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.
Publication Date
2025-03-23
Publication Title
Public Health
Volume
242
ISSN
0033-3506
Keywords
Communicable diseases, Global health, Mental health, Multiverse analysis
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
First Page
220
Last Page
227
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., Duyar, D., Baiocco, R., Balım, S., Batres, C., Belkacem, Y., Besson, T., Bode, A., Boğa, M., Boudesseul, J., Boussena, M., Brahim, H., Burduli, N., Can, A., Cetinkaya, H., Chirumbolo, A., Chubinidze, D., Cornec, C., Dinić, B., & Dural, S. (2025) 'A preliminary study on the role of personal history of infectious and parasitic diseases on self-reported health across countries', Public Health, 242, pp. 220-227. Available at: 10.1016/j.puhe.2025.02.030
