Housing, home heating and air quality: a public health perspective [601kB PDF]  
Date of Publication: April 2012 

The housing environment is a key setting with impacts on human health. Housing factors which contribute significantly to health outcomes include temperature, humidity and ventilation, overcrowding, affordability and fuel poverty.

The information about housing, home heating and air quality is presented in the context of what is currently known post-earthquakes. The central concern is the potential for any of the issues considered to impact upon the most vulnerable of our citizens and on the health system itself, particularly over the upcoming winter period.

Supporting volunteers with experience of mental illness: A literature review [121kB PDF]
Date of Publication: April 2012 

All organisations would like to provide a healthy work environment and get the most out of their volunteers or employees. However, for many volunteer coordinators, mental health issues among volunteer staff are a worrying unknown. This review summarises the literature around managing people with experience of mental illness. The information is not intended as a guide for voluntary organisations, rather it is as summary of the available literature so that volunteer coordinators may decide for themselves how to approach mental health issues.

South Island Public Health Project: Report of process and outcome evaluations 2010-2012 [592kB PDF]
Date of Publication: March 2012

The South Island Project is a collaboration of the three South Island Public Health Units (PHUs) and aims to facilitate the three PHUs working together – collaborating on leadership and sharing planning, resources and strategic work. The project was evaluated on progress towards its aim, and effectiveness in specific areas including workforce development, knowledge management, action networks and the Project Management Group.

Long Term Planning for Recovery After Disasters: ensuring health in all policies [326kB PDF]
Date of Publication: June 2011

This document  from CPH staff aims to show what can be learned from previous disasters about the impact of decisions and actions taken and how these have affected people’s wellbeing during the recovery period. The document is written from a public health perspective but draws on the literature of many disciplines.

The document has also be broken down into a series of information sheets on the diverse issues/areas of action.

Integrated Recovery Planning Guide V2 [2MB PDF]
Date of Publication: June 2011 

In light of the 22 February 2011 6.3 magnitude quake, the document created in response to the September 4th Quake has been updated.

Send an email to irgfeedback@cdhb.govt.nz for hard copies of the guide.

Effective Nutritional and Wellness Interventions for Men [165kB PDF]
Date of Publication: May 2011

There is growing desire to have a men’s focused nutrition and wellness programme similar to Appetite for Life which has been effective for women in Canterbury. Over the past decade, men’s health has increasingly become a public health concern. It is widely acknowledged that men have lower life expectancy than women. Some of the common causes of male deaths are from conditions which are largely preventable (e.g.cancers, heart disease). This literature review documents and evaluates existing nutrition and wellness health promotion programmes for men.

Public Health Response to the February 22 Christchurch Earthquake: Progress Report [4.53MB PDF]
Date of Publication: March 2011 

This report documents Community and Public Health's response to the devastating February 22nd earthquake in Christchurch. It comprehensively details the different tasks and roles undertaken in first six weeks of the aftermath.

Quantifying the economic benefit of increasing physical activity [106kB PDF]
Date of Publication: October 2010

Inactivity has significant costs to the health system. For example, an Australian report estimated the direct gross cost of physical inactivity to the Australian health budget in 2006/2007 was $1.49 billion. Cost benefit analyses of existing interventions in pedestrian and cycling infrastructure along with social campaigns to encourage people to use them have shown that the benefits far outweigh the costs and are a “best buy” for personal health, the health system, and the transport sector. Aside from reduced all-cause mortality, and health care costs, there are measurable benefits in decreased morbidity, pollution, absenteeism, and traffic congestion.

Specialist services have become increasingly centralised over recent decades in response to evidence of better outcomes for patients treated in hospitals that have high volumes of complex procedures. Although this may be positive overall, there is evidence that centralisation may reduce access to care for people who live far from main centres, and that social and ethnic disparities may be exacerbated.
Patients who live far away from specialised services experience time, financial, and personal barriers to care. They often need an accompanying person, who also experiences the same disadvantages. Impacts include direct costs for transport, accommodation and food, cost of time away from work for patients and accompanying other(s), and child care costs. Other, less measureable barriers include lost productivity, finding substitutes for home or business activities, unfamiliarity with the larger centre, isolation from wider family support, and poor coordination that results in unnecessary travel.

