Health Education Policy Research Articles

Euthanasia of dogs as control of Visceral Leishmaniasis: brazilian law from a technical and ethical-moral view

Dogs participate in the maintenance of leishmaniasis as a reservoir in urban areas. The Visceral Leishmaniasis Surveillance and Control Program (PVCLV) of the Ministry of Health determines the euthanasia of seroactive dogs. The human-animal relationship has become closer to the point that zoonoses are gaining greater attention from health services, and the euthanasia of these animals has an impact on the multispecies family. The maintenance of euthanasia as an action to control the disease is questioned. With the approval of medication and the development of prevention methods, guardians question the action recommended by PVCLV. This review highlights the importance of health education, environmental management, responsible custody and public policies, highlighting current legislation and its controversies, in addition to the fact that the emotional impact of euthanasia is not limited to the animal's family, but also to the professional who performs it, and that as the only action to control leishmaniasis it is ineffective and may worsen the epidemiological situation of the disease.

Implementation of Sexual and Reproductive Health Education Policy in Schools in Asia and Africa: A Scoping Review

Objectives: This review aimed to map and synthesize existing literature on sex and reproductive education policy implementation in primary and secondary schools in Asia and Africa. Methods: Database searches yielded 24 relevant articles, which underwent thematic analysis. Results: Most studies were conducted in Africa and looked at barriers to implementation. Studies assessing implementation showed it was incomprehensive. Barriers were: policy/curriculum issues, societal opinions, teaching discomfort, lack of educator training, and lack of sufficient economical support. Conclusions: Based on the limited evidence, a cultural shift to reduce stigma seems necessary, alongside teacher and student involvement in policy formulation and implementation monitoring.

Parents' attitudes and response to their child's pornography consumption in Australia: cross-sectional survey.

Background Parents play an important role in monitoring children's internet use, shaping their child's understanding of sex, and are key stakeholders in the development of sexual health education policies. Therefore, we investigated parents' awareness of and responses to children's pornography exposure. Methods We invited parents with children aged from 8 to 20years (n =1029) to complete an observational cross-sectional online survey about pornography and young people. Results A total of 48% of parents thought that young people view pornography rarely or never, and 21% agreed that watching pornography could be part of a healthy relationship for young people. Some parents (27%) were aware that their child had ever viewed pornography. Most parents (56%) acted on this by talking to their child, while others (10%) took no action, or restricted access to devices (6%). Discussing pornography was found to be strongly associated (P Conclusions These findings provide new insights for policy responses and can guide the development of tools to support parents to respond to their children's pornography exposure.

Nutritional Status of Children in Bangladesh: Changes and Challenges for Development

Despite suffering from widespread poverty, Bangladesh has made remarkable improvements in the nutritional status of children over the past three decades. This paper describes the trends in the nutritional status of children in Bangladesh by age groups, explores factors associated with these trends, and concludes with a description of future challenges for development in Bangladesh. The national-level survey (BDHS), national plan and policy paper, and literature were used for the study. It is remarkable for Bangladesh that stunting, underweight, and wasting among children under five years old has improved gradually. Children 12- 23 months of age are the most vulnerable. Living in a rural vs urban area, wealth status and maternal education are the main determinants linked to the nutritional status of children. Poverty reduction, improved water and sanitation, strengthened maternal and child health care, education and other policies linked to food and dietary practices and many other policies and programs could continue to improve nutritional levels in children in Bangladesh. Attention is also needed to under five mortality and the double burden of malnutrition. Addressing gaps in policies and programs to achieve the goals of national plans and SDG targets will pay health dividends for the entire population.

From HIV to Mpox: Socio-discursive Analysis of Communicable Diseases, Stigma, and Pathologization in Sexual Minorities in Brazil.

