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There has been significant progress in improved adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR) for girls across low- to- middle-income countries (LMICs). However, progress has been uneven, and disparities persistent across and within countries. For example, Vietnam is one of only nine countries to have achieved the 2015 maternal mortality rate (MMR) target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a nation, but for some sub-populations, progress has been much slower, and MMR is more than twice that the national average. Ensuring equity is a current focus of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda that seeks to Leave No One Behind. This paper explores some of these inequities and potential drivers for ethnic minority adolescent girls in Vietnam, with a specific focus on the Tay community, the largest ethnic minority group in Vietnam. This paper highlights the challenges to progress, including areas where there is still limited evidence about the range of socio-cultural factors that may determine sexual and reproductive health outcomes for Tay adolescent girls. In the era of the SDGs, Vietnam's national policy platforms and current aid architecture provide a solid basis on which to build research, policy and practice investments that improve the health of adolescent ethnic minority girls in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since launching health health-promoting settings approach to health by WHO, valuable progress has happened in implementing its holistic concepts in settings such as cities, schools, workplaces, hospitals and healthcare services. However, significant knowledge–intention–success gaps still exist in creating sustainable health-promoting changes in settings. The complexity of the task of bridging this gap has contributed to the call for a complexity-informed paradigm shift to health as well as settings, followed by increasing consultation of relevant complexity theories, frameworks and tools in health research. This paper provides a critical scoping review of the application of complex adaptive system (CAS) theory in settings-based health promotion research. We included 14 papers, mostly qualitative studies, reporting on planning or implementation of change initiatives, less on its evaluation. CAS theory application was often incomplete thereby reducing the potential benefit of using this lens to understand change management. We suggest some recommendations how to comprehensively apply the CAS theory in setting-based health research and to report on all CAS characteristics to enhance the understanding of settings as adaptive health-promoting settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A list of reviewers of papers published by the health promotion-focused periodical in 2023 is presented including Rachel Engler-Stringer, Jude Ball and Glen Bates.

This paper seeks to explore how hospitals can be reconfigured to adopt more 'health-promoting' approaches and values. Specifically, the paper focuses on the role of hospital chaplaincy and argues that spiritual care should be considered alongside other health domains. Using semi-structured interviews, the aim of the paper is to explore the experiences of patients who accepted (n = 10) and declined (n = 10) hospital chaplaincy services. Data were analysed drawing on principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings suggested that participants who accessed chaplaincy services reported using the chaplains for pastoral, religious and spiritual care which contributed positively to their sense of well-being. This included religious rituals and supportive conversations. The majority of these participants had existing links with a faith institution. Participants who declined chaplaincy services reported having personal religious or spiritual beliefs. Other reasons cited, included: that the offer was made close to discharge; they had different support mechanisms; they were unaware of what the chaplaincy service offered. Participants identified a number of skills and attributes they associated with chaplains. They perceived them as being religious but available to all, somebody to talk to who was perceived as impartial with a shared knowledge and understanding. The paper concludes by highlighting the important role of chaplaincy as part of a holistic health-promoting hospital. This has implications not only for the design, delivery and promotion of chaplaincy services but also for health promotion more broadly to consider spiritual needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Needing and seeking health information often is a longitudinal everyday life information behavior that involves the use of technology. However, no reviews of consumers' longitudinal health information needs (HIN) and health information-seeking (HIS) behavior have been conducted. We performed a scoping review to address this gap. Specifically, we surveyed the characteristics, timeline construction and research findings of studies investigating consumers' longitudinal HIN and HIS. Initial searches were conducted in November 2019 and updated in July 2022. A total of 128 papers were identified, reviewed and analyzed using content and thematic analyses. Results showed that most papers were quantitative, conducted in the USA, related to cancer, conducted during the diagnosis and treatment phases, and followed preset time intervals. Findings concerning the development patterns of consumers' HIN degrees and HIS effort were mixed (i.e. increasing, decreasing or being consistent over time). They seemed to be shaped by factors such as health conditions, data collection methods and the length of data collection. Consumers' use of sources changes depending on health status and source accessibility; their medical terminologies seem to expand over time. HIS has a strong emotional dimension which may lead to adaptive or maladaptive information behaviors (e.g. information avoidance). Overall, the results revealed a lack of understanding of HIN and HIS from a longitudinal perspective, particularly along health condition progression and coping trajectories. There is also a lack of understanding of the role of technologies in the longitudinal HIS process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations offer activities and programmes to improve their employees' health. These workplace health promotion (WHP) activities usually have an individualized and top-down focus, a low uptake among employees, and are perceived to be out of line with employees' experiences and definitions of health. This paper follows up on studies that have broadened the focus of WHP by including social relations and delves deeper into how daily practices and experiences of (un)belonging at work relate to workplace health. Based on ethnographic research in two companies in the Netherlands, this paper analyses how (un)belonging is expressed and experienced by employees. The paper shows that employees define health at work as a social practice. It also demonstrates how dynamics at work shape different dimensions of (un)belonging that, in turn, affect employees' perceived health at work. These findings indicate the importance of including (un)belonging in the workplace as an ingredient of WHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scaling up established physical activity (PA) opportunities for broader population reach requires practitioners to carefully consider strategies implemented to recruit and attract new participants to their PA programs. This scoping review examines the effectiveness of recruitment strategies for engaging adults in organized (established and sustained) PA programs. Electronic databases were searched for articles published between March 1995 and September 2022. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods papers were included. Recruitment strategies were assessed against Foster et al. (Recruiting participants to walking intervention studies: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2011; 8 :137–137.) assessment of quality for reporting recruitment and the determinants of recruitment rates were examined. 8394 titles and abstracts were screened; 22 articles were assessed for eligibility; 9 papers were included. Three of the 6 quantitative papers adopted a combination of passive and active recruitment strategies and 3 relied solely on active strategies. All 6 quantitative papers reported on recruitment rates; 2 evaluated the efficacy of recruitment strategies based on the achieved levels of participation. The evaluation evidence on how individuals are successfully recruited into organized PA programs, and how recruitment strategies influence or address inequities in PA participation, is limited. Culturally sensitive, gender sensitive and socially inclusive recruitment strategies based on building personal relationships show promise for engaging hard-to-reach populations. Improving the reporting and measurement of recruitment strategies into PA programs is essential to better understand which strategies are attracting various population groups thus allowing program implementers to employ recruitment strategies best suited to the needs of their community while making efficient use of program funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing disease prevalence rather than promoting health has long been the objective of significant population health initiatives, such as the social determinants of health (SDH) framework. However, empirical evidence suggests that people with diagnosed diseases often answer the self-reported health (SRH) question positively. In pursuit of a better proxy to understand, measure and improve health, this scoping review of reviews examines the potential of SRH to be used as an outcome of interest in population health policies. