ORCID Profile
0000-0002-9320-287X
Current Organisations
Curtin University
,
WA Cancer Prevention Research Unit, Curtin University
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Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 23-05-2019
DOI: 10.3390/NU11051158
Abstract: Nutrition labelling can influence consumers’ assessments of food healthiness and their food choices. However, there is a lack of consensus about the optimal type and amount of nutrition information to provide on food packages. This study analysed consumers’ preferences for front-of-pack information relating to energy and various nutrients (sugar, saturated fat, sodium, fibre, carbohydrate, and protein). The aim was to identify discrete preference segments within the Australian market where the current Health Star Rating front-of-pack labelling system can be displayed with different levels of nutrition information. Adults (n = 1558) completed a survey assessing socio-demographics, self-reported nutrition knowledge, diet healthiness, special dietary requirements, and perceived importance of the provision of energy and nutrient information on the front of food packs. Latent profile analysis identified five consumer segments within the s le that ranged from groups exhibiting high levels of interest in various forms of nutrition information to one with very low interest and one with ergent scores according to whether nutrients were perceived as positive or negative for health. The results indicate that different forms of front-of-pack labelling featuring varying degrees of information about energy and specific nutrients are likely to be of interest and use to different market segments.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 16-10-2020
DOI: 10.1017/S0144686X20001397
Abstract: Being active in later life is key to remaining physically and mentally healthy, and health in turn influences in iduals’ ability to remain active. Activity prevalence figures can disguise the existence of clusters of older people who are very active due to regular participation in multiple categories of activity versus those who are sedentary. The aim of this study was to conduct segmentation analyses based on retired seniors’ engagement in various activities (walking, active sport/exercise, gardening and volunteering) to identify groups characterised by varying patterns of participation. The s le comprised 746 Western Australians aged 60+ years (range 60–95 years, average age 71.66 years, standard deviation = 6.57), 61 per cent of whom were female. Using latent profile analysis, four distinct segments emerged. Those respondents classified as belonging to the most active group exhibited moderate to high levels of participation across all four forms of activity, and tended to be older and more educated than other respondents. Those allocated to the least active group had very low levels of participation across most of the assessed activities and the least favourable physical and mental health scores. Overall, the results indicate the existence of highly ergent segments within the older population in terms of participation across various combinations of health-promoting activities. Segment membership appears to be more closely associated with physical and psychological factors than socio-demographic characteristics.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-04-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S12529-021-09988-8
Abstract: Prevalence figures for health-related behaviors disguise the existence of behavioral clusters. A growing body of work indicates the potential effectiveness of using simultaneous (versus sequential) approaches to targeting health-related behaviors to make deeper inroads into addressing non-communicable diseases. To inform future interventions designed to simultaneously address multiple risk factors, the aim of the present study was to identify behavioral clusters including nine behaviors relating to smoking, alcohol consumption, nutrition, physical activity, and sleep. A latent class analysis was applied to a nationally representative s le of 1849 adult Australians. Of the four identified segments, one was characterized by a relatively healthy behavioral profile and another demonstrated poor results across multiple lifestyle domains. The other two groups comprised in iduals who demonstrated healthy behaviors in some domains (e.g., substance use) but not in others (primarily physical inactivity and junk food consumption, respectively). Results suggest the opportunity to encourage in iduals in the latter two groups to build on existing positive behaviors to achieve greater overall compliance with health recommendations. Particularly intensive interventions are likely needed for those in the unhealthiest group to address the potentially reinforcing effects of their multiple unhealthy behaviors.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 15-12-2020
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980020004966
Abstract: Many countries are considering the implementation of front-of-pack nutrition labels as a strategy to address high and increasing levels of overweight and obesity. A growing body of work demonstrates the superiority of labels that use colour and/or provide a summary indicator of product healthiness to enhance comprehension. However, previous studies have been confounded in determining the relative effectiveness of these two attributes by comparing labels that also differ in other ways. The present study tested labels that varied only on use of colour and/or reliance on a summary indicator across an international s le to provide unique insights into the relative importance of these attributes. Participants were randomised to see one of four variations of the Health Star Rating label that differed on the basis of use of colour and sole provision of a summary indicator. Australia, Canada, China, India, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. Adults ( n 7545) in seven countries were exposed to online choice tasks requiring them to select a preferred breakfast cereal and then nominate the healthiest cereal. Overall, the coloured versions, and particularly the one with just a summary indicator, outperformed the monochrome version that included nutrient-specific information. However, there were some differences by country, with results from Canada and China indicating superior outcomes for monochrome labels and those providing nutrient-specific information. The results highlight the importance of colour, but suggest that the introduction of front-of-pack nutrition labels should be preceded by country-specific formative testing to identify potential differences in outcomes.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2020
