Israeli Arab Children Research Articles

IGF1 Genetic Polymorphism and the Association between Vitamin D Status and BMI Percentiles in Children.

Both the IGF1 axis and hypovitaminosis D play a role in childhood obesity, either as a cause or a causality. While some studies suggest an interrelation between vitamin D status, IGF1, and obesity, this mechanism remains obscure. The aim of this study, therefore, was to explore associations between four genetic polymorphisms in the IGF1 axis in hypovitaminosis D-related obesity. The study included 116 pre-pubertal Israeli Arab children (52 girls), mean age 9.4 ± 2.6. Serum 25(OH)D was measured and anthropometric measures were obtained. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral EDTA-treated anti-coagulated blood using a standard protocol. Genotypes were determined using the Taqman allelic discrimination assay. The IGF genetic score was computed according to the additive genetic score model. A moderate-to-high negative correlation (r = 0.580, p < 0.05) was seen between the vitamin D status and body mass index (BMI) percentile of participants with high GS. Yet, no correlations were seen between vitamin D status and BMI percentile for participants with a low-to-moderate genetic score (GS) (GS ≤ 2). These results suggest that IGF1 genetic scores associated with elevated circulating IGF1 may indicate a tendency toward developing hypovitaminosis D-associated obesity.

Factors affecting the use of dental services among Arab children in Israel: a qualitative study

BackgroundIn 2010, Israel reformed its hitherto dominantly privately financed dental services and included preventative and restorative dental care for children in the publicly-funded basket of healthcare services. A survey conducted by Brookdale Institute, found that only 67% of low-income Israeli-Arab children were using the new service (compared to 85% of Jewish children) while the majority of others continue using privately funded services. The aim of this study is to explore and explain Israeli-Arab children’s low utilization of publicly-funded preventive and restorative dental care.MethodsA qualitative study designed to describe and understand the parents’ motivations and choices. As a preliminary stage, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with directors of HMO dental departments and Israeli-Arab dentists. In the second stage, ten one-on-one interviews with parents, and five focus group discussions with 55 parents held on February–March 2017. All discussions in the focus groups were conducted in Arabic and each group was moderated by one of the research team accompanied by another person who documented and recorded the discussion. All interviews and discussions were recorded, transcribed in full and translated into Hebrew.ResultsThe prevalent attitude is that one goes to the dentist only when there is a serious problem. The importance of preventive care is not appreciated. A childhood fear of the drill is very remembered and passed onto the children. Social and cultural factors such as kinship with service providers (GPs and dentists) influence the choice and utilization of health services. Economic barriers are still existing since even the small co-payment is daunting to low-income parents of large families. Provision of the public service is inadequate in some Arab villages.ConclusionsThe extension of Israel's National Health Insurance Law’s basket of services to include dental care for children, while important, is not sufficiently embraced by Israeli Arab children. The remaining barriers include poor living conditions, low educational level that requires very clear sharing of information about the new service, and the resistance of cultural and social traditions. Public dental services providers should focus on conveying relevant oral health messages to the parents too, either through their children or directly.

Effects of COVID-19 Restrictions on Anxiety, Sleep, and Executive Functions among Arab Israeli Children with Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Effects of COVID-19 Restrictions on Anxiety, Sleep, and Executive Functions among Arab Israeli Children with Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Parents' Perceptions of Changes in Sleep Duration, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behavior in Arab Israeli Children during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic led many countries to apply lockdown measures that could prevent children from achieving the physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep levels suggested for their psychophysical health. The current study tested changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep length of children and the incidence of achieving the 24 h movement standards through the limitations of COVID-19. A total of 490 Arab Israeli parents were surveyed. An electronic cross-sectional survey was performed, including questions addressing engagement in physical activities, use of screens, and sleep duration. Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, time spent participating in physical activity was reduced, sedentary behavior and sleep duration were increased, and the percentage of the sample who met the physical activity and sedentary behavior suggestions lessened. The percentage of participants who attained the overall 24 h movement recommendations was very low during the pandemic; school children met the guideline recommendations for physical activity and sleep duration more than preschool children, and girls spent more time in physical activity. These findings highlight the need for strategies to enhance physical activity and decrease sedentary behavior in children to prevent long-term effects of limitations imposed by COVID-19. Efforts to perceive and encourage healthy routines in Arab Israeli children in the case of pandemic limitations are expected to serve as a precedence.

