Breastfeeding and its barriers in informal work contexts: a scoping review

The World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) aligns with the neurodiversity paradigm in viewing autistic people's social communication holistically and in a strength-based manner. In this scoping review, we explored how social communication interventions for autistic children and youth map onto the domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in the field of speech-language pathology. OVID Medline, OVID Embase, OVID PsycINFO and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant articles. Population, intervention and study data were extracted, as well as data on each of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health domains related to the social communication interventions. In total, 21 articles were included in our analysis. No studies explicitly mentioned the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. All the studies focused on participation and environmental factors (e.g., people's attitudes, physical environment), and some studies discussed other International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health domains such as body structures and functions, personal factors and activities. The examples provided for each International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health domain may be helpful for clinicians and researchers looking to understand how components of social communication interventions link to International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health categories. Future work could analyse how social communication interventions in other fields (e.g., psychology, occupational therapy) map onto the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.Lay abstractThis review article investigates how the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health can be applied to better understand speech-language pathology social communication interventions. In recent years, academic articles have supported thinking differently about how autistic people communicate, including the many strengths autistic people have and how other people and the environment influence communication. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health is a holistic, widely used framework that provides a neurodiversity-affirming perspective on social communication interventions for autistic children. We did not find any published literature applying the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to speech-language pathology social communication interventions for autistic children and youth and therefore wanted to explore whether and how social communication interventions reflect International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health concepts. To answer this question, we searched the academic literature using several databases using a methodology called a scoping review. We included articles that had autistic children and youth as participants and focused on social communication interventions in the field of speech-language pathology. We found 21 articles that met our inclusion criteria. No studies talked explicitly about the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. All the studies focused on participation and environmental factors (e.g., people's attitudes, physical environment), and some studies discussed other International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health domains such as body structures and functions, personal factors and activities. It is important for speech-language pathology social communication interventions to consider how the physical environment, social environment and personal factors impact social communication. Clinicians and researchers may find our application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to social communication interventions useful to shape how they think about interventions.

Acute abdominal pain (colic) is the most common reason for emergency veterinary treatment in the horse. Consolidation of data through a systematic review is important to inform evidence-based medicine and clinical guidelines, but there are currently no published systematic reviews on colic in the horse. The aim of this study was to identify, categorize and appraise the evidence on factors associated with increased risk of developing abdominal pain (colic) due to gastrointestinal disease in the adult horse. A scoping review was performed to identify and categorize evidence on all risk factors for colic. A systematic review of management-related risk factors was then performed following PRISMA guidelines. Both searches were conducted in Medline, CAB s and Web of Science databases, and publications were assessed against inclusion and exclusion criteria. For the scoping review, study and participant characteristics of included publications and key results were extracted and tabulated. For the systematic review, cohort, case-control or cross-sectional studies investigating acute abdominal pain in horses within two weeks of management changes were assessed. Study characteristics, participant characteristics and study results of included publications for the systematic review were extracted and tabulated. Included publications were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools for cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies. The scoping review search identified 3,756 publications. Fifty eight studies met final inclusion criteria, and 22 categories of risk factors were identified. These were grouped into three broad areas: horse-related factors, management-related factors and environment-related factors. The largest body of evidence related to management change. The systematic review of management change identified 410 publications: 14 met inclusion criteria for analysis. These consisted of one cohort, eight case-control and five cross-sectional studies. The studies were conducted between 1990–2008, and the majority of studies were located in the USA (8/14) or UK (3/14). The risk factors related to management change that were assessed were feed, carer, exercise, pasture, water and housing. The largest bodies of evidence for increased risk of colic associated with management change were changes in feed (5/14 publications) and recent change in housing (3/14). Most studies (8/14) did not meet the JBI criterion on confounding factors. There was marked heterogeneity of study methodologies and measures. This is the first study to use a combined scoping and systematic review to analyse evidence for modifiable risk factors for a common condition in the horse. It provides a comprehensive review that will be a key resource for researchers, veterinary practitioners and horse owners. It identified modifiable risk factors associated with an increased risk of colic which should be a key target for preventative health programmes. The findings from the critical appraisal were used to develop recommendations for future research to improve the quality of evidence-based veterinary medicine.

