Status Of Children Research Articles

The Inverted U-Shaped Association between Serum Vitamin D and Serum Uric Acid Status in Children and Adolescents: A Large Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analysis.

Serum vitamin D is associated with hyperuricemia. However, previous studies have been controversial, with limited focus on children and adolescents. This study aimed to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between serum vitamin D and serum uric acid (SUA) levels in children and adolescents. The cross-sectional survey comprised 4777 participants aged 6 to 18 years, while the longitudinal survey involved 1641 participants aged 6 to 12 years, all derived from an ongoing cohort study in Shenzhen, China. Restricted cubic splines were used to visualize the dose-response relationship between vitamin D and SUA and the risk of higher SUA status. Two-segment generalized linear models (GLM) and logistic models were used to assess the association between vitamin D and SUA and higher SUA status, respectively. The longitudinal analysis used GLM. We observed an inverted U-shaped relationship between vitamin D and SUA (p-overall < 0.0001, p-nonlinear = 0.0002), as well as the risk of higher SUA status (p-overall = 0.0054, p-nonlinear = 0.0015), with the vitamin D inflection point at 24.31 and 21.29 ng/mL, respectively. A 10 ng/mL increment in 25(OH)D3 levels, when below 20.92 ng/mL, was associated with a 68% rise in the risk of higher SUA status (OR: 1.68, 95%CI: 1.07-2.66). Conversely, when 25(OH)D3 levels were above or equal to 20.92 ng/mL, a 10 ng/mL increment was associated with a 45% reduction risk of higher SUA status (OR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.36-0.84). Longitudinal analysis indicated that the annual change of SUA was from -4.80 (β, 95%CI: -10.74, 1.13) to -9.00 (β, 95%CI: -15.03, -2.99) and then to -6.77 (β, 95%CI: -12.83, -0.71, p for trend = 0.0212) μmol/L when increasing the quartile of vitamin D3. An inverse U-shaped relationship was observed between vitamin D and SUA as well as the risk of higher SUA status. Sufficient vitamin D levels appear to play a preventative role against the age-related increase in SUA. Ensuring adequate vitamin D levels may be beneficial in improving uric acid metabolism.

The Relationship Between Father's Attachment And Self-Disclosure In Adolescent Girls

Adolescence is a transitional phase from childhood to adulthood. Adolescents experience complex problems not only because of internal influences within themselves, but also from the influence of opportunities and support from adults, in this case parents. Fathers play a very important role in building a child's role in their environment and in determining the child's attachment status. By forming a good attachment between father and child, it is possible for teenage girls to be able to carry out self-disclosure. This study aims to determine the relationship between father attachment and self-disclosure in adolescent girls. The sample in this study consisted of 292 subjects aged 15-22 years. Data collection was carried out using a Likert scale, namely attachment scale and self-disclosure scales. Test the hypothesis using Spearman Rho correlation analysis with the help of SPSS 24. The results show that There is a significant relationship between father attachment and self-disclosure in adolescent girls, with a significance value of 0.000 &lt;0.05. This means that the higher the attachment, the higher the self-disclosure in adolescent girls. The implications of this research are that it can be a reference for teenagers about the importance of attachment and making efforts to increase attachment.

More than clean teeth! Identifying factors that contribute to the development of early childhood caries.

