Content analysis of school websites: policies and programs to support healthy eating and the environment

Published: 15 December 2021Preschools and primary schools are important settings for the development of healthy eating habits and awareness of environmentally friendly practices. This study explored South Australian government schools’ policies and programs in relation to healthy eating and environmentally friendly aspects of food choice (such as packaging), and whether any schools approached these issues in combination. Websites of 18 government preschools and primary schools in the Greater Adelaide region, stratified by low, medium and high socioeconomic status were reviewed for publicly available policies and other relevant content. A content analysis was undertaken, with policies and programs analysed deductively and thematically. Healthy eating (n = 8) and environment (n = 3) related policies were found on preschool websites only. The main themes observed across the three categories of interest (healthy eating, environmentally friendly practices and low-waste healthy foods) included the presence/absence of formal policy, promotional strategies and implementation. Expectations of children bringing healthy ‘nude’ foods that were environmentally friendly were mentioned informally on the websites but were not part of policy documents. Policies and programs around healthy eating and environmentally friendly practices (in combination) were lacking. There is scope to address this gap to improve health and sustainable outcomes within the school environment context.Neha K. Lalchandani, Shona Crabb, Caroline Miller and Clare Hum

Maternal care and birth outcomes among ethnic minority women in Finland

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Care during pregnancy and labour is of great importance in every culture. Studies show that people of migrant origin have barriers to obtaining accessible and good quality care compared to people in the host society. The aim of this study is to compare the access to and use of maternity services, and their outcomes among ethnic minority women having a singleton birth in Finland.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study is based on data from the Finnish Medical Birth Register in 1999–2001 linked with the information of Statistics Finland on woman's country of birth, citizenship and mother tongue. Our study data included 6,532 women of foreign origin (3.9% of all singletons) giving singleton birth in Finland during 1999–2001 (compared to 158,469 Finnish origin singletons).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Most women have migrated during the last fifteen years, mainly from Russia, Baltic countries, Somalia and East Europe. Migrant origin women participated substantially in prenatal care. Interventions performed or needed during pregnancy and childbirth varied between ethnic groups. Women of African and Somali origin had most health problems resulted in the highest perinatal mortality rates. Women from East Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Somalia had a significant risk of low birth weight and small for gestational age newborns. Most premature newborns were found among women from the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Primiparous women from Africa, Somalia and Latin America and Caribbean had most caesarean sections while newborns of Latin American origin had more interventions after birth.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Despite good general coverage of maternal care among migrant origin women, there were clear variations in the type of treatment given to them or needed by them. African origin women had the most health problems during pregnancy and childbirth and the worst perinatal outcomes indicating the urgent need of targeted preventive and special care. These study results do not confirm either healthy migrant effect or epidemiological paradox according to which migrant origin women have considerable good birth outcomes.</p

A multidisciplinary consensus on the morphological and functional responses to immunotherapy treatment

The implementation of immunotherapy has radically changed the treatment of oncological patients. Currently, immunotherapy is indicated in the treatment of patients with head and neck tumors, melanoma, lung cancer, bladder tumors, colon cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, liver cancer, leukemia and lymphomas. However, its efficacy is restricted to a limited number of cases. The challenge is, therefore, to identify which subset of patients would benefit from immunotherapy. To this end, the establishment of immunotherapy response criteria and predictive and prognostic biomarkers is of paramount interest. In this report, a group of experts of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (SERAM), and Spanish Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SEMNIM) provide an up-to-date review and a consensus guide on these issues

