Health Policy Recommendations Research Articles

Alzheimer's dementia in people with Down syndrome : Results of guideline-assisted expert interviews on healthcare deficits in the diagnostics and treatment as well as solution approaches

People with Down syndrome have agenetically increased risk of developing early onset Alzheimer's dementia. An interview study with healthcare providers, patient representatives and employees in residential and work facilities was conducted to identify deficits in the healthcare process and approaches to overcoming them. In this study 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Alack of knowledge and experience on the part of medical service providers in dealing with and providing medical care for people with Down syndrome was identified as akey challenge. In addition, the diagnosis of dementia in people with Down syndrome is difficult for various reasons (including lack of appropriate diagnostic tools in standard care and lack of time or financial resources). Doubts were expressed about the efficacy of antidementia medications and the reasons for the increased use of sedatives were discussed. Attentive observation of behavior and involvement of caregivers, regular review and reduction of polypharmacy and the use of alternative behavior modification techniques were mentioned as possible solutions. The identified deficits in the medical care of the target population and the approaches to solving them will be incorporated into the development of health policy recommendations in order to optimize the care situation of those affected in the long term.

Non-adherence to appointment follow-up and its associated factors among hypertensive patients in follow-up clinics in South Gondar hospitals

Hypertension is a persistent systemic Blood Pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg or greater which is a preventable cause of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. To assess non-adherence to appointment follow-up and its associated factors among Hypertensive patients in the follow-up clinics in South Gondar Hospitals 2023. Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was employed in hospitals in South Gondar from January to February to assess missed appointment follow-up and its associated factors among Hypertensive patients in follow-up clinics. There is one comprehensive specialized hospital and 9 primary hospitals in this zone. Using simple random methods four hospitals were selected by lottery method. The sample was calculated by using the single population proportion formula. The collected data was entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association factors. A total of 401 hypertensive patients on hypertensive follow-up were involved with a response rate of 95.02%. Age ranged from 25 to 86 years with a median age of 58.47 years. Of the total of participants, 211 (52.6.) were rural residents. Among the total hypertensive patients in the hypertensive follow-up clinic, 39.2% were non-adherent for their appointment follow-up. Living far from follow-up health facility (AOR: 2.53; 95% CI 1.349–4.743), absence of perceived symptoms (AOR: 4.98; 95% CI 2.888–8.590), patient complaints Pill burdens (AOR: 3.50; 95% CI 2.108–5.825), and poor Awareness about complication of hypertension (AOR: 2.62; 95% CI 1.471–4.673) were significantly associated with missing of their appointment follow-up for the most hypertensive patients. The prevalence of non-adherence to medical follow-up in hypertension is high as compared to different national health policy recommendations. Distance from the health facility, absence of perceived symptoms, Pill burdens, and lack of knowledge about complications of hypertension were significantly associated with Missed appointment follow-up in Hypertensive patient.

Health checkup practice and its associated factors among adults in South Gondar zone Ethiopia

Non-communicable diseases are the current global burden including in sub-Saharan Africa, which increasing the incidence of cardiovascular disorders and their complications due to a lack of health checks and delayed treatments. To assess health checkup practice among adults in the South Gondar zone of northeast Ethiopia in 2022. A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed from July 30, 2022, to August 30, 2022. Three woredas (Debre Tabor, Guna Beyemidir, and Andabet) were selected by using a simple random sampling method from the south Gondar zone, and three kebeles were selected randomly from each woreda. A complete of 422 samples were selected by random sampling technique. Data were collected in a face-to-face interview using structured questionnaires. The collected data were entered into Epi data version 3.1 and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was done to identify the association between each variable with the outcome variable. A variable that had a p-value < 0.25 in binary logistic regression became a candidate for multivariate logistic regression then after factors p value < 0.05 was considered as predictors to the outcome variable. In this study, health checkup practice was 40.2%. Living with families (AOR 3.36; 95% CI 1.47–7.66), presence chronic disease (AOR 2.52; 95% CI 1.49–4.26), No self-medication practice (AOR 5.39; 95% CI 3.06–9.49) and having health insurance (AOR 3.02; 95% CI 1.68–5.430) were significantly associated with regular health checkup practice. Health checkup practice was low as compared to health policy recommendations and its health maintenance value. Creating awareness about health check-ups and prevention of disease complications will be taken by different stakeholders in the health care system

Seasonal and spatial variations in concentration, diversity, and antibiotic resistance of ambient bioaerosols in an arid region