Relationships of the gut microbiome with cognitive development among healthy school-age children.

The gut microbiome might play a role in neurodevelopment, however, evidence remains elusive. We aimed to examine the relationship between the intestinal microbiome and cognitive development of school-age children. This cross-sectional study included healthy Israeli Arab children from different socioeconomic status (SES). The microbiome was characterized in fecal samples by implementing 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Cognitive function was measured using Stanford-Binet test, yielding full-scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) score. Sociodemographics and anthropometric and hemoglobin measurements were obtained. Multivariate models were implemented to assess adjusted associations between the gut microbiome and FSIQ score, while controlling for age, sex, SES, physical growth, and hemoglobin levels. Overall, 165 children (41.2% females) aged 6-9 years were enrolled. SES score was strongly related to both FSIQ score and the gut microbiome. Measures of α-diversity were significantly associated with FSIQ score, demonstrating a more diverse, even, and rich microbiome with increased FSIQ score. Significant differences in fecal bacterial composition were found; FSIQ score explained the highest variance in bacterial β-diversity, followed by SES score. Several taxonomic differences were significantly associated with FSIQ score, including Prevotella, Dialister, Sutterella, Ruminococcus callidus, and Bacteroides uniformis. We demonstrated significant independent associations between the gut microbiome and cognitive development in school-age children.

The Psychological Effects of Coronavirus on Children in the Perception of Arab Israeli Parents Sample

We examined the consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic on the psychosocial, behavioral, and cognitive functions of Arab Israeli children aged 3–12 years. The findings of an online cross-sectional survey indicated that, as reported by the parents (N = 267), during the Coronavirus pandemic, most of the children expressed more behavioral and concentration problems. Almost 85% of the children felt more bored, and more than 50% were sadder, more reluctant, more frustrated, and felt lonely. Moreover, almost half of the children had sleep difficulties and tended to eat more than before. Boys and elementary school children were more vulnerable. The findings highlight the susceptibility of the children to the psychosocial consequences of Coronavirus and underline the need for interventions.

Socioeconomic disparities and household crowding in association with the fecal microbiome of school-age children

The development of the gut microbiome occurs mainly during the first years of life; however, little is known on the role of environmental and socioeconomic exposures, particularly within the household, in shaping the microbial ecology through childhood. We characterized differences in the gut microbiome of school-age healthy children, in association with socioeconomic disparities and household crowding. Stool samples were analyzed from 176 Israeli Arab children aged six to nine years from three villages of different socioeconomic status (SES). Sociodemographic data were collected through interviews with the mothers. We used 16 S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the gut microbiome, including an inferred analysis of metabolic pathways. Differential analysis was performed using the analysis of the composition of microbiomes (ANCOM), with adjustment for covariates. An analysis of inferred metagenome functions was performed implementing PICRUSt2. Gut microbiome composition differed across the villages, with the largest difference attributed to socioeconomic disparities, with household crowding index being a significant explanatory variable. Living in a low SES village and high household crowding were associated with increased bacterial richness and compositional differences, including an over-representation of Prevotella copri and depleted Bifidobacterium. Secondary bile acid synthesis, d-glutamine and d-glutamate metabolism and Biotin metabolism were decreased in the lower SES village. In summary, residential SES is a strong determinant of the gut microbiome in healthy school-age children, mediated by household crowding and characterized by increased bacterial richness and substantial taxonomic and metabolic differences. Further research is necessary to explore possible implications of SES-related microbiome differences on children’s health and development.