Incidence of Childhood Cancer in Trinidad and Tobago

Background: The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is in the process of developing a comprehensive National Oncology Programme. Regarding Paediatric Oncology, it is necessary to characterize this population to adequately direct its development. This report describes the incidence of childhood cancer in Trinidad and Tobago. Procedure: The data were extracted from the National Cancer Registry of Trinidad and Tobago and the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. Malignancies were coded with the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, 3rd edition. Incidence rates were calculated for the period 2001–2006, age 0–14 years and by county. Results: The crude incidence rate of childhood cancer was 1.9 per 100 000 patient years (pyrs). One hundred and forty-five cases were reviewed for the six-year period with an incidence rate of 7.5 per 100 000 pyrs. The highest incidence was in children < 5 years: 14 per 100 000 pyrs for males and 11.4 per 100 000 pyrs for females. Leukaemias and central nervous system tumours formed the majority of the cancers (58.6%), however nephroblastoma was more common than neuroblastoma especially in females < 5 years: 2.7 per 100 000 pyrs compared with 1.2 per 100 000 pyrs for neuroblastoma. The incidence of all childhood cancers did not vary across counties, however, there was a higher incidence of leukaemia in three counties. Conclusion: The results provide insight into the incidence of childhood cancer in Trinidad and Tobago. It is lower than in developed countries. There are some unique findings in the incidence of nephroblastoma in girls less than five years of age and the relatively higher incidence of leukaemia in three counties. Further analysis is required in these areas. Keywords: Childhood cancer, incidence, Trinidad and Tobago "Incidencia del Cáncer Infantil en Trinidad y Tobago" C Bodkyn, S Lalchandani RESUMEN Antecedentes: El Gobierno de Trinidad y Tobago está en proceso de desarrollar un Programa Nacional de Oncología integral. Con respecto a la Oncología Pediátrica, es necesario caracterizar esta población adecuadamente para dirigir su desarrollo. Este informe describe la incidencia de cáncer infantil en Trinidad y Tobago. Procedimiento: Los datos se extrajeron del Registro Nacional del Cáncer en Trinidad y Tobago y el Complejo Eric Williams para las Ciencias Médicas. Los tumores malignos fueron codificados con la Clasificación Internacional de Cáncer Infantil, 3era. edición. Se calcularon las tasas de incidencia para el periodo 2001–2006; en la edad 0–14 años y por condado. Resultados: La tasa bruta de incidencia de cáncer infantil fue de 1.9 por 100 000 años-paciente. Se estudiaron ciento cuarenta y cinco casos por un periodo de seis años con una tasa de incidencia de 7.5 por 100 000 años-paciente. La incidencia más alta se encontró en los niños < 5 años: 14 por 100 000 sixaños-paciente para los varones y 11.4 por 100 000 años-paciente para las hembras. Las leucemias y los tumores del sistema nervioso central constituyeron la mayor parte de los cánceres (58.6%). Sin embargo, el nefroblastoma fue más común que el neuroblastoma, especialmente en las hembras < 5 años: 2.7 por 100 000 años-paciente en comparación con 1.2 por 100 000 años-paciente del neuroblastoma. La incidencia de todos los cánceres infantiles no varió en los condados. Sin embargo, hubo una incidencia mayor de leucemia en tres condados. Conclusión: Los resultados dan una visión de la incidencia de cáncer infantil en Trinidad y Tobago. Esta es más baja que en los países desarrollados. Hallazgos de interés único fueron la incidencia de nefroblastomas en niñas menores de cinco años de edad y la incidencia relativamente más alta de leucemia en tres condados. Se requiere análisis ulterior en estas áreas. Palabras claves: Incidencia, cáncer infantil, Trinidad y Tobag

An audit on outpatient hysteroscopy – cervical dilatation, failure rates and patient satisfaction

Aims: To audit the use of cervical dilators, local anaesthetic, and failure rates in outpatient hysteroscopy over a two-year period in University Hospital Kerry. To review the experiences of women attending the outpatient hysteroscopy clinic (OHC) over a two-year period in University Hospital Kerry. Methods: Retrospective data review was carried out. Green-top Guideline No. 59: Best Practice in Outpatient Hysteroscopy, published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), was the standard used for comparison. Results: Two hundred and twenty women were seen over a two-year period. The average age was forty-eight. The most common complaint being of menorrhagia/irregular bleeding per vaginum (PV). Local anaesthetic was used in just under one third of cases of which half required cervical dilatation. Most women reported experiencing mild to moderate levels of discomfort however most would opt for an outpatient hysteroscopic procedure again if required. Discussion/Conclusion: Outpatient hysteroscopy is a well-tolerated and safe procedure. Suitability for outpatient hysteroscopy is not predictable based on parity of menopausal status. Women would elect to undergo outpatient hysteroscopy again if required and this is likely due to several reasons including convenience and lack of requirement for general anaesthetic

School lunchboxes as an opportunity for health and environmental considerations: a scoping review

Very little research has focussed on children's school lunchboxes from both a health and environment standpoint. This scoping review explores studies that considered children's lunchbox food consumption trends at school and the environmental impacts of lunchbox contents. We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature with a focus on lunchboxes of children in preschool or primary school settings that contained food packed from home, through the lens of food and nutrition in combination with environmental outcomes-particularly food and/or packaging waste. The review included 10 studies, with articles from Australia, USA, Spain, New Zealand and the UK. Half of them were intervention studies aiming to shift knowledge levels and attitudes of teachers, parents and children with regard to reducing packaged food choices and food waste, and improving dietary habits. Acknowledging the complexity of lunchbox packing and consumption practices, this review recommends the consideration of socio-ecological influences on children's health and sustainability behaviour, and mobilizing their pro-environmental agency.Neha Kishan Lalchandani, Brianna Poirier, Shona Crabb, Caroline Miller, and Clare Hum