Abstract: Purpose Child morbidity prevents Bangladesh from reaching the target for the Sustainable Development Goals (target 3.2) despite the country’s success in reducing child mortality rates. As a result, it's crucial to consider a child's health-related issues. Therefore, this study aims to explore the prevalence and factors associated with under-five child morbidity in Bangladesh. Methods The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2017–2018, a secondary cross-sectional survey data, was used in this study, which collected information using a two-stage systematic sampling design. After association test, Bayesian estimation of binary logistic regression model was used to identify the significant risk factors of morbidity among under-five children, and a trace plot was used to try to figure out the convergence of simulation. Results According to the prevalence analysis of this study, it can be noted that more than one-thirds of under-five children in Bangladesh suffered from at least one of the child health-related problems, and of these, the highest prevalence of child morbidity was found in the Barisal division of Bangladesh (~ 42%). According to the Bayesian logistic regression results, higher child age and maternal education are associated with a potential decrease in the risk of child morbidity in Bangladesh. Again, male children had a 7% higher risk of morbidity than female children. Another finding was that underweight children suffered 31% more fever/diarrhea/ acute respiratory infection (ARI) related problems than others. Conclusions According to this study’s findings, child morbidity is still a significant issue in Bangladesh. Therefore, progress on risk factors, such as maternal education, child nutrition, etc., should be the focus of policymakers' intervention. PubDate: 2023-09-05
Abstract: Background In Sierra Leone, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are an increasingly important source of mortality and morbidity. However, Sierra Leonean NCD patients’ experience of direct exposure to COVID-19-related risks and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on socioeconomic determinants of health has not been described. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey among adult (≥ 18 years) hypertensive, diabetic, and heart failure patients receiving treatment at the NCD clinic at Koidu Government Hospital (KGH) in rural Sierra Leone. We described patient demographics, COVID-19 related knowledge, and practice of infection prevention measures. Patients were categorized into nationally representative wealth quintiles using an asset-based wealth index and measures of social vulnerability were reported by clinical program and wealth category. Result Of the 400 respondents, 80.5% were between 40 and 69 years old and 46.1% were male. The majority of patients (> 90%) knew utilizing masks, social distancing, isolation from positive cases, and avoiding hand shaking were effective COVID-19 prevention measures. However, only 27.3% of the population had access to adequate handwashing facilities, 25.5% had attended crowded events in the past two weeks, and only 5.8% always used face masks. Compared with the national distribution of wealth, 33.0% of our population belonged in the richest quintile, 34.8% in the second-richest quintile, and 32.2% in the bottom 3 poorest-middle quintiles. Socioeconomic vulnerability was high overall with significant disparities between wealth categories. In the 30 days before the interview, almost 60% of the poorest-middle categories experienced one barrier to essential health services, 87.4% used at least one emergency coping mechanism to cover food, housing, or health care, and 98.4% were worried about having food. In the richest category, the proportion of patients experiencing these challenges was 32.3%, 39.5% and 81.6%, respectively. Conclusion Our patients had good knowledge of COVID-19 prevention measures; however, we found substantial discrepancies between patients’ self-reported knowledge and practices. Although our population was wealthier than the national average, the NCD patients were still exposed to unacceptable levels of socioeconomic vulnerability, reflecting a high absolute poverty in Sierra Leone. Furthermore, wealth-based disparities in access to essential resources persist among NCD patients. PubDate: 2023-08-22
Abstract: Abstract Socializing is understood to be important for mental and physical health, especially in later life. Technology-mediated socializing may be just as beneficial, but older adults are less likely to adopt social technologies than younger cohorts. Using time use data from the Canadian General Social Survey collected in 2015–2016, the older adult population (65 +) is clustered into ‘tech socializers,’ ‘common socializers,’ and ‘in-person socializers’ using a k-means algorithm. We employ multinomial logistic regression to assess explanatory relationships for the assigned mode of socializing. Model results demonstrate that older adults with disabilities have lower odds of being in-person socializers and higher odds of being tech socializers. Older adults are also more likely to be in-person socializers in the summer and autumn months, but we observe no seasonal relationships for tech socializers. More research with longitudinal time-use data and more discrete conceptualizations of disability is needed to understand opportunities to bolster older adults’ socializing habits. PubDate: 2023-08-16
