Subjective well-being of Thai pre-teen children: Individual, family, and school determinants.

Children's subjective well-being is crucial for ensuring decent child development. At present, evidence about children's subjective well-being is limited, particularly regarding insights from developing countries. This study aimed to assess overall life satisfaction, multi-dimensional life satisfaction of Thai pre-teens, and factors associated with the children's overall life satisfaction. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 2277 children in grade 4 to 6 at 50 public primary schools from nine provinces across all regions of Thailand. The data collection took place between September and December 2020. The children were satisfied with their overall life to a considerable degree (8.5 out of 10). Girls had higher life satisfaction and satisfaction with multiple life domains (except for "autonomy") than boys. Compared with older children, younger children had higher overall life satisfaction and satisfaction with multiple life domains except for "autonomy", "yourself" and "friends". The children's overall life satisfaction was increased in proportion to satisfaction with family, friends, oneself, physical appearance, health, teacher, school activity, and autonomy. Concerning individual factors, their social skills and time spent on gardening (≥1 h/day) and active recreational activities (1-3 h/day) had positive influence upon their overall life satisfaction, while too much time on screen (>1 h/day) and music (>3 h/day) had negative results. In terms of family factors, children having fathers owning a shop/business had higher life satisfaction than children having fathers who were manual workers, while children who lost their fathers had lower life satisfaction. For school factors, school connectedness had a positive relationship with their overall life satisfaction. Children's subjective well-being promotion should include family-based and school-based interventions to improve children's time use (e.g., more active outdoor lifestyle and less sedentary lifestyle), self-esteem, health, autonomy, and school connectedness.

Impacts of School Nutrition Interventions on the Nutritional Status of School-Aged Children in Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This review aims to describe school nutrition interventions implemented in Asia and quantify their effects on school-aged children's nutritional status. We searched Web of Science, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Global Health, Econlit, APA PsycInfo, and Social Policy and Practice for English articles published from January 2000 to January 2021. We quantified the pooled effects of the interventions on the changes in body mass index (BMI) and body mass index z score (BAZ), overall and by type of intervention. In total, 28 articles were included for this review, of which 20 articles were multi-component interventions. Twenty-seven articles were childhood obesity studies and were included for meta-analysis. Overall, school nutrition interventions reduced school-aged children's BMI and BAZ. Multi-component interventions reduced the children's BMI and BAZ, whereas physical activity interventions reduced only BMI and nutrition education did not change BMI or BAZ. Overweight/obesity reduction interventions provided a larger effect than prevention interventions. Parental involvement and a healthy food provision did not strengthen school nutrition interventions, which may be due to an inadequate degree of implementation. These results suggested that school nutrition interventions should employ a holistic multi-component approach and ensure adequate stakeholder engagement as well as implementation to maximise the effects.

Correction: Impacts of a sugar sweetened beverage tax on body mass index and obesity in Thailand: A modelling study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250841.].

The social impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on urban slums and the response of civil society organisations: A case study in Bangkok, Thailand.

This study examined the social impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on Bangkok slum residents and the initiatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to relieve negative impacts. A mixed-methods study was conducted based on the Social Impact framework. In June 2020, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among 900 participants from nine slums in different zones of Bangkok. In July 2020, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 slum residents and four CSOs to gain in-depth information on the social impact of COVID-19 and CSOs' response. Out of 900 participants, 25.9% lost their jobs during the lockdown and 52.7% lost their income. The job and income loss increased the poverty rate within the participants from 51.6% to 91.7%. Participants limited their mobility and social activities during the lockdown. Stress was increased among 42.6% of all participants and the increased stress was associated with both income loss and self-quarantine. Due to financial constraints, a significant proportion of participants had to limit their food consumption and/or their consumption of nutritious but more expensive food. Almost one-tenth of the participants relied on donated food only. The majority of the participants (61.1%) could not access the income compensation scheme. COVID-19 forced Bangkok slums residents to live below the subsistence level in multiple ways with limited access to social protections. CSOs played an important role in relieving the suffering by providing food, survival kits, jobs, and access to COVID-19 test. Their agility, skills and knowledge about slums, and social capital enabled a rapid response to the crisis. Experienced local CSOs should be engaged as a bridge between urban slums and social protections. A holistic approach to combatting the COVID-19 crisis should be implemented. It is important to find the balance between preventing death from the virus and preventing suffering and death from an economic crisis.

Lessons from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.

To facilitate the policy response to noncommunicable diseases in Thailand, parliament adopted the Health Promotion Foundation Act in 2001. This Act led to the establishment of an autonomous government body, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, called ThaiHealth. The foundation receives its revenue from a 2% surcharge of excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol. The fund supports evidence generation, campaigns and social mobilization to address noncommunicable disease risk factors, such as tobacco-use, harmful use of alcohol and sedentary behaviour. On average, its annual revenue is 120 million United States dollars (US$). Some notable ThaiHealth-supported public campaigns are for schools free of sweetened carbonated beverages; alcohol abstinence during three-month Buddhist lent; and nationwide physical activity. The percentage of people using tobacco decreased from 22.5% in 2001 to 18.2% in 2014. The annual per capita alcohol consumption decreased from 8.1 litres pure alcohol in 2005 to 6.9 litres in 2014. The percentage of the adult population doing at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes high-intensity aerobic exercise per week, increased from 66.3% in 2012 to 72.9% in 2017. A dedicated funding mechanism, a transparent and accountable organization, and the engagement of civil society organizations and other government agencies have enabled ThaiHealth to run these campaigns.

