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Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 26. Epub 2022 May 26.

College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland.

Objective: Australian federal, state and territory government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have been subject to public oversight by various domestic inquiries and investigations, despite little analysis about what accountability these processes deliver in the context of public health emergencies (PHEs) involving communicable disease. This article identifies and describes recent inquiries and investigations. It examines their ability to promote accountability through mechanisms of answerability (information and justification) and enforceability (sanctions). Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 26. Epub 2022 May 26.

School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland.

Objective: To assess the factors associated with support for reducing tobacco retail availability and ending the legal sale of cigarettes in Australia and New Zealand (NZ).

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in NZ (eight universities, n=1,932) and Queensland (University of Queensland or UQ, n=5,172). Participants were asked how much they agreed or disagreed with reducing the number of places allowed to sell cigarettes/tobacco and ending the legal sale of cigarettes within 10 years. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 26. Epub 2022 May 26.

College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Queensland.

Objectives: To evaluate the secondary prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in the Townsville region, Australia.

Methods: Adherence to benzathine benzylpenicillin G (BPG) was determined for 196 children and young adults aged under 22 years between January 2009 and December 2019, and factors associated with BPG adherence were analysed. Secondary outcomes included attendance at specialist reviews and echocardiograms. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 26. Epub 2022 May 26.

NCD Alliance, London, United Kingdom.

Objective: The roles of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in regulating harmful commodity industries (HCIs) are understudied. The aim of this paper is to identify the NGOs and the roles that they play in the governance of the ultra-processed food and alcohol industries in Australia.

Methods: We undertook an exploratory descriptive analysis of NGOs identified from an online search based on the typology we developed of type, issue area and governance function. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 26. Epub 2022 May 26.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Victoria.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the delivery of adult, maternal and childhood immunisation services in Australia in 2020 prior to the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, and to understand the adaptations made at a service delivery level that may have contributed to the successful delivery of immunisation services during the first year of the pandemic.

Methods: An electronic survey was sent to immunisation providers and pharmacists in all states and territories in Australia between November 2020 and December 2020. It explored interruption to the delivery of immunisation services, strategies implemented to maintain services, prioritisation of populations, and self-reported challenges and solutions initiated by providers. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 26. Epub 2022 May 26.

School of Psychology, University of Waikato, New Zealand.

Objective: We investigated the characteristics of loneliness by identifying distinct 'profiles' of loneliness and investigating transitions between those loneliness profiles over two years.

Method: We conducted Latent Transition Analyses on two years of data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Study (N=15,820) and modelled how people's health and age were associated with changes in profile membership.

Results: Four loneliness profiles emerged: 'low-loneliness' (58% of the sample), 'high-loneliness' (5%), 'appreciated outsiders' (28%; perceived acceptance from others but felt like social outsiders), and 'superficially connected' (9%; lacked acceptance from others but felt socially included). Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 26. Epub 2022 May 26.

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Western Australia.

Objective: To identify a brand, key messages and resources to underpin a public health approach to food allergy prevention.

Methods: A focus group design was used to explore perceptions and opinions of potential brands, infant feeding messages and resources for providing standardised food allergy prevention information. Focus groups were conducted in February 2018 using interview guides and were transcribed verbatim. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 26. Epub 2022 May 26.

Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory.

Objective: In the Northern Territory, people who commit drink driving offences are required to undertake an approved course or treatment to be eligible for a driver's licence, however, course uptake is low. We investigated barriers to program uptake.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 program attendees, course providers and government stakeholders. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 26. Epub 2022 May 26.

South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, Public Health Unit, New South Wales.

Objective: To assess the usability of a self-assessment COVID-19 exposure tool for workplaces.

Methods: A COVID-19 exposure tool for workplaces was developed using five risk criteria. Public Health Unit (PHU) assessors who administered the tool documented when they administered the tool, the time taken for finalisation of the assessment and ease of administration. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 12. Epub 2022 May 12.

Public Health Association of Australia, Australian Capital Territory.

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 12. Epub 2022 May 12.

School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, South Australia.

Objective: To assess the impact of different non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on COVID-19 cases across Victoria and South Australia.

Methods: Poisson regression models were fit to examine the effect of NPIs on weekly COVID-19 case numbers.

Results: Mask-wearing in Victoria had a pronounced lag effect of two weeks with an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 12. Epub 2022 May 12.

Department of General Practice, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Victoria.

Objective: Most Australian women access contraception through general practitioners (GPs) but choose oral methods rather than long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCS). The Australian Contraceptive ChOice pRoject (ACCORd) successfully tested a complex intervention for LARC uptake. We aimed to explore the critical elements of this intervention to increase LARC uptake. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 12. Epub 2022 May 12.

Agency for Clinical Innovation, New South Wales.

Objective: Despite much effort and goodwill, the gap in health status between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians persists. Bringing Aboriginal cultural protocols and teaching strategies into healthcare could improve the fit between healthcare services provided and Aboriginal peoples. This approach to making healthcare more accessible has not been tested in mainstream health settings. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 12. Epub 2022 May 12.

School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales.

Objectives: Achieving high vaccination coverage is a critical strategy to reducing the spread of COVID-19 infection. This study, undertaken before the Delta variant outbreak, aimed to understand potential drivers and barriers influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake for refugees.