Abstract: Background The COVID-19 pandemic has become one of the most devastating worldwide crises. The pandemic has heavily affected the most vulnerable groups, including Indigenous communities. Our study aimed to evaluate the attitudes and behaviors relating to care and prevention of COVID-19 in a predominantly Indigenous university population in Mexico. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in early February 2022 focused on university students in a predominantly Indigenous community in central Mexico. The survey addressed prevention, vaccination, anthropometric data, and food intake. Results We obtained a high response rate of 71.6%, with 981 students (41.2%) identifying as belonging to an Indigenous group. In the sample, 3.1% (95% CI 2.07, 4.33) of the Indigenous group reported COVID-19 deaths among family members older than 18 years; this rate was 3% (95% CI 2.17, 4.03) in the non-Indigenous group. Whereas most of the students [98% (95% CI 97.62, 98.72)] reported having received COVID-19 vaccines, 36.6% (95% CI 33.57, 39.70) and 39.9% (95% CI (37.32, 42.52) of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous respondents, respectively, reported that their parents were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Finally, we found important differences in weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) between pre-pandemic baseline and two years after confinement in the general population as well as between Indigenous and non-Indigenous: general BMI increased from 22.9 ± 4.1 kg/m2 to 23.6 ± 4.1 kg/m2 (Wilcoxon test; P < 0.001). The BMI for the Indigenous went up from 22.4 ± 3.8 kg/m2 to 23.1 ± 3.8 kg/m2 (Wilcoxon test; P < 0.001), and BMI for non-Indigenous rose from 23.2 ± 4.2 kg/m2 to 24.0 4.2 kg/m2 (Wilcoxon test; P < 0.001). Conclusion Our study highlights significant vaccination disparities between our university population and their parents, although no substantial differences regarding attitudes and prevention of COVID-19 between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations were found. Findings suggest that efforts to expand prevention to students’ families and surrounding communities could lead to significant public health gains and should be further investigated. Furthermore, the university setting may improve access to prevention tools against COVID-19. PubDate: 2023-08-03
Abstract: Background The differing global trends in alcohol consumption and policy measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic warrant a closer look at the actions taken by civil society organisations (CSOs) and community-led efforts to describe how they may influence and accelerate action for change in alcohol control measures. This paper analyses actions undertaken by CSOs at the national and local levels to safeguard communities and improve alcohol control policies during the COVID-19 pandemic in six African countries. Methods A cross-sectional survey was distributed via email to CSOs involved in alcohol prevention, outreach and policy development in Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Individuals (n = 19) working at CSOs responded to the questionnaire from February to March 2022. Questions related to the role of CSOs during the pandemic are analysed and synthesised in this paper. 19 CSOs respondents representing the six countries were included in the study. Results Action areas led by CSOs during the COVID-19 pandemic included: (i) direct lobbying advocacy, (ii) conducting public awareness media campaigns and (iii) legal and regulatory interventions linked to the pandemic. Conclusions Given the size of the challenges governments faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of CSOs, during the ongoing pandemic and beyond, has become even more relevant to strengthen advocacy and public health interventions for alcohol control in Southern Africa. For this, CSOs should have a “seat at the table” when public health policies are designed, discussed and enforced. PubDate: 2023-08-03
Abstract: Abstract Research, development and innovation (RDI) encompasses undertaking research to contribute to new knowledge, developing policies, and generating products and services. Building health RDI capacity should be informed by the developmental gap, required resources and the impact. Low- and middle-income countries often face barriers to reaching their RDI potential. To address some of the RDI challenges, a framework is presented for building, enhancing and sustaining health RDI capacity at the researcher, department and faculty, institution and government dimensions, which is unpacked at the construct, expand, team, gear and leverage phases. Existing and new health RDI capacity requires building, enhancing and sustaining (constructing) before improving, refining and growing RDI expertise and portfolios (expanding). Collaborative RDI networks and robust partnerships should then be established (teaming) and researchers nurtured, with resources optimized to secure investments for embarking on new activities (gearing). Harnessing the collective RDI collaborations and partnerships leads to greater global competitiveness and sustainability (leveraging). Capacity building, enhancement and sustainability in health RDI addresses health challenges that contributes to improving health, economy and societal outcomes. PubDate: 2023-08-03
Abstract: Background By providing both assistance and support, GPs can play a central role for family caregivers. By catering to the needs of caregivers, they are capable of stabilising in-home care settings over the long term. The aim of the present study is to provide a status quo analysis of how GPs assess their options for supporting individuals providing care, as well as the focal points set by their practice, and their estimation of obstacles and challenges encountered in day-to-day practice. Method An online questionnaire was used to survey a total of 5112 GPs in North Rhine-Westphalia between April and November 2022 (response quota: 46%). A heterogeneous random sample was obtained (58% male, 42% female; average age: 57; 50% medium-sized town/city practice, 50% rural/small town practice). To determine significant differences between two groups, a t-test was used with independent random samples. Answers to free-form questions were analysed using a subsequent coding based on a qualitative content analysis. Findings A total of 70% of respondents have frequent contact with family caregivers. Some 79% consider GPs to be well-suited