This review aimed to identify established and updated evidence-based factors that could contribute to a child's development of Early Childhood Caries (ECC). Four online databases were used to source evidence including the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Scopus. The data search selected studies published between 2017 and 2021. Three specific terms were used to search: Dental Caries, Children, and Risk Assessment. There were three teams involved in data collection, two teams then reviewed selected articles. Exclusion criteria included any duplicate studies, commentaries, and editorials. Inclusion criteria included only randomised control trials and cohort studies. Selected studies must include children younger than 72 months, define the demographics, their clinical characteristics, and have clear follow-up of the patients involved. Commonly identified factors that were mentioned in multiple studies were then collected and assigned strength depending on the evidence measured using ratios. These could then beutilised to form a draft Caries Risk Assessment tool. 512 abstracts and 52 articles were screened, having matched the criteria set. Extraction of the data was completed under four headings: the child's age at the time of study (in years/months), risk predictors, the outcome, and the quality of the evidence presented. The GRADE system was then employed to separate the studies into high, moderate, low, and very low categorisation. Eventually, 22 new studies were included that would build on the original 25 articles that were identified in the previous systematic review. The most defining factors across the most recent systematic reviews in 2021 highlighted behavioural factors such as toothbrushing quality - parental supervision, frequency, and fluoride exposure. Specifically, the presence of plaque was used as a marker for oral hygiene evaluation. Dietary history included snacking frequency and, controversially, baby-toddler breastfeeding patterns. However, this does not take into consideration the dental impact - mainly the frequency or timing of breastfeeding (e.g. overnight). The review emphasises the importance of consideration of socio-economic factors though this may be a difficult topic of discussion if families are struggling i.e. household income and education level of parents or guardians. There is also mention of factors that do not have a significant evidence base such as the child's gender, ethnicity, and parental smoking status. In conclusion, the factors found to be relevant in the development of ECC were the child's age, toothbrushing quality/plaque control, parental involvement in toothbrushing, fluoride exposure, pattern of dental attendance, dietary sugar exposure, and habits, clinically carious active lesion presence, the oral bacterial composition (Streptococcus mutanspresence) and the socio-economic status of the child and their family. Though the review encourages identification of the caries risk factors in the mentioned groups, separated by both dental and non-dental professionals, ideally the aim would be to create a holistic care approach for management and signposting.

Parental Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake for Children over 5 Years of Age in Texas.

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children, yet parental hesitancy towards vaccinating children against the virus persists. We conducted a telephone-administered weighted survey in Texas to examine parents' sociodemographic factors and medical conditions associated with COVID-19 vaccination intention for parents with unvaccinated children ages 5-17 years. We collected responses from 19,502 participants, of which 4879 were parents of children ages 5-17 years. We conducted multiple logistic regression with Lasso-selected variables to identify factors associated with children's vaccination status and parents' intention to vaccinate their children. From the unweighted sample, less than half of the parents (46.8%) had at least one unvaccinated child. These parents were more likely to be White, English-speaking, not concerned about illness, privately insured, and unvaccinated for COVID-19 themselves (p < 0.001). In the adjusted regression model, parents who were unvaccinated (vs. having COVID-19 booster, aOR = 28.6) and financially insecure (aOR = 1.46) had higher odds of having unvaccinated children. Parents who were Asian (aOR = 0.50), Black (aOR = 0.69), Spanish-speaking (aOR = 0.57), concerned about illness (aOR = 0.63), had heart disease (aOR = 0.41), and diabetes (aOR = 0.61) had lower odds of having unvaccinated children. Parents who were Asian, Black, Hispanic, Spanish-speaking, concerned about illness for others, and vaccine-boosted were more likely to have vaccination intention for their children (p < 0.001). Children's vaccination is essential to reduce COVID-19 transmission. It is important to raise awareness about the value of pediatric COVID-19 vaccination while considering parents' sociodemographic and medical circumstances.

Thyroid Hormone Status in Children Taking Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs): An Experience in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Bangladesh.

Introduction: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may alter thyroid hormone homeostasis at the level of biosynthesis, release, transport, metabolism and excretion of thyroid hormones. The purpose of the study was to see the thyroid hormone status in children with epilepsy treating with common antiepileptic drugs. Materials &amp; Method: The cross-sectional study was carried out in department of pediatric neurology, National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital (NINS), Dhaka. One hundred and sixty epileptic children aged 1 year to 14 years who were on monotherapy or polytherapy with the most commonly used Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for at least 6 months or more were enrolled. Serum TSH and FT4 were measured in all selected patients with early morning serum sample. Result: Nearly one third of study subjects had thyroid dysfunction, most of which were Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). The frequency of SCH was 29.2% in carbamazepine(CBZ), 50% in oxcabazepine (OXC), 28.6% in phenobarbitone(PHB) and 13% in valproic acid (VPA) treated epileptic children. No child was found to have subclinical hypothyroidism with topiramate and ethosuximide monotherapy. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) monotherapy or polytherapy had no significant difference in alteration on thyroid hormone level. Use of CBZ for long duration significantly altered thyroid function. Doses of Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) didn’t show any significant thyroid dysfunction. Conclusion: Commonly used Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in children with epilepsy were associated with alteration of thyroid hormones, most commonly subclinical hypothyroidism. BANGLADESH J CHILD HEALTH 2022; VOL 46 (2) : 58-64

