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Item Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Smallholder Dairy Cattle Farmers in Tanzania: A Cross-Sectional Survey on Cattle Infertility(MDPI, Basel, Switzerland, 2025-10) Ngou A; Laven R; Parkinson T; Kashoma I; Donaghy DInfertility is one of the major farming constraints facing smallholder dairy cattle farming in Tanzania. Despite its impact, there is limited information on how farmers understand and manage it. The present study aimed to assess farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to dairy cattle infertility. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire involving 301 farmers across six major dairy-farming regions: Tanga, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Mbeya, Morogoro and Njombe. Overall, 95% of respondents reported encountering infertility on their farms. Farmers were asked to identify signs of infertility from the list of 10 (8 correct and 2 distractors); the median score for correct identification was 7 (range 2–10). The most recognised sign was return to oestrus after insemination (94%). Most farmers correctly identified low milk yield and mastitis as not being signs of infertility. The main reported causes included poor nutrition/housing (93%), livestock diseases (89%), poor record keeping (85%), and poor oestrus detection (83%). Nearly all (98%) viewed infertility as a serious issue, predominantly naming repeat breeding (95%) and failure to produce a calf/year (90%). Management strategies included seeking veterinary services (94%), slaughter (69%), sell to other farmers (23%) and self-treatment (16%). Our findings highlight widespread awareness of infertility while pointing out gaps in management, which reinforces the need for improved farmer education and support services.Item Low public awareness opens up new opportunities for highlighting milk as an iodine dietary source.(Elsevier B.V., 2024-09-17) Niero G; Censi S; Mian C; Manuelian CL; Rovai M; Tsiplakou E; da Costa L; Fuerst-Waltl B; Cruz AG; Berry DP; Lopez-Villalobos N; Masi A; Rakwal R; Hambardzumyan G; Borrisser-Pairó F; Koczura M; Trujillo Rojas LM; Albanell E; Rivera SG; González-Luna S; Berard J; De Marchi MThis international survey provides insights into public awareness of the importance of iodine as an essential trace mineral in human health along with knowledge of iodine dietary sources. The online questionnaire included sociodemographic aspects and dietary iodine consumer awareness on 7-point Likert-type questions. A total of 4,704 questionnaires from 16 countries were considered. Answers were analyzed through a multiple regression linear model including country, gender, age, education level, and employment status as fixed effects. Respondents were moderately aware of the importance of fish (4.86) and seafood (4.90) as dietary iodine sources, but less aware of milk as a primary iodine source (3.32). Respondent awareness varied considerably across countries. Age, education level, and employment status only modified their perception when asked about fish and seafood as a source of iodine, with elderly respondents, those highly educated and of working age being more aware of their relevance as dietary iodine sources. Respondent knowledge did not vary by age, education level, employment status, or gender when asked about cereals, vegetables and fruits, meat and milk as iodine-rich food sources. Consequently, labeling milk and dairy products as an iodine-rich food source should be considered. Public authorities can consider the results from this survey in promotional campaigns to improve the awareness of different iodine sources and their beneficial effect on health.Item An exploration of frontline health professional's current understanding of non-fatal strangulation.(John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2024-07-07) Donaldson AE; Ravono A; Hurren E; Harvey C; Baldwin A; Solomon BAim To explore frontline health professionals' current understanding of non-fatal strangulation and their need for and support for a comprehensive education and screening package to support health delivery. Design A descriptive mixed-method approach was chosen to analyse responses to an anonymous, online survey consisting of ten Likert scale, open-ended and five demographic questions. 103 frontline health professionals (nurses, doctors, paramedics, midwives) participated in this study. Methods Content analysis of the Likert scale and open-ended questions describing the subjective experiences and perceptions of the participants was undertaken along with percentage and frequency counts of the rated Likert responses. Results The findings identified that 51.1% of health professionals do not ask about strangulation routinely and that 59% of health professionals reported receiving no formal education or professional development on NFS to enhance their knowledge or inform clinical practice. No health professionals identified mild traumatic brain injury as a consequence or sign of strangulation, nor did they identify an understanding that 50% of people may have no visible injuries after being strangled. Health professionals also do not routinely document the different agencies referred to or involved in supporting the person who experienced NFS. Conclusion Findings suggest that frontline health professionals lack the confidence, skills and education needed to meet medical obligations to their patients and to fulfil their duty to ‘do no harm’. Frontline health professionals would welcome a comprehensive education and screening package to guide recognition and response to non-fatal strangulation in their clinical settings. Where and on Whom Will the Research Have an Impact? The purpose of the study was to understand and explore health professionals' knowledge about non-fatal strangulation so that improved education around better screening, and management of trauma-focused care to people who have been subjected to non-fatal strangulation could occur. No Patient or Public Contribution This review contains no patient or public contribution since it examines health professionals' knowledge of identifying non-fatal strangulation and the screening and assessment tools used in clinical practice.Item Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards vitamin D and sun exposure of parents of infants and young children and health professionals in New Zealand.