Health-oriented leadership and health equity: the role of NGO support in advancing public health policy and nutritional literacy

Leadership initiatives are increasingly recognized as crucial drivers of policy implementation, well-being, and nutritional literacy. However, the relationship between health-oriented leadership, healthcare policy, community well-being, and community nutritional literacy remains underexplored. With increasing awareness of health and nutrition in developing countries, this study explores the role of Health-Oriented Leadership (HOL) in the implementation of human health policies, well-being, and nutritional literacy. Based on a multi-source, multi-wave survey of 355 management personnel and 360 community and stakeholder personnel in Pakistan, this study highlights the cross-level trickle-down effect of health-oriented leadership. The proposed model was tested using qualitative methods, and for analysis, this study employed multilevel structural equation modeling and regression analysis to examine direct, mediating, and moderating effects. Drawing on the human needs theory, our findings show that health-oriented leadership positively impacts the implementation of public health policy and fosters well-being and nutritional literacy in communities. Furthermore, NGO support (NS) moderates the relationship between health-oriented leadership and the execution of healthcare policy. This research is innovative and the first to examine HOL's role in implementing public health policy with NGO backing, promoting well-being, and enhancing nutritional literacy within communities. It makes a valuable contribution to the literature on nutrition and health management by providing practical insights for governments, NGOs, and community stakeholders seeking to implement leadership strategies that protect community health and promote initiatives for a balanced diet and improved living standards.