Evaluating prospective graduates’ health literacy profiles before they enter the job market is crucial. Our research aimed to explore the health literacy levels of medical and health students by assessing their ability to obtain health-related information, understand healthcare systems, use e-health, and be informed about vaccination as well as to explore the factors associated with health literacy. Short versions of the HLS19-Q12 were used for a cross-sectional survey that was carried out among 1042 students enrolled in various medical and health educational programs at three medical universities in Kazakhstan between September and November of 2023. Additionally, instruments such as Digital Health Literacy (HLS19-DIGI), Navigational Health Literacy (HLS19-NAV), and Vaccination Health Literacy (HLS19-VAC) were employed. The score of General Health Literacy was 88.26 ± 17.5. One in eight students encountered difficulties in Vaccination Health Literacy. Despite overall high health literacy, Navigational Health Literacy posed challenges for all students. The Public Health students exhibited the highest General Health Literacy (91.53 ± 13.22), followed by students in Nursing, General Medicine, other educational programs (Dentistry and Biomedicine) and Pharmacy. Financial constraints for medication and medical examinations significantly influenced health literacy across all types of individuals. Since comprehensive health literacy instruction or interventions are still uncommon in the curricula, it seems reasonable to develop and incorporate appropriate courses for medical and health educational programs.

Infant mortality rate (IMR) is a crucial indicator of healthcare performance and a reflection of a country’s socioeconomic development. We analyzed the trends of IMR in Central Asia (CA) countries and its determinants in Kazakhstan, which is a middle-income country. Linear regression was used for IMR trend analysis in CA countries from 2000 to 2020 and for exploring associations between IMR and socioeconomic factors, health service-related factors, and population health indicators-related factors. A gamma generalized linear model was applied to define associations with various determinants. Our analysis revealed that IMR has decreased in all CA countries, with Kazakhstan having the lowest rate in 2000 and 2020. Our results suggest that socioeconomic indicators, such as total unemployment, Gini index, current health expenditure, gross domestic product (GDP), proportion of people living in poverty, and births by 15–19-year-old mothers, were associated with increased infant mortality rates. Improving socioeconomic conditions, investing in healthcare systems, reducing poverty and income inequality, and improving access to education, are all potential issues for further development. Addressing these factors may be critical for improving maternal and child health outcomes in the region.

Maternal mortality ratio is one of the sensitive indicators that can characterize the performance of healthcare systems. In our study we aimed to compare the maternal mortality ratio in the Central Asia region from 2000 to 2020, determine its trends and evaluate the association between the maternal mortality ratio and Central Asia countries’ total health expenditures. We also compared the maternal mortality causes before and during the pandemic in Kazakhstan. The data were derived from the public statistical collections of each Central Asian country. During the pre-pandemic period, Central Asian nations had a downward trend of maternal mortality. Maternal mortality ratio in Central Asian countries decreased by 38% from 47.3 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 29.5 per 100,000 live births in 2020. Except for Uzbekistan, where this indicator decreased, all Central Asian countries experienced a sharp increase in maternal mortality ratio in 2020. The proportion of indirect causes of maternal deaths in Kazakhstan reached 76.3% in 2020. There is an association between the maternal mortality ratio in Central Asian countries and their total health expenditures expressed in national currency units (r max = −0.89 and min = −0.66, p < 0.01). The study revealed an issue in the health data availability and accessibility for research in the region. The findings suggest that there must be additional efforts from the local authorities to enhance the preparedness of Central Asian healthcare systems for the new public health challenges and to improve health data accessibility.

Vaccination is a critical public health measure for preventing infectious diseases, but its acceptance varies globally, influenced by factors like vaccine hesitancy. This study examines attitudes and vaccination literacy among Kazakh students, providing insights into global immunization strategies. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 3142 students from various Kazakh universities. The HLS19-VAC instrument assessed vaccination literacy, while additional questions evaluated beliefs and attitudes toward vaccines. Data were analyzed to determine associations between vaccine-related beliefs and literacy. The mean vaccination literacy score was 84.74. Most students agreed on the importance (83.4%), safety (79.1%), effectiveness (80.9%), and religious compatibility (77.8%) of vaccines. Positive beliefs significantly correlated with higher literacy scores. Past vaccination behavior, age, gender, and location showed varied associations, with past vaccination status and higher age showing a positive correlation. Positive beliefs about vaccinations were strongly associated with higher vaccination literacy among Kazakh students. Educational interventions that reinforce positive beliefs may improve vaccination literacy and increase vaccination rates. This study underscores the importance of understanding vaccination attitudes to enhance public health strategies in middle-income countries.

