Collections on Equity in Health Systems
Published in Healthcare & Nursing, Social Sciences, and Sustainability
Health systems, policy & global equity
Don’t miss these Collections showcasing research on health systems and overarching equity frameworks, examining how equity can be embedded into policy, evidence generation and cross-sector approaches.
Health financing to advance universal health coverage and health equity – challenges and novel approaches in BMC Global and Public Health. Guest edited by Samir Garg PhD (State Health Resource Centre Chhattisgarh, India) and Chaw-Yin Myint (RWS Medical Services, Myanmar).
Achieving equity in global surgery in BMC Surgery. Guest edited by Lovenish Bains (Maulana Azad Medical College, India), Russell Seth Martins (Hackensack Meridian Health Network; HMH JFK University Medical Center, United States) and Benedict C. Nwomeh (The Ohio State University College of Medicine; Nationwide Children’s Hospital, United States).
Old Threats Anew: Impact of International Disruption on Infectious Disease and Sexual Health in Africa and the Global South in Harm Reduction Journal. Guest edited by Beth Meyerson (University of Arizona, United States), Alex de Voux (University of Cape Town, South Africa), Alison Footman (AVAC, United States) and Ismaël Maatouk (Lebanese American University, Lebanon).
Collections with open calls for papers:
Global health equity and ethics in BMC Medical Ethics. Guest edited by Marlyn Faure (University of Oxford, United Kingdom) and Alessandra Agnese Grossi (University of Insubria, Italy). Open for submissions until 30 June 2026.
Equity in Health as the Center of Development in International Journal for Equity in Health. Guest edited by Pablo Gaitán Rossi (Universidad Iberoamericana Ciudad de México, Mexico), Daniel Maceira (Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina), Ana Lorena Ruano (University of Bergen, Norway). Open for submissions until 25 January 2027.
Research, data & digital equity
Take a look at these Collections exploring how equity is shaped by the way health data is generated, analyzed, and applied, as well as by who has access to health information.
Improving equity, diversity, and inclusion in randomised trials in Trials. Guest Edited by Shaun Treweek (University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom), Shoba Dawson (University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom), Kamlesh Khunti (University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom), Tianjing Li (University of Colorado Denver, United States).
Collections with open calls for papers:
Health disparities and equity in genomic research in Genome Medicine. Guest Edited by Sally Adebamowo (University of Maryland School of Medicine, United States) and Genevieve Wojcik (Johns Hopkins University, United States). Open for submissions until 18 September 2026.
Digital exclusion and health equity in BMC Public Health. Guest edited by Mariusz Duplaga (Jagiellonian University Medical College, Poland), Nushrat Khan (Imperial College London, United Kingdom) and Mel Ramasawmy (Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom). Open for submissions until 11 December 2026.
Equity in health informatics in BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. Guest edited by Jingchuan Guo (Purdue University, United States), Yu Huang (Indiana University, United States) and Maggie Ramirez (University of Washington, United States). Open for submissions until 17 January 2027.
Genomic equity: screening strategies for underserved populations in BMC Medical Genomics. Guest Edited by Stephanie Best (The University of Melbourne, Australia), Denise Kay (New York State Department of Health, United States), and Sonia Okuyama Sasaki (Denver Health Medical Center, United States). Open for submissions until 13 February 2027.
Population group health, equity & inclusion
Explore these Collections highlighting reproductive, gender, and population-specific health equity.
Gender Equity in Reproductive Health Service Access in Reproductive Health. Guest edited by Christiana Alake Alex-Ojei (Federal University Oye Ekiti, Nigeria), Augustus Osborne (Institute for Development, Sierra Leone), and Negussie Boti Sidamo (Arba Minch University, Ethiopia).
Reproductive Health Equity for Migrants, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Populations in Reproductive Health. Guest edited by José Paulo de Siqueira Guida (UNICAMP, Brazil) and Tadele Dana Darebo (Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia).
