Dataset Information

Cancer control in the Pacific: big challenges facing small island states.

ABSTRACT: This Series paper describes the current state of cancer control in Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs). PICTs are diverse but face common challenges of having small, geographically dispersed, isolated populations, with restricted resources, fragile ecological and economic systems, and overburdened health services. PICTs face a triple burden of infection-related cancers, rapid transition to lifestyle-related diseases, and ageing populations; additionally, PICTs are increasingly having to respond to natural disasters associated with climate change. In the Pacific region, cancer surveillance systems are generally weaker than those in high-income countries, and patients often present at advanced cancer stage. Many PICTs are unable to provide comprehensive cancer services, with some patients receiving cancer care in other countries where resources allow. Many PICTs do not have, or have poorly developed, cancer screening, pathology, oncology, surgical, and palliative care services, although some examples of innovative cancer planning, prevention, and treatment approaches have been developed in the region. To improve cancer outcomes, we recommend prioritising regional collaborative approaches, enhancing cervical cancer prevention, improving cancer surveillance and palliative care services, and developing targeted treatment capacity in the region.

SUBMITTER: Sarfati D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7746436 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Cancer control in the Pacific: big challenges facing small island states.

Sarfati Diana D Dyer Rachel R Sam Filipina Amosa-Lei FA Barton Michael M Bray Freddie F Buadromo Eka E Ekeroma Alec A Foliaki Sunia S Fong James J Herman Josephine J Huggins Linda L Maoate Kiki K Meredith Ineke I Mola Glen G Palafox Neal N Puloka Viliami V Shin Hai-Rim HR Skeen Jane J Snowdon Wendy W Tafuna'i Malama M Teng Andrea A Watters David D Vivili Paula P

The Lancet. Oncology 20190805 9

This Series paper describes the current state of cancer control in Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs). PICTs are diverse but face common challenges of having small, geographically dispersed, isolated populations, with restricted resources, fragile ecological and economic systems, and overburdened health services. PICTs face a triple burden of infection-related cancers, rapid transition to lifestyle-related diseases, and ageing populations; additionally, PICTs are increasingly havin ...[more]

PMID: 31395476

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Project description:Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have high and increasing rates of diet-related diseases. This situation is associated with a loss of food sovereignty and an increasing reliance on nutritionally poor food imports. A policy goal, therefore, is to improve local diets through improved local production of nutritious foods. Our aim in this study was to develop methods and collect preliminary data on the relationships between where people source their food, their socio-demographic characteristics and dietary quality in Fiji and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) in order to inform further work towards this policy goal. We developed a toolkit of methods to collect individual-level data, including measures of dietary intake, food sources, socio-demographic and health indicators. Individuals aged ≥15 years were eligible to participate. From purposively sampled urban and rural areas, we recruited 186 individuals from 95 households in Fiji, and 147 individuals from 86 households in SVG. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used to investigate associations. The mean dietary diversity score, out of 10, was 3.7 (SD1.4) in Fiji and 3.8 (SD1.5) in SVG. In both settings, purchasing was the most common way of sourcing food. However, 68% (Fiji) and 45% (SVG) of participants regularly (>weekly) consumed their own produce, and 5% (Fiji) and 33% (SVG) regularly consumed borrowed/exchanged/bartered food. In regression models, independent positive associations with dietary diversity (DD) were: borrowing/exchanging/bartering food (β = 0.73 (0.21, 1.25)); age (0.01 (0.00, 0.03)); and greater than primary education (0.44 (0.06, 0.82)). DD was negatively associated with small shop purchasing (-0.52 (95% CIs -0.91, -0.12)) and rural residence (-0.46 (-0.92, 0.00)). The findings highlight associations between dietary diversity and food sources and indicate avenues for further research to inform policy actions aimed at improving local food production and diet.

Project description:ObjectiveTo develop tobacco control strategies by analyzing online tobacco marketing information in China.MethodsUsing web-crawler software, this study acquired 106,485 pieces of online tobacco marketing information published on 11 different Internet platforms including Weibo, WeChat, Baidu, etc., from January-June 2018. The data were used to investigate the characteristics and social networks of online tobacco marketing via content and social network analysis.ResultsThe total volume of online tobacco marketing during the study period was high, showing a positive trend. Of all the marketing subjects, those involving "flavor capsule", "Marlboro", and "Esse" were the most popular. The Weibo platform had the highest volume of online tobacco marketing information as well as the largest proportion of explicit marketing information. This was followed by other social media platforms such as Baidu Search, Baidu Tieba, and Xiaohongshu, where implicit marketing information predominated. The overall network structure of tobacco websites exhibited a significant centralization feature, where traditional and novel tobacco websites formed two clusters with almost no intersections. The China Tobacco Science and Education Website (http://www.tobaccoinfo.com.cn/) and E-Cigarette Home (http://ecigm.com/) were the two nodes of the highest degree centrality within the respective "circle", while the China Tobacco Monopoly Bureau Website (http://www.tobacco.gov.cn/) was the node with the highest closeness centrality. By contrast, Baidu Tieba's overall network structure was more decentralized, and the degree of correlation between different nodes was relatively low.ConclusionOnline tobacco marketing demonstrated high volumes and wide coverage, and an intertwined network, thereby creating major obstacles for tobacco control. To address this issue, the government should strengthen network supervision of tobacco marketing and revise its current regulations. Meanwhile, Internet platforms should improve self-regulation by comprehensively removing and blocking tobacco-related information. Lastly, the media and public should advocate associated policies and support Internet platform supervision.

Dataset Information

Cancer control in the Pacific: big challenges facing small island states.

Publications

Cancer control in the Pacific: big challenges facing small island states.

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