Helicobacter pylori and the intestinal microbiome among healthy school-age children.

Helicobacterpylori (H. pylori) infection is acquired during childhood and causes chronic gastritis that remains asymptomatic in most infected people. H. pylori alters the gastric microbiota and causes peptic ulcer disease. Evidence on the relationship between asymptomatic H. pylori infection and children's gut microbiota remains elusive. We characterized the relationship between H. pylori infection and the intestinal microbiome of healthy children, adjusting for known inter-personal and environmental exposures. This cross-sectional study included stool samples obtained from 163 Israeli Arab children aged 6-9years from different socioeconomic strata. Sociodemographic information was collected through maternal interviews. H. pylori infection was determined using monoclonal antigen detection stool enzyme immunoassay. The gut microbiome was characterized by implementing 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V4 region and a multivariate downstream analysis. Overall, 57% of the participants were positive for H. pylori infection and it was significantly associated with low socioeconomic status. There was no significant association between H. pylori infection and bacterial richness of fecal microbiome. H. pylori infection was significantly associated with intestinal bacterial composition, including a strong association with Prevotellacopri and Eubacteriumbiforme. Moreover, socioeconomic status was strongly associated with bacterial composition. H. pylori infection in healthy children was significantly associated with altered intestinal microbiome structure. Socioeconomic determinants exhibit a strong effect, related to both H. pylori infection and intestinal diversity and composition in childhood. These findings are clinically important to the understanding of the role of H. pylori infection and other intestinal microbes in health and disease.

The Relationship between Self Control Skills and Behavioral Problems among Special Education Primary Grades in Israel

Prior research has demonstrated that poor self-control skills in childhood and adolescence are associated with greater behavioral problems (e.g., anger, attention deficits). However, the current study was the first to investigate these associations among the unique sample of special educated Arab-Israeli children, and individual characteristics (e.g., gender, age) that may influence the relationship between self-control and behavioral problems were explored. Participants (n=125) were first or second graders, and both the child’s parent and teacher completed questionnaires assessing the children’s self-control skills and behavioral problems. Self-control skills (both parent and teacher report) were negatively associated with both parent- and teacher-reported behavioral problems (introversive problems (rs&gt;-.50, p&lt;.01), extroversive problems (rs&gt;-.45, p&lt;.01), and general problems (rs&gt;-.52, p&lt;.01)). Females exhibited higher self-control skills (both parent and teacher report) than males (ps&lt;.05), and both females and first graders exhibited fewer behavioral problems (introversive, extroversive, and general problems) than second graders (ps&lt;.05). Thus, the current study highlights the importance of strong self-control skills as a deterrent for developing behavioral problems, which may inform early intervention efforts in Arab-Israeli primary school students.

The development of prosociality among Christian Arab children in Israel: The role of children's household religiosity and of the recipient's neediness.

We examined the development of sharing behavior of children (aged 6 to 12) within the unique, minority population of Christian Arab children in Israel (N = 319). Children had the opportunity to share candy with a needy or non-needy recipient. Parents' level of religiosity was assessed using the Duke University Religion Index questionnaire (DUREL). Results replicate previous research that focused primarily on the majority populations of the societies in question, by demonstrating an overall increase in the incidence of sharing with age. Furthermore-as previously found among the majority of Jewish children in Israel-the recipient's neediness moderated the association between household religiosity and sharing, such that religiosity predicted greater levels of sharing only when the recipient was described as "poor" (a child whose parents have little money), not when the prospective recipient was not specified as such. Finally, the neediness of the recipient increased the incidence of sharing regardless of age, suggesting that in this unique minority population, sensitivity to the recipient's neediness emerges already at the age of 6. We discuss possible mechanisms behind this developmental pattern. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Associations between ethnicity, place of residence, hearing status of family and habilitation of children with hearing impairment

