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An overlooked consequence of the Trump Administration’s dismantling of US foreign and humanitarian assistance has been its devastating impacts on efforts to prevent and respond to violence against women (VAW). This targeted defunding threatens the progress made to provide lifesaving services, implement vital prevention programs, track prevalence, and keep gender equality and VAW on the global agenda. Cuts to research threaten to undermine the field’s capacity to generate evidence on what works to address violence and conduct evidence-informed advocacy. In this comment we call for renewed investment and commitment to support VAW prevention programming, services and research.

Rigorous evidence of the effectiveness of male engagement interventions, particularly on how these interventions impact relationship power dynamics and women's decision-making, remains limited. This study assessed the impact of the Bandebereho gender-transformative couples' intervention on impact on multiple behavioral and health-related outcomes influenced by gender norms and power relations. We conducted a multi-site randomised controlled trial in four Rwandan districts with expectant/current fathers and their partners, who were randomised to the intervention (n = 575 couples) or control group (n = 624 couples). Primary outcomes include women's experience of physical and sexual IPV, women's attendance and men's accompaniment at ANC, modern contraceptive use, and partner support during pregnancy. At 21-months post-baseline, 1123 men and 1162 partners were included in intention to treat analysis. Generalized estimating equations with robust standard errors were used to fit the models. The Bandebereho intervention led to substantial improvements in multiple reported outcomes. Compared to the control group, women in the intervention group reported: less past-year physical (OR 0.37, p<0.001) and sexual IPV (OR 0.34, p<0.001); and greater attendance (IRR 1.09, p<0.001) and male accompaniment at antenatal care (IRR 1.50, p<0.001); and women and men in the intervention group reported: less child physical punishment (women: OR 0.56, p = 0.001; men: OR 0.66, p = 0.005); greater modern contraceptive use (women: OR 1.53, p = 0.004; men: OR 1.65, p = 0.001); higher levels of men's participation in childcare and household tasks (women: beta 0.39, p<0.001; men: beta 0.33, p<0.001); and less dominance of men in decision-making. Our study strengthens the existing evidence on male engagement approaches; together with earlier studies our findings suggest that culturally adapted gender-transformative interventions with men and couples can be effective at changing deeply entrenched gender inequalities and a range of health-related behavioral outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02694627.

This article argues that Social Reproduction Theory (SRT) is the trend best positioned for further developing classical Marxist accounts of the labor theory of value, through a concrete historical account of the family as a capitalist institution. To do so, it traces debates about value within and beyond the range of Marxist-feminist accounts of labor, of the strike tactic and of circulation. These debates include the revival of demands for \"wages for housework\" and the call for a politics of the commons by Silvia Federici and David Harvey. In particular, Amy D'Aths articulation of a social reproduction account of value and Melinda Cooper's writing on the family are engaged as positive examples for potential further development of Social Reproduction Theory. This argument is placed in the context of a global upsurge of feminist movement and women's strikes, the Metoo movement, and an increasing popular engagement with Marxist-feminist texts and theory.

Background Fatherhood programs have increasingly been recognized as a promising approach to prevent violence against women and children (VAWC), yet there remains limited synthesis across programs to clarify the core components that drive change. Most existing studies focus on individual program evaluations. Identifying shared principles or pathways can inform broader implementation and scale. To address this gap, this analysis identified program elements that effectively engage fathers to reduce VAWC by conducting a case analysis of two evidence-based fatherhood programs, Bandebereho and REAL (Responsible, Engaged, and Loving) Fathers, and presenting a joint Theory of Change (TOC). Methods Programs were identified through a rapid review of evidence on fatherhood violence prevention programs and selected for their engagement of fathers, published evaluations with positive effects in reducing violence against women and children, adaptation and scale-up in a low resource setting, and having at least one available representative. Authors met regularly over 18-months conducting a desk review of program documentation, building understanding on program strategies and evidence, discussing similarities and differences between the programs, and identifying key elements. Analysis was collated in an excel matrix and utilized to create a pictorial TOC which was reviewed and validated by researchers and implementers from each program. Results The TOC highlights program principles, key stakeholders, training, program components, change catalysts, and intermediate outcomes on the pathway to impact. Despite being developed in unique contexts by different teams, programs displayed strikingly similar components and pathways of change leading to measured outcomes demonstrating positive impacts on prevention of violence against women and children. Conclusions This TOC reflects evidence-based insights into the core components and pathways through which fatherhood programs may reduce violence against women and children. Although developed from two rigorously evaluated programs, the shared elements identified can serve as a foundation for future research and program development. This initial framework can help guide intervention design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation to promote effectiveness and sustainability in future violence prevention initiatives that engage fathers. Further testing and validation across diverse contexts are needed to assess the theories broader relevance.