Discrimination and stigma are significant barriers to healthcare for the LGBTQIAPN+ community, necessitating a deeper analysis of their sociocultural causes. There is a notable gap in the literature regarding the understanding of socio-discursive representations and their impact on the stigmatization and pathologization of sexual minorities in the context of communicable diseases. This study aims to discuss the understanding of the sociodiscursive aspects of the health-disease process, particularly in stigmatized infectious diseases affecting the LGBTQIAPN+ community. The focus is on examining how news articles, or the set of analyzed texts (corpus), shape these perceptions. We conducted documentary research with a qualitative and discursive approach using news articles retrieved from Google NewsⓇ about diseases affecting the LGBTQIAPN+ population from 2011 to 2022. The analysis was based on critical discourse analysis, processed using MAXQDA and IRAMUTEQ software. The identified representations predominantly align with biomedical ideology, manifesting in a discourse that normalizes and medicalizes (normative-curative discourse), and notable for its pathologizing and stigmatizing nature. Six classes were found: Ethical professional dilemmas facing stigma, infection and contamination of the LGBT+ population, prejudice and discrimination in the form of information, stigma related to sexual behavior/orientation, Vulnerability and stigma related to infectious diseases, and strategies for minimizing health risk/stigma for the LGBT+ public. The most relevant analytical categories were related to infectious diseases and sexual identity. These themes were identified, indicating that media representations reinforce stigma and maintain unequal health practices (verticalization) for the LGBT+ community. Understanding these patterns within a broader historical context is crucial for promoting health education and strategies that challenge internalized prejudice. The need to reformulate cultural norms and develop health information and education policies is urgent. These policies should be led by professionals with a comprehensive and humanized vision, addressing the diverse needs of the LGBT+ population.

COVID-19 school closures in Latin America: untangling approaches impacting student health and wellbeing

PurposeThis study compared approaches to school closures in four Latin American countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru), describing the impact on the health and educational wellbeing of school-age children and youth, and evaluating their approaches in regard to continuing education through the pandemic.Design/methodology/approachWe collected 75 publicly available documents including scientific and gray literature (government documents and news releases), that referred to school closures and their impact on children’s health and wellbeing. We did thematic analyses using open, axial, and selective coding and applied the latest Health Promoting Schools standards and indicators to the findings.FindingsResults showed that countries followed epidemiological reasons for prioritizing school closures while adopting some policies that abide by Health Promoting School principles. While they emphasized the need to reopen schools so that instruction could continue, school closures were among the longest in the world. The most significant impacts on wellbeing identified in the four countries were related to food security and mental health.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focused on a particular set of documents, and it may not capture the full spectrum of relevant information in different contexts or regions.Practical implicationsBy comparing school closures approaches among four Latin American countries, this study highlights the importance of context-specific interventions. In a post-pandemic era, lessons learned from these experiences should help foster more resilient and inclusive educational systems and explore the paths forward for following the new Health Promoting Schools framework in the region.Originality/valueCross-country qualitative analyses on this topic are rare. This study adds to the knowledge base by eliciting lessons for future health education research and policy efforts.

Life Skills for Promoting Mental Well-Being among Indian Adolescents and Youth

Abstract: Adolescents and young emerging adults are highly vulnerable to stress and strain due to numerous transitions which are biological, socio-emotional, and psychological in nature. This coupled with external factors and environmental influences such as family structure and needs, peer-pressure, school and college environment play a critical role in influencing their thoughts and behavior. Hence it becomes crucial to find the means for strengthening problem-solving skills thereby enhancing their mental health and overall well-being. Life skills serve as an effective means of empowering adolescents and youth to navigate life’s challenges proficiently, using a skill-based approach. The World Health Organization (WHO) focuses on ten core life skills including aspects of individual personality (self-awareness, empathy), cognitive skills (critical and creative thinking, decision making, problem solving), coping skills (coping with stress and emotions), interpersonal relationships and communication skills. The Jeevan Kaushal Curriculum (2.0) framed by University Grants Commission proposes several core skills essential for living successful lives viz. communication skills, professional skills (career and team skills), leadership and management skills and universal human values. This study attempts to explore the role of core documents such as the Jeevan Kaushal Curriculum (2.0), WHO Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health and National Education Policy (NEP, 2020) in supporting the mental well-being of the target population, using document analysis. The study findings indicate that the Jeevan Kaushal curriculum (2.0) can be used as an effective tool towards fostering student skills sets and enhancing mental strength thereby supporting the promotion and maintenance of mental well-being of adolescents and youth in the Indian context. Moreover, it is in alignment with the core features of NEP 2020 which focuses on a holistic, transformational higher education curriculum incorporating value-based education and community engagement services.

