{"title":"Potentially preventable hospitalisations for Aboriginal children with experience of out-of-home care: a data linkage study","authors":"Benjamin Harrap , Alison Gibberd , Melissa O’Donnell , Koen Simons , Sandra Eades","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To compare potentially preventable hospitalisation (PPH) rates and types of conditions for Aboriginal children by exposure to out-of-home care (OOHC) and estimate the effect of first OOHC placement on PPH rates.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective longitudinal study of linked hospitalisation and child protection data for a matched cohort of Aboriginal children born in Western Australia between 2000 and 2013 using observed and predicted rates.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Incidence rate of PPH bed days was 2.3 times higher for children ever-placed in OOHC than never-placed children. Diagnosed conditions showed no difference between ever and never-placed children across all ages. On average, PPH bed days reduced by 11% (95% confidence interval: 3% to 18%) following the first OOHC placement but never reached parity with never-placed children. For dental and otitis media-related PPHs, rates increased following first placement.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Children with experience of OOHC had greater rates of PPH bed days which persisted despite reductions following first OOHC placement.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Public Health</h3><div>Healthcare system capacity, cultural safety, and access, as well as the material conditions of families at risk of CPS intervention, all need to be improved if rates of PPHs are to be reduced.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100249"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144166514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katelyn E. Collins , Michael J. Ireland , Larry S. Myers , Mark A. Jenkins , Jennifer G. McIntosh , Carlene J. Wilson , Natalie Taylor , Belinda C. Goodwin
{"title":"The impact of redesigned advance notification letters on intention to screen for bowel cancer: a randomised controlled experiment","authors":"Katelyn E. Collins , Michael J. Ireland , Larry S. Myers , Mark A. Jenkins , Jennifer G. McIntosh , Carlene J. Wilson , Natalie Taylor , Belinda C. Goodwin","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The aim of this study was to examine the impact of redesigned advance notification letters on screening intention and the moderating role of screening barriers/facilitators.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In an online survey, 562 Australians aged 50–74 years were randomised to view one of three letters: the current letter (control) or one of two redesigns with enhanced graphics and evidence-based messaging. Participants rated their screening intention before and after viewing, with screening barriers and facilitators also measured.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The redesigned letters did not increase screening intention over the control [control <em>vs</em>. Redesign 1: the estimated effect of the predictors (<em>b</em>)=0.12, <em>p</em>=0.204; control <em>vs</em>. Redesign 2: <em>b</em>=0.07, <em>p</em>=0.471]. Higher self-efficacy (<em>b</em>=0.12, <em>p</em><0.001), perceived benefits (<em>b</em>=0.12, <em>p</em><0.001), lower autonomy concerns (<em>b</em>=−0.23, <em>p</em><0.001), avoidance (<em>b</em>=−0.16, <em>p</em>=0.004), disgust (<em>b</em>=−0.12, <em>p</em>=0.011) and perceived difficulty (<em>b</em>=−0.02, <em>p</em><0.001) moderated the letters’ effect on intention for all letter versions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Advance notification letters increase intention, with certain reactions (e.g. high self-efficacy and perceived benefits) enhancing this effect. Design and content changes may not improve impact beyond the letter’s intrinsic effect.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Public Health</h3><div>Multi-pronged approaches may better address individual barriers. Exploring digital formats may enhance advanced notification effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100246"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143928279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ronan Payinda, Eun Soo Chung, Jessie Colbert, Daniel Exeter, Chris Bullen
{"title":"Vape shops on the way to school: Geographical analysis of the proximity of specialist vape retailers to New Zealand schools.","authors":"Ronan Payinda, Eun Soo Chung, Jessie Colbert, Daniel Exeter, Chris Bullen","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the proximity of existing specialist vape retailers to schools in New Zealand.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Specialist vape retailers were mapped, and accessibility to them from schools was calculated across New Zealand.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirteen percent of New Zealand's schools have at least one specialist vape retailer within 300 m. Forty-four percent of New Zealand's schools have at least one specialist vape retailer within 1 km. This means that almost half of schools had a specialist vape retailer within a 10-minute walking distance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>There is a high density of specialist vape retailers around New Zealand schools, where children are likely to see the stores and window displays on their journey to and from school.</p><p><strong>Implications for public health: </strong>Vaping products have a wide accessibility to many school students in New Zealand. The high exposure to specialist vape retailers on the way to and from school needs to be regulated to minimise youth uptake of vaping.</p>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"100235"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143972859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tamara Riley , Raymond Lovett , Neil E. Anderson , Anna Meredith , Bonny Cumming , Joanne Thandrayen
