Caregiving Practices Research Articles

Psychological impacts of maternal migration on left-behind children: a cross-cultural review

In the pursuit of a brighter future for their children, many female migrant workers leave their home countries to seek employment abroad, often as caregivers for families in wealthier nations. This decision necessitates prolonged separation from their own children, depriving them of the opportunity to witness and participate in crucial stages of their children’s development. The absence of these mothers, combined with inconsistent caregiving in their stead, significantly increases the vulnerability of left-behind children to mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, and difficulties in forming emotional bonds with others. Moreover, even after the migrant mother’s eventual return, the disruptions in attachment often result in long-term consequences, including strained and distant relationships with their children. This article explores the complex impact of maternal migration on the mental well-being of left-behind children across various cultural contexts. It highlights key findings, such as the role of communal caregiving practices in mitigating adverse effects in some societies, while noting that these practices are not a complete solution. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive mental health interventions and policy measures to support the well-being of children affected by maternal migration globally.

Caregiver acceptability of seasonal malaria chemoprevention in two districts in the Upper West region, Ghana: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAcceptability of malaria chemoprevention interventions by caregivers is crucial for overall programme success. This study assessed coverage and acceptability of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) in selected communities in the Northern part of Ghana.MethodsAn analytical cross-sectional design was conducted from “July 23rd to August 4th, 2020—a 12-day period that covered 5 days of the first SMC implementation cycle and 7 days post-implementation. Using a stratified multi-stage sampling technique, a total of 495 caregivers providing care for 569 eligible children aged 3–59 months from randomly selected households in the study communities were enrolled into the study. Acceptability of SMC was assessed on a set of 19 questionnaire items-8 of the items measured caregivers’ perceptions and 11 items measured children’s reaction to administered medicines. Univariable and stepwise multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the predictors of acceptability of SMC at a 95% confidence interval and a p-value of 0.05.ResultsSMC coverage was 95.1% (541/569). Caregivers had a good level of knowledge of SMC (n = 475; 96.0%; 95% CI 94.2—97.7%) and a good perception of SMC (n = 471; 95.2%; 95% CI 93.3–97.0). Seven out of ten caregivers (70.9%; 95% CI 66.9–74.9%) had good acceptability of SMC. For 7 out of 28 children who did not receive the SMC intervention, their caregivers intentionally refused them the intervention. Of those that received the treatment, 17.2% (n = 85; 95%CI 13.8–20.5%) of caregivers had at least one leftover amodiaquine tablet after the third day of treatment. Caregivers who practice Christianity or Islam had better acceptability than caregivers who practice African traditional religion (p < 0.001).ConclusionHealth authorities and stakeholders can work towards bridging the gap between knowledge and SMC treatment practices of caregivers through continuous education, adherence counseling, and effective monitoring of SMC practices in malaria-endemic countries.

Effect of improving food security on parenting practices and caregiver-adolescent relationships: qualitative findings of an income-generating agricultural intervention in rural Kenya.

Despite the recognised links between food insecurity and parenting, few studies have evaluated the perceived impacts of livelihood or food security interventions on parental practices, intra-household functioning, adolescent behaviour and psychosocial outcomes in HIV-affected households in sub-Saharan Africa. The study aimed to understand the perceived effects of food security on parenting practices and how this was experienced by both adolescent girls (aged 13-19 years) and their caregivers in rural Kenya. We conducted semi-structured, individual interviews with 62 caregiver-adolescent dyads who were participants in the adolescent Shamba Maisha (NCT03741634), a sub-study of adolescent girls and caregivers with a household member participating in the Shamba Maisha agricultural and finance intervention trial (NCT01548599). Data were analysed following the principles of thematic analysis. Compared to control households, the Shamba Maisha intervention households had improved food security and strengthened economic security, which, in turn, improved parenting practices. Intervention households described changes in parenting experiences, including decreased parental stress, reduced absenteeism and harsh parenting and improved caregiver- adolescent relationships. These positive caregiving practices, in turn, contributed to improved mental health and fewer behavioural problems among adolescent girls. Changes in the control households were less noticeable. These findings demonstrate how an income-generating agricultural intervention may improve food security and positively affect parenting practices, intra-household dynamics and adolescent psychosocial well-being and behaviour. Further research is needed to explore how to harness the social benefits of agricultural interventions to best address the critical intersections among food insecurity, parenting practices and adolescent mental health.