Hubungan Attachment Ayah dengan Self-Disclosure pada Remaja Perempuan

Adolescence is a transitional phase from childhood to adulthood. Adolescents experience complex problems not only because of internal influences within themselves, but also from the influence of opportunities and support from adults, in this case parents. Fathers play a very important role in building a child's role in their environment and in determining the child's attachment status. By forming a good attachment between father and child, it is possible for teenage girls to be able to carry out self-disclosure. This study aims to determine the relationship between father attachment and self-disclosure in adolescent girls. The sample in this study consisted of 292 subjects aged 15-22 year. Data collection was carried out using a Likert scale, namely scale attachment and self-disclosure scales. Test the hypothesis using Spearman Rho correlation analysis with the help of SPSS 24. The results show that There is a significant relationship between father attachment and self- disclosure in adolescents girls, with a significance value of 0.000 &lt;0.05. This means that the higher the attachment, the higher the self-disclosure in adolescent girls. The implications of this research are that it can be a reference for teenagers about the importance of attachment and making efforts to increase attachment.

Actions speak louder than words; pediatricians, gynecologists, nurses, and other mothers' perspectives on the human papillomavirus vaccine: an Istanbul multicenter study.

Gynecologists and pediatricians have an essential duty to prevent cervical cancer. In this study, we compared the compliance of gynecologists (n = 22) and pediatricians (n = 49) with nurse/midwife (n = 66) and non-medical moms (n = 120) with regards to cervical cancer precautions. A questionnaire was used to gather data on their demographics, personal vaccination and screening practices, children's immunization status, and awareness of cervical cancer prevention. The findings demonstrated that gynecologists and pediatricians were better than others at understanding the risk factors and prevention of cervical cancer. It was noted that compared to other groups, physician mothers and their offspring had higher vaccination rates (n = 13, 18.3%; n = 10, 29.4%, respectively). Medical professionals typically provided thorough and accurate answers to informational questions. More frequent Pap smear tests were performed by gynecologists. It was noted that mothers who worked as pediatricians and nurses/midwives neglected their own screening needs. This questionnaire survey sought to ascertain Istanbul's health professionals' present opinions regarding HPV vaccination. Healthcare professionals should be the first to receive information on HPV vaccination and cervical cancer incidence reduction. The public could then readily use them as an example.

Chest Computed Tomography Radiomics for Determining Macrolide Resistance-Associated Gene Mutation Status in Children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia: A Two-Center Study

Rationale and ObjectivesThe mutations in the 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene are associated with an increase in resistance to macrolides in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). This study aimed to develop and validate a chest computed tomography (CT) radiomics model for determining macrolide resistance-associated gene mutation status in MPP. Materials and MethodsA total of 258 MPP patients were retrospectively included from two institutions (training set: 194 patients from the first institution; external test set: 64 patients from the second). The 23S rRNA gene mutation status was tested by nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction. Radiomics features were extracted from chest CT images of pulmonary lesions segmented with semi-automatic delineation. Subsequently, radiomics feature reduction was applied to identify the most relevant features. Logistic regression and random forest algorithms were employed to establish the radiomics models, which were five-fold cross-validated in the training set and validated in the external test set. ResultsThe radiomics feature selection resulted in eight features. After five-fold cross-validation in the training set, the mean areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of the logistic regression and random forest models were 0.868 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.813-0.923) and 0.941 (95% CI: 0.907-0.975), respectively. In the external test set, the corresponding AUCs were 0.855 (95% CI: 0.758-0.952) and 0.815 (95% CI: 0.705-0.925). ConclusionChest CT radiomics is a promising diagnostic tool for determining macrolide resistance gene mutation status in MPP. Availability of data and materialThe datasets generated or analyzed during the study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Utilization of android-based paediatric assessment triangle application as an emergency detection tool for children.