{"title":"Examining zoonotic notifications in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations over time: An analysis of the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System from 1996-2021","authors":"Tamara Riley , Raymond Lovett , Neil E. Anderson , Anna Meredith , Bonny Cumming , Joanne Thandrayen","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100239","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100239","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This paper utilised the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System database to analyse the commonly notified zoonotic disease presentations in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations over 25 years, from 1996-2021.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We analysed the top four zoonotic notifications using a descriptive analysis, a time series analysis assessing the trends and seasonal indices, and a de-seasonalised analysis to assess the years contributing to an increase above the trend.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Results show an increase in notifications for salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis over the last 10 years. On average, all diseases saw an increase in notifications above the trend in Q1 (Jan-Mar) and less so Q2 (Apr-Jun), and a decrease in notifications below the trend in Q3 (Jul-Sep) and less so in Q4 (Oct-Dec), which is aligned with increases in zoonotic notifications in Australia’s hotter and wetter months.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The results present zoonotic notifications in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations over time and highlight potential implications of climate change due to increasing notifications, and increasing temperatures and extreme weather events in recent years.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for public health</h3><div>The findings can inform preventative health approaches for zoonoses in Indigenous populations, with One Health approaches recommended.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100239"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143851772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What about 100% juice and non-sugar sweeteners? A national study of support for taxes, labelling and marketing bans applied to sugary drinks, non-sugar sweetened beverages and 100% juice in Australia.","authors":"Caroline Miller, Kerry Ettridge, Enola Kay, Joanne Dono","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100238","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100238","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To assess levels of support for potential policy interventions (labelling, banning marketing to children, taxes) to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption; and to assess levels of support when these policies were extended to non-sugar sweetened beverages and 100% fruit juice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data, collected via a nationally representative online survey of Australian adults (N=2,876), measured support (5-point Likert scales; strongly/somewhat in favour/against, or neutral) for front-of-pack warning labels, banning marketing to children, and taxes, applied to the three beverages. Chi-square (unadjusted) and logistic regressions (adjusted) assessed support.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Support was highest for sugar-sweetened beverage policies, followed by non-sugar-sweetened beverages, and lowest for juice. Across all beverages, support was highest for labelling (83%, 82%, 71%, respectively), followed by marketing bans (73%, 60%, 25%), and taxes (56%, 39%, 14%). Support was typically lower among younger, less educated, most socioeconomically disadvantaged and regular consumers.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Results indicate high receptiveness among the Australian community for beverage policies, especially warning labels, with lower receptiveness towards some policies targeting juice.</p><p><strong>Implications for public health: </strong>These findings can inform the development of effective public health strategies for encouraging healthier beverage consumption, and point to prioritising front-of-pack warning labels, given the consistently high support for this policy.</p>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":" ","pages":"100238"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143966460","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mikaela Seymour , Sean O’Connor , Levi Hou , Sarai Tafa , Sarat Tata , Nicholas Smoll , Stefanie Vaccher , Annie Preston-Thomas , Nishila Moodley
