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Knowledge or Awareness of Non-communicable Diseases and their Associated Risk Factors among University Students in Fiji: A Cross-sectional Study
No full textIntroduction: Chronic diseases (aka Non-communicable diseases, NCDs) contribute to the global burden
of morbidity and mortality, with a significant share of premature deaths among low-and middle-income
countries (LMICs), including Fiji. The early exposure to the risk factors of NCDs affects the entire life
course; knowledge or awareness of adolescents towards NCDs and associated risk factors is critical for
health promotion. This study aims to investigate the knowledge or awareness level of chronic conditions
and their risk factors among Fijian students.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 338 university students was recruited using the paper
as well as web-based pre-tested survey through a convenience sampling technique. Differences in
knowledge or awareness by gender, study year and program were analyzed using Chi-square/Fisher exact
test.
Results: Our research showed a higher proportion of females had knowledge or awareness about the
increasing prevalence of NCDs in Fiji and associated risk factors as opposed to males. Among different
programs, students enrolled in physical education were more likely to be aware about the global death toll
attributed to NCDs compared to those enrolled in science majors. As expected, the awareness levels were
higher among second- and third-year students than freshers. The most prominent information sources of
NCDs reported by the students were teachers.
Discussion: These findings highlight the need of developing school-based health awareness and promotion
programs.
Take-home message: The findings of this study will serve as the baseline data to develop new programs
and to evaluate existing programs (if any), as limited data are available related to the implementation of
NCDs prevention efforts in Fiji Islands
Incorporating a gender lens into nutrition and health-related policies in Fiji: analysis of policies and stakeholder perspectives
Get PDFAbstract Background: Gender equality, zero hunger and healthy lives and well-being for all, are three of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that underpin Fiji’s National Development Plan. Work towards each of these goals contributes to the reduction of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). There are gender differences in NCD burden in Fiji. It is, however, unclear whether a gender lens could be more effectively included in nutrition and health-related policies. Methods: This study consisted of three components: (i) a policy content analysis of gender inclusion in nutrition and health-related policies (n = 11); (ii) policy analysis using the WHO Gender Analysis tool to identify opportunities for strengthening future policy; and (iii) informant interviews (n = 18), to understand perceptions of the prospects for gender considerations in future policies. Results: Gender equality was a goal in seven policies (64%); however, most focused on women of reproductive age. One of the policies was ranked as gender responsive. Main themes from key informant interviews were: 1) a needsbased approach for the focus on specific population groups in policies; 2) gender-related roles and responsibilities around nutrition and health; 3) what is considered “equitable” when it comes to gender, nutrition, and health; 4) current considerations of gender in policies and ideas for further gender inclusion; and 5) barriers and enablers to the inclusion of gender considerations in policies. Informants acknowledged gender differences in the burden of nutrition-related NCDs, yet most did not identify a need for stronger inclusion of gender considerations within policies. Conclusions: There is considerable scope for greater inclusion of gender in nutrition and health-related policies in Fiji. This could be done by: 1) framing gender considerations in ways that are actionable and inclusive of a range of gender identities; 2) undertaking advocacy through actor networks to highlight the need for gender-responsive nutrition and health-related policies for key stakeholder groups; 3) ensuring that data collected to monitor policy implementation is disaggregated by sex and genders; and 4) promoting equitable participation in nutrition related issues in communities and governance processes. Action on these four areas are likely critical enablers to more gender equitable NCD reduction in Fiji
Gender roles, generational changes and environmental challenges: an intersectional interpretation of perceptions on healthy diets among iTaukei women and men in Fiji
Get PDFAbstract
Objective: To investigate perceptions of iTaukei Fijian women and men around diet and the ability to consume a healthy diet.
Design: Six focus groups were conducted with women and men separately.Six to ten women and men participated in each group. Discussions were recorded,transcribed, translated and thematically analysed. Themes were mapped to an intersectionality framework to aid interpretation.
Setting: Four villages in Viti Levu, Fiji.
Participants: Twenty-two women and twenty-four men.
Results: Seven overarching themes were identified, including generational changes in food behaviour, strong-gendered beliefs around food and food provision, cultural and religious obligations around food, the impact of environmental change on the ability to consume a healthy diet, perceptions of the importance of food, food preferences and knowledge. Participants across focus groups identified that it was the ‘duty’ of women to prepare food for their families. However, some women reflected on this responsibility being unbalanced with many women now in the
formal workforce. Changes between generations in food preferences and practices were highlighted, with a perception that previous generations were healthier.Power dynamics and external factors, such as environmental changes, were identified by women and men as crucial influences on their ability to eat a healthy diet.
Conclusion: Embedded traditional perceptions of gendered roles related to nutrition were misaligned with other societal and environmental changes. Given factors
other than gender, such as broader power dynamics and environmental factors were identified as influencing diet, viewing nutrition-related issues through an intersectional lens is important to inform equitable food policy in Fij
Perception of students on factors contributing to overweight and obesity among high school students in Kiribati: A qualitative study
No full textWhat do university students say about online learning and the COVID-19 pandemic in central Fiji? A qualitative study
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