Child Welfare Research Articles

Abstract 4136977: Childhood Food Security and Cardiometabolic Health in Young Adulthood

Background: Food insecurity is associated with adverse cardiometabolic health in adults. To understand the early, long-term impact of food insecurity, we examined the associations of food insecurity in childhood with young adult cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome stage and suboptimal cardiovascular health (CVH), and the modifying effects of participation during childhood in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Methods: In the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study of individuals enrolled at birth (1998-2000) and followed through age 22 years (2020-24) across 20 US cities, the associations of household food insecurity during childhood (age 3-5 years; score ≥1 on the US Household Food Security Survey) with CKM stage (0 [reference], 1, 2, or 3/4) and Life’s Essential 8 CVH score (high 80-100 [reference], intermediate 50-79, low 0-49) at age 22 years were evaluated with adjusted multinomial logistic regression. The interactions of food insecurity and SNAP participation, and food insecurity and race, were evaluated. Results: Among 1,071 participants, 53% were female; 53% non-Hispanic Black, 25% non-Hispanic White, 18% Hispanic; 39% lived in households with food insecurity, and 44% participated in SNAP. Food insecurity was associated with higher odds of being in CKM Stage 1 (aOR 1.41 [95% CI: 1.02-1.93]) and Stage 3/4 (aOR 1.78 [95% CI 1.11-2.83]) compared with Stage 0 at year 22 (Table). Food insecurity was also associated with having intermediate vs. high CVH in young adulthood (aOR 1.46 [95% CI 1.04-2.06]). SNAP participation modified the association of food insecurity and CVH; ffood insecurity was more strongly associated with intermediate vs. high CVH among those who did not participate in SNAP (aOR 2.37 [95% CI 1.39-4.04]) compared to those who were SNAP participants (aOR 0.79 [95% CI 0.46-1.35]) in childhood. There was no significant interaction of food insecurity and race for either outcome. Conclusions: Childhood food insecurity is associated with worse cardiometabolic health in young adulthood, especially among children whose families did not participate in SNAP. Policies to promote food security in children may promote cardiometabolic health across the life course.

Effects of School-led Greenspace Interventions on Mental, Physical and Social Wellbeing in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

AbstractPromoting children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and social wellbeing is highly important to help them learn, create social connections, and stay healthy. Nature has the potential to restore cognition, reduce stress and mental fatigue, and improve wellbeing, all factors that are conducive to learning. There is growing interest in understanding the effects of nature on the wellbeing of children and adolescents, particularly in the school context. This paper presents a PRISMA-guided systematic review of the literature examining the effects of school-led nature interventions on the mental, physical, and social wellbeing of school children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years. Examples of school-led nature interventions include outdoor learning, walks in nature and green schoolyards. Experimental and quasi-experimental studies employing quantitative measures were selected, yielding 19 studies from 17 papers. Included studies were rated as being of high (n = 6) and moderate quality (n = 13). The results provide some evidence that nature exposure in the school context can improve the wellbeing of children and adolescents, particularly their positive affect, physical activity, and social relationships/interactions. The wellbeing effects of school-led nature interventions were also examined according to age and gender, with results indicating a gender effect, but inconclusive findings for age. Findings from this review support the integration of nature in schools to enhance the mental, physical and social wellbeing of children and adolescents.

Collaboration strategies affecting implementation of a cross-systems intervention for child welfare and substance use treatment: a mixed methods analysis.

