Children Of Different Groups Research Articles

Components of Empathy in Children: Factor Structure of the Empathy Quotient for Children (EQ-C).

Empathy is multifaceted, involving sharing and understanding the emotional and mental states of others. This study investigated the factor structure of the English-language version of the Empathy Quotient for Children (EQ-C; Auyeung et al., 2009), an empathy measure previously well-validated only as a global scale. We aimed to compare children with and without educational differences (i.e., Special Educational Needs & Disabilities, SEND), and explored associations between empathy and sensory sensitivities across the whole sample. Based on responses from 680 parents, we analysed data from English-speaking children aged 6-12 years, via a series of factor analyses using polychoric correlation matrices and bass-ackward analysis. Empathy domain profiling for children with SEND status (versus children without SEND status) was investigated as group differences (t tests). Sensory sensitivities were examined via associations (correlation) and net effects (regression). We identified an optimal four-factor solution (emotional empathy, social-cognitive empathy, negative interactions, antisocial behaviours), and robust higher order one-, two- and three-factor models. Children with SEND status displayed empathy differences across all four empathy domains (all p < .001). Children with greater sensory sensitivities displayed significant differences for social-cognitive empathy and negative interactions only (both p < .001). We demonstrated the potential utility of the English-language EQ-C as a domain-level measure of empathy. Our paper discusses how the domains align with traditional emotional and cognitive dimensions in adults and cross-culturally. Our empathy profiles can be used alongside global empathy measures for different groups of children, with and without educational differences and sensory sensitivities.

Moderating effects of demographic characteristics on the relationship between parenting practices and energy balance related behaviors of Chinese preschoolers.

Early establishment of energy balance related behaviors (EBRBs) may be effective in combating unhealthy lifestyle in preschoolers. Parents are responsible for cultivating preschoolers' EBRBs directly through parenting practices. Although investigating the impact of various parenting practices on preschoolers' EBRBs is crucial to determine which practices should be recommended to parents to help reverse childhood unhealthy lifestyle, it is important to assess whether these effects of parenting practices on preschoolers' EBRBs would be similar across different groups of preschoolers, necessitating research into the moderating effects of demographic characteristics. Baseline dataset was utilized from an electronic health intervention study of Chinese 3-6-year-old preschoolers. Preschoolers' PA and sleep duration and quality were objectively examined using wGT3X ActiGraph accelerometer. Data related to parents and preschoolers' eating behaviors and sleep problems were subjectively assessed using parent-reported questionnaires. The PROCESS macro version 4.2 was used to perform moderation analysis. When the interaction revealed a p-value of less than 0.05 and the 95% confidence interval did not include 0, the conditional effects of the focal predictor at various levels of the moderator were further examined (p < 0.05) to investigate how the relationship between parenting practices and preschoolers' EBRBs varied with different moderator levels. Married parents exhibited the desired outcomes in the relationship between parenting practices and their preschoolers' EBRBs. In contrast, divorced/separated parents showed unfavorable results in this relationship. The association between the parents' and preschoolers' BMI varied depending on parents' socioeconomic status, the preschoolers' age, and the number of children in the household. The preschoolers' age showed different moderating trend on the relationship between parents' PA and preschoolers' sedentary behaviors as well as the association of eating-related PSE with preschoolers' eating behaviors. The mechanisms linking the parents' PSE to the preschoolers' PA, sedentary behaviors, and sleep duration were influenced by the preschoolers' gender and the number of children in the household. The potential parental influence warrants further investigation with the consideration that the relationship between parenting practices and preschoolers' EBRBs varied across different group of children. NCT06025019.

Effect of Early Oral Administration of Doxycycline on Macrolide Resistance in Children with Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia: A Retrospective Study.