to the role of primary contact point for caregivers and coordinating care. GP-carer support relationships typically arise as a result of caregivers approaching GPs (90%). Topics frequently addressed involve a worsening of the care situation (77%) and changes in the care needed (86%); consultations in the initial phase of the care situation are less common (44%). While respondents perceive a complex constellation of needs on the part of family caregivers, differences in priorities are observable between GPs in urban and rural environments (involvement of consultant/support network versus proactive and psychosocial assistance). GPs experience a wide range of challenges in providing assistance to caregivers, including the timely organisation of appropriate relief programmes (87%), referring caregivers to suitable help services (80%) or the early identification of informal caregivers (60%). Discussion In order to strengthen the GP role, the practice team should talk to caregivers as early as possible, and refer them to suitable help and support programmes. To achieve effective support for successful care, it is important to cater equally to the needs of the persons giving and receiving care as part of the caregiver-care receiver-GP triad. PubDate: 2023-07-24
Abstract: Abstract Life course epidemiology seeks to understand the intricate relationships between risk factors and health outcomes across different stages of life to inform prevention and intervention strategies to optimize health throughout the lifespan. However, extant evidence has predominantly been based on separate analyses of data from individual birth cohorts or panel studies, which may not be sufficient to unravel the complex interplay of risk and health across different contexts. We highlight the importance of a multi-study perspective that enables researchers to: (a) Compare and contrast findings from different contexts and populations, which can help identify generalizable patterns and context-specific factors; (b) Examine the robustness of associations and the potential for effect modification by factors such as age, sex, and socioeconomic status; and (c) Improve statistical power and precision by pooling data from multiple studies, thereby allowing for the investigation of rare exposures and outcomes. This integrative framework combines the advantages of multi-study data with a life course perspective to guide research in understanding life course risk and resilience on adult health outcomes by: (a) Encouraging the use of harmonized measures across studies to facilitate comparisons and synthesis of findings; (b) Promoting the adoption of advanced analytical techniques that can accommodate the complexities of multi-study, longitudinal data; and (c) Fostering collaboration between researchers, data repositories, and funding agencies to support the integration of longitudinal data from diverse sources. An integrative approach can help inform the development of individualized risk scores and personalized interventions to promote health and well-being at various life stages. PubDate: 2023-07-17
Abstract: Objective To develop and evaluate the feasibility of a mobile application in Swiss households and assess its impact on dietary behavior and food acceptability between children who cooked with limited parental support (intervention group) with children who were not involved in cooking (control group). Methods A ten-week randomized controlled trial was conducted online in 2020. Parents were given access to a mobile-app with ten recipes. Each recipe emphasized one of two generally disliked foods (Brussels sprouts or whole-meal pasta). Parents photographed and weighed the food components from the child’s plate and reported whether their child liked the meal and target food. The main outcome measures were target food intake and acceptability analyzed through descriptive analysis for pre-post changes. Results Of 24 parents who completed the baseline questionnaires, 18 parents and their children (median age: 8 years) completed the evaluation phase. Mean child baseline Brussel sprouts and whole-meal pasta intakes were 19.0 ± 24.2 g and 86.0 ± 69.7 g per meal, respectively. No meaningful differences in intake were found post-intervention or between groups. More children reported a neutral or positive liking towards the whole-meal pasta in the intervention group compared to those in the control group. No change was found for liking of Brussel sprouts. Conclusions for practice The intervention was found to be feasible however more studies on larger samples are needed to validate feasibility. Integrating digital interventions in the home and promoting meal preparation may improve child reported acceptance of some healthy foods. Using such technology may save time for parents and engage families in consuming healthier meals. PubDate: 2023-06-01 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00042-4
Abstract: Background Tobacco smoking still represents one of the most significant preventable causes of death and poor health, and higher success rates for people trying to quit smoking would benefit both public and individual health. Achieving this requires better knowledge of factors that might improve the chances of successful quitting. This study aims to investigate cessation activities and explore associations between outcomes of smoking cessation attempts and use of cessation aids, previous cessation attempts, and attempt-planning. Methods Using data from a national web panel (N = 1424), smoking cessation activities and use of smoking cessation aids by people who smoke or have smoked are studied bivariately and in adjusted models. Results Almost half the sample had not used a cessation aid in the last quit attempt. Snus was the most common cessation aid, followed by NRTs and ECs. In adjusted models, snus use increased the likelihood of quitting. Planning an attempt and earlier quit attempts were associated with less quitting. Conclusion Presently, switching to snus seems to be the most effective and efficacious method for quitting smoking in Norway. PubDate: 2023-05-26 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00043-3