BackgroundBurnout syndrome is a chronic response to stressors in the workplace. It is characterized by emotional exhaustion and physical and mental burnout and may lead to high employee turnover, work absenteeism, and increased occupational accidents. Most studies use the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to identify burnout and implement preventive actions and treatments.ObjectiveThis study presents a scoping review protocol to identify and map studies that used MBI to assess burnout syndrome in health care professionals working in public health services.MethodsThis scoping review protocol follows the Joanna Briggs Institute reviewers’ manual, and this protocol consists of 6 stages: identifying the research question, identifying relevant studies, study selection, data extraction and coding, analysis and interpretation of results, and consultation with stakeholders. We will conduct searches in Embase, LILACS, PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science databases, and gray literature. The main research question is as follows: how is MBI used to identify burnout syndrome in health care professionals working in public health services? Inclusion criteria will comprise qualitative and quantitative studies using MBI to identify burnout syndrome in health care professionals working in public health services and no restrictions in language and publication dates. Data will be extracted using a spreadsheet adapted from the Joanna Briggs Institute model. Quantitative and qualitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis, respectively. The consultation with stakeholders will be essential for increasing the knowledge about MBI, identifying new evidence, and developing future strategies to guide public policies preventing burnout syndrome in health care professionals working in public services.ResultsThis protocol will guide a scoping review to identify and map studies that used MBI to identify burnout syndrome in health care professionals working in public health services. The results of this review may be useful to public health care professionals, managers, policymakers, and the general population because these findings will help understand the validated, translated, and adapted versions of MBI and domains, number of items, Likert scales, and cutoff points or the latent profile analysis most used in the literature. Furthermore, possible research gaps may be identified to guide future studies. All information regarding the stages of the scoping review favor its transparency and allow it to be methodologically replicated according to the principles of open science, thereby reducing the risk of bias and data duplication.ConclusionsThis study may reveal the multiplicity of scales described in the literature and the different forms of assessing burnout syndrome in health care professionals. This study may help to standardize the assessment of burnout syndrome in health care professionals working in public health services and contribute to the discussion and knowledge dissemination about burnout syndrome and mental health in this population.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/42338

Active aging is considered one of the most effective methods for a healthy aging process. There are numerous clinical practice guidelines that address this model and propose multiple strategies for its achievement through the improvement of motor and cognitive function. Virtual reality is emerging as a potential tool, with various modalities focused on promoting good health maintenance in older adults. The objectives of this review were to map the potential benefits of virtual reality for active aging and delve into adaptability and adherence in older individuals. A scoping review was conducted on studies published between 2013 and 2023 in English, Spanish, or Catalan, examining virtual reality interventions in older adults. The search was performed using the Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The methodological quality was assessed using CASPe and FLC 3.0 critical appraisal guidelines. The graphical data were reported narratively, grouping results based on the study characteristics and the impact of virtual reality. The review process resulted in the inclusion of 22 articles out of the initial 459 following the application of the selection criteria. Most articles were randomized controlled trials (45.4%; n = 10), systematic reviews (40.9%; n = 9), observational studies (9%; n = 2), and pilot studies (4.5%; n = 1). The information was organized based on the virtual reality modality (immersive, non-immersive, and 360) and application area (motor, cognitive, and mental health). Virtual reality (both immersive and non-immersive) is a valuable tool for promoting physical exercise in older adults, helping to prevent recurrent accidental falls. It also yields positive results for cognitive stimulation in healthy older individuals, improving memory, depression, and mental health in those with cognitive impairment. Virtual reality is generally well-received by older adults, achieving high adherence rates.

This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current literature on 3D-printed orthodontic aligners. It was conducted following the Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. An electronic literature search was conducted across the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. After applying the inclusion criteria, a total of 46 eligible studies published until September 2024 were selected for qualitative synthesis. To date, scientific evidence is primarily available for Tera Harz TC (Graphy, Seoul, Republic of Korea), which is the only studied material approved for orthodontic tooth movements. Although additional materials were identified during the literature search, there is a lack of scientific studies regarding their characteristics and clinical use. This review highlights that while material properties and biocompatibility are of critical importance, the clinical efficacy and long-term safety of 3D-printed aligners require further investigation. Many studies exhibit significant variability in testing methodologies, making substantiated comparisons challenging. Moreover, the existing literature primarily comprises in vitro studies, with limited clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of 3D-printed aligners. Given the current gaps in knowledge and the evolving nature of this field, further well-designed controlled clinical studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical performance and safety of 3D-printed aligners. The findings underscore the need for standardized protocols and comprehensive reporting to enhance the reliability of future research in this area.