(SAGE Publications, 2023-07-02) Von Hurst P; Mazahery H; Reynolds E; Thomson A; Franklin M; Conlon CBACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency may result in adverse long-term health consequences in adulthood if it occurs during fetal development, infancy and childhood. To effectively improve vitamin D status of infants/toddlers, there needs to be knowledge and awareness of vitamin D among parents and health professionals. AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate parents' and health professionals' knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards vitamin D and sun exposure over two timepoints. METHODS: The study was an ecological study over two timepoints (Parents 2009 and 2021; Health professionals 2010 and 2019) and used an online questionnaire. RESULTS: The analysis included 9834 parents (2009 n = 8032; 2021 n = 1802) and 283 health professionals (2010 n = 193; 2019 n = 90). Parents and health professionals had good knowledge of vitamin D sources, roles and risk factors for deficiency over two timepoints. There were however some confusions regarding the vitamin D content of breast milk, exclusive breastfeeding as a risk factor for deficiency, and ineffectiveness of sun exposure through glass windows in relation to vitamin D synthesis. In 2019, only 37% of health professionals indicated giving advice on supplements for infants/toddlers. Most parents and health professionals believed there was not enough information available to parents regarding vitamin D (>90%) and that skin cancer prevention messages make it difficult to get information about vitamin D across (>70%). CONCLUSION: Although parents and health professionals had good knowledge in most areas, knowledge of some specific sources and risk factors for vitamin D deficiency was poor.Item Pet Ownership in Aotearoa New Zealand: A National Survey of Cat and Dog Owner Practices.(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2023-02-11) Forrest R; Awawdeh L; Pearson M; Waran N; Paterson MThis study used an online survey distributed between January and March 2019 to adults residing in Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) to investigate cat and dog owner practices. Of the 2385 respondents, 885 (37%) owned both cat/s and dog/s, while 652 (28%) and 609 (26%) owned cat/s only or dog/s only, respectively. Nine percent of respondents (n = 212) did not own a cat or dog when the survey was administered. Gaps were identified in the practices of NZ pet owners with regard to regular grooming, immunizations, and deworming treatments. It was also found that many pets, especially cats, were allowed to wander freely both inside and outside the house. Collectively, these gaps in practice raise parasitology and infection concerns which may impact negatively on animal welfare and may increase the prevalence of zoonotic diseases. This study also revealed the need to improve desexing practices, particularly in dogs. Respondents in the survey expressed the wish to have pets regardless of the financial strain they may impose, indicating that future research should focus on reducing the financial burden of pet ownership along with promoting positive pet ownership practices. Our findings suggest the need for better education resources about pet ownership which are easily accessible and target diverse populations. The findings of this study will aid in developing appropriate educational resources to promote animal welfare and increase pet-related knowledge among the NZ populace.Item Evaluation of the Dangerous Decibels Brazil Program in Workers Exposed to Noise(Frontiers Media S.A., 2022-07-14) Bramati L; Marques JM; Gonçalves CGO; Welch D; Reddy R; Lacerda ABDM; Ye BINTRODUCTION: Noise-induced hearing loss can be avoided by taking preventive measures. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of the Brazilian version of the Dangerous Decibels® program for noise-exposed workers, using the ecological model as an educational intervention plan. METHOD: Non-randomized interventional study with a quantitative, experimental trial design, conducted at a meatpacking company. The participants were divided into two groups-the first one (n = 132, divided into 6 subgroups) received the Dangerous Decibels® Brazil educational intervention (DDBEI) adapted to workers while the second group (n = 138, divided into 5 subgroups) received a conventional educational intervention (CEI). The interventions lasted 50 min. The Hearing Protection Assessment Questionnaire (HPA-5) was administered before and after the interventions. The five dimensions (attitude, behavior, knowledge, supports, and barriers) were compared using the Student's t-test for paired data (<0.05). RESULTS: After both the DDBEI and CEI training, workers improved significantly in barriers, supports, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior around noise. By chance, the CEI group scored lower in all measures than the DDBEI group before training, and though both groups improved, the difference was maintained after training. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the Dangerous Decibels® program for noise-exposed workers was effective, influencing positively the factors at different levels of the ecological model. Though the DDBEI was no more effective than the CEI, the CEI participants began at much lower levels, so the effectiveness of the DDBEI may have been underestimated.Item An investigation of dietary iron intake and literacy among 11-14-year-old females in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand(Massey University, 2023) Jansen, ReneeBackground: Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency globally and is a common diagnosis in adolescent females. Physiological, dietary, and behavioural challenges all impact iron status in individuals. Causal factors of ID for adolescent females include low dietary iron intake, iron bioavailability, increased iron requirements and excessive iron losses. Up-to-date information on dietary iron intake and literacy in adolescent females is not available for health professionals in New Zealand. Aim: To determine