1.
Mackay, Heather, 1976-
(författare)
Food Sources and Access Strategies in Ugandan Secondary Cities : An Intersectional Analysis
2019
Ingår i: Environment & Urbanization. - : SAGE Publications. - 0956-2478 .- 1746-0301. ; 31:2, s. 375-396
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
This article arises from an interest in African urbanization and in the food, farming and nutritional transitions that some scholars present as integral to urban life. The paper investigates personal urban food environments, food sources and access strategies in two secondary Ugandan cities, Mbale and Mbarara, drawing on in-depth interviews and applying an intersectional lens. Food sources were similar across dimensions of difference but food access strategies varied. My findings indicate that socioeconomic circumstance (class) was the most salient influence shaping differences in daily food access strategies. Socioeconomic status, in turn, interacted with other identity aspects, an individual’s asset base and broader structural inequalities in influencing urban food environments. Rural land and rural connections, or multispatiality, were also important for food-secure urban lives. The work illuminates geometries of advantage and disadvantage within secondary cities, and highlights similarities and differences between food environments in these cities and Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
2.
Mackay, Heather, 1976-
(författare)
A feminist geographic analysis of perceptions of food and health in Ugandan cities
2019
Ingår i: Gender, Place and Culture. - : Routledge. - 0966-369X .- 1360-0524. ; 26:11, s. 1519-1543
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
This article contributes to a feminist geographic analysis of how urban food and health environments and non-communicable disease experience may be being constructed, and contested, by healthcare professionals (local elites) in two secondary Ugandan cities (Mbale and Mbarara). I use thematic and group interaction analysis of focus group data to explore material and discursive representations. Findings make explicit how healthcare professionals had a tendency to prescribe highly classed and gendered assumptions of bodies and behaviours in places and in daily practices. The work supports the discomfort some have felt concerning claims of an African nutrition transition, and is relevant to debates regarding double burden malnutrition. I argue that a feministic analysis, and an intersectional appreciation of people in places, is advantageous to food and health-related research and policy-making. Results uncover and deconstruct a dominant patriarchal tendency towards blaming women for obesity. Yet findings also exemplify the co-constructed and malleable nature of knowledge and understandings, and this offers encouragement.
3.
Mackay, Heather
(författare)
Food, farming and health in Ugandan secondary cities
2019
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt) abstract
This research contributes to countering a large city research bias by focusing on the food, farming and health experiences of two secondary cities of Uganda: Mbale and Mbarara. It is not an apocalyptic story. Like anywhere in the world, for some residents things were going well; for others, less well. My research explores the varied geometries of advantage and disadvantage in diets, food security, and livelihood circumstances to shed light on why things were more secure for some than for others. I used multiple methods including a household survey, focus groups with local healthcare professionals, and in-depth interviews with varied city residents. A geographic perspective explored intersections of food, farming and health with aspects of identity (such as gender, class, tribe), and with place (the city itself, but also with rural areas, or other urban areas). The starting point was the theorised food system, nutritional and epidemiologic transitions predicted to occur with urban development, often called nutrition transition theory. My research suggests caution with dominant models of how urban life shifts food and farming systems towards a food system and diet pattern focused around large retailer supermarkets, processed foods, fast foods, more meat, less agriculture, less movement. Nutrition transition theory postulates these changes causing a shift in epidemiology from infectious to non-infectious diseases in urban areas. Instead of the suggestion from nutrition transition theory, my work presents evidence of non-communicable disease (obesity, diabetes, hypertension) experience in Mbale and Mbarara’s residents, but without evidence of advanced change in food and farming systems. Findings revealed relatively low dietary diversities and common food insecurity. Diets remained predominantly traditional, as did the main food sources (traditional markets and neighbourhood shops), across diverse residents. The more food secure had regular salaried employment and strong relational links with rural farms and family, supporting work on multi-spatial livelihoods. This contrasts with earlier ideas of who farms the African city, or retains farming livelihoods. Most vulnerable to food insecurity and low diet diversity were those who were most dependent on purchasing all their food. In conclusion, this research suggests that food system, nutritional and epidemiologic transitions in Mbale and Mbarara may be less linked than previously thought, or linked in more complex ways. Other drivers of epidemiologic change are likely. Findings highlight the importance of local data and specific city investigations.
4.
Karltun, Linley Chiwona, et al.
(författare)
Migration and the Food Environment
2017
Ingår i: Ending Childhood Obesity. - Uppsala, Sweden. ; , s. 20-25
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
5.