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, it synthesizes findings from 77 review papers (published until 11 May 2022) and reports a robust association between SDH and SRH. It also investigates inconsistencies within and between reviews to reveal how variation in population health can be explained by studying the impact of contextual factors, such as cultural, social, economic and political elements, on structural determinants such as socioeconomic situation, gender and ethnicity. These insights provide informed hypotheses for deeper explorations of the role of SDH in improving SRH. The review detects several gaps in the literature. Notably, more evidence syntheses are required, in general, on the pathway from contextual elements to population SRH and, in particular, on the social determinants of adolescents' SRH. This study reports a disease-oriented mindset in collecting, analysing and reporting SRH across the included reviews. Future studies should utilize the capability of SRH in interconnecting social, psychological and biological dimensions of health to actualize its full potential as a central public health measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failure of governments across the world to address climate change has fuelled social movements focused on climate-related policy and action. Research analysing these movements has focused mainly on the types of strategies employed including blockades and occupations, marches and petitions, divestment, boycotts and litigation as well as how groups are framing climate change as a problem. What has been largely missed are the ways these groups are framing the change they want to see, that is their demands to governments. Not all demands and actions have the same potential to create the changes needed to mitigate climate change. Used in public health and health promotion, the systems science Intervention Level Framework (ILF) is a tool that can help analyse to what extent different demands have the leverage to create change in a system. We use the ILF to analyse 131 demands from 35 different climate-related advocacy groups in Australia. Results show demands are more focused on lower system leverage points, such as stopping particular projects, rather than on more impactful leverage points, such as the governance structures that determine climate-related policy and decision-making mechanisms. Further, the results highlight the lack of attention on public health related topics of transport and food systems. This paper shows how a systems science framework used in health promotion, the ILF, could enable climate advocacy groups to more effectively target demands to achieve more impactful outcomes from governments, corporations and the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is an essential stage of life for developing actions related to health promotion, especially in health education (HE). Public policies advocate for the expansion of participative technologies in this field, as well as different theoretical and methodological perspectives subsidize these. Among these, Paulo Freire's reference guide is practiced in Brazil and around the world. From the Freirean perspective, Thematic Investigation (TI) defines the content of the educational practice. This paper describes a methodological proposal of the Freirean Thematic Investigation for developing health educational practices and promoting health among adolescents. Initially, we describe the conception of the Freirean rationale that sets the grounds for the proposed method: human being, dialogical education and reality and their connections with HE with adolescents in a critical perspective. The methodological proposal is systematized into five stages: (i) Approaching adolescents and the field of educational practices; (ii) Reading reality; (iii) Seminars for analyzing reality reading and preparing the codifications; (iv) Critical analysis of reality; and (v) Planning educational practices. The TI confronts the adult-centric perspectives that characterize adolescent health care. Moreover, as a praxis, TI is a process of reflection and action with adolescents, allowing for not only the discovery of the themes that build educational practices but also for solutions (untested feasibility) for the individual and collective problems experienced by adolescents concerning their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African region of the World Health Organization (WHO) recently adopted a strategy aimed at more comprehensive care for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the region. The WHO's World Health Assembly has also newly approved several ambitious disease-specific targets that raise the expectations of chronic care and plans to revise and update the NCD-Global Action Plan. These actions provide a critically needed opportunity for reflection and course correction in the global health response to NCDs. In this paper, we highlight the status of the indicators that are currently used to monitor progress towards global goals for chronic care. We argue that weak health systems and lack of access to basic NCD medicines and technologies have prevented many countries from achieving the level of progress required by the NCD epidemic, and current targets do little to address this reality. We identify gaps in existing metrics and explore opportunities to realign the targets with the pressing priorities facing today's health systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Popular commercial meal kit subscription services (MKSSs) may support families to overcome barriers to cooking and eating at home, and facilitate improved vegetable consumption. The global meal kit market has expanded rapidly creating a gap in our understanding of the health-promoting potential of MKSSs. This paper describes the contemporary MKSS market in Australia and provides a vegetable-specific content analysis of a sample of recipes. A 1-week subscription was purchased for all Australian-based MKSSs (n  = 9) and websites were systematically reviewed to document key characteristics and recipe features. Vegetable content of all available recipes within a 1-week period were analysed. Our findings highlight the rapid expansion and evolution of MKSS market offerings over the past decade and their potential to support family vegetable consumption. Across all analysed recipes (n  = 179), MKSSs provided a median of 2.5 vegetable serves per person (range 0.7–7.5 serves) and a median of 3 different types of vegetables from 2 vegetable subgroups (i.e. dark green, red and orange, starchy, legumes and all other vegetables). This suggests that MKSSs may support family vegetable consumption if families select recipes with a greater number and variety of vegetables. However, an opportunity remains for MKSSs to improve both vegetable quantity and variety to positively influence population health. Further research is required to describe how families use meal kits promoting a greater understanding of their potential to improve family nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycaemic control is of one the main goals for managing type 2 diabetes. In sub-Saharan Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, studies have reported alarming poor control rates. Patients with poor glycaemic control are exposed to complications leading to high cost of care and deteriorated quality of life. In recent studies by our group, we have demonstrated that poor glycaemic control is high and driven by proximal (individual) and distal (structural) factors in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Financial constraints impacted many aspects of care at multiple levels from the Government to persons living with diabetes. Financial constraints prevented good preparation, organization and access to diabetes care. Difficulties in implementing lifestyle changes, lack of health literacy and limited healthcare support were also contributing to poor glycaemic control. Through a Delphi study, a group of experts reached a consensus on five potential strategies for improving glycaemic control in the Democratic Republic of Congo as follows: changing the healthcare system for better diabetes care extended to other noncommunicable diseases, ensuring consistent financing of the healthcare, augmenting the awareness of diabetes among the general population and the persons living with diabetes, easing the adoption of lifestyle modifications and reducing the burden of undiagnosed diabetes. This paper reflects on the urgent need for an improved management framework for diabetes care in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Specifically, the Government needs to increase the investment in the prevention and treatment of noncommunicable diseases including diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Despite progression in the ethical and methodological conduct of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, disparities still pervade, indicating limitations in knowledge translation. One identified gap is a lack of documented experiences detailing how ethical guidelines may be practically applied. This paper aims to (i) describe the research processes involved in co-designing a physical activity and psychosocial health program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and (ii) highlight learnings of the collaborative research journey. The Criteria for Strengthening Reporting of Health Research involving Indigenous Peoples (CONSIDER) statement was used to document participatory research activities undertaken with an Aboriginal community partner. Building upon the CONSIDER statement, Aboriginal (N = 3), Torres Strait Islander (N = 1) and non-Indigenous (N = 4) research team members engaged in critical reflection to identify lessons learnt. Researchers identified a tension between participatory research principles and the expectations of funding agencies and research institutions. Consequently, timelines must be flexible to foster meaningful community engagement and participatory processes. Additionally, researchers and community stakeholders are encouraged to embrace tensions that may associated with participatory research or the pressures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers face from their community and organization. Furthermore, differences in professional (i.e. occupational) and cultural knowledge systems need to be acknowledged and accounted