Abstract: Abstract Mexican Americans are among the least active race/ethnic groups in the United States, most notably during leisure time. We sought to ascertain the effect of repeated participation in community-based walking challenges on average steps as a potential strategy for improving physical activity engagement in a predominately Hispanic community in far west Texas. A total of 354 participants were recruited through a community-wide walking challenge campaign. Data were analyzed at baseline and 2 weeks post-challenge participation. We used step tracker data to determine quantifiable differences by previous challenge participation. Repeated challenge participation was associated with greater baseline step averages; however, there was no dose effect for the number of previous challenges. One previous challenge participation was no different from multiple challenges. Additionally, the type of challenge increased the likelihood of repeated challenge participation. Findings from this study provide evidence that regular community-level walking challenge campaigns contribute to sustained walking among Mexican Americans at the community level. PubDate: 2023-05-25 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00041-5
Abstract: Abstract Examining the pathways and causes of ethnic inequities in health is integral to devising effective interventions. Explanations set the scope for solutions. Understandings of ethnic health inequities are often situated in victim blaming and cultural deficit explanations, rather than in the root causes. For Indigenous populations, colonisation and racism are fundemental determinants of health inequities. Using a conceptual framework can support understanding of the fundamental causes of Indigenous health inequities. This article presents an Indigenous adaptation of the ‘Williams model’ for understanding the causes of racial/ethnic disparities in health. The Te Kupenga Hauora Māori modified model foregrounds colonisation as a critical determinant of health inequities, underpinning all levels from basic to surface causes. The modified model also attempts to reflect the dynamic interplay between causes at different levels, rather than a simple unidirectional relationship. We include the influence of worldviews/positioning as a cause and emphasise that privilege alongside racism plays a causative role in Indigenous health inequities. We also critique some of the limitations of this framework in reflecting the complex pathways of causation for ethnic health inequities, and indicate areas for further strengthening. PubDate: 2023-05-15 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00040-6
Abstract: Abstract Human social epigenomics research is critical to elucidate the intersection of social and genetic influences underlying racial and ethnic differences in health and development. However, this field faces major challenges in both methodology and interpretation with regard to disentangling confounded social and biological aspects of race and ethnicity. To address these challenges, we discuss how these constructs have been approached in the past and how to move forward in studying DNA methylation (DNAm), one of the best-characterized epigenetic marks in humans, in a responsible and appropriately nuanced manner. We highlight self-reported racial and ethnic identity as the primary measure in this field, and discuss its implications in DNAm research. Racial and ethnic identity reflects the biological embedding of an individual’s sociocultural experience and environmental exposures in combination with the underlying genetic architecture of the human population (i.e., genetic ancestry). Our integrative framework demonstrates how to examine DNAm in the context of race and ethnicity, while considering both intrinsic factors—including genetic ancestry—and extrinsic factors—including structural and sociocultural environment and developmental niches—when focusing on early-life experience. We reviewed DNAm research in relation to health disparities given its relevance to race and ethnicity as social constructs. Here, we provide recommendations for the study of DNAm addressing racial and ethnic differences, such as explicitly acknowledging the self-reported nature of racial and ethnic identity, empirically examining the effects of genetic variants and accounting for genetic ancestry, and investigating race-related and culturally regulated environmental exposures and experiences. PubDate: 2023-04-20 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00039-z
Abstract: Background Assistive Devices are those external tools created, manufactured, or modified to help a person do a specific task. Many people, especially the elderly, rely on assistive devices to do daily tasks, engage fully and successfully in social interactions, and enhance their quality of life. Older age people face many difficulties in their day-to-day activities. If they require but do not have or use assistive devices, they may experience significant impairment and difficulty. Assistive devices make a tremendous difference in the lives of the elderly. Objective To assess the difficulties experienced by the elderly when not using assistive devices. To study the relationship between age and difficulties experienced by the elderly when not using assistive devices. Methods A self-structured checklist on the difficulties experienced by elderly who were not using assistive devices and the analysis of data in percentage, frequency, t-test, and ANOVA. Results We found that various problems such as mobility difficulties, vision and hearing problems, dementia, and inability to do activities of daily living were experienced by the elderly when not using assistive devices. Among all the problems, using communication devices and vision problems were the difficulties faced by the majority of respondents. PubDate: 2023-04-17 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00037-1