Fauna sinantrópica e silvestre no ciclo da leptospirose e impactos legais e forenses na “Saúde Única”

The term “synanthropic” qualifies animals that have adapted to living alongside humans, often involuntarily. Synanthropy is characterized by the potential transmission of diseases to humans. The One Health approach increasingly emphasizes the importance of veterinary medicine in animal and environmental healthcare, with a focus on human health. This review aims to identify, understand and discuss the impacts of synanthropic and wild fauna on animal, public and environmental health, as well as legal and forensic aspects within the framework of One Health. The challenges encompassing One Health challenge both veterinary medicine and the law. Veterinary expertise is a resource that can assist in legal matters relating to the environmental management of synanthropic and wild fauna. Humans exposed to synanthropic and wild animals are considered a risk factor for disease transmission. The presence of rodents in urban and rural areas generates economic and health problems as they transmit diseases directly or indirectly. The rodents involved in the transmission of leptospirosis are Rattus rattus, Rattus norvergicus and Mus musculus. Leptospirosis is a neglected disease transmitted both by rodents and wild animals. The understanding of this issue must communicate actions to public authorities to develop health and environmental education policies regarding this fauna in order to reduce, control or eliminate the risks of disease transmission. This review bases its information on the Pubmed platform, Google Scholar, articles and textbooks. Despite existing legislation, leptospirosis is still considered a neglected disease, and synanthropic and wild fauna represent a significant challenge to the One Health concept due to the lack of basic sanitation and poor urban infrastructure that facilitates the presence of this fauna, which cause health and economic problems for the population.

Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing a Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Policy in Chicago Public Schools.

In 2013, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) district passed a policy requiring schools to deliver comprehensive sexual health education (SHE) to all K-12th grade students. A performance improvement case study was conducted in the 2019-2020 school year to evaluate the implementation of the policy and identify lessons learned to support implementation in schools. Key informant interviews were conducted with 11 school principals and 29 teachers to discuss SHE implementation at their school. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to assess school and classroom factors that affect implementation. Themes that cut across these factors were then identified and summarized by 2 evaluators. The following themes were identified across key informant interviews: (a) principal prioritization of SHE helps ensure SHE is implemented, (b) the expansion of school and teacher capacity facilitates SHE implementation, and (c) the creation of accountability mechanisms in classrooms and schools fosters adherence to SHE policy. Principals play a crucial role in building capacity to deliver SHE and ensuring SHE accountability mechanisms are implemented in their school. CPS is using these findings to adjust technical assistance and resources provided to principals and SHE instructors.

Teen pregnancy involvement among African, Caribbean and Black adolescent boys and girls: A scoping review

ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the incidence, associated factors and interventions to address teen pregnancy involvement (TPI) among African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) adolescents in North America.DesignWe conducted a scoping...

Can I Afford to Be on Campus? Do College Students with Disabilities Understand COVID-19 Vaccination Costs?

