Resources

Identifying evidence to support action to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health: A systematic scoping and mapping review

This report examines the review-level evidence that is available to guide action on reducing socioeconomic inequalities in health. Evidence about public health interventions, programmes and policies applied to populations, groups and other geographically defined areas or jurisdictions was sought to explore whether they preferentially improve the health outcomes of people experiencing socioeconomic inequalities.

Tackling the public health effects of climate change – find out how you and your team can take action

Public Health Wales has a new strategic priority: tackling the public health effects of climate change, in recognition of the climate emergency being the greatest health threat facing humanity.

This webinar introduced a free online resource that helps individuals and teams to take action to reduce their environmental impact.

Time to Talk Public Health: August 2023 Panel Survey Findings

Time to Talk Public Health is a national panel of Welsh residents aged 16+ years established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The panel is designed to be broadly representative of the Welsh population by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board. This report presents findings from the August 2023 survey covering: Emergency Departments, Campaigns, Cost of Living, Dental Health, Bowel Screening, and Post-natal Weight Management.

Health Impact Assessment for Climate Adaptation: Examples from Practice

This briefing focusses on adaptation to address climate change and the application of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as a process that can support policy makers to maximise wellbeing benefits, minimise harm to health, and avoid widening health inequalities when designing adaptation policies. It contains five case studies – two international and three from Wales, and provides action oriented examples of putting HIA into practice.

International Horizon Scanning and Learning Report: Five Essential Conditions for Health Equity Report 46

The International Horizon Scanning and Learning reports were initiated as part of the COVID-19 public health response, to support dynamic response and recovery measures and planning in Wales. In spring 2022, the scope of the reports was expanded to cover priority public health topics, including in the areas of health improvement and promotion, health protection, and health care public health.
In focus: Five Essential Conditions for Health Equity

Building a Fairer Gwent: Wales’ first Marmot Region

The Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform (WHESP) has published a new Spotlight Feature, highlighting solutions focused action to address health inequities. This spotlight feature focuses on ‘Building a Fairer Gwent: Wales’ first Marmot Region’.

As Gwent assumes its role as a Marmot Region, a community-centred approach will be adopted to create environments that foster good health. Through this, several key areas will come under focus, including ensuring access to quality education, employment opportunities, and reliable transportation services.

How could international trade agreements help or hinder the well-being of future generations in Wales?

Now that the UK has left the European Union, the UK Government is negotiating international trade agreements on behalf of the rest of the UK for the first time in nearly half a decade. International trade agreements have the potential to impact positively and negatively on health, well-being, and equity in Wales.

Here we provide a visual methodology for exploring the ways in which specific international trade agreements may have this impact through the lens of the goals set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. In this infographic report, we summarise the potential impacts of the UK’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Free Trade Agreement.

Preventing Sexual Violence In The Night Time Economy: Encouraging Men To Be Active Bystanders

#SafeToSay seeks to prevent sexual harassment through encouraging prosocial bystander responses towards sexual harassment or its warning signs in night life spaces.

Building on the evaluation of Phase One of #SafeToSay, Phase Two was delivered by the Wales Violence Prevention Unit, with funding from the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, as part of the Home Office Safety of Women at Night (SWaN) fund.

This evaluation has used findings from social media and website analytics, as well as the responses to a post-campaign public perception survey.

Children and the cost of living crisis in Wales: How children’s health and well-being are impacted and areas for action

This report summarises findings from a literature review of the impact of the cost of living crisis on children’s health and well-being. We drew on the findings to make recommendations across eleven priority policy action areas.

International Health Newsletter Issue 1: September 2023

The International Health Coordination Centre’s (IHCC) International Health Newsletter promotes and shares international news, events and initiatives with partners across Wales and beyond.

The newsletter was piloted in May 2023, thereon issued quarterly.

View the latest issue here.

Measuring changes in adult health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and their relationship with adverse childhood experiences and current social assets: a cross-sectional survey

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can impact mental and physical health, leaving people with less resilience to health challenges across the life-course. This study examines whether individuals’ levels and changes in levels of mental health, physical health and sleep quality reported across the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with ACEs and moderated by social assets such as having trusted family and friends.

ACEtimation-The Combined Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Violence, Health-Harming Behaviors, and Mental Ill-Health: Findings across England and Wales

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) encompass various adversities, e.g., physical and/or emotional abuse. Understanding the effects of different ACE types on various health outcomes can guide targeted prevention and intervention. We estimated the association between three categories of ACEs in isolation and when they co-occurred. Specifically, the relationship between child maltreatment, witnessing violence, and household dysfunction and the risk of being involved in violence, engaging in health-harming behaviors, and experiencing mental ill-health.

Time to Talk Public Health: June 2023 Panel Survey Findings

Time to Talk Public Health is a national panel of Welsh residents aged 16+ years established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The panel is designed to be broadly representative of the Welsh population by age, sex, deprivation, ethnicity and health board. This report presents findings from the June 2023 survey covering: NHS waiting lists, Housing, Witnessing violence, Mental well-being, Primary care.

International Horizon Scanning and Learning Report: Mental Health and Well-being of Refugees and Asylum-Seekers Report 45

The International Horizon Scanning and Learning reports were initiated as part of the COVID-19 public health response, to support dynamic response and recovery measures and planning in Wales. In spring 2022, the scope of the reports was expanded to cover priority public health topics, including in the areas of health improvement and promotion, health protection, and health care public health.