for within the early stages of a project to ensure informed decision-making. Identified lessons will assist relevant stakeholders in the development of future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health programming, ensuring the most appropriate health solutions are devised with community. Lay Summary: The ethical and methodological quality of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research and associated community engagement has progressed significantly in the last thirty years. Despite this progress, improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health disparities have been slow and inconsistent, indicating there are limitations in the available information for health promotion stakeholders. One identified gap is a lack of documented experiences detailing how guidelines may be practically applied. This paper, therefore, details how an intercultural, intersectoral team engaged in a participatory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research project (i.e. Tidda Talk). In addition to documenting research processes, the paper also offers lessons learnt: (i) Prioritize a flexible response within the project plan, (ii) Embrace Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community empowerment whilst working at the cultural interface (i.e. a place of knowledge exchange between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Western culture, resulting in two-way learning) (iii) Plan to navigate different knowledge systems, (iv) Acknowledge the pressures and demands placed on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers. These documented experiences and lessons learnt have the potential to benefit researchers and practitioners in future health service design and evaluation, allowing for culturally appropriate practices to be identified and replicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Gardening has the potential to enhance health and well-being, through increased physical activity and social connectedness. However, while much is known about the benefits of garden activities, less is known about the potential health implications of more passive forms of engagement with gardens, for example, viewing gardens. In addition, much garden research is undertaken in urban settings, leaving little known about potential health impacts for rural populations. The present study explored these research gaps by gaining an understanding of the experiences and perspectives of members of a gardening appreciation group in rural Australia: The Colac Horticultural and Marvellous Property Appreciation Society (CHAMPAS). A phenomenological, qualitative methodology was applied, using semi-structured interviews for data collection. Eleven participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling and the data were analysed by applying interpretive, reflexive thematic analysis. Four main themes and supporting sub-themes were generated. The four main themes were: (i) motivations for maintaining participation in CHAMPAS; (ii) social connections and friendships, formed from membership; (iii) sense of community and structure of CHAMPAS and (iv) the perceived health and well-being benefits of continued involvement in this group. This study found that members perceived health and well-being benefits stemmed from CHAMPAS facilitation of social connectedness, function as a community group and a way for members to share a love for home gardening. This study provides insights into the perceived and potential health-promoting effects of garden appreciation groups for rural populations. Lay Summary: There are many health and well-being benefits of gardening. However, research is predominantly focused on the active practice of gardening in urban environments, and little is known about the passive activity of garden appreciation, nor about the benefits of this activity in rural areas. This paper explores the health promotion potential of garden appreciation groups through the experiences of members of a rural group called CHAMPAS. Eleven members of CHAMPAS were asked to talk about what kept them attending, and what health and well-being benefits the group provided them. The study found that CHAMPAS benefits stemmed from its function as a social group and a way for members to share a love for home gardening. The findings suggest that garden appreciation groups potentially provide health promotion benefits for people in rural areas. A recommendation of this paper is to undertake further research to map and analyse these benefits across rural Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Health education encompasses building health knowledge, but also training skills such as critical thinking, that guide individuals' ability to access, understand and use health information to take care of their own health (WHO, 1998). This study aimed to document expert discussions on the content of an ideal health education curriculum for higher music education (HME) students in the UK, integrating critical thinking. Four interdisciplinary workshops were conducted, where 67 experts in relevant fields discussed the content of four lists created based on literature reviews (cognitive biases, logical fallacies, critical appraisal tools and health topics). Notes taken during the discussions were thematically analysed. Most of the participants thought that the topics and tools were relevant. Two of four identified themes are reported in this paper, which represents the first of a two-part series: (1) critical thinking applied to health; and (2) misconceptions. This is the first attempt to document conversations aimed at using the applied knowledge of key stakeholders to discuss the content of an ideal health education curriculum integrating critical thinking, for conservatoire students. Lay Summary: Professional classical musicians struggle with a range of occupational health issues, but clear guidelines around health education in HME are still missing. This paper reports the first attempt to document a series of four interdisciplinary discussions between 67 experts on (1) the ideal health education content for music students, and (2) the integration of critical thinking as part of music students' health education. Discussions were facilitated by comprehensive lists based on literature reviews. Notes were taken during discussions and were thematically analysed. Four themes were identified, two of which are discussed here: (1) critical thinking applied to health; and (2) misconceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although health education programmes have been implemented in higher music education (HME) and their evaluations published in peer-reviewed journals, guidelines as to what ought to be included in these programmes are still missing. This study aimed to document expert discussions on the content of an ideal health education curriculum for HME students in the UK, integrating critical thinking. Four interdisciplinary workshops were conducted, where 67 experts in relevant fields took part, and were asked to discuss four lists of topics and concepts created based on literature reviews (cognitive biases, logical fallacies, critical appraisal tools and health topics). Only the list on health topics is relevant here. Notes taken by the participants and ourselves were thematically analysed. Four themes were identified, two of which are reported in this paper: (i) The health education curriculum and (ii) A settings-based approach to health. Part I of this project (published elsewhere) is focussed on the critical thinking content of health education for conservatoire students. The present paper focusses on the ideal health education curriculum and its implications for the wider context of health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about unintentional drowning deaths in Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous and largest archipelagic country. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and risk factors of unintentional drowning in Indonesia and explore existing health promotion and drowning prevention approaches in Indonesia within a socio-ecological health promotion framework. A scoping review, guided by PRISMA-ScR, was conducted to locate peer-reviewed studies and government reports/policy documents published until May 2023, in English or Indonesian language, using MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL, Informit, PsycINFO (ProQuest), Scopus, SafetyLit, BioMed Central and Google Scholar, Indonesian journal databases (Sinta, Garuda) and government agencies websites around the terms: drown, swim, flood, hurricane, cyclone, disaster, water rescue and maritime/boat safety. This review identified 32 papers. However, a paucity of information on unintentional drowning rates, risk factors and prevention in Indonesia was noted. The unavailability of a coordinated national drowning data collection system in Indonesia, from which national and subnational subcategory data can be collected, underlines the possibility of under-representation of drowning mortality. The association between various exposures and drowning incidents has not been fully investigated. An over-reliance on individual-focused, behaviour-based, preventive measures was observed. These findings highlight the need for improving drowning surveillance to ensure the availability and reliability of drowning data; and strengthening research to understand the risk factors for drowning and delivery of drowning prevention programs. Further policy development and research focusing on health promotion approaches that reflect a socio-ecological approach to drowning prevention in Indonesia is imperative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension (and their comorbidity) have been increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, including The Gambia. Diet is a critical driver of these public health problems, and diet-related health education is a major strategy employed for their prevention and management. The aim of this paper is to explore the lived experiences of diet-related health education among individuals with comorbid type 2 diabetes and