BackgroundHearing parents tend to have a strong preference for their deaf and hard-of-hearing children to acquire adequate speech, as opposed to use of sign language. Research reports the contribution of many variables to speech acquisition by children with hearing loss (HL). Yet, little is known about the association between ethnicity, place of residence, and hearing status of family members and mode of communication of young people with HL. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether mode of communication of young people with HL is associated with ethnicity, place of residence, and hearing status of family members.MethodParticipants were young adults with sensory-neural severe to profound HL, either congenital or acquired prior to age 3. Only participants without additional disabilities were included. The data on participants were extracted from records of the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services in Israel. The data for each participant in the study included mode of communication, gender, use of assistive device, ethnicity, geographic place of residence, and presence of first-degree relatives with HL. Regarding participants with a cochlear implant (CI), age at implantation was documented as well.ResultsChi-square tests revealed significant associations between mode of communication and all of the study variables. In addition, all the study variables made a significant contribution to mode of communication. Regarding ethnicity, most of the ultra-Orthodox participants used oral language, while the majority of Israeli-Arab participants used sign language. Regarding geographical place of residence, lower rates of oral language use were found in the northern and southern districts of Israel.ConclusionsThe findings of the present study underline the need for better monitoring of Israeli-Arab children with HL and children residing in peripheral areas in Israel and for improving access to habilitation services.

Promoting Preschoolers’ Mental-Emotional Conceptualization and Social Understanding: A Shared Book-Reading Study

ABSTRACT Research Findings: The current study explored the impact of a brief, small-group, shared book-reading (SBR) intervention on preschoolers’ expression of thoughts and emotions and their social understanding. To structure discourse around the book, we adapted Ellis’s ABC model, which focuses on understanding activating events (A), related beliefs (B), and emotional consequences (C). Participants included 116 Arab-Israeli children (M = 75 months, SD = 0.28), who were randomly divided into intervention and comparison groups. Over five SBR meetings, small groups of children in the intervention group were exposed to a book’s text rich in mental and emotion terms and discussion of the characters’ thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and situations and consequences. The comparison group text and discussions focused on the book’s plot, characters, and actions. We found that the intervention group significantly improved in their expression of emotion terms, and their ability to connect thoughts to emotions, define social problems, and generate solutions. Practice & Policy: The ABC model provides a readily available language with which to connect book characters’ thoughts and emotions, focus on social situations and consequences, and connect these elements to children’s lives. This intervention can promote preschoolers’ socio-emotional understanding within the typical group context of SBR in preschools.

Different Reasons for Not Completing Routine Vaccinations Among Jewish and Arab Children in Israel.

Minority communities are at high risk for low childhood vaccination coverage rates. This paper compared the rate of children not fully vaccinated and the reasons for that between Jewish (majority) and Arab (minority) children in Israel. This cross-sectional study screened the medical files of 14,232 children (12,360 Jewish and 1872 Arab), registered at Mother-Child Health Clinics in two large geographical area, to identify children who did not complete the last dose of hepatitis B and DTaP or first dose of MMR vaccines. We compared the reasons for not completing the vaccine schedule registered by the nurses between Jewish and Arab children. We identified 1052 children who did not complete at least one of the vaccines: 975 Jewish children and 77 Arab children. Four causal categories were identified: medical reasons, parental decision, parental behaviour, and organizational reasons. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the reasons for not completing the vaccination protocol. Arab children compared to Jewish children were more likely not to complete the vaccination protocol due to medical reasons (OR 3.81, CI 1.53-9.49) and less likely due to the reason parental decision (OR 0.35, CI 0.13-0.96). Therefore, patterns of reasons for not completing vaccinations vary, depending on population. Interventions to reduce the number of children not fully vaccinated should be tailored to the specific population.

Prevalence of cerebral palsy with Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V in children in Israel: a cross-cultural comparison.

Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood. Our aim was to study the prevalence of wheelchair-dependent cerebral palsy (equivalent to gross motor function classification system level IV/V) among Jewish and Arab children in Israel and to investigate differences between the children of the two population groups. Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy born in the years 2005-2006 were located through the Israel National Insurance Institute database. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved from children's records. Overall prevalence in Israel was 0.8 (0.7-0.9) per 1000 live births. The prevalence was significantly higher among Arabs (1.2:1000) than Jews (0.6:1000; OR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1, p = 0.001) and was highest among Arabs in the South (Bedouins) (2.8:1000). Consanguinity among parents and low socioeconomic status were significantly more common among Arab children with wheelchair- dependent cerebral palsy compared with Jews. Higher rates of children with cerebral palsy following term pregnancy were found in Arabs. Extreme preterm births, very low birth weight, and emergent cesarean section were more common among Jews compared with Arabs. This study revealed population group differences of cerebral palsy with Gross Motor Function Classification System levels IV and V. Higher rates of cerebral palsy, especially following term pregnancy in the Arab population, may be attributed to consanguinity and genetic factors. There is a need to tailor services to underserved population based on etiology: preterm births and genetic causes for the Jewish and Arab populations, respectively.

Hope, Material Resources, and Subjective Well-Being of 8- to 12-Year-Old Children in Israel.

Few studies have examined the links among hope, material resources, and subjective well-being (SWB) of children from their own perspectives. The article examines lack of material resources as a risk factor, hope as a human strength, and a possible moderator regarding children's SWB. The study employed a nationally representative sample of 2,977 Jewish and Arab Israeli children (ages 8-12). As predicted, there was a significant positive relation between hope and SWB, and a negative relation between lack of material resources and SWB. Hope was found to moderate the relation between lack of material resources and SWB. Furthermore, for 10- and 12-year olds, differences were found regarding the strength of the relations of the variables, suggesting a possible developmental trend.

Subjective well-being and perceptions of safety among Jewish and Arab children in Israel

As research has shown, safety is also a subjective phenomenon. Contemporary scholarship has also underscored the importance of subjective well-being among children as a vital component of overall well-being. Our paper explores the potential relationship between reported levels of safety in different settings and the subjective well-being of children. We conducted our study on 2238 children ages 10 and 12 with varying sociodemographic characteristics. Our findings support our hypothesis that safety in different settings is positively inter-correlated and that safety perceptions are positively correlated with subjective well-being. Furthermore, the correlations exist among different sociodemographic groups and in different settings.

The role of socio-economic and environmental characteristics in school-commuting behavior: A comparative study of Jewish and Arab children in Israel

School travel contributes to most of today's envisaged transport problems. However the literature dealing with school travel is limited. Hence, a study of school-travel patterns can generate many important insights that may impact transport-system policy and management. This paper focuses on school-commuting patterns and related perceptions of schoolchildren's parents among the Jewish and Arab populations of Israel. The study aims at understanding the commuting behavior of these children, ages 9–15. It examines the relationship between gender and socio-economic characteristics in the commuting behavior of Jewish and Arab schoolchildren. The basic hypothesis is that there are differences in school commuting patterns because of various differences between these two groups.The study is based on a questionnaire administered to 1755 students from various cities and villages in Israel and their parents. Descriptive statistic and multinomial logit model were used to study the differences in travel behavior within two population groups.The results show differences in school-travel patterns between Jewish and Arab schoolchildren. Age, gender, car availability, and parents work status were found to impact their travel behavior, including walking time to school. The differences appear in morning commuting behavior, commuting mode used by boys and by girls, and their preferred mode. For both population groups, the older the child and the fewer private automobiles in the household, the more likely it is that they will walk to school as opposed to being driven by car. Arab children with employed mothers were more likely to be driven to school than to commute by school bus or on foot, whereas no significant impact was found among the Jewish children having working mothers. In addition, the results indicated also that there are differences in parental behavioral patterns and perceptions concerning their children's mode of arriving to school, aspects that should be taken into account when dealing with planning policies which aim to increase children walking. The results of the study provide insights into policies and campaigns that may help to promote walking and bicycling and generate the development of healthier and greener travel behaviour.