Collaboration strategies refer to policies and practices used to align operations and services across organizations or systems. These strategies can influence implementation of cross-system interventions focused on improving integration of care, but remain under-specified and under-examined. This study identifies collaboration strategies and the conditions under which they affected implementation of Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START), an evidence-based intervention focused on integrating child welfare and behavioral health services for families involved with both systems. Our study sample included 17 county child welfare agencies that implemented START. Data on collaboration strategies and organizational context were obtained from key informant interviews, frontline worker surveys, and contracts. Contextual data were drawn from secondary data, and fidelity data were drawn from an administrative database. Qualitative and quantitative data were integrated using coincidence analysis, and used to identify combinations of conditions that uniquely differentiated agencies with higher and lower fidelity to START. Fidelity was lower for intervention components requiring cross-system collaboration. Although key informants acknowledged the importance of collaboration for START implementation, few agencies used formal collaboration strategies other than staff co-location or reported high communication quality between frontline staff in child welfare and behavioral health. In coincidence analysis, four conditions differentiated agencies with higher and lower fidelity with 100% consistency and 88% coverage. We found that either strong leadership support or, in high need communities, third-party resource support from local behavioral health boards were sufficient for high fidelity. Similarly, in high need communities, absence of third-party resource support was sufficient for low fidelity, while in low need communities, absence of communication quality was sufficient for low fidelity. Administrators, frontline workers, and interested third parties (i.e., other stakeholders not directly involved in implementation) can use collaboration strategies to facilitate implementation. However, the effectiveness of collaboration strategies depends on local context. In agencies where internal leadership support for implementation is low but need for intervention is high, third-party resource support may still be sufficient for high fidelity. Further research is needed to test effectiveness of collaboration strategies in different conditions and on a broader range of process and implementation outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03931005, Registered 04/29/2019, https://classic. gov/ct2/show/NCT03931005 .

Importance of Community Context in Understanding Substance Use Among Adolescents With Allegations of Maltreatment

This study examined the association between community disadvantage and substance use among adolescents referred to child protective services (CPS) and the interaction role of race/ethnicity in the association between community disadvantage and adolescent substance use. Findings revealed that higher county-level alcohol/drug mortality rates were associated with a higher risk of substance use across non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic adolescents. An interaction test showed that the association between county-level alcohol/drug mortality rates and risk of substance use was particularly stronger for non-Hispanic Black adolescents compared to non-Hispanic white adolescents. However, county-level vacant housing rates and low median household income did not show a significant association with adolescent substance use across all racial/ethnic groups. Results suggest that practitioners should screen for community-level substance risk levels to prevent substance use among historically marginalized racial-ethnic adolescents involved in CPS.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TRENGGALEK REGENT'S 2022 INSTRUCTIONS ON CHILD MARRIAGE PREVENTION STRATEGIESIN TRENGGALEK

The high rate of child marriage in Trenggalek poses a significant threat to children's welfare. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Trenggalek Regent's 2022 Instruction on Strategies for Preventing Child Marriage. The research employs a qualitative approach, collecting primary data through statistical analysis of child marriage rates and interviews with relevant stakeholders. The findings reveal a notable decrease in child marriage rates in 2023 following the implementation of the policy. This suggests that well-designed and sustained policy interventions can effectively address child marriage issues at the local level. The study highlights the importance of ongoing efforts in education, law enforcement, and collaboration among policymakers to safeguard children's welfare. This research contributes to the understanding of effective local strategies in combating child marriage. The study concludes that comprehensive policies, backed by strong stakeholder support, are effective in reducing child marriage rates. Recommendations include strengthening stakeholder collaboration and developing more efficient communication strategies.

Subjective well-being of children with special educational needs: Longitudinal predictors using machine learning.

Children with special educational needs (SEN) are a diverse group facing numerous challenges related to well-being and mental health. Understanding the predictors of well-being in this population requires the incorporation of diverse factors along with approaches that can uncover complexity in how these factors work together to influence well-being. We longitudinally predicted subjective well-being in a group of children with diverse special educational needs (N = 499; M = 8.4 ± 0.9years). Thirty-two variables - ranging from demographics to various categories of life experiences - were used as predictors for both nonlinear machine learning and classical linear classifiers. Nonlinear machine learning classifiers exhibited much performance in predicting subjective well-being (F1 score = 0.72 to 0.84) compared to traditional linear classifiers. Overall, across all children, prior subjective well-being, numeracy, literacy skills, and interpersonal dimensions played important roles. However, clustering further identified four distinct clusters sharing important predictors: a 'socializer' cluster dominated by interpersonal functioning predictors, an 'analyzer' cluster emphasizing academic skills predictors, and two clusters with more diverse sets of important predictors. Our research highlights the multiple pathways toward well-being in children with SEN as uncovered by machine learning, with implications for understanding and supporting their well-being.

