The NOSH (Nourishing Start for Health) three-phase research study is testing whether offering financial incentives for breastfeeding improves six-eight-week breastfeeding rates in low-rate areas. This article describes phase one development work, which aimed to explore views about practical aspects of the design of the scheme. Interviews and focus groups were held with women (n = 38) and healthcare providers (n = 53).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Despite a gradual increase in breastfeeding rates, overall in the UK there are wide variations, with a trend towards breastfeeding rates at 6-8 weeks remaining below 40% in less affluent areas. While financial incentives have been used with varying success to encourage positive health related behaviour change, there is little research on their use in encouraging breastfeeding. In this paper, we report on healthcare providers' views around whether using financial incentives in areas with low breastfeeding rates would be acceptable in principle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To examine the health status of adults from black and minority ethnic groups and from a socio-economically mixed White population, all resident in England.
Design: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey using validated standardised health measures of a sample of Gypsies and Travellers, Pakistani Muslims, African Caribbean, and White adults living in five geographical locations. Health outcomes included general health, health in the past year, limiting long-term illness, anxiety, depression, respiratory symptoms and angina.
J Epidemiol Community Health
March 2007
Objective: To illuminate findings of the survey of the health status of Gypsies and Travellers by exploring their health-related beliefs and experiences.
Design: Qualitative study of a purposive subsample from in-depth interviews using framework analysis.
Setting: The homes or alternative community settings of the participants in five geographically dispersed study locations in England.
Objective: To provide the first valid and reliable estimate of the health status of Gypsies and Travellers in England by using standardised instruments to compare their health with that of a UK resident non-Traveller sample, drawn from different socioeconomic and ethnic groups, matched for age and sex.
Design: Epidemiological survey, by structured interview, of quota sample and concurrent age-sex-matched comparators.
Setting: The homes or alternative community settings of the participants at five study locations in England.