Aims/Background Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is typically a benign and self-limiting disease. This study aimed to investigate the effect of early oral administration of doxycycline on macrolide resistance in children with MPP. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 173 MPP children treated with macrolides at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical University from March 2020 to March 2023. Nine cases that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded, leaving 164 children. They were divided into Group A (early oral administration of doxycycline + macrolide treatment) (n = 85) and Group B (macrolide treatment alone) (n = 79) based on whether early oral administration of doxycycline was given. Drug sensitivity results and adverse reactions after treatment were statistically analyzed. Based on the drug sensitivity results, the MPP children were classified as having either macrolide-resistant mycoplasma pneumoniae (MRMP) or macrolide-sensitive mycoplasma pneumoniae (MSMP) infections. A stratified analysis was performed to compare the disappearance time of fever, disappearance time of shortness of breath, disappearance time of rales, and symptom improvement time on chest X-ray examination, and to further explore the clinical efficacy of early oral administration of doxycycline in different groups of children. Results No significant differences were found in baseline data such as age, sex, and weight between the two groups (p > 0.05). A total of 112 out of 164 children developed macrolide resistance (68.29%), with 47 cases in Group A and 65 cases in Group B, indicating a significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.05). The two groups showed a significant difference in macrolide sensitivity levels after treatment (p < 0.05), with no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions (p > 0.05). After treatment, the time to the disappearance of febrile fever, time to disappearance time of fever, disappearance time of shortness of breath, disappearance time of rales, symptom improvement time on chest X-ray examination, and time to administration of macrolides after treatment were shorter in children with MRMP in group A than in children with MRMP in group B (p < 0.05). In contrast, MSMP children in both groups exhibited no significant differences in symptom disappearance time and duration of macrolides treatment (p > 0.05). Conclusion Early oral administration of doxycycline is a safe and effective treatment for MPP. It helps relieve symptoms in MRMP children, shortens the duration of macrolide use, and reduces the incidence of macrolide resistance.

Communal and agentic teacher behavior in teacher-child dyads. A new self-report scale based on a circumplex approach

IntroductionThe goal of this study was to develop a self-report scale measuring the teacher’s interpersonal behavior in teacher-child dyads in elementary schools and to provide evidence of the scale’s validity. Using the framework of interpersonal theory, the Questionnaire on Dyadic Interpersonal Teacher Behavior (DITeB) models teacher behavior in an interpersonal circumplex that allows for the simultaneous analysis of teacher behavior along the two orthogonal dimensions of communion (warmth) and agency (guidance, monitoring).MethodsWe analyzed 440 dyadic teacher-child relationships derived from 88 teacher reports. Teachers rated the 20 items (8 scales) of the DITeB to describe their interpersonal behavior towards a child. To test the scale’s structural validity, we conducted confirmatory circumplex structural analyses. To test the scale’s construct validity, we used teachers ‘descriptions of relationship quality (closeness, conflict, dependency), and of their child related emotions (enjoyment, anger, anxiety). In addition, teachers reported on the child’s academic performance (numeric grades), as well as their professional beliefs about heterogeneity and self-efficacy for adaptive teaching, data which were used for further construct validation.ResultsWe obtained empirical support for both structural and construct validity of the DITeB. Teacher interpersonal behavior correlated significantly with perceived relationship quality and emotions: high relationship quality and positive emotions were associated with high communion and low agency, whereas low relationship quality and negative emotions were associated with low communion and high agency, supporting construct validity. Additionally, as child’s academic performance improved, teachers’ agency decreased. Towards different groups of children, teachers’ interpersonal behaviors varied systematically based on their professional beliefs: teachers with strong heterogeneity beliefs tended to be more communal towards low-performing children compared to high-performing children. Moreover, teachers with strong self-efficacy towards adaptive teaching adjusted their agency more flexibly according to children’s performance in school, further supporting the construct validity of our instrument.DiscussionWe discuss how our instrument enriches the spectrum of existing scales on interpersonal teacher behavior. By focusing dyadic specific teacher behavior, the DITeB allows examining the extent to which the teacher adapts their behavior to child characteristics (adaptive teaching), and the effect of teacher behavior on child outcomes.

The influence of parents on children's consciousness of gender equality: a multi-group structural equation modeling approach.