Virtanen, Marianna, et al.
(författare)
Long working hours and alcohol use : systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished individual participant data.
2015
Ingår i: BMJ (Clinical research ed.). - : BMJ. - 1756-1833 .- 0959-8138. ; 350, s. Art. no. g7772-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
OBJECTIVE: To quantify the association between long working hours and alcohol use.DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished individual participant data.DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of PubMed and Embase databases in April 2014 for published studies, supplemented with manual searches. Unpublished individual participant data were obtained from 27 additional studies.REVIEW METHODS: The search strategy was designed to retrieve cross sectional and prospective studies of the association between long working hours and alcohol use. Summary estimates were obtained with random effects meta-analysis. Sources of heterogeneity were examined with meta-regression.RESULTS: Cross sectional analysis was based on 61 studies representing 333 693 participants from 14 countries. Prospective analysis was based on 20 studies representing 100 602 participants from nine countries. The pooled maximum adjusted odds ratio for the association between long working hours and alcohol use was 1.11 (95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.18) in the cross sectional analysis of published and unpublished data. Odds ratio of new onset risky alcohol use was 1.12 (1.04 to 1.20) in the analysis of prospective published and unpublished data. In the 18 studies with individual participant data it was possible to assess the European Union Working Time Directive, which recommends an upper limit of 48 hours a week. Odds ratios of new onset risky alcohol use for those working 49-54 hours and ≥55 hours a week were 1.13 (1.02 to 1.26; adjusted difference in incidence 0.8 percentage points) and 1.12 (1.01 to 1.25; adjusted difference in incidence 0.7 percentage points), respectively, compared with working standard 35-40 hours (incidence of new onset risky alcohol use 6.2%). There was no difference in these associations between men and women or by age or socioeconomic groups, geographical regions, sample type (population based v occupational cohort), prevalence of risky alcohol use in the cohort, or sample attrition rate.CONCLUSIONS: Individuals whose working hours exceed standard recommendations are more likely to increase their alcohol use to levels that pose a health risk.
6.
Mackay, Heather, 1976-
(författare)
Of fatness, fitness and finesse : Experiences and interpretations of non-communicable diseases in urban Uganda
2022
Ingår i: Cities & Health. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2374-8834 .- 2374-8842. ; 6:1, s. 192-207
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
This paper explores the experiences and interpretations of non-communicable diseases in two secondary Ugandan cities: Mbale and Mbarara. Drawing inspiration from the concepts of social determinants of health, and geographic scholarship on embedded gendered and classed power dynamics, I employ a qualitative exploration and thick description to analyse data from twenty-two in-depth biographic interviews. Interviewees were from a range of circumstances, including, as AbdouMaliq Simone described, ‘the missing people’. Findings detail aspects of life with diabetes, obesity or hypertension in these cities, noting some views of wider social determinants, and some possible barriers to effective non-communicable disease management. Analysis of interpretations around gendered difference in obesity, in particular, revealed provocative conceptualisations of gendered livelihood strategies interwoven with body size beliefs, and the realities of oft-times insecure daily urban lives. The paper makes apparent the value of incorporating qualitative study, together with quantitative assessments, to investigate the experiences and interpretations of non-communicable disease in a specific context. In addition, the work provides insight into barriers to healthy urban living in the current socio-economic context of Ugandan, and potentially other sub-Saharan African, cities.
7.
Mosallanezhad, Z., et al.
(författare)
A structural equation model of the relation between socioeconomic status, physical activity level, independence and health status in older Iranian people
2017
Ingår i: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-4943 .- 1872-6976. ; 70, s. 123-129
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Background and aim: Health status is an independent predictor of mortality, morbidity and functioning in older people. The present study was designed to evaluate the link between socioeconomic status (SES), physical activity (PA), independence (I) and the health status (HS) of older people in Iran, using structural equation modelling. Methods: Using computerized randomly selection, a representative sample of 851 75-year-olds living in Tehran (2007-2008), Iran, was included. Participants answered questions regarding indicators of HS, SES and also PA and I through interviews. Both measurement and conceptual models of our hypotheses were tested using Mplus 5. Maximum-likelihood estimation with robust standard errors (MLR estimator), chisquare tests, the goodness of fit index (and degrees of freedom), as well as the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), and the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RSMEA) were used to evaluate the model fit. Results: The measurement model yielded a reasonable fit to the data, chi(2) = 110.93, df = 38; CFI = 0.97; RMSEA = 0.047, with 90% C.I. = 0.037-0.058. The model fit for the conceptual model was acceptable; chi(2) = 271.64, df = 39; CFI = 0.91; RMSEA = 0.084, with 90% C.I. = 0.074-0.093. SES itself was not a direct predictor of HS (beta = 0.13, p = 0.059) but it was a predictor of HS either through affecting PA (beta = 0.31, p < 0.001) or I (beta = 0.57, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Socioeconomic status appeared to influence health status, not directly but through mediating some behavioral and self-confidence aspects including physical activity and independence in ADL. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
8.
