Parental death, parental absence and stunting

Background: Growth stunting refers to a condition in which children have a lower stature compared to their classmates, as determined by the World Health Organization's child growth standard assessment. This disorder can impact the growth of the brain and other body components, including the oral cavity, leading to effects on oral hygiene and general oral health. The objective of this study is to establish the relationship between stunting and dental and oral health in children. There is a considerable body of scientific research that leans in this way, and it appears that there is an association between growth retardation and dental health. According to the findings of this research, oral health was determined by the presence of oral hygiene, oral illness (dental caries), salivary flow rate, and salivary content. One of the risk factors for ECC is the presence of stunting. According to this study, there is a connection between stunting and ECC as well as moderate dental hygiene. Objectives: To review the correlation between oral health and stunting in children. Conclusion: There exists an association between growth stunting and dental health in children. The oral hygiene can be classified as moderate to poor based on the OHI-S test, and selected studies have identified a high plaque index. Furthermore, it was shown that children with growth stunting had a reduction in both salivary flow rate and the content of their saliva. Dental caries is the primary cause of oral illness, leading to a decline in oral health and is associated with development stunting in children.

Migration is one of the components of the demographic Process. Parental migration has both positive and negative impacts on child development. Trends of death and injury in foreign labour migration are increasing. The death rate of male migrants is higher than female migrants in foreign employment. Parental deaths were observed higher for province one. The absence of the parents will impact the health and education of children. This study aims to analyse the impact on Nepalese orphans through parental death in foreign labour migration. This study has used quantitative information through secondary sources to achieve the research objectives. The major secondary sources are national and international publications, reports and journals. Information on school students, the injured or death status of the parents and scholarship status of children has been collected from the foreign employment promotion board of Nepal. All provinces are purposively selected as most foreign labour migrant provinces. Finally, data were presented in tabular and graphic form. Data were analysed in a descriptive method. The death of foreign labour migrants is increasing in Nepal. The absence of parents due to foreign labour migration in the family has increased negative effects on child health and education. The major causes of parental death are disease, accident, natural cause and investigation pending. The major death occurrence countries are Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Qatar. The government’s major social programs to support orphan and their families are injury benefit compensation and student scholarship programs, medicine support, rescue, and transportation of the dead body, orientation and training and other support

Academic outcomes as a function of parental absence were examined among 268 newly immigrant Latino youth from Argentina, Colombia, and Cuba. Participants experienced parental absence as a result of divorce, parental death, and serial migration. Students who experienced parental absence reported lower achievement expectations. Parental death, prolonged parental absence, and serial migration negatively affected the academic competence and expectations of students. The extent to which parental absence related to competence and expectations through potential mediating factors was assessed with structural equation modeling. Overall, the model was able to explain some of the relationship between parental absence and the academic competence and expectations of these Latino immigrant students.

Academic achievement and educational expectations as a function of parental absence were examined among 268 newly immigrant elementary, middle, and high-school students from Spanish-speaking countries. Data collected as part of a longitudinal study of adaptation and achievement in newly immigrant students were analyzed. Participants had varying experiences with parental absence, in terms of length of absence, gender of absent parent, and reason for absence. Reasons for parental absence included parental divorce, parental death, and serial migration, a cause unique to immigrant children. Students who experienced parental absence reported lower educational expectations. Students who experienced the death of a parent had lower achievement scores and lower expectations than students who did not experience parental death. Prolonged absence was also important, with students who experienced parental absence for more than one year performing worse than students who had minimal parental separation. In addition, boys who experienced parental absence because of serial migration performed worse academically than boys who did not have this occurrence. Educational expectations were reduced among students who experienced parental absence as a result of the migratory process, especially for younger students. The extent to which parental absence related to achievement and expectations through potential mediating factors, such as economic hardship, perceived school support, and parental school involvement was assessed with structural equation modeling. Overall, the model was able to explain some of the relationship between parental absence and the academic achievement and educational expectations of immigrant students from Spanish-speaking countries.

