This mixed-methods cross-sectional study examines food consumption patterns, dietary diversity, and factors affecting food intake and malnutrition in the rural Mbale District in Eastern Uganda, during both wet and dry seasons. Participants (n=100; 66% females) completed a food frequency questionnaire identifying foods and beverages consumed in the preceding 12 months. Individual interviews (n=8) were conducted with key workers. Analysis of seventeen food items revealed seasonal variations in carbohydrate and protein sources. During the dry season, staples like matooke (mashed boiled plantains) and sweet and Irish potatoes were affected, while protein-rich foods such as beans and groundnuts saw increased consumption in the wet season. Fruit and vegetable intake also rose during the wet season. The main causes of malnutrition that emerged from the interviews were the lack of knowledge about food and nutrition, financial struggles, climate impact, and cultural beliefs. The last theme covered strategies to combat malnutrition. Although carbohydrate intake remains consistent throughout seasons due to reliance on posho (maize flour porridge) and cassava, variations in the number of meals and protein sources, particularly beans and groundnuts, were observed. Both of these, being the primary protein sources in rural households' diets, are highly susceptible to climate fluctuations. This may pose significant implications for food security, as heightened climate instability may impede their production. Solutions to combat malnutrition discussed by the interviewees include education, employment, family planning, and healthcare improvements. Professionals emphasise the need for comprehensive approaches to address these complex issues. In addition, data on food consumption during the dry and wet seasons should be collected as a difference in food consumption during the seasons may become more prominent with the need to implement tailored interventions.

This paper explores the reasons for multiple caries in children from the viewpoint of clinical practice, namely General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) and their teams, to identify obstacles to reducing inequalities in caries experience. The context of the research is the distribution of dental caries in UK communities where disease prevalence correlates with deprivation and these sub-groups are not attending for dental care on a regular basis. A focus group of dentists, along with individual interviews with dentists and dental support staff were chosen to explore the perceptions of GDPs, Dental Therapists, and Dental Nurses. The content analysis of the data highlighted six main themes. These included sugar, in terms of the amount, availability and the marketing of it; socioeconomic associations with dental caries experience; the dentists’ role; the National Health Service (NHS) dental contract in terms of time-constraints in meeting targets and finally, the management of the child with multiple caries. This research suggests that there are possible barriers to the delivery of equitable care to populations. These include availability and access to GDPs along with the perceptions held by GDPs. Training aimed to develop a targeted behavioural approach towards deprived sub-groups is required in order to avoid unintended social exclusion.

Introduction Improvement in the National Health Service (NHS) employees’ mental well-being and staff retention are current key issues. Evidence indicates that dance movement therapy (DMT) has been effective in improving mental health and well-being; however, a social return on investment (SROI) evaluation on DMT interventions aimed at NHS staff has not been performed. This protocol for an SROI study will explore the social value generated from DMT, specifically ‘The Body Moving Self-Compassion’ programme, as measured by the increase in personal well-being and resilience experienced by participants. The SROI evaluation aims to measure the monetary and social value generated through DMT by placing a monetary value which is essential for sound policy in accessing investment while contributing evidence of dance/movement’s impact on health. Methods SROI is a pragmatic form of social cost-benefit analysis which uses quantitative and qualitative methods to value relevant costs, outcomes and associated impact. A mixed-methods approach design (focus group, online questionnaire and semistructured interviews) will be employed in this SROI study. SROI takes a societal perspective and considers relevant and significant outcomes for participants. Monetary values which often do not have a market price are then assigned to these outcomes. Contingent valuation is integrated into this study to estimate individuals’ choices, preferences and values associated with DMT. The social value generated by the identified outcomes will then be estimated in a similar way to cost-benefit analysis, and the ratio of social value generated per £1 invested is then calculated. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval for this study has been granted by the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education Ethics Subgroup at the University of South Wales, with Reference No. 230 236LR. The findings from this SROI study will result in a report and academic publications.

Gastrotourism is a significant revenue generator worldwide and relates to the deliberate seeking out of experiences related to eating and drinking during travel by tourists. Taking in the cultural, social, and personal dimensions related to gastrotourism, this dialogical, conversational autoethnography allows the personal stories of the two authors to emerge, contextualised in the body of theory surrounding this particular topic. Methodologically, the autoethnographic lens allows for the exploration of personal insights that would not necessarily be brought to the fore through more traditional research methods and follows the food-consumption experiences of two individual travellers seeking authenticity in their personal journeys. The lived encounters of the two researchers during trips across the European continent and beyond are detailed, and reveal such findings as the importance of authenticity, national identity and culinary heritage in gastrotourism. Thus, in connecting with this study, the reader can engage with a multi-faceted, polysemous, and emotionally stimulating autoethnographic explanation at the interface between consumer behaviour and gastrotourism.

Spinal pain (SP) remains the leading cause of disability worldwide. The present study aimed to establish a current prevalence of SP and associated determinants in Wales by retrospectively analyzing data from the National Survey for Wales Dataset (NSWD). The NSWD is a large‐scale cross‐sectional, representative sample of adults across Wales, UK. A univariable and multivariable regression analysis was carried out on self‐reported answers to health and well‐being questions contained within the NSWD (2016–2020) to determine the strength of association of various determinants and comorbidities related to spinal pain. A total population of 38,954 of adults were included in the analysis. The study population included interview responses of 21,735 females and 17,219 males. The prevalence of SP in Wales was 4.95% (95% CI: 4.74%–5.15%) with a total of 847 males (4.92%, CI: 4.60%–5.24%) and 1082 females (4.98%, CI: 4.69%–5.27%) reporting spinal pain. The age group with the highest prevalence of SP was in the 70+ years age group for both males (5.44%, CI: 4.82%–6.07%) and females (5.95%, CI: 5.37%–6.54%). The strength of association between age and SP reaches its peak at 50–59 years with an adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) of 3.74 (p = <0.001), that decreases slightly at 60–69 years and 70+ years. For various comorbidities included in the NSWD, significant associations with SP were confirmed for: mental illness (aOR = 1.42, p = <0.001), migraine (aOR = 2.73, p = <0.001), nervous system issues (aOR = 1.61, p = <0.001), arthritis (aOR = 1.30, p = <0.001) and issues with bones/joints/muscles (aOR = 1.93, p = <0.001). For lifestyle factors, associations were confirmed for current smokers (aOR = 1.41, p = <0.001) and ex‐smokers (aOR = 1.23, p = 0.003). This study demonstrates a low prevalence of SP in Wales when compared to global estimates and strong associations to a variety of determinants. This still represents a significant societal burden and these findings may help inform public health initiatives to encourage prevention and evidence‐based interventional strategies and ultimately, improve the quality of life for those suffering with SP in Wales.