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Both dermatological and neurological manifestations characterise neurocutaneous syndromes (NCSs). Although individually rare, collectively they impose a substantial clinical, humanitarian and economic burden, often contributing to barriers in healthcare access. This scoping review aims to map global evidence on healthcare access and service utilisation in NCSs and identify barriers, facilitators and gaps in care.
This scoping review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Bibliographic databases and hand searches will be used to identify relevant studies. Published and grey literature addressing healthcare access will be included while non-English studies will be excluded. Two independent reviewers will perform study selection and data extraction. Quality assessment will be conducted for full-text studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Findings will be mapped to evidence on healthcare access, service utilisation, treatment patterns, barriers and facilitators and will be presented using tables and geographic mapping.
This scoping review will use publicly available data and therefore does not require ethical approval. The findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
by Mequanent Dessie Bitewa, Thomas Kidanemariam Yewodiaw, Aysheshim Asnake Abneh, Mikias Getahun Molla, Mulat Belay Simegn, Tadele Sinishaw Jemere, Mequannt Alemu Endayehu, Aysheshim Belaineh Haimanot, Werkneh Melkie Tilahun, Atirsaw Assefa Melikamu, Tadele Derbew Kassie
BackgroundCervical cancer is preventable, yet it remains a leading cause of cancer death in women. About 90% of cases and 94% of deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Limited access to screening drives high incidence and mortality. Screening is central to secondary prevention and global elimination efforts.
ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess determinants of cervical cancer screening among women aged 30–49 years in low- and middle-income countries: a multilevel analysis.
MethodsA cross-sectional study used nationally representative data from 148,605 weighted women aged 30–49 years in 20 LMICs (2019–2024). Multilevel logistic regression identified factors associated with cervical cancer screening while accounting for cluster-level variation. Statistical significance was set at p Result
Overall cervical cancer screening uptake was 14.03% (95% CI: 13.63–14.45%), ranging from 0.92% in Mauritania to 42.98% in Zambia. Higher screening was associated with older age 40–49 years (AOR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.41–1.54), occupation (AOR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.10–1.21), contraceptive use (AOR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.31–1.44), recent health-facility visit (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.84–2.02), prior abortion (AOR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.22–1.34), female-headed households (AOR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.05–1.18), high community education (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.49–1.79), and high media exposure (AOR = 2.54; 95% CI: 2.30–2.80). Lower uptake was observed among individuals in high-poverty communities (AOR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.57–0.68), higher parity (1–4 birth) (AOR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.78–0.94); (five or more births) (AOR=0.66 95% CI: 59–0.73), and those residing in rural areas (AOR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.82–0.97).
ConclusionCervical cancer screening uptake in LMICs is far below the WHO 2030 target, with wide country disparities. Socio-demographic factors, health-facility contact, and community education increase uptake, while poverty and geographic barriers reduce it. Integrating screening into routine reproductive and maternal care, strengthening community and media education, and addressing structural barriers to access are essential to improving coverage.
by Sandra S. Chaves, Valérie Bosch Castells, Ainara Mira-Iglesias, Joan Puig-Barberà, F. Xavier López-Labrador, Miguel Tortajada-Girbés, Mario Carballido-Fernández, Joan Mollar-Maseres, Germán Schwarz-Chávarri, Javier Díez-Domingo, Alejandro Orrico-Sánchez, Valencia Hospital Network for the Study of Influenza and other Respiratory Viruses (VAHNSI)
BackgroundUnderstanding the burden of acute viral respiratory infection-related hospitalizations is crucial for guiding research and development. Unlike influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, no pharmaceutical interventions exist for other respiratory viruses; therefore, their impact remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to investigate the association of current non-vaccine-preventable respiratory viruses, especially rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV), on hospitalizations during the respiratory seasons.
MethodsData from a prospective study that used multiplex polymerase chain reaction to conduct long-term surveillance on respiratory viruses in Valencia, Spain were analyzed. Patients aged ≥50 years hospitalized due to respiratory illness from 2014–15–2019–20 were included.
ResultsRespiratory viruses were detected in 35.2% (3,755/10,675) of hospitalized patients with acute respiratory illness. Influenza and RSV accounted for 22.1% of hospitalizations, RV/EV for 7.6%, and other non-vaccine-preventable viruses for 5.4%. Adults ≥75 years had average seasonal hospitalization incidence rates more than twice those aged 65–74 years and eight times those aged 50–64-year-olds. No significant differences in severity markers were observed among patients with or without virus identified, those aged ≥75 years had a 2–3 times higher mortality rate compared to younger age groups.
