First-born Children Research Articles

Factors associated with language development delay of early childhood: Analysis of health checkup questionnaire for children

Objectives Language development is assessed in health checkups for children aged 18 and 36 months in public health centers to identify those with language delay and promote language development in early childhood. This study examines factors associated with language development to provide parents with evidence-based information.Methods We used the data from the health checkup questionnaire filled by parents of 18- and 36-month-old children born between April 2019 and March 2020 and undergone 18- and 36-month health checkups by March 2023 in Yokohama city, Japan. The sample included 12,710 children. Language delay was defined as the inability to speak at least three words and three-word sentence for 18- and 36-month-old children, respectively. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were applied to assess the odds ratios (OR) for language delay in 18 and 36 months and associated factors; birth order, weeks of birth, mother's age, and existence of a ternary relationship in 18 months. Moreover, we assessed the OR for language delay in 18 and 36 months to understand the language development in early childhood.Results Language delay was observed in 17.5% and 6.7% of 18- and 36-month-old children, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations of language delay in 18-month-old children and assessed factors; first-born children (OR; 1.39 [1.25-1.53]); preterm birth (OR; 1.80 [1.46-2.21]); and pregnancy at age ≥ 35 years (OR; 1.24 [1.12-1.37]), but no significant associations of language delay in 36-month-old children and these factors. Language delay in 18- and 36-month-old children were significantly associated, adjusting for potential confounders (OR; 6.81 [5.79-8.00]).Conclusion Children's background since birth should be checked to assess 18-month language development during health checkups. Children with language development delay at 18-month health checkups should be identified and followed for further support.

Firstborn's empathy and the sibling relationship quality: The moderating role of maternal emotional availability.

This study examined how a firstborn child's empathy interacts with maternal emotional availability (EA) to predict later positive sibling relationships. The study included 108 families expecting a second child who also had a 10- to 45-month-old firstborn child (M = 24.6 months, SD = 7.42; 58 girls). Before the second-born child arrived, the firstborn child's empathic abilities were measured, and a mother-child play interaction was videotaped and coded for maternal EA. At 16-18 months postpartum, mothers completed questionnaires assessing the quality of the sibling relationship. Maternal EA moderated the link between the firstborn's cognitive and emotional empathy and the quality of the sibling relationship. Higher levels of emotional and cognitive empathy predicted better sibling relationships for children whose mothers were more emotionally available. Implications for early interventions are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Effect of Mother’s Mediation on Sibling Conflict Among Chinese Children

Thirty-four Chinese families (each consisting of a mother and two children) were recruited to participate in this study. The firstborn children had an average age of 12.00 ± 2.07 years, while the second-born children averaged 7.57 ± 2.51 years old. The families were randomly divided into mediation and control groups. The mothers in the mediation group underwent mediation training, whereas those in the control group received no treatment. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi-square tests were utilized to analyze data on sibling conflict. Results indicated that the mothers in the mediation group reported significantly less negative behavior in helping their children resolve sibling disputes compared to those in the control group. Mediation group mothers reported significantly fewer sibling conflicts compared to control group mothers. No significant differences were observed between children in the mediation group and the control group regarding positive and negative behaviors recorded by mothers. These results indicate that mediation training may better equip Chinese mothers with the ability to resolve sibling conflicts in their families.

Sri Lanka Child Growth Cohort (SLCGC): a population-based study on growth faltering of children

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the study design and baseline characteristics of the Sri Lanka Child Growth Cohort (SLCGC), which was established to assess the timing, pattern and determinants of...

Neurodevelopmental or behavioural disorders in children conceived after assisted reproductive technologies: A nationwide cohort study