Afin de soutenir l'action politique concernant les maladies non transmissibles en Thaïlande, le Parlement a adopté une loi sur la Fondation pour la promotion de la santé en 2001. Cette loi a conduit à l'établissement d'un organisme gouvernemental autonome, la Fondation thaïlandaise pour la promotion de la santé, appelé « ThaiHealth ¼. Cette fondation tire ses revenus d'une majoration de 2% des taxes d'accise sur le tabac et l'alcool. Ces fonds soutiennent la production de données, l'organisation de campagnes et la mobilisation sociale pour agir sur les facteurs de risque de maladie non transmissible, tels que la consommation de tabac, la consommation nocive d'alcool et le comportement sédentaire. Le revenu annuel moyen de ThaiHealth s'élève à 120 millions de dollars des États-Unis. Certaines campagnes publiques importantes financées par ThaiHealth prônent l'élimination des boissons gazeuses sucrées dans les écoles, la privation d'alcool pendant les trois mois de la retraite de la saison des pluies, et l'activité physique dans tout le pays. Le pourcentage des fumeurs de tabac est passé de 22,5% en 2001 à 18,2% en 2014. La consommation annuelle d'alcool par habitant est passée de 8,1 litres d'alcool pur en 2005 à 6,9 litres en 2014. Le pourcentage de la population adulte faisant au moins 150 minutes d'exercices aérobiques modérément intenses ou 75 minutes d'exercices aérobiques très intenses par semaine est passé de 66,3% en 2012 à 72,9% en 2017. Un mécanisme de financement spécial, une organisation transparente et responsable, et l'engagement d'organisations de la société civile et d'autres agences gouvernementales ont permis à ThaiHealth de mener ces campagnes.

Para facilitar la respuesta política a las enfermedades no contagiosas en Tailandia, el Parlamento aprobó en 2001 la Ley de la Fundación para la promoción de la salud. Esta ley dio lugar a la creación del organismo gubernamental autónomo, la Fundación tailandesa para la promoción de la salud, denominada ThaiHealth. La fundación recibe ingresos de un recargo del 2 % de los impuestos especiales sobre el tabaco y el alcohol. El fondo apoya la generación de pruebas, las campañas y la movilización social para hacer frente a los factores de riesgo de las enfermedades no contagiosas, como el consumo de tabaco, el consumo nocivo de alcohol y los hábitos sedentarios. De media, sus ingresos anuales ascienden a 120 millones de dólares estadounidenses. Algunas de las campañas públicas que apoya ThaiHealth van dirigidas a sacar de las escuelas las bebidas con gas azucaradas, a la abstinencia del alcohol durante la cuaresma budista de tres meses y a fomentar la actividad física en todo el país. El porcentaje de personas que consumen tabaco disminuyó del 22,5 % en 2001 al 18,2 % en 2014. El consumo anual de alcohol per cápita disminuyó de 8,1 litros de alcohol puro en 2005 a 6,9 litros en 2014. El porcentaje de población adulta que hace al menos 150 minutos de ejercicio aeróbico de intensidad moderada o 75 minutos de ejercicio aeróbico de alta intensidad por semana aumentó del 66,3 % en 2012 al 72,9 % en 2017. Un mecanismo de financiación específico, una organización transparente y responsable, así como la participación de organizaciones de la sociedad civil y otros organismos gubernamentales han permitido a ThaiHealth llevar a cabo estas campañas.

Implementation of national action plans on noncommunicable diseases, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.

By 2016, Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) had developed and implemented national action plans on noncommunicable diseases in line with the Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (2013-2020). In 2018, we assessed the implementation status of the recommended best-buy noncommunicable diseases interventions in seven Asian countries: Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam. We gathered data from a range of published reports and directly from health ministries. We included interventions that addressed the use of tobacco and alcohol, inadequate physical activity and high salt intake, as well as health-systems responses, and we identified gaps and proposed solutions. In 2018, progress was uneven across countries. Implementation gaps were largely due to inadequate funding; limited institutional capacity (despite designated noncommunicable diseases units); inadequate action across different sectors within and outside the health system; and a lack of standardized monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to inform policies. To address implementation gaps, governments need to invest more in effective interventions such as the WHO-recommended best-buy interventions, improve action across different sectors, and enhance capacity in monitoring and evaluation and in research. Learning from the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the WHO and international partners should develop a standardized, comprehensive monitoring tool on alcohol, salt and unhealthy food consumption, physical activity and health-systems response.