Examining Caregiver Practices During Adolescent Outpatient Alcohol Use and Co-Occurring Mental Health Treatment: Protocol for a Dyadic Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.

Caregiver-involved treatments for adolescents with alcohol use disorder and co-occurring disorders (AUD+CODs) are associated with the best treatment outcomes. Understanding what caregiving practices during treatment improve core adolescent treatment targets may facilitate the refinement and scalability of caregiver-involved interventions. Caregiving is dynamic, varying by context, affect, and adolescent behavior. Caregiver-involved treatments seek to change momentary interactions between caregivers and their adolescents. Accordingly, this protocol outlines a dyadic ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study to examine caregiving practices during AUD+CODs treatment and their associations with adolescent core treatment targets (eg, alcohol craving and use, motivation to reduce or stop drinking, and internalizing and externalizing symptoms). This paper aims to describe the methods for examining momentary caregiving practices and adolescent core treatment targets during adolescent outpatient AUD+CODs treatment. We will recruit 75 caregiver-adolescent dyads from outpatient mental health clinics providing AUD+CODs treatment. Eligible families will have an adolescent who (1) is aged between 13 and 18 years; (2) meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, diagnostic criteria for AUD; (3) is enrolled in outpatient treatment at the time of recruitment; and (4) has a legal guardian willing to participate in the study. Caregivers and adolescents will complete an eligibility screening, followed by a baseline assessment during or as close as possible to the second week of treatment. During the baseline assessment, caregivers and adolescents will receive formal training in EMA procedures. Next, caregivers and adolescents will complete a 15-week EMA burst design consisting of three 21-day EMA periods with 3-week breaks between periods. Throughout the study, participants will also complete weekly reports regarding the skills learned or practiced during therapy. The three overarching aims to the proposed study are as follows: (1) examine momentary caregiving practices (eg, support, monitoring, substance use communication quality) and their associations with core treatment targets, (2) examine how these associations change throughout treatment, and (3) examine whether a caregiver report of learning or practicing parenting- or family-focused behaviors in treatment sessions is associated with changes in the use of caregiving practices in daily life. The proposed study was informed by a pilot study assessing the feasibility and acceptability of dyadic EMA during adolescent AUD+COD treatment. Some benchmarks were met during this study (eg, ≥80% caregiver retention rate), although most benchmarks were not (eg, adolescent [772/1622, 47.6%] and caregiver [1331/1881, 70.76%] random prompt compliance was below the ≥80% target). Data collection is anticipated to begin in December of 2024. The proposed study is designed to be completed over 3 years. Examining momentary caregiving practices using EMA has important implications for refining and scaling caregiver-involved interventions for AUD+CODs so that families who would benefit from caregiver-involved treatments can have access to them. PRR1-10.2196/63399.

Infant and young child feeding practices of caregivers in Copesville, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal

Background: Although infant and young child feeding (IYCF) recommendations are widely accepted in South Africa, inappropriate IYCF practices still exist, leading to malnutrition in children. Objective: To investigate the IYCF practices of caregivers in Copesville, Pietermaritzburg (PMB). Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Setting: Masons Clinic, Copesville, PMB. Subjects: Two-hundred and fifty caregivers older than 18 years of age caring for a 6–24-month-old child at the time of the study. Outcome measures: A face-to-face questionnaire was developed using recent, relevant literature and was validated for the study. Results: The mean age of the caregivers was 32.25 (10.42) years. About 96% (n = 239) of infants were ever breastfed. The mean age at which breastfeeding was stopped was 5.9 ± 4.3 months. Mothers who were still breastfeeding planned to continue breastfeeding for a mean duration of 12.6 ± 5.6 months. About 60% (n = 149) of infants were started on solids at the appropriate age of 6 months. Lennon Entressdruppels (16.9%; n = 14), sugar water (15.7%; n = 13) and fruit and vegetables (13.3%; n = 11) were fed before the age of six months. Forty-nine caregivers (19.6%) consulted a traditional healer regarding IYCF. Non-edible items fed to cleanse the stomach included toothpaste and polish (5.6%; n = 8) and disinfectant solution (1.7%; n = 1). Conclusions: Caregivers should be educated on the benefits of continued breastfeeding until two years or beyond and the importance of starting solids at the appropriate age of six months. The potential dangers to the health of infants of feeding non-edible items should also be highlighted.