To identify the effectiveness of an android-based paediatric assessment triangle application in emergency diagnostics. The action research study was conducted in the emergency department of a hospital under the Ministry of Defence, Indonesia, located within the Ministry of Defence Rehabilitation Centre Complex, from April to December 2020 after approval from the ethics review committee of the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia, employing quantitative and qualitative methods consisting of planning, acting, observing and reflecting stages. Emergency department nurses with at least D3 nursing graduation who were able to identify emergency status in children were included. The subjects were given training on paediatric assessment triangle application before using it in their professional life. The difference was noted through pre- and post-intervention tests. Qualitative data was collected using focus group discussion and system usability scale. Of the 9 nurses, 5(55.6%) were males, 4(44.4%) were females, 8(88.9%) were aged 26-35 years, and 2(22.2%) had professional experience 1-2 years. The mean baseline score was 36.1±11.4, while the mean post-intervention score was 70.9±14.4. The fastest application completion time was 13 seconds, while the slowest was 52 seconds. Qualitative data led to the emergence of 4 themes: time required to complete the application; preference for connectivity with the hospital's electronic record system; assessment of children's clinical status; and, unfamiliarity with the computerised system. The mean system usability scale score was 72.22±11.35 (range: 52.5-92.5). Paediatric assessment triangle application could be a valid tool for identifying emergency severity in patients during the triage process.

IoT Based Smart Cradle for Baby Monitoring System

This initiative introduces the concept of a fully automated nursery designed specifically for infants. The primary goal of this innovation is to alleviate the burdens on exceptionally occupied parents. In today's fast-paced world, working parents often struggle to find sufficient time for infant care. This automated system is engineered to monitor an infant's actions within the nursery and adjust its operations based on those observations. As a result, parents can conserve both their energy and time, as frequent checks on their child are not necessary unless alerted by the system. The functionality of this room is enabled through the integration of various sensors and a microprocessor. These sensors are adept at detecting environmental conditions and the infant’s movements, offering real-time updates and alerts to the parents about their child's status, thereby streamlining childcare.

Investigating Parental Observations of Early Autism Development in Simplex and Multiplex Families.

Past research has highlighted the importance of early identification of developmental differences to improve targeted access to early interventions or supports. As such, it is of particular importance in the context of children at elevated likelihood of autism (such as where an older sibling has a diagnosis of autism), to better understand when and which early concerns are important as predictors of which children will benefit from pre-diagnostic supports. This study explored the number and frequency of retrospective parent reported concerns within the first year of life for children diagnosed with autism, both those who had an older sibling diagnosed with autism and those who did not, as well as for undiagnosed siblings. We found that at both 0-6 and 7-12 months, the only factor related to the presence or absence of early parent reported concerns was child diagnostic status, with the presence of reported early concerns more likely for children with a diagnosis of autism. These findings suggest that for children at elevated likelihood of autism, parents' concerns are driven primarily by developmental differences, with child's birth order and sibling diagnostic status not impacting on parent early concerns.

Mothers’ socioeconomic status and children's status attainment during the Chinese market transition

Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of mothers in children's status attainment process in Western societies. Using pooled data from two nationally representative surveys in China, this study investigates the influence of mothers’ socioeconomic status (education and occupation) on the status attainment of men and women in a socialist country and how maternal impact changed with the market reform. In total, 10,124 sons and 8984 daughters born between 1943 and 1985 were studied. Using chained multiple imputation data and linear regressions, this study finds that mothers’ socioeconomic status matters for both sons’ and daughters’ status attainment and, in the case of daughters, is as important as that of fathers. With the economic transition, the influence of mothers’ education has become more important for both sons’ and daughters’ education and can thus indirectly benefit their occupational status attainment. Mothers’ occupational status, however, has become less important for sons’ and daughters’ occupational status attainment with the transition, whereas the influence of fathers’ occupational status has remained the same. These findings suggest that the re-emergence of traditional gender norms that has accompanied the market reform has played a role in shaping the status attainment process of men and women. Since the reform, the role of mothers has been more restricted to the family domain.

