1.Stakeholder analysis of prevention and control of obesity among middle school students
PAN Shasha, LIN Yixi, ZHANG Youjie
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(9):1269-1274
Objective:
To identify the stakeholders of prevention and control of obesity among middle school students and analyze their motivations and interest demands for participation, in order to provide constructive recommendations for facilitating their effective engagement of stakeholders in prevention and control of obesity among middle school students.
Methods:
Stakeholders and their types were identified through a combination of literature analysis and consultation with 17 experts in children and adolescents for prevention and control of obesity. From December 2023 to January 2024, by applying convenience sampling, face to face semi structured interviews were conducted with 11 individuals engaged in prevention and control of obesity for middle school students and focus group interviews were conducted with 48 students and parents. Thematic analysis was employed to obtain motivations and interest demands for stakeholder involvement in prevention and control of obesity.
Results:
A total of 29 subcategories within 7 major categories of stakeholders were identified, including government and relevant functional departments, non profit organizations and communities, forprofit organizations and individuals, schools, professional and technical personnel, families and individuals, and scientific research institutions, with 28 subcategories being confirmed stakeholders. Among these stakeholders, there were 3 types of cooperative relationships:management, cooperation, and service. There were some factors hindering cooperation among stakeholders including imperfections in specialized policies and lack of long term cooperative mechanisms, flaws and interest conflicts in the evaluation system, insufficiency of material resources, and poor health values. In response to these challenges, interviewees proposed to convene a working group for the prevention and control of adolescent obesity. They also suggested making a contract of responsibility, strengthening supervision over for profit organizations, enhancing advocating efforts for prevention and control of obesity, and increasing financial support.
Conclusions
The prevention and control of obesity for middle school students can be facilitated by forming a collaborative alliance based on the roles and relationships of stakeholders identified in the present study. Perceived conflicts of interest among stakeholders can be reconciled by employing strategies of interest integration, goal alignment, and spiritual integration, to enhance the feasibility, participation and sustainability of obesity intervention.