Luke B. Williams , Jacob Birch , Caroline Deen , Hamish MacDonald , Veronica Matthews , Brett Rowling , Alana Gall
{"title":"Leveraging Indigenous Peoples’ foods and botanicals to improve health, social wellbeing, cultural identity and economic self-determination","authors":"Luke B. Williams , Jacob Birch , Caroline Deen , Hamish MacDonald , Veronica Matthews , Brett Rowling , Alana Gall","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100311","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"50 2","pages":"Article 100311"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147479967","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":"Improving the fresh fruit and vegetable supply in rural Australia: A systematic scoping review of interventions","authors":"Erin Robson , Katherine Cullerton , Megan Ferguson , Cherie Russell","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100313","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100313","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Fresh fruits and vegetables are integral to a healthy and sustainable diet. However, fresh produce is inequitably more expensive, less available and of poorer quality in rural Australia, compared with that of metropolitan locations. Reasons include costs associated with transporting food long distances and reduced competition. We aimed to identify interventions or proposals to improve the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables in rural Australia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using a systematic scoping review, we searched peer-reviewed databases, web searches and the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet in August 2022.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Shortening food supply chains (e.g. food hubs) was the most frequent recommendation to improve both the efficiency and resilience of the food supply chain (n=17), followed by improving freight processes (e.g. creating local buying groups; n=6) and promoting the role of governments (e.g. linking government departments with local interest holders; n=5). Only six of the 37 interventions have been implemented. Critical analysis of the interventions was limited, with only one intervention having been evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The interventions identified could facilitate increased intake of fresh fruit and vegetables in rural locations in Australia, contributing to a reduction in diet-related chronic disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"50 2","pages":"Article 100313"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147368961","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}
Carrie K. Wong , Robyn Delbridge , Annie-Claude Lassemillante , Serene Yoong , Margaret Murray
{"title":"Reviewing the messaging of Australian food-based dietary guidelines—an opportunity","authors":"Carrie K. Wong , Robyn Delbridge , Annie-Claude Lassemillante , Serene Yoong , Margaret Murray","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100321","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100321","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"50 2","pages":"Article 100321"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147643832","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}
Sharon L. Campbell , Valery Fuh-Ngwa , Alan Both , Melanie Davern , Kim Jose , Anna Timperio , Kate Garvey , Verity Cleland
{"title":"Associating geospatially assessed walkability with population health physical activity indicators from urban and regional settings: A case study from Tasmania, Australia","authors":"Sharon L. Campbell , Valery Fuh-Ngwa , Alan Both , Melanie Davern , Kim Jose , Anna Timperio , Kate Garvey , Verity Cleland","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100316","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100316","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Physical activity is a critical factor in the prevention of chronic disease and in achieving and maintaining good health. However, little is understood about the link between the built environment and physical activity levels in regional areas.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>We linked geospatially-assessed walkability with population health surveillance data gathered from urban and regional locations across Tasmania, Australia, to assess if walkability was associated with physical activity.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We used linear regression analysis to determine associations between physical activity duration and the walkability index level generated by geospatial assessments.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We demonstrated a clear association between higher walkability and greater physical activity duration, which was more pronounced in regional areas when compared to urban areas.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Geospatially-assessed walkability may influence physical activity levels in regional areas.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Public Health</h3><div>Designing the built environment to increase walkability may be a simple but effective strategy for enabling more physical activity, especially in regional settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"50 2","pages":"Article 100316"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147589572","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":"New data showing dementia is Australia’s leading cause of death means we need to make brain health a national priority","authors":"Emilie Awbery , Tanya Buchanan","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100318","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"50 2","pages":"Article 100318"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147430630","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}
Zemenu Yohannes Kassa , Allen G. Ross , Subash Thapa , Zekariyas Sahile Nezenega , Feleke Hailemichael Astawesegn , Cheru Tesema Leshargie , Setognal B. Aychiluhm , Meless G. Bore , Kedir Y. Ahmed
{"title":"A systematic review of digital health interventions for the diagnosis and management of cancer in rural and remote Australia","authors":"Zemenu Yohannes Kassa , Allen G. Ross , Subash Thapa , Zekariyas Sahile Nezenega , Feleke Hailemichael Astawesegn , Cheru Tesema Leshargie , Setognal B. Aychiluhm , Meless G. Bore , Kedir Y. Ahmed","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100325","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100325","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This systematic review investigated the impact of digital health interventions including videoconferencing, telephone counselling, remote radiology assessment models and wearable activity tracker on cancer diagnosis and treatment in rural and remote Australia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We systematically searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and PubMed from inception to 25 March 2025 to identify studies examining digital health interventions for cancer diagnosis and management among adults and children living in rural and remote Australia. Findings were synthesised using vote counting by digital health intervention type and outcome.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty studies were included. Of these, 12 were classified as beneficial and 8 showed a positive effect of digital health interventions for cancer diagnosis and management. Videoconferencing, telephone counselling and remote radiology assessment model improved access to care, reduced travel burden and costs and were generally associated with high patient satisfaction. However, communicating diagnostic results via telephone remained a persistent challenge.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Digital health interventions were found to improve patient satisfaction and reduce travel and relocation burdens and enhance access to cancer care in rural areas.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for public health</h3><div>To enhance the effectiveness of digital health interventions, integration of psychosocial support services is recommended to better meet the emotional and psychosocial needs of cancer patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"50 2","pages":"Article 100325"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147650402","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}
