Module 4 Lecture 28

Question 1

Key Factors influencing the risk burden

Answer 1

• How strong is the ‘causal’ association between the risk factor and health conditions
• How common is the exposure to the risk in the population of interest? (e.g. the prevalance of the risk factor in a population)

Question 2

Role of commercial sector in (unequal) NCD epidemics

Answer 2

1) Social norms changed as smoking became popular among other social groups
2) A greater emphasis on downstream strategies has put equity in public health at risk
3) Difficulties with behaviour change are actively exploited by industries

Question 3

Commercial sector as a structural driver of NCD inequalities

Answer 3

• Industries market ‘unhealthy commodities’ promote unhealthy consumption —> NCDs
• Marketing seeks vulnerable targets, reinforces power inequalities and changes environments

Question 4

How should public health respond to commercial sector

Answer 4

• tackle health inequalities by tackling the broader determinants of health
• Develop effective healthy policy requires us to recognise tension between commercial and health objectives

Question 5

Tobacco control strategies

Answer 5

• Increase in price/tax
• Legislating smoke-free environment
• Banning tobacco advertising and sponsorships
• Health warnings on packs
• Plain packaging
• Anti smoking media campaigns
• More downstream option: smoking cessation support

Question 6

Industrial epidemics

Answer 6

• Diseases arising from over-consumption of unhealthy commercial products
• Industry acts as ‘vector’ in driving consumption of its product by manipulating behaviour of individuals
• Situation requires us to shift focus from individual behaviours to broader environment and upstream drivers of unhealthy consumption