Background Globally, 10–20% of adolescents face mental health disorders, with 14% affected in South Africa. Despite existing policies and school-based frameworks, significant gaps remain in implementation, particularly in awareness and early intervention. Schools offer a platform for mental health promotion, yet few well-documented, adolescent-focused awareness programs exist. This scoping review aimed to map available scientific evidence on mental health awareness promotion programs targeting adolescents in South Africa. Methodology The scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, and a systematic search was conducted in Sabinet, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Wiley Online Library, covering English-language studies published between January 2020 and January 2025. A total of 4881 records were identified, including 20 from manual searches, with 39 articles meeting the inclusion criteria for final synthesis. The study was registered on prospero: CRD420251174673 Results Study findings discovered several programs in South Africa to enhance mental health awareness among adolescents. The Integrated School Health Policy was implemented across all nine provinces which provides comprehensive school health and psychosocial support through collaboration among various stakeholders. The Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions program which targets 10-15 with internalizing disorders like anxiety and depression was implemented in 4 Cape Town schools. In Khayelitsha, the Health Action in Schools for Thriving Adolescent Generation program was implemented to support learners aged 11-15 by fostering thriving school environments and peer support. Despite these efforts, challenges including inconsistent attendance, logistical barriers, insufficient resources, concerns about sustainability, and inadequate school capacity addressing critical learner vulnerabilities were identified. Resulting in the high prevalence of anxiety and depression. Conclusion The review highlights a clear gap in the implementation and evaluation of structured mental health awareness programs for adolescents in South Africa. Strengthening school-based mental health initiatives, training educators, and addressing systemic barriers are essential steps toward improving adolescent mental health outcomes and closing the existing treatment gap.

Background Globally, 10–20% of adolescents face mental health disorders, with 14% affected in South Africa. Despite existing policies and school-based frameworks, significant gaps remain in implementation, particularly in awareness and early intervention. Schools offer a platform for mental health promotion, yet few well-documented, adolescent-focused awareness programs exist. This scoping review aimed to map available scientific evidence on mental health awareness promotion programs targeting adolescents in South Africa. Methodology The scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, and a systematic search was conducted in Sabinet, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Wiley Online Library, covering English-language studies published between January 2020 and January 2025. A total of 4881 records were identified, including 20 from manual searches, with 39 articles meeting the inclusion criteria for final synthesis. The study was registered on prospero: CRD420251174673 Results Study findings discovered several programs in South Africa to enhance mental health awareness among adolescents. The Integrated School Health Policy was implemented across all nine provinces which provides comprehensive school health and psychosocial support through collaboration among various stakeholders. The Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions program which targets 10-15 with internalizing disorders like anxiety and depression was implemented in 4 Cape Town schools. In Khayelitsha, the Health Action in Schools for Thriving Adolescent Generation program was implemented to support learners aged 11-15 by fostering thriving school environments and peer support. Despite these efforts, challenges including inconsistent attendance, logistical barriers, insufficient resources, concerns about sustainability, and inadequate school capacity addressing critical learner vulnerabilities were identified. Resulting in the high prevalence of anxiety and depression. Conclusion The review highlights a clear gap in the implementation and evaluation of structured mental health awareness programs for adolescents in South Africa. Strengthening school-based mental health initiatives, training educators, and addressing systemic barriers are essential steps toward improving adolescent mental health outcomes and closing the existing treatment gap.

The evidence on the impacts of climate change on mental health and wellbeing is growing rapidly. The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of existing mental health and psychosocial interventions aimed at addressing the mental health and psychosocial impacts of climate change. A scoping review methodology was followed. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to May 2022. Comprehensive gray literature search, including expert consultation, was conducted to identify interventions for which peer-reviewed academic literature may not yet be available. Data on intervention type, setting, climate stressor, mental health outcome, evaluation, and any other available details were extracted, and results were summarized narratively. Academic literature search identified 16 records and gray literature search identified a further 24 records. Altogether, 37 unique interventions or packages of interventions were identified. The interventions act at the levels of microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem through diverse mechanisms. While most interventions have not been formally evaluated, promising preliminary results support interventions in low- and middle-income-country settings disproportionately affected by climate disasters. Interventions from multidisciplinary fields are emerging to reduce psychological distress and enhance mental health and wellbeing in the context of climate change. This scoping review details existing evidence on the interventions and summarizes intervention gaps and lessons learned to inform continued intervention development and scale-up interventions.

