Seven new insights into diagnosis, prevention and disease control

What happens when floods, drought and heat start shaping everyday life? Researchers studied Tanzania’s plans for health in the face of a changing climate. Stakeholders in the country were asked about policies and their implementation. There are relevant policies, but local action is held back by gaps in funding and coordination, and 97% of residents of the Kilombero-Valley reported exposure to floods, drought and extreme heat, and related health problems.

Urassa, A. P., Finda, M. F., Okumu, F. O., & Kreppel, K. (2026).  Climate-related health threats in Tanzania: a multi-level analysis of key policies, strategies and community response. Health Policy and Planning, czag066.

Not all children are reached by routine immunization services. A study of 1,890 Ethiopian children aged 12–23 months found that about one in four had not received the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP1) vaccine. These "zero-dose" children were more common in poor households and where mothers missed antenatal care (ANC). Poverty and lack of ANC were the main causes, showing the need for targeted outreach and better links between ANC and immunization services to improve equitable access.

Shiferie, F., Asefa, A., Gebremedhin, S., & Beňová, L. (2026). Decomposition of Wealth-Related Inequalities in Childhood Zero-Dose Vaccination: Analysis of the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, tpmd250713.

Stillbirths are now more visible in global health, but prevention has not improved fast enough. This commentary discusses a global scorecard showing that many countries have plans and policies, while real-world implementation and data systems lag behind. The authors argue that preventing stillbirths requires more than awareness: countries need better quality pregnancy and birth care, stronger routine data, aligned digital health systems, and clearer accountability for results. 

Frøen, J., & Tunçalp, Ö. (2026). From Visibility to Accountability: Ending Stagnation in Stillbirth Prevention. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 40(4), 452–453.