hypertension in Serrekunda, The Gambia, a subject hitherto unexplored in the country. The study employed a qualitative (interpretivist) methodology. Thirty-two interviews were conducted with 18 participants, with most participating in two interviews at separate time-points between November 2018 and July 2019. In addition to participant validation, the two points in time interviews elicited more depth and provided rich data. The data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-phased approach to Thematic Analysis. Four main themes were generated in relation to the experiences: (i) one-off blanket dietary advice (ii) education in a vacuum (iii) diabetes-hypertension diet dichotomy and (iv) imbalanced power relationship. The study underscores the need for a reconfiguration of diet-related health education in The Gambia to include lived experiences as critical components of health promotion in tackling T2DM and hypertension. This requires an ecological approach, critical health education, regulations on unhealthy foods, and active participation of individuals as equal partners in health education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effecting policy change is a key strategy in tackling wider determinants of health. In England, public health sits within Local Authorities (LAs) and responsibility for ensuring health is considered across directorates increasingly falls to public health practitioners. While international professional standards expect competence in understanding policy processes, the advocacy role has been under-explored. This paper explores the professional skills, role characteristics and learning needs of practitioners advocating for the restriction of advertising high-fat, salt and sugar products in a region of England. A series of three interviews were conducted at three time points over 10 months with policy advocates leading this policy change from four LAs. Three focus groups were also held with 12 public health advocates from 10 LAs at the end of the 10-month period of data collection. Data were transcribed and analysed retroductively. Data showed that practitioners felt inexperienced as policy advocates and saw this work as different from other public health approaches. Successful advocates required interpersonal skills, knowledge of policy-making and local governance, determination, resilience, confidence, belief in their work's value and leadership. These skills were difficult to acquire through formal education, but advocacy training, mentorship and role modelling were seen as important for professional development. To successfully implement a Health in all Policies approach and address wider determinants of health, public health practitioners need to be equipped and supported as policy advocates. The advocacy role and the complex skills required need to be more fully understood by the public health profession and prioritized within workforce development at both local and national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Services offering on-demand delivery of unhealthy commodities, such as fast food, alcohol and smoking/vaping products have proliferated in recent years. It is well known that the built environment can be health promoting or harmful to health, but there has been less consideration of the digital environment. Increased availability and accessibility of these commodities may be associated with increased consumption, with harmful public health implications. Policy regulating the supply of these commodities was developed before the introduction of on-demand services and has not kept pace with the digital environment. This paper reports on semi-structured interviews with health policy experts on the health harms of the uptake in on-demand delivery of food, alcohol and smoking/vaping products, along with their views on policies that might mitigate these harms. We interviewed 14 policy experts from central and local government agencies and ministries, health authorities, non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and university research positions in Aotearoa New Zealand using a purposive sampling strategy. Participants concerns over the health harms from on-demand services encompassed three broad themes—the expansion of access to and availability of unhealthy commodities, the inadequacy of existing restrictions and regulations in the digital environment and the expansion of personalized marketing and promotional platforms for unhealthy commodities. Health policy experts' proposals to mitigate harms included: limiting access and availability, updating regulations and boosting enforcement and limiting promotion and marketing. Collectively, these findings and proposals can inform future research and public health policy decisions to address harms posed by on-demand delivery of unhealthy commodities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental caries, a non-communicable disease, is one of the most prevalent diseases globally and share common modifiable risk factors with obesity such as excess sugar intake. However, prioritization by governments to improve population oral health has been limited and is typically excluded from the discourse of public health policy development. Therefore, interventions that target dental caries can have other co-benefits including obesity prevention. In Victoria, Australia, local government authorities have a regulatory requirement to develop their Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plans. The aim of this paper is to identify whether prioritization for oral health by local government authorities in Victoria has changed through the subsequent renewal of the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plans 2011–2015 and 2019–2023. Three desktop audits for all publicly available Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plans by local government authorities in Victoria were conducted between 2014 and 2022. Key terms related to oral health was searched within these policy documents and categorized into six indicators: (i) included oral health as a priority, (ii) linked healthy eating and oral health, (iii) supported the Achievement Program, (iv) included the Smiles 4 Miles program, (v) advocated for fluoridated drinking water, and (vi) included other strategies related to oral health. Overall, there was statistically significant reduction in five of the six indicators, with the exception for prioritization of other strategies related to oral health such as targeting excess sugar intake and smoking. A multi-sectoral approach, that includes oral health would be advantageous to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adapting interventions to the context increases the impact and sustainability of interventions. Literature acknowledges the need to adapt existing interventions and that these adaptations should be clearly reported. However, little is known about how to incorporate adaptation from the beginning. This paper argues that interventions should be developed and adaptations should be made using an ongoing non-linear approach. An action-oriented research approach with feedback loops is proposed. We illustrate this with the development of a food literacy intervention 'Up for Cooking' (Dutch: Zin in Koken) and present lessons learned in developing, implementing and studying such adaptable interventions. Interventions should clearly define and differentiate the intervention function and form. Implementers, in turn, should be encouraged to tailor interventions within a form that fits with a specific context. Sufficient time, continuous adaptation based on co-creation, feedback loops and interdisciplinary collaboration are important prerequisites for the development of adaptable interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), cervical cancer (CC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive women being particularly vulnerable. Despite the benefits of early CC screening in reducing HIV-related CC deaths, CC screening uptake remains limited, with wide disparities in access across SSA. As part of a larger study, this paper examines the determinants of CC screening among HIV-seropositive women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in Zimbabwe. Using the 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, we conducted multilevel analyses of CC screening among 1490 HIV-seropositive women, nested in 400 clusters. Our findings revealed that, even though 74% of HIV-seropositive women knew about CC, only 17.6% of them reported ever screening for it. Women who held misconceptions about HIV (OR = 0.47, p = 0.01) were less likely to screen for CC compared to those with accurate knowledge about HIV and CC. HIV-seropositive women with secondary or higher education were more likely to screen (OR = 1.39, p = 0.04) for CC compared to those with a primary or lower level of education. Age was positively associated with screening for CC. Furthermore, locational factors, including province and rural–urban residence, were associated with CC screening. Based on these findings, we call for integrated care and management of HIV and non-communicable diseases in Southern Africa, specifically, Zimbabwe due to the legacy of HIV in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2005, an applied theatre community outreach programme was launched to address low levels of HIV/AIDS awareness among farm workers in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. In cooperation with HIV testing organizations, the Lucky , the Hero mini-musical promoted regular HIV testing, condom use and acceptance of people living with HIV until being retired in 2017. Applying principles of the health belief model to interview data collected in 2015 from former Lucky, the Hero participants, this paper examines the effectiveness of the theatre production to achieve the behavioural outcomes of (i) encouraging regular HIV testing and ongoing awareness of HIV serostatus, and (ii) reducing AIDS-related social stigma. The findings suggest that the interventions were successful in persuading participants to know their HIV status immediately following the shows, as well as