Children In Low-income Families Research Articles

Dual language supports for dual language learners? Exploring preschool classroom instructional supports for DLLs' early learning outcomes

Dual language learners (DLLs) - children who are learning and developing two languages - are among the fastest growing groups of young children in the United States and currently compose a third of the public preschool population. Although evidence suggests that preschool education is beneficial for DLLs, little is known about which instructional supports in the preschool classroom best promote DLLs’ early learning skills. Drawing on a newly-collected sample of Spanish-speaking DLLs in an English-dominant, mixed-delivery public preschool system for children in low-income families (Head Start; school-based pre-k), this paper focuses on two instructional dimensions of the preschool classroom expected to support DLLs’ learning: supports for home language and supports for English acquisition. We test for associations between these classroom supports and DLLs’ English language skills, quantitative reasoning skills assessed in English, and home language skills at the end of the preschool year, and whether any such associations are moderated by the proportion of DLLs in the classroom. Controlling for baseline skills, results indicate positive associations between classroom supports for home language and quantitative reasoning skills and Spanish expressive vocabulary skills at the end of preschool. Associations varied by proportion of DLLs in the classroom. Supports for English acquisition did not predict any outcomes. This study adds to an emerging body of research suggesting classroom instructional supports for DLLs’ home language may be important not just for the maintenance of children's home language, but also for the acquisition of foundational pre-math skills. Additionally, findings suggest support for home language is possible even in preschool classrooms where the teacher does not speak the home language. The DLL composition of the classroom also warrants attention as a moderator of these associations.

Achieving Diagnostic Resolution in Young Children with Social Communication Concerns in a Predominantly Low-Income Population.

Children in low-income families are at risk for delayed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The cascade-of-care model, which examines steps of care for quality and efficacy, can identify lesions in the process for evaluation and diagnosis for children at risk for ASD. Little is known about predictors that influence key steps in this process. We performed a retrospective chart review of 110 children under age five years from an academic medical center with social communication concerns. We assessed predictors of age of referral for ASD diagnostic evaluation, time to diagnosis, and likelihood of diagnostic completion. Children with continuity of primary care were referred at an earlier age than those receiving primary care at multiple centers. Compared with children with missed visits, children attending all well-child visits had a shorter median time to diagnosis. These findings illustrate a need for primary medical homes to facilitate early and timely ASD evaluations.

The Influence of College Education on Parents and Children in Low-Income Families

The Influence of College Education on Parents and Children in Low-Income Families

Food as Medicine: A Pilot Nutrition and Cooking Curriculum for Children of Participants in a Community-Based Culinary Medicine Class.

Healthy dietary change proves challenging for all families navigating the variable food preferences of children but can be especially burdensome for low-income families with limited resources. Encouragingly, programs that engage children in hands-on nutrition education appear to promote changes that positively impact the entire family. From these observations, we designed a dedicated pediatric cooking and nutrition class concurrent with a community-based culinary medicine class for adult clients of a food pantry. Through the Food As Medicine (FAME) nutrition education initiative at community pantry sites, we launched culinary medicine classes for pantry clients and offered concurrent culinary medicine classes for their children. Each pediatric class included an interactive lesson, hands-on cooking, and crafts or games to reinforce concepts prior to sharing a meal with parents. The pilot classes launched at two pantry sites, and the team leading the pediatric classes solicited feedback from participants and stakeholders to enable thematic analysis of the impact. Observations included the ability of children to identify new foods and to report enthusiasm for assisting with food preparation at home. Child participants engaged in the class demonstrated willingness to try new foods when joining their parents for a meal. This pilot intervention details an educational, hands-on nutrition and cooking curriculum for children of low-income families. Through age-appropriate experiential learning, we observed a positive impact of this class in its ability to encourage family participation, to augment nutrition lessons taught to parent participants, and to empower young learners to advocate for healthy dietary change.