Scatological Matters and a Politics of Care in Early Childhood

Background or Context: Early childhood education in the United States has increasingly abdicated its role in caregiving. A central argument we make in this article is that the separation of care from education in early childhood has shaped how caregiving routines unfold, with significant implications for how children—particularly children of Color attending predominantly white early childhood institutions—come to understand themselves and their social positions. We theorize this as part of a broader politics of care, which we define as the inequitable access to meaningful care practices in early childhood settings. Purpose, Objective, Research Question, or Focus of Study: In this work, we focus on data from a study set within an early childhood site that actively emphasized its status as a “school,” rather than as “childcare.” By foregrounding the site’s practices around a caregiving routine like toileting, we demonstrate how the institutional framing of care impacts children’s experiences and the formation of their social identities. Simultaneously, we discuss how one young child’s use of photography served as a form of resistance, enabling him to “talk back” to how institutional discourses around care and schooling positioned him. Research Design: This is a theoretical project that uses data to instantiate the theory. We first walk the reader through our theoretical and conceptual framework, which draws on the historical separation of care from education in the United States, as well as literature related to a politics of care in early childhood education. We then exemplify the theory through a study of one school’s caregiving practices and a child’s experiences with these practices. The research featured within this article utilizes a multiphasic process of image-based research with young children. Conclusions or Recommendations: This data highlights the power relations at play within tensions created by the care–education divide. Using disability studies in education and critical childhood studies together, we can see how, in moments where care is withheld, Oliver (the focal child) is racialized and simultaneously treated as more incompetent than other children. His race, gender, age, and body played a role in the ways school worked to contain him, both on the playground and in the bathroom.

Socio-economic and Demographic Characteristics of Caregivers as a Determinant of Nutritional Status of Children Aged 6-59 Months in Kericho County, Kenya

Child growth and well-being are critically dependent on proper nutrition, particularly during the developmental phase between the ages of 6 and 59 months. Poor nutritional status is associated with an increased prevalence of mortality and morbidity in Kenya and globally. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the nutritional status of children aged 6 months to 5 years in Kericho County, Kenya. The research employed a cross-sectional analytical design, targeting children attending outpatient child welfare clinics at Kericho County Referral Hospital and Kapkatet Sub-County Hospital. A total of 172 children were selected through systematic random sampling, and data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Key findings revealed that stunting affected 25% of the children, while wasting and underweight were prevalent in 23.8%. Dietary practices showed that only 39.2% of children aged 6 to 23 months met the minimum dietary diversity, and 39.2% received a minimum acceptable diet. Moreover, 45.3% of children experienced illness in the past month. Regression analysis identified several key predictors of malnutrition: Children of caregivers without formal education were more likely to be underweight (AOR = 0.70, p = 0.01). This study underscores the critical role of caregiver education in shaping child nutritional outcomes and highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve caregiver knowledge and practices.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary caregivers of gastric cancer patients regarding postoperative dietary management

