scholarly journals Nutrient Dense, Low-Cost Foods Can Improve the Affordability and Quality of the New Zealand Diet—A Substitution Modeling Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 7950
Author(s):  
Carlene S. Starck ◽  
Michelle Blumfield ◽  
Tim Keighley ◽  
Skye Marshall ◽  
Peter Petocz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Processing Level ◽  
Nutrient Density ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
The Impact

The high prevalence of non-communicable disease in New Zealand (NZ) is driven in part by unhealthy diet selections, with food costs contributing to an increased risk for vulnerable population groups. This study aimed to: (i) identify the nutrient density-to-cost ratio of NZ foods; (ii) model the impact of substituting foods with a lower nutrient density-to-cost ratio with those with a higher nutrient density-to-cost ratio on diet quality and affordability in representative NZ population samples for low and medium socioeconomic status (SES) households by ethnicity; and (iii) evaluate food processing level. Foods were categorized, coded for processing level and discretionary status, analyzed for nutrient density and cost, and ranked by nutrient density-to-cost ratio. The top quartile of nutrient dense, low-cost foods were 56% unprocessed (vegetables, fruit, porridge, pasta, rice, nuts/seeds), 31% ultra-processed (vegetable dishes, fortified bread, breakfast cereals unfortified <15 g sugars/100 g and fortified 15–30 g sugars/100 g), 6% processed (fruit juice), and 6% culinary processed (oils). Using substitution modeling, diet quality improved by 59% and 71% for adults and children, respectively, and affordability increased by 20–24%, depending on ethnicity and SES. The NZ diet can be made healthier and more affordable when nutritious, low-cost foods are selected. Processing levels in the healthier, modeled diet suggest that some non-discretionary ultra-processed foods may provide a valuable source of low-cost nutrition for food insecure populations.

scholarly journals Diet and Economic Modelling to Improve the Quality and Affordability of the Australian Diet for Low and Medium Socioeconomic Households

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 5771
Author(s):  
Michelle Blumfield ◽  
Carlene Starck ◽  
Tim Keighley ◽  
Peter Petocz ◽  
Anna Roesler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Economic Modelling ◽  
Processed Foods ◽  
Added Sugars ◽  
Processing Level ◽  
Nutrient Density ◽  
The Impact

Food costs are a barrier to healthier diet selections, particularly for low socioeconomic households who regularly choose processed foods containing refined grains, added sugars, and added fats. In this study, the objectives were to: (i) identify the nutrient density-to-cost ratio of Australian foods; (ii) model the impact of substituting foods with lower nutrient density-to-cost ratio with those with the highest nutrient density-to-cost ratio for diet quality and affordability in low and medium socioeconomic households; and (iii) evaluate food processing levels. Foods were categorized, coded for processing level, analysed for nutrient density and cost, and ranked by nutrient density-to-cost ratio. The top quartile of nutrient dense, low-cost foods included 54% unprocessed (vegetables and reduced fat dairy), 33% ultra-processed (fortified wholegrain bread and breakfast cereals <20 g sugars/100 g), and 13% processed (fruit juice and canned legumes). Using substitution modelling, diet quality improved by 52% for adults and 71% for children across all households, while diet affordability improved by 25% and 27% for low and medium socioeconomic households, respectively. The results indicate that the quality and affordability of the Australian diet can be improved when nutritious, low-cost foods are selected. Processing levels in the healthier modelled diets suggest that some ultra-processed foods may provide a beneficial source of nutrition when consumed within national food group recommendations.

PyDOSS: An open-source Python-based communicable disease outbreak surveillance system designed and used in a COVID-19 community care facility (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Fang ◽  
Jonathan Kia-Sheng Phua ◽  
Terrence Chiew ◽  
Daniel De-Liang Loh ◽  
Lincoln Ming Han Liow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Community Care ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Healthcare Team ◽  
Increased Risk

BACKGROUND During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, community care facilities (CCF) were set up as temporary out-of-hospital isolation facilities to contain the surge of cases in Singapore. Confined living spaces within CCFs posed an increased risk of communicable disease spread among residents. OBJECTIVE This inspired our healthcare team managing a CCF operation to design a low-cost communicable disease outbreak surveillance system (CDOSS). METHODS Our CDOSS was designed with the following considerations: (1) comprehensiveness, (2) efficiency through passive reconnoitering from electronic medical record (EMR) data, (3) ability to provide spatiotemporal insights, (4) low-cost and (5) ease of use. We used Python to develop a lightweight application – Python-based Communicable Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (PyDOSS) – that was able perform syndromic surveillance and fever monitoring. With minimal user actions, its data pipeline would generate daily control charts and geospatial heat maps of cases from raw EMR data and logged vital signs. PyDOSS was successfully implemented as part of our CCF workflow. We also simulated a gastroenteritis (GE) outbreak to test the effectiveness of the system. RESULTS PyDOSS was used throughout the entire duration of operation; the output was reviewed daily by senior management. No disease outbreaks were identified during our medical operation. In the simulated GE outbreak, PyDOSS was able to effectively detect an outbreak within 24 hours and provided information about cluster progression which could aid in contact tracing. The code for a stock version of PyDOSS has been made publicly available. CONCLUSIONS PyDOSS is an effective surveillance system which was successfully implemented in a real-life medical operation. With the system developed using open-source technology and the code made freely available, it significantly reduces the cost of developing and operating CDOSS and may be useful for similar temporary medical operations, or in resource-limited settings.