Sommario/Contents

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is an important cause of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) in children. Our previous studies have shown that Arab children in Israel have a worse prognosis compared with Jewish patients despite similar clinical presentation and management. Progression of proteinuric glomerular diseases has been associated with alterations in lipid metabolism, and similarities have been drawn between the mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis and glomerulosclerosis. Paraoxonase (PON) is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated enzyme involved in preventing the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and an association has been shown between two genetic polymorphisms in PON1 and the risk of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of these genetic polymorphisms in PON1 in Arab and Jewish children with FSGS and to determine any association with severity of outcome. Forty-seven children (21 Arab and 26 Jewish) with biopsy-proven FSGS and 274 healthy controls of matching ethnic origin were studied. The glutamine (A)-192-arginine (B) and the methionine (M)-55-leucine (L) polymorphisms were analyzed. The frequency of the A allele was similar in patients and controls (0.68 versus 0.71), as was that of the L allele (0.63 versus 0.6). When subgroups were analyzed, the prevalence of the LL genotype in Arab patients was significantly greater than in Jewish patients (57.1% versus 26.9%, P < 0.05) and Arab controls (57.1% versus 28.9%, P < 0.03). A trend in association was found between homozygosity for the L allele and progression of renal disease in Arab children. Homozygosity for the L allele is a risk factor for developing FSGS in Arab children and may be associated with a worse prognosis.

Inhabiting two worlds

This study investigated the role of the news media in the lives of Jewish and Arab children in Israel. A survey of 1657 children (ages 8–18), including analysis of open-ended questions, reveals that Jewish and Arab children in Israel live in two different worlds of news. They are exposed to different sources, stories, and interpretations; they take different messages from the news; and they hold to some degree different attitudes toward their roles in their lives. The news also seem to be more heavily integrated in the lives of the Jewish majority young people than it is in the lives of the Arab ones who treat it as more important to adults. If anything, it seems that the consumption of news serves mostly to contribute to separatism and further alienation of the minority Arab young people group from Israeli society.

Helicobacter pylori Infection and Anemia

Dear Sir: In their comprehensive and rigorous study on the etiology of anemia in Cote d'Ivoire, Righetti and others1 reported high prevalence of anemia (45–75%), inflammation, and deficiencies of iron, riboflavin, and vitamin A. The factors that were significantly and positively linked to the prevalence of anemia differed by age group: (1) infection with Plasmodium falciparum in 6- to 23-month-old children, (2) cellular iron deficiency and chronic inflammation in 6- to 8-year-old children, and (3) cellular iron deficiency in non-pregnant young women.1 Identifying modifiable risk factors like the factors reported by Righetti and others1 is highly important and can help in establishing interventions aimed at reducing the burden of anemia. Helicobacter pylori colonizes the stomach; typically, it is acquired in childhood and causes asymptomatic chronic infection, which is highly endemic in developing countries.2 A small portion of H. pylori-infected subjects develop peptic ulcers and gastric carcinoma, usually in late adulthood.2 In well-designed studies, H. pylori was found to be associated with increased likelihood of iron deficiency anemia (IDA)3,4; furthermore, anti-H. pylori therapy substantially reduced the percentage of children affected with IDA.5 In a community-based study among Arab children in Israel, we found significantly lower mean hemoglobin levels in children ages 6–9 years who were infected with H. pylori compared with their uninfected peers.6 H. pylori was also associated with low ferritin levels.6,7 In a systematic review and meta-analysis,8 we found higher prevalence of IDA in H. pylori-infected subjects than uninfected ones (pooled odds ratio = 2.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.9–4.2).8 We recommend the investigation of H. pylori infection as a potential factor that might play a role in the occurrence of anemia in this population.1 Trials on the impact of anti-H. pylori therapy on the burden of anemia and IDA could shed light on whether the association between H. pylori and these disorders is causal.