The airborne microbiome significantly influences human health and atmospheric processes within Earth's troposphere and is a crucial focus for scientific research. This study aimed to analyze the composition, diversity, distribution, and spatiotemporal characteristics of airborne microbes in Qatar's ambient air. Air samples were collected using a sampler from ten geographically or functionally distinct locations during a period of one year. Spatial and seasonal variations significantly impacted microbial concentrations, with the highest average concentrations observed at 514 ± 77 CFU/m3 for bacteria over the dry-hot summer season and 134 ± 31 CFU/m3 for fungi over the mild winter season. Bacterial concentrations were notably high in 80% of the locations during the dry-hot summer sampling period, while fungal concentrations peaked in 70% of the locations during winter. The microbial diversity analysis revealed several health-significant bacteria including the genera Chryseobacterium, Pseudomonas, Pantoea, Proteus, Myroides, Yersinia, Pasteurella, Ochrobactrum, Vibrio, and fungal strains relating to the genera Aspergillus, Rhizopus Fusarium, and Penicillium. Detailed biochemical and microscopic analyses were employed to identify culturable species. The strongest antibiotic resistance (ABR) was observed during the humid-hot summer season, with widespread resistance to Metronidazole. Health risk assessments based on these findings indicated potential risks associated with exposure to high concentrations of specific bioaerosols. This study provides essential baseline data on the natural background concentrations of bioaerosols in Qatar, offering insights for air quality assessments and forming a basis for public health policy recommendations, particularly in arid regions.

Oral health care in Europe: A study with a focus on Romania

Oral health is fundamental to overall health and well-being, closely linked to quality of life, social equity, and economic productivity. This comprehensive study explores the complex landscape of oral health care across Europe, with a particular focus on Romania—a country facing significant oral health challenges. My objective is to provide a thorough examination of oral health disparities, preventive strategies, innovative treatments, and policy recommendations to guide future efforts in improving oral health outcomes. This report aims to serve as an invaluable resource for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and public health advocates dedicated to advancing oral health care across Europe.

Measles resurgence in Armenia: unmasking health system vulnerabilities and crafting comprehensive eradication strategies - a review.

Measles is an acute febrile illness associated with rashes, fever and life-threatening complications. It is a vaccine-preventable disease with the Measles Mumps Rubella(MMR) vaccine but a recent global trend unveils a resurgence of measles in various parts of the world including Armenia. Measles was declared eliminated from Armenia in 2021 before reports of local outbreaks surfaced in 2023. The WHO identified discrepancies in the vaccination coverage during COVID-19. Measles also poses a great financial burden as a public health issue worldwide. Sociocultural factors impacting measles transmission are maternal education, healthcare access, migration, vaccine hesitancy, and socioeconomic status (Table 3). Efforts to control and eradicate measles from Armenia are run by a collaborative approach of national and international health bodies such as United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), WHO, Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), and the Ministry of Health. Thus, the resurgence of measles can be managed through widespread patient education, innovative approaches, strengthening the healthcare system and addressing vaccine hesitancy, sociocultural barriers, and humanitarian emergencies. This review investigates the complicated dynamics of measles inside Armenia's health system in depth. A thorough examination of measles incidence and immunization patterns highlights the shift from few cases and high vaccination rates to a comeback caused by imported viruses. The causes of its recurrence have been thoroughly investigated, including reduced immunization programs and vaccine hesitancy. The research delves further into the 'One Health' idea, assessing the possibility of interspecies transmission among nonhuman primates and examining the environmental factors that influence measles transmission. Among the challenges are weaknesses within Armenia's health system as well as the possibility of interruptions from the COVID-19 outbreak. In measles vaccination status, the combination of maternal education, postnatal care, and socioeconomic variables exposes the larger drivers at work. The study concludes with a comprehensive set of public health policy recommendations covering vaccination promotion, surveillance, healthcare provider education, public awareness, international collaboration, data analysis, law enforcement, emergency preparedness, research, and coordination. The research sheds light on the tangled web of measles dynamics, health system resilience, and contextual subtleties via this multifaceted approach, inviting readers to investigate the multiple strategies required for eliminating measles in Armenia.