BackgroundFamily caregivers of gastric cancer (GC) patients after gastrectomy have a strong demand for nutrition knowledge. This study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of primary caregivers of GC patients regarding postoperative dietary management.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study, collecting data through questionnaire distribution. Demographic information of the respondents and KAP scores were assessed and analyzed.ResultsOf 508 included participants, majority were female (59.84%) urban residents (78.94%), aged 40–60 years (53.15%). Caretakers were primarily spouses of GC patient (50.39%) or parents (10.43%), only child (12.99%) or non-only child (24.21%). Notable percentage of poor knowledge and practice was found among participants (45.05% and 40.55%, respectively), while attitude was predominantly positive (99.41%). Correlation analysis revealed a weak positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores (r = 0.150, P < 0.001) and negative link to practice scores (r=-0.228, P < 0.001); attitude scores were positively correlated with practice (r = 0.117, P = 0.008). Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that higher attitude scores were independently associated with higher practice scores (OR = 1.360; 95%CI, 1.223–1.513), P < 0.001), while higher knowledge scores (OR = 0.684; 95%CI, 0.575–0.815), P < 0.001), older age (OR = 0.951; 95%CI, 0.918–0.985), P = 0.005), duration of caregiving > 3 months (3–6 months (OR = 0.415; 95%CI, 0.193–0.894, P = 0.025); 6 months-1 year (OR = 0.269; 95%CI, 0.120–0.606), P = 0.002); >1 year (OR = 0.290; 95%CI, 0.120–0.705), P = 0.006), and follow-up location after patient’s surgery (OR = 0.072 (0.033–0.160), P < 0.001) were independently associated with lower practice scores.ConclusionsFamily caregivers of GC patients that participated in this study demonstrated moderate knowledge and practice, but positive attitude towards dietary management after gastrectomy.

A cross-sectional study on the relationship between infant sleep, temperament, and bedtime practices.

We explored the interplay between infant temperament, sleep characteristics, and bedtime practices. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving a large sample of infants 9-13 months of age (n = 623). Sleep data were collected through auto-videosomnography, allowing for objective, noninvasive assessment of sleep in an infant's ecological environment. Infant temperament and bedtime practices were assessed with questionnaires completed by parents. Results revealed significant correlations between negative affectivity and disrupted sleep patterns, including shorter sleep duration, more night awakenings, and increased parental interventions. Infants falling asleep while being breast/bottle feeding or while being held/rocked had shorter nocturnal sleep duration, lower sleep efficiency, later bedtime, earlier wake-up time, and more parental interventions. Regression analyses indicated that bedtime practices accounted for a substantial portion of variance in sleep metrics, emphasizing their role in influencing infants' sleep. The study highlights the intricate interconnections between infants' temperament, sleep, and caregiving practices, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of individual differences to tailor effective parenting strategies for promoting healthy sleep in infants. Breda M, Lucchini M, Barnett N, Bruni O. A cross-sectional study on the relationship between infant sleep, temperament, and bedtime practices. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(12):1965-1974.

A Description of The Psychological Well-Being of Parents Who Have Children With Special Needs at Slb Asuhan Kasih Kupang

This study explores the psychological well-being of parents with children who have special needs and physical disabilities at the Asuhan Kasih Kupang special school. Six participants, selected through purposive sampling, were involved based on predefined criteria. Using qualitative methods, data was collected through interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis, revealing three key themes: acceptance, caregiving, and social support. The findings indicate that parents' psychological well-being is shaped by their ability to accept their child's condition, develop effective parenting strategies—such as fostering independence and offering positive affirmations—and rely on social support, including emotional, practical, and moral assistance. The study highlights the importance of coping strategies, such as engaging in spiritual activities to enhance gratitude, spending quality time with children, and fostering communication between schools and parents to alleviate anxiety. These insights provide valuable recommendations for enhancing parental well-being and caregiving practices.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Intervention for the Family Caregiver Attending Primary Health Care Setting: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified as one of the top ten public health threats facing humanity. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of an antimicrobial stewardship educational intervention on family caregivers' knowledge and practices in primary healthcare settings in Egypt. Methods: A quasi-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest design involving a sample of 300 family caregivers attending family health centers. The data were collected using questionnaires that assessed caregiver knowledge and self-reported practices regarding AMR before and after the intervention (primary outcomes). The intervention combined tailored knowledge and practice components that carefully evaluated participants' knowledge regarding AMR, health risk, antibiotic usage, and prevention of infection. Furthermore, their practice of using antibiotics, including previous antibiotic exposure, their antibiotic use during the past year, reasons for taking antibiotics, ways of obtaining antibiotics, and reasons for discontinuing of antibiotic therapy were also recorded. Results: The pre-intervention assessment revealed poor knowledge and practice regarding antibiotic use. Post-intervention, mean knowledge scores increased significantly from 18.36 to 23.28 (t = 19.5, p < 0.0001), while mean practice scores improved from 9.83 to 12.37 (t = 6.4, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The intervention successfully improved caregivers' knowledge and practices regarding AMR. However, there are some limitations that could affect the generalization, and the impact of the results such as the relatively small sample size recruited from a single center, lack of a control group, reliance on self-reported data, and lack of long-term follow-up. Future studies should aim to address these constraints in order to assess the intervention's effectiveness.