This study aimed to understand the consciousness of gender equality among school-aged children in China and its influencing factors using structural equation modeling to explore the pathways, intensity and group differences among these factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using stratified random whole-group sampling of primary school students in grades 1-6 and their parents who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In this study, 1,312 valid questionnaires were collected from a total of 1,500 school-aged children in Hunan Province, China (effective response rate of 87.5%). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0 software. Statistical inference consisted of t-tests, analysis of variance, the LSD test, Pearson correlation analysis, multiple stepwise linear regression analysis and structural equation modeling. School-aged children had the lowest consciousness of gender equality in the area of occupation and relatively higher consciousness in the areas of family and school. Children's age, gender, gender role, parent-child relationship, teacher-student relationship and parents' gender equality consciousness had predictive effects on children's consciousness of gender equality. The structural equation model constructed in this study is applicable to school-aged children of different genders. There was a significant difference in the structural equation modeling for children in different study period groups. In the education process, parents and teachers should attempt to improve their own consciousness of gender equality, integrate the concept of androgynous education, enhance close relationships with children, and adopt appropriate education methods according to the characteristics of different groups of children.

МЕТОДИКА ОБУЧЕНИЯ ДЕТЕЙ ДОШКОЛЬНОГО ВОЗРАСТА ОСНОВАМ ПОЖАРНОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ

The results of studies on teaching preschool children attending kindergarten the basics of fire safety in everyday life are presented. The requirements for the qualifications of a teacher-educator for high-quality classes with children on combustion, the danger of uncontrolled combustion – fire and compliance with fire safety requirements are presented. The methodological features of teaching children of different groups the basics of fire prevention and independent evacuation in the event of a fire are shown.

Shifting Narratives of Suzhi (Quality) and Suzhi Education: What Migrant and Rural Children in China Tell Us About the Changing Nature of Chinese Education

Using the comparative case study (CCS) method, this article compares the findings from a longitudinal ethnographic research project of rural children in Northwest China (2005–2012) and a second longitudinal study of migrant children in eastern China (2015–2019). It examines rural and migrant students’ and educators’ (re)interpretations and uses of suzhi (quality) and suzhi education in the context of rapid urbanization, various locations in between the city and the countryside, and how these usages problematize and challenge the rural-urban dualism embedded in the existing literature on rural and migrant children in China. These two studies explore how suzhi means different things for different stakeholders across time and place in both formal discourses, such as the curriculum, and in informal discourses, as seen in what educators and students value and practice. The article enriches theories on suzhi by showing how it: 1) reflects both the rural-urban gap and social stratification in China; and 2) reveals the shifting paradigm of suzhi education specifically and of education in China more broadly. The article also showcases how the CCS approach can be used to disrupt taken-for-granted categories and dichotomies, such as the urban-rural dualism, by closely examining concepts like suzhi across place, time, and with different groups of children.

Application Value of Serum Cytokines in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Pneumonia in Children

Objective: To analyze the relationship between cytokines and clinical manifestations of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection and to investigate the clinical value of cytokines in RSV pneumonia. Methods: Clinical data of RSV positive children admitted to the pediatrics department of Zhengzhou People’s Hospital from November 2021 to June 2023. They were divided into three groups according to different ages, 1-11 months, 12-23 months, 24-36 months, and wheezing group and no wheezing group according to the presence of complications. The clinical data of the children in different groups were compared, and the clinical significance of the children with RSV pneumonia was analyzed by measuring the serum cytokine levels. Results: A total of 64 children were included, 35 from 1-11,16 from 12-23 and 13 in 24-36. There were 35 patients with wheezing and 29 patients with no wheezing. Complications were found in 6 cases and 58 cases were without complications. SPO2 , N and CRP in the 1-November group were lower than those in the 12-2 March group, L was higher than that in the 12-23-month group, the proportion of severe, oxygen inhalation, three concave sign, R, P, IL-8, L were higher than those in the 23-36 month group, Oxygen Saturation (SPO2 ), C-Reactive Proteins (CRP), Procalcitonin (PCT) below the 23-3 June group, the difference is statistically significant; 12-23 month group: CDSS, R, IL-8 were higher than the 24-36 month group. The PCT was lower than that in the 24-3 June group. The difference was statistically significant (P&lt;0.05). Clinical characteristics and cytokine analysis of patients with wheezing group and no wheezing group: the fever days, IL-2, and lymphocyte count were higher in patients without wheezing, with statistically significant differences (P&lt;0.05). In terms of length of stay, R, P, IL-1 β, IL-6, and IL-8, patients with complications were higher than patients without complications, with a statistically significant difference (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 are related with different clinical symptoms and have certain guiding significance for clinical application. IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 have different expression levels. IL-2 may be related with wheezing, and IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 may be related to complications, which has certain guiding significance for clinical application.

