bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quarantweens - the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on preteen health and wellbeing in Ireland
Authors: McGuire F , Reynolds C , Codd M 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has been dubbed the “biggest public health crisis since the Second World War”. In Ireland, schools were closed for 141 days, dramatically altering the day to day lives of children in Ireland. This research aimed to evaluate the overall wellbeing of schoolchildren in Ireland and capture the prevalence and factors contributing to poor mental health.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was performed based on data from the Growing Up in Ireland COVID-19 web survey of the ’08 Infant cohort. Mental Health Inventory-5 scores were used to assess children at risk of mental health disorders. Logistic regression examined associations between various demographic and psychosocial factors and risk of mental health disorders.

Results
This study included 2,867 primary caregiver- child dyads. Almost 25% of 12/13-year-olds were at risk of mental health disorders (MHDs). An adjusted logistic regression model found associations between being at higher risk of MHDs and factors such as reduced physical activity levels (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.10-1.66), spending less time outdoors (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.18-1.85), increased screen-time (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.09-1.67) and increased arguments with PCGs (OR 3.44, 95% CI 2.78-4.27). Having a trusted adult confidante reduced the risk of MHD (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.14-0.45).

Conclusions
The prevalence of 12/13-year olds at elevated risk of MHD was high, indicating an urgent need for enhancement of child and adolescent mental health services in Ireland. Physical activity, time outdoors and supportive relationships with primary caregivers were positively associated with reduced MHD risk.

Key messages
• Children were impacted by the COVID-19 restriction measures in a way that was disproportionate to their risk.
• To reduce the risk of poor mental health outcomes for a generation of “quarantweens” we need to place children front-andcentre of our response as we recover from COVID-19.
Childhood BMI trajectories predict cardiometabolic risk and stress at age 13 years. The STARS cohort
Authors: Chen Y , Dangardt F , Friberg P 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Research on BMI trajectory focuses mainly on childhood and adolescence, missing birth and infancy, which are also relevant in the development of cardiometabolic disease. We aimed to identify trajectories of BMI from birth throughout childhood, and to examine whether BMI trajectories predict health at age13 years; and, if so, whether differences exist among trajectories regarding timeframes during which early life BMI influences health.

Methods
Participants from Western Sweden (n = 1902, 44% males, 13.5±0.4 years) completed questionnaires assessing perceived stress and psychosomatic symptoms and examined for waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse wave velocity, and white blood cell counts (WBC). They had at least 5 retrospective measures of weight and height covering birth, infancy, childhood to early adolescence. We used group-based trajectory modeling to identify BMI trajectories and linear regression to assess associations, which are presented as estimated mean differences with 95% CI between trajectories.

Results
We identified three BMI trajectories: normal, moderate, and excessive gain. Differences distinguishing these trajectories were established before 2 years of age. After adjusting for sex, age, migrant background, and parental income, adolescents with excessive gain had higher WC (19.2 [18.4-20.0} cm), SBP (3.6 [2.4-4.4] mmHg), WBC (0.7 [0.4-0.9] x109/L) and stress (1.1 [0.2-1.9]) than adolescents with normal gain. Increased levels of WC (6.4 [5.8-6.9] cm), SBP (1.8 [1.0-2.5] mmHg) and stress (0.7 [0.1-1.2]) were found in adolescents with moderate gain. The observed significant positive correlation of early life BMI with SBP started approximately at age 6 years for participants with excessive gain, much earlier than for participants with normal and moderate gain, for which it started at age 12 years.

Conclusions
Excessive gain BMI trajectory from birth predicts cardiometabolic risk and stress in adolescents before age 13 years.