Effect of maternal employment on health status of pre-school children in an urban-slum of Bhubaneswar

Background: Women employment enhances household income and translates into better standard of living especially for children. That means maternal employment may benefit children’s health by increasing parent’s ability to buy high-quality food, good housing, and appropriate medical care. But, time spent at work may also decrease mother’s ability to care for and supervise children, leading perhaps to less healthy activities, such as eating poorly, unhygienically or engaging in too many unhealthy activities. This study tries to examine maternal employment as one potentially critical influence on the health status of young children in low-income families. The objectives were to assess the health status of preschool children and to find out the association between employment status of mothers and health status of their children of preschool age group.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was done involving mothers having at least one child and living in the urban health training center (UHTC) catchment area. A pretested semi structured questionnaire was used to assess the health status of the preschool children and the related variables.Results: 110 women were included in the study out of which 78 were not working/homemakers and 32 were employed. Immunization of children was better among employed mothers (81%) than children of unemployed mothers (67.9%). Hospitalization was also more among the children of non-working mothers.Conclusions: Employment somehow helps in better care for children which is reflected in the health status of the children and also by the immunization status.

Grow well/Crecer bien: a protocol for research on infant feeding practices in low-income families

BackgroundThe prevalence of obesity among children remains high. Given obesity’s significant lifelong consequences, there is great interest in preventing obesity early in life. There is a need to better understand the relation of common infant feeding styles and practices to obesity in infants using longitudinal study designs. There is also an urgent need to understand the role of caregivers other than mothers in feeding. A better understanding of variation in feeding styles and practices can inform the identification of risk groups and the tailoring of interventions to them.MethodsIn partnership with Early Head Start programs across four counties in southern California, mothers and infants will be enrolled in a two-year longitudinal study collecting survey and anthropometric data. A subsample of mothers and their selected other caregivers will participate in qualitative research involving feeding diaries and dyadic interviews. The results will be used to develop and test an enhanced nutrition education program.DiscussionWe outline a study methodology to examine feeding styles and practices and their association with early childhood obesity risk and enhance an existing intervention to promote healthy infant feeding and growth among children in low-income families.

Making community-supported agriculture accessible to low-income families: findings from the Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids process evaluation.

A randomized trial of Farm Fresh Foods for Healthy Kids (F3HK) was initiated across 4 states and 12 farms to test whether cost-offset community-supported agriculture (CO-CSA) could improve diet quality among children in low-income families. Intervention households purchased a 50% subsidized share of local produce and were invited to nine complimentary nutrition classes. The purpose of this study was to assess F3HK reach, dose, and fidelity via a mixed methods process evaluation. Screening and enrollment records indicated reach; study records and postlesson educator surveys tracked dose delivered; CSA pickup logs, lesson sign-in sheets, postseason participant surveys, and postlesson caregiver surveys assessed dose received; and coordinator audits and educator surveys tracked fidelity. Educator interviews contextualized findings. The results of this study were as follows. Reach: enrolled caregivers (n = 305) were older (p = .005) than eligible nonenrollees (n = 243) and more likely to be female (p < .001). Dose: mean CSA season was 21 weeks (interquartile range [IQR]: 19-23). Median CSA pickup was 88% of the weeks (IQR: 40-100). All sites offered each class at least once. Most adults (77%) and children (54%) attended at least one class; few attended all. Eighty-two percent of caregivers indicated that their household consumed most or all produce. Median lesson activity ratings were 5/5 ("very useful"). Fidelity: CSA locations functioned with integrity to project standards. Educators taught 92% of activities but frequently modified lesson order. This study demonstrates the feasibility of pairing a CO-CSA intervention with nutrition education across geographically dispersed sites. Greater integration of intervention elements and clearer allowance for site-level modifications, particularly for educational elements, may improve intervention dose and, ultimately, impact.

