scholarly journals COVID-19 impacts equine welfare: Policy implications for laminitis and obesity

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0252340
Author(s):  
Ashley B. Ward ◽  
Kate Stephen ◽  
Caroline McGregor Argo ◽  
Patricia A. Harris ◽  
Christine A. Watson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Collateral Consequences ◽  
Horse Owner ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Equine Welfare ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Consistent Information

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact human health and welfare on a global level. In March 2020, stringent national restrictions were enforced in the UK to protect public health and slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Restrictions were likely to have resulted in collateral consequences for the health and welfare of horses and ponies, especially those at risk of obesity and laminitis and this issue warranted more detailed exploration. The current study utilised qualitative methodology to investigate the implications of COVID-19 related policies upon equine management and welfare with a focus on horses and ponies at risk of laminitis and obesity. Twenty-four interviews with five sub-groups of key equestrian welfare stakeholders in the UK were conducted between May and July of 2020 to understand the challenges facing equine welfare in the context of laminitis and obesity susceptible animals. Thematic analysis revealed lockdown-associated factors with the potential to compromise welfare of horses and ponies at risk of obesity and laminitis. These included: disparate information and guidance, difficulties enacting public health measures in yard environments, and horses having reduced exercise during the pandemic. Positive examples of clear and consistent information sharing by farriers were reported to have improved horse owner understanding of routine hoof care during lockdown. Analysis suggested that the recommendations for supporting the management-based needs of horses under reduced supervision were not clearly defined, or were not sufficiently disseminated, across the equine industry. These findings support the development of guidelines specific to the care of horses and ponies at risk of obesity and laminitis through collaborative input from veterinary and welfare experts, to reduce the negative impacts of future lockdown events in the UK.

scholarly journals Reducing Public Health Risk During Disasters: Identifying Social Vulnerabilities

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 809-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Wolkin ◽  
Jennifer Rees Patterson ◽  
Shelly Harris ◽  
Elena Soler ◽  
Sherry Burrer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Social Vulnerability ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Us ◽  
At Risk Populations ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Social Vulnerabilities ◽  
The Impact

Abstract All regions of the US experience disasters which result in a number of negative public health consequences. Some populations have higher levels of social vulnerability and, thus, are more likely to experience negative impacts of disasters including emotional distress, loss of property, illness, and death. To mitigate the impact of disasters on at-risk populations, emergency managers must be aware of the social vulnerabilities within their community. This paper describes a qualitative study which aimed to understand how emergency managers identify social vulnerabilities, also referred to as at-risk populations, in their populations and barriers and facilitators to current approaches. Findings suggest that although public health tools have been developed to aid emergency managers in identifying at-risk populations, they are not being used consistently. Emergency managers requested more information on the availability of tools as well as guidance on how to increase ability to identify at-risk populations.

scholarly journals Origins of tobacco harm reduction in the UK: the ‘Product Modification Programme' (1972–1991)

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (e1) ◽  
pp. e12-e18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse Elias ◽  
Pamela M Ling
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Tobacco Industry ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
British Government ◽  
Tobacco Harm Reduction ◽  
Parliamentary Debate ◽  
Product Modification ◽  
The Uk

ObjectiveTo better understand the current embrace of long-term nicotine maintenance by British governmental agencies and tobacco harm reduction by several leading British public health organisations, describe the context and deliberations of the UK’s first formal tobacco risk reduction programme: ‘Product Modification’.MethodsAnalysis of previously secret tobacco industry documents, news archives and Parliamentary debate records.ResultsFrom 1972 to 1991, the British government sought to investigate safer smoking through the ‘product modification programme'. The Independent Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health (ISCSH) advised the British government on these efforts and collaborated with the tobacco industry, with which government then negotiated to determine policy. The ISCSH operated from four industry-backed premises, which contributed to the ISCSH’s support of safer smoking: (1) reduced toxicity indicates reduced risk; (2) collaboration with the tobacco industry will not undermine tobacco control; (3) nicotine addiction is unavoidable; (4) to curtail cigarette use, solutions must be consumer-approved (ie, profitable). These premises often undermined tobacco control efforts and placed the ISCSH at odds with broader currents in public health. The product modification programme was abandoned in 1991 as the European Community began requiring members to adopt upper tar limits, rendering the ISCSH redundant.Policy implicationsEndorsements of reduced harm tobacco products share the same four premises that supported the product modification programme. Current tobacco harm reduction premises and policies supported by the British government and leading British public health organisations may reflect the historical influence of the tobacco industry.

scholarly journals The Human Aspect of Horse Care: How the COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted the Wellbeing of Equestrian Industry Stakeholders

