Cohort Study Of Schoolchildren Research Articles

Exposure to family and domestic violence is associated with lower attendance and higher suspension in school children

BackgroundExposure to family and domestic violence (FDV) in childhood can have a detrimental effect on children's health and social outcomes. However, research on the school outcomes of children exposed to FDV is scant. ObjectivesTo investigate the impact of FDV exposure on school attendance and suspension in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. MethodsA population-based retrospective cohort study of school children, in grade 1 to 10, born from 1993 to 2006 in Western Australia (n = 26,743) using linked administrative data. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals to determine the association with school attendance and suspension outcomes for children exposed to FDV compared to non-exposed children. ResultsCompared to non-exposed children, children exposed to FDV have an increase of poor school attendance: Aboriginal children adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.75–2.07, non-Aboriginal children aOR = 2.42, 95%CI: 2.12–2.75. FDV-exposed children also have an increased risk of school suspension: Aboriginal children aOR = 1.60, 95%CI: 1.47–1.74, non-Aboriginal children aOR = 2.68, 95%CI: 2.35–3.05, compared to non-exposed counterparts. ConclusionExposure to FDV is associated with an increased odds of poor school attendance and school suspension. Evidence-based and innovative strategies are needed to support children who are exposed to FDV. This involves responding in ways that does not cause further trauma to children; a restorative and trauma-informed approach is vital.

Comparison on cognitive performance among schoolchildren born prematurely according to the presence of intracranial hemorrhage in the neonatal period

Abstract Objectives: to compare the cognitive performance of schoolchildren born prematurely according to the presence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) during the neonatal period. Methods: a cross-sectional cohort study of schoolchildren between the ages of 6-8 years old, born prematurely with or without a history of neonatal ICH. Between January and December 2015, some children were followed up at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital and underwent a cognitive evaluation by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition (WISC-III) and they were divided into two groups: those with no history of ICH (control group) and those with ICH (case group), confirmed by a transfontanelar ultrasound in the prenatal period. Results: 39 schoolchildren were included, 21 cases and 18 controls. There was no difference in gestational age or chronological age at evaluation between the groups. Also there was no significant difference in subtest scores between the groups. Conclusions: WISC-III evaluated the cognitive performance in children, born preterm, aged 6-8 years old, and had neonatal ICH did not differ from those of their peers without a history of ICH. These findings suggest that, in preterm infants, a neonatal diagnosis of ICH may not be associated with cognitive performance at school age and this should be investigated through a longitudinal study.

Relationship between Eating Quickly and Overweight : A Cohort Study of Schoolchildren in Japan.

Several cross-sectional studies have shown that eating quickly is associated with overweight in children and adolescents. However, few cohort studies have examined this relationship. Here we investigated the relationship between eating quickly and overweight in a cohort study of fourth-grade schoolchildren (aged 9 or 10 years) who attended elementary schools in Ina-town, Japan. The children were followed for 3 years from 2001-2004 (at baseline) to 2004-2007. A questionnaire survey including information about eating speed (fast, medium, or slow) was administered, and height and weight measurements were obtained at baseline and follow-up. Overweight was defined according to the body mass index cutoff points proposed by the International Obesity Task Force. We used a Poisson regression model to examine the association between eating quickly at baseline and being overweight 3 years later. Data from 934 non-overweight children (465 boys, 469 girls) were analyzed. Eating quickly was not significantly associated with being overweight in the boys, whereas it was significantly associated with being overweight in the girls. Our analysis indicates that among girls, eating quickly leads to overweight, and that the modification of eating quickly could help prevent overweight in adolescents.

Echocardiography screening to detect rheumatic heart disease: A cohort study of schoolchildren in French Pacific Islands

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to assess the outcomes of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) diagnosed by means of echocardiography-based screening. MethodsA cohort of children with and with no RHD was driven from a systematic echocardiography-based nationwide surveillance among 4th grade (age 9–10years) schoolchildren in South-Pacific New Caledonia (2008–2011). The specific follow-up programme used clinical and standardised echocardiography (2012 World Heart Federation criteria) predefined endpoints. ResultsOut of the 17,633 children screened, 157 were detected with findings of RHD. Among them, 114 consented children (76.5%) were enrolled (RHD-group), and were compared to 227 randomly selected healthy classmates (non-RHD group). After a median follow-up period of 2.58years [1.31–3.63], incidence of acute rheumatic fever was similar in RHD and non-RHD groups (p=0.23): 10.28/1000/year and 3.31/1000/year, respectively. By echocardiography, 90 children in the RHD group (78.9%) still presented with RHD at follow-up, compared to 31 (13.7%) in the non-RHD group (p<0.0001). Only 12 children (10.5%) experienced progression of RHD over time, mild single valve disease lesions remaining unchanged in the majority of cases (61 out of 73, 83.6%). Overcrowded living conditions were independently associated with persistent RHD on echocardiography (OR 8.27 95% CI (1.67–41.08), p<0.01). Benzathine penicillin G was given in 88.6% of children in the RHD-group. ConclusionsChildren screened positive for RHD by echocardiography have mostly mild but irreversible heart valve disease under secondary prophylaxis. Our findings also suggest that a single screening point in childhood may prove insufficient in high-risk populations.

A neuropsychological study of children with elevated dentine lead level: Assessment of the effect of lead in different socio-economic groups

The study was carried out in the municipality of Aarhus, a city of 250,000 inhabitants. The study was designed as a cross-sectional cohort study of school children in first grade in 1982–1983. A total of 2,412 children were contacted and asked to submit their shed teeth to the teacher, and 1,291 children delivered at least one usable tooth (response rate, 54 percent). The lead level in circumpulpal dentin showed an average of 10.7 μg/g. Eight percent of the children (N=110) had a lead level above 18.7 μg/g and were selected as a “high” lead exposure group. This group was matched by sex and socio-economic status of the parents with control children with a dentin lead level below 5 μg/g. Following a detailed interview with the parents, children were excluded from the study if medical risk factors were present. A clinical psychologist, blind to the lead data, administered selected psychometric tests to 162 of the children selected. The high-lead children scored lower on the WISC when compared to low-lead children, especially on the Verbal IQ ( p<0.001) and Full Scale IQ ( p<0.01). No significant difference was seen between the high- and low-exposure groups on the Performance IQ and on several experimental tests. Impaired function associated with lead exposure was also found on the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test ( p<0.001) and on a behavioral rating scale ( p<0.01). These results remained statistically significant even after controlling for socio-economic status and other confounding variables.