ABSTRACT Higher education institutions have mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for students wishing to return to an on-campus, in-person learning experience. However, college students with disabilities (SWDs) may be hesitant to take a COVID-19 vaccine for a variety of reasons, possibly delaying or denying these students’ access to higher education. Yet, an under-researched aspect of COVID-19 vaccinations and related communication is whether college students with disabilities understand that the COVID-19 vaccine is free and whether that understanding varies by intersectional identities. As a result, this study’s research team surveyed 245 college students with disabilities to explore these students’ knowledge of vaccine costs and whether differences exist between groups. Data suggests many college students with disabilities do not know that COVID-19 vaccinations are free: White/Caucasian SWDs were most aware of COVID-19 vaccines being free (23.6%), while Latinx students were least aware (1.3%). Moreover, women were more aware of free COVID-19 vaccines (14.8%) than men (11.4%), first generation college students were more aware (15.6%) than non-first generation college students (12.2%), and full-time students (19%) were more aware than part-time students (8.9%). Overall, less than 25% of SWDs understood that COVID-19 vaccines are free. Implications for health communication, vaccine awareness, and education policy are addressed.

UTERINE FIBROIDS AND THE CORRELATION WITH BLACK WOMEN

Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors in the uterus of women of reproductive age and can cause symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and increased abdominal volume. Studies have shown a higher prevalence of uterine fibroids in black women compared to women of other ethnicities. Understanding the causes of this disparity is fundamental to developing more effective prevention and treatment strategies. Investigating the relationship between the incidence of uterine fibroids and black ethnicity, analyzing the genetic and social factors that may contribute to this correlation and proposing measures to reduce the incidence of uterine fibroids in black women are the aims of this study. This is a systematic literature review using an exploratory and narrative method, with qualitative and quantitative premises. The databases used were PubMed, Scielo, Scopus, Web of Science and the Virtual Health Library. The articles analyzed were selected by exclusion and inclusion criteria, which are set out here, using the health sciences descriptors “uterine fibroids”, “black women and uterine fibroids”, “genetic factors and uterine fibroids” and “environmental factors and uterine fibroids”, reaching a total of 617 articles searched and 9 used in this study. Genetic studies have suggested a genetic predisposition to the development of uterine fibroids in black women, with the identification of genetic variants associated with a higher risk. In addition, social factors such as limited access to quality healthcare, socioeconomic inequalities and exposure to psychosocial stressors may also play an important role. Lack of access to preventive healthcare and unequal access to effective treatments may contribute to a higher prevalence of uterine fibroids in black women. Measures to reduce this disparity include promoting equitable access to healthcare, reproductive health education and public policies that address the underlying causes of health inequalities. The correlation between uterine fibroids and black women highlights the need for integrated approaches that consider both genetic and social factors. Promoting equity in access to health care and implementing public policies aimed at women’s health are key to reducing the incidence of uterine fibroids and improving the quality of life of black women.

Physical education and student well-being: Promoting health and fitness in schools.

The school students are facing mental health issues, and their performance is not improving in China. Health education policies are not implemented at the school level in China. However, scholars focus on college students' health education, but the school student is neglected. The research's primary objective is to answer the question: What is the impact of health education on the psychological well-being of school students? A sample of 549 10th grade students is collected from China's public and private sector institutes. The partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is employed to analyze the data. The outcomes highlighted that the impact of health education is significant on the psychological well-being of school students in China. Furthermore, the study introduced that the moderating role of sustainable health exercise and sports participation is critical as it positively influences the relationship between health education and psychological wellbeing. This research improves literature as the novel contribution are highlighted in theory. Furthermore, the government education policies must be reframed under the light of this research' findings to improve students' health.

Health Education Initiatives for People Who Have Experienced Prison: A Narrative Review.

