Meeting the health needs of displaced people fleeing Ukraine: Drawing on existing technical guidance and evidence.

The invasion of Ukraine has unleashed a humanitarian crisis and the impact is devastating for millions displaced in Ukraine and for those fleeing the country. Receiving countries in Europe are reeling with shock and disbelief and trying at the same time to grapple with the reality of providing for a large, unplanned, unprecedented number of refugees mainly women and children on the move. Several calls for actions, comments and statements express outrage, the risks, and the impending consequences to life and health. There is a need to constantly assess the situation on the ground, identify priorities for health and provide guidance regarding how these needs could be addressed. Therefore, the Lancet Migration European Regional Hub conducted rapid interviews with key informants to identify these needs, and in collaboration with the World Health Organization Health and Migration Programme, summarized how these could be addressed. This viewpoint provides a summary of the situation in receiving countries and the technical guidance required that could be useful for providing assistance in the current refugee crisis

Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development

AbstractOptimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was &lt;1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified.</jats:p

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI 2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/images/research_banner_face_lab_290.jpgunderweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesity

Środowisko pracy i jego wpływ na występowanie przypadków raka wśród pracowników rafinerii niklu

Objective: To demonstrate an occupation exposure impact on incidence of cancer diseases among nickel smelter workers in Sereď, Slovakia. To analyze the occurrence of cancer diseases among smelter workers. To make a risk assessment and survival analyses in selected group of workers. Methods: Retrospective cohort study is based on data about outcomes of work-related exposures in the present and also on the date about known nickel exposure in the past among smelter workers. Observed historical cohort group were 4622 workers in the nickel smelter in Sereď (Galanta district) who were employed during the years 1963 - 1993. Odds ratio (OR), logistic regression and survival analyses were calculate. Results: There were 1348 non-exposed employees (29%) and 3274 exposed employees (71%). There were 4222 employees without recorded cancer (91%) and 400 employees had recorded cancer disease (9%). Among cancer cases we can assess that they mostly work on manufacture department (52% of cases). The most cases were employed in nickel smelter over the 20 years (42%). The 36% of cases were first time employed in nickel smelter at the age of 31 - 40 years old. With increasing age to start work is increasing chance to be sick (OR = 1,48, CI95% = 1,30 - 1,69, P<0,001). Furthermore, with increasing duration of employment is also higher chance to have cancer (OR = 2,23, CI95% = 2,05 - 2,41, P<0,001). Also the higher risk exposure has impact on higher chance to have cancer (OR = 1,46, CI95% = 1,22 - 1,75, P<0,001). Conclusions: Presented study was the first study, which discussed aspects of the possible occupational exposure in the nickel refinery in Sereď in the Slovak Republic.Cel: Zaprezentowanie wpływu narażenia zawodowego na występowanie chorób nowotworowych u pracowników huty niklu w Sereď, Słowacja. Analiza występowania przypadków zachorowań na raka wśród pracowników huty. Ocena ryzyka zawodowego i analiza przeżycia wybranej grupy pracowników. Metodyka: Retrospektywne badanie kohortowe w oparciu o dane na temat wyników narażeń związanych z obecnym wykonywaniem pracy zawodowej jak i na podstawie rozpoznanych przypadków narażenia zawodowego pracowników huty w przeszłości. Historyczne badania cohortowe obejmowały grupę 4622 pracowników huty niklu w Sereď (okręg Galanta), zatrudnionych w latach 1963 - 1993. Obliczono iloraz szans, regresję logistyczną oraz wykonano analizę przeżycia. Wyniki: Badana grupa obejmowała 1348 (29%) pracowników nie narażonych oraz 3274 narażonych (71%). U 4222 (91%) pracowników nie rozpoznano choroby nowotworowej, raka stwierdzono natomiast u 400 pracowników (9%). Pośród pracowników z wykrytą chorobą nowotworową większość (52% przypadków) była zatrudniona w dziale wytwórczym, przy czym 42% przypadków to osoby o stażu zatrudnienia w hucie niklu przekraczającym 20 lat. 36% zatrudnionych ze stwierdzoną chorobą nowotworową rozpoczęło pracę w hucie w wieku 31 - 40 lat. Wraz ze wzrastającym wiekiem zatrudnienia w hucie wzrasta ryzyko zachorowania na raka (OR = 1,48, CI95% = 1,30 - 1,69, P<0,001). Ponadto, im dłuższy staż pracy tym większe ryzyko raka (OR = 2,23, CI95% = 2,05 - 2,41, P<0,001). Ryzyko to wzrasta też wraz z wydłużeniem okresu narażenia (OR = 1,46, CI95% = 1,22 - 1,75, P ? 0,001). Wnioski: Zaprezentowane badania stanowią pierwszą próbę omówienia aspektów potencjalnego narażenia zawodowego występującego w hucie niklu w Sereď, Słowacja

Using guided reflections for change management in gender equality

NoFP

Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development

Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was <1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified