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The purpose of this study is to describe the systematic process in developing an interpersonal communication material for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the City of Manila, Philippines.

The systematic process in the development of an interpersonal communication material is presented. The seven steps in the process included mapping of available health communication materials, needs identification, development of the material, pretesting, finalization, printing/production and orientation on the use of the material.

The process followed an iterative, multistakeholder approach in order to ensure that all important insights are obtained and that the final material is contextualized, easily communicated and culturally appropriate. It is important to consider context and culture on top of the methodology in order to ensure development of appropriate interpersonal communication material. It is also important that the experience of the primary health-care workers on the use of the interpersonal communication material is properly documented for future reference, through both quantitative and qualitative evaluations.

The seven-step systematic process utilized can be used as a model in developing health communication materials in the field of health promotion and education.

The purpose of this study describes how individuals; healthcare providers and the government can reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria.

This commentary paper combines extensive literature searches and experience from public health physicians.

Noncommunicable diseases are chronic diseases. They result from a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors. NCDs are divided into four classes: cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Noncommunicable diseases are responsible for about a quarter of total deaths in Nigeria. These deaths are unnecessary as most NCDs can be prevented if the risk factors are dealt with. Dealing with these risk factors involves everyone (Individuals, government, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary researchers, policymakers, government, etc.).

Major risk factors for NCDs are tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. The solution to NCDs, therefore, lies in dealing with these factors, which, fortunately, are modifiable since they have to do with lifestyle practices. There is evidence to support the claim that a reduction of the risks of NCDs can be achieved by engaging in healthy lifestyle practices.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread across countries, it is becoming increasingly clear that the presence of pre-existing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) dramatically increases the risk of aggravation in persons who contract the virus. The neglect in managing NCDs during emergencies may result in fatal consequences for individuals living with comorbidities. This paper aims to highlight the need for a paradigm shift in the governance of public health emergencies to simultaneously address NCD and noncommunicable disease (CD) pandemics while taking into account the needs of high-risk populations, underlying etiological factors, and the social, economic, and environmental determinants that are relevant for both CDs and NCDs.

The paper reviews the available global frameworks for pandemic preparedness to highlight the governance challenges of addressing the dual agenda of NCDs and CDs during a public health emergency. It proposes key strategies to strengthen multilevel governance in support of countries to better prepare for public health emergencies through the engagement of a wide range of stakeholders across sectors.

Addressing both CD and NCD pandemics during public health emergencies requires (1) a new framework that unites the narratives and overcomes service and system fragmentations; (2) a multisectoral and multistakeholder governance mechanism empowered and resourced to include stakeholders across sectors and (3) a prioritized research agenda to understand the political economy of pandemics, the role played by different political systems and actors and implementation challenges, and to identify combined strategies to address the converging agendas of CDs and NCDs.

The article is based on the review of available published evidence.

The uptake of the strategies proposed will better prepare countries to respond to NCD and CD pandemics during public health emergencies.

The article is the first of its kind addressing the governance challenges of the dual pandemic of NCDs and CDs in emergencies.

Involvement of youth in electronic sports is increasing and outdoor sports are decreasing day by day. It not only affects their health but also leads them towards noncommunicable diseases. Risk of noncommunicable diseases is associated with physical inactivity and affects physical and mental health. It results in different personal and social implications. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of outdoor sports and risks of electronic sports for health.

The data for study is collected from 450 university students using purposive sampling technique. In order to measure outdoor sports, a four items instrument developed by Simon and Smoll (1974) is used. For electronic sports, instrument is adopted from Lemmens et al. (2009) and for health of youth, instrument by Bailis et al. (2003) is used. After reliability and validity check, structural equation modeling is used to analyze data.

The results reveal that perceived outdoor sports have significant positive impact on health, whereas electronic sports have negative impact on youth health that lead them to certain noncommunicable diseases. There is need to emphasize and encourage youth for outdoor sports and avoid indulging in esports that may lead to addiction.

Electronic games have various risks for the development of syndromes among younger generation. Awareness should be provided that physical activities are essential for healthy life and how risky be the esports for their health. This study may be helpful for government as well to reduce dependency of youth on technological devices and provide necessary recreation facilities to engage in. This research study validates that outdoor sports have significantly positive impact on health of youth and it reduces health related problems and destructive behaviors among youth.

Involvement of youth in electronic sports is increasing and outdoor sports are decreasing day by day. It not only affects their health, but also leads them toward non-communicable diseases. The present study examines the impact of esports and physical sports on youth health.

Kerala, a southern state in India, is acknowledged for its socio-economic reforms such as quality health care, gender parity, high literacy rate and more. However, recent trends show that the state has the highest incidence of various noncommunicable diseases in the country, including diabetes, hypertension and heart coronary artery disease. This research paper aims to examine the link between the Kerala population’s lifestyle, diet and genetic factors and its correlation with a heightened cardio-metabolic risk.

Using Dixon Wood’s interpretive synthesis, this qualitative literature review is systematically used by searching, gathering articles, theme building, comparing and criticising the evidence.

The result shows that only minimal evidence is available regarding the genetic makeup of the Kerala community, food patterns and its link to the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, limited and contradicting evidence and studies restricted to a particular region in the state demand more research on this domain.

It is vital to review the diet habits of Keralites due to the alarmingly high prevalence of NCDs. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review of the diet habits of Kerala and their link to NCDs.

