In this month's Bulletin
Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2009;87:565-565. doi: 10.2471/BLT.09.000809
This month’s special theme is public health communication. In an editorial, Christine McNab (566) looks at how the Internet and mobile communication technologies are revolutionizing access to and dissemination of, public health information.
Also in editorials on the theme of health communication, Gerd Gigerenzer (567) highlights the importance of understanding how to interpret and communicate statistics in health; Ellen O Wahoush (568) discusses the challenges for health professionals in communicating with asylum seekers and refugees; and Rob Cunningham (569) looks at how an international treaty is driving the introduction of tobacco health warnings around the world.
In an interview, Shereen Usdin (578–579) talks about how South Africa’s Soul City Institute has harnessed popular culture to become a force for social change.
New Zealand & United States of America: Do drug ads drive choice?
Gary Humphreys (576–577) reports on why direct-to-consumer advertising of medicines is a controversial issue.
China: Using mobile phones in crises
Changhong Yang et al. (619–623) describe how mobile phones were used to set up an infectious disease reporting system after the earthquake in Sichuan.
Russian Federation: Seat-belt campaign
Dmitry Zelinsky (572–573) reports on how a fatal car crash triggered a life-saving initiative.
India & Pakistan: Polio: the last push
Rafael Obregón et al. (624–630) examine the strong role that communication strategies play in polio eradication efforts.
Indonesia: Drug cocktails denounced
Cininta Analen (570–571) reports on the dangerous practice of using ground‑up drug mixtures to treat paediatric conditions.
Africa: Male circumcision
Alberta L Wang et al. (595–603) review print media reports on male circumcision for preventing HIV infection among men in sub-Saharan Africa.
India: Shame or subsidy?
Research by Subhrendu K Pattanayak et al. (580–587) demonstrates the effectiveness of a sanitation campaign.
Australia & Brazil: Sun worshippers, beware
Sarah Cumberland and Claudia Jurberg (574–576) report on how countries with a high incidence of skin cancer are trying to change sun-seeking behaviour.
Australia: Pandemic flu: ready and willing
Keith Eastwood et al. (588–594) survey Australians on their knowledge of pandemic influenza and their willingness to comply with public health control measures.
Pictures worth a thousand words
Geoffrey T Fong et al. (640–643) show that gruesome images on cigarette packages are an effective tool for publicizing the health risks of smoking.
Transparency is key
P O’Malley et al. (614–618) call on governments to develop public health information policies to improve transparency during emergencies.
Lessons for managing outbreaks
Thomas Abraham (604–607) extracts some useful lessons from existing approaches to risk communication.
What’s all the fuss about?
Jeremy Shiffman (608–613) proposes an explanation of why some health issues attract political and donor attention while others are neglected.
Breaking down the barriers
In a round table discussion (631–637), Leslie Chan et al. insist that open access to health research publications is essential to bridging health inequities. Alma Swan, Robert Terry and T Scott Plutchak each provide their views.
Are we reaching refugees?
Ann Burton & Franklin John-Leader (638–639) explore key issues on communicating health messages to refugees and displaced populations.