potentially contributing to a reduction of community-based external social stigma. However, the interventions were unable to maintain engagement with these behavioural outcomes in the years following the performances, resulting in low adherence to regular HIV testing and inconsistent condom use. Additionally, ongoing social and structural barriers to regular HIV testing and the potential for self-imposed HIV-related stigma were highlighted during the discussions. While applied theatre can be an effective avenue for HIV awareness and prevention, the paper demonstrates the importance of creating and maintaining strong community networks to support continued engagement with health-related behavioural outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a primary societal challenge worldwide, with over 23 million new cases/year, and 10 million deaths/year. Estimates of preventable cancer deaths rise as high as 70%, but such estimates rely heavily on individual behaviors, which in turn are correlated with knowledge and attitudes towards health and cancer. This paper describes the iterative evidence-based development of the first entertainment-education series on cancer prevention to be televised, and reports its effectiveness evaluation. A nominal group defined the guiding principles that were translated into key characteristics for a series named ' 2' Life-changing minutes '. Pilot episodes were produced and evaluated in two complementary studies—a focus group study with medical doctors and a survey study with prospective viewers. Results from these studies guided the optimization and production of the full series, which was broadcast on national public TV, in prime time. An evaluation study was performed afterwards with naturally-occurring viewers and results show audience reach on par with purely entertainment series, that health messages can be clearly conveyed through fictional narratives, and that the series has high levels of appreciation and health promotion potential. ' 2' Life-changing minutes ' constitutes a novel and effective proposal for health promotion, that challenges the primacy of information and statistics still common in health communication, with a new format based on stories, characters and social contexts to successfully promote health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few case studies exist in the public health or design literatures showing how to create national scale messaging campaigns in low-income countries using design processes. In this paper, we describe how we used Behaviour Centred Design to develop Nyumba ni choo , the Tanzanian National Sanitation Campaign. The process involved multiple iterations of ideation and filtration by professional creatives, government staff, academics and sanitation specialists to create a branded mass communication campaign, which was refreshed annually. The campaign was based on the insight that Tanzania is modernizing rapidly, with people upgrading their homes, but leaving their outside toilets in a 'traditional' state. Built around the 'big idea' that a household is not fully modern without a good-quality, modern toilet, the campaign employed reality TV shows, live engagements and mass and digital media postings, all targeted at motivating both the government and general population to improve toilets. The campaign has made toilets a topic of national conversation and has led to a major uptick in the rate of toilet building. Efforts to improve public health-related behaviour can be enhanced by using systematic approaches that build on available evidence, understand behaviour in its common settings, employ psychological theory and engage creative expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender equality indexes (GEIs) have become a popular tool for the quantification of unequal resource distribution between males and females. Creating such an index implies an understanding of what gender inequality is, though this question has remained the province of theoretical feminism with little explicit treatment in the methodologically focussed literature. This paper presents an empirically minded, theoretical account of gender inequality, which can be used broadly to inform the development of GEIs. The account proceeds in three steps. First, we argue for a broad understanding of the types of resources that structure gender inequality. Drawing on the work of Bourdieu, we highlight the importance of including symbolic capitals (and indeed viewing gender itself as a symbolic capital). By considering gender as a symbolic capital, we are drawn to the ways that normative maleness hides some types of gender inequality. Thus, caregiving norms and leisure time inequality are brought to the foreground. Finally, in recognizing that there is no single unifying female experience, we describe the ways that gender inequality intersect with other forms of disadvantage, motivating the incorporation of (particularly) race into the index. The result is a comprehensive—and theoretically defensible—set of indicators for the measurement of gender inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of employers implement worksite health promotion programs (WHPPs). In particular, blue-collar workers may benefit from these WHPPs. However, they are less likely than other workers to participate and little is known about which factors affect their participation. The aim of this scoping literature review is to produce an overview of studies on factors associated with blue-collar workers' participation in WHPPs. Five databases were searched: BSU, PsycINFO, Medline, Web of Science and CINAHL. The review included peer-reviewed empirical studies on determinants associated with blue-collar workers' participation in WHPPs. Factors were extracted and categorized. Similar determinants were clustered and the direction of the associations was further examined. Nineteen papers describing 11 qualitative and 4 quantitative studies met the eligibility criteria. Seventy-seven determinants were analyzed (in quantitative studies) or reported (in qualitative studies). In most studies, only participant characteristics were investigated. Participation may be enhanced by addressing needs, tailoring from a broad range of activities, offering group activities, requiring little effort and commitment at the start, using incentives, leading by example and combining WHPPs with occupational safety interventions. WHPPs seem to be able to reach blue-collar workers, but it remains particularly challenging to reach shift workers and those who do not yet experience health complaints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a well-established connection between housing conditions and children's health. However, little is known on how housing insecurity indicators including, multiple moves, being behind on rent/mortgage, doubling up and crowding, affect child health. The purpose of this paper is to identify how pathways of association between housing insecurity and health may become established during childhood, using evidence from the literature. Using the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for scoping reviews, a search was conducted using key terms associated with housing insecurity and health among children. Twenty-seven articles were included in the review. Forty-six outcomes related to child health were identified throughout the articles. Physical health was the most commonly examined outcome in these articles. Multiple moves was the most common housing insecurity indicator associated with health. This review identified multiple studies showing negative associations between housing insecurity and poorer health-related indicators among children. Results from this review provide important information on the implication of certain housing insecurity indicators for children's health. Although housing is increasingly recognized as a social determinant of health, it may be particularly important to go beyond physical housing conditions to consider and measure housing insecurity in future work, as a key social determinant shaping health in pediatric populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic is the mandate to stay home and practice physical distancing. In Canada, with essential activities such as grocery shopping, outdoor exercise and transportation, people need to be able to safely navigate dense, urban spaces while staying at least two metres or six feet apart. This pandemic has exacerbated the health inequities across neighbourhoods in cities like Toronto, Canada which are often segregated along racial and income lines. These inequities impact who has access to urban infrastructure that promotes health and quality of life. Safety in a time of COVID-19 goes beyond just exposure to the virus, it is complicated by notions of who belongs where, and who has access to what resources. The built environment has a role in maintaining and promoting physical and mental health during this pandemic and beyond it. This paper puts forwards three considerations for built environment interventions to promote health equitably: (i) addressing structural determinants of health and embedding anti-racist intersectional principles, (ii) revisiting tactical urbanism as a health promotion tool and (iii) rethinking community engagement processes through equity-based placemaking. This paper outlines four built environment interventions in Toronto, Canada that seek to address the challenges in navigating urban space safely in the short term, including street design that prioritizes pedestrians, protected cycling infrastructure, access to inclusive green space and safe, affordable housing. Longer-term strategies to create health-promoting urban environments that are equitable are discussed and may be valuable to other cities with similar urban equity concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet is an important factor in a healthy lifestyle for all age groups. However, with aging it is important to be aware that the diet, due to changed physiology, needs an accordingly adjusted and balanced daily regime. This article reviews the field of older population's nutrition