Abstract: Research demonstrates the superiority of highly interpretive front-of-pack nutrition labels. The aim of this study was to assess the potential to enhance the Health Star Rating (HSR) by increasing its 'interpretiveness' through the addition of colour and the exclusion of the nutrient icons. An online survey was administered to 1,033 Australian adults who were randomly allocated to one of four conditions: black and white (B&W) full HSR, colour full HSR, B&W star rating only, and colour star rating only. Each respondent viewed four packs of breakfast cereal of varying levels of healthiness as indicated by the displayed HSRs. Respondents nominated the product option they would prefer to buy and then the one they understood to be healthiest. Coloured HSR variations scored better than their B&W counterparts and the star-only versions scored better than the corresponding versions displaying nutrient icons. Overall, the coloured star-only HSR performed significantly better than the B&W full HSR for both choice and understanding. Increasing the interpretive nature of the HSR could enhance its effectiveness. Implications for public health: Policy makers should consider the evolution of the HSR towards a more interpretive presentation that includes colour and excludes the nutrient icons.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 25-03-2021
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980021001294
Abstract: Online meal ordering services are increasing in popularity in Australia and globally. Meals ordered online for home delivery are typically less healthy than home-made meals, potentially contributing to weight gain. The aim of the present study was to identify the types of consumers who are most likely to engage in online meal ordering. A cross-sectional survey including items relating to demographic and lifestyle factors was disseminated via a web panel provider. Australia. A total of 2010 Australian adults aged 18+ years. More than a quarter of respondents (28 %) engaged in online meal ordering at least once in the previous month. Younger respondents, those with a higher BMI, and those with higher education and income levels were more likely to have done so. Consuming higher levels of sugary drinks and fast-food restaurant patronage were significantly associated with ordering meals online for home delivery. The outcomes of this study suggest that the use of online meal ordering services is becoming a common practice in Australia, and it is therefore important to implement evidence-based strategies and policies to encourage in iduals to make healthy food choices when using these services.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 27-06-2019
DOI: 10.1155/2019/4523475
Abstract: Background . Young people in Sub-Saharan Africa are affected by HIV pandemic to a greater extent than elsewhere. Transactional sex among adolescent school girls with older men commonly called “sugar daddies” is one of the major factors fueling the spread of the infection due to the extended sexual network. Thus, this study aimed to assess the magnitude and factors associated with transactional sex among adolescent girls and “sugar daddies” in relation to HIV/AIDS. Methods . Mixed method cross-sectional study was done among 620 female students in Hawassa town, South Ethiopia, from September 2010 to May 2011. A structured questionnaire and in-depth interview check list were used to collect the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Survey participants were selected randomly from five preparatory schools whereas ten in-depth interview participants were recruited by a snowball s ling technique from the same schools. Data were entered using Epi-Info and analyzed by SPSS. A descriptive statistics followed by multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with transactional sex with “sugar daddy’’. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were reported. We used OpenCode software for coding and categorizing the in-depth interviews and quotes that represent the informants opinion were used to support the quantitative findings. Results . A substantial number of female students, 71(11.5%), reported to have had transactional sex with older men. Most of the respondents who dated “sugar daddies” (93%) had multiple sexual partners concurrently and sequentially, and among them, only 22.7% had consistent condom use. Girls who were in older age group [OR (CI) 6.87 (3.48-13.58)], who had lost both parents [OR (CI) 2.99 (1.14-7.84)], had perceived less economic status [OR: 25.41 95% CI: 7.80-82.76] and engaged in substance abuse [OR (CO) 5.8 (2.1-15.77)] had higher odds of practicing transactional sex with “sugar daddies”. In-depth interviewed participants also revealed that they were involved in transactional sex for monetary while having concurrent and subsequent sexual network with their schoolmates and other young partners. Conclusion . Transactional sex among female students was high, and the sexual network they had with the young men put young people in the network at risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Therefore, HIV prevention programs shall focus on transactional sex among adolescent school girls to halt transmission of HIV among the generation.
Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Date: 11-2020
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To summarise the available evidence on the prevalence of psychological distress among patients with TB in sub-Saharan Africa, and suggest recommendations for future clinical practice. METHODS: We searched PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS and EMBASE databases for relevant studies. We further searched the reference lists of included studies to include other relevant studies. Cochran´s Q-statistic and the I 2 test were used to compute the heterogeneity. The presence of publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of symmetry and Egger´s test. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence estimate of psychological distress among patients with TB in sub-Saharan African countries was 42.3% (95% CI 35.3–49.7). The pooled prevalence of psychological distress was 61.1% in Cameroon, 49.4% in Angola, 47.7% in Ethiopia, 34.0% in Nigeria and 29.3% in South Africa. The pooled prevalence estimate of psychological distress among patients with TB ranged from 40.1% to 43.7% in a leave-one-out-sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, the prevalence of psychological distress was higher in females when compared to males. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of psychological distress among TB patients was high. Therefore, TB programmes should integrate psychiatry services to screen and manage psychologically distressed patients.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-03-2021
DOI: 10.1111/AJAG.12907
Abstract: Given positive attitudes to volunteering are likely to be associated with support for volunteering and in idual participation, this study aimed to develop and test a 10‐item ‘attitudes to formal volunteering’ scale for retired older adults that could be used to inform intervention efforts. A s le of 801 Australian retirees (62% female mean age: 71.9 years) completed a survey that included the attitude scale, demographic items and questions assessing engagement in volunteering. A principal component analysis identified two factors (general attitude to volunteering and attitude to participating in volunteering) that together accounted for 64% of the variance in attitude scores. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated the two‐factor model was an excellent fit to the data. Cronbach's alphas for both factors were .80, and both were positively associated with volunteering engagement. The proposed scale is a potentially useful instrument for measuring attitudes to volunteering among retired older adults.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-10-2020
Location: Australia
No related grants have been discovered for Liyuwork Dana.