Background/Objectives: Schools, as structured social environments, are important settings for shaping lifelong eating habits, and teachers play a mediating role in nutrition education. This study aimed to assess nutrition knowledge among public school teachers, examine their perceptions of the school food environment, and identify factors associated with knowledge scores. Methods: A stratified cross-sectional survey was conducted among 736 teachers from 12 public schools during the fall of 2025. A structured questionnaire based on the Knowledge–Attitudes–Practice model was used to evaluate nutrition knowledge, teaching practices, perceived school food environment, and teachers’ observations of student food-related behaviors. Group differences were examined using t-tests and ANOVA, and multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with low nutrition knowledge. Results: The mean knowledge score was 6.26 ± 2.64 out of 12, with 23.6% of teachers classified as having low knowledge, 59.9% satisfactory, and 16.4% good. Primary school teachers scored significantly higher than subject teachers (7.27 vs. 5.64; p < 0.001). Regular conduct of nutrition classes was associated with lower odds of low knowledge (adjusted OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.05–0.23, p < 0.001). A sensitivity analysis using continuous knowledge scores confirmed this pattern, with the absence of nutrition teaching predicting a 1.40-point reduction in scores (95% CI −1.86 to −0.94, p < 0.001). Teachers rated school meal quality moderately high, and frequently observed student refusal of canteen food and purchase of sweets or fast food outside school. Conclusions: This study found that public school teachers in Karaganda, Kazakhstan showed satisfactory overall nutrition knowledge, with gaps in applied understanding and common dietary myths. Primary teachers and those actively teaching nutrition had higher knowledge scores, indicating an association between pedagogical engagement and content knowledge. To help optimize the school food environment, educational policies would benefit from the development of cross-curricular instructional materials fitted specifically for secondary school subject teachers.

Background. This article presents results of the project-oriented learning method implementation in the educational process of the 3rd year “General medicine” students with different study languages at the Department of Public Health, Karaganda Medical University. Aim. To analyze the project-oriented training results at the School of Public Health and Biomedicine. Materials and methods. A database with the results of current academic performance and interim control (students' project work presentation). Statistical and analytical research methods were applied in the study. For comparative analysis, 2 independent samples were formed according to the training language. The 1st sample included 89 students from 8 groups with Kazakh and Russian languages of training. In the 2nd – 89 students of the international medical faculty from 8 groups with English as the language of training. Results. The average score in the 1st sample (89 students with Russian and Kazakh language of training) was 88.58±5.03 points, minimum - 65, maximum - 95 points. The same indicator in the 2nd sample (89 students with English language of training) was 80.24 ± 7.79 points, the score varies from 65 to 95 points. The average score for a scientific project among students with Russian and Kazakh language of training was significantly higher (p=0.000) than among students with English language of training. The 95% confidence interval for the difference of the average 2 samples ranged from 6.40 to 10.28 points. Conclusions. 1. The hypothesis of the study about the equality of average grades in groups with Russian/Kazakh languages and groups with English language of training was not confirmed. 2. The average score for a scientific project among students with Russian and Kazakh language of training was significantly higher (p=0.000) than among students with English language of training. The 95% confidence interval for the difference in the mean of 2 samples ranged from 6.40 to 10.28. Актуальность. В данной статье представлен результат работы преподавателей Школы общественного здоровья и биомедицины Карагандинского медицинского университета по применению проект-ориентированного подхода в изучении модульной дисциплины «Пациент и общество» (общественное здравоохранение и биостатистика) студентами 3 курса, с различными языками обучения, специальности «Общая медицина». Цель. Проанализировать результаты проект-ориентированного обучения Школы общественного здоровья и биомедицины. Материалы и методы. База данных с оценками текущей успеваемости и промежуточной аттестации (оценивание постерного доклада проектной работы студентов). Были использованы статистический и аналитический методы исследования. Для сравнительного анализа были сформированы 2 независимые выборки по языку обучения. В 1-ю выборку вошли 89 студентов из 8 групп с казахским и русским языками обучения. Во 2-ую - 89 студентов международного медицинского факультета из 8 групп с английским языком обучения. Результаты. Средняя оценка в 1-й выборке (89 студента с русским и казахским языком обучения) составила 88,58±5,03 балла, минимум - 65, максимум - 95 балл. Этот же показатель во 2-й выборке (89 студента с английским языком обучения) составил 80,24±7,79 балла, оценка варьирует от 65 до 95 балла. Средняя балл оценки за научный проект у обучающихся с русским и казахским языком обучения был значительно выше (p=0.000), чем у обучающихся с английским языком обучения. 95% доверительный интервал для разности средних 2-х выборок составил от 6.40 до 10.28 балла. Выводы. 1. Гипотеза исследования о равенстве средних оценок у групп с русским/казахским языками и групп с английским языком обучения не подтвердилась. 2. Средняя оценка за научный проект у обучающихся с русским и казахским языком обучения была значительно выше (p=0.000), чем у обучающихся с английским языком обучения. 95% доверительный интервал для разности средних 2-х выборок составил от 6.40 до 10.28. Өзектілігі. Бұл мақалада Қарағанды медицина университетінің Қоғамдық денсаулық сақтау және биомедицина мектебінің оқытушыларының «Жалпы медицина» мамандығы бойынша әртүрлі тілде оқытатын 3 курс студенттерінің «Пациент және қоғам» (қоғамдық денсаулық сақтау...