{"title":"Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and positive treponemal serology in Solomon Islands guest workers in Australia","authors":"Mikaela Seymour , Sean O’Connor , Levi Hou , Sarai Tafa , Sarat Tata , Nicholas Smoll , Stefanie Vaccher , Annie Preston-Thomas , Nishila Moodley","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Pacific guest workers in Australia is currently unknown. Our study determined the prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and treponemal infection in a group of predominately Solomon Islands guest workers in Australia in 2023. In addition, we sought to understand the effect of sex, age and type of sexual activity on the risk of STIs in this population group.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Workers under one employer were offered chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine polymerase chain reaction testing, treponemal serology with reflex rapid plasma reagin testing, and HIV testing via antibody/antigen detection. Descriptive analyses identified population characteristics and infection frequencies. Logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of diagnosis, reported as odds ratios.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The participation rate was 93% (n=391). The median age was 31.9 years (interquartile range: 22.9–40.9) and 86.5% were male. Chlamydia (18.5%) and gonorrhoea (1.8%) were common among guest workers. No cases of HIV were diagnosed. Treponemal-specific reactive tests (48.5%) suggested yaws or syphilis exposure despite being asymptomatic, with 37.1% of these having an rapid plasma reagin titre equal to or exceeding 1:16. Women were 3.71 times more likely to have chlamydia [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.97-6.93].</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>High rates of chlamydia and positive treponemal serology may reflect high rates of untreated STIs.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Public Health</h3><div>This unique dataset guides potential screening programs for Pacific guest workers to complement existing education programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100241"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143834148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Liz Buckley , Carolyn Nickson , Jennifer Stone , Ellen Kerrins , Shona Crabb , David Roder , Michelle Reintals
{"title":"Introduction of breast density notification within BreastScreen South Australia – Results of an online client survey","authors":"Liz Buckley , Carolyn Nickson , Jennifer Stone , Ellen Kerrins , Shona Crabb , David Roder , Michelle Reintals","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100240","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100240","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Breast density is one of the strongest predictors of breast cancer risk and significantly reduces the sensitivity of mammography to detect breast cancer. Breast density notification is becoming increasingly common within screening programs in Australia. This opportunistic study evaluates client response to the introduction of breast density notification within BreastScreen South Australia, including their level of understanding, approval of notification and future screening behaviours.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Clients attending three screening clinics (N=14,833) were notified by BreastScreen South Australia of their mammographic breast density, measured by the software program Volpara. Breast density was categorised as follows: A-almost entirely fatty tissue, B-scattered dense tissue, C-heterogeneously dense tissue or D-extremely dense tissue.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 5,137 survey respondents (34.6%), 90% supported continued reporting of breast density in the program. Around two-thirds of respondents (65%) felt informed to make decisions regarding their breast care and nearly all (98.5%) intended to continue breast screening. Anxiety in response to breast density notification was reported by 9% of all respondents (4.5% with breast density categories A/B vs 16.6% with categories C/D) and 14% reported confusion (10.7% with breast density categories A/B vs 19.9% with categories C/D). All notified women were and invited to participate in a follow-up survey to assess their response to breast density notification. Over 22% did not know breast density is associated with breast cancer risk and 55% were unsure.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Breast density notification was well received by most clients; however, knowledge about associated risk is considered low.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Public Health</h3><div>Additional new strategies are required to better engage with general practitioners and clients, to improve breast density education and to develop a personalised screening program in the future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100240"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143822398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rebecca Dalton , Erin Victor , Hannah M.M. Thomas , Stephanie L. Enkel , Bep Uink , Rebecca Bennett , Slade Sibosado , Asha C. Bowen
{"title":"Yarning with a remote Aboriginal community about the next steps for achieving healthy skin","authors":"Rebecca Dalton , Erin Victor , Hannah M.M. Thomas , Stephanie L. Enkel , Bep Uink , Rebecca Bennett , Slade Sibosado , Asha C. Bowen","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Skin health is widely recognised as being important for overall good health and well-being, yet the burden of skin infections in remote Aboriginal communities remains high. This project aimed to explore if virtual support for skin health could be a strategy to reduce community barriers to skin health engagement.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study collected qualitative data using a yarning methodology within a participatory action research design. A community co-researcher who was intimately familiar with the Country, language, and community in which this study was based was employed to guide the research process.