Introduction Parents are one of the most salient contexts for child development, and parental divorce and death are substantial stressors for children. Previous research suggests parental conflict is related to difficulties in attachment, emotion regulation, self-esteem, and academic performance in children. A growing body of research suggests parental conflict can negatively affect sleep duration, latency, sleepiness, and wake after sleep onset. There is limited evidence that some children who experience parental death report worse sleep. Our goal was to begin to investigate the impact of parental divorce and death on multiple sleep measures in a lifespan archival sample. Methods Data was refined from the Terman Life Cycle Study, which has followed 1,528 gifted Californian children since 1921. For this analysis, we utilized cross-sectional data from the 1921 assessment (max. N=1202; 44% female, M age=12y, range=6-21y). Participants or their parents reported whether parental death (N=123) or divorce (N=62) had occurred, as well as the child’s usual hour of sleeping or waking, how long it took them to fall asleep, the quality of their sleep, and whether they had night terrors. In this preliminary analysis, we evaluate exposure to parental divorce and death on children’s sleep descriptively. Results Parental divorce was associated with sleep quality (p=.01), but we mostly found no significant impact relations of parental divorce or death on children’s sleep (ps=.21-.90). In this sample, 97% of children from intact families (N=1112) had good sleep quality compared to the 92% of children from families with divorced parents (N=62). Conclusion In this well-characterized archival longitudinal study of children followed since 1921, we found little evidence that parental divorce or death were related to sleep cross-sectionally. Multiple waves of sleep data are available, and we will evaluate associations longitudinally in follow-up analyses, as well as possible associations between time-limited effects (length of time since the event) or sensitive periods in terms of age. Our null results may be the result of cohort differences (the sample was born, on average, in 1910) or limited reporting on sleep by participants and their parents. Support (If Any) AG027001

Hunger, with its adverse consequences for children, continues to be an important national problem. Previous studies that document the deleterious effects of hunger among children cannot distinguish child from family hunger and do not take into account some critical environmental, maternal, and child variables that may influence child outcomes. This study examines the independent contribution of child hunger on children's physical and mental health and academic functioning, when controlling for a range of environmental, maternal, and child factors that have also been associated with poor outcomes among children. With the use of standardized tools, comprehensive demographic, psychosocial, and health data were collected in Worcester, Massachusetts, from homeless and low-income housed mothers and their children (180 preschool-aged children and 228 school-aged children). Mothers and children were part of a larger unmatched case-control study of homelessness among female-headed households. Hunger was measured by a set of 7 dichotomous items, each asking the mother whether she has or her children have experienced a particular aspect of hunger during the past year--1 concerns food insecurity for the entire family, 2 concern adult hunger, and 4 involve child hunger. The items, taken from the Childhood Hunger Identification Project measure, are summed to classify the family and divided into 3 categories: no hunger, adult or moderate child hunger, or severe child hunger (indicating multiple signs of child hunger). Outcome measures included children's chronic health condition count using questions adapted from the National Health Interview Survey, Child Health Supplement, and internalizing behavior problems and anxiety/depression, measured by the Child Behavior Checklist. Additional covariates included demographic variables (ie, age, gender, ethnicity, housing status, number of moves, family size, income), low birth weight, child life events (ie, care and protection order, out of home placement, abuse, severe life events count), developmental problems (ie, developmental delay, learning disability, emotional problems), and mother's distress and psychiatric illness. Multivariate regression analyses examined the effect of child hunger on physical and mental health outcomes. The average family size for both preschoolers and school-aged children was 3; about one third of both groups were white and 40% Puerto Rican. The average income of families was approximately $11 000. Among the school-aged children, on average 10 years old, 50% experienced moderate child hunger and 16% severe child hunger. Compared with those with no hunger, school-aged children with severe hunger were more likely to be homeless (56% vs 29%), have low birth weights (23% vs 6%), and have more stressful life events (9 vs 6) when compared with those with no hunger. School-aged children with severe hunger scores had parent-reported anxiety scores that were more than double the scores for children with no hunger and significantly higher chronic illness counts (3.4 vs 1.8) and internalizing behavior problems when compared with children with no hunger. There was no relationship between hunger and academic achievement. Among preschool-aged children, who averaged 4 years of age, 51% experienced moderate child hunger and 8% severe child hunger. For preschoolers, compared with children with no hunger, severe hunger was associated with homelessness (75% vs 48%), more traumatic life events (8.5 vs 6), low birth weight (23% vs 6%), and higher levels of chronic illness and internalizing behavior problems. Mothers of both preschoolers and school-aged children who reported severe hunger were more likely to have a lifetime diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. For school-aged children, severe hunger was a significant predictor of chronic illness after controlling for housing status, mother's distress, low birth weight, and child live events. For preschoolers, moderate hunger was a significant predictor of health conditions while controlling for potenns while controlling for potential explanatory factors. For both preschoolers and school-aged children, severe child hunger was associated with higher levels of internalizing behavior problems. After controlling for housing status, mother's distress, and stressful life events, severe child hunger was also associated with higher reported anxiety/depression among school-aged children. This study goes beyond previous research and highlights the independent relationship between severe child hunger and adverse physical health and mental health outcomes among low-income children. Study findings underscore the importance of clinical recognition of child hunger and its outcomes, allowing for preventive interventions and efforts to increase access to food-related resources for families.