저소득가정 아동의 결핍환경이 아동이 인식한 부모방임을 매개로 공동체 의식에 미치는 영향: 또래애착의 조절된 매개효과

저소득가정 아동의 결핍환경이 아동이 인식한 부모방임을 매개로 공동체 의식에 미치는 영향: 또래애착의 조절된 매개효과

Income Effects on the Intellectual Development of Children from Low-Income Families in Hong Kong: The Mediating Role of Parental Investment and Parental Stress

This study examineed how parental investment and parental psychological well-being mediate the effects of family income on the intellectual development of children from low-income families in Hong Kong. The study followed a sample of 139 children from their final year of kindergarten (K3) through to their second year of primary education (P2) between 2015 and 2017. Path analysis was conducted to examine how family income was associated with children’s cognitive and English language ability (Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-IV) through the parental investment and parental stress pathways. The results supported the hypothesis that parental investment and parental stress mediate the income effects on children’s learning outcome in the Asian context. The negative effects of low family income on children’s cognitive and English language abilities were mediated by the level of parental stress and the extent to which parents were authoritative in their parenting. Parental stress was also found to increase the likelihood of their children having behavioral problems, and that in turn undermined the cognitive development of the children. The level of money that parents invest in their children also mediated the negative effects of low family income on the children’s English language ability. The results suggested that interventions that target the variables that mediate the effects of income on child development are an effective alternative to a direct cash transfer for children in low-income families in Hong Kong.

Determinants of child health status: Parent-reported health status in Jordan

Poor health status adversely affects the child’s health in adulthood. The purposes of the study were to estimate the prevalence of most common health problems among children between 6 and 12-year-old in Jordan, to estimate the means of children’s health status, and to identify differences in children’s health status according to demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional correlational design and cluster sampling were used to include 250 parents of children between the ages of 6–12-year-old. The Child Health and Illness Profile / Parent Report Form was used to report the health status of children in this study. Descriptive statistics and t-test were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the most frequently reported child health problems were cold or flu, tonsillitis, ear infection, and upset stomach with vomiting, diarrhea, or fever. The domains of satisfaction with self (M = 92.72), comfort scale (M = 91.02), and risk avoidance (M = 91.01) had the highest means across health status domains, while resilience had the lowest mean (M = 81.60). Resilience and risk avoidance domains were significantly lower among children of parents with lower education levels, children of low-income families, and uninsured children. The achievement domain was significantly lower among children of fathers with lower education levels and boys. Comfort was significantly lower among children of low-income families. Upper respiratory and Gastrointestinal infections are important recurrent conditions that affect children aged 6 to 12 years. Parents’ report on child health domains varied. Parents’ educational level, monthly family’s income, health insurance, and child’s gender, are factors that affect child health status.

저소득 가정 아동의 복지서비스 문제점과 개선방안에 관한 연구

저소득 가정 아동의 복지서비스 문제점과 개선방안에 관한 연구

Examining income dynamics and externalizing and internalizing trajectories through a developmental psychopathology lens: A nationally representative study.

Prior research has documented elevations in levels of internalizing and externalizing behaviors among children in lower income families in comparison to more advantaged peers. However, most studies focus on behavior problems at a single point in time or within a short developmental period. Associations between income dynamics and developmental trajectories of behavior problems over time are less understood. To address this, the current study uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth (N = 7,476; 50.8% male) to examine how income dynamics (annual income and income volatility) across three distinct developmental periods from early childhood to early adolescence relate to trajectories of externalizing and internalizing problems. Group-based mixture modeling revealed a five-group trajectory model for externalizing behavior and a four-group trajectory model for internalizing behavior. Higher cumulative annual income predicted greater likelihood of belonging to the low-stable group compared to the other, more problematic groups for both externalizing and internalizing trajectories. In addition, income losses predicted higher risk of membership in any group other than the low-stable group for internalizing and externalizing behavior. Developmental period-specific income dynamics, though not as consistent as cumulative dynamics, also predicted trajectory group membership.

Genetic analysis of Giardia duodenalis isolates from children of low-income families living in an economically successful region in Southeastern Brazil.

