Search Results (74)

The contribution of members of the agri-food system to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is a key element in the global transition to sustainable development. The use of sustainable management systems supports the development of an integrated approach with a spirit of continuous improvement. Such organization is based on risk-management tools that are applied to multiple stakeholders, e.g., those responsible for product quality, occupational health and safety, and environmental impact, thus enabling better global performance. In this review, the term “ethical food systems” is used in our discussion of the concrete methods that can be used to endorse fairness and concern across the food chain. This comprises safeguarding equitable access to nutritious foods, defending animal welfare, assisting ecologically accountable production, and addressing social and labor justice within supply chains. Ethical factors also include transparency, cultural respect, and intergenerational responsibility. Consequently, the objective of this review is to address how these ethical values can be implemented within a One Health framework, predominantly by assimilating plant-based diets, developing governance tools, and resolving nutritional insecurity. Within the One Health framework, decoding ethical principles into practice necessitates a set of concrete interventions: (i) raising awareness of animal rights; (ii) distributing nutritional and environmental knowledge; (iii) endorsing plant-based food research, commercialization, and consumption; (iv) development of social inclusion and positive recognition of vegan/vegetarian identity. At the same time, it should be noted that this perspective represents only one side of the coin, as many populations continue to consume meat and rely on animal proteins for their nutritional value; thus, the role and benefits of meat and other animal-derived foods must also be recognized and discussed. This operational definition provides a foundation for asking how ethical perspectives can be applied. A case study from Africa shows the implementation of a sustainable and healthy future through the One Health approach. Full article

Academic staff face workplace stressors such as high workloads, job insecurity, and limited institutional support, which contribute to psychological distress and burnout. While workplace-based interventions are important for maintaining well-being, their effectiveness in academic settings remains underexplored. This systematic review including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies synthesized evidence on individual-level mental health interventions for university academic staff. Five databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, ERIC) were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 2003 and 2023. From 1058 records, seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and the GUIDance for the rEporting of intervention Development (GUIDED) framework. Interventions included lifestyle regimens, mindfulness, yoga, community therapy, and institutionally embedded wellness programs. The findings suggest that brief, structured, and theoretically grounded interventions can improve psychological well-being, reduce burnout, and enhance coping. Facilitators included leadership support, institutional integration, peer networks, and flexible delivery; barriers included stigma, workload pressures, attrition, and digital challenges. Most studies were conducted in the Global North, limiting transferability to resource-constrained contexts. Overall, individual-level interventions show promise, but sustainable, culturally adapted, and multilevel strategies are needed to strengthen mental health support in higher education. These insights also contribute to broader efforts to promote health and safety in the workplace by identifying practical strategies to enhance well-being across diverse occupational settings. Full article

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and psychological stress remain major occupational health challenges among teaching professionals in adult education, yet their interconnected causes are often underexplored. This narrative review aims to identify multifactorial risk factors that contribute to these conditions and to propose a comprehensive framework that enhances understanding of teaching professionals’ well-being. A systematic synthesis of recent epidemiological and occupational health studies was conducted to analyse both immediate and underlying determinants across human, workplace, organisational, and socioeconomic dimensions. The findings reveal that more than two-thirds of teaching professionals experience WMSDs, particularly in the neck and lower back, while psychological stress affects over seventy percent globally. The combined effects of poor ergonomics, prolonged static postures, excessive workload, and limited organisational support contribute significantly to both physical and psychological strain. Broader contextual influences such as job insecurity, insufficient institutional resources, and societal undervaluation further intensify these risks. The review identifies a reciprocal relationship between physical discomfort and psychological distress, where each condition amplifies the other through behavioural and physiological mechanisms. The proposed integrative framework establishes a foundation for targeted interventions and evidence-based policy, promoting a shift toward holistic, system-oriented approaches to occupational health for teaching professionals in professional education settings. Full article