Shifting roles and slow research: children’s roles in participatory co-design of critical machine learning activities and technologies

ABSTRACT Including children’s voices in the design of learning activities and technologies has increasingly become a subject of conversation among researchers and learning designers. Research suggests children have lived experiences that position them as useful contributors in co-designing curricula activities or technologies they will use. However, one significant challenge in participatory co-design is engaging children in the co-design of curricula when they have not yet learned the disciplinary content within the curricula. We present our two-year participatory design-based research study in which we co-designed a Critical Machine Learning educational programme with different groups of children at two after-school centres over two consecutive years. In this paper, we characterize the roles children embodied in two cycles of participatory co-design and how the program's activities impacted these roles. Findings in this study suggest that in two participatory design-based research cycles, children embodied different roles of tester, informant, or designer of both AI learning activities and AI technologies. Based on this design-based research study, we propose that a ‘slow research’ approach that emphasises trust-building and a deep understanding of children's perspectives can be instrumental in achieving meaningful co-design outcomes.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in under-five children with diarrhoea in Blantyre, Malawi

BackgroundDiarrhoeal diseases are common among children in low- and middle-income countries and are major causes of morbidity and mortality. Cryptosporidium and Giardia are considered to be the main parasitic causes of diarrhoea in children. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of Cryptosporidium and Giardia infection in children under five years of age presenting at two health centres (Ndirande and Limbe) in Blantyre, Malawi.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed from February to July 2019 and included 972 children under 5 years of age with diarrhoea. Stool samples were immediately tested after collection at enrolment with a rapid diagnostic test for Cryptosporidium and Giardia infection. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the prevalence of these protozoan parasitic infections, and differences in the basic demographic and anthroponotic variables (between children with diarrhoea and parasite infection, being either Cryptosporidium and Giardia or both versus children with diarrhoea but no RDT confirmed parasite infection) were assessed. Their association with Cryptosporidium and Giardia infection was analysed using simple logistic regressions.ResultsOf the children recruited, 88 (9.1%) tested positive for Cryptosporidium and 184 (18.9%) for Giardia. Children with only a Giardia infection or a coinfection (of both parasites) were significantly older (mean age 24–26 months) compared to children with only a Cryptosporidium infection (mean age 13 months) or no parasitic infection (mean age 14 months). No significant differences were found with respect to gender, body temperature, stunting or wasting between the different groups of children with moderate to severe diarrhoea. Children attending the Ndirande health centre had almost two times higher odds of testing positive for both infections than those attending Limbe health centre.ConclusionCryptosporidium and Giardia infections are highly prevalent in children < 5 years with moderate to severe diarrhoea attending the Limbe and Ndirande health centres in Blantyre, Malawi.

Ocular Morbidities among Children in Nepal

Introduction: Eye health is an important and integral part of overall health, well-being and quality of life, particularly for school children. This review study was aimed to understand the ocular morbidities and status of visual impairment in children and adolescents in Nepal. Methods: An integrative literature review was done. This review included the studies conducted among Nepalese children on ocular morbidities, which were published in English language and full text available. Results: Ocular morbidity was reported for different group of children including the children with special conditions, disadvantaged children as well as children in schools and communities in different parts of the country. Refractive error was the most prevalent condition noted in the review. Factors associated with ocular morbidities in Nepalese children were age, sex, type of school, area of residence, geographical location, environmental factors, and genetic and systemic illnesses. Many of the visual impairment and blindness are preventable. Conclusion: This review highlighted the need for regular eye health program to identify and address causes of ocular morbidity and vision impairment in children.