Due to the selectiveness of criminal systems and the context of social vulnerability, there is a high prevalence of health problems among individuals with a history of incarceration. When there is an insufficient level of health care, prior clinical conditions can worsen, and health education can be a response to this problem. Health education is a process of building health knowledge that is intended to facilitate thematic appropriation by the population that enables people to access, understand, and use health-related information for health improvement. In the context of criminal justice, health education can contribute to the successful transition of people who have experienced prison from their custody to the community setting. This study aimed to identify, synthesize, and critically evaluate peer-reviewed evidence concerning health education initiatives developed during or after incarceration aimed at people released from prison. A narrative review methodology was used to analyze 19 studies about health education interventions for prisoners or people who were arrested. Initiatives were identified in five countries, which showed differences in approaches, with motivational interviewing and group sessions standing out in the studies. All of them were grouped into the following themes: HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, alcohol, opioids and other substances, tuberculosis, and women's health. We have not performed a quality assessment of the studies included (using checklists such as PRISMA, AMSTAR, or SANRA) as this study is a narrative review and was not intended to be a systematic review or meta-analysis. This review has the potential impact of informing future health education initiatives and policies for individuals transitioning from prison.

The process of challenge formation in Iranian nursing education: A grounded theory study with model presentation.

Nursing education faces many challenges that must be identified and removed to improve nursing education and promote the quality of nursing care. Identifying the challenges of nursing education helps to solve or correct the weaknesses and achieve educational goals, which ultimately help to train skilled professionals capable of providing higher quality care to patients. The present study was conducted with the aim of explaining the experiences of nursing tutors in regard to the process of challenge formation in nursing education in Iran. This is a qualitative study with a grounded theory approach that was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, which took about 9 months, 18 experienced nursing tutors with managerial positions were selected by purposeful sampling from universities across the country. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field notes, observation, and memos. Data analysis was done by Corbin and Strauss method through MAXQDA software version 10. In the next step, using the method of Walker and Avant (2011), concepts and statements were gathered within a whole and a model was presented. Twelve male university tutors and six female tutors participated in this study. The mean age of the participants was 45.38 ± 2.1 years, and their mean work experience was 18.66 ± 3.8 years. The findings showed that the challenges of nursing education could be categorized into three categories (defective educational cycle, efforts to restore the educational structure, and learning is a member of educational family), and 12 subcategories. After analyzing the data, trying to provide a need-based education was determined to be the central theme of this study. The components of model developed in this study were presented in the three axes of improving the tutor's teaching skills, managing the situation and educational facilities, and facilitating student's participation in the education process and decision-making. Identifying barriers and facilitators of need-based education in health policy making can enable nurses to build a better future for their nursing position. To provide need-based education, it is necessary to create a suitable ground and platform for proper education. Such platform and ground are a necessity of educational, therapeutic, and community environments. To achieve this goal, it is recommended to improve the professional capabilities of tutors and support educational organizations.

Need for national eye health education policies in Brazil

Need for national eye health education policies in Brazil

NUDGING ATTITUDE CHANGE THROUGH EXPERIENCE: UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULAR INNOVATIONS

Abstract Drawing students into gerontology and geriatrics remains a perennial challenge in light of negative stereotypes and ageism deeply entrenched in society. Nonetheless, instructors continue to forge ahead with curricular innovations designed to dismantle stereotypes, promote deeper understanding of the later stage of life, cultivate appreciation for the contributions of older adults, and entice students to consider further academic, extracurricular, and vocational opportunities in the field. This symposium brings together scholars and instructors who have implemented and evaluated course innovations with these goals in mind. The first presentation reviews findings from the Bringing Art to Life program that pairs teams of undergraduate students with persons with dementia attending an adult day services program and engaging in structured art therapy and reminiscence. The next presenter describes positive attitude change about aging among undergraduates in an advanced public health service-learning course. Next is a discussion of how health policy education has been successfully built into an undergraduate adult development and aging course. The fourth presentation summarizes results from a randomized educational intervention to undergraduate students to enhance death education and ensure more equitable access to quality end-of-life services and supports. The final presentation describes innovations in training MSTEM undergraduate students in aging. A Discussant will synthesize themes across presentations and engage session attendees to respond and share their own curricular experiences.