The energy sector holds critical importance for South Africa, particularly as a developing country grappling with persistent economic challenges and energy insecurity. These pressures have stimulated growing scientific and policy interest in renewable energy as a pathway to sustainable development. This study examines public perceptions and awareness of renewable energy technologies and estimates willingness to pay (WTP) for their increased integration into South Africa’s energy mix. By linking these objectives, the study provides insights into the social and economic factors that shape a just energy transition and informs targeted policies, investments, and engagement strategies to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy. A descriptive research design was employed, incorporating a systematic random sampling approach to ensure reliability and representativeness. Data were collected through structured questionnaire surveys conducted in both urban and rural households across Limpopo Province, South Africa. Findings reveal a generally positive public attitude toward the expansion of renewable energy, although knowledge levels remain moderate and are most pronounced with respect to solar energy systems. The mean household WTP for increased renewable energy penetration was estimated at ZAR 163.4 per annum. Binary logistic regression analysis identified eight statistically significant predictors of WTP: Education, Occupation, Income, Recognised Advantages (A1), Financial Incentive Schemes for RES (A3), Expansion Strategies for Renewable Energy (A4), Price Parity with Fossil Fuels (A7), and Interest-Free Financing Options (A8). These results highlight the importance of affordability, policy support, and tangible benefits in driving public acceptance. Overall, the findings highlight the potential for targeted policy and educational interventions to foster household participation and advance South Africa’s just energy transition. Full article

Remote work has become a prevalent work model in Canada but there is limited research on how immigrants experience this type of work. This paper shares thematic findings from an instrumental case study that explored such experiences in two of Canada’s largest immigrant-receiving provinces. We interviewed 21 highly educated remote workers from the Global South who had immigrated to Canada in the last 10 years. We generated three themes from a reflexive thematic analysis of interview transcripts. (1) Shifting labour market value: despite enhancing their skillsets, many participants still faced labour market devaluation, which led to feelings of insecurity. (2) Occupational flexibility: participants enjoyed the flexibility remote work provided but often could not draw distinct boundaries between work and home. (3) Socialization and belonging: being physically removed from the workplace affected participants’ connections with others within and outside of the workplace. Participants viewed hybrid work as a possible solution for achieving better balance. Using a Bourdieusian lens, we conceptualize the Canadian job market as a site where social inequalities are reproduced by employers and immigrants. We suggest that greater governmental and workplace support systems for socialization, integration, mentorship and building cultural awareness could help immigrants better achieve their career goals. Full article

Cancer disparities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) arise from multifaceted interactions between environmental exposures, infectious agents, and systemic inequities, such as limited access to care. The exposome, a framework encompassing the totality of non-genetic exposures throughout life, offers a powerful lens for understanding these disparities. In LMICs, populations are disproportionately affected by air and water pollution, occupational hazards, and oncogenic infections, including human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and neglected tropical diseases, such as schistosomiasis. These infectious agents contribute to increased cancer susceptibility and poor outcomes, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Moreover, climate change, food insecurity, and barriers to healthcare access exacerbate these risks. This review adopts a population-level exposome approach to explore how environmental and infectious exposures intersect with genetic, epigenetic, and immune mechanisms to influence cancer incidence and progression in LMICs. We highlight the critical pathways linking chronic exposure and inflammation to tumor development and evaluate strategies such as HPV and HBV vaccination, antiretroviral therapy, and environmental regulation. Special attention is given to tools such as exposome-wide association studies (ExWASs), which offer promise for exposure surveillance, early detection, and public health policy. By integrating exposomic insights into national health systems, especially in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia, LMICs can advance equitable cancer prevention and control strategies. A holistic, exposome-informed strategy is essential for reducing global cancer disparities and improving outcomes in vulnerable populations. Full article

