As part of the vision of Alfredo Morabia, MD, PhD, to broaden the geographical scope and impact of AJPH, two years ago, we launched new initiatives to actively include work from Asia. Since then, we have seen considerable return from our efforts, as culminated in the publication, in this issue of AJPH, of the landmark article “The 20 Most Important and Most Preventable Health Problems of China: A Delphi Consultation of Chinese Experts” (p. 1592) with companion editorials from distinguished US and international scholars.
In the past 2 years, we have invited major public health leaders and world-renowned researchers from China to contribute editorials on issues of national and international significance. These include the following editorials: “Toward a National Birth Cohort Study in China” (http://bit.ly/2E2vZN8), “Evolution of Public Health Education in China” (http://bit.ly/2QsOJH8), and “Health Challenges and Opportunities for an Aging China” (http://bit.ly/2zPGdN4). Upcoming editorials include articles on diabetes in Hong Kong, injury prevention in China, and the Healthy Cities Initiative in Taiwan. We will continue to solicit scientific and public health leaders to contribute editorials to articulate their opinions, perspectives, and visions for a better public health in the future. Editorials can raise awareness and critically analyze public health issues, as well as highlight successful public health policies or interventions.
In the area of research articles, we have received a large number of important submissions. Because of limited journal space, we have only been able to publish a select few focusing on diverse and timely topics with high social and public health relevance. Examples include articles on trends of the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention system (https://bit.ly/2NYOIZT) and road traffic fatalities (https://bit.ly/2NYDJQ6). In the rapidly developing areas of social media communications, we published a study on text messaging interventions to increase home fortification compliance in rural China (https://bit.ly/2NYZy1Q), a study on the innovative use of a digital app for influenza surveillance (https://bit.ly/2EEYAsm), and one on television watching and decreasing telomere length (https://bit.ly/2NWU2Np). We published a reference paper on body weight status of women in rural China (https://bit.ly/2Ra4q6B) and a provocative analysis of the changing pattern of nutrition intake by social class in contemporary China from 1991 to 2011, which revealed that lower-income rural populations have declining caloric intake over time (https://bit.ly/2Cwxl0u). A study on unintentional poisoning based on the Global Burden of Disease Study data showed that the age-standardized unintentional poisoning death rate in China has decreased by 62% over a 15-year period (https://bit.ly/2AmiT9G). Most recently, an article researching risk and protective factors of workplace violence against primary care physicians showed that more than 60% of study participants have experienced workplace violence (https://bit.ly/2ECNX9n). The articles have demonstrated remarkable progress in some areas and emerging needs and crises in others. Any change, positive or negative, is accompanied by impact on extraordinary numbers because of China’s large population size of 1.4 billion.
Another important dissemination effort that the journal undertook was the introduction of Chinese podcasts in July 2015. As Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world with more than one billion speakers, podcasts are one of the best mediums to reach a large audience. After learning and refining this process, we now disseminate quarterly podcasts that provide highlights of the journal, as well as feature original authors introducing their articles that were published in the previous quarter. Chinese podcasts can be accessed at https://ajph.aphapublications.org. We currently have hundreds of subscribers to our podcasts, making this pioneering outreach modality very expedient and effective.
As our coverage of Asia evolves, AJPH wants to consistently provide a forum for discussions and debates on public health issues, policies, and concerns of Asia. We continue to seek submissions of quality research on public health topics of regional and global significance. We believe that having a worldly view is an important mission of the journal and encourage you to consider our journal when you have an important research or policy story about Asia to share.
14 Years Ago
Cigarette Smoking and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in China
[O]f Chinese adults aged 35-74 years, 60.2% … of men and 6.9% … of women were current cigarette smokers. In addition, 49.2% … of nonsmokers aged 35-74 years reported exposure to ETS at home or at work. Overall, more than 300 million Chinese adults aged 35-74 years were exposed to active or passive cigarette smoking. This number is very significant because cigarette smoking has become the leading cause of preventable death in China and the world. … Our findings indicate that a high proportion of men and women are exposed to ETS smoke at work in China. … Prohibition of cigarette smoking in the workplace is not required by law in China.
From AJPH, November 2004, pp. 1974–1975
27 Years Ago
Injury Death Rates in the United States and China
The general profile of injury death rates in China differs profoundly from the US. … China has higher death rates from falls, drowning, and suicide, and the US has higher rates from motor vehicles, fires and burns, and homicide. … [T]he US has much higher homicide rates than China for each sex. Firearms are the weapon most commonly used in American homicide. The law prohibiting individual ownership of firearms and virtual eradication of drug abuse may be major contributors to the relatively low homicide rate in China. On the other hand, even the non-firearm homicide rate in the US is substantially higher than China's total homicide rate, suggesting the important contribution of other factors.
From AJPH, May 1991, pp. 607–608
Biography
