P. Pan, M. Bhandari, & Juan Meng.(accepted, 2022). Promoting healthy eating: The intervening role of health and nutrition-related claims in food advertisements. Health Education Journal, forthcoming, OnlineFirst: https://doi.org/10.1177/00178969221132210
Abstract: This study aimed to examine how consumers’ attitudes towards health and nutrition-related (HNR) claims in food advertisements affected their healthy food choice (HFC) and how online searching for nutrition information (OSNI) about food products mediated the impact of obesity knowledge on HFC. An online survey was conducted using Amazon Mechanical Turk. A total of 897 participants were recruited, with 484 women and 380 men. A moderated mediation analysis using PROCESS was conducted. OSNI was found to mediate the impact of obesity knowledge on HFC. The extent to which consumers’ obesity knowledge influenced their HFC depended on consumers’ attitudes towards HNR claims in food advertisements. The direct effect of consumers’ obesity knowledge on their HFC was moderated by their attitudes towards HNR claims in food advertisements.
Abstract: Despite impressive strides toward proper health education about the pandemic, in resource-limited contexts, health information dissemination occurs within a structural context that restricts the enactment of agency and leads to further marginalization of the most vulnerable. Through observations of and reflections about Ghana’s work in health communication about the COVID-19 pandemic, this essay examines the key processes and outcomes of COVID-19 information dissemination in Ghana, highlighting the structural factors that contribute to health inequities during the pandemic. We argue that although Ghana has been commended continentally and globally for the country’s efforts in containing the virus and securing vaccines to vaccinate its populace, there is evidence of health information access disparities across the country especially in rural communities. In doing so, we increase knowledge about health information needs and gaps, and conclude by making recommendations for public health practitioners in Ghana and similar contexts.
Abstract: Given the role the Internet plays in communicating anti-vaccine sentiments, coupled with limited research in this area, this study focused on the social media platform Pinterest, analyzing 1,119 vaccine-related pins posted by six anti-vaccine entities through a quantitative content analysis. Findings reveal that anti-vaccine organizations primarily posted about the flu, MMR, and HPV vaccines, with the anti-MMR and anti-flu vaccine posts eliciting significantly more online engagement. In addition, fear images are present in most pins, as are discussions about the adverse effects of vaccines. Health educators and public health organizations should be aware of these dynamics since these findings can be used to craft more effective vaccine uptake campaigns.