and presents: the most common nutritional disorders, causes, demographics and malnutrition measurement tools. Relevant scientific literature as well as professional Slovenian papers were identified through specific searches with topic-related keywords in EBSCO, PubMed, Web of Science and COBISS databases. The results of the identified papers are subsequently discussed in a descriptive narrative. The reviewed literature shows noticeable trends of high proportions of malnutrition among older persons, both globally and in Slovenia: predominantly observed are overnutrition like overweight and obese, but as well, and often unnoticed, undernutrition. The latter is more worrying, as inadequate knowledge in health care institutions regarding nutritional screening tools and measures to prevent drastic forms of undernutrition, seem to facilitate these trends. Though there are many reasons for insufficient food intake in older people, the article formulates considerations that can feed appropriate education and awareness programs, and through correct screening point to timely identification of malnourished individuals and those with risk of malnutrition. The promotion and implementation of such considerations could prevent malnutrition among the older population, reduce the frequency of nutritional disorders and co-morbidities, and generally improve the nutritional status of the older population, thus, provide better quality of health later in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This article reports on findings that indicate how First Nations musical activities function as cultural determinants of health. Drawing on early findings from a 3-year Australian Research Council funded project titled The Remedy Project: First Nations Music as a Determinant of Health, we detail Australian and Ni Vanuatu First Nations musicians' reported outcomes of musical activity using a First Nations cultural determinants of health framework. The broader findings indicate that our respondents see musical activity as actively shaping all known domains of cultural health determinants, and some surrounding political and social determinants. However, this paper focusses specifically on the political and economic determinants that emerged in analysis as the most dominant subthemes. We argue that this study provides strong impetus for continued investigation and reconceptualization of the place of music in cultural health determinant models. Lay Summary: This article looks at how making and performing music, recording music and listening to music helps the health of First Nations peoples in Australia and Ni Vanuatu. Music is an important part of the lives of First Nations peoples from these places and so research was done to try to understand why it is meaningful. Music can be used as an outlet for personal feelings, and can also be a way that groups of people can express common concerns. First Nations musicians talked about how music makes them feel, and how music is used to strengthen relationships between people, and between people and their culture. Musicians also talked about how music helps them express their political and economic goals. The findings backed up existing First Nations' models of health that say that health for First Nations People's needs to be thought about in a holistic way. The findings also showed that the relationship between music and health needs to be studied more so that we can better understand how it helps maintain links with the past, gives a guide for the present and opens options for the future. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Mass participation sports event (MPSE)s have been identified as a potential referral pathway for engaging inactive patients in regular physical activity. This study aimed to review evidence of physical activity behaviour and associated health-related outcomes of engaging in MPSEs among the general population. A systematic review was performed of quantitative studies that examined the relationship between MPSEs and physical activity behaviour or secondary outcomes (e.g. physical activity motivation or confidence, physical or mental health) or any intervention to maintain physical activity following MPSEs. Search methods included searching five electronic databases and checking reference lists. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A total of 2079 papers were identified, 142 were independently assessed for eligibility and 39 were included. Data from prospective cohort studies suggested that levels of physical activity achieved in training for MPSEs tended to drop in the months after, but increases were reported in some studies of novice participants. Interventions involving health promotion materials provided post-event led to small increases in physical activity. Perceived benefits of participating in MPSEs included physical and mental health, fitness, self-efficacy and social connections. Existing evidence suggests that MPSEs can act as a motivator to initiate exercise in preparation for the event, but there is limited evidence on how best to sustain physical activity post-event. Given the short duration of most studies, longer prospective analyses are needed to delineate patterns of habitual and event-related activity and account for seasonal effects. Lay Summary: Mass participation sporting events can be attractive to low-active participants as well as regular exercisers, with a notable proportion identified as low active (one-fifth). Overall levels of physical activity tend to decline after event completion, suggesting that training in preparation for events was not maintained. There is some evidence of increased exercise post-event reported among novice participants, though evidence is limited on effective ways to sustain exercise after event completion. Regularly held events such as parkrun or booster interventions following events helped maintain exercise levels over 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Psychological complications of chronic diseases are often underestimated because they may be interpreted as normal consequences of the underlying illness. Additionally, chronic patients may find several obstacles to healthcare access, including physical, socioeconomic, geographical and psychological barriers. Social media may be potential tools to provide psychological care extending the possibility of treatment where the offer is limited. This review aimed to explore the use of social media in administering psychological interventions to patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo (from 2004 to 2021). Randomized controlled trials outlining the social media use in administering psychological assistance to patients with chronic noncommunicable diseases were considered eligible. Out of 9838 records identified, 75 papers were included. Peer-to-peer interaction was the most used (n = 22), mainly via chat rooms and forums. Interventions were mostly administered to patients with psychiatric (n = 41) or oncologic disorders (n = 12). This work highlighted a lack of tailored interventions based on disease, age or gender, and a use of a limited range of relatively old platforms such as emails, blogs and forums. To administer efficient interventions, it would be advisable to continuously analyze the evolving use of these tools. Lay Summary: Psychological symptoms are common among patients with chronic non-infectious diseases. Seldom treated properly, they are a major reason for a low quality of life. Chronic patients, like those who suffer from oncologic, psychiatric or heart diseases, could have difficulties in finding the right psychological support. One way to potentially reach anyone is using social media, which are often used by chronic patients for educational purposes about their diseases, or for finding psychological support from others with similar conditions. We wanted to study whether social media have been used in clinical research for administering psychological support to patients with chronic diseases. We studied the existing scientific literature doing a systematic review, finding that often social media were not used at their full potential. Peer-to-peer interactions were the most common interactions, chats rooms and forums the most common social media platforms. Participants were most commonly psychiatric and oncological patients. It is very important not to overlook powerful instruments like social media: they could be easily used by patients to empower themselves in managing their conditions. Social media could be an efficient way to easily provide chronic patients with psychological support either administered by health professionals, like psychotherapists, or by peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper aimed to evaluate the impact of an oral health programme targeting prisoners in eastern Saudi Arabia. The reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance (RE-AIM) strategy was used as the evaluation framework to assess both process and outcome. This annual programme included four stations: an interview, an educational session, dental examination and treatment. Programme indicators included the number of prisoners reached, percent improvement in oral health practices, teeth present in the mouth and percent reduction in dental treatment needs. A non-experimental pre- and post-programme evaluation design was implemented. Prisons in eastern Saudi Arabia were visited once a year from 2016 to 2019. The evaluation used primary data collected during the visits in the form of clinical examination and surveys. The number of beneficiaries increased from 270 to 634, and three cities within the Eastern province were covered. The percent of inmates who smoke and consume sugary drinks decreased by 24 and 30%, respectively; however, there was a 25% reduction in regular toothbrushing using a fluoridated toothpaste. The long-term outcomes showed an improvement in the overall oral health condition and treatment needs: periodontal treatment needs and surgical procedures were reduced by 91 and 79%, respectively. The programme was successful based on the RE-AIM framework. This is the first