to 8.38).

The determinants of HPV vaccine non-uptake were older age (17–18), illiteracy, school non-attendance, poor knowledge, unfavourable attitude, living in the poorest households, urban residence and living in Addis Ababa, Afar, Dire Dawa, Harari and Somali. The findings call for improved health literacy, knowledge and attitude through health extension programmes and targeted outreach in underserved urban and pastoralist settings.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and independent predictors of refractive error among adults with diabetes in Addis Ababa, Central Ethiopia.

A multicentre hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a systematic random sampling method.

This study was conducted at public referral hospitals’ diabetic care clinics of Addis Ababa, Central Ethiopia from 13 May to 17 August 2025.

The study included 391 adult patients with diabetes who met the inclusion criteria.

Data were collected using face-to-face interviews completed by an interviewer, ophthalmic examinations and reviewed medical records.

In this study, 391 participants (a response rate of 92.4%) participated. The median age of the participants was 54 years IQR (46–62). The prevalence of refractive error was 55.7% (95% CI 50.7 to 60.7). Older age, female sex, longer diabetes duration, poor glycaemic control, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy and cataract were positively associated with refractive error.

This study found a high prevalence of refractive error among patients with diabetes in Central Ethiopia. Older age, female sex, longer diabetes duration, poor glycaemic control (assessed by both fasting blood glucose and haemoglobin A1c), hypertension, diabetic retinopathy and cataract were significantly associated with refractive error.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with pre-diabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (UDD) in Cambodia.

This analysis used data from the WHO World Health Survey Plus, which was collected using a cross-sectional design with a GIS-based, three-stage sampling approach. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify key associated factors, based on a significance level of p

Data were collected from all 25 provinces in Cambodia between 12 March 2023 and 31 May 2023.

4427 individuals aged 18 years or older, residing in the selected household for at least 6 months in the past year.

Pre-diabetes (Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 5.7%–6.4%) and UDD (HbA1c≥6.5%), without prior knowledge of having type 2 diabetes (T2D).

The weighted prevalences of pre-diabetes and UDD were 26.4% (95% CI 24.0% to 29.0%) and 9.3% (95% CI 7.9% to 11.0%). Pre-diabetes prevalence was higher in urban areas compared with rural areas (adjusted OR, aOR=1.2, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.4), males (aOR=1.7, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3), individuals aged 40–49 (aOR=1.8, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.4), individuals aged 50+ years group (aOR=2.9, 95% CI 2.3 to 3.6) compared with the 18–39 years group, overweight individuals (aOR=1.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.0), obese (aOR=2.1, 95% CI 1.5 to 3.0) and those with elevated total triglycerides (aOR=1.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.5). Similar risk factors were identified for UDD, with the addition of hypertension (aOR=1.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.0) and high waist circumference (aOR=2.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.7).

The high prevalence of pre-diabetes and UDD in Cambodia is a pressing public health concern. Urgent and intensive interventions are needed to effectively prevent and manage T2D, particularly among urban residents, older persons and individuals with metabolic risk factors.

Encephalitis is brain parenchyma inflammation, frequently resulting in seizures which worsens outcomes. Early anti-seizure medication could improve outcomes but requires identifying patients at greatest risk of acute seizures. The SEIZURE (SEIZUre Risk in Encephalitis) score was developed in UK cohorts to stratify patients by acute seizure risk. A ‘basic score’ used Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), fever and age; the ‘advanced score’ added aetiology. This study aimed to evaluate the score internationally to determine its global applicability.

Patients were retrospectively analysed regionally, and by country, in this international evaluation study. Univariate analysis was conducted between patients who did and did not have inpatient seizures, followed by multivariable logistic regression, hierarchical clustering and analysis of the area under the receiver operating curves (AUROC) with 95% CIs.

2032 patients across 13 countries were identified, among whom 1324 were included in SEIZURE score calculations and 970 were included in regression modelling. The involved countries comprised 19 organisations spanning all WHO regions.

The primary outcome was measuring inpatient seizure rates.

Autoantibody-associated encephalitis, low GCS and presenting with a seizure were frequently associated with inpatient seizures; fever showed no association. Globally, the score had limited discriminatory ability (basic AUROC 0.58 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.62), advanced AUROC 0.63 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.66)). The scoring system performed acceptably in western Europe, excluding Spain, with the best performance in Portugal (basic AUROC 0.82 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.94), advanced AUROC 0.83 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.95)).

