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Objective: With the increasing prevalence of unhealthy weight status in pre-school children, this study sought to understand pre-school child weight management practices in Blackburn with Darwen, UK, with a view to informing appropriate intervention strategies. Design: Mixed-methods study (semi-structured interviews, quantitative survey). Setting: Urban-rural borough with high ethnic diversity in the North West of England. Methods: Phase 1 involved 15 semi-structured interviews with public health/service managers, health professionals and children's centre staff to explore current pre-school weight management practices, challenges and perceived training needs. Phase 2 involved a quantitative survey of multi-disciplinary health professionals (n = 30) who work with pre-school children. Data were analysed thematically and perceived challenges organised into individual, interpersonal and organisational levels of the socio-ecological model. Results: Current pre-school child weight management practices appeared to be inconsistent, and staff were unable to locate clear protocols or referral pathways. Challenges most commonly related to individual family factors (e.g. families not perceiving child's weight status to be a problem) and organisational factors (e.g. lack of time). Perceived training needs differed between professions and included body mass index calculation and interpretation, weight-related communication and pre-school nutrition/physical activity guidelines. Conclusion: Inconsistencies in practice and a lack of clear pathways limited pre-school child weight management practices in Blackburn with Darwen. Although many challenges were attributed as external to the individual, potential steps to help practitioners cope with these demands are outlined.

Background and Aims: The impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic have not been equal, with a disproportionate impact among ethnic minority communities. Structural inequalities in social determinants of health such as housing and employment have contributed to COVID‐19's impact on deprived communities, including many ethnic minority communities. To compare (1) how the UK government's "social distancing" restrictions and guidance were perceived and implemented by ethnic minority populations compared to white populations, (2) the impact of restrictions and guidance upon these groups. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed methods study incorporated a quantitative survey and qualitative semi‐structured interviews to explore individual perceptions and experiences of COVID‐19 and the national restrictions. Survey participants (n = 1587) were recruited from North West England; 60 (4%) participants were from ethnic minority communities. Forty‐nine interviews were conducted; 19 (39%) participants were from ethnic minority communities. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic approach. Data collection was between April and August 2020. Results: Significant differences in demographics and household overcrowding were observed between white vs ethnic minority survey respondents, who were also significantly less confident in their knowledge of COVID‐19, less likely to be high‐risk drinkers, and marginally more likely to have experienced job loss and/or reduced household income. There were no group differences in wellbeing, perceptions, or nonfinancial impacts. Two inter‐related themes included: (1) government guidance, incorporating people's knowledge and understanding of the guidance and their confusion/frustration over messaging; (2) the impacts of restrictions on keyworkers, home‐schooling, working from home and changes in lifestyle/wellbeing. Conclusions: Further research is needed on the long‐term impacts of COVID‐19 on ethnic minority communities. If policy responses to COVID‐19 are to benefit ethnic minority communities, there is a need for future studies to consider fundamental societal issues, such as the role of housing and economic disadvantage. Highlights: What is known about this topic? The COVID‐19 pandemic has impacted the entire world, however it has had disproportionate impacts on ethnic minority communities.'Social distancing' is a public health intervention that has been utilised in previous pandemics where measures are put in place to encourage individuals to undertake a number of changes to their social behaviours to increase physical distance from others and to reduce number of contacts with other people.Living conditions such as overcrowding are a risk factor for ill health, including from COVID‐19. What this paper add? Ethnic minority respondents were significantly more concerned about the educational impacts on their children.Living in overcrowded homes significantly affected the ethnic minority respondents with regard to increased risk within their home environment, less space for privacy for working from home and education/welfare needs of children.More practical and relevant government guidance is needed for ethnic minority communities and future policy should consider the economic and societal impacts for ethnic minority workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to electricity and use kerosene as a source of light. Solar lighting is a safer and cost effective alternative allowing families to study, work and live without the harmful effects of kerosene. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were undertaken with staff from a United Kingdom (UK) based charity to explore the social value of solar lighting (n=7). These staff were based in the UK, Malawi, Kenya and Zambia. Two overarching themes: 'The Social Value of Solar Lighting' and 'Improving the Sustainability and Economic Viability of Solar Lighting' illustrated perceived multi-faceted and wide reaching benefits on the micro-level creating positive social, economic and environmental outcomes. Future studies may look to identify the impact that solar lights may have upon the macro-level, and medium to long-term outcomes; and estimated social return on investment in different developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]