Key messages
• Differences distinguishing childhood BMI trajectories were established before age 2 years.
• In excessive gain group, influence of early life BMI on SBP started already around age 6 years.
Health and safety of labor migrants in food industries during Covid-19: Germany, Netherlands and USA
Authors: Gottlieb N , de Lange T , Mantu S , Jungwirth I , Glassner M , Forst L 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
During the Covid-19 pandemic, migrant workers in the food supply chain (FSC) were deemed an essential workforce. At the same time, they were particularly exposed to risks as shown by Covid-19 outbreaks, for example in meat-processing plants. The pandemic has thus highlighted preexisting inequities related to precarious migrant labor in the FSC. We use the Covid-19 pandemic as a showcase to comparatively examine occupational safety and health (OSH) protection gaps for migrant workers in agriculture and meat-processing in Illinois/USA, the Netherlands, and North-Rhine Westphalia/Germany. We conducted harmonized policy analyses of OSH policies for migrant workers generally, and of pandemic measures specifically. The policy analysis was complemented by expert consultations. The Covid-19 syndemic has prompted OSH measures in horticulture and meat-processing. However, our analysis demonstrates the reliance of FSC industries on various precariously employed worker groups. Intersecting health-, work- and migration-related factors led to poor adaptation of policies for some of these groups, including instances where protective measures excluded them or exacerbated their marginalization. Our analysis shows how influence peddling prevents better protection of workers in some contexts. But it also identifies positive policy changes; for instance the prohibition of subcontracting in meat-processing in Germany. Across different contexts, agriculture remains problematic, with major evidence gaps on migrant workers’ conditions. Comprehensive improvements in the social and health protection of migrant workers in FSC industries will require tackling the structural causes of migrant workers’ exploitability, including low visibility, racial capitalism and cronyism; intersectoral action on OSH; stronger enforcement; and firewalling data exchange between OSH and immigration agencies.
9.A. Round table: From science to reality: the potential of food environments as a gamechanger
Authors:   Organised by: EPHA,   Chair persons: Amandine Garde (EUPHA-LAW), Milka Sokolovic (Belgium)
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Food environments have the potential to shift our food system towards a health-oriented system that puts the health of people and planet at its core. Today, however, food systems and dietary patterns are unsustainable, as unhealthy diets have become the leading cause of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and premature deaths in the European Union (EU). The over-reliance of the EU on individual consumer responsibility, expecting them to make healthy and sustainable food choices in an environment where unhealthy food is ubiquitous and heavily promoted, particularly to children, has proven largely ineffective to shift diets at population level. Consumers are constantly influenced by the context in which they purchase food and which shapes their choices towards calory-dense and high in fat, sugar and salt foods (HFSS). Understood as the “physical, economic, political and socio-cultural context in which consumers engage with the food system to make their decisions about acquiring, preparing and consuming food” (HLPE, 2017), food environments should be reconfigured so that healthy and sustainable choices become easier and more likely. This will not only promote better health for all, but also contribute to the transition towards a greener economy, offering opportunities within the food system. This workshop aims to explore the potential of food environments as a gamechanger for promoting better health for all and thereby assess the potential of the EU's Farm to Fork Strategy (2020) and Europe's Beating Cancer Plan (2021) as they relate to the prevention of obesity and other-diet related diseases. The first presentation will consider the implications of the commercial determinants of health in the degradation of food environments, highlighting that the European Union and its Member States can no longer delegate the responsibility to promote health for all to private sector actors. The second presentation will reflect on the scientific research on food environments and consumer behaviour. The third presentation will provide a compendium of public policies that, together, could contribute to the promotion of healthier food environments. The fourth presentation will consider specifically the regulation of food marketing to children to protect them from its established harmful impact. It will conclude with a roundtable discussion

Key messages
• Food environments should be shaped in a way that the sustainable and healthy food choice is the most affordable, accessible, and attractive, especially for children and vulnerable groups.
• Food environments have the potential to prevent NCDs and create sustainable and healthy diets. Governments should assume their regulatory duties and offer protection from vested interests and CDoH.

Speakers/Panelists
Stefanie Vandevijvere
Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
Alba Gil
European Public Health Alliance, Brussels, Belgium
Emma Calvert
BEUC, Brussels, Belgium
Malaria asymptomatic carriage in the Sahelian region: the challenge associated to young adults
Authors: Legendre E , Ndiaye A , Sougou N M , L’Ollivier C , Mehadji M , Gaudart J , Ba E H , Ridde V , Sagara I , Landier J 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Mali and Senegal have made important efforts to control malaria. After a period of decline, the number of cases has remained stable for several years. Asymptomatic carriage acting as a reservoir could explain malaria persistence despite malaria control. Mass drug administration (MDA) is a candidate intervention that could help to accelerate the decreasing of malaria transmission if favourable epidemiologic context and good adherence are met. We aimed to update asymptomatic reservoir description along a Sahelian ecological gradient and study MDA acceptability.

Methods
We conducted an open cohort in 8 villages in Mali and Senegal including all household members sampled aged &gt;6 months. We measured P. falciparum infections prevalence by qPCR in 4 surveys: 2 in dry season 2021, 1 in rainy season 2021 and 1 in dry season 2022. We measured prospective acceptability of MDA in cohort aged ≥15 years in Senegal by questionnaire. We explored risk factors associated to asymptomatic infections and acceptability score with multilevel logistic and linear models.

