Background:The availability of health information through media has raised public awareness of health literacy (HL). HL is essential for medication adherence and self-management in individuals with chronic diseases, and for those without chronic conditions, HL is important for promoting health and engaging in preventive behaviors. This study examined the role of having a regular physician in improving HL among Korean adults, both with and without chronic diseases. Methods:We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis using data from 8,322 participants in the 2021 Korea Health Panel Study. HL was measured with the 16-item European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire. To identify factors associated with HL categories and to calculate adjusted mean HL scores, we used multiple logistic regression and weighted linear regression. Results:Among participants with chronic diseases (n=4,627), 56.6% reported having a regular physician, with the largest group (42.7%) showing inadequate HL. After adjustment, age 75 years or older and lower education were significantly linked to lower HL levels, regardless of chronic disease status. Having a regular physician was significantly associated with higher HL levels in participants with chronic diseases (adjusted odds ratio, 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-2.63), but not in those without chronic diseases. Participants with chronic diseases who had a regular physician showed higher mean HL scores across all HL competencies and domains. Conclusion:Although access to health information has increased, the risk of encountering conflicting or misleading content has grown. These findings emphasize the importance of regular physicians in guiding patients and improving HL, especially among individuals with chronic diseases.
BackgroundIndia rolled out COVID-19 vaccinations for adults in January 2021 and children aged 12-18 in early 2022. A 2021 survey indicated that 63% of Indian parents were willing to vaccinate their children against COVID-19, with few studies examining vaccine hesitancy and acceptability. The the Behavioral and Social Drivers of Vaccination (BeSD) framework helps demonstrate which factors may affect vaccination uptake. Our study examined parents' intentions-to-vaccinate their children below 18 years of age against COVID-19 in Mysore, India and their decision-making process using the BeSD framework.MethodsFrom November 2021 to May 2022, 506 parents/guardians of children below 18 years of age living in Mysore district, India were consented and interviewed by phone or face-to-face. We assessed their own COVID-19 vaccination status, vaccine confidence (Vaccine Confidence Index), intention-to-vaccinate their child against COVID-19, and other factors affecting vaccination such as demographic variables. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression was conducted to examine the association of influencing factors based on the literature and BeSD framework using Stata version 16.1. Intention-to-vaccinate was presented as odds ratios (OR) with associated 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).ResultsThe majority (91.3%) of the 506 participants fully trusted COVID-19 vaccines for their children. The same number (91.3%) had been fully vaccinated themselves, and 78.3% reported being (very) likely to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Vaccine-hesitant and vaccine-confident groups were not significantly different socio-demographically. As parental age increased, parents had higher odds to express intention-to-vaccinate their child (OR: 1.04, 95%CI: 1.01-1.08). Parents from urban Mysore had lower odds to vaccinate their child compared to those from rural areas (OR: 0.53, 95%CI: 0.35-0.82).ConclusionMost parents expressed vaccine confidence and intention-to-vaccinate their child against COVID-19. Exploring decision-making processes among parents is a crucial strategy to ensure effective implementation of vaccination programs.
BackgroundCervical cancer is the first cancer that can be eliminated, yet it remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women in low- and middle-income countries. India accounts for a substantial share of the global burden, making its trajectory central to global elimination efforts. Although effective tools—including HPV vaccination, HPV-based screening, and treatment of precancerous lesions—are well established, progress has been uneven. The central challenge is no longer scientific discovery but large-scale implementation, building on India's demonstrated capacity for nationwide public health delivery through polio eradication, HIV/AIDS control, and COVID-19 vaccination.MethodsWe conducted a conference-informed policy and implementation synthesis drawing on expert presentations from the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) 2025 “The World Could End Cervical Cancer If it Tried: spotlight on India” session, complemented by peer-reviewed literature and policy documents. A rapid thematic synthesis approach was used to identify and organize implementation priorities across the prevention and care continuum.FindingsFive interrelated priorities emerged. First, demand generation must move beyond awareness to trust-driven uptake through credible messengers and clear service pathways. Second, strengthening provider capacity is essential to improve vaccine confidence and recommendation practices across the clinical workforce. Third, screening programmes must be redesigned around completion of the care cascade rather than participation alone, with integrated pathways for triage and treatment. Fourth, community engagement should be embedded within service delivery and navigation systems to translate trust into sustained participation and follow-through. Fifth, governance, financing, and digital infrastructure—including national registries and interoperable data systems—are critical to enable coordinated, accountable scale-up. Across all domains, trust functions as a central cross-cutting mechanism linking awareness to uptake and continuity of care.InterpretationCervical cancer elimination in India is achievable but requires a shift from fragmented initiatives to coordinated national implementation. Bridging the gap between evidence and delivery will depend on aligning communication, workforce capacity, service integration, community engagement, and system-level governance with urgency and accountability. India's success will not only determine national outcomes but will be pivotal to achieving global cervical cancer elimination within this generation.
