Publications by authors named "Lana M Elliott"
Article Synopsis
- - The taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Vanuatu and Fiji align with WHO recommendations, but their adoption is influenced by complex economic interests and power dynamics that haven't been thoroughly examined.
- - Using a political economy analysis, researchers uncovered that domestic industry actors, pro-tax coalitions, and informal policy processes all play critical roles in shaping SSB tax policies amid shifting trade incentives and political instability.
- - The study highlighted how different forms of capital (economic, social, cultural) affect policy influence, with cultural capital proving vital, ultimately leading to weaker SSB taxes in both countries due to protections favoring local industries.
Article Synopsis
- - The Government of Vanuatu implemented a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) excise tax in 2015, aiming to align with WHO recommendations for tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs), but the actual adoption process and interests it served remain unclear.
- - The study utilized case study methodology, analyzing policy documents and interviews to understand the political and economic context behind the SSB tax's introduction, finding that its development was largely finance-driven with minimal health personnel involvement.
- - Ultimately, the SSB tax did not achieve the combined health and economic benefits promised, reflecting the shortcomings of applying broad policy recommendations without considering local political and economic realities, emphasizing the need for more nuanced global health strategies.
Community Perceptions of the Determinants of Diabetes in Peri-Urban Vanuatu.
Asia Pac J Public Health
September 2021
Health promotion is a core component of the Pacific region's response to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) prevention and control. However, while health promotion should build on and be informed by contextually specific norms and social discourse, there remains a paucity in research that seeks to understand how people in the Pacific region comprehend chronic conditions and their determinants. Based in peri-urban Vanuatu, this codesigned study utilized an open-ended survey to investigate community perceptions of factors contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Taxation of tobacco, food, alcohol and other beverages has gained renewed attention in responding to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). While largely built on evidence from high-income countries (HICs), the projected economic and health benefits of these measures have increased calls for their use in price-sensitive low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, uptake has been sporadic and there remains little research on why and how LMICs utilise fiscal measures in response to NCDs.
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