When and why do people change their minds in favor of vaccination? Longitudinal analyses of switching COVID-19 vaccination preferences.

Background: Vaccinations are a cornerstone of public health. However, reluctance to accepting vaccines is common. Using longitudinal data, we investigated which individual and contextual factors were associated with switching preferences from initial hesitancy or unwillingness toward acceptance of a first COVID-19 vaccination.

A qualitative study to explore traffic police personnel perceptions towards road safety behaviour among young riders in Manipal, India.

Road crash injuries are significant public health issues in many low-and middle-income countries. Every year more than 1.35 million people lose their lives due to road crashes, making it one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

Social networks and COVID-19 vaccination intention in Dutch middle-aged and older adults in 2020: Insights into individual, interpersonal, community, and societal determinants - The SaNAE study.

Background: Social networks, our social relationships, influence the spread of infectious diseases and preventive behaviors such as vaccination. Here, we aimed to assess which individual, interpersonal (social network characteristics), community and societal factors are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination intention during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, prior to vaccine availability.

Methods: This cross-sectional study collected primary data from 5,001 community-dwelling adults aged 40 years and older in the Netherlands, using an online questionnaire from August and November 2020.

Improving Retention and HIV Viral Suppression: A Cluster Randomised Pilot Trial of a Lay Counsellor Motivational Interviewing Training in South Africa.

We piloted a Motivational Interviewing (MI) training program for lay counsellors in South Africa (SA) to assess its impact on retention and viral suppression among newly diagnosed individuals living with HIV (PLHIV) at 12 months post-diagnosis. We randomized eight primary healthcare clinics (PHC) in Johannesburg to either the intervention clinics (n=4) where all lay counsellors were supported for 12 months before the PLHIV enrolment or the standard of care (n=4 clinics). Overall, 548 adults (≥ 18 years) PLHIV were recruited after HIV diagnosis from March 2020 to August 2021 (n=291 intervention, n=257 control).

Spatio-temporal distributions of COVID-19 vaccine doses uptake in the Netherlands: a Bayesian ecological modelling analysis.

In the transitioning era towards the COVID-19 endemic, there is still a sizable population that has never been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Netherlands. This study employs Bayesian spatio-temporal modelling to assess the relative chances of COVID-19 vaccination uptake - first, second, and booster doses - both at the municipal and regional (public health services) levels. Incorporating ecological regression modelling to consider socio-demographic factors, our study unveils a diverse spatio-temporal distribution of vaccination uptake.

Improving patient-centred counselling skills among lay healthcare workers in South Africa using the Thusa-Thuso motivational interviewing training and support program.

We developed a motivational interviewing (MI) counselling training and support program for lay counsellors in South Africa-branded "Thusa-Thuso-helping you help", commonly referred to as Thusa-Thuso. We present the results of a pilot study to determine the program's impact on MI technical skills and qualitatively assess the feasibility of a training-of-trainers (TOT) scale-up strategy among counselling staff of non-governmental (NGO) support partners of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment program in South Africa. We enrolled adult (≥ 18 years) lay counsellors from ten primary healthcare clinics in Johannesburg (South Africa) selected to participate in the Thusa-Thuso training and support program.

Integrating 'undetectable equals untransmittable' into HIV counselling in South Africa: the development of locally acceptable communication tools using intervention mapping.

Background: The global campaign for "Undetectable equals Untransmittable" (U = U) seeks to spread awareness of HIV treatment as prevention, aiming to enhance psychological well-being and diminish stigma. Despite its potential benefits, U = U faces challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa, with low awareness and hesitancy to endorse it. We sought to develop a U = U communications intervention to support HIV counselling in primary healthcare settings in South Africa.

Promoting informed decision making about maternal pertussis vaccination: the systematic development of an online tailored decision aid and a centering-based group antenatal care intervention.

Introduction: Maintaining and enhancing vaccine confidence continues to be a challenge. Making an informed decision not only helps to avoid potential future regret but also reduces susceptibility to misinformation. There is an urgent need for interventions that facilitate informed decision-making about vaccines.

The end point of it is abstinence: a qualitative analysis of underlying factors influencing Christian leaders' adoption and implementation of sex and sexuality education in Bolgatanga, Ghana.

Adolescents' sexual and reproductive health challenges are of global public health concern and good quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education has an important role to play in addressing these negative sexual health outcomes. Yet in most Sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana, there is limited implementation of SRH education. Several environmental factors hinder the implementation of SRH education with the attitudes expressed by religious leaders having a major impact.

Who is providing HIV testing services? The profile of lay counsellors providing HIV testing services in Johannesburg, South Africa in the treat-all era.

Background: Lay counsellors are critical in sustaining access to HIV testing services (HTS) and psychosocial support for persons living with HIV (PLHIV). We aimed to describe the professional and psychosocial profiles of lay counsellors in primary healthcare (PHC) clinics in Johannesburg, South Africa under the universal-test-and-treat (UTT) policy context.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of a cross-sectional survey among adult (≥ 18 years) lay counsellors from 20 PHC facilities (2-3/ clinic) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Social-psychological determinants of hormonal contraceptive use intentions among adolescent girls in the Bono East Region of Ghana.

