BMC Public Health最新文献

{"title":"Routine immunization status of nomadic children aged five years and below in Volta Region, Ghana in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Amatus Nambagyira, Samuel Adolf Bosoka, Mavis Pearl Kwabla, Godwin Adjei Vechey, Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, Fortress Yayra Aku","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-23290-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-23290-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite the benefits of routine childhood immunization, coverage has remained low in parts of Ghana, particularly among nomadic children. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the uptake of routine immunization and other health services. We, therefore, assessed the routine immunization status of nomadic children aged five years and below during the post-COVID-19 pandemic era in two districts of the Volta Region.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between July and October 2022, we conducted a community-based analytical cross-sectional study among 157 nomadic children aged five years and below to asses post-COVID-19 pandemic immunization status. Data were collected through interviews of caregivers using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with Stata Version 17. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine factors associated with full immunization status at p < 0.05 and 95% confidence interval.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 157 children involved in the study, males comprised the dominant group, accounting for 52.2% (82/157). The overall complete immunization for age was 51%, with 73.6% full immunization observed among those aged 12-59 months. The odds of full immunization were higher among children aged 24-35 months [aOR = 15.50, 95%CI: (2.03-118.39)] and those aged 36-59 months [aOR = 14.18, 95% CI: (3.17, 63.46)], children of caregivers with a history of postnatal care (PNC) visits [aOR = 4.16, 95% CI: (1.29-13.40)], caregivers being convenient with the immunization schedule [aOR = 4.50, 95% CI: (1.16-17.42)] and those encouraged by community leaders [aOR = 95%CI: (1.06-13.70)]. Caregivers reporting long waiting times at vaccination centres had lower odds [aOR = 0.19, 95% CI: (0.04-0.84)] of full immunization.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The full immunization status of nomadic children under five years in the study area was moderate and was associated with the child's age, PNC visits, community leader encouragement, the convenience of immunization schedules, and waiting times. We recommend that the District Health directorates employ targeted and multifaceted strategies to address the suboptimal immunization uptake observed among this vulnerable group.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"2098"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139305/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144233062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of daily physical activity on bidirectional transitions of elevated blood pressure status: the first longitudinal evidence from the CHARLS.","authors":"Dan Lin, Shuangqing Zhai, Fangyuan Cui, Yucheng Yang, Haifeng Wang, Junqi Wang, Yulong Wei","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-23296-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-23296-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose review: </strong>Physical activity (PA) is known to prevent and manage hypertension, but its impact on dynamic blood pressure (BP) transitions remains unclear. This study explores how daily PA influences bidirectional BP transitions using data from a Chinese national cohort.</p><p><strong>Methods and results: </strong>Using data from 2,785 CHARLS participants, BP states (normal, elevated, hypertensive) and PA intensity (vigorous, moderate, walking) were analyzed via multi-state Markov models. Our findings showed distinct effects of MET levels on BP transitions: total MET, moderate MET, and vigorous MET inhibited progression from elevated BP to hypertension (HR: 0.928, 95% CI: 0.865-0.995; HR: 0.880, 95% CI: 0.821-0.944; HR: 0.925, 95% CI: 0.864-0.990). Moderate MET promoted regression from elevated BP to normal BP (HR: 1.099, 95% CI: 1.013-1.192). Dose-response curves further revealed that moderate intensity PA of approximately 4700 MET-min/week was associated with the greatest reduction in the risk of elevated BP progressing to hypertension. Interaction analysis between moderate and vigorous intensity PA revealed that at lower total MET levels (approximately 7,000 MET-min/week), a combination of moderate intensity PA with low levels of vigorous PA conferred the greatest protection against BP progression. As total PA volume increased beyond this threshold, the optimal combination shifted toward higher levels of both moderate and vigorous PA, suggesting a synergistic effect at greater activity volumes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Moderate intensity PA was most consistently associated with favorable transitions in elevated BP states. Each approximately 2,000 MET-min/week increase in moderate activity was linked to a reduced risk of progression and improved likelihood of regression. At lower total activity volumes, moderate PA combined with low vigorous PA showed the greatest benefit. