Top ten public health challenges to track in 2022

Abstract

We identify ten public health challenges that need to be closely tracked in 2022. These challenges are COVID‐19, inadequate human resources for health, poor health systems financing, conflict and humanitarian crises, mental health, poverty, climate change, the health of children, reproductive health issues, and the infodemic. These global priorities, based on opinion of experts and current evidence and literature, need immediate attention and scaled‐up actions. This list of priorities does not discount the existence of other major public health challenges. We forecast and highlight those that may impact global public health in 2022 in order to progress and to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Thus, we advocate for stronger international cooperation, solidarity, and sustainable funding to address these challenges, and improve health across and within populations globally.

Top 10 public health challenges to track in 2023: Shifting focus beyond a global pandemic

“…Integrating CSE into the national curricula and educational systems is a significant challenge for many countries, especially for LMICs [33]. This deficiency is a major driver of adolescent pregnancies, estimated to occur annually in 21 million girls aged 15-19 in developing countries, as approximately 12 million of them give birth annually [3,33]. In addition, more than 12 million girls each year get married before reaching the age of 18 [35].…”

“…Responses to COVID‐19 and emerging infectious diseases drove the concept of collaborative intelligence, optimizing disease surveillance and developing capacity for locally manufacturing vaccines. As projected, the consequences of the climate crisis were notable in 2022, with countries in Europe experiencing their hottest summers [3], deadly floods in Pakistan and Nigeria, and widespread droughts across Africa [4], Sexual and reproductive health rights were fiercely debated with the landmark ruling of the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade . The 2022 list of global public health challenges also projected the already obvious high requirement for humanitarian assistance and protection due to political conflicts and natural disasters.…”

“…The unmet needs of sexual and reproductive health can lead to the illness and death of millions [32]. Some of the major Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) challenges include inadequate comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) [33], gender‐based violence [34], teenage pregnancy [3], early marriage [35], sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [36], maternal health [37], unsafe abortion [38], unmet needs of family planning [39], infertility and reproductive cancers [40], and poor access to SRHR services [3]. Integrating CSE into the national curricula and educational systems is a significant challenge for many countries, especially for LMICs [33].…”

“…By the end of 2021, an estimated 38.4 people were living with HIV, and two thirds were from Africa [43]. With the COVID‐19 pandemic, the quality and access to services and treatment for these diseases have only worsened [3].…”

Global Health Issues With Conflict Escalation Among Pandemic, Climate, and Economic Crises

“…6) [330]. An announcement from authorities on "simple possession of cannabis" to thousands of convicted citizens prior to the US midterm elections exploded recreational drug abuse in both the US and the EU [331,332].…”