INTEGRATING HEALTH POLICY EDUCATION INTO AN UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY COURSE

Abstract Education on health policy processes are lacking in psychology training programs. Psychologists can be helpful to policy making and evaluation processes; however, few have the training, experience, or exposure to health policy necessary to feel comfortable entering into this area. Health policy education was integrated into an existing undergraduate psychology adult development and aging curriculum. Students completed weekly knowledge quizzes, two health policy specific assignments, and a class lecture on the intersection of health policy, aging, and psychology. N = 97 students (Mage = 21.54, SD = 4.94) over six semesters completed pre-post knowledge, skill, and ability assessments. Paired samples t-tests indicated increased knowledge t(96)= -5.89, p < .001, Cohen’s d = .60, and understanding of health policy making t(94)= -5.69, p < .001, Cohen’s d = .58; and ability to critically evaluate health policies t(96)= -3.03, p = .003, Cohen’s d = .31. Students identified psychology t(95)= -5.20, p < .01, Cohen’s d = .53 and psychological research t(95)= -3.71, p < .001, Cohen’s d = .38 as having a greater role in health policy following the course. Students felt they would use the health policy skills and knowledge learned in this course and agreed the policy related topics and assignments were valuable. Integrating health policy education into an undergraduate psychology course was feasible and had a positive impact on student’s knowledge, skills, and abilities in this domain. This format may be appropriate for graduate psychology training and may help build psychologists confidence to participate in health policy activities.

Supporting health education policies: translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of a health literacy instrument, in French.

Oral health is a fundamental human right and is inseparable and indivisible from overall health and well-being. Oral Health Literacy (OHL) has been proved to be fundamental to promoting oral health and reducing oral health inequalities. To our knowledge, no OHL instrument to evaluate OHL level is currently validated in French language despite the fact it is the fifth most widely spoken languages on the planet. The Oral health literacy Instrument (OHLI) appears to be the most interesting OHL instrument to adapt into French because it is already available in English, Spanish, Russian, Malaysian, and it contains both reading comprehension and numeracy sections. Its psychometric properties have been rated as adequate. The aim of this study was to translate and adapt cross-culturally the OHLI into French, to evaluate its psychometric properties and to compare its results to oral health knowledge. This study followed and applied well-established processes of translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation, based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization guidelines and on the Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) study design checklist for patient-reported outcomes. Two psychometric assessments were planned, the comparison of OHLI-F scores according to education level and frequency of dental visits, and the test-retest reliability of the OHLI-F. A total of 284 participants answered the OHLI-F. The OHLI-F scores were significantly different between participants with different levels of education and frequency of dental visits (p < 0.001). Participants with an education level lower than the baccalaureate, and those who never visit the dentist or only in case of pain, had significantly lower OHLI-F scores. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.881-0.914). Test-retest reliability was very high (intraclass correlation = 0.985 to 0.996). The OHLI-F has demonstrated adequate psychometric properties and can therefore be used to measure oral health literacy in French-speaking populations.

Exploring Women’s Psychological and Emotional Experiences in Long-Term Strength Training Adherence

ABSTRACT Background Lack of physical activity is a contributor to mental health issues. Strength training exercise has been an effective intervention that yields physical and psychological benefits. Purpose This qualitative study aimed to explore and identify the perceived factors to maintain long-term strength training programs among women, and to examine the association of these factors with psychological and emotional health. Methods Seventeen face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with women aged 35–81 (M = 54.6) over a five-month span. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and manually coded. Data was analyzed using a thematic analysis. Results Most of the women had been strength training for over a decade (82.4%). A primary theme: Emotional Resilience will be highlighted in this study. Additional subthemes include I Feel Good, I Feel Better; Calm Emotions and Reduce Stress, and A Boost in Confidence. Discussion Strength training exercise plays a role to enhance women’s mental focus and emotional resilience needed to cope with adversity. Translation to Health Education Practice Health professionals and policy makers may need to consider strength training as a useful practice that can lead to improvements in self-confidence, quality of life, and physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.