Highly Educated Mother's Perception of Childhood Vaccination Hesitancy in Kazakhstan: A Thematic Analysis.

Vaccine hesitancy among parents directly affects the child's vaccination status since they are the legal decision-makers regarding vaccinating their children. The study aimed to describe the perceptions of highly educated Kazakhstani mothers about childhood vaccination hesitancy. The study utilized a thematic analysis to explore the mothers' perceptions. A sample of 95 participants comprehensively answered the free-text questions in an online questionnaire from January to February 2023. The analysis of the free-text responses followed a semantic thematic analysis approach. The data were coded manually. From the in-depth analysis of the data, 285 initial codes were extracted. The combination of similar meanings and concept codes led to 14 sub-themes and finally yielded four significant themes: misconceptions about childhood vaccination, fear of the effect of vaccine on children, distrust of the healthcare system, and social learning factors. The perceptions of Kazakh mothers about childhood vaccination hesitancy may lead to behaviors of delaying and refusing some or all childhood vaccines. Therefore, motivational and educational strategies can be used by healthcare providers to instill trust in parents about childhood vaccines and their safety and effectiveness.

Menelaah Konsep Li’an Suami Sebagai Cara Mencegah Sanksi Menuduh Zina dari Kaca Mata Medis dan HAM Dalam Konteks Kekinian

Background. Li’an is used as an alternative to free a husband from qozhaf sanctions (accusing him of adultery), with the condition that the husband cannot present 4 bayyinah (witnesses) as witnesses to his wife's unfaithful actions. One of the legal consequences of li'an is that it confirms the lineage of a child with its father. Aim. Analyzing the husband's Li’an as a way to prevent sanctions for accusing him of adultery from a medical and human rights perspective Methods. This library research uses a descriptive-qualitative approach. Literature comes from authoritative data, such as classical jurisprudence books, tafsir, articles and books. The data was analyzed qualitatively and presented in descriptive form. Results. DNA test results can be used as evidence of Qorinah (signs), in the category of evidence in the form of allegations. It’s can clarify the child's lineage status, whether it is a child from the mother's husband or from another man, and can also clarify the punishment that will be received by a husband who accuses his wife of infidelity, whether he will be subject to had qozhaf or not. The concept of li’an from a human rights perspective is appropriate, because in li’an there are human rights that must be fought for, namely children's human rights. The state is expected to pay attention to the human rights of li’an children, through regulations that regulate scientific evidence through DNA testing to clarify the status and rights of children.

Behavior change intervention to sustain iodide salt utilization in households in Ethiopia and study of the effect of iodine status on the growth of young children: community trial.

Monitoring systems in a broad range of countries are a notable effort to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs). This study aimed to gather data on the amount of iodide present in table salt and how household consumption patterns affect children's iodine status and its effect on their growth. A single treatment arm community trial study design was designed. Lower community units (LCUs) were chosen at random from districts assigned either intervention or control. From a list of LCUs, 834 mothers and their paired children were chosen randomly. Urine and table salt samples were collected and examined in the national food and nutrition laboratory. The deference between arms was determined using a t test, and the generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to forecast parameters. The mean iodide content in the table salt samples of 164 (98.1%) was 45.3 ppm and a standard deviation (SD) of 14.87, which were above or equal to the recommended parts per million (ppm). Between the baseline survey and the end-line survey, the mean urine iodine concentration (UIC) was 107.7 µg/L (+/- 8.64 SD) and 260.9 µg/L (+/- 149 SD). Children's urine iodine excretion (UIE) had inadequate iodine in 127 (15.2%) children at the beginning of the study, but only 11 (2.6%) of the intervention group still had inadequate iodine at the end. The childrens' mean height (Ht) was 83.1 cm (+/-10 SD) at baseline and 136.4 cm (+/-14 SD) at the end of the survey. Mothers knew a lot (72%) about adding iodized salt to food at the end of cooking, and 183 (21.9%) of them did so regularly and purposefully. A total of 40.5% of children in the intervention group had stunted growth at baseline, which decreased to 15.1% at the end of the study but increased in the control group to 51.1%. The mean difference (MD) of urine iodine concentration (UIC) between intervention and control groups was 97.56 µg/L, with a standard error (SE) of 9.83 (p=0.001). The end-line Ht of children in the intervention group was increased by 7.93 cm (β=7.93, p=0.005) compared to the control group. Our research has shown that mothers who embraced healthy eating habits had perceived improvements in both the iodine status and height growth of their children. In addition to managing and using iodine salt, it has also introduced options for other healthy eating habits that will also play a significant role in their children's future development. This sort of knowledge transfer intervention is essential for the sustainability of society's health. Therefore, this trial's implications revealed that the intervention group's iodine status and growth could essentially be improved while the control group continued to experience negative effects. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT048460 1.