The Impact of Hurricane Maria on Individuals Living with Non-Communicable Disease in Puerto Rico: The experience of 10 communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L. Andrade ◽  
Amalis Cordova Mustafa ◽  
Courtney Riggle-vanSchagen ◽  
Megan Jula ◽  
Carlos E. Rodriguez-Diaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rico ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Non Communicable Disease

Abstract Background Coinciding with the rising non-communicable disease (NCD) prevalence worldwide is the increasing frequency and severity of natural hazards. Protecting populations with NCDs against natural hazards is ever more pressing given their increased risk of morbidity and mortality in disaster contexts. Methods This investigation examined Hurricane Maria’s impact across 10 communities in Puerto Rico to determine whether and how disaster impact and community attributes affected NCD management. We conducted 40 qualitative interviews with mayors, first responders, faith leaders, community leaders, and municipal employees, with 4 interviews per selected municipality. Using QSR NVivo software, we coded interview transcripts and created categorical community-level impact variables based on participant responses. We undertook thematic analysis to characterize community-level impact and consequences for NCD management, and to identify convergent and divergent themes. Using a matrix coding query, we compared NCD management experiences across communities by impact variables and community attributes. Results The delivery of healthcare, pharmacy, and dialysis services was compromised due to facility structural damage and ineffective contingencies for electrical power and water supply. The challenges resulting from power outages were immediate, and individuals who were reliant on life-sustaining medical equipment, dialysis, or the refrigeration of medications were most vulnerable. Inaccessible roadways and the need to travel greater distances to locate operational health services were major impediments to transporting patients in need of NCD care, with those requiring dialysis and living in remote, mountainous communities at highest risk due to landslides and lengthy roadway obstruction. These barriers were compounded by limited communication to locate services and coordinate care. Two weeks post-hurricane, emerging challenges to NCD management included widespread diesel fuel shortages for generators, and shortages in medications, oxygen, and medical supplies. In the weeks to months post-hurricane, the emergence or exacerbation of mental health disorders was characterized as a pressing health concern. Conclusions Study findings identify contributors to morbidity and mortality among individuals with NCDs following Hurricane Maria. The degree to which these impacts were experienced across communities with different characteristics is discussed, offering important lessons regarding the impact of catastrophic disasters on NCD management for improve community disaster resilience.

Why amending building codes? An investigation of the benefits of regular building code amendment in New Zealand

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amarachukwu Nnadozie Nwadike ◽  
Suzanne Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Building Code ◽  
Ground Shaking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Building Collapse ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe New Zealand building code has played a vital role in reducing the impact of disasters in the built environment. Following the nature of earthquake occurrences, the associated impacts such as building collapse and the increase in technological innovation in the building sector, the New Zealand building code has been frequently amended. The building code amendment ensures that buildings and other related infrastructures can withstand the impact of ground shaking without substantial damages to buildings. The purpose of this paper is to identify and explore the benefits of building code amendments in New Zealand.Design/methodology/approachDocument analysis and closed-ended questionnaire were adopted as data collection instruments for this study. The relevant stakeholders comprise structural engineer, geotechnical engineer, architect, building services consulting engineer, licensed building practitioner, project manager, building contractor, local authority, academic/researcher and quantity surveyor.FindingsA significant proportion of the survey participants that agreed to the importance of building code amendments in New Zealand justify the benefits of the amendments. The study serves as a useful guide to policy regulators and researchers who are exploring other aspects of regular building code amendments in New Zealand. The findings from this study suggest that amending the New Zealand building code needs a proactive approach to promote local technology, enhance low-cost construction materials, training of code users and reducing bureaucracy in design approval and construction inspection. The study concludes that improving on the 28 factors identified in this study would contribute intensively to disaster risk reduction in the built environment and an increase in compliance level in New Zealand.Originality/valueThis paper originality comes from its practical approach towards identifying the benefits of building code amendments

scholarly journals Diets Varying in Nutrient Density and Climate Impact and Their Association With Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Northern Sweden

