Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Sep · PMID 40814728
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Our study investigates the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and COVID-19 vaccine uptake in China, using data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey. While prior research in Western contexts has cons...Our study investigates the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and COVID-19 vaccine uptake in China, using data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey. While prior research in Western contexts has consistently shown strong associations between SEP and vaccination behavior, our findings reveal that these relationships are weak or moderate at most in China. We attribute this to the unique sociopolitical context of China, where stringent public health policies and equitable resource distribution played a significant role in shaping vaccination outcomes.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Nov · PMID 40788116
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Typhoid fever is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. This review assessed the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the tetanus toxoid conjugate typhoid vaccine (Vi-TT) in children and ado...Typhoid fever is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. This review assessed the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the tetanus toxoid conjugate typhoid vaccine (Vi-TT) in children and adolescents. Randomized controlled trials involving Vi-TT in individuals under 18 were included. Eligible studies were screened, and quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias-2 tool. Meta-analysis was conducted with RevMan Web. Four trials with 111 481 children found the risk of blood culture-confirmed typhoid fever after Vi-TT to be 0.18 compared with nontyphoid vaccines. Adverse event rates were similar, with a serious adverse event risk of 0.82 within six months. Seroconversion was 58.04 times higher at 28 days and 21.80 times higher after 18 months postvaccination, respectively). One trial had a high risk of bias, so sensitivity analysis was performed with and without it. GRADE assessment showed strong evidence that Vi-TT reduces typhoid risk without significant safety concerns. Seroconversion declined over time but remained significantly higher after 18 months. This concludes that Vi-TT is safe and effective for children and adolescents, and is recommended for vaccination in endemic areas.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Nov · PMID 40782037
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On 30 September 2021, Viet Duc University Hospital in Northern Vietnam, reported a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta outbreak, leading to an 18-day lockdown and repeated testing of all on...On 30 September 2021, Viet Duc University Hospital in Northern Vietnam, reported a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta outbreak, leading to an 18-day lockdown and repeated testing of all on-site individuals. At this time, SARS-CoV-2 was not yet circulating at scale among the general public and COVID-19 vaccination status varied among staff, patients, and caregivers. We estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE), attack rates (ARs), and adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) to identify factors associated with infection among infection-naïve patients, caregivers, and staff using multivariable regression analysis. Among 630 at-risk individuals, there were 131 (21%) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 cases including three deaths. The overall VE was 78%. Hospital staff and people who were fully vaccinated had a significantly lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection ( < .05). Our analysis shows the importance of being fully vaccinated in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospital settings.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Jul · PMID 40665547
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This study examined the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on influenza vaccination and health screening trends in Korea. A total of 49 299 individuals aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korea National He...This study examined the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on influenza vaccination and health screening trends in Korea. A total of 49 299 individuals aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2013-2015, 2016-2019, or 2020-2022 (the COVID-19 era) with available information on influenza vaccination, health screening, and cancer screening status were included. Multivariate regression models were used to compare the estimated prevalences of behaviors during these three phases. The COVID-19 pandemic arrested the increasing health screening trend and reversed the increasing cancer screening trend, whereas the influenza vaccination rate continuously increased, irrespective of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, subgroup analysis revealed: (1) that during the COVID-19 pandemic, no increasing trend in influenza vaccination was evident for older adults (≥65 years old) or individuals with a lower socioeconomic status and (2) that even during COVID-19 pandemic, older adults and women were more actively screened. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected influenza vaccination and health screening rates among Korean adults but affected specific populations differently.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Jul · PMID 40586244
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Smoking and diabetes have detrimental effects on tooth loss, though few studies have examined their interaction. Using five waves of cross-sectional data from the state of Hawai'i in the United States, this study aimed t...Smoking and diabetes have detrimental effects on tooth loss, though few studies have examined their interaction. Using five waves of cross-sectional data from the state of Hawai'i in the United States, this study aimed to examine the interaction effects between smoking and diabetes on severe tooth loss () among adults, using a weighted logistic regression approach. In Hawai'i, the overall prevalence of severe tooth loss was 9.7%. Among never smokers, diabetes was associated with a 10.3% higher prevalence of severe tooth loss compared with those without diabetes. The differences due to diabetes were nearly doubled among former smokers (19%) and current smokers (16.2%). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the differences were smaller but still statistically significant, indicating the aggravating effect of smoking on tooth loss among those with diabetes. Awareness of the interaction between smoking and diabetes is crucial for the development of policies aimed at improving health equity.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Jul · PMID 40580041
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This study evaluated the relationship between health information literacy and nonvaccination against COVID-19, while identifying potential moderating factors. The study included 229 237 participants who reported on their...This study evaluated the relationship between health information literacy and nonvaccination against COVID-19, while identifying potential moderating factors. The study included 229 237 participants who reported on their COVID-19 vaccination experiences as part of the 2021 Korea Community Health Survey. Using multiple logistic regression, we analyzed the impact of health information literacy on vaccination status, adjusting for sociodemographic and personal hygiene factors, and calculated the odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals. Individuals who have difficulty understanding health information were at increased risk of being unvaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, sociodemographic factors and hand hygiene independently influenced vaccination status. Notably, health literacy showed an age-dependent relationship with COVID-19 vaccination, with individuals below 45 and above 75 years old having a 17% and 32% higher risk of remaining unvaccinated due to difficulties in understanding health information, respectively. To reduce nonvaccination rates, health communication strategies that improve information delivery may be particularly beneficial for both younger and older age groups.
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 Jul · PMID 40401334
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The burden of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is particularly substantial in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, a comprehensive understanding of their prevalence in these regions is lacking. This syst...The burden of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is particularly substantial in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, a comprehensive understanding of their prevalence in these regions is lacking. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HAIs in LMICs. Major databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, were thoroughly searched for published studies between January 1, 2000, and July 15, 2024. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. The pooled prevalence of HAIs was estimated using a random-effects model and a 95% confidence interval. The literature search identified 87 studies reporting HAI prevalence in LMICs. The overall prevalence of HAIs across LMICs was 22%. The South-East Asian Region presented the highest prevalence at 37%. In terms of income level, low-income countries had the highest prevalence at 37%. Surgical site infections had the highest prevalence among infection types at 27%. This systematic review underscores the high prevalence of HAIs in most LMICs, emphasizing the need to facilitate the development of targeted prevention and control strategies to mitigate the impact of this critical public health issue, especially in resource-limited settings.
Abdul Rahim NA, Choo WY, Awang H
… +2 more, Hairi NN, Mansor N
Asia Pac J Public Health
· 2025 May · PMID 40370120
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Undiagnosed hypertension is a major public health threat due to its association with premature death. This study examined the association between factors of health service utilization with undiagnosed hypertension among...Undiagnosed hypertension is a major public health threat due to its association with premature death. This study examined the association between factors of health service utilization with undiagnosed hypertension among middle-aged (40-59 years) and older adults (≥60 years) with elevated blood pressure in Malaysia. A cross-sectional analysis of 2838 adults from the Malaysia Ageing and Retirement Survey Wave-1 revealed an undiagnosed hypertension proportion of 55.9%, higher in middle-aged (63.8%) than older adults (45.5%). Obesity, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and regular medical check-ups reduced the odds, while perceived good health increased the odds of undiagnosed hypertension in both age groups. Ethnicity, smoking status, and recent headaches also influenced undiagnosed hypertension in age-specific patterns. Overall, health service utilization emerged as a significant factor of undiagnosed hypertension in both age groups. Targeted health education and regular community hypertension screenings are crucial, particularly for low-risk or seemingly healthy adults, to mitigate the burden of undiagnosed hypertension.