Comparative analysis of the effectiveness of isotherapy in the rehabilitation of children with intellectual disabilities

Art therapy technologies are widely used in educational, rehabilitation and social institutions. It is believed that the use of various methods of art therapy helps children and adolescents with disabilities to integrate into educational and rehabilitation processes. In the special and psychological-pedagogical literature, a wealth of material has been accumulated about the adaptive, corrective and therapeutic effects of art-therapeutic technologies, where the creative nature of the process of interaction between the psychologist and the wards serves as the basis. One of the most common and available methods of art therapy can be called isotherapy. The special literature emphasizes the effectiveness of isotherapy in the correction of the perceptual and emotional-volitional sphere, promotes the development of higher mental functions. This article presents the experience of monitoring the dynamics of mental activity of children with varying degrees of intellectual disability during rehabilitation, where one of the psychological and pedagogical influences was isotherapy. Research methods: observation maps for children with disabilities during isotherapy classes. The questions of the observation map are compiled on the basis of a three-level rehabilitation program using the method of isotherapy. To identify the links between the indicators of mental activity of the subjects, the r-Pearson correlation coefficient was used. In order to determine the effectiveness of isotherapy, Wilcoxon’s W-test is used. Results of the study a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of isotherapy in three different groups of children with disabilities is presented. The most noticeable positive changes are observed in the samples of children with moderate and mild mental retardation. For a group of children with severe intellectual and psychophysical disabilities, isotherapy classes help to pull some children up to an average level. The lack of positive dynamics in children of this group lies in the peculiarities of sensorimotor activity disorders, weak or almost absent differentiation of mental processes. Imagination deserves special attention in isotherapy classes, the study of which in children with intellectual disabilities is relevant in modern correctional psychology.

A study on children's multi-sensorial experiences of nature: design approaches and preferences for primary school architecture case studies in Glasgow, Scotland, UK

PurposeProviding improved access to nature within educational settings can promote stronger child–nature connections and is conditional on making evidence-based decisions for the planning, design and refurbishment of school architecture. The study offers insight into ways of reconnecting children with nature by examining the distribution and classification of diverse natural elements for enhancing children's visual and non-visual experiences of educational environments.Design/methodology/approachThis study combines quantitative and qualitative analysis of data gathered through measurement and observation at three schools in Glasgow, with a total of 75 students, to identify key issues influencing child–nature multi-sensorial connections within indoor and outdoor environments and on building envelopes and layouts. It applies children's open-questions and diagrams to investigate children's discovery of nature, their feelings around natural attributes and their environmental preferences within school contexts.FindingsThis study's findings reveal that architectural features and landscape settings have significant influence on the quantitative and qualitative degrees of children's natural exploration through visual and non-visual sensorial modalities and environmental preferences.Research limitations/implicationsThe limitations of this study are that the data was gathered in the Spring season and with different groups of children from The Glasgow Academy who received the same educational curriculum. Thus, there is a need for further investigation on children's experiences of nature based on temporal and contextual differences, and varying educational-socio-cultural and economic factors.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that applications of natural diversity, accessible and flexible pathways and indoor natural settings, are potential approaches to connect children with nature within their study and play environments.Originality/valueThe authors provide a deeper understanding of how nature-based settings, including indoor and outdoor environments, constructively benefit children's multi-sensorial experiences, knowledge and biophilic feelings toward nature.