Results
We included 168 households and 1428 participants in at least 1 survey. In preliminary results, prevalence of P. falciparum infections was 11% in dry season 2021 in Senegal, 20% in central Mali and 60% in Northern Mali. Young adults between 15 to 24 years old were more likely to carry asymptomatic infections in dry season compared to children &lt;5 years old (OR = 5.74 [2.99;11.04]). MDA presented a good acceptability with a mean score of 3.5 (score between -7 and 7). Young adults had lower acceptability compared to older participants (β=−1.07 [-1.82,-0.32]).

Conclusions
Young adults were important asymptomatic carriers in Senegal and Mali but were less likely to accept to participate in MDA.

Key messages
• Young adults represent a public health challenge that need to be address to reach malaria elimination.
• Specific sensibilization could be implement to improve adherence to malaria control interventions.
Community and local partner: ‘Must-to-Have’ elements for achieving immunization target in Somalia
Authors: Shah M , Hussein M , Ali A 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

We have been working on a community-based project aiming to improve access to quality Immunization by strengthening the capacity of health structures and communities with identified immunization gaps in the Galgaduud and Jubaland states in Somalia. The project is delivered in partnership with Ministry of Health, UNICEF (strategic partner), Acasus (for data management using digital platform), and two local implementing organization WASDA and WRRS as local implementing agencies. Owing to the varying levels of insecurity in the regions targeted, to deliver to ensure optimal immunization services to communities without delay, we operationalized a rapid and intensive scale-up of immunization services in 27 health facilities and sites following a phased approach. The project also supported the set-up and strengthening of community-driven immunization systems as well as district-level immunization management systems to promote ownership of the immunization programs within the target locations. To achieve this the project is anchored on four pillars namely capacity strengthening (at community, facility, and district/regional level), immunization logistics and supply chain strengthening, use of data for decision making and scaling-up innovative approaches. The project efforts achieved most of its targets throughout the implementation period, more so in the second and third year. Between April 2021 and February 2022, supportive supervision was increased from 54% to 100% of facilities and the average number of monthly fixed and outreach immunization sessions increased by 54% and 31%, respectively. We found the number of Penta3 doses delivered was more than double while we compared data for 2021 and 2022. These encouraging results suggest critical importance of local community engagement in planning and monitoring plus having local community-based organizations for implementing the project in similar remote rural areas with high security risks in Somalia.

Key messages
• Without having intensive community engagement efforts, immunization project implementation in high security risk areas in Somalia is almost impossible.
• Local community-based organizations as implementing partner is the other critical mass for success in achieving immunization target in similar high security risk areas like Somalia.
Preventable premature mortality in Northern Dimension partnership countries 2003-2021
Authors: Jousilahti P , Harald K , Vienonen M 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
Potential Years Life Lost (PYLL) is an established method to measure, follow trends and compare disease burden within and between countries. Northern Dimension Partnership in Health and Social wellbeing (NDPHS) network was established in 2003 and includes the following countries in same geographic area but considerable differences in social and economic development: Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. Due to the Russian invasion to Ukraine, Russia is now excluded from the collaboration.

Aims
To study total and cause-specific premature mortality and mortality trends in NDPHS countries from 2003 to 2021.

Methods
Premature mortality is defined as a death before the age of 70 years. PYLL-rates per 100,000 population are presented in six cause of deaths categories: total mortality, external causes, vascular diseases, cancers, alcohol-related deaths and suicides. Data are obtained from Eurostat and analyses are standardized to EU standard population.

Results
PYLL-rates declined from 2003 to 2017 in all countries and in most causes of death sub-groups. In 2017 PYLL rates, in men and women respectively, were lowest in Norway, 3001 and 1921, and highest in Russia, 14267 and 5363. Most premature losses were due to malignant neoplasms (1122), followed by vascular diseases (947) and external causes (902). Difference between countries was largest in vascular diseases (316 vs. 2845), external causes (478 vs. 2845) and alcohol related causes (62 vs. 842). The new data until 2021 are available in May and updated results will be presented in the EPH Conference.

Conclusions
The number of years lost due to premature preventable mortality have declined markedly in all NDPHS countries in last decades. However, in 2017 there were remarkable differences in PYLL-rates between countries. The updated analysis will show whether the positive trend continues and whether differences between countries are diminishing.

Key messages
• The number of years lost due to premature preventable mortality have declined markedly in all NDPHS countries in last decades.
• In 2017 there were remarkable differences in PYLL-rates between NDPHS countries.
Applying behavioural insights to tackle obesity
Authors: Nagyova I 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Issue/Problem
Obesity has grown into a global epidemic and represents a major challenge for public health, with rates of related comorbidities, healthcare, and societal costs continuing to rise. Current approaches to obesity prevention and management have had limited success, highlighting the need for new innovative strategies.