Breast cancer screening and early detection programs in Iran: A health policy analysis and recommendations

AbstractScreening and early detection programs for breast cancer (BC) have significantly reduced mortality rates and enhanced survival rates globally. Breast cancer screening programs in low‐ and middle‐income countries like Iran need improvement. This study examines Iran's breast cancer screening and early detection (BCSED) policies, employing the Policy Triangle Model in two phases: a review of 27 documents including various related sources related of policies and strategies, followed by 20 semi‐structured interviews across four distinct levels: policy, regional, clinical, and community levels. Content analysis for documents and MAXQDA2020 software for the second phase were used, and findings integrated. In our analysis of 27 national documents and 20 interviews, we found 10 themes, 19 sub‐themes, and 42 specific codes across four dimensions of the mentioned framework. Main themes in the context dimension covered deficient interactions, deficiency in knowledge management, cultural challenges, and socioeconomic challenges. From the analysis of 27 national documents, we recognized service excellence schemes, personal health encouragement, and service levels. Policy formulation and monitoring and evaluation emerged as central themes for the process dimension, while stakeholder challenges were prominent in the actors' dimension. BCSED programs are multifactorial issues. Proposed strategies to address these issues include the dedicated funds for BC prevention programs, strengthening the Ministry of Health's stewardship role, elevating public awareness, and conducting systematic screening trials in select cities to provide valuable national evidence for future policymaking.

Improving Cytogenetic Surveillance in Radiology Workers Exposed to Low-Dose Radiation in Africa: A Call to Action

Radiation exposure is an occupational hazard for diagnostic and interventional radiology workers, potentially leading to chromosomal damage and increased cancer risk. This review explores the status of cytogenetic monitoring of radiation exposure among radiology workers in Africa. Monitoring of Radiation Exposure in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Workers in Ghana and Africa provides a crucial examination of radiation safety practices within the Ghanaian and Africa healthcare sector. We recovered existing literature on the cytogenetic surveillance conducted on radiology workers in Ghana and Africa stressing on the impact and/or significance of cytogenetic monitoring programmes. In these studies, mostly mathematical modeling and physical methods were used to estimate and extrapolate risks of exposure to ionizing radiation. Additionally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for implementing cytogenetic monitoring programmes in Africa particularly Ghana and provide recommendations for future research and occupational health policies. This review attempts to bridge the gap between physical and biological dosimetry in surveillance studies. It addresses the significant gap in cytogenetic monitoring among diagnostic and interventional radiology workers in Africa. It highlights the importance of cytogenetic surveillance for early detection of radiation-induced genetic damage, assesses the current practices, and provides a recommendation and a roadmap for establishing robust monitoring programmes. This work would contribute significantly to the understanding of occupational radiation safety issues in the healthcare sector of Africa. It also offers a comprehensive examination of the challenges and opportunities in implementing cytogenetic monitoring programmes.

Sugar addiction and its role in obesity among adolescents residing in an urban field practice area of Bagalkot: A cross-sectional study

Obesity, a multi-factorial process is showing an increasing trend among children and adolescents leading to increased prevalence of insulin resistance, paving the way for cardio-metabolic risk factors. It has been proposed that certain food items as well as eating habits are addictive in a way that is similar to substances of abuse. Thus, this study was conducted among adolescents to determine the frequency of sugar addiction, the influencing factors and its association with obesity. A cross-sectional study was designed and 250 late adolescents (17–19 years old) chosen from colleges coming under urban field practice area of Bagalkot were enrolled in the study. A self-administered questionnaire which consisted of three sections - socio-demographic details, validated Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS) and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) was used to collect data regarding sugar addiction and physical activity in our study. Sugar addiction was found among 7.6%of adolescents and it was associated with overweight and obesity which was statistically significant (X=42.72, p&amp;#60;0.0001). Factors which significantly contributed to sugar addiction among adolescents were; adolescents staying in hostel (p&amp;#60;0.001), working mother’s (p&amp;#60;0.0001) and socio-economic status (p=0.02). Univariate analysis (unadjusted odds ratio) showed that risk factors such as sugar addiction (Odds ratio 9.6, 95% C.I. 2.18-42.8, p=0.003) and reduced physical activity (Odds ratio 3.8, 95% C.I. 2.02-7.26, p=0.0001) were associated with overweight and obesity.Incorporation of measures against hyper palatable sugary foods into public health policy recommendations and a further detailed evaluation regarding sugar addiction may provide a new insight and help in prevention and treatment of obesity.

Unraveling the Threads: Sleep Difficulties, Neighborhood Physical Disorder, and Subjective Cognitive Decline in Older Americans.