In focus: Mental Health and Well-being of Refugees and Asylum-Seekers

Wales Without Violence: Perspectives of Children and Young People

Wales Without Violence: Perspectives of Children and Young People brings together contributions made by children and young people during the Wales Without Violence consultation. It provides unparalleled insight into the issues most affecting children and young people in Wales, as well as their priorities for preventing violence.
The report should be read alongside the Wales Without Violence Framework.

Climate Change in Wales: Health Impact Assessment

This health impact assessment (HIA) is a strategic and comprehensive appraisal of the potential implications of climate change on population health in Wales. It provides robust evidence to inform public bodies, agencies and organisations in their preparations for, and responses to, climate change and climate change events. It aims to support adoption of policies and plans that can promote and protect health and wellbeing for all in Wales and in those population groups and geographical areas particularly at risk of negative impacts.

The outputs of the HIA available to download here are:

• An evidence based HIA Summary report
• Individual chapters on the evidence of impact of climate change on the wider determinants of health and population groups in Wales
• A set of 4 infographics
• A PowerPoint slide deck
• A Technical Report

Homes for health and well-being

There is a wealth of evidence that shows the significant impact people’s homes have on their health and well-being.

Public Health Wales is publishing a series of briefings that aims to translate this evidence into action. The briefing series will:

• Outline our shared vision for a future of healthy housing in Wales.
• Share examples of what ‘good’ looks like from existing evidence and notable practice.
• Use this insight, alongside evidence from people’s lived experiences, to identify actions that will help achieve our vision.

This briefing sets the context for the series and the themes and topics it will cover.

The health, well-being and equity impact of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement on Wales

This report provides a short summary of the findings of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Agreement on Wales. This report is a high-level, evidence-based strategic overview. It summarises the main health, well-being and equity impacts that could potentially occur in the short and longer-term following the UK’s accession to the CPTPP.

Deciding on a target behaviour and target population tool

A practical, interactive tool to help you consider and define your target behaviour and target population, as you create a ‘behavioural specification’.

Behavioural Diagnosis: How to collect behavioural insights

A practical, interactive tool to help you develop a systematic understanding of the influences of your target behaviour, in your target population.

Exploring factors influencing the application of behavioural science within public health practice across Wales: A summary report

A report into the exploration of factors influencing the application of behavioural science within public health practice across Wales.

Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform (WHESP)

The Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform will act as a repository of information, case studies, and previous interventions used to help combat inequity and share good practice in Wales.
The platform features searchable data tools and a report-generating function which allows users to input their search terms and produce outputs related to those terms. The platform also offers a spotlight feature that can be used to highlight particular solutions or themes.
The team will develop the platform over time to add additional content and features.

Time to Talk Public Health: February – March 2023 Panel Survey Findings Report 2

Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of Welsh residents aged 16+ years established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. In April we published a report presenting findings from the February – March 2023 survey which focused on screening, sustainability, campaigns and current concerns. This second report from the February – March 2023 survey is focused on findings relating to food environments and healthy weight.

Has Brexit changed detection and prevention of illicit trade in drugs, alcohol, and tobacco in Wales?

This briefing by Public Health Wales summarises the international systems the UK and Wales participated in to tackle illicit alcohol, tobacco, and drugs before Brexit. It will then explore how these have changed post-Brexit and what potential impact that may have on health and well-being in Wales.

International Horizon Scanning and Learning Report: Universal Primary Free School Meals Report 44

The International Horizon Scanning and Learning reports were initiated as part of the COVID-19 public health response, to support dynamic response and recovery measures and planning in Wales. In spring 2022, the scope of the reports was expanded to cover priority public health topics, including in the areas of health improvement and promotion, health protection, and health care public health.

In focus: Universal primary Free School Meals

Building the social relationships of older people in Wales: challenges and opportunities

Social capital is a protective factor for health and well-being, and differences contribute significantly to health inequalities in Wales. This paper provides a rapid review of older people’s social relationships and networks and how this has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and more recent cost of living crisis. The report identifies policy and practice examples that can promote, sustain and strengthen older people’s social relationships and networks as a means of overcoming challenges and building the social capital of current and future older generations.

Maximising opportunities for health and wellbeing for people and communities experiencing socio-economic disadvantage: A guide to using the Socio-economic Duty in policy and practice in Wales

Achieving a More Equal Wales is one of the seven goals set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The act provides public sector bodies in Wales with the five ways of working that will support us to make better decisions today for a More Equal Wales tomorrow. The Welsh Government’s Socio-economic Duty came into force in 2021 and aims to deliver better outcomes for those who experience socio-economic disadvantage.
The aim of this Guide is to help public bodies in Wales apply the Socio-economic Duty so that it can act as a powerful lever to improve the health outcomes for people and communities who experience socio-economic disadvantage. Public bodies have an opportunity to embed the Duty into their systems and approaches to ensure that the Duty makes a systematic difference and is not just a tick-box exercise.
An accompanying animation is also available via the links below.

Time to Talk Public Health: April 2023 Panel Survey Findings

Time to Talk Public Health is a new nationally representative panel of Welsh residents established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice.
This month’s survey covered physical activity, active travel, menopause, shingles, and climate change.

Is parental unemployment associated with increased risk of adverse childhood experiences? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Unemployment has adverse consequences for families and can put children at risk of harm. This review examines associations between parental unemployment and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Findings highlight that increasing employment opportunities and parental support interventions may help break multigenerational cycles of ACEs.

International Health Newsletter Pilot: May 2023

The International Health Coordination Centre’s (IHCC) International Health Newsletter promotes and shares international news, events and initiatives with partners across Wales and beyond.

The newsletter was piloted in May 2023, thereon issued quarterly.

View the latest issue here.