Description
The narrative surrounding obesity often assumes that a lack of individual's knowledge and willpower is at the root of the problem. However, behavioural insights suggest that the problem is more complex and that people's behaviour is often irrational and influenced by many factors, such as environment, habits, emotions, or social norms. These insights can be used to design interventions that nudge people towards healthier behaviours.

Results
Behavioural interventions have been shown to be effective in promoting healthier behaviours and reducing obesity rates in various settings. For example, digital weight loss programmes that incorporated behavioural strategies, such as goal-setting and self-monitoring, or GPS and physical activity trackers and video or exer-games can be used with success as vehicles for delivering such behavioural-informed interventions. Also, nudge interventions that include subtle changes either in our environment or in incentive-provision have proven to be effective.

Lessons
The use of behavioural insights in obesity prevention and management has the potential to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public health policies. However, to ensure the success of these interventions, policymakers need to consider the context and target population, as well as the ethical implications of nudging people towards certain behaviours. More research is also needed to determine the long-term effects and cost-effectiveness of these interventions. Overall, incorporating behavioural insights into public health policy can lead to more effective and sustainable solutions to the obesity epidemic.
Developing healthy and sustainable school food systems: A collaborative practice in the city of Madrid
Authors: Franco M , Vidal I , Diez J , Fajó M , Gutiérrez S , García S , López E , Vázquez B , Esteban A , Hernández P 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Problem
Eating habits and lifestyle during childhood and adolescence are key to achieving an adequate health status in adulthood. Malnutrition, in the forms of overweight and obesity, disproportionately occurs among vulnerable communities. The question is: How can cities develop strategies and policies to stablish and maintain healthy and sustainable school food systems? In Madrid, the Healthy and Sustainable Food Strategy started in 2018-22 with a revised phase 2022-25 for the promotion of healthy and sustainable policies. Within the public nursery system, local NGOs, food and nutrition researchers, the education department and city officials collaborated to develop healthy and sustainable menus and public food procurement. This collaborative practice can be useful to other European cities.

Objective
To describe the example of Madrid developing collaborative policies (e.g. public food procurement standards) and activities between city administration, civil society and academia (e.g. creation of school based Food Driving Groups) towards healthy and sustainable school food systems.

Results
We will share two specific sets of results: 1) Creation of school-based Food Driving Groups. 2) Establishment of public food procurement criteria. More results will be presented at the conference.

Lessons
Regarding school food procurement criteria, it is necessary to improve the knowledge of the different socio-environmental variables of food. The development of school-based Food Driving Groups as a fruitful and sustained collaboration is only possible with the education department leadership.
Public health monitoring of behavioural risk factors in USA: An exploratory study
Authors: Kaur J , Sahu K , Oetomo A , Chauhan V , Morita P 
Published: October 2023

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic's restrictions had a significant impact on behavioural markers such as physical, sedentary and sleep activity. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System is a key data source for public health surveillance in the USA but is limited by subjectivity and data quality, and new-generation data sources like Fitbits face challenges with battery life and data access. This research study aims to use zero-effort technology and IoT-based big data to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population-level behavioural changes in USA.

Methods
The study used a proposed methodology to analyze data from 470 households in New Mexico, USA, using the DYD dataset from Donate your Data initiative by ecobee (a smart thermostat company). The Microsoft Azure data lake is used for the storage of raw data and the Azure databricks is used for data pre-processing, processing, and analysis. The Gaussian mixture model is used to identify sleep parameters by segmenting the sleep cycle records into different clusters. The quantity of sleep is measured by a motion sensor based on the absence of movement, and an increase in sensor activation indicates longer duration of household occupancy.

Results
The findings show significant changes at the household and population level for the selected behavioural health indicators (sleep-time, wake-up time, time spent indoors, time spent outdoors) during COVID-19 pandemic, which could be attributed to the policy changes implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. The study findings are shown by 1) heatmap visualizations at the household level showing trends for the selected indicators during the Covid-19 pandemic; and 2) statistical analysis indicating a significant difference in selected behavioural health indicators before and during the pandemic.

Conclusions
These innovative data analytics have the potential to provide real-time insights and alert system activation to monitor, promote, and improve public health.

Key messages
• Sleep health analysis using IoT data is a novel method of measuring public health indicators objectively using zero effort technology.
• The available evidence from this study can further offer surveillance systems with near-real-time behavioral markers; alert system activation; and measure short- and long-term impact policy changes.