Research suggests that the neighborhood in which people live can be a risk or protective factor for various health outcomes, including cognitive decline to Alzheimer's disease. Similar to the impact of neighborhood on health outcomes, sleep difficulties have been linked to cognitive function in older adults. However, few studies have examined how neighborhood physical disorders moderate the effects of sleep on subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The study examined the moderating effect of neighborhood factors on the relationship between sleep difficulties and SCD. Data were obtained from 2,494 respondents (1,065 males and 1,429 females) from Wave 11 of the National Health and Aging Trends (NHATS) data. Sleep difficulties were operationalized as the presence of difficulties in falling and staying asleep. Neighborhood physical disorder (e.g., vandalism, graffiti) was based on interviewer observations of respondents' neighborhoods. SCD was operationalized as subjective reports of increasing or worse memory loss in the past 12 months and present memory rating. We utilized Linear regression to test neighborhood physical disorder as a moderator of the relationship between sleep difficulties and SCD. We found a significant interaction between sleep difficulties and neighborhood physical disorder on SCD (β=0.03, SE = 0.01, 95% CI[0.00,0.51], p < 0.001). Participants who reported higher average sleep difficulties and higher levels of neighborhood physical disorder were more likely to report SCD. Our findings add to inform future health interventions and policy recommendations that address modifiable sources of cognitive decline and risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The global impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis: A thematic scoping review, 2020-2023.

This thematic scoping review of publications sought to understand the global impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis (TB), interpret the scope of resonating themes, and offer policy recommendations to stimulate TB recovery and future pandemic preparedness. Publications were captured from three search engines, PubMed, EBSCO, and Google Scholar, and applicable websites written in English from January 1, 2020, to April 30, 2023. Our scoping review was limited to publications detailing the impact of COVID-19 on TB. Original research, reviews, letters, and editorials describing the deleterious and harmful--yet sometimes positive--impact of COVID-19 (sole exposure) on TB (sole outcome) were included. The objective was to methodically categorize the impacts into themes through a comprehensive review of selected studies to provide significant health policy guidance. Two authors independently screened citations and full texts, while the third arbitrated when consensus was not met. All three performed data extraction. Of 1,755 screened publications, 176 (10%) covering 39 countries over 41 months met the inclusion criteria. By independently using a data extraction instrument, the three authors identified ten principal themes from each publication. These themes were later finalized through a consensus decision. The themes encompassed TB's care cascade, patient-centered care, psychosocial issues, and health services: 1) case-finding and notification (n = 45; 26%); 2) diagnosis and laboratory systems (n = 19; 10.7%) 3) prevention, treatment, and care (n = 22; 12.2%); 4) telemedicine/telehealth (n = 12; 6.8%); 5) social determinants of health (n = 14; 8%); 6) airborne infection prevention and control (n = 8; 4.6%); 7) health system strengthening (n = 22; 13%); 8) mental health (n = 13; 7.4%); 9) stigma (n = 11; 6.3%); and 10) health education (n = 10; 5.7%). Heterogeneity of publications within themes. We identified ten globally generalizable themes of COVID-19's impact on TB. The impact and lessons learned from the themed analysis propelled us to draft public health policy recommendations to direct evidence-informed guidance that strengthens comprehensive global responses, recovery for TB, and future airborne pandemic preparedness.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF JOURNALISM IN THE POLITICAL ADVOCACY OF HEALTH POLICY IN INDONESIA?

In this short commentary article, the complex association between journalism, health policy, and political campaigning in Indonesia is explained, in need of more scholarly expansion. Within those limitations, the paper does alert to the necessary function journalism serves intrinsic to the public discourse that drives health policy recommendations, as well as noting how this has been perverted by misinformation and dwindling faith in the media. The article examines how journalism (including digital and social media) has shaped health policy advocacy and public opinion and highlights the role of the media in health communication campaigns and policy reform. Through scrutiny of its role in health policy advocacy, with a broader look at how journalism roles have shifted over time. In this article, the author demonstrated that journalism is a bridge between health policy experts and the public, enabling a more informed democratic engagement with health policy. These conclusions highlight the need to build a nexus between democratic journalism and health policy advocacy for public health priorities in Indonesia. Keywords: health policy, journalism, political campaign

Illuminating Emergency Department Health Policy Recommendations to an Invisible Palliative Screening Process

Illuminating Emergency Department Health Policy Recommendations to an Invisible Palliative Screening Process

