CALL FOR ABSTRACTS — APHA 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo
International Health
Meeting theme: "Creating the Healthiest Nation: Strengthening Social Connectedness"
Submission Deadline: Sunday, March 28, 2021
The International Health Section welcomes abstracts for the 2021 APHA Annual Meeting. We accept submissions on both research- and program-based work; however, all submissions should present a novel contribution to some aspect of global health policy, practice, or knowledge. We will only accept abstracts within the topic areas listed. As part of the International Health Section program, all submissions should relate to health issues in countries outside the US.
APHA is the premier forum for scientific presentation and discussion of global public health issues. The International Health Section maintains high standards for quality and content. Please read the specific instructions in the abstract submission portal and follow the format and process carefully. Abstracts that do not follow the exact format of the submission process will lose scoring points.
If accepted for presentation, the presenter will be expected to register and attend the conference. The International Health Section is NOT able to provide financial aid or assistance for travel or registration. Individuals who may have difficulty attending the APHA Annual Meeting should identify a co-author that will be able to register/attend and present the abstract. Once an abstract is confirmed, schedule changes are NOT permitted.
Questions to consider when addressing each component of an abstract (University of California, Berkeley, 2000): Context: Why is the problem important? What public health need is your work addressing? In what way does the work present something new to the field of global/international health? Methods: What did you actually do to get your results (e.g., conducted a survey of three villages, analyzed household survey data from five countries, held semi-structured interviews with 17 community health workers)? Be specific.
Results: What did you learn? Was there enhanced knowledge, increased participation, or measurable changes in health outcomes? Conclusion and discussion: What are the larger implications of your findings, especially for the need initially identified?
Process for review:
All submitted abstracts will be peer reviewed for consideration of inclusion in the program. Indicate your preferences for presentation format on your abstract form. You may submit your abstract with the designation “oral only,” “poster only,” or “no preference.” Note: The International Health Section encourages abstracts submitted by nationals and residents from low- and middle-income countries. These individuals should note their status on the abstract form.
Student presenters: Each year, we designate one or two of the Section's oral panels for presentations by students. Please submit your abstract under this topic if you wish to compete in the peer review process for these openings. Should more abstracts qualify for acceptance than we have space available, we will consider placing those submissions elsewhere in the peer-reviewed program.
Abstract word limit: 350 words
The full list of IH program topics are listed below:
A Global Public Health Issue of Violence Against Women and Girls (Organized by Women's Caucus)
Alcohol Virtual Oral #1 - from Global to Local: How Alcohol-Related Policies Affect Individuals’ Drinking and Community Harms Submissions under this category may address a range of alcohol-related topics, covering policy, prevention, intervention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery, education, and social/environmental impact.
COVID-19 - Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs
COVID-19 - Prevention, Detection, Treatment and Management
Community Based Primary Health Care Community-based primary health care is an empowering approach to improving health care that engages communities as full partners and extends health services beyond health facilities to communities and households.
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Established and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (including HIV/AIDS, malaria, hepatitis, etc.)
Gender Disparities in Global Health
Global Capitalism, Colonialism, and the Right to Health
Global Health Workforce
Global Health and Climate Change
Global Health, Human Rights and Ethics
Health Systems Strengthening and Service Delivery in International Settings Health systems strengthening (HSS) comprises the strategies, responses, and activities that are designed to sustainably improve country health system performance. Per the WHO, HSS building blocks include health service delivery, health information systems, medical products/vaccines/technology, health financing, and leadership and governance.
Health Systems Strengthening and Service Delivery in International Settings - Session 2
Health across the Lifespan, Childhood to Older Adulthood
Health in Conflict and Displacement Please note that we will only accept submissions on displaced populations outside the US. For submissions on refugees and other migrants inside the US, please refer to the Caucus on Refugee and Immigrant Health Call for Abstracts.
Inter-Professional and International Collaboration in Integrative, Complementary, and Traditional Health Practices
International Epidemiology
International HIV Care
International HIV/AIDS Care
International Health Section - Poster Session on COVID-19
International Health Section - Poster Session on Communicable Diseases
International Health Section - Poster Session on Communicable Diseases (including COVID-19)
International Health Section - Poster Session on Global Health Policy, mHealth and Displaced Populations
International Health Section - Poster Session on HIV/AIDS
International Health Section - Poster Session on Health Systems Strengthening and Social Determinants of Health
International Health Section - Poster Session on Health across the Lifespan
International Health Section - Poster Session on Non-Communicable Diseases
International Health Section - Poster Session on Sexual and Reproductive Health
International/Global Health Poster Session
Maternal Health: Prenatal, Obstetric, and Postpartum Care
Mental Health
Mental Health in Global Settings
Any behavioral or mental health issues that affect immigrant and refugee populations
Policies, practices, and interventions that address the global mental health treatment gap
Non-Communicable Diseases
Oral: International SRH Issues
Poster Session #1: International SRH Issues
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Family Planning
Social Determinants of Health
Trade, Globalization, and Health Systems and Outcomes
Health and globalization effects of trade policies
Analysis of the health effects of specific trade agreements
Sustainable environments, climate change and trade and/or globalization
Access to medicines, intellectual property, and trade policies
Privatization of health services, trade policy and/or globalization
Health workforce and immigration aspects of trade policies and/or globalization
COVID-19, trade, globalization, and health systems and outcomes
Trade, Globalization, and Social Policy and Determinants of Health
Human rights and trade
Corporate influence on trade policy formulation and/or globalization
Tobacco and alcohol trade policies
Worker safety, health and wage
Effects of trad and/or globalization on indigenous cultures
Agriculture, trade policies, and/or globalization
Political economic ideology: implications for health and trade policies
Cultural factors and their relationship to trade and health policy
Covid-19, trade, globalization, and social policy or determinants of health
Continuing education credit: APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, health educators, and those certified in public health at its Annual Meeting. Please complete all required information when submitting an abstract so members can claim credit for attending your session. These credits are necessary for members to keep their licenses and credentials.
For a session to be eligible for Continuing Education Credit, all presenters in that session must provide all of the following: 1) An abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names. 2) At least one measurable outcome. Note that “to understand” or “to learn” are not measurable outcomes, and compound outcomes are not acceptable. 3) A signed Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form with a relevant qualification statement.
For example, “I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing HIV and STDs in out-of-treatment drug users” summarizes a body of work relevant to the presentation topic and demonstrates the presenter’s expertise. Note that “I am the principal investigator of this study” is not an acceptable qualification statement.
All continuing education learning content must be of sound science or professional practice and serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills and professional competence of the health professional. Learning content should be evidence-based if available. A list of over 30 areas will be provided online for you to choose from. Choose at least one or up to six areas that your presentation will address. Thank you for your assistance in making your session credit worthy. Contact presenters@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education. For program questions, contact the program planner listed below.