Pediatric Dermatological Emergencies: A Systematic Review

Pediatric dermatological emergencies encompass a wide array of conditions that demand immediate medical attention and can have significant implications for a child's health and wellbeing. Despite the critical nature of these conditions, a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge is essential to improve recognition and management. This systematic review aims to address this gap by synthesizing the latest evidence related to pediatric dermatological emergencies, with a specific focus on studies published between 2020 and 2022. The primary objective of this systematic review is to provide an in-depth analysis of the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, management strategies, and outcomes of pediatric dermatological emergencies. A systematic search was conducted across prominent databases, including PubMED, Embase, and Web of Science. The review includes 21 studies that met stringent inclusion criteria, which were subsequently analyzed for patient demographics, clinical characteristics, diagnostic methodologies, therapeutic interventions, and patient outcomes. The findings from the 21 selected studies consistently highlight the critical importance of early recognition and timely intervention in the management of pediatric dermatological emergencies. On average, approximately 85% of cases demonstrated improved outcomes when appropriate care was initiated promptly. The review discusses various common conditions, including severe drug reactions, cutaneous infections, inflammatory skin disorders, and traumatic dermatological emergencies, shedding light on their epidemiology and clinical features. This systematic review underscores the significance of a multidisciplinary approach, involving dermatologists, pediatricians, and critical care specialists, in addressing pediatric dermatological emergencies. It also emphasizes the evolving insights into the pathophysiology and management of these conditions and highlights the unique ...

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

IntroductionThe 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsWhile 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.ConclusionThis 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.

Sovrappeso e obesità in età pediatrica: un intervento pragmatico nelle cure primarie

Paediatric clinics are in a unique position to detect chronic diseases, identify at-risk individuals, educate families and implement early preventive interventions. This article aims to provide evidence on how and with what strategies the AUSL of Reggio Emilia has built a programme to combat overweight and obesity in childhood by involving a network of services, starting with paediatricians. A variety of approaches have been taken to address the problem of promoting healthy lifestyles. The BMIF project (Very Fit Children) focuses on early detection and treatment of overweight children using motivational interviewing to help families change their lifestyles. First, second and third level interventions provide treatment for children with obesity according to defined care pathways. Anticipatory guides on responsive feeding and the BeBa (Children's Wellbeing) app promote healthy lifestyles. Effectiveness and equity were the guiding principles for the choices made. This required time and a significant effort, but it also resulted in greater support from both operators and decision-makers.

Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Child Population Samples: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) before the age of 18 years is a major contributor to the global burden of disease and disability. To meta-analyze data from samples with children 18 years or younger to estimate the average prevalence of ACEs, identify characteristics and contexts associated with higher or lower ACE exposure, and explore methodological factors that might influence these prevalence estimates. Studies that were published between January 1, 1998 and February 19, 2024, were sourced from MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINHAL, and Embase. Inclusion criteria required studies to report the prevalence of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 or more ACEs using an 8- or 10-item ACEs questionnaire (plus or minus 2 items), include population samples of children 18 years or younger, and be published in English. Data from 65 studies, representing 490 423 children from 18 countries, were extracted and synthesized using a multicategory prevalence meta-analysis. These data were analyzed from February 20, 2024, through May 17, 2024. ACEs. The mean age of children across studies was 11.9 (SD, 4.3) years, the age range across samples was 0 to 18 years, and 50.5% were female. The estimated mean prevalences were 42.3% for 0 ACEs (95% CI, 25.3%-52.7%), 22.0% for 1 ACE (95% CI, 9.9%-32.7%), 12.7% for 2 ACEs (95% CI, 3.8%-22.3%), 8.1% for 3 ACEs (95% CI, 1.4%-16.8%), and 14.8% for 4 or more ACEs (95% CI, 5.1%-24.8%). The prevalence of 4 or more ACEs was higher among adolescents vs children (prevalence ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.04-1.30), children in residential care (1.26; 95% CI, 1.10-1.43), with a history of juvenile offending (95% CI, 1.29; 1.24-1.34), and in Indigenous peoples (1.63; 95% CI, 1.28-2.08), as well as in studies where file review was the primary assessment method (1.29; 95% CI, 1.23-1.34). The prevalence of 0 ACEs was lower in questionnaire-based studies where children vs parents were informants (0.85; 95% CI, 0.80-0.90). In this study, ACEs were prevalent among children with notable disparities across participant demographic characteristics and contexts. As principal antecedent threats to child and adolescent well-being that can affect later life prospects, ACEs represent a pressing global social issue. Effective early identification and prevention strategies, including targeted codesigned community interventions, can reduce the prevalence of ACEs and mitigate their severe effects, thereby minimizing the harmful health consequences of childhood adversity in future generations.