Objectives Despite experiments being termed the “gold standard,” criminology has been slow to adopt experimentation as a methodology. The goal of this research note is to better understand the use of experiments in criminology and the potential barriers in implementing this methodology. Methods We conducted a systematic assessment of experiments in Criminology and Justice Quarterly by reviewing every article published since the inception of the journals and coding for numerous elements (i.e., field versus lab studies, research areas, outcomes, and funding sources). Results Despite a general increase, experiments make up only 2.8% ( n  = 44) of studies in Criminology and 3.1% ( n  = 31) of studies in Justice Quarterly . Conclusions While it is not always clear why experiments are not used more often, we explore the possible reasons for a lack of experimentation (i.e., a lack of mentoring, challenges to practitioner buy in, etc.) and areas for future research.

While typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCV) offer promise for reducing risk in endemic settings, their population-level impact remains unclear. In 2022, Nepal introduced TCV nationally on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted healthcare services, surveillance, and potentially typhoid transmission dynamics, complicating vaccine impact evaluation. We investigated the impact of TCV introduction amid shifting typhoid burden during the pandemic. We analyzed blood culture data from four Kathmandu Valley health facilities, comparing culture positivity for Salmonella Typhi across three periods: pre-pandemic (January 2018-March 2020); pandemic, pre-vaccine introduction (April 2020-March 2022); post-vaccine introduction (April 2022-April 2024). We used multivariable logistic regression to assess S. Typhi positivity, adjusting for month and site, stratified by TCV-eligible children and older, TCV-ineligible populations. Between January 2018 and April 2024, 62,236 blood cultures were performed. S. Typhi blood culture positivity decreased from 2.11% pre-pandemic to 0.59% during the pandemic (p < 0.001) and remained low at 0.69% after TCV introduction. Among TCV-eligible children (15 months to 15 years), odds of S. Typhi positivity during the pandemic were 47% lower than the pre-COVID period (aOR 0.53, 95% CI 0.29-0.90) and continued to decrease by 75% post-TCV introduction (aOR 0.25, 95% CI 0.11-0.55). In contrast, among vaccine-ineligible individuals (≥16 years), odds of positivity during the pandemic were 77% lower than the pre-COVID period (aOR 0.23, 95% CI 0.16-0.31) but increased by 59% following TCV rollout (aOR 1.59, 95% CI 1.14-2.27). Sensitivity analyses restricted to pathogen-positive cultures yielded similar results. S. Typhi blood culture positivity declined sharply during the pandemic before TCV introduction. The subsequent rollout of TCV substantially reduced typhoid burden in vaccine-eligible children; however, rising cases among older, vaccine-ineligible populations following the relaxation of pandemic measures highlights the need for additional control measures such as improved water and sanitation infrastructure and broader age eligibility for typhoid vaccination.