Donor Human Milk in the 21st Century: Policy, Practice, Innovation, Equity, and Impact in International Breastfeeding Journal. Guest edited by Tanya Cassidy (National University of Ireland, Ireland), Kelly Pereira Coca (Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil), Laura Klein (Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Australia), Tuan Thanh Nguyen (Alive & Thrive, Global Nutrition FHI 360, Vietnam).
Advancing Transgender Health Equity in International Journal for Equity in Health. Guest edited by Pablo Gaitán-Rossi (Ibero American University, Mexico), Angel Phuti (Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany), Ana Lorena Ruano (University of Bergen, Norway).
The Role of Social Sciences in Addressing Inequity Related to Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in International Journal for Equity in Health. Guest edited by Laura Dean (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom), Mirgissa Kaba Addis (Ababa University, Ethiopia), Rosalind McCollum (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom), Papreen Nahar (University of Sussex, United Kingdom), and Brianne Wenning (King's College London, United Kingdom).
Collections with open calls for papers:
Promoting health equity among aging adults in BMC Public Health. Guest edited by Samar Al-Hajj (American University of Beirut, Lebanon), Alessandra Buja (University of Padua, Padua, Italy) and Himanshu Sekhar Rout (Utkal University, India). Open for submissions until 22 February 2027.
Mental and behavioral health services
These Collections focus on innovations aimed at improving access and outcomes in psychiatry and addiction services.
Beyond the four walls: Innovative approaches to promoting equity in addiction treatment in Addiction Science & Clinical Practice. Guest edited by Brittany Dennis (University of British Columbia, Canada), Jenna van Draanen (University of Washington, United States), Omeid Heidari (University of Washington, United States).
Collections with open calls for papers:
Twenty‑Five Years of Advancing Global Mental Health: Innovations, Equity, and Transformative Approaches in General Psychiatry in Annals of General Psychiatry. Guest edited by Maurizio Pompili (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy). Open for submissions until 17 November 2026.
Health equity for justice-involved individuals with special educational needs and disabilities in Health & Justice. Guest edited by Nitsan Almog PhD (Ono Academic College, Israel) and Gila Amitay PhD (The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Israel). Open for submissions until 24 November 2026.
Environment & food as health drivers
Don’t miss these Collections covering environmental and structural drivers of health, specifically food systems, emphasizing the upstream factors that shape health outcomes.
The health and health equity impacts of fast food production and consumption in BMC Public Health. Guest edited by Jordan Beaumont (Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom), Bridget Kelly (University of Wollongong, Australia), Amelia Lake (Teesside University, United Kingdom), Helen Moore (Teesside University, United Kingdom), Lucie Nield (Deakin University, Australia), and Benjamin Wood (Deakin University, Australia).
Collections with open calls for papers:
Promoting equity in health through food environment actions in BMC Public Health. Guest edited by Jane Battersby (University of Cape Town, South Africa), Meena Daivadanam (Uppsala University, Sweden), and David Guwatudde (Makerere University, Uganda). Open for submissions until 4 September 2026.
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BMC Global and Public Health
An open access, transparent peer review journal publishing outstanding and influential research and opinion of broad interest to all professional communities involved in global and public health research, policy-making, implementation and delivery worldwide.
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International Breastfeeding Journal
This journal encompasses articles about breastfeeding, focusing on nursing, midwifery, paediatric, obstetric, family medicine, public health, immunology, physiology, sociology and many other topics.
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Health & Justice
This journal presents research and commentary on the health and well-being of people involved or working in the justice system.
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BMC Public Health
An open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on the epidemiology of disease and the understanding of all aspects of public health.
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Trials
This journal encompasses all aspects of the performance and findings of randomized controlled trials in health, including articles on general trial methodology and trial processes, study protocols and statistical analysis plans for randomized controlled trials, commentaries and traditional results papers.
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International Journal for Equity in Health
This journal presents evidence relevant to the search for, and attainment of, equity in health across and within countries and publishes research which improves the understanding of issues that influence the distribution of health and healthcare within populations.
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Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
This journal provides a forum for clinically relevant research and perspectives that contribute to improving the quality of care for people with unhealthy alcohol, tobacco, or other drug use and addictive behaviours across a spectrum of clinical settings.