Introduction: The correct and consistent use of hormonal contraceptive (HC) methods by sexually active adolescent girls can prevent pregnancy and avert the health and social consequences of unwanted pregnancy for both the mother and her child. Despite these benefits, research shows that HC use is rather low among adolescent girls globally and especially among those in low and middle-income countries. This study was carried out to assess the social-psychological determinants of HC use intentions among adolescent girls and young women.

A qualitative analysis of factors influencing the implementation of antiretroviral treatment adherence policy in Ghana: stakeholders perspective.

Background: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS launched the 90-90-90 initiative. Failure to meet the target reflects the difficulties in successfully implementing HIV treatment policy. There are research gaps in exploring personal and external factors influencing HIV treatment in Ghana.

Considerable doubt about rubella screening and vaccination among unvaccinated orthodox protestant women: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Women who are susceptible to rubella are advised to vaccinate against rubella to prevent infection in future pregnancies, and thus avert the risk of congenital rubella syndrome in their unborn child. Rubella outbreaks periodically occur in the under-vaccinated orthodox Protestant community in the Netherlands. The objective of this mixed-methods study was to determine and understand personal experience with rubella, perceived rubella susceptibility, and intention to accept rubella screening and vaccination among unvaccinated orthodox Protestant women.

Moderators of the Effectiveness of UPcomplish on Office Workers' Sedentary Behaviour, Quality of Life, and Psychosocial Determinants: A Stepped Wedge Design.

Background: In the earlier developed and evaluated 12-week UPcomplish intervention, the aim was to reduce sedentary behaviour (SB) among office workers and increase their quality of life (QoL). In the current study, we explored moderators of effectiveness.

Method: We applied a stepped wedge design with five intervention groups starting with time lags of seven weeks (n = 142, 96 females).

Perception and use of social media by Indonesian adolescents and parents: A qualitative study.

Social media are popular among adolescents worldwide, including the global South. The way adolescents use social media is influenced by their own perception of social media but also by how their parents use and perceive social media. This study aims to understand how Indonesian young adolescents (12-15 years old) and parents of adolescents use and perceive social media.

Promoting children's sleep health: Intervention Mapping meets Health in All Policies.

Background: To design a comprehensive approach to promote children's sleep health in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we combined Intervention Mapping (IM) with the Health in All Policies (HiAP) perspective. We aimed to create an approach that fits local infrastructures and policy domains across sectors.

Methods: First, a needs assessment was conducted, including a systematic review, two concept mapping studies, and one cross-sectional sleep diary study (IM step 1).

The effect of emotion regulation strategies on decision-making about the maternal pertussis vaccination among pregnant women in the Netherlands: an experimental study.

Objective: To assess whether cognitive reappraisal and acceptance are effective emotion regulation strategies to decrease the influence of negative affect on intention to accept maternal pertussis vaccination (MPV) among pregnant women in the Netherlands.

Methods: An experimental study with baseline and two follow-up measurements was conducted. Participants selected after baseline (N = 382) were randomized into two experimental groups (cognitive reappraisal, acceptance) and a control group.

Facebook use intensity and depressive symptoms: a moderated mediation model of problematic Facebook use, age, neuroticism, and extraversion.

Background: Research on the relationship between Facebook use intensity and depressive symptoms has resulted in mixed findings. In contrast, problematic Facebook use has been found to be a robust predictor of depressive symptoms. This suggests that when intense Facebook use results in a problematic usage pattern, it may indirectly predict depressive symptoms.

The Association Between Neuroticism and Problematic Social Networking Sites Use: The Role of Fear of Missing out and Self-Control.

Problematic use of social networking sites (SNS) has a negative impact on mental health. It has been found that people who score high on neuroticism are especially vulnerable towards engaging with SNS in a problematic way but it is not clear which psychological mechanisms explain this relationship. We addressed this issue by examining the mediating role of fear of missing out and self-control in the relationship between neuroticism and problematic SNS use.

The Future Positive micro-intervention protocol: A program aiming to increase a healthy life-style among employees with a low socio-economic position.

This paper describes the development of a Dutch micro-intervention, , that aims to increase health behaviors among employees with a low socio-economic position (SEP), with the ultimate aim to decrease socio-economic health inequalities. Intervention Mapping (IM) was used to adapt previously developed psychological capital interventions into a micro-intervention suitable to be delivered in the work context for employees with a low socio-economic position. The first 4 steps of IM including the results of pre-testing the developed intervention program are described.

Correlates of hepatitis B testing in Ghana: The role of knowledge, stigma endorsement and knowing someone with hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B testing is the gateway for prevention and care. However, previous studies document low hepatitis B testing uptake in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigated knowledge, stigma endorsement and knowing someone with hepatitis B as correlates of hepatitis B testing behaviours among people in the Greater Accra and Northern regions of Ghana.