ConclusionsThe potential impact of respiratory viruses on hospitalization rates among older adults, particularly those aged ≥75 years, highlights the need for targeted interventions to reduce healthcare system burden. Enhanced diagnostic capabilities and the development of next-generation preventive strategies, including vaccines and therapeutics, could improve patient outcomes and strengthen the resilience of the healthcare system during respiratory virus seasons.
by Birtukan Gizachew Ayal, Abebe Kassa Geto, Sefineh Fenta Feleke, Ali Yimer, Atitegeb Abera Kidie, Natnael Amare Tesfa, Esuyawkal Mislu, Molla Hailu, Hassen Ahmed Yesuf
BackgroundSugar-sweetened beverages or snacks are limited in nutritional value. Excess consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks in early childhood is associated with inadequate micronutrient intake, being overweight or obese, and developing chronic diseases later in life. There is scarcity of information specific to sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks consumption prevalence and its determinants in Sub-Saharan Africa Countries. This study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of sugar-sweetened beverage or snack consumption and its determinants among infants and young children aged 6–23 months.
MethodsA cross-sectional study design was conducted using demographic and health survey data conducted from 2019 to 2023 from twelve Sub-Saharan African countries. A weighted sample of 23,145 children aged 6–23 months was included in the study. Multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the dependent variable. The level of statistical significance was declared with a p-value Results
The pooled prevalence of Sugar-sweetened beverage or snack consumption was 25.40% (95% CI: 24.84% − 25.96%). In multilevel multivariable logistic regression analysis, children aged between 9−11(AOR = 1.95 95% CI: 1.62, 2.35), 12–17(AOR = 2.83; 95% CI: 2.26, 3.54), and 18−23 months (AOR = 3.77;95% CI: 3.07, 4.63), media exposure (AOR = 1.59; 95% CI:1.28, 1.98), children from households with middle (AOR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.73) and rich (AOR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.87, 2.85) wealth status, post natal checkup (AOR = 1.18; 95%CI:1.05,1.33), maternal ANC visit (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.15, 2.22), and high community media exposure ((AOR = 2.22;95%CI:1.65,5.81) were positively associated significant factors whereas currently breast feeding children (AOR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.59,0.82), older age at first birth (AOR = 0.88,95% CI: 0.81, 0.96), presences of more than one under-5 children in the household (AOR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.99), mothers don’t perceive distance to health facility as big problem (AOR = 0.86; 95% CI:0.76, 0.98), and children reside in rural (AOR = 0.83;95%CI:0.68,0.95) were negatively associated with sugar sweetened beverage or snack consumption.
ConclusionIn this study, one out of four children consumed sugar-sweetened beverages or snacks. Current age of child, current breastfeeding status of child, media exposure, wealth index, maternal age at first birth, post natal checkup, maternal ANC visit, number of under-five children in the household, distance to health facility, place of residence, and community level media exposure were significant factors with sugar-sweetened beverage or snack consumption. Therefore, it is recommended to raise awareness about the health risks of sugar-sweetened beverage and snack consumption, enforce restrictions on their advertisement, strengthen nutrition-focused counseling within maternal and child health services with special attention for older age children, promote breastfeeding, and give special attention to challenges related to health facility accessibility, and support for young mothers.
The global population of individuals aged 60 years and older is growing rapidly, presenting multiple complex challenges, including frailty, cognitive decline, functional impairments, multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Consequently, addressing the rehabilitation needs of this age group poses significant difficulties in today’s world. There is some evidence that community-based rehabilitation approaches can meet the unique rehabilitation needs of older individuals. Therefore, this scoping review aims to explore the application of community-based rehabilitation approaches for the older adult population.
This scoping review will follow the methodological framework outlined by Arksey and O'Malley. The search will be conducted using academic databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science, with the search terms ‘community-based rehabilitation,’ ‘aged,’ ‘older,’ ‘elder’ and ‘geriatric’. Additionally, Google Scholar will be used to identify relevant literature. Publications in English from inception to January 2025 that explicitly address community-based rehabilitation programmes for older adults will be eligible. Inclusion criteria encompass studies reporting on CBR interventions, outcomes or implementation targeting older adults with disabilities or vulnerabilities, across diverse geographic and socioeconomic contexts. Both peer-reviewed articles and grey literature (eg, reports, guidelines, theses) will be considered. Studies focusing solely on clinical or institutional rehabilitation without community components will be excluded. The study selection process will occur in two stages, involving the participation of three reviewers. A data extraction form will be used to systematically extract data from all included studies.
This scoping review was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (Code:IR.USWR.REC.1404.034), and the results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
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