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June 17, 2026

This paper examined what shapes long-term disability among adults hospitalized with road traffic injuries at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Most patients were still living with some level of disability three months after discharge, and outcomes were shaped by both personal factors, such as age and employment, and the severity and type of injury. The findings underscore the need for safer roads, stronger enforcement of traffic laws, and greater investment in rehabilitation.

June 6, 2026

CCDH team and colleagues conducted a scoping review to identify approaches to governing the commercial determinants of health. Market regulation, taxation, and civil society advocacy were consistently supported, while industry self-regulation was seen as ineffective. Collaborative approaches like health in all policies were viewed positively, but private sector involvement remains contentious.

May 14, 2026

This paper argues that One Health, which links human, animal, and environmental health, has focused largely on biomedical issues like zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance while overlooking the social and economic forces behind them. The authors argue that applying a commercial determinants of health (CDoH) lens can enhance the analytical and policy relevance of One Health as CDoH defines how non-public actors, activities and incentives support as well as undermine health.

May 6, 2026

Heather Rosen and co-authors conducted a systematic randomized household survey in Bamako, Mali, to understand adults’ consumption of tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as their exposure to related marketing. They found that sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods were commonly consumed and heavily marketed, particularly among young adults, whereas reported tobacco and alcohol use was less common.

January 6, 2026

Cannabis and derived intoxicating cannabis product use is increasing, particularly among young adults. This longitudinal study examined how state cannabis laws and exposure to cannabis advertising shape young adults' perceptions, motives, and use of these products. Findings supported interventions targeting risk perceptions and motives to reduce harm.

November 21, 2025

This study examined the spatial relationship between vape stores and educational institutions in Washington, DC. Using GIS mapping, Nino Paichadze and collaborators found vape stores are clustered near schools and universities, specifically where at-risk populations are concentrated.

September 12, 2025

As health innovation advances, questions arise about the role of research ethics review within a wider research ecosystem. Dr. Ndebele and collaborators argue that ethical conduct in health research is a shared responsibility across funders, governments, institutions, researchers, and ethics committees. They call for a more collaborative, non-adversarial relationship between stakeholders and a reconceptualization of ethics committees’ role.

July 9, 2025

Genomics and biobanking are rapidly expanding across Africa, but ethical governance hasn’t kept pace. Dr. Ndebele and colleagues reviewed seven years of research protocols submitted to the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe, uncovering major gaps in ethical planning. Key issues included limited focus on benefit sharing, consent for future use, and intellectual property. Results highlight broader challenges of governance and equity in Zimbabwe’s genomic research landscape.

June 30, 2025

This paper highlights how research ethics training programs have strengthened bioethics in West Africa over the past decade. Central to this effort was the West Africa Bioethics Training Program in Nigeria, which served as a model for initiatives in Ghana, Mali, and Gambia. CCDH authors and other collaborators outline key successes, challenges, and strategies to further advance ethics education and governance in the region

June 30, 2025

Dr. Ndebele and coauthors examined a decade of initiatives to strengthen research ethics in Southern Africa. The paper demonstrated how these programs built tailored curriculum, trained diverse professionals, and improved representation in research ethics leadership. Despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, these initiatives advance regional and global capacity for ethical health research, underscoring the need for continued investment in ethics.

June 28, 2025

CCDH team and colleagues conducted a scoping review to examine how social norms and cultural factors influence road safety behaviors among young people in LMICs. The review found that norms shape risky driving, helmet and seat belt use, and compliance with traffic laws, often moderated by gender, media, and religion.

June 6, 2025

Co-authored by Nino Paichadze, this study examined injury patterns in emergency departments across urban Mozambique. Analyzing 7,809 cases, findings show that injuries accounted for about one-quarter of all emergency visits, with falls, physical violence, and road traffic accidents as the leading causes. Injuries varied by age, location, and season, highlighting factors to guide improved injury prevention and emergency care planning in Mozambique.