Gritty Parenting: The Development and Validation of the Parental Grit Scale.

In this study, we aimed to expand the domain specificity of grit by exploring it in the realm of parenting. Parental grit was defined as parents' inclination to demonstrate perseverance, sustained passion, and adaptability in pursuing long-term parenting goals. With longitudinal data from 1,373 U.S. parents, we developed and validated the Parental Grit Scale (PGS) in three phases: item development and revision, establishment of factor structure, and examination of criterion-related and incremental validity. The PGS exhibited a three-factor structure and (partial) scalar measurement invariance across genders, the status of the child's special needs, and measurement occasions. The PGS demonstrated moderate temporal stability. We found evidence of its validity in predicting parental emotional exhaustion, self-efficacy, autonomy support, and parents' perceptions of children's school well-being. Parental grit explained variance in these outcomes beyond domain-general grit and conscientiousness. The PGS has sound psychometric properties and is a valuable measure in the parenting domain.

Participation in practice in child welfare: processes, benefits and challenges

ABSTRACT Internationally, there has been a significant focus in policy and practice on the participation of children and young people in decisions that affect them, underpinned by respect for their rights under Article 12 of the UNCRC. While children’s participation has become a core focus for practice improvement in child welfare services, there is a dearth of practical examples of how participation is implemented in organisations. In this paper, we provide a reflective case study of participation in practice in the Youth Advocate Programme (YAP) in Ireland, a large non-profit child welfare organisation. YAP Ireland works with young people who are considered ‘high risk’ using a strength-based approach in a wraparound service that is family-driven and youth-guided. Drawing on qualitative interviews and focus groups with young people, parents, advocates, and staff and management, we describe and critically analyse YAP’s approach to participation. Critical factors in practice include a commitment to participation in policy, practice and culture at all levels of the organisation and scaffolding of participation by staff. Challenges include ensuring that participation principles are upheld consistently across the organisation and resourcing participation.

Factors associated with perceived health of school-aged children in rural Rwanda: an opportunity to leverage community health workers to enhance school health promotion and primary healthcare systems linkages

BackgroundIn many low-income countries, enhancing the health of school-aged children is often impeded by insufficient or limited knowledge regarding their health status. Further, hands-on health promotion interventions are nearly non-existent due to the lack of designated health workers. The disconnection between schools and primary care facilities further exacerbates this issue. To address these challenges, the World Health Organization has introduced the Health Promoting School (HPS) framework, a comprehensive model designed to integrate health into all aspects of school life and promote physical, mental, and social well-being. We sought to assess the perceived health status of school-aged children, identify associated factors, and explore the role of community health workers (CHWs) in public schools in rural Rwanda.MethodsWe carried out a convergent mixed methods study among teachers and community members in rural areas of Musanze, Rwanda. Data collection instruments were adapted from the World Health Organization’s HPS framework and the literature. We conducted six in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions. We performed a logistic regression analysis to examine the factors associated with perceived health. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.ResultsA total of 479 individuals participated in this survey. Of these, 425 (89%) were community members, while 54 (11%) were employed as teachers at Nyabirehe or Rwinzovu public schools. Almost half of respondents 221 (46%) described the children’s health as poor. Many factors were associated with perceived children’s health, including having an established leadership team for school-based health promotion (OR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.01,3,84), and being familiar with school-based health promotion (OR = 4.77, 95%CI: 2.27,10.0). Qualitative results described the CHW as a bridge between communities, schools, and primary healthcare centers.ConclusionThis study revealed that the health of schoolchildren needs particular attention. In resource-limited settings, HPS presents a promising opportunity to address the health and well-being of children at rural public schools. However, adapted policies, the establishment of health promotion teams, and hands-on orientation for teachers and community members are necessary to ensure an effective implementation of HPS. In Rwanda and other low-income countries where public schools lack nursing staff, CHWs could play a vital role in enhancing HPS and the linkage between schools and primary healthcare facilities.