Adherence to 24-hr Activity Guidelines and Quality of Life in Singapore Children: A Self-Reported Survey Study

There are limited data on how the lifestyle behaviours of school-aged children in Singapore fare against the Singapore Integrated 24-hr Activity Guidelines. One hundred and thirty-eight children ages 9 to 13 years self-reported their recreational screen time, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), night-time sleep duration, and health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in a survey package. Their lifestyle behaviours were then benchmarked against the Singapore Integrated 24-hr Activity Guidelines recommendations, specifically, (i) at least 1 hr/day of MVPA, (ii) no more than 2 hr/day of recreational screen time, and 7-9 hr/day of sleep. Association between the number of guideline recommendations met and HRQoL z-scores were explored. Of the 138 children, 6.5% met all three guideline recommendations while 29.0% did not meet any guideline recommendations. MVPA guideline recommendation was least adhered to followed by recreational screen time and sleep. The number of guideline recommendations met was significantly associated with children’s HRQoL, with an increase of 0.289 in HRQoL z-score (5.9%) for every additional guideline met. The 24-hr activity behaviours of Singapore children was sub-optimal in which the proportion of children who did not meet any guideline recommendations is higher than those who met all guideline recommendations. Nonetheless, larger cohort studies are needed to establish its prevalence. Greater dissemination of the guidelines and ameliorative programs targeted at different groups of children should be made to help support children in adopting healthy lifestyle habits.

Chinese Parents' Perspective on Myopia: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

The prevalence of myopia in young generations has dramatically increased over the years, especially in China. This study aims to understand Chinese parents' perspectives on myopia for further improvement of treatment compliance and informing future health planning and policy. This was a prospective cross-sectional survey study. A self-administrated, internet-based questionnaire was distributed to 2545 parents in China. Detailed information about the demographics, the awareness of myopia, related complications, and practices of myopia prevention and control of the respondents were collected. The distribution of answers was compared among different groups of children's age, children's refractions, and parents' residential locations. Relationships between parental cognition and behavior were also analyzed. Eligible responses were returned by 2500 parents. A total of 55.1% of the respondents considered myopia as a disease and more than 70% of respondents did not realize pathological changes related to myopia. Most parents thought myopia could be prevented (82.0%) and controlled (75.2%), and these parents were more likely to take measures than the parents who did not think so (P < 0.001). The most common myopia control modality was spectacles (87.0%), among which single-vision spectacles are the most used (63.7%). Knowledge about health risks related to myopia was lacking in Chinese parents and their practices of myopia control mainly involved single-vision glasses. Nationwide education for parents about myopia is needed to further advance outcomes of myopia prevention and control.

Component composition of the body in children with chronic kidney disease according to the results of bioimpedansometry

Body composition reflects the dynamic processes in a child’s development. The recommended restrictive diets for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) contribute to a high risk of sarcopenic muscle wasting as diagnosed by bioimpedancemetry.The aim of the study. To assess BMI and body composition in children with CKD, to identify features of body composition in patients with different BMI Z-score values.Materials and methods. The physical development of 110 children with CKD of different stages was assessed. Patients were divided into two clusters: Group 1 (92 children) with BMI from 10.95 to 21.5 kg/m2, BMI Z-score did not exceed +2.0 (without obesity); Group 2 (18 children) – BMI from 24.11 to 37.2 kg/m2, Z-score BMI – more than +2.0 (obese). All underwent bioimpedancemetry, the proportion of fat and active cell mass was assessed. The comparison was carried out by nonparametric statistics methods.Results. Changes in body composition were revealed: children without obesity had severe protein-energy deficiency in 7 cases (7.6 %). The difference in the proportion of fat mass in children of different groups, Me [Q1; Q3]: Group 1 – 18.00 % [14.00; 22.00], Group 2 – 35.00 % [21.98; 41.00], (Mann – Whitney U-test: U = 279.5, p = 0.00001). In Group 1, the active cell mass was 53.50 % [51.00; 56.00], in Group 2 – 41.50 % [39.00; 47.00] (U = 174.5, p = 0.000001), there were no significant differences in other parameters of bioimpedancemetry.Conclusions. The proportion of active cell mass is lower in overweight children, with a significant predominance of the proportion of fat mass, which indicates the depletion of protein reserves due to their redistribution and possible insufficient alimentary intake in advanced stages of CKD.

Personalised interventions for subgroups of children with conduct problems.

