An exploratory study on the roles of bhutanese primary health care managers in responding to childhood obesity

Abstract

© 2019, Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development. All rights reserved. This is initial research that examines the status of childhood obesity in Bhutan in the context of data that describes global, national, cultural and continental contexts. The study aims to assess the understanding of health policymakers, health professionals and other stakeholders’ perceptions of the challenges posed by childhood obesity, and to assess their state of readiness to address those challenges. A qualitative method using in-depth semi-structured interviews of a purposeful sample with primary healthcare managers (PHC), policy makers and school coordinators in one district in Bhutan The respondents described the major challenges and barriers, and roles in the management of childhood obesity. PHC managers were not aware or had little awareness of childhood obesity. This result extended to the policy level, to health professionals, school teachers, communities and parents. In other words, the unawareness was extensive and, preparedness was not evident. Bhutan needs to recognise the challenges an impending emergence of childhood obesity presents and move to establish policy and practices for the health system to implement.