ABSTRACT Giardia duodenalis is one of the most important and widespread gastrointestinal parasites in the world. Despite its relevance as a causative agent of diarrhea, asymptomatic giardiasis occurs frequently, especially in low resources settings in which children are exposed to many risk factors. Based on microscopic examination and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of beta-giardin (bg), triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes, we assessed G. duodenalis occurrence and genetic diversity in isolates of children attending a daycare center and living in low income families, in an economically successful region. Considering both, microscopic examination and PCR/sequencing methods, the overall prevalence of Giardia infection was 51.4%, with the highest frequency in children aged 1-4 years old (p<0.05). Genotyping of 50 isolates revealed that the assemblage A was found in 60% of the samples (30/50), followed by the assemblage B in 38% (19/50) and 2% of mixed-assemblage infections (1/50). At the sub-assemblage level, isolates genotyped as A were AII and among isolates B, BIII and BIV were identified. Both assemblages A and B were detected in children of all age groups, however assemblage A was more prevalent. The detection of anthroponotic assemblages and sub-assemblages (AII, BIII and BIV) reinforces human-to-human transmission, mainly in children of all age groups when they have not yet received toilet training, making them more vulnerable to infection.

Bridging the gaps in cognitive achievement in India: The crucial role of the integrated child development services in early childhood

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme aims to provide food supplementation, immunization, health check-ups, and early childhood education to children under the age of six years. There is mounting evidence that links poverty, undernutrition, and lack of stimulation at early ages with cognitive and economic disadvantages later in life. Furthermore, early childhood nutritional, educational, and health interventions are associated with human capital gains in developing countries. In this paper, we investigate the medium-term impact of ICDS services received in early childhood on subsequent reading and arithmetic achievement among children in the ages of eight to 11 in India. There are no nationwide studies that investigate the impact of ICDS on cognitive outcomes. Utilizing data from the two waves of the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) and applying propensity score matching, we find that ICDS has a positive impact on cognitive achievement, primarily for girls and children in low-income families. Since the influence of ICDS intervention is observed for these groups, we believe that the ICDS plays a critical role in reducing gender and income-related gaps in cognitive achievement in India.

Early life exposure to phthalates in the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study: a multi-city birth cohort.

Few studies have examined phthalate exposure during infancy and early life, critical windows of development. The Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) study, a population-based birth cohort, ascertained multiple exposures during early life. To characterize exposure to phthalates during infancy and early childhood. Environmental questionnaires were administered, and urine samples collected at 3, 12, and 36 months. In the first 1578 children, urine was analyzed for eight phthalate metabolites: mono-methyl phthalate (MMP), mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and mono-3-carboxypropyl phthalate (MCPP). Geometric mean (GM) concentrations were calculated by age, together with factors that may influence concentrations. Trends with age were examined using mixed models and differences within factors examined using ANOVA. The highest urinary concentration was for the metabolite MBP at all ages (GM: 15-32 ng/mL). Concentrations of all phthalate metabolites significantly increased with age ranging from GM: 0.5-15.1 ng/mL at 3 months and 1.9-32.1 ng/mL at 36 months. Concentrations of all metabolites were higher in the lowest income categories except for MEHP at 3 months, among children with any breastfeeding at 12 months, and in urine collected on dates with warmer outdoor temperatures (>17 °C), except for MBzP at 3 months and MEHP at 3 and 12 months. No consistent differences were found by gender, study site, or maternal age. Higher phthalate metabolite concentrations were observed among children in lower income families. Examination of factors associated with income could inform interventions aimed to reduce infant phthalate exposure.

Children’s health and income: evolution of the gradient

ABSTRACTThis paper extends previous measurements of the children’s income-health gradient through 2015. We first replicate findings about the steepness of the gradient from 1986 to 2005. We then find that since 2005, the health gradient between children in low-income families and high-income families has flattened, but it still steepens with age. We also show that overall children’s health has improved since 2005.

Implementation of Fluoride Varnish Application in a Large Pediatric Clinic

Background: Early childhood caries is the number one chronic disease affecting young children, and it disproportionately affects children of low income families. Despite recommendations for children to see a dentist by 12 months, many families have trouble accessing oral health care. Caries have many potential consequences, such as pain, impaired chewing and nutrition, infection, increased caries in permanent dentition, school/work absences, difficulty sleeping, poor self-esteem, and extensive, expensive dental work, which often must be completed under general anesthesia. In 2014, the USPSTF recommended …

Associations of Birth Factors and Socio-Economic Status with Indicators of Early Emotional Development and Mental Health in Childhood: A Population-Based Linkage Study.