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2163
Author(s):  
Ashley Ward ◽  
Kate Stephen ◽  
Caroline Argo ◽  
Christine Watson ◽  
Patricia Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Positive Outcomes ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Horse Owner ◽  
Emergency Scenarios ◽  
National Emergency ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Horse Owners

During the lockdown phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, equestrian stakeholders faced a dilemma whereby they were required to balance caring for the welfare of horses with adapting to the restrictions imposed to protect public health. The present study investigated the impact of the pandemic on the wellbeing of a sample of industry stakeholders, including horse owners, equine veterinarians, farriers and welfare centre managers (n = 26) using a qualitative methodology. Findings from the interviews indicated that the mental health and wellbeing of veterinarians and horse owners was negatively affected by pandemic-related obstacles to communication and limitations to horse–owner interactions. However, this study also identified several positive outcomes for wellbeing during lockdown resulting from pro-social activities that were engaged with by horse owners to overcome social isolation, the separation of the community and loneliness. These findings provide accounts of ways in which those caring for horses might be challenged during national emergency scenarios, pointing to areas that would benefit from future mental health and wellbeing interventions.

scholarly journals Ethnicity and outcomes in COVID-19 in the United Kingdom: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sania Siddiq ◽  
Saima Ahmed ◽  
Irfan Akram
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Intensive Care Admission ◽  
Adjusted Analysis ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Mortality Outcome ◽  
The Uk

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 disease in the ethnic minorities of the UK in comparison to the White ethnic group. Medline, Embase, Cochrane, MedRxiv, and Prospero were searched for articles published between May 2020 to April 2021. PROSPERO ID: CRD42021248117. Fourteen studies (767177 participants) were included in the review. In the adjusted analysis, the pooled Odds Ratio (OR) for the mortality outcome was higher for the Black (1.83, 95% CI: 1.21-2.76), Asian (1.16, 95% CI: 0.85-1.57), and Mixed and Other (MO) groups (1.12, 95% CI: 1.04-1.20) compared to the White group. The adjusted and unadjusted ORs of intensive care admission were more than double for all ethnicities (OR Black 2.32, 95% CI: 1.73-3.11, Asian 2.34, 95% CI: 1.89-2.90, MO group 2.26, 95% CI: 1.64-3.11). In the adjusted analysis of mechanical ventilation need the ORs were similarly significantly raised (Black group 2.03, 95% CI: 1.80-2.29, Asian group 1.84, 95% CI: 1.20-2.80, MO 2.09, 95% CI: 1.35-3.22). This review confirmed that all ethnic groups in the UK suffered from increased disease severity and mortality with regards to COVID-19. This has urgent public health and policy implications to reduce the health disparities.

QUALITATIVE METHODOLOGY OF SENSITIVE TOPICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH CONTEXTS

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (Especial) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Mirliana Ramírez Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Sensitive Topics

La subjetividad siempre se encuentra presente en las metodologías cualitativas, en que se vinculan las emociones, sentimientos, cultura e historia de los participantes e investigadores. Esto es especialmente relevante en el área de la salud, donde lo sensible está presente en muchos de los temas estudiados. Según Lee los temas sensibles son aquellos en que la investigación invade la esfera privada, escarba dentro de alguna experiencia personal profunda, hace referencia a la desviación o control social, afecta a los intereses de personas poderosas o el ejercicio de la coerción y la dominación.  Este artículo se divide en dos apartados; el primero tiene relación con la fundamentación teórica del estudio de temas sensibles en salud pública, desde la perspectiva de los participantes y del equipo de investigación, relevando la importancia de la seguridad e integridad física, psíquica, moral y legal de todos los actores involucrados. En la segunda parte, la autora reflexiona en torno a su experiencia en la investigación en temas sensibles, presentando algunas estrategias de abordaje del trabajo de campo. El objetivo de esta investigación fue describir la producción del conocimiento en relación a la investigación de temas sensibles en salud.

Men's perception and understanding of male-factor infertility in the UK

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. S8-S16
Author(s):  
Eleanor L Stevenson ◽  
Cheng Ching-Yu ◽  
Chang Chia-Hao ◽  
Kevin R McEleny
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Public Knowledge ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Male Factor Infertility ◽  
Male Factor ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Uk

Male-factor infertility is a common but stigmatised issue, and men often do not receive the emotional support and the information they need. This study sought to understand awareness of male fertility issues compared to female fertility among the UK general male public, and also what were perceived as being the optimum methods for providing support for affected men, emotionally and through information. Men feel that male infertility is not discussed by the public as much as female infertility. Lifestyle issues that affect male fertility are not well understood, and men affected by infertility desire more support, including online, from health professionals and through peer support. Health professionals, including those in public health, could offer evidence-based programmes to reduce stigma and increase public knowledge about infertility, as well as offer emotional support to men with infertility problems.

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