Search

Background: Betel nut chewing is a public health concern in the Asia-Pacific region and is an emerging issue in Vanuatu. Despite the significant health risks associated with betel nut chewing, few interventions have been undertaken to reduce its harm. Objectives: To investigate betel nut use in Vanuatu and to identify opportunities to reduce its harm and possible interventions, framing the responses using the World Health Organization's MPOWER tobacco control model. Method: Qualitative research design, in the form of semi-structured interviews with ten participants with expertise in health, agriculture, education or non-communicable disease in Port Vila, Vanuatu during June 2017. Recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a general inductive approach was used to identify key themes. Results: Participants reported a recent increase in betel nut use in Vanuatu due to the influence from Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. To reduce the harm of betel nut use in Vanuatu, participants suggested policies and strategies that aligned with the MPOWER framework that could be adopted for betel nut control, including restricting cultivation and sale of betel nut in Vanuatu and using radio and existing community networks to reach people with messages about the dangers of betel nut use. Conclusion: Betel nut use may be growing in popularity in Vanuatu, where there are potential policy options to minimize harm. The MPOWER model for tobacco control may be a useful framework to help the Vanuatu government to deliver a comprehensive approach to reducing harm from betel nut use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the Asia-Pacific region, betel quid and areca nut chewing is a public health concern that requires immediate attention. There is a need to improve knowledge about the harmful effects of betel quid and areca nut chewing and train health care professionals to provide preventive interventions. Objectives: To introduce and evaluate the Pacific Open Learning Health Net (POLHN) online courses about the dangers of betel quid and areca nut. Methods: Two self-paced courses about betel quid and areca nut chewing were developed and offered via the POLHN which predominantly engages health professional working in the Pacific islands. Students completing each of the courses were asked to complete a survey measuring course organization, content, length and comprehension level, evaluation methods, adaption to the Pacific island context, relevance to work and level of interaction. Conclusions: The POLHN courses about the dangers of betel quid and areca nut were well accepted by participants for quality and relevancy to their work. POLHN is the first platform that offers a course in betel quid and areca nut in the Pacific and has the potential to be adopted elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims. Tobacco smoking is a significant public health issue in Niue, a small Western Pacific nation where 31% of males and 16% of females smoke, and smoking initiation is still occurring at high levels among young people. There is evidence of political support for stronger tobacco control measures in Niue with ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005 and the Niue Tobacco Control Bill 2007 currently in discussion. However, more information is needed about how best to implement tobacco control measures in Niue. The aim of this research was to identify key contextual factors for progressing effective tobacco control in Niue. Methods. Twelve in-depth interviews were conducted with health, tobacco control, and public health professionals selected purposively from both Niue and New Zealand. A semistructured interview format was used and a qualitative thematic analysis undertaken to explore common and divergent viewpoints. Results. Significant progress in tobacco control is feasible in Niue, but outside technical assistance will be needed as there is very limited capacity to undertake all that needs to be done. Key steps will include developing a comprehensive tobacco control plan that will adopt a health promotion paradigm. This will include the building of strong cross-sectoral political support and community engagement to ensure local contextual knowledge guides the development of interventions. Capacity building throughout will be vital. Conclusion. A comprehensive health promotion approach that draws on outside technical assistance for support and capacity when needed is recommended to advance tobacco control in Niue. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]