Preference-Based Implementation of Video Consultations in Urban and Rural Regions in Outpatient Care in Germany: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Particularly in rural regions, factors such as lower physician density and long travel distances complicate adequate outpatient care. However, urban regions can also be affected by deficits in care, for example, long waiting times. One model of care intending to improve the situation is the implementation of video consultations. The study protocol presents the methodology of the research project titled "Preference-based implementation of the video consultation in urban and rural regions" funded by the German Federal Joint Committee (funding number 01VSF20011). This study aims to identify existing barriers to the use of video consultation and the preferences of insured individuals and physicians as well as psychotherapists in order to optimize its design and thus increase acceptance and use of video consultations in urban and rural regions. Built on a mixed methods approach, this study first assesses the status quo of video consultation use through claims data analysis and carries out a systematic literature review on barriers and promoting factors for the use of video consultations. Based on this preliminary work, focus groups are conducted in order to prepare surveys with insureds as well as physicians and psychotherapists in the second study phase. The central element of the survey is the implementation of discrete choice experiments to elicit relevant preferences of (potential) user groups and service providers. The summarized findings are discussed in a stakeholder workshop and translated into health policy recommendations. The methodological approach used in this study is the focus of this paper. The study is still ongoing and will continue until March 2024. The first study phase has already been completed, in which preliminary work has been done on potential applications and hurdles for the use of video consultations. Currently, the survey is being conducted and analyses are being prepared. This study is intended to develop a targeted strategy for health policy makers based on actual preferences and perceived obstacles to the use of video consultations. The results of this study will contribute to further user-oriented development of the implementation of video consultations in German statutory health insurance. Furthermore, the iterative and mixed methods approach used in this study protocol is also suitable for a variety of other research projects. DERR1-10.2196/50932.

Access Denied: A qualitative Study on transgender health policy in Egypt

For this paper, I conducted an interdisciplinary qualitative study to investigate transgender experiences accessing gender-affirming healthcare (GAH) in Egypt. I outline how the current health policy on GAH was developed and its negative impact, celebrating the resilience of transgender people in navigating the hostile anti-transgender environment, and conclude by offering some health policy recommendations to improve the GAH situation. Since 2003, Egypt has introduced an Islamic Sharia-influenced policy that banned accessing GAH for transgender people, placing professional and legal liability on healthcare providers. The policy created an anti-transgender medical environment, forcing transgender people to rely on Do-It-Yourself GAH or underground, risky, ill-equipped, and overpriced medical facilities. Other non-medical factors also impacted transgender people's ability to access GAH: social stigma, family rejection, state persecution, and economic insecurity. Despite this multilayered anti-transgender environment, transgender people proved to be innovative and resilient, creating ways to overcome these challenges and continue to exist. Transgender people created communal spaces online to guide each other in navigating the challenges of accessing GAH and used various means to challenge bans on GAH.Egypt, Gender-Affirming Health Care, Islam, Policy, DIY, Transgender, Law.

Estimating the impact of bias in causal epidemiological studies: the case of health outcomes following assisted reproduction.

Researchers interested in causal questions must deal with two sources of error: random error (random deviation from the true mean value of a distribution), and bias (systematic deviance from the true mean value due to extraneous factors). For some causal questions, randomization is not feasible, and observational studies are necessary. Bias poses a substantial threat to the validity of observational research and can have important consequences for health policy developed from the findings. The current piece describes bias and its sources, outlines proposed methods to estimate its impacts in an observational study, and demonstrates how these methods may be used to inform debate on the causal relationship between medically assisted reproduction (MAR) and health outcomes, using cancer as an example. In doing so, we aim to enlighten researchers who work with observational data, especially regarding the health effects of MAR and infertility, on the pitfalls of bias, and how to address them. We hope that, in combination with the provided example, we can convince readers that estimating the impact of bias in causal epidemiologic research is not only important but necessary to inform the development of robust health policy and clinical practice recommendations.

Contrasting Objective and Perceived Risk: Predicting COVID-19 Health Behaviors in a Nationally Representative U.S. Sample.

Individuals confronting health threats may display an optimistic bias such that judgments of their risk for illness or death are unrealistically positive given their objective circumstances. We explored optimistic bias for health risks using k-means clustering in the context of COVID-19. We identified risk profiles using subjective and objective indicators of severity and susceptibility risk for COVID-19. Between 3/18/2020-4/18/2020, a national probability sample of 6,514 U.S. residents reported both their subjective risk perceptions (e.g., perceived likelihood of illness or death) and objective risk indices (e.g., age, weight, pre-existing conditions) of COVID-19-related susceptibility and severity, alongside other pandemic-related experiences. Six months later, a subsample (N = 5,661) completed a follow-up survey with questions about their frequency of engagement in recommended health protective behaviors (social distancing, mask wearing, risk behaviors, vaccination intentions). The k-means clustering procedure identified five risk profiles in the Wave 1 sample; two of these demonstrated aspects of optimistic bias, representing almost 44% of the sample. In OLS regression models predicting health protective behavior adoption at Wave 2, clusters representing individuals with high perceived severity risk were most likely to report engagement in social distancing, but many individuals who were objectively at high risk for illness and death did not report engaging in self-protective behaviors. Objective risk of disease severity only inconsistently predicted health protective behavior. Risk profiles may help identify groups that need more targeted interventions to increase their support for public health policy and health enhancing recommendations more broadly.