Abstract. Considering research on rehabilitation and rehabilitation potential in modern medical and psychological literature from the leading databases reduces subjectivity when analyzing the relevance of scientific issues. The results obtained will allow predicting the further advancement of scientific knowledge on rehabilitation and rehabilitation potential. Materials and methods. The criterion for inclusion in the review was scientific data published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and lack of repetition of data from the same scientific papers by the same authors. Results. When searching for the word “rehabilitation” over the past 10 years, 3685 works were found in the Web of Science database, and 36332 publications were found in the eLibrary national database. A search for the keyword “rehabilitation potential” in the Web of Science database using inclusion/exclusion criteria revealed 3569 published works while a comparable search query in the domestic database identified 786 works. When comparing the Web of Science and eLibrary databases, similarities and differences were revealed in relation to the use of the concepts of “rehabilitation” and “rehabilitation potential”. The “Neurology” direction occupies a leading position in both databases, “Rehabilitation” as a separate direction is mostly studied abroad, and psychological assistance closes the top three in the Web of Science database. Mental health rehabilitation issues are more commonly presented in eLibrary. Conclusion. The development and publication of studies on rehabilitation potential is more active when it comes to patient-oriented or non-medical models of rehabilitation. Verification of this assumption may be the subject of further research.

BackgroundIn Africa, ongoing challenges posed by zoonotic foodborne diseases highlight the need to improve control practices. This review aims to present a structured overview by summarizing documented practices in African abattoirs, factors influencing the implementation of either poor or good practices, and the recommended solutions to enhance good practices.MethodsThis scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework, and the Population-Concept-Context framework. To identify relevant articles, searches were conducted across the Scopus, PubMed, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases, along with additional records from African Journal Online, Google, and Google Scholar.ResultsOut of 1,547 identified articles, 91 that met the eligibility criteria were included in the final analysis. These studies were conducted in 12 African countries, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Sudan, Cameroon, Morocco, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Egypt, and Sierra Leone. The review identified several poor meat-processing practices, such as a lack of inspections, unhygienic processing, inadequate cleaning, improper meat storage, and poor waste disposal. On the other hand, the current scoping review identified good practices, such as documenting and reporting inspection findings, waste treatment, waste reuse, timely meat delivery, and the reversal of these poor practices. Barriers to good practices were weak policies, lack of basic infrastructure and facilities, insufficient funds, absence of supervision, poor enforcement, poor information flow, lack of knowledge, and inadequate training. Good practices were facilitated by factors like available policy, the establishment and use of critical control points, and basic infrastructure and facilities. Results of the present scoping review also demonstrate that recommended solutions for improvement include following guidelines, developing policies, better enforcement, providing basic infrastructure and facilities, providing training, collaboration, and adopting the One Health approach.ConclusionsThis scoping review identified a range of poor and good practices and factors that influence the implementation of such practices and recommended improvement solutions. Overcoming barriers and leveraging facilitators are essential for improvement and require collaboration among stakeholders. Furthermore, research is needed to validate the effectiveness of the recommended solutions.

<h3>Context</h3> Breastfeeding is associated with significant benefits for infants, lactating parents, and society. In the United States, more than 80% of newborns start out breastfeeding, but only about 25% of them receive exclusive breast milk to 6 months as recommended. Parents who experience breastfeeding-related problems during lactation, such as insufficient milk production, painful breastfeeding, or breast and nipple disorders, are at increased risk of suboptimal breastfeeding. However, best practice for measurement of breastfeeding outcomes during the postpartum period has not been established. <h3>Objective</h3> The purpose of this review is to identify instruments or measures for lactation-related outcomes in the outpatient setting. <h3>Study Design/Analysis</h3> A scoping review following the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). <h3>Setting/Dataset</h3> A medical librarian crafted and conducted a search using terms related to breastfeeding interventions with measurement of breastfeeding-related outcomes in the outpatient setting. The search was conducted in the PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases. <h3>Population Studied</h3> The breastfeeding dyad or supporters (e.g., partners, family, peer counselors). <h3>Intervention/Instrument</h3> The scoping review was managed in Covidence, with a blind review by two researchers. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion. <h3>Outcome Measures</h3> The researchers extracted data on methods, intervention, population, and outcomes (e.g., data collection methods, breastfeeding related outcomes). Outcomes were categorized and organized by measurement type. <h3>Results</h3> 1,481 studies were identified for screening, and after review of inclusion criteria, 55 studies were selected. Measures were found for feeding method, pumping, cessation of breastfeeding, complementary feeding, problems with breastfeeding, and parent psychological factors. Researcher-created checklists and validated scales were found for feeding method, pumping, breastfeeding problems, and parent psychological factors. <h3>Conclusions</h3> This review identifies and categorizes outcomes from the literature that may be useful for breastfeeding evaluation in the outpatient postpartum setting. Future work may explore the gaps in validated measures and the use of an expanded set of outcomes in the primary care context.