Personalised interventions for subgroups of children with conduct problems.

A great pediatrician and scholar devoting his whole life to pediatric infectious and digestive diseases—In memoriam of Professor Yongsui Dong

A great pediatrician and scholar devoting his whole life to pediatric infectious and digestive diseases—In memoriam of Professor Yongsui Dong

Spatial evolution analysis of groundwater chemistry, quality, and fluoride health risk in southern Hebei Plain, China.

The present study investigated ion and fluoride concentrations in groundwater and their associated health risks to local populations in the southern Hebei Plain during 2018-2020. A total of 336 groundwater samples were collected from monitoring wells at 112 different locations. Statistical analysis, Gibbs diagram, principal ion ratio, and saturation index were carried out to clarify the chemical characteristics and control mechanism of groundwater. The results indicated that the groundwater types in the study area were mainly HCO3-Ca, Cl-Na, and SO4-Ca. The concentrations of cations and anions were Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ and HCO3- > SO42- > Cl- > NO3- > F-, respectively. Based on the water chemical parameters, the pollution index of groundwater (PIG) was used to comprehensively evaluate the water quality. The results showed that during the study period, 60.41% of groundwater samples were suitable for drinking purposes, and 39.59% needed purification treatment to meet the requirements of drinking water standards. The groundwater quality in the western pre-hill plain areas was good, while the water quality in the northeastern and southeastern areas was poor and contaminated to varying degrees. Groundwater quality was mainly affected by the combined effect of total dissolved solids (TDS), Na+, Mg2+, Cl-, SO42- and HCO3- concentrations. Fluoride concentrations in the groundwater samples ranged from 0.07 to 8.51mg/L, with 44% of the samples containing fluoride below the recommended limit of 0.5mg/L, which would put the population at risk of dental caries. Also, 8% of the samples exceeded the permissible limit for fluoride in drinking water (1.5mg/L), which would expose the local population to the risk of fluorosis. The human health risk evaluation of fluoride showed significant differences in non-carcinogenic effects between two different groups of children and adults. HIin values ranged from 0.08 to 10.19 for children and 0.03 to 4.65 for adults, with hazard indices greater than 1 at 29.16% and 10.11%, respectively. This indicates that children have a greater exposure risk than adults, and the entropy of higher risk is mainly distributed in the northeast of the study area. Based on the above analysis of the spatial evolution of groundwater chemistry, water quality, and fluoride health risks in the southern Hebei Plain region, corresponding protection and management measures were proposed, which also provided reference significance for the effective use of drinking water and health risk prevention in the region.

Quality of life in 13-year-olds depending on health status, residential neighbourhood deprivation and social capital - results from the Polish HBSC Study 2010-2018.

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) should be used more extensively in monitoring the health of school-aged children. The presented study aimed to evaluate trends in KIDSCREEN-10 indices, considering mean scores and the level of social inequalities. 3,937 children aged 13 participated in three Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) cross-sectional surveys conducted in Poland between 2010-2018. Subgroups were distinguished according to gender, health status, and three social factors (family affluence, neighbourhood social capital, and local deprivation). The average KIDSCREEN-10 index value was equal to: 22.36±4.54; 25.41±6.75; and 24.74±6.53 in 2010, 2014, and 2018,respectively. However, in 2018 no deterioration was recorded in boys, in poorer families or in regions with high social capital. The improvement in HRQL in 2014 was accompanied by an increase in disparities in health status and family wealth, as well as a decrease in disparities in local deprivation. An especially high increase in Glass index values was recorded for neighbourhood social capital (increasing from 0.542 in 2010 to 0.938 in 2018). The multivariate general linear model revealed the main effect of the year of the study, gender, chronic disease status, and the three social factors, as well as six significant 2-way interactions. Changes in the well-being of adolescents should be tracked over time using HRQL indices with proven psychometric properties. The level of social inequalities faced by young people should be included in policies and when designing interventions. The relevant initiatives should be targeted at different populations in order to properly address the needs of different groups of children and adolescents.