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring daily activity patterns by intensity and volume to support blood pressure control in community settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"2104"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139308/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144233064","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identifying potential barriers and enablers to smoking abstinence after leaving a smokefree prison using the capabilities, opportunities, motivations -behaviour (COM-B) model: a qualitative interview study.","authors":"Ashley Brown, Clair Woods-Brown, Kate Hunt","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-23249-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-23249-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Smokefree prison policies reduce smoking-related harms among those living and working in prisons. Helping people released from smokefree prisons to remain abstinent post-release could deliver considerable additional benefits given high rates of relapse and the substantial burden of smoking on health. However, understanding of post-release smoking behaviour and the best ways to support people leaving prison who want to stop smoking for good is limited. No previous studies have explored how access to vapes in smokefree prisons may help or hinder people to remain tobacco-free post-release. The current study aimed to explore potential enablers and barriers to long-term tobacco abstinence after being released from a smokefree prison.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Qualitative interviews conducted between 2022 and 2024 with people in prison (n = 27) and prison, health and third sector staff (n = 8) were transcribed and thematically analysed using the COM-B ('capability', 'opportunity', 'motivation' and 'behaviour') model of behaviour change to map facilitators and barriers to smoking abstinence post-release.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>People leaving prison face substantial barriers to staying tobacco-free. Interactions between people rationalising smoking in the face of recognised harms ('capability'), tobacco availability (post-release), pro-smoking norms, service limitations ('opportunity'), competing needs and priorities and drug and alcohol use ('motivation') were identified as barriers. In contrast, desires to quit smoking and other 'addictions' which have caused substantial damage in people's own and others' lives, access to 'smoking cessation' services in prisons and positive social influence were identified as facilitators. Access to vapes in prison was perceived to have the potential to help or to hinder post-release smoking abstinence based on individual preferences and experiences.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Reducing tobacco-related harms among people leaving prison and the communities they return to would help to reduce health inequalities and support other critical areas of public health and social justice work. Greater success requires overcoming considerable challenges, including those constraining prison and health services' abilities to support positive behaviour change. Improved collaboration across services and expanded use of appropriately supported peer mentors and digital health interventions, may be both helpful and feasible in the current climate for reducing tobacco-related harms in a priority group.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"2100"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139055/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144233046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical fitness status and influencing factors among college students aged 19 ~ 22 in Shandong province, China: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Zhihao Huang, Wance Wang, Kai Huo, Yongming Wang, Kunzong Tian","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-22350-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-22350-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>College students physical fitness is not just an indicator of current health but also a predictor of future well-being. The rapid socioeconomic changes and significant lifestyle shifts occurring in China, akin to global trends, underscore the need for a comprehensive understanding of college students physical fitness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Our research focused on delineating the state of physical fitness among college students in Shandong Province and identifying the factors influencing it. Univariate chi-squared test was initially performed on all independent variables. Subsequently, statistically significant variables were included in multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify the determinants of physical fitness among college students. These findings were intended to inform targeted health interventions for this critical age group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From September to November 2024, a large-scale survey was conducted on 176,373 college students aged 19 to 22 years in Shandong Province, using a stratified random cluster sampling method. The overall physical fitness qualified rate was 92.03%, with female students slightly outperforming males. Urban students had a higher qualified rate than rural students. After adjusting for gender and household registration, multivariable logistic regression analysis identified key factors influencing physical fitness. Parental engagement in physical exercise and support for students' participation were associated with lower odds of failing fitness tests. Frequent exercise, long exercise duration, and moderate to high intensity activity were linked to better fitness outcome. Sufficient sleep and regular breakfast consumption also decreased the likelihood of failing the physical fitness tests. In contrast, excessive screen time, smoking, frequent alcohol consumption, and high fast food intake were associated with increased odds of failing physical fitness tests.