Belinda Peden , Cassandra Lane , Alix Hall , Emma Pollock , Nicole Nathan
{"title":"Public perceptions of school uniforms: A multi-method content analysis","authors":"Belinda Peden , Cassandra Lane , Alix Hall , Emma Pollock , Nicole Nathan","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2026.100315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Despite evidence of the benefits of physical activity, most children and adolescents are insufficiently active. Simple, low-cost, scalable and sustainable school-based interventions are needed. This study explored Australian public perceptions of allowing children to wear activity-enabling sports uniforms every day, following reports that school principals were reluctant to adopt this due to perceived community expectations.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A multi-methods content analysis applied a quantitative content approach to assess support for or against the proposal, and qualitative content techniques explored the reasons underpinning public sentiment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 325 relevant comments and 1,983 poll responses were extracted from 12 sources. Overall, 76% of responses supported allowing students to wear sports uniforms every day. Three overarching themes were identified: student impacts (all sub-themes supportive); parent benefit (one sub-theme supportive; one mixed); and societal viewpoint (one sub-theme supportive; one mixed).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Australian principals have reported perceived public expectations that students wear formal school uniforms as a barrier to adopting more flexible uniform policies. This study provides timely evidence that public sentiment may in fact support students wearing sports uniforms daily.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Public Health</h3><div>These findings can inform strategies to address a barrier to a simple, scalable, population-level intervention to increase school-based physical activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"50 2","pages":"Article 100315"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147589498","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":"Early childhood weight status among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal children in Victoria, Australia: A repeated cross-sectional analysis","authors":"Simone Sherriff (Wotjobaluk) , Jennifer Browne , Denise Becker , Nichole Lister (Wonnarua) , Fiona Mitchell (Mununjali) , Abe Ropitini (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Maniapoto, Trawlwoolway) , Liliana Orellana , Melanie Nichols","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100299","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100299","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To assess early childhood weight status among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal children in Victoria, focussing on age and geographic differences.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We analysed deidentified Maternal and Child Health records (2010-2015) across 68 Victorian Local Government Areas, comparing differences in Body Mass Index z-score (zBMI) and prevalence of healthy weight (1<zBMI ≤ 1) at 8 weeks, 4 months, 8 months, 1 year and 2 years. Disparities were examined by geographic remoteness and area-level socioeconomic position using linear mixed models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>At 8 weeks, 70.5% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and 70.7% of non-Aboriginal children had a healthy weight. Differences in zBMI at 8 weeks were only present among children in the least advantaged areas and major cities. Disparities in healthy zBMI appeared at 4 months and persisted through 2 years. From 4 months, zBMI was significantly higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (p<0.0001), including within socioeconomic and remoteness subgroups, except at age 2 in rural areas (p=0.34).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Disparities in weight status emerge from 4 months with place-based differences at 8 weeks.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for public health</h3><div>Findings underscore the importance of accessible, culturally safe maternal and infant health care and action on socioeconomic inequity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"50 1","pages":"Article 100299"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145788882","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}
Melissa Stoneham , Christina Pollard , Matthew Lester , Scott MacKenzie
{"title":"Can trachoma be eliminated using SAFE or should the model be reversed to EFAS?","authors":"Melissa Stoneham , Christina Pollard , Matthew Lester , Scott MacKenzie","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100300","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100300","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"50 1","pages":"Article 100300"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145788884","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}
Simone Sherriff , Leonie Burgess , Michelle Dickson , Emily Banks , Sandra Eades , Natalie Smith , Lachlan Wright , Jonathan C. Craig , Louise A. Baur , Sumithra Muthayya
{"title":"Prevalence and protective factors for walu-win ngawaal (healthy weight) status in Aboriginal children living in urban and regional Australia","authors":"Simone Sherriff , Leonie Burgess , Michelle Dickson , Emily Banks , Sandra Eades , Natalie Smith , Lachlan Wright , Jonathan C. Craig , Louise A. Baur , Sumithra Muthayya","doi":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100293","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100293","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To identify factors protective of healthy weight for Aboriginal children living in urban and regional Australia.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data were collected from 1139 Aboriginal children aged 2–19 years from the Study of Environment on Aboriginal Resilience and Child Health (SEARCH). BMI z-scores were calculated using WHO age and sex specific cut-offs. Poisson regression models were used to examine the association between BMI z-scores and child- and family-level socio-demographic, lifestyle, and environmental factors.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A majority of children had a healthy weight (67 %); 17 % had overweight and 16 % had obesity, with similar percentages for females and males in all three categories. Children were more likely to have a healthy weight if they were younger, had a lower waist-to-height (WHtR) ratio, a caregiver with a healthy weight and had housing affordability problems. For every extra hour of physical activity undertaken per day children were 7 % more likely to have a healthy weight.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Healthy weight prevalence decreased with increasing age and decreasing physical activity levels in Aboriginal children and was strongly linked to caregiver BMI.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for public health</h3><div>Implementing effective, community-led, culturally sensitive programs that support increased physical activity and promote healthy weight in childhood should be a public health priority.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8620,"journal":{"name":"Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health","volume":"50 1","pages":"Article 100293"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145837517","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}