IntroductionThe early years are a critical period in a child's health and development, yet most preschool children fail to meet physical activity guidelines. Outside of the home and neighbourhood, children spend a large proportion of time within early childhood education and care (ECEC) services such as long day care. Research is required to determine how the design of day care outdoor (and indoor) spaces provides opportunities or constraints for physical activity. A significant evidence gap surrounds what objectively measured attributes of the home and neighbourhood environment influence preschoolers’ physical activity. The PLAY Spaces & Environments for Children's Physical Activity (PLAYCE) study will empirically investigate the relative and cumulative influence of the day care, home and neighbourhood environment on preschoolers’ physical activity.Methods and analysisThe PLAYCE study is a cross-sectional observational study (April 2015 to April 2018) of 2400 children aged 2–5 years attending long day care in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. Accelerometers will measure physical activity with indoor physical activity measured using radio frequency identification. Global positioning systems will be used to determine outdoor location of physical activity around the home and neighbourhood for a subsample (n=310). The day care environment will be objectively measured using a validated audit tool. Other potential individual, social and physical environmental influences on preschoolers’ physical activity will be collected by geographic information systems measures, parent and day care educator surveys.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted by The University of Western Australia Human Ethics Research Committee, approval number RA/4/1/7417. Findings will be published in international peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. Key findings will be disseminated to stakeholders, collaborators, policymakers and practitioners working in the ECEC sector. Day care centre directors and parents will be given a summary report of the key findings.
on behalf of the END RHD CRE Investigators Collaborators Acknowledgements: • Children, families and communities living with RHD-We thank the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for sharing their stories in the Endgame Strategy, and acknowledge that the research and data in this publication reflect the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities affected by the ongoing trauma of ARF and RHD. • END RHD Review Working Group-We thank the following members of the END RHD Alliance, who formed an expert working group to review content of the Endgame Strategy for feasibility and acceptability, including review from a cultural perspective:
Background Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a preventable yet deadly condition resulting from untreated Group A Streptococcus infection. Despite being eliminated from most high-income countries, RHD and its precursor acute rheumatic fever (ARF) persist in developing countries and settings of disadvantage. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience among the world's highest rates. Following five years of research, investigation and advocacy, the Endgame Strategy provides a technical foundation to eliminate RHD in Australia by 2031. Methods A range of potential strategies to reduce ARF and RHD were identified. Approaches at the social and environmental, primary, secondary and tertiary prevention levels were evaluated using the GRADE Evidence to Decision framework, together with structural review of the health system. Recommendations were made according to level of prevention opportunity and responsibility. Modelling was undertaken to estimate the health and economic impact of an indicative bundle of the most promising strategies. Results Reducing household crowding, improving health infrastructure, strengthening primary healthcare and enhancing delivery of secondary prophylaxis were identified as having the greatest potential impact on RHD. They are also largely acceptable, practical and readily implementable with investment. Modelling indicates that this approach would reduce ARF and RHD by 69% and 71% respectively, preventing 471 deaths and saving $188 million on healthcare expenditure to 2031. Conclusions Eliminating RHD is only possible with a holistic approach led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with communities at the core. This will entail funding communities to develop programs, resourcing a national RHD unit to coordinate efforts across Australia, guaranteeing access to healthy housing and built environments, establishing comprehensive skin and throat programs and improving the health of those living with ARF and RHD. Key messages RHD demands responses from the health sector strengthened by political advocacy and engagement to drive evidence-based decision making. The evidence and collective experience now exist to eliminate RHD, an exemplar of the gap in health outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the non-Indigenous population.
Leavers appear to have a reasonable level of awareness and knowledge of the risks associated with alcohol consumption and aquatic activities, which may reflect the impact of education campaigns. However, this knowledge is not always translated into nonrisky aquatic behaviour.
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