sustainable oral health programme targeting prison inmates in the Middle East. The findings indicate that the oral health programme had positive effects on prisoners' oral health and achieved its objectives. Such programmes can help address health disparities among populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the input-process-output (IPO) model as an organizing framework, this paper provides an overview of the literature on multiple dimensions of dietary supplement (DS) consumption. Based on a systematic review of 174 studies from different disciplines over two decades, we pinpointed the key topics that have been examined in this growing body of literature and identified the major themes within DS consumption. Moreover, we integrated the major themes in inputs, processes, and outputs to develop a comprehensive understanding of individuals' DS consumption behaviors, motivations, and social mechanisms underlying such behaviors. This research has implications for health consumption and promotion research. We identified DS consumption as a social–cultural process in which individuals practice lifelong self-learning and socialization activities through which lay health knowledge may be developed. Accordingly, their DS use motives may be related to health improvement or not (e.g. identity expressions), which are formed during interactions with various stakeholders in the health marketplace. When confronting the contemporary health promotion culture and self-care paradigm, it is important for researchers to deepen our knowledge of consumers' motives for DS consumption and the underlying social mechanisms to aid consumers' health consumption decisions and guide the multiple stakeholders in the health marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the year 2003 when the first walkability scale was published to date, person-environment fit models and empirical research, some of which was published in Health Promotion International , have encapsulated healthy communities in 'neighborhood walkability'. While there is no doubt that neighborhood walkability positively influences health-seeking behaviors and health, recent models suggest that their measurement and conceptualization have not emphasized the role played by psychosocial and personal factors in aging in place. Thus, the development of scales measuring human ecosystem factors has not recognized all critical factors suited for older adults. In this paper, we aim to draw on relevant literature to frame a more holistic construct, hereby referred to as Socially Active Neighborhoods (SAN), that would better support aging in place in older populations. Through a narrative review based on a systematic search of the literature, we define the scope of SAN and delineate some contextual implications for gerontology, health promotion and psychometric testing. SAN, unlike neighborhood walkability in its current measurement and conceptualization, incorporates critical theory-informed psychosocial factors (i.e. safety and disability friendliness of neighborhood infrastructure) that can encourage older adults with physiological and cognitive limitations to maintain physical and social activities as well as health in later life. The SAN is the result of our adaptation of key person-environment models, including the Context Dynamics in Aging (CODA) framework, that recognizes the role of context in healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are various research designs and approaches to investigate how health-promoting activities are implemented in complex, real-world systems, and to identify potential health effects that might occur following implementation. Although literature describes guidelines to perform and report about implementation research and effect evaluations, no specific guidelines exist on analysing and reporting about the combination of effectiveness data and implementation data collected as part of intervention evaluation in complex and diverse settings. This paper describes the evaluation of primary school-based health-promoting activities in complex systems. Furthermore, an approach for data categorization inspired by Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory is presented that can facilitate structuring the study's results and relating the degree of implementation to any impact on effectiveness outcomes that might be observed. Researchers interested in using this approach for data categorization have to ensure that the following three conditions are met: (i) data on an intervention's efficacy in a controlled setting with optimal implementation is available; (ii) key points that define an intervention's optimal implementation are available and (iii) an evaluation study is performed, collecting both effectiveness data and implementation data in a real-world context. This data categorization approach can be useful to generate more insight into an intervention's effectiveness under varying circumstances, and optimal support and advice can be provided to stakeholders to achieve maximum impact of population-based health-promoting interventions in complex, real-world systems. However, the proposed approach is a first suggestion and further testing and adaptation is necessary to increase its usefulness. Knowledge and experience sharing among researchers performing comparable research can increase the knowledge base regarding this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For years Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has served as a key indicator of human progress and "successful" societies. Unfortunately, GDP has failed to robustly capture the human experience or predict resilience through crises; and obscures the presence of inequity -- a key determinant of suffering. It is clear the global community needs a new organizing principle: one that envisions and measures progress by focusing on the conditions that support health, resilience, and overall wellbeing. This paper examines key health promotion concepts and approaches, juxtaposed with philosophical underpinnings of the concept of wellbeing, alternative measurement strategies, and examples of wellbeing policy initiatives. In doing so, the paper highlights the relevance of wellbeing policy frameworks to health promotion, the utility of health promotion strategies for implementing wellbeing policy frameworks, and controversies and pitfalls that require consideration. The paper concludes by outlining how health promotion is uniquely poised to contribute to wellbeing policy frameworks that promote the sources of human and planetary thriving through sustainable development, and that promoting a wellbeing agenda can strengthen efforts to promote health by addressing social determinants and ensuring universal access to resources that support coping with emerging challenges and strengthen resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper provides a critical review of food environments' literature, with a focus on the metaphoric typology that has been developed over recent decades. This has tended to focus understandably on harmful food environments using well-known metaphors: that of food deserts, food swamps and food mirages. The purpose of the review was to consider the current typology in relation to what constitutes healthy food environments, and the implications for population groups in low socioeconomic environments who are often disadvantaged by current food systems and unhealthy food environments. The paper posits a new term, alongside the notion of the food oasis, that of food havens. Oasis indicates a small place of plenty in a setting of scarcity. Haven extends the boundaries of plenty in society by positing places and settings of refuge and safety, even sanctuary from which health and well-being can be attained and supported. We argue for focusing on creating such sustainable food environments so as to proliferate and promote examples of what needs to be done urgently in the fight to transform global food environments for the health of people particularly those that are vulnerable and the planet. Elements of the food haven as proposed in this paper have been drawn from indigenous perspectives—these include Māori and Pacific worldviews. Future research should consider what food environments might look like in different contexts and how we might move away from food swamps and deserts to food oases and havens; and utilize these positive motifs to go further in creating whole sustainable food environments encompassing all of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well documented that lower socio-economic status is associated with poorer health outcomes, while health literacy is considered important for improving health. What is less clear, is the extent to which greater health literacy can improve health outcomes among people for whom poverty or financial insecurity are important barriers to health. The paper presents findings from an Australian survey of people living with HIV (PLHIV) (N = 835) in which we explored the relationship between financial insecurity and health outcomes, looking at the extent to which health literacy mediates this relationship. The study drew on a comprehensive definition of health literacy, measuring participant's confidence to communicate with healthcare providers, navigate the health system and take an active stance in relation to their health. Findings showed that financial insecurity was associated with lower health literacy and poorer self-reported physical and mental health. Health literacy mediated 16.2% of the effect of financial insecurity on physical health scores and 16.6% of the effect of financial insecurity on mental health scores. This suggests that programmes which seek to build health literacy among PLHIV may improve health outcomes among PLHIV who are struggling financially. Health literacy programmes are likely to be effective if they build confidence and resourcefulness among people to engage with health information, decision-making and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to safe drinking water is critical in improving health and well-being. It is estimated that >40% of urban households in Ghana do not have access to safe drinking water. Although the willingness and ability of community members to collectively take local initiatives are essential to curtailing inequities in water access in Ghana, the determinant of collective action is less explored. This paper explores determinants of collective action in water-insecure neighbourhoods and examines how perceived inequities in access to water and trust mediate the relationship between lack of access to water and collective action in urban Ghana. The results show that the urban poor OR = 12.047 (p = 0.000) were more likely to participate in water-related collective action compared to wealthy individuals. Primary decision-makers were 1.696 times more likely to participate in collective (p = 0.02). We also found that perceived inequities OR = 0.381 (p = 0.00) significantly predict participation in collective action to address water insecurity. Water service providers should be subjected to a rigid state-level framework that ensures inclusivity, fairness and justice in their distribution systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health Impact Assessment is a key approach used internationally to identify positive or negative impacts of policies, plans and proposals on health and well-being. In 2020, HIAs were undertaken in Scotland and Wales to identify the potential health and well-being impacts of the 'stay at home' and physical distancing measures implemented at the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. There is sparse evidence evaluating whether the impacts predicted in HIAs occur following policy implementation. This paper evaluates the impacts anticipated in the COVID-19 HIAs against actual observed trends. The processes undertaken were compared and predicted impacts were tabulated by population groups and main determinants of health. Routine data and literature evidence were collated to compare predicted and observed impacts. Nearly all health impacts anticipated in both HIAs have occurred in the direction predicted. There have been significant adverse impacts through multiple direct and indirect pathways including loss of income, social isolation, disruption to education and services, and psychosocial effects. This research demonstrates the value of prediction in impact assessment and fills a gap in the literature by comparing the predicted impacts identified within the HIAs with observed trends. Post-COVID-19 recovery should centre health and well-being within future policies and decisions. Processes like HIA can support this as part of a 'health in all policies' approach to improve the health and well-being of populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes papers published in the journal with the term "complexity" in title and abstracts in an effort to provide a description and reflection on complexity diffusion in the health promotion community. Topics covered include the finding that complexity often was referred to as a generic descriptive term without any association to complexity concepts, theories or frameworks, and a summary of revised papers and their contribution to complexity informed health promotion practice.

Health impact assessment (HIA) is a method by which a policy, programme or project falling outside traditional health fields, may be judged as to its potential effects on the health of a population to mitigate negative impacts and strengthen the positive ones. Proposals are analysed from the perspective of all the determinants of health. In France, HIAs are mainly applied to urban development projects where social cohesion (SCo) is a major issue. Although the HIA method is well structured as a step-by-step process, there are no guidelines for assessing SCo. This article opens with literature review to clarify the concept of SCo and to understand how the built environment influences SCo and how social environment influence health. Drawing on this work, this paper presents an analytical framework to assess SCo, integrating both the spatial and physical dimensions of urban design and the perceptions of the neighbourhood characteristics. Following a brief overview of the key findings from applying this framework to HIA of an urban development project, the paper discusses its related strengths and weaknesses. The framework could be a useful tool for HIA as it embraces knowledge from both urban planning and social sciences. It also allows for an overall analysis of all the indicators without relying on a checklist. Nevertheless, it should be tested further to improve its validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective interventions are needed to stop homophobic behaviours in sport settings as these behaviours are associated with negative health and social outcomes for individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or other diverse genders and sexualities. This paper reports the results of a quasi-experimental study commissioned by a public health agency to explore the benefits of a novel intervention that has been widely adopted by Australian community sport clubs. The 'Pride Cup' intervention includes education for club leaders, sport participants and the hosting of a rainbow-themed 'pride game'. Survey responses of male participants from six randomly selected sport clubs which had received the intervention (n = 148) were compared to responses (n = 137) from six randomly selected comparison clubs (Australian Football, cricket, field hockey, roller derby). Employing a post-test-only design, the study explored differences in homophobic attitudes, behaviours and individual efficacy to react negatively to homophobic behaviours. The study found significant differences (p < 0.001) in self-reported use of homophobic slurs (e.g. fag) in the last 2 weeks by participants in the treatment (11%) versus comparison (31.8%) clubs, and significant differences in the perceived use of these slurs by teammates (25.9% vs. 56.6%) or coaches (7.8% vs. 23.3%). There were also significant differences in efficacy scores, but no differences in homophobic attitudes. These results, combined with evidence of community-driven adoption, support the allocation of public health resources to conduct larger scale trials using pre/post designs to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Feel4Diabetes project conducted a 2-year intervention aiming to encourage healthy behaviours in families in six European countries. Within this paper, the intervention effect was evaluated after the first intervention year on 24-hour physical behaviour composition in Belgian families at risk for type 2 diabetes. Parents' and children's levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) were objectively measured and sleep duration was self-reported. Valid data were obtained in 82 children (mean age: 8.2 ± 0.84; 50.0% boys) and 72 parents (mean age: 40.1 ± 5.5; 27.8% fathers). Data were analysed using a compositional data approach, and mixed models were used to take clustering into account. Results showed that for children, the mean baseline composition of the 24-hour day in sleep, SB, light and moderate-to-vigorous PA for the intervention group was (11 hours 18 minutes; 6 hours 33 minutes; 5 hours 02 minutes, 1 hour 08 minutes) and for the control group (11 hours 18 minutes; 6 hours 35 minutes; 5 hours 04 minutes; 1 hour 06 minutes), respectively. For parents, the mean baseline composition was for the intervention group (8 hours 12 minutes; 9 hours 36 minutes; 5 hours 43 minutes; 27 minutes) and for the control group (8 hours 00 minute; 9 hours 00 minute; 6 hours 27 minutes; 33 minutes). No significant intervention effects were found on 24-hour physical behaviour composition of either parents or children (p = 0.19 and p = 0.21, respectively). A relatively small study population and a poor attendance rate among parents could maybe explain the lack of effectiveness. More effective strategies are needed to retain vulnerable families in interventions. Furthermore, future approaches to improve the 24-hour physical behaviour composition should maybe focus more specifically on PA, SB and sleep, and involve teachers, children and parents in the design of the intervention. Trial registration: NCT02393872 in ClinicalTrials.gov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School nutrition policies that aim to address unhealthy diets have been introduced in many countries. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the international literature to determine the impact (overall and by socioeconomic position [SEP]) of primary school nutrition policies on the availability of foods and beverages in schools. Seven databases were searched using keywords and medical subject headings related to nutrition policies and schools. Studies that reported on the impact of implemented school nutrition policies on food and beverage availability within primary schools were included. Eighteen studies (reported across 20 papers) were included. Fifteen of the included studies reported some positive impacts of policies, including increased availability of healthier foods and decreased availability of less healthy foods. Five studies focused specifically on schools in low-income communities and a further three specifically compared schools by SEP, with mixed findings. Two studies reported on factors influencing policy implementation, reporting a lack of financial resources as a barrier to schools offering a wider selection of healthy foods and additional school resources as increasing the likelihood of offering healthy foods. School nutrition policies appear to be effective at improving the healthiness of foods and beverages available at schools. Furthermore, the results suggest that well-implemented school nutrition policies that improve the healthiness of foods available are unlikely to exacerbate the socioeconomic gradient of poor nutrition. However, the number of studies that reported results by SEP limits drawing strong conclusions regarding equity impacts and we strongly recommend further studies analyze their findings according to SEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]