The archive of hospitality in Leila Aboulela’s Minaret: A Sufi feminist revision

ABSTRACT This article argues that Leila Aboulela’s Minaret offers a Sufi feminist theological reformulation of the role that hospitality rituals play in the life of the novel’s diasporic protagonist. Najwa’s childhood recollections memorialize secular hospitality practices of caregiving and almsgiving in which she and her mother engaged in their native Sudan and which foreground the catalytic role of maids in such practices. After her mother’s death in London, Najwa joins a community of women in the Regent’s Park Mosque, who reacquaint her with her Muslim faith through Sufi teachings that resituate these hospitality rites as ones performed by God towards believers. Through these rituals, Najwa embraces the life of a hijabi maid. Performing housework as a ritualistic form of hospitality, Najwa transposes her nostalgic memories of home into a diasporic, theological form of belonging that challenges traditional notions of fixed origins and advances the interplay between physical displacement and spiritual belonging.

Nurturing care: perceptions and practices of caregivers for children under five in the Ecuadorian highlands - a qualitative study.

The importance of nurturing care for child development is well-established, and parents play a central role in providing this care. However, cultural values and traditions can influence child-rearing practices, and there are gaps in child welfare in Ecuador. Two research questions delve into caregivers' definitions of nurturing care for children aged 0-5 and its alignment with World Health Organization's concept. A qualitative methodology was applied to comprehensively explore caregivers' perspectives and application of nurturing care across diverse cultural contexts in rural areas of Cotopaxi and Loja in Ecuador. Using snowball sampling primary caregivers, healthcare professionals, childcare workers, and community leaders were interviewed and participated in focus groups, examining its congruence with WHO's Nurturing Care Framework for Early Childhood Development. While there is alignment with the WHO framework, the study reveals challenges such as a lack of awareness of the term "nurturing care" among participants. Findings also indicate issues in health communication, reliance on traditional medicine, and myths around nutritional practices. The role of technology in early learning is explored, noting both its advantages and disadvantages. Notably, preventive health activities were not mentioned, emphasizing a universal need for knowledge. This study urges tailored interventions for nurturing care, emphasizing success tied to robust healthcare and child protection. Urgency lies in cultural sensitivity, local adaptation, and targeted training for implementation. These insights contribute significantly to the global discourse, stressing the importance of context-specific approaches. Implications are crucial for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers dedicated to elevating care quality for vulnerable populations worldwide.

Caregiver Accompaniment in Pediatric Critical Care Transport: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Family-centered care is a critical component of critical care interfacility and medical retrieval transport (MRT) services. These services provide a critical bridge for a physiologically and psychologically unique population often best served in specialized, tertiary centers. Caregivers often wish to accompany patients during MRT. However, there is currently little research on the impact of caregiver accompaniment on MRT. The aim of the study is to determine: 1) What are caregiver attitudes to accompanied and unaccompanied MRT? 2) What are healthcare provider attitudes to caregiver presence? 3) What are patient attitudes to caregiver presence? and 4) Are there differences in patient outcome depending on caregiver presence? Data sources are MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL. Studies with a focus on patient, caregiver, or family-oriented care practices in MRT. Reviewed articles were not restricted unless they discussed neonatal transport, palliative transport, were non-English, or were conference proceedings. We screened 1373 articles, with 45 full-text articles reviewed. After removal of duplicates and abstract-only results, 25 articles remained. Three additional articles were found in references of reviewed articles. Articles generally supported caregiver presence on MRT, with caregivers and providers in agreement. However, for many services, space was a limiting factor controlling when caregivers could travel. There is a paucity of literature on this topic, and studies were entirely from English-speaking countries. Caregivers and healthcare providers largely prefer caregiver accompaniment on MRT services. There is little data on patient perspectives and transport-related adverse events affecting patient outcomes.