Occupational exposures in the agricultural industry globally have been associated with heightened risk for several diseases. Reports written in South Africa in the last decade have raised awareness of the harsh occupational conditions and human rights abuses suffered by farmworker communities in the wine industry. Despite receiving “fair trade” labels upon reentry into the global market in the 1990s, the working conditions on wine farms in South Africa have remained unchanged and exploitative for centuries. Farmworkers remain dependent on substandard farm housing, have insecure land tenure rights, are exposed to toxic pesticides, are denied access to benefits and unionization, and endure long working hours in harsh environmental conditions with low pay. These occupational conditions are linked to interacting disease clusters: metabolic syndrome, problematic drinking, and communicable diseases including tuberculosis, HIV, and COVID-19. This milieu of interacting diseases with deleterious outcomes is an under-considered occupational syndemic that will likely worsen given both the lasting impacts of COVID-19 and more recent shifts in global public health funding. Full article

Introduction: The clinical syndrome of heart failure (HF) is progressive and disabling for patients who rely on their caregivers for help and support. The caregiving role is inducing major changes in the personal, social, and family life of caregivers and entails a heavy emotional and physical burden, which in turn negatively affects their quality of life (QoL). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the QoL of caregivers of patients with HF as well as the associated caregivers’ and patients’ characteristics. Material and Methods: The sample of the study included 340 caregivers along with their hospitalized patients. Data collection was performed by the method of the interview using the questionnaire “SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36)” to assess caregivers’ QoL. Results: Τhe physical QoL component of caregivers was found to be statistically significantly associated with the type of relationship with their patient (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.001), level of education (p = 0.001), occupation (p = 0.001), information about HF patients (p = 0.001), worry about finances (p = 0.001), and insecurity about the future (p = 0.001). The mental QoL component of caregivers was found to be statistically significantly associated with the type of relationship with their patient (p = 0.001), gender (p = 0.009), age (p = 0.001), level of education (p = 0.001), occupation (p = 0.001), frequency of visits to hospitalized patient (p = 0.001), information about HF (p = 0.029), anxiety about patients’ self-care (p = 0.001), worry about finances (p = 0.001), and insecurity about the future (p = 0.001). In terms of HF patient’s characteristics, the physical QoL component of caregivers was found to be statistically significantly associated with the patients’ age (p = 0.001), patients’ education level (p = 0.001), patients’ occupation (p = 0.006), patients’ family history of cardiac disease (p = 0.006), and patients’ self-reported symptom management before hospital admission (p = 0.022). The mental QoL component of caregivers was found to be statistically significantly associated with the patients’ education level (p = 0.020), the patients’ NYHA stage (p = 0.001), prior hospitalization (p = 0.001), the patients’ family history of cardiac disease (p = 0.012), and the patients’ self-reported symptom management before admission (p = 0.001). Conclusions: In-depth understanding factors affecting QoL in caregivers with HF may enhance plans and actions to attain healthcare goals among societies globally. Full article

Public safety personnel (PSP) are known to experience difficult and demanding occupational environments, which were further complicated by the COVID-19 crisis. While public safety research typically focuses on the impact of operational stressors on PSP functioning and wellbeing, relatively less is known about the types and impacts of organizational stressors and how all these affect social wellbeing during the pandemic. The current study surveyed Canadian firefighters (n = 123), paramedics (n = 246), and public safety communicators (n = 48) that continued to serve the public over the course of the pandemic. Participants responded to two open-ended survey questions about how COVID-19 affected their lives at work and home. Using an inductive thematic analysis approach, responses were coded to identify emergent, data-driven themes while drawing on existing theory for analysis. Across occupational groups, qualitative analyses revealed that the public safety measures imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated existing operational and organizational strains, including increased exposure to distressing calls, absenteeism and coping with alcohol, and a lack of support from management. Participants also identified financial strain and housing insecurity as stressors, as well as frustration and helplessness at others’ non-compliance with public health advisories and protocols. Communication surrounding the rationale behind government decision-making, the efficacy of serology tests, and rates of infection were also identified. Together, these findings offer a nuanced understanding of the interplay among operational, organizational, and social stressors experienced by Canadian PSP during the COVID-19 pandemic, illuminating their impact on mental health and wellbeing, and identifying targeted areas of focus for future planning and meaningful intervention to support PSP wellness. Full article