The SEIZURE score performed best in several countries in Western Europe but performed poorly elsewhere, partly due to differing and unknown aetiologies. In most regions, the score did not reach a threshold to be clinically useful. The Western European results could aid in designing clinical trials assessing primary anti-seizure prophylaxis in encephalitis following further prospective trials. Beyond Western Europe, there is a need for tailored, localised scoring systems and future large-scale prospective studies with optimised aetiological testing to accurately identify high-risk patients.

To explore health professionals’ perspectives on the barriers and enablers of healthcare access for older adults in Cambodia.

A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews conducted in Khmer, recorded, transcribed, translated into English and analysed using an abductive thematic analysis approach.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

A purposive sample of 11 health professionals serving in diverse roles and sectors participated in the study.

Three key barriers emerged: (1) institutional barriers, (2) patient-specific access barriers and (3) communication barriers. However, four key enablers were also identified: (1) supportive healthcare environment, (2) reaching out to improve access to health services, (3) peer and community engagement and (4) government direct support to access healthcare. Despite previous policy efforts, gaps in the implementation of healthcare services for older adults persist across all health facilities. Health professionals identified that improving healthcare access for older adults in Cambodia requires a multifaceted strategy involving proactive outreach, health promotion, financial assistance and stronger community and family support.

Effective policy implementation requires collaboration among stakeholders and the active involvement of older adults in programme design to enhance dignity and well-being in Cambodia’s ageing population.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, are major global public health concerns. Diet quality—particularly the consumption of ultra-processed foods—has been associated with increased risk of NCDs. Traditional cohort studies are often expensive and logistically complex. The NutriNet-Brasil cohort leverages a web-based approach, offering a cost-effective and practical solution for comprehensive data collection and long-term follow-up.

Recruitments began in January 2020 through mass media, social media campaigns and collaborations with health organisations. Eligible participants are adults (aged ≥18 years) living in Brazil with internet access. Participants complete self-administered online questionnaires covering dietary intake, health status and other health determinants. Dietary assessment is based on the Nova classification system, which categorises foods by their level of processing.

Over 88 000 participants have completed the initial questionnaire. The cohort is predominantly women (79.9%) and highly educated (67.9% had completed higher education). The web-based design enabled the development and application of innovative dietary assessment tools, including the Nova24h and the Nova24hScreener, specifically designed to evaluate food processing levels. These tools have shown good performance in capturing dietary patterns and are central to the cohort’s aim. The online platform facilitates efficient recruitment, data collection and participant retention.

NutriNet-Brasil is pioneering the development of web-based cohort methodologies and instruments tailored to food processing research. Future work includes leveraging collaborations with national and international research centres to conduct multidisciplinary analyses and inform public health policies.

To identify effective interventions to lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among Asian Indian (AI) immigrants.

As the second largest immigrant group in the USA, AI immigrants experience CVD prevalence rates as high as 13% among males and 4.4% among females; these rates are significantly higher than other Asian subgroups and the general US population. Despite extensive knowledge of CVD risk factors, there have been few cardioprotective interventions in this population.

Interventional studies of first-generation AI immigrants aged 18–70 years, conducted between 2000 and 2025, will be identified, including randomised controlled trials, factorial and cross-over designs, and cluster randomised trials. We will include AIs with and without a specific family history of CVD, or personal history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia or obesity. Exclusion criteria include AIs born in the USA or visiting.

The Arksey and O’Malley methodology framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews will be used for analysis. A preliminary review of interventions to lower the CVD risk in AIs will guide the research questions (stage 1). Relevant articles published between 2000 and 2025 will be retrieved using electronic databases and search terms (stage 2). Two independent reviewers will select studies based on eligibility criteria (stage 3). Reviewers will determine eligibility status, screen full texts and retrieve relevant publications. Reviewers will extract data, capturing study design, sample characteristics, types of interventions, outcomes and key findings (stage 4). A summary of results will be presented (stage 5). The review will identify the most effective interventions, potential areas for future research and practical recommendations to improve CVD outcomes among AI immigrants.

Included studies will meet ethical standards in research. Findings will be disseminated through manuscripts, presentations at relevant conferences and community outreach programmes to promote effective interventions.