Hauora Waitaha I: Health Profile for Maori in Canterbury
Date of Publication: April 2010

This profile prepared for the Canterbury District Health Board provides the first comprehensive picture of the health of Māori in Canterbury. It is hoped that it will be useful for Māori and those working to improve health for Māori in Canterbury. The profile draws on data from a range of sources. These data are presented in such a way as to allow comparison of the health of Māori and non-Māori in Canterbury, and the health of Māori in Canterbury and at the national level.

Hauora Waitaha Summary [302kB PDF]
Hauora Waitaha Full Report [1.4MB PDF].

Food Security: A review and synthesis of themes from the literature [218kB PDF]
Date of Publication: August 2009

It is estimated that around 10% of New Zealand households experience low food security. Māori and Pacific Island groups are more affected than other New Zealanders. Economic factors have the greatest influence on food insecurity, particularly the cost of accommodation in relation to total household income. The effects of food insecurity on health status and social wellbeing are well documented. It is especially damaging for child health and development, and is associated with an increased the risk of overweight and obesity.

Investing in Public Health [89kB PDF]
Date of Publication: 2009

This briefing paper explains why investing in public health is a sensible economic strategy, and how investment in public health makes an important contribution to improving the health of individuals and of our population. The paper shows that for resource allocation to be ethical and effective, public health interventions need to assessed using equivalent criteria for effectiveness and cost-effectiveness as health care interventions when health funding is allocated.

Economic Benefits of a City Health Plan [142kB PDF]
Date of Publication: December 2008

This paper provides information to support the development of a City Health Plan for Christchurch.  Health is highly valued by most people. In the Millennium Survey of 50,000 adults in 60 countries, good health was selected as the thing that matters most in life.  Locally, health was also given high priority by the people of Christchurch and Canterbury in the community outcomes consultation for the Christchurch City and Canterbury regional councils.
Health care services are an important contributor to health, but many of the most important contributors to health such as lifestyle, social and community networks, living and working conditions, food supplies, and socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions, lie beyond the health sector.

Efficacy of boil water notices on consumers [77kB PDF]
Date of Publication: September 2008

When water sampling fails to meet standards a boil water notice is issued instructing consumers to boil water for domestic use until the contamination has been dealt with, and the notice has been lifted. Notices are intended to be a precautionary measure but as some have become permanent, they are apparently being used as a substitute for treatment of contaminated water. When boil water notices are in place, consumers cannot rely on the safety of their drinking water. These notices may be missed by residents who do not receive a newspaper, listen to the radio or who are tenants of a property where the landlord may have received notification but they have not.

The West Coast - Te Tai O Poutini Māori Health Profile [PDF]
Date of Publication: August 2008

This document is designed to inform the subsequent stages of a health needs accessment for Māori in the West Coast DHB. Data have been accessed from a variety of sources, and Māori and Non-Māori/Other ethnicities data are presented on a range of indicators. Age-standardised and age-specific rates are presented where possible.

What We Know About How Urban Design Affects Children and Young People: The Interaction Between Health Outcomes and the Built Environment [272kB PDF]
Date of Publication: August 2007

Imagine a city in which children are valued and precious – where politicians, children, parents, planners and business people recognise the need to actively and deliberately move towards creating such a city. It would be safe. Children’s opinions and perceptions would be given validity by decision-makers. Children would enjoy a clean green attractive environment.
Recreation, health and educational facilities would be easily accessible to all, regardless of where they lived or what their parents earned. They would be positive about learning and employment opportunities and be confident happy citizens. Children would be proud and enthusiastic about their new families, communities and city. They would belong. This is the kind of vision meant by a child friendly city.