To study differences in risk for drug-treated neurodevelopmental or behavioural disorders in children conceived through assisted reproductive technologies in comparison with children conceived without assisted reproductive technologies and to examine if different treatments alter these risks. Nationwide registry-based cohort study. Liveborn children born in Denmark between 1994 and 2012 after assisted reproductive technologies in comparison to children conceived without assisted reproductive technologies aged 0-7. Conception following assisted reproductive technologies treatment, including in vitro fertilisation, intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection, intrauterine insemination and 'others' comprising frozen embryo transfer, and frozen embryo transfer in both in vitro fertilisation and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection and testicular sperm aspiration. Prescription of neurodevelopmental or behavioural disorders medication in offspring: Antipsychotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication and hypnotics/sedatives obtained from nationwide registers. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The association was examined in different sensitivity analyses, including sibling and mediator analyses. In total, 57,964 (4.7%) children conceived after assisted reproductive technologies and 1,183,070 (95.3%) children not conceived using assisted reproductive technologies were included. The adjusted analysis showed higher odds of prescribing neurodevelopmental or behavioural medication to assisted reproductive technology-conceived children (OR 1.15; 95% Cl 1.09-1.20) compared to other children. Prescription of antipsychotics in assisted reproductive technology-conceived children was the most common association in intrauterine insemination treatments, hypnotics/sedatives with both including in vitro fertilisation and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection and antiepileptics with 'other' treatments. Birth weight partially mediated the association between assisted reproductive technologies and diminished the odds of neurodevelopmental or behavioural medication use in children conceived using assisted reproductive technologies. Sibling analysis showed no increased risk for the first-born child conceived without assisted reproductive technology vs. the second-born child conceived with assisted reproductive technology and vice-versa. Based on the minor observed effects, a potentially higher increased attentiveness of assisted reproductive technology parents, the demonstrated mediation effect of birth weight and preterm birth on the observed association, and the no effect of the within-mother analysis, we find little evidence for increased risk of neurodevelopmental or behavioural disorders in children conceived using assisted reproductive technologies.

Abstract A162: The influence of parental barriers to healthcare on adolescent HPV vaccination uptake and completion among Latinos in Los Angeles

Abstract Objective: This study aims to investigate the association between parental barriers to healthcare access and HPV vaccination uptake among Latino adolescents in Los Angeles. Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) induced cervical cancer (CC) remains a significant public health concern. Routine HPV vaccination has been recommended in the United States for girls since 2006 and boys since 2011 yet disparities in vaccine initiation and completion persist, particularly among Latino adolescents in Los Angeles. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed child data provided by mothers recruited from the Es Tiempo campaign (2016-2018). A total of 353 Latino adolescents aged 9 to 26 years were included in the sample. We used crosstabs to assess vaccine initiation and completion differences by child sex and birth order, while logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between parental barriers to healthcare, such as lack of health insurance and access to a primary care provider (PCP), and HPV vaccination initiation. Results: Among the sample, 44% initiated the HPV vaccine, and 23% completed the series, with significantly higher rates among girls and firstborn children. Regarding barriers, lack of health insurance was associated with decreased odds of HPV vaccination uptake while access to a PCP showed a slight increase in vaccination uptake odds. Conclusion: HPV vaccination uptake among Latino adolescents in Los Angeles remains suboptimal, with disparities observed by gender and birth order. To improve public health outcomes, targeted interventions are needed to increase HPV vaccination uptake among Latino adolescent boys, and further research is needed to understand vaccine adherence patterns within families and among siblings. Moreover, while parental barriers to healthcare may influence vaccination uptake, future studies should also explore how factors like parental education level and socioeconomic status influence HPV vaccination status in combination with access barriers. Citation Format: Anju F. Kane, Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati. The influence of parental barriers to healthcare on adolescent HPV vaccination uptake and completion among Latinos in Los Angeles [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A162.

Oral health care among children in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundOral health is crucial for caries prevention. Research reported variations in oral health practices among countries and individuals. Therefore, this study aims to examine and compare oral hygiene practices among children aged 3 to 11 years old across five areas of Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study includes healthy children aged 3 to 11 from five areas/regions of Saudi Arabia. A self-administered, validated parental questionnaire was constructed according to the WHO Oral Health Questionnaire for children, which inquires about the child’s socio-demographic factors, oral health evaluation, and oral hygiene practice.ResultsOut of the 1516 parents who participated, 21.2% reported their children brushing twice a day. Regression analysis found that the first-born children and those who visited a dentist displayed a significantly higher adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for parents reporting that their child practices oral health care compared to only children (AOR: 2.837; P = 0.016) and to those who did not visit a dentist in the last 12 months (AOR: 2.989; P < 0.001).ConclusionThis study highlights that only 21.2% of parents reported their children practicing excellent oral hygiene by brushing twice a day. This underscores the importance of early dental visits, customized interventions, and prevention programs that account for regional and demographic factors, such as birth order, to effectively promote oral health.

Financial strain among West-Javanese parents: its association with marital satisfaction and quality of life, and the role of dyadic coping.