Fathering Promotes Child Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Through Specific “Active Ingredient” Caregiving Activities

SYNOPSIS Objective. We do not know which specific paternal caregiving practices are associated with more advanced child development in understudied low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The current investigation attempts to identify such caregiving practices. Design. Maternal reports of six specific paternal caregiving practices which may be uniquely associated with early childhood development were examined in a sample of 159,959 families with 3- to 4-year-old children from 51 LMICs. Both father caregiving practices and early childhood development scores were quantified using measures from UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Linear regression models examined which paternal caregiving practices were associated with early childhood development after controlling for the contributions of mothers and children’s other caregivers engaging in the same practices as well as father residence in the home and multiple aspects of the physical home environment and national context. Results. When fathers read to their children, named/counted/drew with their children, or sang to their children, their children demonstrated more advanced overall development. When fathers read, named/counted/drew, and told stories to their children, their children also demonstrated more advanced development in literacy/numeracy and approaches to learning. Some effects depended on whether fathers resided in the home. Fathers naming/counting/drawing with their children was associated with more advanced child development in approaches to learning, and fathers reading to their children was associated with more advanced child socioemotional development only if fathers resided in the child’s home. Conclusions. Fathers reading to their children, naming/counting/drawing with their children, and singing to their children appear to be specific “active ingredients” that promote child development in LMICs. Some of these ingredients only actively promote child development when fathers reside in the child’s home environment. These practices should be supported and encouraged in policy and practice. Fathers’ caregiving matters for child development across a wide swath of LMICs in the world.

Evaluating the Knowledge of Home Caregivers on Pressure Ulcer Signs and Prevention in Elderly Patients in Al Ahsa.

Background Pressure ulcers are significant health issues affecting elderly patients, leading to severe complications, prolonged hospital stays, and high healthcare costs. Preventive care by home caregivers plays a crucial role in mitigating the development of pressure ulcers. Objective This study aims to assess home caregivers' knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention and investigate the factors associated with knowledge levels in elderly patients in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 231 home caregivers of elderly patients registered in Home Health Care, Al-Ahsa Health Cluster. Data were collected using an online questionnaire assessing demographic information and knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention, adapted from the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Assessment Tool (PUKAT) 2.0. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 29.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, USA), with a Chi-square test used for bivariate analysis of categorical outcomes. Results The majority of caregivers were female (64.5%), aged between 35 and 50 years (47.6%), and primarily family members (83.5%). Most caregivers had been providing care for 5 years or less (79.7%), with 67.5% never having received training in pressure ulcer prevention. Knowledge levels were generally sufficient, with 87.0% of caregivers showing adequate knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention. Significant associations were found between knowledge levels and caregiving duration (p=0.006) as well as training in pressure ulcer prevention (p=0.001). However, other demographic factors, such as age and gender, were not significantly associated with knowledge levels. Conclusion The study found that most home caregivers possess sufficient knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention, although training and caregiving duration significantly influence knowledge levels. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive training programs to improve caregivers' knowledge and practice, thereby enhancing the quality of care for elderly patients and reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers.

Effect of Tele-Palliative Care Education Program on Family Caregiver Knowledge and Practice among Geriatric Patients with Prostate Cancer

Effect of Tele-Palliative Care Education Program on Family Caregiver Knowledge and Practice among Geriatric Patients with Prostate Cancer

Evaluating Educational Patterns and Methods in Infant Sleep Care: Trends, Effectiveness, and Impact in Home Settings-A Systematic Review.