Using a linked population-based database established on healthcare, socio-economic, and survey datasets in British Columbia, Canada, we examined how biological, socio-demographic, and socio-economic status (SES) factors at birth related to children's emotional development and mental health. One analysis examined teacher-rated anxiety, hyperactivity, and aggression for kindergarten children (Mage = 5.7; n = 134,094). Another analysis examined administrative healthcare records comprising of physician-assigned diagnostic codes for mental health conditions (conduct disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorder and depression) from ages 5 through 15 (n = 89,404). Various factors at birth, including gestational age, birthweight, and maternal demographics, were related to emotional development and mental health in childhood. Across outcomes, low SES indicated detrimental associations with various aspects of children's emotional development and mental health (e.g., adjusted odds of mental health conditions were 25-39% higher for children of low income families versus others). Findings reinforce evidence that poverty (reduction) is a primary public health issue.

Parent activation and pediatric primary care outcomes for vulnerable children: A mixed methods study

ObjectiveAmong children in low-income families 1) examine associations between parent activation and pediatric primary care outcomes and 2) explore parent perspectives on Parent-Patient Activation Measure (P-PAM) questions in relation to pediatric primary care experiences. MethodsWe examined associations between P-PAM score via Spanish- or English-language survey and healthcare outcomes abstracted from electronic medical records for parent/child dyads at an urban general pediatrics clinic. Parent perspectives were elicited via qualitative interviews with a subsample of parents who “thought aloud” during P-PAM completion. ResultsAmong 316 Spanish (68%) and English-language parent/child dyads, we found associations between parent activation and primary care outcomes only among Spanish-language dyads and only for weight and health status. Findings from 21 interviews provided possible explanations for quantitative findings including question limitations in assessing knowledge, skills, and confidence in pediatric primary care and P-PAM cultural and linguistic appropriateness for low-income Latino populations. ConclusionsPairing quantitative and qualitative methods provided insight on P-PAM measurement limitations and raised questions about its use in patient engagement interventions to reduce health disparities. Practice implicationsPractices serving vulnerable children and families should consider the limitations of the P-PAM for measuring parent healthcare engagement before utilizing the P-PAM in patient engagement interventions.

Impact of a social skills program on children’s stress: A cluster randomized trial

BackgroundMost preschool children in Western industrialized countries attend child care during the day while parents work. Studies suggest that child care may be stressful to young children, perhaps because they still lack the social skills to interact daily in a group setting away from parents. This gap in social abilities may be greater for children in lower-income families, who may face more adversity at home, with fewer resources and more social isolation. MethodsWe conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 2013–2014 to test whether a social skills intervention led by early childhood educators within the child care center could reduce diurnal cortisol levels to more typical patterns expected of children this age. We randomized 19 public child care centers (n = 361 children) in low-income neighborhoods of Montreal, Canada, to either: 1) the Minipally program – intervention group (n = 10 centers; 186 children), or 2) waiting list – control group (n = 9 centers; 175 children). Saliva samples for cortisol levels were collected 3 times/day, pre- and post-implementation. The Minipally puppet program consists of 2 workshops/month for 8 months for the development of social skills and self-regulation in 2–5-year-olds, with reinforcement activities between workshops. Educators received 2-days’ training and 12 h’ supervision in Minipally. ResultsLinear mixed models for repeated measures revealed a significant interaction between intervention status and time of day of cortisol sampling (β = −0.18, p = 0.04). The intervention group showed patterns of decreasing diurnal cortisol secretion (β = −0.32, p < 0.01), whereas the control group showed increasing slopes (β = 0.20, p < 0.01). Moreover, family income was a moderator; children in lower-income families benefited most from the intervention. ConclusionResults suggest that a social skills training program, when integrated into a preschool education curriculum, can foster an environment more conducive to typical childhood patterns of cortisol secretion.