Hultman, Barbro, et al.
(författare)
Self-rated quality of life among the young unemployed and the young in work in northern Sweden
2008
Ingår i: Work. - 1051-9815 .- 1875-9270. ; 30, s. 461-472
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
This study analysed self-assessed quality of life (QoL), using a QoL questionnaire (Hörnquist´s QLcs) covering life spheres, somatic health, mental well-being, cognitive ability, social and family life, activity, financial situation, meaning in life and a global score "entire life", for young people aged 18-24 in a population-based cross-sectional study in northern Sweden. Of these, 651 were unemployed and 2802 were in work (employed, students and in military service). Results showed that the young unemployed exhibited poorer QoL than the young in work and the greatest difference was found regarding their financial situation. Young men rated somatic health and mental well-being higher than young women. However, QoL in other essential domains was rated higher by young women in work. Close friends and money reserve were important for all participants, no matter whether they were employed or not. The risk of being young and unemployed was greater if the person had a worse financial situation, shorter education and fewer leisure activities with other people. Finally, it was concluded that while QoL is poorer when in unemployment - both for the young and those who are older (aged 25-64) - psychological well-being, in contrast to several previous studies, is even poorer for young people than for those who are older. This is worrying in a public health perspective and could have implications for unemployment policies for younger and less well-educated age groups.
9.
Fjellström, Sanna, et al.
(författare)
Increasing physical activity through an adapted web-based exercise program for people with intellectual disabilities : Support staff are crucial for feasibility
2024
Ingår i: JARID. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1360-2322 .- 1468-3148. ; 37:2
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
BackgroundPeople with intellectual disabilities are less physically active and suffer from ill-health more than the general population. Support staff play an important role in the person's life. This study aimed to explore the support staff's experiences regarding the feasibility of adapted web-based exercise for people with intellectual disabilities.MethodParticipants with intellectual disabilities living in community-based settings were recruited for a web-based exercise study. Eight semi-structured interviews were carried out with their support staff before and after the intervention period.ResultsThe main theme, ‘Support staff are crucial for feasibility’ encompasses the importance of communication, structure, and motivation in improving physical activity for people with intellectual disabilities.ConclusionThe experiences of support staff, indicate that a web-based exercise program is feasible for the target group, and one way to overcome challenges for PA, where the role of the staff is crucial.
10.
Lagrosen, Stefan, 1960-, et al.
(författare)
The effects of workplace learning on employee health
2018
Ingår i: Proceedings of the International Conference on Intellectual Capital, Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning, ICICKM. - : Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited. - 9781912764099 ; , s. 143-150
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat) abstract
The purpose of this paper is to examine associations between workplace learning and the health of the employees. In addition, connections to flow, sense of coherence, sexual harassment and workplace bullying are investigated. A questionnaire was constructed including previously tested constructs of workplace learning, workplace health and flow as well as new constructs concerning Sense of Coherence, sexual harassment and workplace bullying. The survey was delivered to a sample of Swedish secondary school teachers. 311 questionnaires were returned. They were analysed with correlation analyses and cluster analysis. The findings indicate significant associations between workplace learning and workplace health as well as Sense of Coherence, flow and workplace bullying. However, there was no significant correlation between sexual harassment and any of the other factors except workplace health. On the other hand, workplace health was found to be significantly related to flow and sense of coherence. The research implications of the findings are that workplace learning can be a means of improving the health of the employees as well as decreasing the risk of workplace bullying. Moreover, workplace learning may contribute to flow which in turn is also connected to workplace health. The findings are related to a theoretical framework with contributions from workplace learning, positive psychology and workplace health promotion. The implications for practitioners are that there is an additional reason to focus on workplace learning in organisations, namely the prospect of a healthier workplace. No previous research has addressed the associations between workplace learning, flow, bullying and health and in general, research into connections between learning and health at workplaces is very limited. Thus, the study has certain originality.
