Augmenting Understanding
Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand (Onsite)
Healthy Food Environment in Poland: Current State and Priority Actions Identified with the Use of Food Policy Index Tool View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Piotr Romaniuk
The global population faces rising burden of lifestyle and diet-related non-communicable diseases. In context of the current and future epidemiological trends, a coherent, evidence-based and consequent food policy appears to be a crucial area of public policy, integrating different areas of other public policies and focusing them on reducing the risks associated with diet-related diseases. The aims of our study are to depict the state of healthy food environment policies in Poland; and to identify and prioritize healthy food environment policies in Poland, based on their importance, achievability and equity. We applied the Healthy Food Policy Index (Food-EPI). Selected panel of experts was asked to rate the extent of implementation of the Polish policies and policy infrastructure compared to previously identified best practice. Based on the ratings the experts developed and prioritised a list of recommended actions. We applied the Krippendorf’s Alpha test to verify inter-rater reliability. For 12 out of 44 indicators we found no evidence for government actions that would meet the criteria set out in the Food-EPI definition. The lack or limited government’s involvement has been particularly observed in the domains related to food promotion, food provision, food in retail and health in all policies. Of all the identified actions, the highest priority was given to implementation of food labelling system and training for persons involved in nutrition in schools. The healthy food environment in Poland is poorly developed and requires intensified government activities especially in the area of policies development.
Social Determinants of Health in Social Work in Health Care Practice View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Laetitia Petersen
Minimal associations have been established between social work in health care and the social determinants of health (SDH). The purpose of the exploration focused on the understanding and addressing the SDH by social workers employed in the Gauteng Department of Health. This mixed-method study incorporated survey research and interpretative phenomenological designs utilising saturation and purposive sampling respectively. The questionnaire was completed by 45 respondents. Ten participants and two key informants participated in semi-structured interviews, and two focus group discussions were facilitated. The findings were that social workers are proactively involved in addressing the SDH to promote the health and wellbeing of clients, but also to encourage compliance with treatment strategies. This active involvement with the SDH was evident, despite the social workers' lack of identifying or labelling their actions as addressing the SDH. Biopsychosocial assessment, problem-solving or referral to community resources were used instead of addressing the SDH. Social workers indicated strong associations between their competence and knowledge base, linked with the social development approach (SDA) and SDH. A further link was indicated with the sustainable development goals (SDG). Social work in health care, therefore, plays an instrumental and invaluable role in addressing the SDH and enhancing compliance. In addition, addressing the SDH, the SDA is implemented, and the SDG is addressed. Further research is envisaged in confirming social work in health care as a key role player in addressing the SDH.
Public Health in Community College Settings : Addressing Health Equity And Building The Public Health Workforce View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Lesley Green-Rennis, Lisa Grace-Leitch, Gloria McNamara, Sara Crosby
Our nation’s vulnerability and unpreparedness to address public health priorities became glaringly apparent in 2020 with the onset of the novel coronavirus. Despite decades-long warnings of a looming pandemic, predictions of public health workforce shortages, and ongoing recognition of health inequities, the U.S. was blindsided by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, over one million Americans, including a disproportionate number of Black, Indigenous, and Alaska Native people, have died. Graduate school used to be the gold-standard for public health education, however, to meet the health needs of an increasingly at-risk and culturally diverse population, more students must be trained in public health and training must begin earlier in their academic careers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), no time has been better to recruit a diverse pool of potential public health students and to provide them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to be effective practitioners. The Borough of Manhattan Community College’s Public Health Academy provides first and second-year college students an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the field by working with public health professionals to address long-standing and stark health disparities in a real-world context, focusing on social determinants of health, health equity, and community-engaged research, and practice.