Background Rwanda has made great progress in improving reproductive, maternal, and newborn health (RMNH) care; however, barriers to ensuring timely and full RMNH service utilization persist, including women’s limited decision-making power and poor-quality care. This study sought to better understand whether and how gender and power dynamics between providers and clients affect their perceptions and experiences of quality care during antenatal care, labor and childbirth. Methods This mixed methods study included a self-administered survey with 151 RMNH providers with questions on attitudes about gender roles, RMNH care, provider-client relations, labor and childbirth, which took place between January to February 2018. Two separate factor analyses were conducted on provider responses to create a Gender Attitudes Scale and an RMNH Quality of Care Scale. Three focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted in February 2019 with RMNH providers, female and male clients, explored attitudes about gender norms, provision and quality of RMNH care, provider-client interactions and power dynamics, and men’s involvement. Data were analyzed thematically. Results Inequitable gender norms and attitudes – among both RMNH care providers and clients – impact the quality of RMNH care. The qualitative results illustrate how gender norms and attitudes influence the provision of care and provider-client interactions, in addition to the impact of men’s involvement on the quality of care. Complementing this finding, the survey found a relationship between health providers’ gender attitudes and their attitudes towards quality RMNH care: gender equitable attitudes were associated with greater support for respectful, quality RMNH care. Conclusions Our findings suggest that gender attitudes and power dynamics between providers and their clients, and between female clients and their partners, can negatively impact the utilization and provision of quality RMNH care. There is a need for capacity building efforts to challenge health providers’ inequitable gender attitudes and practices and equip them to be aware of gender and power dynamics between themselves and their clients. These efforts can be made alongside community interventions to transform harmful gender norms, including those that increase women’s agency and autonomy over their bodies and their health care, promote uptake of health services, and improve couple power dynamics.

Zika virus has spread rapidly through the Americas during the past few years. In this final report, systematic assessment of ZIKV in different body sites is measured. ZIKV is commonly found in serum, urine, and semen and often persists for 2 to 6 weeks.

Key summary points Aim A comprehensive collateral history is a standard of care recommended both in Ireland, by the Irish National Audit of Dementia Care in Acute Hospitals (INAD) and internationally, by the EuGMS. We sought to establish if this standard was being met. Findings Only 44% of patients with cognitive impairment had a collateral history. The level of detail attained was often inadequate and assessment of patients’ current and premorbid cognition was poor. Message Obtaining a comprehensive collateral history is imperative to the diagnosis of delirium and dementia. It is not possible to make a competent clinical assessment or a management plan without exercising this core clinical skill. Purpose Patients with cognitive impairment are often unable to provide information relating to their pre-morbid cognition and function. Such information is essential to correctly identifying delirium and dementia, as well as making an accurate diagnosis and planning appropriate treatment. It is the standard of care recommended by the EuGMS. Methods We reviewed medical notes and administered a short questionnaire to nursing staff of a convenience sample of 100 patients aged ≥ 75 years admitted to medical wards in a tertiary teaching hospital. Results There were 100 patients with a mean age of 82.3 years, 49% of whom were female. Of 43 patients with cognitive impairment, 19 (44%) had a collateral history. Half of the patients described as having dementia did not have any further detail on the severity of dementia documented. Among those for whom a collateral history was obtained, the level of detail regarding pre-morbid cognition, function, mobility, and continence was sparse. Of the total sample, 13% had formal cognitive testing. Conclusion Acute illness characteristically causes significant impairments in cognition and function in frail older patients. Identifying and reversing these impairments is impossible without a comprehensive collateral history. It is alarming that such an essential component of clinical assessment is so often disregarded and highlights the lack of awareness from clinicians of the importance of collateral history in the management of patients with dementia and delirium. This must be emphasised in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.

In the United States (US), there are high levels of disengagement along the HIV care continuum. We sought to characterize the heterogeneity in research studies and interventions to improve care engagement among people living with diagnosed HIV infection. We performed a systematic literature search for interventions to improve HIV linkage to care, retention in care, reengagement in care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the US published from 2007-mid 2015. Study designs and outcomes were allowed to vary in included studies. We grouped interventions into categories, target populations, and whether results were significantly improved. We identified 152 studies, 7 (5%) linkage studies, 33 (22%) retention studies, 4 (3%) reengagement studies, and 117 (77%) adherence studies. ‘Linkage’ studies utilized 11 different outcome definitions, while ‘retention’ studies utilized 39, with very little consistency in effect measurements. The majority (59%) of studies reported significantly improved outcomes, but this proportion and corresponding effect sizes varied substantially across study categories. This review highlights a paucity of assessments of linkage and reengagement interventions; limited generalizability of results; and substantial heterogeneity in intervention types, outcome definitions, and effect measures. In order to make strides against the HIV epidemic in the US, care continuum research must be improved and benchmarked against an integrated, comprehensive framework.