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1095-1095
Author(s):  
Anna Strid ◽  
Ingegerd Johansson ◽  
Bernt Lindahl ◽  
Elinor Hallström ◽  
Anna Winkvist
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Personal Identification ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Intervention Programme ◽  
Nutrient Density ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Objectives Assess the effects of diets varying in nutrient density and climate impact on risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Methods Dietary data from 39 927 women and 37 390 men 35–65 years in the population-based prospective study Västerbotten Intervention Programme (Sweden) between the years 1990–2016 were used to characterize dietary quality and dietary climate impact. Nutrient density was estimated by the Sweden-adapted Nutrient Rich Foods index NRF11.3, based on 11 nutrients (protein, dietary fiber, iron, folate, vitamins A, C, D, E, magnesium, calcium, potassium) to be encouraged and three nutrients (saturated fat, added sugar, sodium) to be limited. Dietary climate impact was estimated using data from life cycle assessments. Information on MI diagnosis was obtained from registers at the National Board of Health and Welfare in Sweden using personal identification numbers. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression for four groups of women and men, respectively higher nutrient density, lower climate impact; higher nutrient density, higher climate impact; lower nutrient density, lower climate impact; and lower nutrient density, higher climate impact (reference group). Potential confounders were adjusted for. Results Median follow-up times from recruitment to MI diagnosis for women were 15.8 years and for men 12.8 years, during which time 962 and 2 607 first-time events occurred, respectively. For men a significantly increased risk of MI was found for the group with lower nutrient density and lower climate impact [HR 1.20 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.34); P = 0.003] compared to the group with lower nutrient density and higher climate impact. No significant association was found between the groups of nutrient density and dietary climate impact and MI in women, although a similar trend as that for men was found. Conclusions A lower compared with a higher dietary climate impact was associated with a higher risk of MI in men when diet quality was below median values, reflecting the importance of considering diet quality when decreasing the climate impact of diets. For women no significant relationship was identified. Funding Sources The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas).

scholarly journals Pulse Intake Improves Nutrient Density among US Adult Consumers

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2668
Author(s):  
Diane C. Mitchell ◽  
Christopher P. F. Marinangeli ◽  
Sandrine Pigat ◽  
Foteini Bompola ◽  
Jessie Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Dry Beans ◽  
Nutrient Intakes ◽  
Nutrient Density ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Impact

The objective was to examine trends in pulse (dry beans, dry peas, chickpeas and lentils) intake over a 10-year period and to compare nutrient intakes of pulse consumers and non-consumers to better understand the impact of pulse consumption on diet quality in the US population. NHANES 2003–2014 data for respondents (≥19 years) with 2 days of intake was used to evaluate trends in pulse intake. Pulse consumers were identified as those NHANES respondents who consumed pulses on one or both days. Differences in energy adjusted nutrient intakes between non-consumers and consumers were assessed. There were no significant trends in pulse intakes for the total population or for pulse consumers over the 10-year period. In 2013–2014, approximately 27% of adults consumed pulses with an intake of 70.9 ± 2.5 g/day over 2 days, just slightly <0.5 cup equivalents/day. At all levels of consumption, consumers had higher (p < 0.01) energy adjusted intakes of fiber, folate, magnesium. Higher energy adjusted intakes for potassium, zinc, iron and choline and lower intakes of fat were observed for consumers than for non-consumers at intakes ≥69.4 ± 1.01 g/day. These data suggest that pulse consumption in the US population may result in better diet quality with diets that are more nutrient dense than those without pulses.

scholarly journals Validation of Low-Cost Impedance analyzer via Nitrate Detection

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 6695
Author(s):  
Dirk Johannes De Beer ◽  
Trudi-Heleen Joubert
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Phase Error ◽  
Performance Standard ◽  
Electrochemical Technique ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Linear Region ◽  
Impedance Analyzer ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Relevant Experiment

Impedance spectroscopy is a widely used electrochemical technique with a wide variety of applications. Many of these applications benefit from the additional accessibility provided by low-cost impedance devices. With this in mind, a low-cost impedance device was designed for a high performance-to-cost ratio. The performance of this analyzer was validated against a high-performance DropSens µStat-i 400s potentiostat by performing an application-based experiment. Nitrate detection provides a relevant experiment because of the importance of maintaining precise nitrate concentrations to mitigate the impact of nitrate fluctuations on the environment. Dissolved nitrate samples of different concentrations, in the range 3–1000 mg/L, were confirmed colorimetrically and measured with both instruments. A calibration curve of the real impedance matched a sigmoidal transfer, with a linear region for concentrations below 10 mg/L. The device under investigation exhibited an average magnitude error of 1.28% and an average phase error of 0.96∘ relative to the high-performance standard, which validates the performance of the low-cost device. A cost analysis is presented that highlights some of the complexities of cost comparisons.