Sleep care is crucial for the health and development of infants, with proper sleep patterns reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related incidents. Educational interventions targeting caregivers are essential in promoting safe sleep practices. This systematic review adhered to PRISMA guidelines, searching databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria focused on studies involving home-based interventions for infants aged 0-12 months, including parental education and behavioral interventions. Exclusion criteria included studies in clinical settings and non-peer-reviewed articles. Data extraction and synthesis were performed by two independent reviewers, using a narrative approach to categorize interventions and outcomes. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Key findings indicate that home-based educational interventions, including hospital-based programs, home visits, and mobile health technologies, significantly improve parental knowledge and adherence to safe sleep practices. These interventions also enhance parental satisfaction and contribute positively to infant health outcomes. Educational interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in promoting safe sleep practices among caregivers, particularly in home settings. These interventions, including hospital-based programs, home visits, and digital tools, improve parental knowledge, adherence to guidelines, and overall satisfaction. The impact is evident in the reduction of unsafe sleep behaviors and enhanced infant health outcomes. However, variability in the intervention methods and delivery, cultural contexts, and geographic focus suggest a need for more tailored, long-term, and comprehensive studies. Future research should standardize outcome measures and assess the sustained impact of these educational strategies on infant sleep patterns and caregiver practices over time. This will provide deeper insights into the trends and long-term effectiveness of educational patterns and methods in diverse home environments.

The impact of parental migration on screen exposure among children aged 1–66 months in rural China

BackgroundScreen exposure, particularly recreational screen exposure, is an integral part of children’s lives. However, little is known about how family factors influence children’s excessive screen exposure, especially in the context of 69 million left-behind children experiencing parent–child separation in China. This study mainly concentrates on the correlation between parental migration, type of caregiver, depression and disciplinary practices of the caregiver and children’s screen exposure, including average daily screen time (on weekdays or weekends) and screen content (recreational activities or learning activities).MethodsFor a cross-sectional study, we collected data of family basic features, parental migration status and children’s screen use in the past week from caregivers of 1,592 children aged 1–66 months in Anhui province. Children were classified into left-behind children (LBC), previously left-behind children (PLBC) and never left-behind children (NLBC) based on their parental migration. Multiple linear regression and binary logistic regression were used to identified the association between family factors and children’s screen exposure.ResultsOverall, PLBC had higher rates of screen exposure, as well as higher average daily exposure times, than NLBC and LBC. The results of logistic regression showed that PLBC had a higher likelihood of excessive screen use compared to NLBC (60 min/day, OR = 1.40, p < 0.05; 120 min/day, OR = 1.76, p < 0.05). The higher the score of disciplinary practices, the less time children spent on screens for entertainment (B = -3.37, p < 0.01).ConclusionsOur findings provide insights into the risks of children’s screen exposure in different contexts of parental migration. The study emphasizes the urgent need to pay attention to PLBC’s screen use and to strengthen caregivers’ discipline and supervision over children’s screen exposure.

Fathers' engagement in a parenting program primarily intended for female caregivers: An early qualitative process evaluation in Western Kenya.

Parenting programs predominantly target one caregiver of the child or most commonly the child's mother. However, fathers are also important caregivers whose engagement in interventions can benefit child health, nutrition, and development. In August 2023, a qualitative process evaluation was conducted during the first quarter of implementation to assess initial fidelity, quality, and outcomes of a parenting program in rural Western Kenya. In-depth interviews were conducted with female and male caregivers along with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with program delivery agents. This secondary analysis specifically focused on stakeholders' perceptions of father involvement in the program and aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to fathers' participation, initial program impacts when fathers were involved, and recommendations for increasing father inclusion. Thematic content analysis was conducted, and data were triangulated across stakeholder groups. Overall, relatively few fathers participated in the program. Nevertheless, for the rare cases of participating fathers, stakeholders highlighted positive changes in fathers' caregiving attitudes and practices. Key barriers to fathers' program engagement included restrictive gender norms and perceived opportunity costs. Stakeholders suggested several strategies for better reaching fathers, including providing financial incentives and flexible scheduling of sessions. Overall, we found that fathers' participation and program experiences were starkly different from those of mothers. Gender-responsive program adaptations and father-targeted implementation strategies are likely to increase the fathers' engagement in parenting programs, which in turn may facilitate greater program impacts on family caregiving and child outcomes. Future evaluations of parenting programs should combine qualitative and quantitative approaches to more comprehensively assess program impacts on fathers and over time.