Front cover of PHW International Health strategy for 2023-2035

Public Health Wales: Our International Health Strategy 2023-2035

Public Health Wales has updated its 2017 International Health Strategy to better reflect the significant changes in the global landscape and to enable Public Health Wales’ new Long-Term Strategy.

Authors: Liz Green, Emily Clark+ 5 more
, Laura Holt, Abigail Malcolm (née Instone), Golibe Ezenwugo, Daniela Stewart, Mariana Dyakova

Cold indoor temperatures and their association with health and well-being: a systematic literature review

Evidence suggests that indoor temperatures <18°C are associated with negative health effects. This study aimed to identify, appraise and update evidence on the association between cold temperatures (i.e. <18°C) within homes (i.e. dwellings) and health and well-being outcomes. Significant gaps in the current evidence base are identified, including research on the impacts of cold indoor temperatures on mental health and well-being, studies involving young children, and the long-term health effects of cold indoor temperatures.

Authors: Hayley Janssen, Kat Ford+ 5 more
, Ben Gascoyne, Rebecca Hill, Manon Roberts, Mark Bellis, Sumina Azam

The rising cost of living and health and wellbeing in Wales: a national survey

Households across Wales and worldwide are experiencing an increase in the cost of living. Since late 2021, price rises for basic items such as food and energy have outstripped increases in average wages and welfare payments, leading to a fall in real disposable incomes. As a result, increasing pressure on household budgets is making it harder for people to afford the basics and is often referred to as a ‘cost of living crisis’. This report presents the findings of a survey developed to understand how the cost of living crisis is affecting health and wellbeing among the Welsh public; their approaches and decision-making relating to rising living costs; and their awareness of and access to financial support and schemes.

Authors: Rebecca Hill, Karen Hughes+ 3 more
, Katie Cresswell, Kat Ford, Mark Bellis

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.

Authors: Lisa Jones, Mark Bellis+ 3 more
, Rebecca Hill, Karen Hughes, Sara Wood

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.

Authors: Tracy Evans, Eurgain Powell

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.

Authors: Catherine Sharp, Karen Hughes

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.

Authors: Mark Drane, Nerys Edmonds+ 3 more
, Kristian James, Liz Green, Sumina Azam

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

Authors: Leah Silva, Daniela Stewart+ 4 more
, Lauren Couzens (née Ellis), Sara Cooklin-Urbano, Mariana Dyakova, Jo Peden
Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform - acronym WHESP

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.

Authors: Leah Silva, Louisa Petchey

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.

Authors: Alex Walker, Bryony Parry+ 2 more
, Emma Barton, Lara Snowdon

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.

Authors: Mark Bellis, Karen Hughes+ 2 more
, Kat Ford, Helen Lowey

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.

Authors: Rebekah Amos, Katie Cresswell+ 2 more
, Karen Hughes, Mark Bellis

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.

Authors: Catherine Sharp, Karen Hughes

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

Authors: Leah Silva, Daniela Stewart+ 3 more
, Lauren Couzens (née Ellis), Sara Cooklin-Urbano, Mariana Dyakova

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.

Authors: Alex Walker

Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform Animation: How to use the Solutions Platform

The Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform (WHESP) animation provides an overview of the functionality of the platform, guiding the user page-by-page through each section and tool. It showcases the easy-to-use Data Tool and Report Generator, that can both be tailored to a desired area of interest to produce outputs to inform work and frame insights.

Authors: Rebecca Hill, Jo Peden+ 7 more
, Lauren Couzens (née Ellis), Mariana Dyakova, Daniela Stewart, James Allen, Golibe Ezenwugo, Anna Stielke, Kathryn Ashton

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

Authors: Nerys Edmonds, Liz Green

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.

Authors: Manon Roberts

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.

Authors: Liz Green, Leah Silva+ 6 more
, Michael Fletcher, Louisa Petchey, Laura Morgan, Margaret Douglas, Sumina Azam, Courtney McNamara
Welsh Health Equity Solutions Platform - acronym WHESP

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.

Authors: Rebecca Hill, Jo Peden+ 12 more
, Lauren Couzens (née Ellis), Mariana Dyakova, Daniela Stewart, James Allen, Liz Green, Rebecca Masters, Leah Silva, Sara Cooklin-Urbano, Golibe Ezenwugo, Abigail Malcolm (née Instone), Jason Roberts, Rajendra Kadel

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.

Authors: Catherine Sharp, Karen Hughes

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.

Authors: Katie Cresswell, Louisa Petchey+ 1 more
, Leah Silva

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

Authors: Leah Silva, Abigail Malcolm+ 4 more
, Lauren Couzens, Sara Cooklin Urbano, Emily Clark, Mariana Dyakova