Methods: Four focus group interviews were conducted with 37 refugees from four language groups (Arabic, Dari, Dinka and Karen). Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 May 12. Epub 2022 May 12.

School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne.

Objectives: We discuss the implications stemming from a recent competency mapping project on public health workforce education and training programs.

Methods: In line with professional practice, we reflected on the results of a major mapping exercise which examined public health competency frameworks against the Global Charter, particularly with respect to the implications for curriculum design.

Results: Our reflections identified five key challenges (diversity of frameworks, interpretation challenges, levels of competence, integration in curricula and knowledge vs skills-based competences) for developing internationally consistent credentialling standards. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Apr 18. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia.

Objectives: This research aimed to gain insights into the reporting of family violence (FV) and to explore any changes in FV reporting associated with a FV primary prevention initiative in Geraldton, Western Australia.

Methods: An in-depth analysis of articles published by the Geraldton Guardian in 2019 examined the nature of FV reporting. Analysis was based on deductive coding from existing literature and inductive identification of new themes. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Apr 18. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria.

Objectives: Parenting is central to children's optimal development and accounts for a substantial proportion of the variance in child outcomes, including up to 40% of child mental health. Parenting is also one of the most modifiable, proximal, and direct factors for preventing and treating a range of children's problems and enhancing wellbeing. To determine the effectiveness of new approaches to parenting intervention, and to evaluate how to optimise reach and uptake, sufficient funding must be allocated for high quality research. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Apr 18. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, New South Wales.

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Apr 18. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria.

Objectives: Mortality is a key statistic for public health globally, and mortality reduction is a key target of 'End TB' strategy. However, cause of death in relation to tuberculosis (TB) may be controversial, and we aimed to evaluate classification in Australia.

Methods: We surveyed Australian clinicians and public health officers, presenting a variety of scenarios. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Apr 18. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Central Queensland University Bundaberg, Queensland.

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Apr 18. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.

Objective: To explore the views of stakeholders in Australia concerning skin cancer primary prevention and identify successful strategies used that may be translatable to other jurisdictions.

Methods: In-depth stakeholder interviews with experts engaged in skin cancer prevention advocacy and action in Australia.

Results: A number of important facilitators were identified including: the use of good scientific evidence (including economic), strong leadership, legislation and strategic documents, engaging the media particularly with the use of personal stories and garnering public support. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Apr 18. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

General practice.

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Apr 18. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, New South Wales.

Objective: To analyse local government (LG) policies concerned with creating a healthy, sustainable and equitable food system.

Methods: All relevant policies on LG websites were identified and analysed against a framework of 34 recommendations for LG action on food system issues.

Results: A total of 13 of 207 (New South Wales 128, Victoria 79) LGs had dedicated food system policies. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Apr 18. Epub 2022 Apr 18.

College of Health Care Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland.

Objective: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in correctional facilities in Australia among people who inject drugs is 60%, with disproportionate effects observed in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Following the micro-elimination of HCV in a Queensland correctional facility (QCF), newly acquired cases began to increase in mid-2019. Here we discuss the public health response to increasing HCV in a QCF. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Mar 31. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

School of Psychology, UNSW Sydney, New South Wales.

Objective: To understand the impact of family separation on refugees living in Australia.

Method: Thirteen participants with a refugee background and experiencing separation from family participated in a semi-structured qualitative interview. Interviews were coded and a thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Mar 31. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Medical School, University of Western Australia.

Objective: Little attention has been given to the health status and lifestyle behaviours of expectant fathers. This study aimed to examine health-related variables in a cohort of expectant fathers to identify potential focus areas for interventions designed to optimise health and wellbeing outcomes in this group.

Methods: Partners of pregnant women who accessed antenatal services at a large maternity unit in a Western Australian hospital were recruited as part of the ORIGINS Project. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Mar 31. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Queensland.

Objective: An analysis of food and physical activity environments in relation to socioeconomic disadvantage was conducted in 25 communities across Queensland, Australia.

Methods: Physical activity and food environments were assessed in 25 Queensland communities using The Systematic Pedestrian and Cycling Environmental Scan (SPACES) and the Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey (NEMS). Spearman's correlation tested the association between physical activity and food environments and degree of remoteness and socioeconomic disadvantage of each region. Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Mar 31. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Elder from the Kungarakan tribal group and a member of the Iwaidja tribal group.

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Mar 31. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Sydney, New South Wales.

Objective: To compare Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage against historical data from the former National HPV Vaccination Program Register and estimate two-dose vaccination coverage.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of registry data for adolescent birth cohorts (1998-2007). Denominator populations were Medicare enrolments (AIR) and ABS estimated resident populations (HPV register). Read More

Aust N Z J Public Health 2022 Mar 31. Epub 2022 Mar 31.

Department of Population Health, University of Otago Christchurch, New Zealand.

Objective: To determine the geographical location and characteristics of on-demand delivery services operating in New Zealand.

Methods: We systematically searched the web and application (app) stores for on-demand services offering rapid delivery of food, alcohol, cigarettes or vaping products in New Zealand and mapped their geographic location as of May 2021. Using desktop review, data on service characteristics were collected and stratified including: types of commodities available, promotion strategies, and the legal aspects of access to age-restricted items. Read More