Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-23-2025
Abstract
Objectives
Infectious diseases are often associated with decline in quality of life. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between personal history of communicable, i.e., infectious and parasitic diseases and self-rated health.
Study design
Secondary analysis of a large dataset multi-country observational study.
Methods
We used a four-pronged analysis approach to investigate whether personal history of infectious and parasitic diseases is related to self-reported health, measured with a single item.
Results
Three of the four analyses found a small positive effect on self-reported health among those reporting a history of pathogen exposure. The meta-analysis found no support but large heterogeneity that was not reduced by two classifications of countries.
Conclusion
Personal history of infectious and parasitic diseases does not reduce self-reported health across a global sample.
Recommended Citation
Pfuhl, G., Prazeres, F., Kowal, M., Aavik, T., Abad-Villaverde, B., Afhami, R., Aguilar, L., Akello, G., Al-Shawaf, L., Antfolk, J., Atama, C. S., Duyar, D. A., Baiocco, R., Balim, S., Batres, C., Belkacem, Y., Besson, T., Bode, A., Boğa, M., Boudesseul, J., et al. (2025). A preliminary study on the role of personal history of infectious and parasitic diseases on self-reported health across countries. Public Health, 242, 220-227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.030
Copyright
The authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Included in
Disorders of Environmental Origin Commons, International Public Health Commons, Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Commons, Other Public Health Commons, Parasitic Diseases Commons
Comments
This article was originally published in Public Health, volume 242, in 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.030