Fruit and vegetables (F&V) are recommended for a healthy life. Adolescence is a critical period for the onset of eating disorders and future health. F&V consumption among adolescents is globally low, making this group a key target for diet/nutrition-related interventions. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess F&V consumption among secondary school students in the food-insecure communes of Boukombe (rural) and Natitingou (urban), Benin. Using probabilistic random sampling, 303 students completed F&V intake frequency questionnaires and 24-h dietary recalls on school and non-school days. Poisson models identified factors associated with F&V consumption. The results showed that only 8.8% (Boukombe) and 11% (Natitingou) of students consumed fruit at least twice per day, and over 80% of students had not eaten fruit in the preceding 24 h; 9.9% and 11.4%, respectively, consumed vegetables at least twice per day. On average, 45.5% of students in Boukombe and 68% in Natitingou consumed at least three types of vegetables on school days. The most commonly consumed fruits were oranges in Boukombe and lemons in Natitingou. Factors influencing fruit consumption included sex (p = 0.005), age (p = 0.04), and mothers’ occupation (p = 0.03) on school days/and school or non-school days, while commune (p = 0.00017) and ethnic group affected vegetable consumption. Such low F&V consumption among surveyed students is a matter of public health concern, as it is likely to affect their health―in terms of micronutrient deficiency―and intellectual performance. These results should incentivize nutrition researchers, project managers, public health officials, and policymakers to (re)design and implement broader measures targeting secondary school students’ dietary practices to increase their F&V consumption. Full article

Residential vulnerability in urban spaces is a complex phenomenon subject to a variety of social and economic factors. An example of this scenario is the San Francisco neighbourhood in Villena (Alicante, Spain). This is an area of residential vulnerability because of low levels of education among the population, low income, precarious housing and public insecurity. The main goal in this study was to analyse the profile of the neighbourhood using a mixed methodology based on statistical consultations with several official bodies and a qualitative method derived from surveys conducted with experts and interviews with focus groups made up of specialists, politicians and residents. The most significant results included the demographic stagnation of the local population and, conversely, a rejuvenation of the population thanks to foreign immigration, shaping a multicultural space not free of conflict, exclusion and residential precariousness. New challenges for integration towards a more participatory and safer coexistence emerged, with strategies aimed at curbing abandonment, preventing unlawful occupation of properties and contributing to residential and social regeneration. Full article

Background: Patient-centered communication is a critical process in high-quality healthcare that emphasizes the reciprocal sharing of information between providers and patients to ensure care aligns with the patient’s needs, preferences, and personal values. A significant challenge arises from the healthcare provider’s time constraints during clinical encounters and the lack of adequate training on how to adopt a patient-centered communication style that addresses patient concerns, making it difficult to foster an environment conducive to shared decision making. These issues are further exacerbated by cultural and language barriers, along with low levels of health literacy and social determinants of health (SDoHs), which complicate efforts to deliver patient-centered care. Objective: This study examined quality criteria for patient–provider communication (PPC) and their associations with sociodemographic characteristics and SDoHs on housing, transportation, and food insecurity. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS-6) national dataset. Associations between PPC and sociodemographic variables were tested using the chi-squared test. Binary logistic regression was carried out to examine the association between three PPC criteria and each of the sociodemographic characteristics and patient comfort in disclosing information on SDoHs. Results: Bivariate analyses showed statistically significant associations for age, occupation status, marital status, Hispanic origin, and race across all three PPC criteria. Significant associations were reported for education and income for the two criteria related to being given the chance to ask questions and being involved in healthcare decisions. Finally, significant associations were reported for all PPC criteria and patient comfort levels in discussing SDoHs. Conclusions: Findings from this paper provide insight for enhancing the quality of PCC in underserved populations, particularly when it comes to informing the design of evidence-based cervical cancer screening interventions which are culturally centered around the patients’ needs and that integrate PPC as a foundational component. Full article