Abstract: Introduction Globally, 269 million children aged 6–59 months were anemic in 2019. Of these, 103 million anemic children were from Africa. Childhood anemia is still a serious public health concern in SSA countries, including Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of childhood anemia largely varies by geographic administration regions. This study is aimed to examine trends in regional inequalities in childhood anemia in Ethiopia over the period 2005–2016. Method This cross-sectional study was based on a pooled total sample of 17,766 children aged 6–59 months drawn from three rounds of the Ethiopian Demography and Health Surveys (2005–2016). We employed multilevel binary logistic regression analysis to identify the determinants of childhood anemia among children aged 6–59 months. We also used Theil and multivariate decomposition analyses to examine the levels and trends in relative regional inequalities in childhood anemia. Result A combination of individual-, household- and community-level factors were significantly (p < 001) associated with childhood anemia. From the pooled data, the highest childhood anemia was observed in Somali (78.68%) followed by Afar region (72.76%) while the lowest childhood anemia was in Amhara (41.01%), Addis Ababa (42.64%) and SNNPR (44%) between 2005 and 2016. The total relative inequality declined from 0.620 in 2005 to 0.548 in 2016. Overall, one-third of change in regional inequalities in childhood anemia was due to the differential resulted from the difference in observable characteristics of the subjects. Conclusion Overall progress made in Ethiopia was very slow with only a 13.14% reduction in the relative regional inequalities in childhood anemia over 11 years. The present study underscores addressing the existing disparities in socioeconomic status, maternal anemia and maternal employment status between emerging and non-emerging regions to reduce regional inequality in childhood anemia. PubDate: 2023-03-30 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00038-0
Abstract: Abstract Social trust—between governments and people and between individuals—and trust in science were proposed as prerequisites for tackling covid. Others suggested less democratic societies were more able to impose strict rules stopping the virus. These propositions were tested for a group of mainly advanced countries. The dependent variable is cumulated deaths from covid. Findings are broken down between (a) OECD member countries, (b) these and countries having cooperation agreements with it, and (c) all these plus China. They are also broken down by time—between (a) the period before the appearance of “new variants” in late 2020 and (b) the period from then until end September 2021. The best, most parsimonious, models explain nearly half of the changes in the level of deaths. Trust in government improves outcomes, as does interpersonal trust. Vaccine antipathy does not play a role. Also, there is little indication that authoritarian regimes performed better than higher trust societies. In the first period, increasing wealth inequality—indicating a more divided society—is related to higher death rates. Hospital bed availability is important then, but not thereafter. Furthermore, as the pandemic persisted, the importance of pre-existing levels of social trust declined. The paper warns that institutions and cultures cannot easily be transferred from one country to another. Nor would all transfers be desired. It also suggests that some other lessons of what contributed to better outcomes under covid might be relevant for the monkeypox virus—its successor public health emergency. PubDate: 2023-03-20 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00035-3
Abstract: Introduction The global burden of childhood undernutrition is mainly concentrated in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. In Ethiopia, childhood undernutrition varies significantly across different population groups. The present study is aimed at examining the levels and trends in key socioeconomic inequalities in childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on a total pooled sample of 48,782 under-five children drawn from five rounds of the Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (2000–2019). We used multilevel binary logistic regression analysis to determine the key socioeconomic determinants of undernutrition among under five children. In addition, we applied concentration index and decomposition rate analysis techniques to explore the levels and trends in key socioeconomic inequalities in childhood undernutrition. Results Place of residence, household wealth status (approximated by asset-based wealth index), and maternal education, among others, were the key socioeconomic variables significantly associated (p < 0.001) with childhood undernutrition in Ethiopia. The level of inequality was the highest with children from rural areas, poor households and uneducated mothers. Absolute socioeconomic inequality in childhood undernutrition prevalence rate was declined by 9.72 during the study period (2000 to 2019). Conclusion Childhood undernutrition was unequally distributed among under-five children in Ethiopia, and largely concentrated among low socioeconomic status population groups. The identified key socioeconomic drivers of inequality in childhood undernutrition can be used to inform localized interventions and communication strategies to improve nutritional status of under-five children in Ethiopia. The study underscores development of poverty reduction strategies that directly address the existing challenges of the food insecurity and childhood undernutrition for the low-income population groups in the country. PubDate: 2023-03-09 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00034-4