dietary iron literacy and associations with dietary intakes of iron-rich foods in young adolescent females in New Zealand. Methods: Females (n=286) aged 11-14 years from all-girls schools around New Zealand were recruited to complete an anonymous online questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised of demographic questions, an iron literacy questionnaire adapted from previous research and a validated iron food frequency questionnaire. Results: The results suggest a moderate level of iron literacy in most participants (66.8%, n = 191), with 21.7% (n = 62) demonstrating low and 11.5% (n = 33) demonstrating high dietary iron literacy. Vegetarian, pescatarian, and vegan participants had higher iron knowledge scores than those not on a particular diet (P = 0.001). Age had a weak relationship with iron knowledge score category (x² = 6.27, P = 0.044). Significant differences were found between ethnic groups and food group consumption frequency. Seafood and legumes, eggs, nuts and seeds were eaten more frequently among Asian participants, while iron-fortified foods were eaten more frequently among Māori participants. Participants from higher decile schools were found to consume red meat (P = 0.009), seafood (P = 0.024) and fruit (P = 0.021) more frequently than those from moderate decile schools. There was no relationship between dietary iron literacy score and intake of iron-rich foods. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that iron literacy is low-moderate among adolescent females within New Zealand and is not associated with current dietary iron intake behaviours. Recommendations for future studies include objective measures of iron status and intake via biochemical data and food recalls and their association with iron literacy. Educational nutrition interventions may also be considered to support iron intake behaviours.Item Changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards vitamin D and sun exposure of parents of infants and young children in New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand(Massey University, 2021) Reynolds, EsmeBackground: Vitamin D deficiency can have serious health implications in early life, with severe deficiency resulting in rickets. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to extra-skeletal conditions during pregnancy, infancy and childhood. Vitamin D is synthesised following exposure to ultraviolet radiation; with factors impacting synthesis increasing the risk of deficiency. Therefore, parents’ knowledge about vitamin D is important for optimal vitamin D status in early life. In 2012 and 2013, the Ministry of Health (MoH) released a Consensus Statement on Vitamin D and Sun Exposure, followed by a Companion Statement for Pregnancy and Infancy with subsequent public health messaging. However, there is limited information on parents’ vitamin D knowledge in New Zealand. Aim: To determine the impact of these statements on vitamin D and sun exposure knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of parents of infants and young children in New Zealand. Methods: This ecological study utilised a cross-sectional questionnaire to collect data at two time points - 2009 and 2021 to compare knowledge, attitudes and behaviours and assess the impact of the MoH statements. Inclusion criteria included: youngest child <5 years, living in New Zealand, and understanding written English. Results: The analysis included 9,834 parents (2009 N=8,032, 2021 N=1,802). Knowledge of vitamin D roles was similar; however, a higher proportion of parents (48.2%) in 2021 correctly identified the role of vitamin D in immunity compared to 2009 (29.1%). Most parents lacked knowledge of high-risk factors for deficiency, including exclusive breastfeeding (98.1%, 95.1%) and darker skin colour (92.9%, 77.5%). Health professionals were not the main source of information (15.8%, 24.8%), and low advice rates on supplementation and sun exposure were reported. In 2021, 60.2% of parents reported health professionals or the MoH, and 24.5% reported the media or social media as their preferred source of information on vitamin D. Safe sun exposure practices were performed frequently in children during the summer in 2009 and 2021. Most parents (86.9%) in 2021 did not know current vitamin D and sun exposure recommendations. Conclusion: Overall, the impact of the MoH statements and subsequent public health messaging on parents’ knowledge has been minimal. To improve parents’ knowledge, the MoH could utilise social media to communicate public health information more effectively.Item Children's knowledge, cognitions and emotions surrounding natural disasters: An investigation of Year 5 students, Wellington, New Zealand(Massey University, 2013) King TA; Tarrant RACNew Zealand schools have a responsibility to ensure that children are informed about potential natural disasters, and are prepared with protective strategies. The present study aimed to investigate children’s knowledge, cognitions, and emotions concerning natural disasters, with a particular focus on earthquakes and tsunami. Thirty Year-5 school students (aged 9-10 years) from the Wellington region of New Zealand participated in researcher-led focus groups. The children were generally well informed, demonstrating an understanding of causes, characteristics, and potential consequences of earthquakes and tsunami. Thoughts and expectations regarding natural hazards, earthquakes in particular, centred on the unpredictability of natural disasters and on the expectation that there would be significant earthquakes in their region in the future. However, the children demonstrated assurance that the school and family were prepared with emergency supplies, and that they themselves and their families knew strategies for keeping safe in a disaster event. The children discussed these reassurances as a factor in reducing their fear of disasters, fear being the predominant negative emotion discussed by the children. The children indicated that learning at school had contributed to discussions with friends and family, this finding suggesting that disaster education at school is a critical component of children’s education and that this education has a flow-on effect at home and in the wider community.