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Taiwan and Thailand have effectively responded to the COVID-19 pandemic more so than more advanced health systems. Both countries have an effective focus on primary healthcare and multi- sectoral collaboration with effective and open communication of powerful health messages. In the case of Thailand, the central role of village health volunteers has also made a significant contribution. The lessons from recent experiences need to be further evaluated to consolidate the lessons learned in anticipation of meeting continuing and future challenges.

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Background: Childhood overweight and obesity is a major health problem in many low- and middle-income countries such as Nepal. There is evidence indicating a significant association between health and access to green space. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity, and to identify its association with green space among primary school children in Kathmandu metropolitan city, Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 440 (195 male and 245 female) students studying in selected primary schools of Kathmandu metropolitan city. Mothers/caretakers of the participating children were also studied. Results: Of the 440 children, 13.2% were overweight; 6.8% were obese. 4 of 16 studied variables that had significant associations with overweight/obesity in bivariate analyses, were found independent predictors of overweight/obesity after being adjusted for confounders. They included mode of transportation to school (aOR 2.08, 95% CI 1.12 to 3.88), consumption of sugary snack (aOR 2.57, 95% CI 1.12 to 5.91) and salty/savory snack (aOR 4.13, 95% CI 1.71 to 9.96), and the distance of a green space from child's residence (aOR 27.46, 95% CI 6.10 to 123.54). Conclusion: One-fifth of the children in urban schools were found to be overweight or obese. The distance to a green space was identified as the most significant factor influencing childhood overweight/obesity.

The objective of this study was to characterize biogas production performance from the co-digestion of food waste and domestic wastewater under mesophilic (35 ± 1 °C) and thermophilic (55 ± 1 °C) conditions. The food waste used as a co-substrate in this study was collected from a main canteen at the Hatyai campus of Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla Province, Thailand. The optimum co-digestion ratio and temperature conditions in a batch experiment were selected for a semi-continuous experiment. Organic loading rates (OLRs) of 0.66, 0.33, and 0.22 g volatile solid (VS) L−1 d−1 were investigated in a semi-continuous experiment by continuously stirring a tank reactor (CSTR) for biogas production. The highest biomethane potential (BMP, 0.78 ml CH4 mg−1 VS removal) was achieved with a ratio of food waste to domestic wastewater of 10:90 w/v at a mesophilic temperature. An OLR of 0.22 g VS L−1 d−1 of co-digestion yielded positive biogas production and organic removal. The findings of this study illustrate how biogas production can be used for operating feed conditions and control for anaerobic co-digestion of domestic wastewater and food waste from a university canteen.

Purpose The purpose of this research is to develop a scale that assesses place sustainability from the perspectives of residents, who are the main stakeholders. The resulting place sustainability scale (PSS) is a practical and useful tool for place administrators to measure place sustainability at all scales. Design/methodology/approach This research analyses the data collected from 636 residents in the town of Salaya in Central Thailand. To develop the scale, the authors randomise 318 samples to conduct an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and analyse the rest with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Findings A total of 11 factors of place sustainability were generated with 33 questionnaire items. Those factors were natural environment, social equity, economic growth, built environment, landscape, liveability, conviviality, transport, energy, water and waste management and governance. Practical implications The PSS can help place administrators, such as chief executives of sub-districts, mayors of town municipalities or governors of provinces, assess perceived sustainability from the perspectives of their residents. They can use this scale in conjunction with other sustainability indicators that calculate data from real variables and values to develop a comprehensive view of sustainability that includes both real and perceptual dimensions. Originality/value Numerous available indices and indicators use real variables and values to measure place sustainability. However, they have limitations: they can be complex and incomprehensible to outsiders or they might not support participative processes and policymaking. This research develops an alternative measure of place sustainability that assesses the perceptions of residents.

Indonesia has the highest prevalence of smoking behavior among Southeast Asian countries. This study aimed to determine predictors of smoking behavior between rural and urban areas. Data were taken from The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). This study used ross-sectional analytical study and multiple logistic regression analysis. Samples were 8,305 Indonesian adults aged ≥ 15 years. The study showed that smokers in rural area were higher than in urban area, respectively 36.8% and 31.9%. Significant predictors of smoking behavior in rural and urban areas were age, occupation, sex, education level, economic status as well as smoking rule inside home. In urban area, age was also significant predictor and otherwise in rural area. The strongest predictor was smoking rule inside home and sex for smoking behavior, either in rural or in urban area. Tobacco control program should be relatively increased by considering the appropriate target population both in rural and urban area due to a little different of smoking behavior path, hence sex perspective should be involved also in tobacco control program. Regulation on smoke-free home should be encouraged to be implemented among houses of community.AbstrakIndonesia memiliki prevalensi perilaku merokok tertinggi di antara negara-negara di Asia Tenggara. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui prediktor terhadap perilaku merokok antara wilayah pedesaan dan perkotaan. Data diambil dari Global Adult Tobacco Survey. Penelitian menggunakan studi analitik potong lintang dan analisis regresi logistik ganda. Sampel berjumlah 8.305 orang dewasa Indonesia berusia ≥ 15 tahun. Penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perokok di wilayah pedesaan lebih tinggi dibandingkan di wilayah perkotaan, masing-masing 36,8% dan 31,9%. Prediktor signifikan terhadap perilaku merokok di wilayah pedesaan dan perkotaan adalah usia, pekerjaan, jenis kelamin, tingkat pendidikan, status ekonomi serta aturan merokok di dalam rumah. Di wilayah perkotaan, usia juga merupakan prediktor yang signifikan dan sebaliknya di wilayah pedesaan. Prediktor terkuat adalah aturan merokok di dalam rumah dan jenis kelamin untuk perilaku merokok di wilayah pedesaan atau perkotaan. Program pengendalian tembakau secara relatif harus ditingkatkan dengan mempertimbangkan populasi target yang sesuai, baik di wilayah pedesaan maupun perkotaan karena adanya sedikit perbedaan jalan perilaku merokok, maka sudut pandang jenis kelamin juga harus dilibatkan dalam program pengendalian tembakau. Aturan rumah bebas asap rokok harus didorong untuk diterapkan pada rumah penduduk.

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