JMIR Public Health and Surveillance

Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is the current standard for sampling key populations at risk for HIV infections but is usually limited to local implementation in single towns or cities. Web-based sampling eliminates this spatial constraint but often relies on self-selected convenience samples. We piloted an online RDS survey with biomarker collection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Thailand.

This study provides an update on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, building upon our initial analysis conducted in 2020 by incorporating an additional 2 years of data.

Population-based databases are valuable for perinatal research. The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) created a linked birth file covering the years 1991 through 2012. This file includes birth and fetal death certificate records linked to the hospital discharge records of the birthing person and infant. In 2019, the University of California Study of Outcomes in Mothers and Infants received approval to create similar linked birth files for births from 2011 onward, with 2 years of overlapping birth files to allow for linkage comparison.

Suicide remains a public health priority worldwide with over 700,000 deaths annually, ranking as a leading cause of death among young adults. Traditional research methodologies have often fallen short in capturing the multifaceted nature of suicide, focusing on isolated risk factors rather than the complex interplay of individual, social, and environmental influences. Recognizing these limitations, there is a growing recognition of the value of dynamic simulation modeling to inform suicide prevention planning.

Lifestyle interventions for weight loss are generally ineffective in achieving clinically meaningful long-term reductions in body weight and may contribute to negative behaviour such as weight cyckling or disordered eating. Negative focus on high weight may also contribute to weight stigma. Weight stigma includes negative attitude and discriminatory behavoiur towards people with big bodies and can result in psychological stress and unfavourable health outcomes. Taken together, it is possible that the potential harms of lifestyle-based weight loss interventions may exceed the potential benefits. Weight neutral health (WNH) has emerged as an alternative strategy advocating for size diversity, intuitive eating and enjoyable physical movement, all without placing emphasis on weight reduction

Occupational noise-induced deafness (ONID) has replaced occupational poisoning as the second most common occupational disease in China since 2015. However, there is a limited number of literatures on epidemiological characteristics of legally diagnosed ONID.

Anthropometric indexes offer a practical approach to identifying metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components. However, there is a scarcity of research on anthropometric indexes tailored to predict metabolic syndrome (MetS) in populations from less developed regions.

N/A

This letter to the editor responds to a recent commentary highlighting the need for robust government-academic data infrastructures for public health crisis response. While there is agreement with the call for enhanced government-academic collaborations to improve data sharing during emergencies, an emphasis is placed on the need for deeper discussion on practical challenges and limitations. The letter underscores the critical role of data sharing in managing public health crises, noting the logistical and ethical challenges, particularly in maintaining data privacy and security. The COVID-19 pandemic showcased the difficulties in keeping sensitive health data confidential while ensuring timely research access. Thus, developing comprehensive data governance policies is highlighted as a crucial first step for successful collaborations. In addition, the integration of academic researchers into the public health response framework is supported but requires careful consideration of institutional inertia and bureaucratic resistance. Government entities follow rigid protocols, meanwhile academic institutions, accustomed to methodological rigor and peer-reviewed processes, may struggle with the urgent timelines required during crises. The letter calls for a realistic approach to maintaining sustained partnerships, addressing the need for ongoing funding, dedicated personnel, and continuous training. They stress the importance of actionable solutions for securing long-term funding and suggest leveraging academic expertise in data analysis while fostering bidirectional learning and capacity building. Finally, the letter advocates for standardized protocols for data collection and processing across sectors, investing in technologies that facilitate data harmonization and interoperability. The authors urge a nuanced analysis addressing data governance, institutional resistance, resource allocation, bidirectional learning, and data standardization to build sustainable government-academic collaborations for effective public health emergency responses.

From our roles within international public health organizations, we have collectively witnessed the global challenges presented by outdated health information systems, platforms and applications. The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly exposed the limitations of our current paper-based vaccine certification methods and highlighted the deficiencies of outdated technological platforms that lack interoperability standards, a situation that underscores the critical need for a digital transformation in how we manage and verify immunization records. Digital vaccination certificates are understood to be secure, electronically stored, and easily accessible records that provide verifiable proof of a person's immunization status. PAHOenvisions leveraging digital technologies to strengthen health systems, enhance data-driven decision-making, and improve health outcomes. The Organization’s vision emphasizes the integration of innovative technologies to build resilient and responsive health systems capable of addressing modern public health challenges [1]. In an era of unprecedented technological advancement, our continued reliance on paper-based vaccine certificates is not just anachronistic—it’s a significant liability for global public health that impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of our health systems on multiple fronts, limiting our ability to respond to public health crises effectively [2]. With the strategic guidance from its Member States, PAHO has agreed to move towards the digital transformation of the health sector across the entire continent with an initiative that aims to improve health outcomes, ensure equitable access to health services, and enhance the overall efficiency of health systems in the Americas. The roadmap for this digital transformation outlines strategic actions and goals to achieve a connected, efficient, and resilient health sector [3].

As the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 progresses, it becomes crucial to comprehend the lasting effects of vaccination on safeguarding against new infections or reinfections.

In response to the well-documented fragmentation within its mental health system, Australia has witnessed recently rapid expansion in the availability of digital mental healthcare navigation tools. These tools focus on assisting consumers identify and access appropriate mental healthcare services, The proliferation of such varied web-based resources risks perpetuating further fragmentation and confusion for consumers. There is a pressing need to systematically assess the characteristics, comprehensiveness and validity of these navigation tools, especially as demand for digital resources continues to escalate.