En 2016, les États membres de l'Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) avaient élaboré et mis en œuvre des plans d'action nationaux sur les maladies non transmissibles conformément au Plan d'action mondial pour la lutte contre les maladies non transmissibles (2013­2020). En 2018, nous avons évalué l'état de l'application des interventions les plus avantageuses recommandées en matière de maladies non transmissibles dans sept pays asiatiques: le Bhoutan, le Cambodge, l'Indonésie, les Philippines, le Sri Lanka, la Thaïlande et le Viet Nam. Nous avons recueilli des données à partir de toute une série de rapports publiés et directement auprès des ministères de la Santé. Nous avons inclus les interventions qui concernaient la consommation de tabac et d'alcool, une activité physique inadéquate et une consommation de sel élevée, ainsi que les réponses des systèmes de santé, et nous avons identifié les lacunes et proposé des solutions. En 2018, les progrès étaient variables selon les pays. Les lacunes étaient largement dues à un financement inadéquat; des capacités institutionnelles limitées (malgré des unités dédiées aux maladies non transmissibles); une action inadéquate dans les différents secteurs au sein et en dehors du système de santé; et l'absence de mécanismes de suivi et d'évaluation standardisés pour orienter les politiques. Afin de combler ces lacunes, les gouvernements doivent investir davantage dans des interventions efficaces telles que les interventions les plus avantageuses recommandées par l'OMS, améliorer l'action dans les différents secteurs, et renforcer les capacités en matière de suivi et d'évaluation, mais aussi de recherche. En s'inspirant de la Convention-cadre pour la lutte antitabac, l'OMS et ses partenaires internationaux devraient élaborer un outil de suivi complet et standardisé sur la consommation d'alcool, de sel et d'aliments malsains, l'activité physique et la réponse des systèmes de santé.

Para 2016, los Estados miembros de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) habían elaborado y aplicado planes de acción nacionales sobre las enfermedades no contagiosas de acuerdo con el Plan de acción mundial para la prevención y el control de las enfermedades no transmisibles (2013-2020). En 2018, se evaluó el estado de implementación de las intervenciones recomendadas en siete países asiáticos en materia de enfermedades no contagiosas: Bhután, Camboya, Filipinas, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Tailandia y Vietnam. Se recopilaron datos de una serie de informes publicados y directamente de los ministerios de salud. Se incluyeron intervenciones que abordaron el uso del tabaco y el alcohol, la actividad física inadecuada y la ingesta elevada de sal, así como las respuestas de los sistemas de salud, se identificaron las deficiencias y se propusieron soluciones. En 2018, el progreso fue desigual entre los países. Las deficiencias en la aplicación se debieron en gran medida a la falta de financiación, a la limitada capacidad institucional (a pesar de las dependencias designadas para las enfermedades no contagiosas), a la inadecuación de las medidas adoptadas en los diferentes sectores dentro y fuera del sistema de salud y a la falta de mecanismos normalizados de supervisión y evaluación que sirvieran de base a las políticas. Para subsanar las deficiencias en materia de aplicación, los gobiernos deben invertir más en intervenciones eficaces, como las recomendadas por la OMS, mejorar las medidas adoptadas en los distintos sectores y aumentar la capacidad de seguimiento y evaluación y de investigación. A partir de las enseñanzas del Convenio Marco para el Control del Tabaco, la OMS y los asociados internacionales deberían elaborar un instrumento de seguimiento normalizado y completo para el consumo de alcohol, sal y alimentos no saludables, la actividad física y la respuesta de los sistemas de salud.

Declaration of nutrition information on and nutritional quality of Thai ready-to-eat packaged food products.

OBJECTIVE: The present study assessed the nutrition information displayed on ready-to-eat packaged foods and the nutritional quality of those food products in Thailand. DESIGN: In March 2015, the nutrition information panels and nutrition and health claims on ready-to-eat packaged foods were collected from the biggest store of each of the twelve major retailers, using protocols developed by the International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS). The Thai Nutrient Profile Model was used to classify food products according to their nutritional quality as 'healthier' or 'less healthy'. RESULTS: In total, information from 7205 food products was collected across five broad food categories. Out of those products, 5707 (79·2 %), 2536 (35·2 %) and 1487 (20·6 %) carried a nutrition facts panel, a Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) label and health-related claims, respectively. Only 4691 (65·1 %) and 2484 (34·5 %) of the products that displayed the nutrition facts or a GDA label, respectively, followed the guidelines of the Thai Food and Drug Administration. In total, 4689 products (65·1 %) could be classified according to the Thai Nutrient Profile Model, of which 432 products (9·2 %) were classified as healthier. Moreover, among the 1487 products carrying health-related claims, 1219 (82·0 %) were classified as less healthy. Allowing less healthy food products to carry claims could mislead consumers and result in overconsumption of ready-to-eat food products. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest effective policies should be implemented to increase the relative availability of healthier ready-to-eat packaged foods, as well as to improve the provision of nutrition information on labels in Thailand.