Public Health in Practice最新文献

{"title":"Prevalence and determinants of unmet sexual and reproductive health needs among adolescent girls and young women in the Haut-Sassandra Region, Côte d'Ivoire","authors":"Ghislain Muzinga Kasenda ,&nbsp;Banéko Mariame Kone ,&nbsp;Jean Ramdé ,&nbsp;Abdoulaye Anne ,&nbsp;Maman Joyce Dogba ,&nbsp;Souleymane Diabaté","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100698","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100698","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa face persistent challenges in meeting their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs, contributing to high rates of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and key determinants of unmet SRH needs among sexually active AGYW living in the Haut-Sassandra region, Côte d’Ivoire.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Cross-sectional study.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This cross-sectional study, conducted in October 2023, included 342 sexually active AGYW randomly recruited from schools and public spaces within a 30-km radius around Daloa. Data were collected via a pre-tested quantitative questionnaire administered face-to-face. Unmet SRH needs were defined according to a multidimensional framework inspired by recent literature, encompassing both contraceptive and sexual health aspects, specifically, the coexistence of a desire to avoid pregnancy and inconsistent condom use and/or a history of unplanned pregnancy, abortion, or STI diagnosis in the past 12 months. Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to identify associated factors.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In total, 303 participants were included in the analyses. The mean age was 20.3 ± 2.8 years, and the overall prevalence of unmet SRH needs was 48.5 %. Sociodemographic factors positively associated with unmet needs included being married or cohabiting (p = 0.018), attending school (p = 0.029), living in an urban area (p = 0.005), and receiving money from non-family sources (p &lt; 0.0001). Behavioral factors such as alcohol, drug, and/or tobacco use (p = 0.009) and having two or more sexual partners (p = 0.015) were associated with increased unmet needs. At the contextual level, experiencing gender-based violence (p = 0.0001) and endorsing inequitable gender norms regarding sexual decision-making and condom use (p = 0.019) were significantly associated with unmet SRH needs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Sexually active AGYW in Haut-Sassandra face substantial challenges in meeting their SRH needs. Research-action studies are needed to design youth-driven interventions addressing inequitable gender norms and gender-based violence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100698"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of a medication safety reminder letter for high-risk patients under a universal health insurance scheme- A pilot study","authors":"Shou-Hsia Cheng ,&nbsp;Yafang Tsai","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100684","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100684","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Nudge interventions have been applied to change patients' health behavior in the areas of smoking cessation and healthy food choices. Patient activation is one of the key elements in the self-management of health. This study explored whether a medication safety reminder for high-risk patients can prompt doctors to reconcile patients’ prescriptions and examine the role of patient activation.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>This was a cross-sectional study.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study selected eleven thousand subjects from the list of patients with duplicated medication in 2019 provided by the Taiwanese single-payer insurance scheme. Postal reminder letters were sent to the patients. After a month, questionnaires were sent out to ask patients whether they had consulted their doctors after receiving the medication reminder letter, and the doctors checked or revised their prescriptions. A total of 841 completed questionnaires were received, and 34.8 % of them had asked their doctors to check the prescription.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results from regression models revealed that patients with higher patient activation had a higher rate (odds ratio [OR] = 2.617) of asking their doctor to check the prescription (p &lt; 0.001) compared with those with lower patient activation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The present study shows that nudging intervention by the health insurer to the patients can prompt individuals to request healthcare providers to check their prescriptions. This may reduce healthcare resource waste and increase care safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100684"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lower-sodium, potassium-enriched salt substitution: An opportunity for improving blood pressure in Jamaica?","authors":"Jacqueline P. Duncan ,&nbsp;Marshall K. Tulloch-Reid ,&nbsp;Trevor S. Ferguson ,&nbsp;Mary-Anne Land ,&nbsp;Bruce Neal","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2026.100726","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2026.100726","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100726"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapid review: Three ways local government could improve inequality, public health and wellbeing outcomes in supported housing in England","authors":"K. Kennedy ,&nbsp;A. Barnes ,&nbsp;A. Formby ,&nbsp;N. Pleace ,&nbsp;K. Pybus ,&nbsp;K. Brain ,&nbsp;F. Phillips","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100692","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100692","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To rapidly review evidence of public health, wellbeing, and/or inequality outcomes of different supported housing schemes, with a focus on identifying relevant lessons from the evidence for local government in England.