There is sufficient evidence to prove that the improved health status of a nation’s citizens results in economic growth and development via improved functionality and productivity of labor. It is also commonly accepted that healthcare expenditure significantly influences health status through, for instance, improving life expectancy at birth and reducing morbidity, death, and infant mortality rates. Within healthcare, medicines account for a considerable share of health-related expenditure in both developed and developing countries. Therefore, it seems reasonable to assume that improved access to medicines is likely to contribute not only to the well-being of families and individuals but also to the economic growth and development in all societies. It has been widely advocated that pharmaceutical multinational enterprises (MNEs) can play an important role to address this problem, as they develop and supply a significant proportion of the drugs imported by low- and middle-income countries. This chapter is dedicated to a systematic review of literature in order to identify the strategies implemented by pharmaceutical MNEs to improve access to medicines in the low- and middle-income countries. A total of 76 research articles have been identified, and we have found that the main strategies of pharmaceutical MNEs are related to improving health outcomes through R&D, establishing partnerships for product development, pricing strategies to improve access to medicines, technology transfer, licensing agreements, and nonmarket efforts to improve access to medicines, among other strategies to overcome barriers imposed by intellectual property rights. We have also found that pharmaceutical MNEs’ strategies take place within a complex system and often involve interactions with a wide range of actors, such as international organizations, governments, private not-for-profit sector, universities and research institutes, and generic manufacturers. However, there is still a need for major progress in the field of access to medicines, and pharmaceutical MNEs should be more active in this field in order to avoid potential negative consequences, such as loss of legitimacy and compulsory licensing of their patented medicines.

The purpose of the study was to examine the electricity challenges confronting slums in order to understand the health implications thereof.

The study utilized purposive sampling techniques supported by the convenience sampling method within the context of qualitative research to select 30 interviewees of varying demographics for in-depth interviews.

The findings revealed that slums faced various forms of challenges that are attributable to lack of government support, stringent procedures and financial hardship, among others. The study also found that a lack of health education in the slums has resulted in health problems, such as skin diseases, stomach aches, cholera, typhoid and childbirth complications.

The outcome of this study cannot be generalized to represent the whole population of slums within context due to the qualitative approach.

The study advanced the frontiers of slum literature to understand contextual issues that are important to policymakers and practitioners.

This study revealed a country-specific understanding of the challenges confronting slum dwellers in accessing electricity through the perspective of the two-factor theory of motivation.

Front-of-pack nutritional labels have been extensively studied to support consumers in making healthier and more informed food choices. However, existing research has gathered conflicting evidence about which category of label, nutrient-specific or summary labels, is more effective. As a result, the European Union has postponed its decision on selecting a unified label to collect additional information. This study specifically focusses on individuals with noncommunicable diseases, an overlooked yet relevant segment of consumers who can significantly benefit from the proper use of nutritional labels in their self-care.

In a sequence of three studies grounded in the front-of-pack acceptance model and focussing on customers with specific noncommunicable diseases, the authors examined the different effects of the NutrInform Battery and Nutri-Score on food acceptance and portion selection. This research involved the use of structural equation modelling and ANOVA and was conducted with a cumulative sample of 2,942 EU adults, residing in countries with or without previous exposure to nutritional labels.

The results suggest that among individuals with noncommunicable diseases, nutrient-specific labels are perceived as more useful and easier to use. They also generate a better attitude towards the usage of nutritional labels and are more effective in nudging those consumers towards a proper selection of portions.

The results provide valuable insights into how front-of-pack nutritional labels can impact the food choices of individuals with noncommunicable diseases and have implications for public health policies.

Investigation of the effects of NutrInform Battery and Nutri-Score on consumers with noncommunicable diseases, an area currently under-researched.

Building a culture of safety in transportation is not dissimilar from building a culture of safety in health. Public health is widely known for protecting the public from diseases through milk pasteurization and chlorination of drinking water, and from injuries by implementing environmental and occupational safeguards and fostering behavioral change. Lifestyle and environmental changes that have contributed to the reductions in smoking and heart disease can also help change driving, walking and cycling behaviors, and environments. Stimulating a culture of safety on the road means providing safe and accessible transportation for all. The vision for a culture of traffic safety is to change the public’s attitude about the unacceptable toll from traffic injuries and to implement a systems approach to traffic injury prevention as a means for improving public health and public safety. Framing the motor vehicle injury problem in this way provides an opportunity for partnerships between highway safety and public health to improve the culture of safety.

Recent public health policy emphasizes the achievement of healthy aging as average life expectancy increases worldwide. Evidence for healthy aging from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) is limited. The purpose of this paper is to assess the prospects of healthy aging and its associated factors in the Indian context.

The study was based on a national-level panel survey, the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS) conducted in 2004-05 and 2011-12. The analytical sample consists of 10,218 elderly individuals who were 60 years old and above at the baseline. Change in health status was assessed based on disability and disease incidence at the follow-up. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was performed to assess health status change.

Increasing age was a risk factor for all dimensions of health outcomes. Elderly from the lowest wealth quintiles were more likely to lose health due to short-term morbidity, whereas the highest wealth quintiles were more likely to lose health due to long-term and multi-morbidity, indicating evidence for the presence of the “disease of affluence”. Social capital, such as living in a joint family acted as a protective factor against health risks.

With the results showing the evidence of the “disease of affluence” and “disease of poverty” in different health outcomes, there should be a health policy focus that copes with undergoing epidemiological transition. It is also important to pay attention to health-protecting factors such as social and familial support to achieve healthy aging.