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings highlighted the significant role of lifestyle factors, including parental influence, exercise frequency, duration and intensity, sleep duration, screen time, smoking, alcohol consumption, breakfast consumption habit, and fast food intake, in determining college students' physical fitness test outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"2105"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139287/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144233048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of tiered soft drink taxes in Europe on mean sales-weighted sugar content of soft drinks: a quasi-experimental study.","authors":"Anna Leibinger, Oliver Huizinga, Karl Emmert-Fees, Sara Pedron, Michael Laxy, Eva Rehfuess, Jacob Burns, Peter von Philipsborn","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-23331-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-23331-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>High sugar intake from soft drinks is associated with increased risk of non-communicable diseases. Tiered soft drink taxes applying higher tax rates on beverages with higher sugar content have been used to incentivize producers to reduce sugar content of soft drinks. This study assesses the impact of tiered soft drink taxes in four European countries on the sugar content of soft drinks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used annual sales data from 12 countries from Euromonitor International for 2009 to 2022 to estimate the effect of tiered soft drink taxes in France, Ireland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom (UK) on soft drinks' mean annual sales-weighted sugar content. We conducted a quasi-experimental study, applying a synthetic control approach in which we used a weighted combination of eight European countries without a soft drink tax serving as control for the four intervention countries.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>France, Portugal, and the UK exhibited negative estimated treatment effects, indicating a reduction in average sugar content in these countries. The UK demonstrated the largest estimated effect (-1.7 g sugar/100 ml; 95%-CI: -2.6; -0.8), followed by France (-0.6; 95%-CI: -1.7; 0.4) and Portugal (-0.3; 95%-CI: -1.5; 1.0). Ireland (0.4; 95%-CI: -0.8; 1.7) displayed effects in the opposite direction. Results of the sensitivity analyses indicate that results are robust concerning assumptions underlying the study design and analysis strategy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Varying effect sizes emphasize the importance of considering specific tax design, co-interventions and contextual factors when implementing tax policies. Further research could help to shed light on these variations and to achieve a higher level of accuracy and precision in the effect estimates.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"2106"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12142870/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144233065","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence and predictors of intimate partner violence against men in Kisumu slums, Kenya.","authors":"Elizabeth Akello Odemba, Edward A Frongillo, Sheri D Weiser","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-22468-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-22468-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Men in sub-Saharan Africa experience intimate partner violence, with few reporting their cases to the legal authorities or coming out for assistance. Consequently, data on the prevalence and drivers of intimate partner violence in different parts of sub-Saharan Africa are inadequate. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of intimate partner violence against men in Kisumu slums, Kenya.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cross-sectional study included 398 randomly selected men in intimate relationships aged 18-54 years and residing in Kisumu slums. The sampling frame used was from Community Health Volunteers covering the area of study. Data collection using a structured questionnaire was conducted from July 2019 to September 2019 using simple random sampling. We used a multinomial regression analysis to assess relationships between predictors and forms of violence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 398 male respondents participated in the survey. The prevalence of intimate partner violence against men was 76.1% with physical violence at 12.2%, sexual violence at 16.5%, emotional violence at 47.5%, and economic violence at 23.8%. From the multinomial regression, men who were married or living together, compared with never married, were 2.13 times more likely to have experienced physical violence (95% CI = 0.91-4.97, p = 0.080) and 2.41 times more likely to have experienced economic violence (95% CI = 1.20-4.84, p = 0.013). Compared to never married, men who divorced or separated were 5.42 times more likely to have experienced sexual violence (95% CI = 0.97-30.37, p = 0.055). Men who had primary education or less were 2.39 times more likely to have experienced sexual violence (95% CI = 1.02-5.61, p = 0.045). Men who were Muslim, compared with Protestants, were 2.37 times more likely to have experienced psychological or emotional violence (95% CI = 0.87-6.37, p = 0.086).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Sexual, physical, and emotional violence is common among men in Kisumu slums, and the prevalence differs by age, marital status, education, and religion. Safe spaces should be created that will enable men of diverse socio-demographic characteristics to share their experiences of violence by intimate partners. Policies, including education to increase awareness of this issue, should be enacted to protect men from intimate partner violence.