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Rapid evidence review.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Peer reviewed qualitative, quantitative and/or mixed methods studies were identified for review. Databases (EMBASE, ASSIA) were searched in September–October 2024. A two-phase screening and selection process was conducted, with papers sifted and ranked for relevance. Data on outcomes, factors, and implications of supported housing related to public health, wellbeing and/or inequality was extracted from papers ranked of highest relevance.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Six key findings were identified: 1) health outcomes (e.g. symptom management, hospitalisation rates) in supported housing vary by type of support and population; 2) there are varied understandings of ‘successful’ outcomes for people who access supported housing: success depends on who is being supported and in what types of supported housing; 3) quality of life outcomes relate to how supported housing is operated and governed, and how support is provided; 4) the quality of the environment (physical housing, social and community) is critical to rehabilitation, life progression and health and wellbeing outcomes; 5) autonomy is clearly linked to resident experience, life progression and health and wellbeing outcomes; and 6) approaches to support and care are currently not addressing all needs nor promoting ‘successful’ care. Trust and relationships are key aspects to building successful care.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>As supported housing has been opaque historically in what it is, definitions, and what it is for, this has consequences for the system – therefore we need to be clearer about what the benefits are, and what realistic goals for supported housing should be. Three ways local government in England can improve supported housing are: 1) local government could usefully approach supported housing as a public health asset and link with relevant parties and leverage partnerships to affect change locally; 2) as supported housing is part of a complicated wider local system of service delivery, complexity-informed evaluation is needed to evaluate appropriate outcomes for populations or individuals accessing supported housing; and 3) because care and support approaches do not currently meet all needs, strategic action is needed in the supported housing sector to address both quality (e.g. undertrained staff) and quantity issues (e.g. insufficient amounts of care provided).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100692"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145939305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A short version of the post-COVID-19 condition stigma questionnaire","authors":"Liam Rourke ,&nbsp;Ronald Damant","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100696","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100696","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The purpose of this study was to develop a short version of the 40-item Post-COVID-19 Condition Stigma Questionnaire (PCCSQ) while preserving its factor structure, reliability, and validity. The PCCSQ is a sound tool for assessing the discrimination experienced by people with a diagnosis of long covid, but a shorter version would be less demanding of respondents experiencing fatigue and brain fog and easier for clinicians and researchers to administer.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>This was an observational study.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>From the original 40-items measuring the 6-factor construct <em>long covid stigma</em>, we assembled 12 items that represented the factors and discriminated among participants with high and low levels of stigma. We administered the shorter questionnaire to 99 long covid patients and assessed several of its measurement properties.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The 12-item instrument maintains the 6-factor structure of long covid stigma, has a mean discrimination index of 0.40 (sd = 0.08; range 0.22–0.48), an internal consistency of α = 0.89, a split-half reliability of 0.86, and it correlates predictably with theoretically-related variables.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The PCCSQ-12 is a feasible, reliable and valid means of assessing patients’ experience of long covid stigma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100696"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Working with democratically elected councillors: Reflections on research engagement in local government","authors":"Andrew Passey ,&nbsp;E.M. Brown ,&nbsp;James Woodall","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Although local politicians (councillors) in England are key decision-makers in relation to local services, little is known about how they use evidence in making decisions pertaining to the wider determinants of health. The setting-up of 30 Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs), commissioned to increase the capability and capacity of local authorities to use research and other evidence, provides an opportunity to plug this knowledge gap.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>A qualitative reflection on our initial experiences of working with councillors in one HDRC.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We critically reflect on these interactions to extract wider learning that will be of interest to researchers and practitioners in local authorities and potentially research funders. We develop a continuum of interactions with councillors in the HDRC based on our experiences.