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common skin diseases worldwide, with a prevalence ranging from 20–95%. Given the effect of acne on one’s psychological well-being, investigating this relationship is important. This review aims to synthesize the main findings on the relationship between acne, self-esteem, and mental health. The SciELO, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and the PRISMA protocol and Rayyan tool for the selection and inclusion of studies. The terms used in the electronic search were ‘acne’ and ‘self-esteem’. After reading the abstracts and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 studies were selected for quantitative synthesis. The findings of this study indicate that patients with acne experience more mental health disorders, with their subjective perceptions linked to depression, anxiety, and incapacity. Females tend to have lower self-esteem, and their assessments vary depending on the evaluation method used. These results clarify the relationship between acne, self-esteem, and mental health. Furthermore, they provide evidence of factors that increase vulnerability to psychological impacts associated with acne. In conclusion, the literature emphasizes the importance of ongoing research on acne, its impact on self-esteem, and its relationship with other psychological dimensions. While acne is not lethal, it can be disabling, lead to suffering, and negatively affect daily functioning. Effective treatment of this condition requires an integrated approach that combines medical and psychological care.

Early reports in 2021 show that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many people, communities, and societies (Huang et al., 2021). Interactions and bonds with places that are a valued part of our lives have also been impacted by the public health crisis (Counted et al., 2021; Devine-Wright et al., 2020). People have been emplaced in their homes and displaced from places of significance, in part because of stay-at-home orders that were implemented to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (Devine-Wright et al., 2020). Emplacement and displacement experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to changes in the emotional connections that people have with their environments (Devine-Wright et al., 2020; Meagher & Cheadle, 2020; Stieger et al., 2021). Ramkissoon (2020) used the term place confinement to describe the way that people have been confined to their homes in order to control or limit transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Place confinement within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted people from accessing, interacting, and connecting with the broader environment, which can have consequences for mental, physical, spiritual, and social well-being (Counted et al., 2021; Meagher & Cheadle, 2020; Ramkissoon, 2020). However, some empirical research suggests that place confinement may be a generative experience because it can foster or reinforce attachment to one’s home. For example, social (e.g., kinship, family members) and physical (e.g., interior design, restorations) features of people’s homes have been among the predictors of place attachment during the COVID-19 pandemic (Meagher & Cheadle, 2020). Although research addressing the impact of the public health crisis on human–environment interactions is ongoing, taking stock of the existing evidence on people–place relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic could help to inform future research and relevant policies. Based on a preliminary search performed in PubMed, PROSPERO, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases during September 2020, we did not identify any scoping or systematic reviews focusing on people–place relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this chapter, we perform a scoping review to synthesize and descriptively map empirical research on place attachment within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We discuss the implications of the findings for research and policymaking decisions centered on promoting post-pandemic recovery.

This study explores the exclusion of informal micro-enterprises from the provision of basic urban infrastructure services in Duncan Village in East London, South Africa. It focuses on the informal food sector, which is dominated by women who are often held back from participating in economic activities that are more productive, as well as from social and political functions. Basic urban infrastructures, such as trading shelters with water and electricity connections provided by municipalities, are often expensive and most informal street traders find it difficult to access them. This study examines the energy struggles of the informal street food sector and its engagement with local government on issues of inclusivity on policies regulating the sector. In-depth, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 40 participants in the informal street food sector in Duncan Village. The findings reveal the lack of energy transition in the informal street food sector, because of its heavy reliance on low-quality fuels. Unreliable and expensive energy services force informal street food enterprises into using a limited range of energy sources. The findings also reveal that the relationship between the municipality and the informal street traders is one of exclusion and negligence. It is therefore suggested that government needs to recognise and value the informal sector and livelihoods of those involved in this sector, to take into account their needs, and engage with them when designing and implementing policies that regulate the sector.

Innovations, informality, and the global south: A thematic analysis of past research and future directions