Blogs - This Week In Public Health

Research

Breaking Barriers in Testicular Cancer Prevention

On a bustling university campus, health representatives set up outreach booths promoting a new initiative on testicular cancer prevention. Leaflets and posters adorned with QR codes are scattered across tables, while passionate volunteers encourage young men to participate in a critical health study. Yet, despite their efforts, the echoes of engagement opportunities dwindle into silence. […]

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Commentary

We Keep Studying Barriers. Why Doesn’t Implementation Get Easier?

Implementation science has become remarkably good at describing why change is difficult. Over the past four decades, researchers have interviewed clinicians, observed organizations, synthesized evidence, developed implementation frameworks, and published hundreds of thousands of papers documenting the obstacles to putting evidence into practice. Leadership matters. Resources matter. Organizational culture matters. Training, workflow, stakeholder engagement, incentives, […]

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Health equity

Addressing the School-to-Suicide Pipeline

In a bustling school district in the heart of the Midwest, a school psychologist sits at her desk, grappling with the alarming rise in suicides among her Black students. She looks over suspension records and recalls how many of these students were formally disciplined just days before they took their own lives. It’s an unsettling […]

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Epi

Navigating NCDs and Inequality

As the sun sets over a bustling community clinic in Nairobi, a public health worker locks up yet another round of vaccinations. Her battle is no longer only against traditional communicable diseases but also against emerging non-communicable diseases (NCDs), all amidst grappling with entrenched health inequities. This scenario is becoming increasingly common across the globe, […]

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Policy

Gas Station Drugs

Why Public Health Experts Are Worried About Tianeptine, Kratom, and Other Unregulated Substances For decades, public health professionals have tracked the rise of illicit drugs, prescription opioid misuse, and emerging synthetic substances. Increasingly, however, some of the most concerning psychoactive products are being sold openly in gas stations, convenience stores, smoke shops, and online marketplaces. […]

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News

Unequal Burdens, Unequal Access: What New Global Studies Reveal About Health Disparities

In today’s interconnected world, evidence from diverse regions charts a clear message: disparities in health outcomes and access remain pressing challenges that demand equity-driven policies and systemic reforms. Recent research from Japan to Brazil, Mozambique to South Korea, and across low- and middle-income countries exposes the nuanced layers of health inequality—from cancer mortality linked to […]

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Society

Building Trust to Tackle Gun Violence: Durham’s Multifaceted Approach

It was a bright morning in Durham, North Carolina, as local community health workers gathered at a neighborhood center. Among them was Janelle, a seasoned outreach worker who listened intently as residents shared their safety concerns in a small, crowded room. The meeting, part of Together for Resilient Youth’s (TRY) initiative, sought to address the […]

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Nutrition

Insect-Fortified Snacks for Madagascar Kids: A Recipe for Better Health

In the sun-drenched schoolyards of Madagascar, children line up eagerly as teachers offer them a novel snack: crackers fortified with crickets and black soldier fly larvae. In this corner of the world, where malnutrition and food insecurity are high, the introduction of this unusual yet nutritious treat holds promise for addressing critical dietary gaps. Yes, […]

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Resources

Urban Density and Health in Doha: Rethinking the Built Environment

Amidst the bustling streets of Doha, Qatar’s capital, a place where we spent a wonderful time last December, a unique scene unfolds. Residents hurry along shaded walks, braving the scorching heat as they navigate the complex dance of urban life. These are images of necessity-driven walking—motivated less by choice than by the constraints of Doha’s […]

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