Abstract: Abstract The use of human diversity classifications such as race, ethnicity, ancestry, or migration background entails a range of scientific as well as social consequences, and careful application of such terms is therefore vital. In this article, we present results from a systematic literature review and subsequent quantitative content analysis of 546 life science papers from German research institutes. We are concerned specifically with racial, ethnic, migration- and ancestry-related classifications used in such papers. Our aim is to capture a snapshot of the classification practices currently applied to the categorization of humans across various disciplines and fields in a specific national context that remains under-researched. The review (a) substantiates results from earlier studies that point to heterogeneity, inconsistency, and vagueness of human classifications used in the life sciences, and (b) confirms the expected specificity of German scientific discourse, where the term “race” is used comparatively rarely. Our findings stress the need for German researchers to partake in the ongoing international debate on the practice of human classification in the life sciences to advance the international and interdisciplinary transferability of scientific results and, first and foremost, to avoid unintended effects such as overgeneralization, racialization, and stigmatization. PubDate: 2023-03-02 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00033-5
Abstract: Background Factors associated with whether individuals choose to participate in serosurveys are not well understood. Understanding perceptions from multiple perspectives, including the perspectives of both data collectors and participants, through a holistic model such as the socio-ecological model contextualizes individual, interpersonal, and structural level influences on survey research participation. We used a multiple methods approach to characterize reasons for serosurvey participation in communities in Southern Province, Zambia where a serosurvey was conducted in 2016. Methods The first phase conducted focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with 24 data collectors who participated in a measles-rubella serosurvey in 2016. The second phase surveyed 34 caregivers at health facilities to identify barriers and facilitators to serosurvey participation. Emergent themes were then classified into a socio-ecological model using individual, interpersonal, and structural level constructs. Results Common themes emerged from data collectors as well as caregivers surveyed. At the individual level, providing incentives was a facilitator, and some religious beliefs were described as a barrier to serosurvey participation. At the interpersonal level, family dynamics and community peer influences could help or hinder serosurvey participation. Community health workers were consistently named as facilitators of participation. At the structural level, concerns about specimen collection, who was selected for serosurveys, and not receiving test results arose as potential barriers. The most frequently reported facilitator was provision of information about the purpose of the serosurvey (85% of respondents). The most frequently reported barrier was lack of clarity regarding use of their blood specimen (53% of respondents). For specimen collection type, caregivers consistently preferred finger prick blood collection over both venous blood draw and oral swabs. Conclusion Serosurvey participation was deemed acceptable to most study participants. The socio-ecological model revealed barriers and facilitators for participation to guide strategies to improve participation which can be applied to ongoing serosurveys for SARS-CoV-2. Serosurveys should continue to develop engagement plans to provide information about blood collection ahead of the serosurvey and communicate the objectives of such studies through trusted sources such as community health workers and traditional leaders. PubDate: 2023-02-20 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-023-00032-6
Abstract: Background Understanding determinants affecting poor health outcomes and influencing unhealthy behaviours within deprived areas is becoming increasingly common. This study was to investigate the participants’ Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) behaviours; their attitudes, thoughts and experiences and the association with the Social Ecological Model (SEM) which could influence health behaviours. Method Data collection occurred in Barnsley an area with high levels of deprivation and health disparities. Information was gathered 97 participants across focus groups and one-to-one interviews. Questions were formulated around HEAL and SEM and questioned origin and maintenance of modifiable behaviours affecting physical activity, diet, and long-term behaviour. Deductive Thematic Analysis (Braun and Clarke in Qual Res Sport Exercise Health 11(4), 589-597, 2019) was used to analyse data. Findings Three themes were identified: Diet and access to unhealthy options, mental health, and attitudes towards government interventions. SEM examined the effectiveness of community level interventions whilst considering the individual responsibility associated with HEAL. Discussion Within research area, attitudes towards HEAL are deeply impacting participants, many of these attitudes originate from childhood transferred from parents. This transference may explain why many deprived areas within England suffer from worse health outcomes, as inherited beliefs result in negative HEAL behavior manifesting in long term health problems. National interventions provided good information; but were hampered by a lack of effective dissemination to the general population. Local interventions often had more success in effectively engaging local people, but participants reported frequent shuttering of local interventions due to funding issues. PubDate: 2023-02-07 DOI: 10.1007/s44155-022-00029-7
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