Background The criticality of global health was put on full display following the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating effects on communities, irrespective of their socioeconomic status. Biomedical innovations that have been actively developed over the years played a critical role in combating the crisis and bringing communities together. However, even with significant technological advancements, solving global health issues with realistic solutions requires an intimate understanding of culture, socioeconomics, and educational competency, among other factors. The Biomedical Innovations for Global Impact course at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, provides students with the opportunity to focus on specific healthcare system problems and work collaboratively with students from other disciplines and other countries. By collaborating with institutions in Panama and India, students are provided the opportunity to address health care system challenges under the advisement of clinical and entrepreneurial mentors. This study focused on evaluating the course via pre- and post-course surveys completed by the students, focusing on their educational experience, personal growth, professional development, and cultural understanding. Results Student feedback on educational experience indicated a strong agreement that the course enhanced understanding of the design process as well as infrastructure challenges. Post-course analysis revealed an improvement in research skills, interdisciplinary communication, and real-world applications of both business and biomedical engineering principles. Approximately 85% of students agreed that the course improved their ability to engage in interdisciplinary groups while enhancing their understanding of global health. No significant shifts in the pre- and post-course responses were observed, which indicated that the high expectations of students were met. While most students recognized the value of engineering and entrepreneurial partnerships, some expressed interest in the application of these lessons on an international stage. The students' cultural understanding prompts revealed a high agreement on its importance in global innovation. However, results revealed challenges in cross-cultural engagement and internal team communication, and active engagement. Conclusion Qualitative responses revealed that students grew in empathy, cultural competence, and awareness of global health disparities. Despite the challenges that students experienced, many students appreciated the opportunity to apply their knowledge to explore diverse ideas and engage with real-world challenges as part of the course. The multicultural teams encouraged creativity and allowed students to broaden their horizons. In addition, the students had to learn to re-evaluate prior assumptions and increase their empathy, adaptability, and inclusiveness.
Abstract This study assessed the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factor genes (VFs), DNA viruses, and medically-relevant pathogens in three major cities around the globe – Mysuru (India), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), and Tucson (Arizona, United States of America). Ten households were sampled in each city, at ten sites in the bathroom, kitchen, and living spaces. The alpha diversity of ARGs significantly differed between household locations in each country (ANOVA, p<0.05) and beta diversity (dissimilarity) analysis showed a significant association between the ARGs and the geographic locations (PERMANOVA, p<0.01). A set of ARGs were found in every location across the dataset (the core ARG profile) included 25 different genes. The alpha diversity of virulence factors differed across the household locations within the three cities (ANOVA, p<0.01). The beta diversity of VFs was not well explained by geographic location or location within the household (PERMANOVA, p=0.129 (geographic), p=0.127 (household)). There were 341 unique VFs found in the study, but only 5 core VFs across the dataset. Bacterial pathogens detected across the household included Escherichia coli , Acinetobacter baumanii , Klebsiella pneumoniae , and more. The DNA (and bacteriophage) virome varied between countries and was more diverse in Tucson and Dubai (top viral families included Poxviridae and Orthoherpesviridae - two families which contain human pathogens - and Steitzviridae, a family of bacteriophages) compared to Mysuru, where nearly all viruses were a part of the Muvirus genus (a bacteriophage which contributes to horizontal gene transfer by phage transduction). Importance The diversity of the built environment microbiome is not well characterized globally. Household occupants interact with the built microbiome on a daily basis, and the built microbiome may have the potential to influence human health. The presence of pathogens in the built environment and the key genes contributing to microorganism pathogenicity were investigated in this study, as information on this is lacking on an international scale. The diversity of ARG and VFs across the globe, as well as the presence of medically relevant pathogens within the house that were found in this study highlights the need to explore further the factors which influence the household microbiome, virome, and resistome. This may aid in identify how the build microbiome may be shaped by humans and influence human health. Impact Statement This research contributes to the understanding of the built microbiome, specifically how it varies within the house, within cities, and across the globe. This can aid in our understanding of microbial dynamics in environments with heavy human influence and help develop and improve hygiene habits and products which are mindful of the existing microbiome.