The impact of early life gut colonization on metabolic and obesogenic outcomes: what have animal models shown us?

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Wallace ◽  
W. Gohir ◽  
D. M. Sloboda
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Maternal Obesity ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Early Life Adversity ◽  
Gut Colonization ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Impact

The rise in the occurrence of obesity to epidemic proportions has made it a global concern. Great difficulty has been experienced in efforts to control this growing problem with lifestyle interventions. Thus, attention has been directed to understanding the events of one of the most critical periods of development, perinatal life. Early life adversity driven by maternal obesity has been associated with an increased risk of metabolic disease and obesity in the offspring later in life. Although a mechanistic link explaining the relationship between maternal and offspring obesity is still under investigation, the gut microbiota has come forth as a new factor that may play a role modulating metabolic function of both the mother and the offspring. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a much larger role in mediating the risk of developing non-communicable disease, including obesity and metabolic dysfunction in adulthood. With the observation that the early life colonization of the neonatal and postnatal gut is mediated by the perinatal environment, the number of studies investigating early life gut microbial establishment continues to grow. This paper will review early life gut colonization in experimental animal models, concentrating on the role of the early life environment in offspring gut colonization and the ability of the gut microbiota to dictate risk of disease later in life.

The impact of noise in early childhood settings: A New Zealand perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-25
Author(s):  
Susan Bates ◽  
Wyatt Page ◽  
Sue Stover
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
International Research ◽  
Early Childhood Teachers ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Adults And Children ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Early Childhood Settings ◽  
Excessive Noise

Excessive noise levels in early childhood centres have a direct impact on the learning of young children, as well as on the wellbeing of teachers. Psycho-acoustic studies show that noise is a key factor contributing to elevated adult stress levels and annoyance, leading to lower levels of adult sensitivity to children’s needs and fewer direct interactions with them. Longer term, local and international research indicates correlations between excessive noise in early childhood education (ECE) centres and health problems, such as to hearing loss, voice strain, obesity, diabetes, and cardiac conditions. Noise as a chaos factor in early childhood settings undermines wellbeing of both adults and children. Because noise negatively impacts on quality relationship and communication, children’s language development is also impacted. Yet noise within New Zealand early childhood settings is under-researched, under-regulated, and under-monitored. Drawing on local and international research and on a survey of New Zealand early childhood teachers, this article recommends regulating for the creation of quieter environments for the benefit of teachers and learners, the adults and children in early childhood settings.

scholarly journals Intergenerational Impact of Violence Exposure: Emotional-Behavioural and School Difficulties in Children Aged 5–17

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ladan Hashemi ◽  
Janet Fanslow ◽  
Pauline Gulliver ◽  
Tracey McIntosh
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Violence Exposure ◽  
Exposure To Violence ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Parental Exposure ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
History Of ◽  
Cumulative Violence ◽  
The Impact

Background and Objectives: The intergenerational impacts of parental exposure to violence during childhood and adulthood have largely been investigated separately. This limits our understanding of how cumulative violence exposure over a lifespan elevates the risk of subsequent generation's maladjustment. To address this, we examined if parental exposure to violence during childhood and during adulthood was associated with increased emotional-behavioural and school difficulties among the children of these parents. Further, we examined if parental exposure to cumulative violence increased the odds of their children experiencing difficulties.Participants and Setting: 705 participants (354 mothers and 351 fathers) from the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Survey, a population-based study conducted in New Zealand between March 2017 and March 2019.Methods: Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to ascertain the impact of parental exposure to violence on children's outcomes after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics. The impact of parental cumulative violence exposure on children's outcomes was also explored.Results: Findings indicated that children of parents who had histories of exposure to violence during childhood were at increased risk for experiencing emotional-behavioural or school difficulties. However, where parents reported a history of childhood abuse but not adult experience of violence, their children had similar odds of experiencing difficulties as the children of parents who had not been exposed to any violence in their lifetime. Children of parents who had been exposed to violence only during adulthood were at higher risk of experiencing emotional-behavioural difficulties compared with children of parents with no violence exposure. Children of parents with histories of exposure to violence during both childhood and adulthood had the highest prevalence of experiencing emotional/behavioural and school difficulties.Conclusion: These findings highlight the intergenerational impacts of violence exposure and the complex intersections between parents' and children's life experiences. Our findings suggest the need for violence prevention initiatives to foster the development of safe, stable and nurturing relationships and to expand services for parents already exposed to violence to build resilience and to break the inter-generational cycle of disadvantage.

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