The Role of Informal Social Networks in Supporting Parents With Learning Disabilities: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACTBackgroundParents with learning disabilities are often assessed as lacking the capacity to parent effectively; however, ecological models of parenting indicate that support from informal social networks (ISNs) can help them successfully maintain family life. This systematic review examined evidence regarding (1) parent and child outcomes associated with support from ISNs and (2) perceptions of the roles of ISNs for parents with learning disabilities.MethodsPeer‐reviewed quantitative and qualitative literature was identified through a search of six databases, and a narrative synthesis was subsequently conducted.ResultsTwenty‐six articles were included in the review. Findings of the quantitative synthesis provided preliminary evidence for a positive relationship between support from ISNs and parental mental health, positive parenting practices and child wellbeing. The qualitative synthesis indicated that parents benefited from ISNs through their provision of practical and emotional support and learning skills. Network characteristics that divided supportive from unsupportive members were also identified.ConclusionParents with learning disabilities receive the same positive outcomes from ISNs as other parents, although unique contextual and social challenges may affect their experiences. Future research should explore interventions to build ISNs of parents with learning disabilities that acknowledge their existing strengths as parents and community members.

Identifying the impact of ARHGAP and MAP gene families on autism spectrum disorders.

The rising incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has become a major concern, affecting children's psychological well-being and placing a significant strain on healthcare systems. Despite its impact, the etiological mechanisms underpinning ASD remain elusive. This study leveraged dorsolateral prefrontal cortex gene data from 452 individuals of European descent, sourced from the CommonMindConsortium, and examined ASD-related gene expression data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE18123), along with Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) data from the Lundbeck Foundation Integrated Psychiatric Research and Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Expression quantitative trait loci data were sourced from the GTExv8 database. We employed Transcriptome-Wide Association Studies (TWAS) and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to pinpoint genes within ASD-associated susceptibility gene families (ARHGAP, MAP). Four genes-ARHGAP27, MAPT, ARHGAP19, and MAP1B-were scrutinized, and their biological implications were elucidated through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analysis and conditional analysis within the TWAS framework helped identify pivotal genes (ARHGAP27, MAPT). A subsequent verification phase involving Mendelian Randomization (MR) evaluated the potential causal links between the identified genes and ASD. The findings revealed no causal association between ARHGAP19, MAP1B, and ASD. In contrast, significant causal relationships were established for ARHGAP27 and MAPT, suggesting that ARHGAP27 may elevate ASD risk as a susceptibility gene, whereas MAPT appears to reduce the risk as a protective gene.

Tiaki Taoka, designing a Kāi Tahu Māori organisation to work with child protection

In 2019 Aotearoa New Zealand added an amendment to the child protection legislation that required the state to partner with Māori. This paper looks at a case study of the development of one of the services developed under the legislative amendment. Section 7 AA, Tiaki Taoka. Tiaki Taoka was designed as a Māori service response for Kāi Tahu, the iwi, tribe of the greater area of Te Waipounamu (the South Island). The service was mandated by Kāi Tahu and funded through the state to provide partial child protection services devolved from the state. The design was “by Māori, for Māori and of Māori” culturally nuanced in Kāi Tahu knowledge and experience. The co-design of the service model, Te Rereka Toroa, with Kāi Tahu community is shared alongside important relational work with the child protection system, Oranga Tamariki. Tensions in Māori and state relationships are provided with a critique on the maintenance of power and control by the colonial state and the current political challenges.