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"2092"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139375/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144224266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Digital healthy eating literacy: its role in sustainable food choices and mediterranean diet adherence.","authors":"Busra Aslan Gonul, Zeynep Caferoglu Akin","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-23353-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-23353-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The rise of digital platforms as sources of nutrition information has highlighted the need for digital healthy eating literacy to ensure informed dietary choices. Understanding the role of digital healthy eating literacy in shaping sustainable dietary behaviours is crucial for promoting both individual and planetary health. This study aimed to examine the associations between digital healthy eating literacy, environmentally responsible food choices, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), a sustainable dietary model, among adults in Türkiye.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 1,516 adults (mean age: 28.9 ± 9.8 years) residing in Türkiye were recruited through an online survey distributed via social platforms. Participants completed an online questionnaire comprising the e-Healthy Diet Literacy (e-HDL) Questionnaire, the Environmentally Responsible Food Choice Scale, and the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). This cross-sectional study employed multivariable regression analyses to examine the associations between digital healthy eating literacy, environmentally responsible food choices, and adherence to the MedDiet.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher e-HDL scores were significantly associated with increased environmentally responsible food choices (β = 0.283, 95% CI: 0.233-0.333, p < 0.001) and a 1.039-fold increase in the odds of adherence to the MedDiet (95% CI: 1.021-1.058, p < 0.001). The strength of the association between e-HDL and the outcomes varied by subgroup, with stronger associations observed for environmentally responsible food choices among non-smokers, non-drinkers, daily exercisers, and higher-income individuals, and for adherence to the MedDiet among women, non-smokers, non-drinkers, and those with lower or equal income levels. Among the MedDiet adherents, e-HDL explained 10.5% of the variance in environmentally responsible food choices (p < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study highlights the potential importance of digital healthy eating literacy in relation to sustainable dietary behaviours and environmental health. Targeted digital nutrition education programmes may help support improvements in digital healthy eating literacy and encourage sustainable diets, supporting planetary health. Future policies should focus on increasing awareness and accessibility of reliable nutrition information on digital platforms to improve dietary practices and environmental sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"2109"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12142959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144233021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influences on college health provider practice for routinely screening female college students' HPV vaccination status.","authors":"Erica Liebermann, Bing Si, M Katherine Hutchinson, Bo Li, Melissa A Sutherland","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-23234-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-23234-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>HPV vaccination is highly effective in preventing HPV infection and subsequent precancers and invasive cancers related to HPV. Unfortunately, vaccine coverage in the U.S. lags behind national and global targets. College students are an important audience for catch-up vaccination given suboptimal population coverage in adolescents. This study examined factors associated with college healthcare provider (HCP) practices for routinely screening HPV vaccination history of female college students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>One thousand two hundred twenty-one U.S. college HCPs completed surveys and reported on a variety of screening practices in college health centers, including assessing the HPV vaccination status of female college students. Participants included nurse practitioners, physicians, and physician assistants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Forty-five percent of college HCPs reported routinely screening the HPV vaccination histories of most (≥ 70%) of their female students. Nurse practitioners (NPs) were more likely than other providers to consistently assess HPV vaccination status. In multivariable logistic regression modeling, high rates of routine HPV vaccination screening were associated with NP role, more positive provider attitudes and self-efficacy toward screening, larger institutions, college-level policies, in-service trainings and electronic health record prompts that supported HPV vaccination history screening. No differences were found by other provider demographic factors, institution type or region.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>College health centers present unique opportunities to identify unvaccinated female students and offer or refer them for vaccination. Future research needs to examine HPV vaccination status and screening among other types of college students and identify the multi-level factors that act as facilitators and barriers to assessing HPV vaccination status and offering the HPV vaccine.