Statistical Modeling and Factors Influencing School Dropout in Indonesia: A Review

The education enrollment rate is crucial for Indonesia to improve its human resources and sustain its economic development. In reality, the dropout student rate is still relatively high. Previous research has highlighted several factors and models related to the dropout student rate in Indonesia. The purpose of the study is to identify the most popular statistical modeling and factors influencing school dropout in Indonesia. We searched in February 2023 using ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. The search was restricted to refereed journal articles published in English from January 2013 to December 2022. This study underwent four stages: identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. The study finds that the most popular statistical modeling is the Logistic Regression Model, and the most significant factor increasing the school dropout rate in Indonesia is family and economic factors. The findings suggest that children who were not attending school came from families with lower levels of education. The well-being of these families was directly linked to their children's educational status. The primary reasons for young students dropping out of elementary and junior schools include an inability to pay school fees and a desire to work on farms to support their parents.

Analysis of Social Demography, Behavioral Hygiene, Breast Milk, And Nutritional Status in Children with Diarrhea in Surabaya City

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of social demographics, personal hygiene, breastfeeding, and nutritional status on the incidence of diarrhea among children. Understanding these factors is crucial for assessing and improving the quality of health services, particularly in reducing child mortality rates associated with diarrhea. Methods: The research employed an explanatory survey research design, aimed at exploring new insights, identifying relationships between phenomena, and understanding the reasons behind certain events. Approval for data collection was obtained from the Candel Surabaya's ethics committee. Data were gathered from the Wonokromo sub-district in Surabaya in June 2023, with a sample size ranging from 300 to 400, selected through purposive sampling. Questionnaires were distributed to mothers attending Posyandu in Wonokromo village, and data were analyzed univariately using logistic regression. Results and Discussion: Statistical analysis revealed several significant findings. Ethnicity and the number of children were found to have no significant effect on the incidence of diarrhea (p-value = 0.322 and p-value = 0.930, respectively). However, factors such as mother's age (p-value = 0.021), education (p-value = 0.000), employment (p-value = 0.000), income (p-value = 0.000), child's age (p-value = 0.000), gender (p-value = 0.019), personal hygiene (p-value = 0.000), breastfeeding (p-value = 0.000), and nutritional status (p-value = 0.000) were significantly associated with the incidence of diarrhea. These results suggest that social demographics and personal hygiene, breastfeeding, and nutritional status play significant roles in influencing diarrhea occurrence among children. Implications of the Research: The findings of this study carry important implications for public health interventions. It underscores the necessity of promoting healthy lifestyle practices among parents, particularly mothers, to mitigate the incidence of diarrhea in children. Improving education, employment opportunities, income levels, and access to healthcare services can contribute to better health outcomes for children. Additionally, emphasizing the importance of personal hygiene, breastfeeding, and maintaining adequate nutritional status can significantly reduce the risk of diarrhea. Originality/Value: This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the specific factors that influence the incidence of diarrhea among children in a particular setting. By elucidating the significance of social demographics and various health-related practices, this study provides valuable insights for healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community stakeholders to develop targeted interventions aimed at reducing child morbidity and mortality associated with diarrhea.

