Blogs - This Week In Public Health

Epi

SVI vs. ADI: What Public Health Practitioners Need to Know Since the CDC Removed SVI

TLDR; SVI and ADI overlap but measure different concepts: vulnerability vs deprivation Public health professionals often rely on composite indices to identify disadvantaged communities and guide interventions. Two prominent tools in this space are the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). Both indices measure socioeconomic and demographic disadvantage, but they were […]

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Communication

Beyond “Trust the Science”: How Public Health Must Relearn How to Engage Communities

Public health is facing a paradox. On the one hand, never before has scientific evidence played such a visible role in public life. During COVID-19, epidemiological models shaped national policy. Scientists became household names. Research moved at historic speed. On the other hand, trust fractured. Scientists were harassed. Communities disengaged. Evidence was reframed as ideology. […]

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Policy

The Youth Vaping Shift Few Policies Were Ready For

On a school afternoon in 2023, a group of 13-year-olds gather outside a corner shop. One teen pulls a slim, brightly colored device from their pocket. It smells like candy. It doesn’t look dangerous. And, to many young people, it doesn’t feel like “smoking.” That moment—now increasingly common—is exactly what new research in Frontiers in […]

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Society

Work Stress: Young Public Health Workers’ Silent Struggle

In a bustling township clinic, you find Lisa, a fresh graduate, diving into her new role as a public health worker. Faced with overwhelming job demands and endless emotional interactions, Lisa struggles to maintain her mental health amidst palpable burnout signs. Her story is a mirror reflecting a disturbing trend across young public health workers—an […]

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Global

Sudan’s Humanitarian Health Crisis:

Sudan is currently facing one of the most severe humanitarian and health crises in the world. Ongoing conflict has plunged the nation into chaos, leaving millions of civilians in desperate need of aid. The World Health Organization has reported that over 20 million people in Sudan now require humanitarian assistance, with the healthcare system on […]

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Mental health

Depression and Academic Self-Efficacy: Hidden Influences

Imagine a young college student, Alex, feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of exams, living away from home, and new responsibilities. Alex, like many others, finds himself slipping into a state of depression, which begins to affect his confidence in handling academic tasks. The narrative is all too common in universities around the world. A recent […]

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Workforce

The Role of Gossip in Nurse Burnout and Care

A Public Health Lens on an Overlooked Workplace Risk At the end of a long shift, a nurse quietly asks a colleague, “Have you heard what’s really going on with the new staffing policy?” The conversation lasts two minutes. No chart is opened. No formal meeting happens. But what’s exchanged—fear, partial information, emotional relief—can ripple […]

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Global

Dog Bites Aren’t Random: What Communities Are Missing

On a hot afternoon in a rural neighborhood, a mother watches her children hesitate at the edge of the street. A pack of dogs has settled near an open trash pile. They aren’t snarling. They aren’t charging. But everyone knows the risk. For families like hers, dog bites aren’t freak accidents—they’re part of the daily […]

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Global

Rising Cannabis Psychosis in Young Canadians

The correlation between cannabis use and mental health issues among the youth has been the subject of growing concern, especially in regions where cannabis has been legalized. Recent reports highlight a troubling rise in psychosis among young Canadians, indirectly pointing fingers at cannabis consumption as a potential catalyst. Understanding the Canadian Context Canada, being one […]

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Communication

Fake News and Media Literacy: A Vital Tool for Public Health Awareness

In today’s digital world, information travels faster than ever before. With just a few clicks, people can access news, research, and opinions from around the globe. While this accessibility has many benefits, it has also created a serious challenge: the rapid spread of misinformation. This is where fake news and media literacy become essential, especially […]

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