Why train? Compatible and incompatible institutional logics in violence prevention and management training

A critical component of ensuring safe workplaces is training in preventing and managing violent behavior. This article examines the institutional logics underpinning such training programs, investigating their design, rationale, and impact on everyday practices within human services. Despite extensive research on the content, effects, and experiences of these training programs, there is a notable gap in understanding the rationale behind their development. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring why violence prevention and management training is structured as it is and how institutional logics affect training and practice. This research identifies seven institutional logics that shape these programs through an in-depth qualitative analysis of three Norwegian human service training programs – encompassing mental health care, child welfare services, and Norway’s national welfare agency. Some of the logics are complementary. Others are incompatible, leading to significant practical implications. Data collection included qualitative document analysis and interviews with representatives from the training communities. The study contributes to a better understanding of the factors influencing the training program design and influence, not the least, by underscoring their duality as measures of improving service delivery and ensuring safe working conditions.

The prevalence of wordings on Adverse Childhood Experiences in child welfare assessments in a sample of young people in secure institutional care

ABSTRACT In Sweden, young people with behaviours considered norm-breaking and destructive by society are placed in secure institutional care. While these young people’s behaviour is frequently debated, there is little knowledge about their family and home conditions. This study aims to identify writings (i.e. wordings, sentences, etc.) referring to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in child welfare assessments of a sample (n = 84) of young people placed in secure institutional care. The documentation was analysed by applying manifest quantitative content analysis using ACEs established in previous research as deductive categories. In addition, wordings related to the legal grounds for placement were also identified. The analysis shows that the burden of child abuse and household dysfunction is large in the sample. Compared to population-based prevalence studies, the current study presents much higher numbers, with almost 90% of the cases containing writings with reference to at least one ACE category and 38–50% referring to four or more. The findings constitute an important contribution to research on young people in secure care, by adding knowledge about adversity during childhood as a crucial part of these young people’s needs and challenges.

Exploring harmful traditional practices and its associated factors among puerperal mothers who delivered in public health facilities in southwestern Ethiopia

Harmful traditional practices are deeply ingrained beliefs and behaviors within a society that significantly impact the well-being of mothers and children. In Ethiopia, there is limited awareness and comprehension concerning the prevalence of harmful traditional practices in the puerperal period. The underlying reasons for engaging in harmful cultural practices during this period at the community level remain inadequately studied. The main aim of this research is to investigate the prevalence of harmful traditional practices during the puerperal period and its associated factors in public health facilities of southwestern Ethiopia, 2023. A mixed-methods community-based cross-sectional approach was undertaken from June 1st to July 31st, 2023. The study utilized the 24 kebeles in the Ilubabor and Buno Bedele Zones of Southwest Ethiopia. Three hundred twenty puerperal mothers in selected kebeles found in Ilubabor and Buno Bedele zones met inclusion criteria during the data collection period. We used a pretested semi-structured questionnaire, supplemented by in-depth interviews and focused group discussions with purposively selected 18 mothers. We utilized backward multiple logistic regressions were utilized to evaluate the interplay between various factors, with statistical significance set at a P-value below 0.05. This finding disclosed that the prevalence of harmful traditional practices during the puerperal period was 76.3%. Factors such as educational status (AOR = 3.47, CI = 1.57–9.27), rural residency (AOR = 2, CI = 1.51–4.88), absence of antenatal care in the last pregnancy (AOR = 6.42, CI = 2.33–8.74), and the place of delivery for the most recent child (AOR = 1.7, CI = 1.15–4.07) were significantly associated with these practices. The findings underscore a substantial prevalence of harmful traditional practices among mothers during the puerperal period. It is imperative for the Zonal Health department, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to actively combat these practices within rural communities and healthcare facilities.

Maternal labor supply and children's emotional well-being

Maternal labor supply and children's emotional well-being