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Annals of General Psychiatry
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Reproductive Health
This journal focuses on all aspects of human reproduction, including adolescent health, female fertility, contraception, and maternal health and all articles are open access.
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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
This journal publishes and disseminates high quality results from excellent research in the reproductive sciences.
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BMC Medical Genomics
An open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in all aspects of functional genetics and genomics, genome structure, genome-scale population genetics, epigenetics and epigenomics, proteomics, systems analysis, and pharmacogenomics in relation to human health and disease.
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Genome Medicine
This is an open access journal publishing outstanding research in the application of genetics, genomics and multi-omics to understand, diagnose and treat disease, bridging the basic science and clinical research communities.
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BMC Medical Ethics
This journal is an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in relation to the ethical aspects of biomedical research and clinical practice, including professional choices and conduct, medical technologies, healthcare systems and health policies.
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BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making
This is an open access journal publishing original peer-reviewed research articles in relation to the design, development, implementation, use, and evaluation of health information technologies and decision-making for human health.
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HIV stigma
BMC Public Health is calling for submissions to our Collection on HIV stigma, which remains a critical barrier to achieving optimal health outcomes for individuals living with HIV. Stigma undermines their quality of life, access to healthcare, and overall well-being. Despite significant advancements in treatment and prevention, discrimination and stigma continue to perpetuate fear, isolation, and misinformation within communities.
The urgency to address HIV stigma is heightened in the context of global health initiatives, as we strive for a more inclusive society where individuals living with HIV are empowered, well-informed, and treated with dignity. This Collection aims to gather cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives that illuminate the multifaceted nature of HIV stigma, highlighting the intersections of culture, policy, and public health that shape the experiences of those affected.
The Collection welcomes scholarship that not only documents stigma but also advances new ways of understanding and responding to it. We particularly invite work that examines stigma as a social, structural, and relational force that shapes care, rights, intimacy, and everyday life for people living with HIV.
The scope of this Collection encompasses a range of topics related to HIV stigma, including but not limited to:
- Qualitative research that foregrounds the knowledge, agency, and perspectives of people living with HIV and others affected by stigma
- Psychosocial dimensions of stigma experienced by people living with HIV
- The role of HIV awareness campaigns in combating stigma
- Innovative and community engaged approaches to measuring or addressing stigma
- Policy analyses addressing stigma in healthcare settings
- Intersectional analyses of stigma across gender, sexuality, age and migration, social, environmental or structural determinants of health contributing to discrimination
- Impacts of digital spaces, media narratives, and global health governance on stigma
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. We strongly encourage submissions from the global south and from teams that include community partners and lived experience experts.
All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer-review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Dec 01, 2026
Digital exclusion and health equity
Digital exclusion poses significant barriers to health equity, particularly in the context of an increasingly technology-driven healthcare landscape. Many individuals, especially from underserved communities face challenges in accessing digital health resources, including telehealth services, electronic health records, and health information online, alongside challenges from other social determinants of health. This Collection seeks to explore the intersection of digital health access and health equity, focusing on the disparities that arise from unequal access to digital tools and resources.
Addressing digital health exclusion is critical for promoting health equity and ensuring that all individuals can benefit from advancements in digital health. Recent strides in telehealth and digital health interventions have demonstrated the potential for technology to improve access to care, yet they also reveal significant disparities that must be acknowledged. By understanding the factors that contribute to eHealth disparities, we can develop targeted digital inclusion strategies that address the unique needs of diverse populations, ultimately fostering a more equitable health system.
Topics for submission include but are not limited to:
- Equitable digital health systems: policy, infrastructure, and community engagement
- Digital health access among underserved communities
- Digital literacy and health outcomes across diverse populations
- Innovations and implementation strategies for bridging digital health gaps in underserved communities
- Measuring and monitoring digital health disparities: metrics and methodologies
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well Being) and SDG 10: (Reduced Inequalities).
All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer-review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Dec 11, 2026