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The final dataset comprised of interviews with 21 participants. Three primary themes were identified including: Reach Further into the Community with Education and Skin Checks, Virtual Skin Health Support is not Preferred but Acceptable, and Environmental Health Cannot be Ignored.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Participants provided several suggestions on improving health promotion messaging within community whilst emphasising the need for a stronger focus on environmental health. The employment of a community co-researcher was integral to informing the methodology.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Public Health</h3><div>This project provides further evidence of the significance of community engagement, inclusion and capacity building when conducting research in remote Aboriginal communities and the benefits of two-way learning as foundational to good research practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100242"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Asad Yusoff , Bella Sträuli , Alexandra Jones , Paula O’Brien , Jacquie Bowden , Michelle Jongenelis , Aimee Brownbill , Tim Stockwell , Simone Pettigrew
{"title":"Suboptimal industry adherence to the design specifications of the mandatory pregnancy warning label","authors":"Asad Yusoff , Bella Sträuli , Alexandra Jones , Paula O’Brien , Jacquie Bowden , Michelle Jongenelis , Aimee Brownbill , Tim Stockwell , Simone Pettigrew","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100236","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100236","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To assess whether products sold in the Australian alcohol market are displaying the mandatory pregnancy warning label as per the design requirements.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Between June and November 2023, data collectors photographed 5,964 unique alcoholic products from three Sydney alcohol retailers. A random sample of 20% of the 3,760 products displaying the mandatory pregnancy warning label was analysed to assess whether they met the design requirements outlined in the Food Standards Code.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Across the sample, 11% of products displaying the mandatory pregnancy label did not do so correctly. Adherence was lowest for spirits (73%), then wine (90%), beer (94%) and premix (97%). In terms of package type, adherence was lowest for individual beverages in containers >800 ml in volume (74%).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings indicate that the application of the mandatory pregnancy warning label may be suboptimal in the Australian alcohol market. The lower adherence among spirits and wine products is concerning given their higher alcohol content.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Public Health</h3><div>For the effectiveness of the mandatory pregnancy warning label to be optimised, it must be displayed as per specifications. There is a need for ongoing compliance monitoring to improve adherence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"49 3","pages":"Article 100236"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143816474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Heilok Cheng , James John , Jane Scott , Elizabeth Denney-Wilson , Loc Do , Sameer Bhole , Louise Baur , Amit Arora
{"title":"Bottle feeding to sleep beyond 12 months is associated with higher risk of tooth decay and overweight in Australian children: Findings from the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids cohort study","authors":"Heilok Cheng , James John , Jane Scott , Elizabeth Denney-Wilson , Loc Do , Sameer Bhole , Louise Baur , Amit Arora","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Bottle feeding to sleep may increase early childhood caries (ECC) and overweight risk through sugar exposure and overfeeding. This study examined the association between feeding to sleep at 24 and 36 months on both ECC and overweight at 3-4 years.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Participants were children in the Healthy Smiles Healthy Kids longitudinal birth cohort. Exposure was bottle feeding to sleep at 24 and 36 months. Outcomes were ECC (prevalence; number of caries-affected tooth surfaces, dmfs) and overweight at 3-4 years.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>718 and 729 children had dental examinations and anthropometric measurements, respectively. 30.3% and 21.7% of children were bottle-fed to sleep at 24 and 36 months, respectively. Feeding to sleep at 24 months was associated with higher odds of overweight (OR 1.90, 95%CI 1.06-3.38) and moderately associated with higher caries (dmfs 1.48, 95%CI 1.00-2.20). Feeding to sleep at 36 months was associated with higher caries (dmfs 1.88, 95%CI 1.22-2.91).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Feeding to sleep was associated with higher odds of overweight and higher numbers of caries-affected tooth surfaces. Communicating appropriate sleep, settling and bottle cessation methods throughout early childhood may prevent ECC and overweight.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Public Health</h3><div>Early interventions addressing bottle feeding could reduce the dual burden of ECC and obesity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"49 2","pages":"Article 100224"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143662212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}