Breastfeeding is associated with many health benefits, while its prevalence is determined by numerous factors, including socioeconomic status (SES). SES is the position of an individual on the socioeconomic scale, using occupation, education, income, place of residence, and wealth as key indicators. Since its interrelationship with health is complex, world region-specific insights into the relevant socioeconomic inequalities impacting breastfeeding practices are crucial to effectively address these. The purpose of this systematic review is, therefore, to explore SES indicators affecting breastfeeding initiation and duration in two different United Nations-defined regions, Western Europe and Southern Africa to assess (dis)similarities, as these can guide region-specific, targeted interventions to improve practices. A systematic literature search was conducted across seven databases, of which 47 articles were included. The risk of bias was assessed, and outcome data related to SES as well as breastfeeding initiation and duration were collected. Higher education consistently leads to better breastfeeding initiation outcomes, but economic constraints and employment in informal sectors hinder breastfeeding practices in Southern Africa. In Western Europe, supportive working conditions and a migration background have a positive impact, while employment status and income show rather mixed effects. Community, regional, and religious factors play significant, ambiguous roles. In South Africa, food insecurity, the living environment, and geographic location complicate breastfeeding. This systematic review highlights the significant influence of SES on breastfeeding initiation and duration in Western Europe and Southern Africa, while the specific factors indeed vary between both regions. This systematic review therefore illustrates the relevance of region-specific SES factors, impacting breastfeeding practices. Addressing these barriers with region-specific, targeted approaches may result in substantial progress toward achieving global breastfeeding goals. Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42023473433). Full article

The Jordan Valley in the West Bank in Palestine provides a unique social, environmental, and geopolitical context in regard to the global challenge of water insecurity, where its impacts on child and maternal health are only partly understood. Existing research has been largely limited to investigations of water quantity/quality and direct health outcomes, such as infectious disease. This qualitative study aimed to provide a holistic perspective of the challenge of water insecurity and child health, by investigating household water insecurity in Palestine. Focus group discussions explored the lived experiences of women from marginalized communities. These were then thematically analyzed, in reference to social theory. The study identified context-specific aspects of water insecurity, shaped by the background in Palestine involving the occupation and ongoing violent conflict in the area. These challenges disproportionately affect women, who are primarily responsible for water management within their communities, leading to embodied experiences, heightened negative emotions, and increased conflict, both within households and the broader community. Consequently, these stressors heavily impact children: limited caretaking time, due to economic pressures, children’s involvement in water-related tasks, and the disruption of social cohesion at both the community and household level, ultimately affect their physical and mental health and their ability to learn and play. Our findings could guide research and policy efforts in developing context-sensitive tools, such as a child water stress index for Palestine. Full article

Background and Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, women faced unique employment-related stressors, including higher exposure to unstable working conditions, increased workload changes due to motherhood, and greater risk of infection in certain jobs. This study explores how these factors influence women’s anxiety and subjective well-being, aiming to identify vulnerable groups. Materials and Methods: 230 employed Slovene women, aged from 19 to 64 years (M = 32.60, SD = 10.41), participated in an online survey containing a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6), WHO-5 Well-being Index, and a set of questions regarding their occupation and demographic profile. Hierarchical linear regressions and chi-squared tests were performed. Results: The risk of job or income loss significantly predicted an increase in anxiety levels. However, despite fear of infection, none of the work-related variables predicted a significant decrease in subjective well-being. Women reporting risk of job or income loss are predominantly those with lower education and income, working students, self-employed, or working in the private sector. Conclusions: Employment insecurity is an important contributor to anxiety in women. The findings highlight the need to ensure job security, particularly for women working in precariat working conditions, as their work and economic stability prove to be vulnerable to external economic disturbances. Full article