Procurement from local producers for food service in primary and secondary school settings: A scoping review

Issue addressed: Australian school canteen guidelines do not broadly incentivise procuring food from local producers, despite evidence of this occurring abroad. This scoping review aims to investigate what is known about local food procurement for school foodservice. Methods: A scoping review of peer-reviewed articles published since 2000 was undertaken using MEDLINE, CINAHL and Scopus. Results: Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Local food was generally perceived as fresher and more nutritious. Small, positive impacts on fruit and vegetable intake have been demonstrated when food is procured locally. Challenges identified included concerns around food safety, varied availability, time spent coordinating food supply, lack of incentive from regional or national guidelines, inadequate kitchen facilities and budget constraints. Conclusions: There is no universal definition or standard for procuring ‘local food’. The main motivation for local food procurement was a sense of social responsibility, however there are barriers, including cost, facilities and food safety. Purchasing food locally holds potential to benefit the local economy but government funding and policy supporting local and small-scale producers is an important enabler. So what?: Government support to build stakeholder capacity is important in establishing and maintaining these programmes and would be crucial in achieving change in Australian schools. Investigating feasibility of a national school lunch service would be beneficial, as these programmes may have merit not just in feeding children but also in supporting the local economy. Further research is warranted in this area

Head lice and the impact of knowledge, attitudes and practices- a social science overview

[Extract] The social science investigation of head lice infestations is extremely limited. The neglect of this area of research is mainly due to the fact that this organism has not caused mortality or any significant morbidity in developed societies in contemporary history [1]. From a biomedical point of view it is therefore not a high priority health issue but more a nuisance infection. Research on Pediculus capitis focuses overwhelmingly on insect biology, ecology, epidemiology and treatment rather than the sociological impact [2]. Publications for various interest groups create a short list of social science research around this insect for physicians, parents, teachers, school nurses [2]. This chapter presents published and unpublished information from an internet survey conducted by the authors and provides an overview of research on knowledge, attitudes and practices of those who encounter head lice and considers questions yet to be answered

Head lice and the impact of knowledge, attitudes and practices- a social science overview

[Extract] The social science investigation of head lice infestations is extremely limited. The neglect of this area of research is mainly due to the fact that this organism has not caused mortality or any significant morbidity in developed societies in contemporary history [1]. From a biomedical point of view it is therefore not a high priority health issue but more a nuisance infection. Research on Pediculus capitis focuses overwhelmingly on insect biology, ecology, epidemiology and treatment rather than the sociological impact [2]. Publications for various interest groups create a short list of social science research around this insect for physicians, parents, teachers, school nurses [2].\ud \ud This chapter presents published and unpublished information from an internet survey conducted by the authors and provides an overview of research on knowledge, attitudes and practices of those who encounter head lice and considers questions yet to be answered.\u

Head lice: the feelings people have

Background: Head lice are a source of amusement for outsiders and an embarrassing nuisance to those who have to deal with them. Our study collected the emotions experienced by people dealing with head lice. An area with extremely sparse literature, our purpose is to inform the development of more effective programs to control head lice. Methods: We asked "what were your feelings upon discovery of head lice?" as part of a study exploring the experience of those treating head lice. A short questionnaire was available via the authors' head lice information internet site. A total of 294 eligible responses were collected over several months and analyzed, supported by QSR N6. Results: The predominantly female (90.9%) respondents were residents of Australia (56.1%), USA (20.4%), Canada (7.2%), or UK (4.4%), and working full-time (43.0%) or part-time (34.2%). Reactions and feelings fell into three categories: strong (n = 320; 79% of all stated emotions), mediocre (n = 56; 20%), and neutral (n = 29; 9.8%). There were no positive emotions. Comment: The significant negative reaction was expected. The range of feeling expressed demonstrates the stigma held for these ectoparasites within western market economies. This contrasts with conceptions of head lice in traditional societies. The negative social effects of this perception create more problematic issues than the infection itself; these include quarantine, overtreatment, and a potentially negative psychological impact. Head lice control strategies and programs that address these negative emotional reactions may prove more effective than current biomedical focus