Framing an agenda for children thriving in the SDG era: a WHO–UNICEF–Lancet Commission on Child Health and Wellbeing

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on cash transfers and child health. The main purpose of the research is to assess the effects of cash transfers on children’s health and development outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Systematization of the literary sources indicates that studies have justified cash transfer as social-income support that addresses a vital social determinant of health (income) for children in low-and-middle-income countries. The methodological basis of this study is a systematic review that searched a wide range of electronic databases such as PubMed, ResearchGate and ScienceDirect. Studies included in this review included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cluster-RCTs, quasi-experimental and mixed methods studies of cash transfer interventions in children 0-18 years. Inclusion criteria were met by eight studies, four from Africa and four from Latin America. The systematic review presents the results of data synthesis of the included studies that mainly reported the effects of cash transfer programmes on child anthropometry outcomes, cognitive development, morbidity, and healthcare utilization. The review found cash transfer programmes to improve these variables among children in households receiving cash transfers. This systematic review has added to the debate on cash transfers and children’s health outcomes. In general, the systematic review indicates that cash transfer programmes intended for children are effective at improving anthropometric, health, and cognitive outcomes, as well as access to healthcare. However, there is a need for more research to clarify the multiple pathways by which cash transfers can improve children’s health and nutritional outcomes. It is also necessary to clarify what factors explain the variety of effects of cash transfer programs on child health and nutritional status. Finally, cash transfer interventions are not permanent mechanisms for promoting access to healthcare. Policymakers in developing countries should borrow ideas on how to finance healthcare services for improving the socio-economic wellbeing of citizens.

The impact of Conditional Cash Transfer program on stunting in under five year's poor children

This paper examines the effect of cash versus in-kind transfers on local prices. Both types of transfers increase the demand for normal goods; in-kind transfers also increase supply in recipient communities, which should cause prices to fall relative to cash transfers. We test and confirm this prediction using a program in Mexico that randomly assigned villages to receive boxes of food (trucked into the village), equivalently valued cash transfers, or no transfers. We find that prices are significantly lower under in-kind transfers compared with cash transfers; relative to the control group, in-kind transfers lead to a 4 percent fall in prices while cash transfers lead to a positive but negligible increase in prices. Prices of goods other than those transferred are also affected, but by a small amount. Thus, households' purchasing power is only modestly affected by these price effects, even in this setting where program eligibility is high, the transfer per household is sizeable, and hence the supply influx is large. The exception is in remote villages, where the price effects (both the negative effects of in-kind transfers and the positive effects of cash transfers) are larger in magnitude. The effects do not dissipate over the two years of program duration we observe.

