Benefits and challenges: Qualitative exploration of women's experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its preventive strategies resulted in changes in economic, social and health activities globally, but the effects of these changes on women, have not been systematically studied and documented in Fiji. The current study explored the experiences of women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji, using a qualitative approach with a descriptive phenomenological design. A total of 110 women were purposively selected across various age groups, ethnicity, religion and different settings to improve the study area diversity.

Human leptospirosis in the central division of Fiji: a retrospective epidemiological study.

Background: Leptospirosis is a major cause of human disease in Fiji. However, the epidemiology is poorly defined. This study was conducted to determine the epidemiology of human leptospirosis in the Central Division and to characterize the largest urban outbreak in Fiji.

What do university students say about online learning and the COVID-19 pandemic in central Fiji? A qualitative study.

Globally, the spread of COVID-19 has led to the closure of schools, thereby accelerating the expansion of the online learning environment. Though, Fiji National University students' (FNU), had no option than to quickly adopt to this mode of learning, within limited period, their learning experiences are yet to be examined and documented. We used phenomenological study design to explore students' online learning challenges, coping strategies and their perceptions on the causes of COVID-19.

Adolescent dietary patterns in Fiji and their relationships with standardized body mass index.

Background: Obesity has been increasing in adolescents in Fiji and obesogenic dietary patterns need to be assessed to inform health promotion. The objective of this study was to identify the dietary patterns of adolescents in peri-urban Fiji and determine their relationships with standardized body mass index (BMI-z).

Methods: This study analysed baseline measurements from the Pacific Obesity Prevention In Communities (OPIC) Project.

Health-related quality of life is low in secondary school children in fiji.

The health and wellbeing of children in lower-income countries is the focus of much international effort, yet there has been very little direct measurement of this. Objective. The current objective was to study the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a general population of secondary school children in Fiji, a low middle-income country in the Pacific.

Mortality trends in Fiji.

Objectives: Mortality level and cause of death trends are evaluated to chart the epidemiological transition in Fiji. IMPLICATIONS for current health policy are discussed.

Methods: Published data for infant mortality rate (IMR), life expectancy (LE) and causes of death for 1940-2008 were assessed for quality, and compared with mortality indices generated from recent Ministry of Health death recording.

Body image and body change strategies among adolescent males and females from Fiji, Tonga and Australia.

The current study was designed to investigate the body image and body change strategies of adolescents from Fiji, Tonga and Australia. Participants were 628 Fijians, 463 Indo-Fijians, 598 Tongans and 535 European Australians. Adolescents completed measures of height, weight, body dissatisfaction, strategies to lose weight, increase weight and increase muscles.

The pursuit of muscularity among adolescent boys in Fiji and Tonga.

The desire for muscularity is tied to Western views of the male gender role, which prescribe that men be strong, physically fit and athletically successful. Although, these ideals have been primarily studied among Western adolescent boys, there is emerging evidence that the same ideals are valued and promoted among males from the Pacific Islands. The aim of the present study was to examine body image concerns associated with muscularity and the reasons for these concerns among Fijian and Tongan adolescent boys.