Uncovering family experiences with head lice: the difficulties of eradication

Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) are not a significant public health concern but elicit great alarm among parents. The investigators host information websites through which they field several hundred queries annually. This study investigated the experience of those treating head lice infections focusing on control difficulties. A short web-based questionnaire (available August, 2006 and February, 2007) yielded two hundred and ninety-four eligible responses which were analysed using grounded theory analysis processes. The mainly female (91.1%), working (76.9%), respondents from Australia, U.S.A., Canada and UK identified constraints for effective treatment that encompass technological, biological and social issues. Product concerns, treating children and blaming others for re-infection were among the main themes. Available treatment technologies are incompatible with the lifestyles of families in developed market economies. The treatment methodology, nit comb and topically applied liquid, is several thousand years old. Future research and development efforts need to account for the social constraints experienced by lay consumers

Active Transport in the Tropics: Agenda Setting for the Future

Context: The Active Transport in the Tropics Network (ATTN) is a Townsville based collective established in April 2016, to discuss research, current practices, and advocate for active transport, safe engagement and community benefits. In a global environment of resource exploitation, increasing fuel prices, and repressed economies and health impacts associated with the pandemic, such community-centred approaches provide a positive opportunity to tackle many of these issues. Process: As the prominence of COVID declines, there is renewed need to leverage and advance the work of the ATTN towards making Townsville a “model” hub of safe, inclusive and active transport in Australia. In reactivating the network, a modified Delphi process will be utilised to map relevant stakeholders and develop tangible actions. Analysis: Beyond the existing ATTN, Delphi participation will be extended to other relevant local stakeholder groups. Results should identify key group priorities, convergence, and any divergence. In exploring approaches to reach a consensus for safer, more sustainable communities, similar interdisciplinary groups have an opportunity to learn from this process and outcomes. Outcomes: The results from this Delphi process will be conveyed at the conference. The revised agenda to support progress on actioning priorities, leveraging opportunities, utilising local strengths and ultimately improving active transport engagement will be presented. Learning Outcomes: In presenting an overview of the process, priorities and renewed agenda from a network perspective, it may prompt other local groups to reconnect, reinvigorate and even reimagine what is achievable and prompt collective actions for safe communities

Sweating on your commute – active transport in the tropics: a synopsis

It is not often that you get public health academics, urban planners, exercise scientists, health psychologists, ducators,sociologists, transport authorities, bicycle-user group members, local council workers and concerned citizens in a room focused on a single topic. Yet the Active Transport in the Tropics Network (ATTN) has succeeded in bringing this diverse group together to focus on improving active travel. ATTN is an interdisciplinary, cross organizational network who meet at the intersection of practical discussion, research and advocacy. The aspirational goal of the network is ‘to make Townsville the safest, most active, eco-friendly transport city in Australia and the tropics by 2030’. A driving factor for this goal was an acknowledgement of Townsville resident’s rising weight, the abundance of sunny days and flat topography. The network’s profile and agenda has been bolstered by delivering, contributing to and representation at community consultation and public events. The network will soon release a position statement which drawing upon this foundational work, will outline: the benefits of active transport for healthy living, the importance of promoting the safety of active transport users, the need to stimulate wider community engagement and to advocate for spaces and infrastructure that are conducive for active transport. Some of the key concerns pertaining to reaching these objectives from a tropical and regional perspective include infrastructure availability and connectivity, inclusivity, social acceptability and climatic barriers(dry tropics). For active transport adoption to occur, safety needs to be prioritised; as without this, attempts to encourage individual activation is moot

Active Transport in the Tropics: setting the scene in Townsville

This report provides an overview of active transport in Townsville. Prior to the worldwide proliferation and reliance on automobiles, the world used active modes to travel as part of their daily routine. Promoting local engagement in active transport will offer many benefits for residents and the community, not least of which is the health and environmental benefits. This report provides some preliminary insight into what evidence is available and uses a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing this question