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Organisational positionality plays a crucial role in shaping research interactions and outcomes. By focusing on existing practices, preferences, and strengths, researchers can move beyond the deficit models that often dominate academic discourse. Engaging with councillors is rarely a linear process; it demands parallel approaches and a high degree of adaptability. Researchers must also remain attentive to both the challenges and opportunities presented by organisational structures and electoral cycles. In this context, mixed-methods research demonstrates resilience, accommodating the varied levels of engagement and involvement among councillors.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>We conclude from these experiences that research with councillors and building their capability to use research evidence in their work requires sustained, flexible, and relational approaches that are responsive to the political and organisational realities of local government.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100701"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring human milk donation: A cross-sectional study","authors":"Evy Present ,&nbsp;Els Driessen ,&nbsp;Yvonne Kuipers","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100716","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100716","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To examine and describe the current practices and perspectives regarding human milk donation in Belgium.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>A cross-sectional study was conducted, utilising an online survey distributed to women and their partners or co-parents.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Demographic and personal details and responses related to awareness, information resources, milk transfer, and donor-recipient and recipient-donor contact were obtained. We measured factors influencing the intention to donate and receive human milk (0–5 scale), attitudes toward human milk donation (1–4 scale) and donation practices (dichotomous responses). Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The analysis included 873 respondents. A surplus (4.6 ± 1.0) or shortage (3.9 ± 1.7) of milk is the primary factor influencing the intention to donate or receive human milk, reported by 88 % and 78 % of respondents, respectively. Most donations (85.7 %) occur through social media (50 %) and personal networks (47.6 %). Key perspectives of milk donation include healthcare providers’ familiarity (3.7 ± 0.5), public awareness (3.6 ± 0.5), mandatory blood testing (3.5 ± 0.7), and donor screening (3.5 ± 0.6). Human milk banks are perceived as valuable resources (3.5 ± 0.6), while altruism (3.4 ± 0.6) is key to donating. There is broad support for making human milk accessible to all infants, not just those who are premature or ill (3.4 ± 0.6).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Personal attitudes and intentions shape informal, self-regulated milk donation. Healthcare providers should consider these perspectives when advising on milk donation practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100716"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding the link between mental health disorders and professional quality of life among humanitarian workers: A cross-sectional study from the Thai-Myanmar border","authors":"Roshan Kumar Mahato,&nbsp;Naw Lar Paw,&nbsp;Kyaw Min Htike,&nbsp;Rajitra Nawawonganun","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100694","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The study aimed to explore the relationship between mental health disorders and professional quality of life (ProQOL) among humanitarian aid workers (HAWs) along the Thai-Myanmar border focusing on compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS).</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Cross-sectional study.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Data was collected through surveys using validated tools to measure compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. An independent <em>t</em>-test and ANOVA were used to compare groups. Linear regression models were applied to assess the relationships between social support, stress, and job outcomes. Pearson correlation was used to explore the associations between key variables, with significance set at P &lt; 0.05.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The mean scores were 34.87 ± 6.55 for compassion satisfaction, 24.68 ± 5.31 for burnout and 25.16 ± 6.19 for STS. Higher stress, depression and PTSD significantly increased burnout and STS. Quality of life (QOL) was positively linked with compassion satisfaction and negatively associated with burnout and STS. Multiple linear regression showed that family support (AMD: 1.524, 95 % CI: 1.14–1.91) and QOL (AMD: 0.088, 95 % CI: 0.04–0.14) predicted higher compassion satisfaction. Burnout was negatively associated with family support (AMD: 0.951, 95 % CI: 1.25 to −0.65) and QOL (AMD: 0.054, 95 % CI: 0.09 to −0.01) however positively linked to stress and PTSD.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study provided the mental health challenges of HAWs, emphasizing protective and risk factors that can inform targeted interventions to enhance their well-being in high-risk settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100694"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A mixed methods analysis of the implementation policy and practice gap of national food safety standards in China's grassroots areas (2023–2024) —— Based on the tracking evaluation in Ankang, Shaanxi Province","authors":"CuiFengFeng ,&nbsp;CuiXiang ,&nbsp;Uthumporn Utra ,&nbsp;Abdorreza Mohammadi Nafchi","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2026.100737","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2026.100737","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study focuses on Ankang City, Shaanxi Province, to explore the systemic barriers to implementing national food safety standards (NFSS) in grassroots areas of China. Using a mixed-methods approach, it investigates key gaps in policy implementation, practitioner capabilities, and government resource allocation in these regions. The aim is to propose actionable solutions to enhance compliance and effectiveness of National Food Safety Standards of China (NFSSC) in under-resourced areas.