Browsing by Author "Pulu V"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Frequent Use of Baby Food Pouches in Infants and Young Children and Associations with Energy Intake and BMI: An Observational Study.
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2024-09-19) McLean NH; Bruckner BR; Heath A-LM; Haszard JJ; Daniels L; Conlon CA; von Hurst PR; Beck KL; Te Morenga LA; Firestone R; McArthur J; Paul R; Cox AM; Jones EA; Katiforis I; Brown KJ; Casale M; Jupiterwala RM; Rowan MM; Wei A; Fangupo LJ; Healey M; Pulu V; Neha T; Taylor RW; Fernandez M-L
    OBJECTIVE: Most wet commercial infant foods are now sold in squeezable 'pouches'. While multiple expert groups have expressed concern about their use, it is not known how commonly they are consumed and whether they impact energy intake or body mass index (BMI). The objectives were to describe pouch use, and determine associations with energy intake and BMI, in infants and young children. METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study of 933 young New Zealand children (6.0 months-3.9 years), pouch use was assessed by a questionnaire ('frequent' use was consuming food from a baby food pouch ≥5 times/week in the past month), usual energy intake using two 24-h recalls, and BMI z-score calculated using World Health Organization standards. RESULTS: The sample broadly represented the wider population (27.1% high socioeconomic deprivation, 22.5% Māori). Frequent pouch use declined with age (infants 27%, toddlers 16%, preschoolers 8%). Few children were both frequent pouch users and regularly used the nozzle (infants 5%, toddlers 13%, preschoolers 8%). Preschoolers who were frequent pouch users consumed significantly less energy than non-users (-580 kJ [-1094, -67]), but infants (115 [-35, 265]) and toddlers (-206 [-789, 378]) did not appear to have a different energy intake than non-users. There were no statistically significant differences in the BMI z-score by pouch use. CONCLUSIONS: These results do not support the strong concerns expressed about their use, particularly given the lack of evidence for higher energy intake or BMI.
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    Investigating principles that underlie frameworks for Pacific health research using a co-design approach: learnings from a Tongan community based project
    (Pasifika Medical Association, 22/06/2021) Pulu V; Tiatia-Seath J; Borman B; Firestone R
    The New Zealand Tongan peoples’ worldview leans more towards a traditional and indigenous paradigm that encompasses the importance of family, spirituality or Christian beliefs and connection with their environment. These priorities align with core principles and values of co-design, and therefore, co-designed interventions will be better used and accepted in addressing health issues prevalent in the Tongan community. Co-design methods adapt to the cultural setting they are applied to, prioritizes the Tongan peoples’ cultural values and world views and captures the needs of the Tongan community to inform the development of the intervention. It supports family members to stand with authority, as well as place the Tongan participants at the centre of the research by including families, employing culturally safe practices, addressing the broader determinants of health, and focusing on system issues rather than on individuals.The generation of discussion in co-design further aligns with the Pacific knowledge of systems, creation stories and oral stories which provide a culturally empowering way to generate discussion and insights from the Tongan community
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    Relational and collective excellence: unfolding the potential of Pacific early career researchers
    (Taylor and Francis Group on behalf of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 3/08/2022) Allen JMU; Bennett JL; Clark ZL; Escott K-R; Fa’avae DTM; Kaulamatoa JL; Kaulamatoa R; Lolohea T; Porter M; Pulu V; Tapuke S; Ualesi Y; Withers SE; Woolner VH; Naepi, S
    As Pacific early career researchers (ECRs), relational interconnections and engagement are at the heart of our collective responsibilities to each other. Although we share a mutual responsibility to our research communities (in academia and industry), each Pacific ECR is unique in our field of research and genealogical connections to the Pacific. This paper engages the Indigenous story work methodology to capture, negotiate, and make meaningful links between our research experiences and relational excellence. This methodological approach reveals thematic elements of respect, responsibility, reciprocity, reverence, holism, interrelatedness, and synergy are woven throughout the paper to highlight our collective va-relationality and potential as ECRs. Our collaborative approach to defining and engaging with Pacific research creates new and innovative possibilities for Indigenous and Pacific research excellence.