Cash-transfer programmes in developing countries

Background: Few studies of health impacts of parental death focus on the developmental stage of adolescence and young adulthood and in particular, expected parental death from terminal illness. Aim: To systematically review the health impact of expected parental death on adolescent and young adult children aged 15–25 years and provide a basis for further research and clinical practice. Design: Systematic review registered on PROSPERO (CRD42017080282). Data sources: Pubmed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE and Cochrane databases were searched with no restrictions on publication date with the last search in March 2021. Eligible articles included studies of adolescent and young adult children (defined by age range of 15–25 years) exposed to parental death due to terminal illness, and with reported health outcomes (physical, psychological or social). Articles were reviewed using the QualSyst tool. Results: Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. Adolescent and young adult children reported poor family cohesion and communication with associated negative psychological outcomes. They reported distrust in the health care provided to their terminally ill parent, increased psychological distress and risk of unresolved grief, anxiety and self-harm. Some experience was positive with posttraumatic growth identified. Conclusions: This review specifically analysed the health impact of expected parental death on adolescent and young adult children. It highlights their need for age-appropriate psychosocial support and clear information during parental illness, death and bereavement.

This study conducted a randomized control trial in rural Burkina Faso to estimate the impact of alternative cash transfer delivery mechanisms on education, health, and household welfare outcomes. The two-year pilot program randomly distributed cash transfers that were either conditional or unconditional and were given to either mothers or fathers. Conditionality was linked to older children enrolling in school and attending regularly and younger children receiving preventive health check-ups. Compared with the control group, cash transfers improve children's education and health and household socioeconomic conditions. For school enrollment and most child health outcomes, conditional cash transfers outperform unconditional cash transfers. Giving cash to mothers does not lead to significantly better child health or education outcomes, and there is evidence that money given to fathers improves young children's health, particularly during years of poor rainfall. Cash transfers to fathers also yield relatively more household investment in livestock, cash crops, and improved housing.

Prior research on Mexican migration has shown that social networks and economic incentives play an important role in determining migration outcomes. This study utilizes experimental data on PROGRESA, Mexico's primary poverty reduction program, to evaluate the effects of public cash transfers on migration. Our study complements a growing body of literature aimed at overcoming longstanding hurdles towards the establishment of causal validity in empirical studies of migration. We find that public cash transfers reduce US migration but have little effect on domestic migration. Furthermore, we find that the provision of cash transfers appears to reduce migration partly by reducing the relative deprivation levels of poor households. Finally, we find that the effect of public cash transfers on US migration depend on the size of existing US migration networks. Surprisingly, we see that transfers have larger (more negative) effects on US migration in communities with large existing networks. The results suggest that public transfers may be helpful in managing rural out-migration, particularly to the US. Interestingly, such programs may be most effective if they are targeted towards communities with strong existing migration patterns.

We examined the impact of time-varying exposure to family adversity, including parental conflict, parental absence from home, divorce, and parental death, on the timing of drinking and smoking initiation among Taiwanese youth between ages 14 and 22years. We used six waves of data from a longitudinal panel study conducted in northern Taiwan between 2001 and 2009, and included 5446 students. The analysis demonstrated that exposure to parental conflict, divorce, and parental death increased the risk of drinking and smoking initiation. The odds ratios (OR) for smoking and drinking initiation among youth experiencing conflict between parents were 1.33 (95% CI 1.10-1.73) for smoking and 2.00 (1.26-3.20) for drinking. The OR for parental death were 2.96 (1.69-5.18) for smoking and 8.07 (1.79-36.49) for drinking. The association becomes more pronounced at age 18 (i.e., the legal age for drinking and smoking in Taiwan), and lasts until early adulthood.