The Psychological Science of Pandemics: Contributions to and Recommendations for Social, Educational, and Health Policy

The Psychological Science of Pandemics: Contributions to and Recommendations for Social, Educational, and Health Policy

Unraveling Lifestyle Disease Vulnerabilities among Adolescents: A Comprehensive Comparative Analysis of Private and Government School Students in Rawalpindi and Islamabad

Purpose: The increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases in adults necessitates a closer examination of risk factors that manifest during adolescence. This study addresses this imperative, aiming to comprehensively compare lifestyle disease risk factors among adolescents attending private and government schools, with a specific focus on the distinctive nuances present within diverse educational environments. The primary objective of this cross-sectional study is to provide a thorough exploration of lifestyle disease risk factors, thereby contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the complexities inherent in adolescent health within different school settings. The study's aim is to not only identify prevalent risk factors but also to highlight the variations that exist between students in private and government schools.&#x0D; Methodology: The study engaged 600 adolescents from secondary schools in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, with 300 participants from each sector, employing purposive sampling for selection. Beyond the standard measurements of Body Mass Index (BMI), height, and weight, a comprehensive assessment encompassed dietary habits, physical activity levels, screen time, family history of lifestyle diseases, and active/passive smoking.&#x0D; Findings: Noteworthy findings include a substantial 81% of overweight individuals affiliated with private schools, indicating a distinct prevalence in this demographic. Dietary disparities were evident, with private schools displaying a 60% daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, in contrast to 40% in government schools. Further distinctions were observed in daily dairy intake (54% in private schools vs. 46% in government schools) and weekly meat consumption (56% in private schools vs. 44% in government schools). Private schools exhibited higher rates of daily and weekly fast food (54%) and soft drink consumption (67%) compared to government schools (46% and 33%, respectively).&#x0D; Physical activity engagement was reported by 45% of private school students and 55% of government school students, while screen time exceeding 2 hours was reported by 55% of private school students and 45% of government school students. Family history of lifestyle diseases was more significant among government school students. Additionally, 8% of private school students and 7% of government school students reported smoking, with 20% of private school students and 24% of government school students indicating a history of passive smoking.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: The study enriches theoretical understanding by offering a nuanced exploration of lifestyle disease risks and disparities among adolescents. In practical terms, the findings provide insights for designing targeted interventions tailored to the specific needs of private and government school students, informing health promotion programs and strategies. Policy relevance is emphasized through recommendations for school-specific health policies, considering socioeconomic factors, and advocating for long-term monitoring to facilitate effective public health planning. The identification of nuanced lifestyle disease risks within distinct school environments adds a critical dimension to our understanding of adolescent health and informs future policies and interventions

Air pollution and cardiovascular diseases

This comprehensive literature review explores the intricate relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular diseases, emphasizing the global significance of this environmental concern. The study delves into key air pollutants, including Particulate Matter (PM), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ozone (O3), and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), revealing their associations with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The detrimental effects involve systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. The review meticulously analyzes epidemiological studies, such as the UK Biobank study, linking long-term exposure to ambient air pollution, specifically PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx, with increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Specific populations, characterized as susceptible or vulnerable, are identified, including adults over 60 and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Studies examining genetic variations, blood pressure changes, and meteorological variables contribute to understanding individual susceptibility. The review highlights the role of air pollution in influencing sleep patterns, physical activity, and temperature-related cardiovascular strain. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing air pollution as a modifiable risk factor, providing evidence of its association with cardiovascular risk factors and Dyslipidemia. The impact of air pollution on diverse cardiovascular outcomes, including heart failure, stroke, and ischemic heart disease, is discussed. The review underscores the urgent need for public health interventions and policy recommendations to mitigate air pollution's adverse effects. Recognizing air pollution as a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, the study advocates for proactive measures to reduce pollution, promoting cardiovascular health and creating a cleaner environment for future generations.