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"2099"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139171/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144233047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring physical, sexual and mental health consequences of gender-based violence among women and girls during conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia.","authors":"Girmatsion Fisseha Abreha, Hadgay Hagos Adhanu, Abera Berhe Aregawi, Alem Desta Wuneh, Freweni Tesfay, Gebretsadik Kiros Lema, Balem Demstu, Hale Teka, Awol Yemane, Hagos Gidey, Kibrom Berhanu Gebreselassie, Tigist Hagos, Helen Bitew Tareke, Tensay Kahsay W/Gebriel, Yemane Berhane Tesfau, Brhane Ayele, Ataklti Hailu Atsbaha, Teame Zegeye, Yaynshet Gebreyohannes Redda, Abrahim Hassen, Hagos Godefay, Afework Mulugeta","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-23349-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-23349-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gender-based violence is becoming an increasing during conflict, with negative short and long-term consequences for the victims, their families, and communities. Since the eruption of war in November 2020 in Tigray, many women reported sexual violence. Thus, this study aimed to explore the physical, sexual and mental health consequences of gender-based violence among female survivors in severely war-affected areas of the Tigray region of Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study employed mixed methods including quantitative and qualitative studies during the war in Tigray, Ethiopia. A total of 528 sexually abused women and girls were included in the quantitative study from a community-based survey conducted in August 2021. Moreover, six in-depth interviews with rape survivors were conducted to share their experiences. A standardized interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for the community survey and a semi-structured checklist recorded by audio was used for qualitative study. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson chi-square test were used to assess the relationship between health consequences, different socio-demographics, and types of sexual violence. Thematic analysis was performed after the recorded audios were transcribed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the survivors, 435 (82.4%) had been raped and 404 (76.5%) had experienced a triple trauma burden of sexual, physical, and psychological violence. Most survivors had experienced consequences ranging from mild (34.5%) to severe injuries (42.1%), mental health and behavioral problems (75.6%) like posttraumatic stress disorder (12.1%), stress (63.5%), anxiety (38.6%), depression (27.5%), sleeping disturbance (35.2%), nightmare (29.0), flashbacks and social isolation. More than one-fifth (21.8%) of rape survivors experienced sexual and reproductive health problems such as exposure to STIs, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, and HIV. Survivors encountered the worst rape scenarios such as gang rape by troops and combatants.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Survivors experienced severe forms of physical injuries, posttraumatic stress disorder, and sexual and reproductive health problems. Humanitarian agencies and civic organizations need to provide immediate medical and psychological support to victims to reduce further health consequences and harm.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"2103"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139087/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144233043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors influencing parents' food-purchasing decisions in the Pacific: a qualitative study in Tonga.","authors":"Sela Ki Folau Fusi, Alessandro Crocetti, Adrian J Cameron, Megan Ferguson, Kathryn Backholer, Jennifer Browne","doi":"10.1186/s12889-025-23210-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12889-025-23210-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>An unhealthy diet is the leading preventable risk factor for the development of diet-related non-communicable diseases, and the food environment is considered a major determinant of dietary intake. Food-purchasing decisions in retail settings are influenced by a range of individual, environmental, and interpersonal factors. The aim of this study was to explore the perceived influences on food-purchasing decisions among Tongan parents.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews in 2023 with 21 Tongan parents aged 27 to 51 years in Tongatapu, Tonga, a Pacific Island country. Parents were asked questions about the factors that determine where they do their grocery shopping and what influences their food-purchasing decisions. Interview transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, informed by the socio-ecological model of food and beverage intake.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four themes were constructed from the interview data across the different levels of the socio-ecological model of food and beverage intake, each of which represented parents' perceived influences on how they purchased foods from retail outlets. At the micro level, we found that parents often struggle to prioritise healthy food when balancing financial and time constraints, as well as family and cultural expectations regarding food provision. At the meso level, we found that food availability in local retail outlets was important, while at the macro level, the cost of healthy food relative to unhealthy food was a key factor driving purchasing decisions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Health promotion efforts and public health policies should recognize the multi-dimensional nature of the factors influencing Tongan parents' food-purchasing decisions. Given the prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases in Tonga, the social, cultural, commercial and environmental factors driving unhealthy food-purchasing and population diets in Tonga should be a priority for governments and health promotion practitioners.</p>","PeriodicalId":9039,"journal":{"name":"BMC Public Health","volume":"25 1","pages":"2096"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12139139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144233045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}