Behavioral changes associated with economic development in the South Pacific: Health transition in Vanuatu

Abstract

Economic development in Vanuatu is accompanied by nutrition transition and increased sedentary recreation, although physical activity levels remain high. Differences in substance use patterns between rural islands with and without tourism indicate a need for more research in rural areas. These findings might inform research in other communities in the early stages of health transition.

Ownership of consumer electronics is associated with measures of adiposity during health transition in Vanuatu

“…The island of Ambae is characterized by small rural villages where subsistence horticulture predominates. Based on 2005-2006 estimates, approximately 38 ships, carrying 58,000 tourists each year, visit Mystery Island, a small offshore and uninhabited island close to Aneityum (Dancause et al, 2011). Like Ambae, Futuna is also rural and lacks tourism.…”

“…Like Ambae, Futuna is also rural and lacks tourism. The sample site on Efate was a suburb of the Port Vila with relatively convenient and inexpensive transportation to the urban area (Dancause et al, 2011). Electricity infrastructure is limited to solar panels and generators owned by a few families on both Ambae and Futuna.…”

Impact of modernization on adult body composition on five islands of varying economic development in vanuatu

“…The project began in 2007 (Dancause et al, 2010(Dancause et al, , 2011a(Dancause et al, , 2011b(Dancause et al, , 2013, and the research team returned to the field for the purposes of this study in 2011. The project began in 2007 (Dancause et al, 2010(Dancause et al, , 2011a(Dancause et al, , 2011b(Dancause et al, , 2013, and the research team returned to the field for the purposes of this study in 2011.…”

“…1) represents an ideal geographic location to study the complexities of the health transition in the Pacific, as there is a gradient in economic development between its 63 inhabited islands, as well as significant genetic homogeneity across island populations of Melanesian origin (Dancause et al, 2011a). 1) represents an ideal geographic location to study the complexities of the health transition in the Pacific, as there is a gradient in economic development between its 63 inhabited islands, as well as significant genetic homogeneity across island populations of Melanesian origin (Dancause et al, 2011a).…”

Objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour of Yakut (Sakha) adults

“…However, the majority of data on physical activity and SB within transitioning populations (e.g. Yadav & Krishnan, 2008;Dancause et al, 2011;Mabry et al, 2012), including indigenous circumpolar populations (Bjerragaard & Dahl-Petersen, 2011;Hopping et al, 2010;Howard et al, 2010;Young & Katzmarzyk, 2007), has been collected through self-report. Objectively-measured physical activity, such as accelerometer data, contains less error than self-reported physical activity and, as such, provides a more accurate estimate of behaviour in free-living populations (Prince et al, 2008;Snodgrass, 2012).…”