Factors associated with childhood non-vaccination against COVID-19 in Canada: A national survey analysis

BackgroundCOVID-19 vaccination efforts are critical in mitigating the impact of the virus, but despite proven safety and efficacy, vaccination rates among children in Canada are lower than in adults, prompting a need to explore determinants of childhood COVID-19 non-vaccination to improve uptake. MethodThis study analyzed data from the Canadian COVID-19 Immunization Coverage Survey 2022. Using multivariable logistic regression, it examined the association between COVID-19 non-vaccination among children aged 5–17 and factors such as parental sociodemographic characteristics, vaccine knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (KAB), and vaccination history. ResultsThe analysis revealed that negative KAB towards vaccines, reflected in higher KAB composite scores, significantly increased the likelihood of non-vaccination. Additionally, factors such as lower household incomes, rural residence, employment in sectors not at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases, and younger parental age were associated with higher non-vaccination. The study also highlighted ethnic disparities in vaccination odds and found that children with incomplete routine vaccinations or inconsistent flu vaccination histories were more likely to be unvaccinated against COVID-19. Surprisingly, children of parents who consistently received flu vaccinations were more likely to be unvaccinated against COVID-19. Furthermore, parental education levels showed a complex relationship with children's COVID-19 vaccination status, indicating nuanced influences on vaccination decisions. ConclusionThe findings offer vital insights into the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination uptake among children in Canada, suggesting avenues for targeted strategies to improve vaccine coverage.

Alterations of Nutritional Status in Children and Adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Malnutrition is often observed in pediatric cancer patients and has been recognized as a risk factor for relapse and survival. Maintaining an appropriate nutritional status during anticancer treatment has, therefore, been more and more frequently perceived as an additional requirement for optimal therapy outcomes. The aim of our study was to establish alterations of nutritional status in 26 children and adolescents treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the Children's Hospital in Zagreb, Croatia, between 2016 and 2021, by using anthropometric measures and serum albumin levels. The majority of patients (53.8% female, median 4 years, 52.2% intermediate-risk leukemia group) had normal weight at the beginning of chemotherapy. The percentage of overweight/obese patients increased from 4.2% at diagnosis to 37.5% at the end of intensive therapy. Apart from a significant increase in body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) for age, a notable decline in body height/body length (BH/BL) for age in the observed period was recorded, especially in high-risk leukemia patients. The alterations in serum albumin values were not significant, nor was their correlation with BMI. Dietary consultation was offered to all patients, while children with a decline in BMI and BH/BL received additional nutritional support.

Analyzing Children's Weight Growth Variations and Associated Factors in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam: Using Fractional Polynomial Mixed-Effects Model.

Children's growth is increasingly considered a key mediator of later life outcomes. When examining weight growth, the correlation between repeated observations on the same subject must be regarded as well-modelled. This study aimed to analyze children's weight growth variations and associated factors in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam using a fractional polynomial mixed-effects model. This study used longitudinal data from the Young Lives Cohort Study conducted from 2002 to 2016 in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. The study included 7,140 children of 1 to 15 years old A fractional polynomial mixed-effects model was used to analyze the data. Ethiopian, Peruvian, and Vietnamese children had significantly higher average body weights than children in India (1.426, P<0.001; 1.992, P<0.001; 1.334, P<0.001, respectively). Girl children's average body weight was significantly 0.15 times less than that of boys (-0.148; P=0.027). The average weight of rural children was significantly 0.671 times less than that of urban children (0.671, P<0.001). Children from Peru and Vietnam had higher rates of weight change than those from India. However, the rate of weight change was lower in Ethiopian children than in Indian children. Children from urban areas had a significantly higher rate of weight gain than those from rural areas. Country, sex, residence, parental education, household size, wealth, good drinking water, and reliable power affected children's longitudinal weight growth. Therefore, WHO and the nation's health ministry should monitor children's weight growth status and these associated factors to plan future action.