NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters
A student-led journal driven by the latest research in public health disaster preparedness and management.
The United Nations (UN) has called attention to the growing Haitian population, a record 5.7 million people, who are projected to experience acute food insecurity through June. Of this number, which is more than half of Haiti’s population, over two million are projected to face emergency-level hunger. Around 8,400 are going to face catastrophic food insecurity, where people face severe acute malnutrition and risk of death.
Continue reading “Hunger in Haiti Reaches Record Levels”
Nigeria’s healthcare system faces a troubling crisis as hospitals unlawfully detain newborns and their mothers over unpaid medical bills. This practice, which disproportionately affects low-income families, raises serious ethical concerns and exposes vulnerable infants to severe health risks. Despite efforts to expand health insurance coverage, gaps in implementation continue to leave many without protection, allowing this issue to persist.
Continue reading “Trapped at Birth: The Unlawful Detention of Newborns in Nigerian Hospitals”
In a new report, Prospects for Children 2025: Building Resilient Systems for Children’s Futures, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has identified the main worldwide trends that will affect children’s lives over the next year and beyond: conflict, economic instability, and climate change.
Continue reading “UNICEF Highlights Global Challenges Facing Children in 2025”
A new UNICEF analysis estimates that more than 100 children below the age of five die every day in East Asia and the Pacific from air pollution, which it classifies as a major child survival threat. More than 325 million children are exposed to PM2.5 levels that are more than five times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, while 373 million are exposed to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) at dangerous levels, leading to UNICEF classifying air pollution as a major threat to child survival.
Continue reading “Toxic Air Threatens Children’s Lives, UNICEF Warns”
Government cash payouts are showing promise in combating the world’s deadliest infectious disease, tuberculosis (TB). Two data sets from Brazil, one from the Ministry of Health and another tracking social programs for the poorest in the population, recorded families receiving cash payments were significantly less likely to contract TB. Within the subcategory of the extremely poor, TB cases and deaths dropped by more than 50% and more than 60% within the Indigenous population. With rising incidents of disproportionate healthcare and less access for the low-income Indigenous population, this study shows great indications for further eradication of this deadly disease.
Continue reading “Government Cash Payouts Plunge Tuberculosis Levels in Brazil”
On February 7, a child in Kentucky reportedly died from the flu, the state’s first pediatric flu death this season—according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
In January, officials in Gaines County, Texas, reported at least 10 cases of measles—eight of which were among school-aged children—driving worries of an escalating outbreak.
Late last year, Oregon experienced its largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years. The Oregon Health Authority reported 31 cases of measles across the state.
Resoundingly true across all these cases is the lack of vaccinations. These states, along with other countries around the world, experienced the impending consequences of declining childhood vaccination rates following the COVID-19 pandemic. While the United States does not top the list when it comes to the highest percentage of unvaccinated children, the decline of vaccinations despite its easy access and mass quantity has researchers and clinicians alike alarmed.
Continue reading “After the Pandemic, Childhood Vaccination Rates Continue to Decline “
The disparity between high-income countries (HICs) and low-middle-income countries (LMICs) continues to persist, with an increasing emphasis on the impact it has on children with cancer. The American Childhood Cancer Organization states that 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year globally; however, thousands of children in LMICs remain undiagnosed, widening the gap between those who receive treatment and those who do not.
Continue reading “Highlighting Inequities in Cancer Care Between Low and High Income Countries”
Congenital syphilis, a preventable condition with severe outcomes, is rising in Australia due to gaps in prenatal care. Despite public health efforts, the incidence among women of reproductive age has surged, necessitating urgent action to prevent a continued increase in cases.
Continue reading “A Preventable Tragedy: The Rise of Congenital Syphilis in Australia”