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>The survey targets county-level practitioners, enterprises, and government regulatory agencies. Additional methods include standard promotion training, field investigations, expert reviews, and exchange seminars. Data were analyzed through thematic coding and statistical evaluation, focusing on seven NFSSC categories, including the National Food Safety Standard for the Use of Food Additives (GB2760-2024) and the National Food Safety Standard for General Hygiene Practices in Catering Services(GB31654-2021).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study employs a mixed-methods approach, primarily using cross-sectional surveys conducted from October 2023 to November 2024 (n = 185 valid responses from 238 participants).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The main findings indicate that: (1) There is a lack of professional competence among practitioners: 97. 8 % of the workforce holds a bachelor degree or lower, with limited opportunities for professional training; (2) Policy implementation barriers: misunderstandings of standards (such as unclear classification in the Hygienic Specifications for Ready-to-Eat Fresh Cut Fruits and Vegetables (GB31652-2021)) and inconsistent enforcement; (3) Resource constraints: insufficient funding and personnel shortages from government regulators and relevant practitioners, leading to significant gaps between policy and practice during standard implementation. Among the 98 preliminary feedbacks, 42 were valid suggestions, most of which focused on promoting standards and providing technical guidance.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study highlights the implementation barriers between national standards and grassroots governance realities. We propose our solutions: (1) Establish and Improve the Third-Party Tracking Evaluation Service System in Grassroots Areas; (2) Optimize Inter-departmental Collaboration Mechanisms and Enhance Standard-related Publicity, Training, and Professional Competence Assessment at the Grassroots Level; (3) Establish an Expert Team or Management Evaluation Institution for Food Safety Standards; (4) Enhance the Special Fund Guarantee Mechanism for Standard Tracking and Evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100737"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146182771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Supporting families and building relationships: Evaluation of a home and sleep safety equipment scheme for impoverished communities","authors":"J. Bates ,&nbsp;O.C. Kokogho ,&nbsp;K.E. Dunstan-Smith ,&nbsp;L. Davison ,&nbsp;H.L. Ball","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2026.100733","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2026.100733","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Sleep safety and home safety resources allow families to care for babies and young children, preventing injuries and child death, adverse outcomes that are strongly linked to poverty and social deprivation. Parenthood involves unexpected costs and greater levels of unmet need for safety resources occur in low-income families. We evaluate a local authority scheme which enabled professionals in County Durham to apply for necessary safety equipment on behalf of eligible families.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>A holistic review of the first year of the operation of the Start For Life Fund (SFLF) scheme.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A mixed method approach was used comprising: 1) a descriptive analysis of the application data submitted by professionals; 2) an online survey to capture the views and experiences of staff who had and had not used the scheme; 3) semi structured interviews with staff applicants and recipient families.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>679 families (988 children) were supported during the first operational year, average cost £407 per family (£280/child). Three-quarters of children (72.3 %) were under three; over a third (35.7 %) were pre-birth to 1-year. Staff from seven services and over 20 job roles made applications for families with financial, relationship, housing, domestic violence, and disability-related needs, most from areas with high deprivation scores. 256 staff across 8 service areas submitted survey responses, 39 % of whom had used the scheme which was viewed extremely positively. Interviews with 13 staff and 7 families evidenced how children, families and practitioners benefitted. Recipients reported reduced stress and anxiety about child safety and increased parental confidence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>By providing families with the sleep and home safety equipment they can't afford the SFLF gives parents the opportunity to change behaviours and reduce the risk to babies and children from unintentional injury and death. It helps to improve working relationships between practitioners and families, reduces parental experiences of anxiety, and risk to staff of moral injury. Taking steps to reduce unexpected infant death and child unintentional injury is crucial for families in absolute and relative poverty. Other local authorities could emulate this scheme.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100733"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}