Background Cancer, a major global health challenge, not only threatens lives but also imposes severe financial burdens, known as ‘financial toxicity’. This strain extends beyond treatment costs to include indirect expenses like lost income and out-of-pocket payments. Despite its urgency, global insights remain fragmented, often limited to specific regions with inconsistent findings. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide a comprehensive overview of cancer-related financial toxicity and identify key risk factors contributing to this burden.Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, searching databases like Medline, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, International Scientific Indexing and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed observational studies. Data were extracted into Microsoft Excel 2021, and study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA V.17, with catastrophic health ex

International collaboration in genomic research is gaining momentum in African countries and is often supported by external funding. Over the last decade, there has been an increased interest in African genomic data. The contribution of this rich data resource in understanding diseases predominant in both African and global populations has been limited to date. There has been some non-governmental funding dedicated to the advancement of genomic research and innovation by African-based and African-led research groups, but the impact of these initiatives is hard to quantify. However, there is now an opportunity for the global research community to leverage decades of genomic data and biospecimens originating from African populations. The experience we describe in this paper is of an access governance framework established under the Human, Heredity, and Health in Africa (H3A) consortium, given the task of managing wider access to the data and biospecimen resources collected via its variou

Introduction Blood and blood products are essential for patients in need of transfusion therapy, especially those undergoing surgical procedures, childbirth and other injuries. In Cameroon, there is an annual deficit of over 270 000 pints of blood, with a coverage rate of only 17%. This qualitative study investigates the barriers and motivators to blood donation among Cameroonian adults, with the aim of better understanding community perceptions and practices.Methods This ethnographic study was performed using a purposive sampling strategy. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted with community members to understand perceptions and practices that serve as motivators and deterrents to blood donation in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically to identify emerging themes.Results A total of 25 Cameroonian adults were interviewed. Some participants believed that donating blood is: (1) a humanitarian and life-saving gesture, (2) an a

Background The WHO and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health have developed strategies to expand and integrate services for co-endemic neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) which manifest in the skin. To inform these strategies, we aimed to understand the social, economic and health system context of skin NTD care in Kalu woreda, Amhara region, Ethiopia, where cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and leprosy are endemic.Methods Between October 2020 and May 2022, we surveyed and reviewed records of 41 primary healthcare facilities and explored common disease experiences in focus group discussions (n=40) and interviews with people affected by leprosy (n=37) and CL (n=33), health workers (n=23), kebele authorities and opinion leaders (n=33) and traditional healers (n=7). Opportunities for integrated skin NTD service provision were explored through policy document review, interviews with health officials (n=25), and stakeholder meetings.Results Availability of diagnostic supplies and health worker competence

Introduction The 2022–2023 mpox outbreak has been the largest in history. We aim to synthesise the key epidemiological parameters related to the dynamics, transmission, and severity of mpox (incubation period, serial interval, generation time, infectious period, basic (R0) and effective (R(t)) reproductive number, and case fatality rate (CFR)).Methods Systematic review of observational studies in MEDLINE, EMBASE and other sources up to September 2023 (PROSPERO: CRD42023404503). Quality assessment using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal for case series, cross-sectional and cohort studies, and a designed quality assessment questionnaire for mathematical models. Meta-analysis was performed using a random effects model.Results For transmissibility parameters, we estimated a pooled incubation period of 7.60 (95% CI 7.14 to 8.10) days and a pooled serial interval of 8.30 (95% CI 6.74 to 10.23) days. One study reported a generation time of 12.5 days (95% CI 7.5 to 17.3). Three st

Background Despite induced abortion being highly legally restricted in Pakistan, studies in 2002 and 2012 showed that many women rely on abortion when faced with an unintended pregnancy. Following the 2012 study, concerted efforts were made to improve contraceptive services and to strengthen postabortion care. The availability and use of misoprostol also expanded in the past decade. Our primary objective was to provide new evidence on the rates of unintended pregnancy, induced abortion and postabortion care in 2023 and to assess trends in these outcomes since 2012.Methods This is a cross-sectional study based on a Health Professional Survey, and a nationally representative Health Facilities Survey, conducted in 2023. A widely applied methodology is used to estimate rates of abortion and unintended pregnancy. Data sources and methods are comparable across the 2012 and 2023 studies.Results In 2023, an estimated six million unintended pregnancies occurred and 64% of them or 3.8 (95% CI 2.