In the past decade, the concept of dyadic coping as a buffer against stress in romantic relationships has received much attention in Western countries, but it has rarely been studied in non-Western countries and among parents with school-aged children. The aim of the present study was to investigate the moderating effect of dyadic coping on the link between financial strain and marital satisfaction, as well as the mediating effect of marital satisfaction on the relationship between financial strain and quality of life. There were 751 heterosexual couples whose eldest child aged 7-12 years in West Java, Indonesia (mean age husband = 37.53 SD = 5.09; mean age wife = 34.42 SD = 4.85) fulfilled the paper and pencil questionnaires in the study. The moderated mediated model illustrated that (1) greater levels of dyadic coping weakened the negative association between financial strain and marital satisfaction for husbands and for wives (2) for both husbands and wives, there were no mediation effect (3) for both husbands and wives, financial strain was negatively associated with quality of life; and marital satisfaction was positively associated with quality of life. We discuss both the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.

How smart is my child? The judgment accuracy of parents regarding their children's cognitive ability.

Parents' judgment of their children's cognitive ability is important for providing adequate learning environments. This study examined parents' judgment accuracy with 2346 children (M = 8.94 years; 48.3% girls) and their parents (1283 mothers, 426 fathers, and 637 parental pairs). The data were collected between September 2012 and February 2014 in Germany. Latent regression analyses were conducted for the overall sample and by grade (nGrade1&2 = 830; nGrade3&4 = 1516). Characteristics of the child (gender, birth order) and parents (gender, socioeconomic background) were investigated as moderators. Children's cognitive ability explained 34%/25%/37% (overall sample/Grade1&2/Grade3&4) of the variance in parental judgments. Judgments depended more on children's academic achievement than on cognitive ability. Parents judged their son's intelligence more accurately than their daughter's and first-born children more accurately than last-born children. Higher-educated parents showed higher judgment accuracy.

Analysis of the current situation and demand for perinatal education in pregnant women in general grade A tertiary hospitals in China: a cross-sectional survey

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the factors influencing pregnant women’s participation in perinatal education and their demand for educational courses.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingTertiary hospital in Suzhou, China, July–September 2022.ParticipantsPregnant women from...

The association between maternal and child posttraumatic stress symptoms among families living in southern Israel: The buffering role of maternal executive functions.

Posttraumatic stress disorder is a prolonged stress and anxiety response that occurs after exposure to a traumatic event. Research shows that both parental and child posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are correlated but parental executive functions (EFs) could buffer this link. EFs refers to a group of high-level cognitive processes that enable self-regulation of thoughts and actions to achieve goal-directed behaviours and can be of importance for both positive parenting interactions and effective coping skills for PTSS. Our study aimed to (1) examine the link between maternal and child PTSS and the moderating role of varying degrees of exposure to severe security threats context, and (2) to identify the moderating role of maternal EFs in this interaction, among families living in southern Israel. Our sample included 131 mothers in their second pregnancy and their firstborn children. Mothers performed computerised tasks to assess their EFs and they reported on their own and their child's PTSS. Results revealed a positive correlation between maternal PTSS and child PTSS. However, the link between maternal and child PTSS was moderated by maternal working memory updating abilities and threat context severity. Among mothers with lower updating capacities, the association between maternal and child symptoms was stronger under higher threat contexts; conversely, among mothers with higher maternal updating abilities, threat context did not modulate the link between maternal and child PTSS, suggesting a stress-buffering effect. Our study contributes to the growing literature on the significant role of parental EFs in the context of parent-child interactions.

Perinatal Risk Factors Contributing to Development of Childhood Asthma

Background: Genetic susceptibility and environmental factors play crucial roles in the development of childhood asthma. It seems that asthma pathology initiates in utero. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between various perinatal exposures and events, and the later development of childhood asthma. Method: A total of ninety children, 45 with childhood asthma and with 45 healthy controls, referred to the Allergy Clinic of Azad University Hospitals between January 2020 and January 2021 were enrolled in the study. All caregivers or parents of these children were interviewed to collect sufficient data concerning the patients’ asthma history. Results: Gestational age, gender, low birth weight, delivery mode, maternal pre-eclampsia, maternal smoking during pregnancy, smoking exposure during the neonatal period, antibiotic prescription in the neonatal period, acetaminophen use in the neonatal period, assisted ventilation and oxygen therapy, neonatal icterus, neonatal respiratory infection, chronic pulmonary disease of prematurity, meconium aspiration, birth order as the first-born child and parental history of allergy were assessed. Among these, the use of antibiotics, oxygen therapy, respiratory infections during the neonatal period, meconium aspiration during labor, and history of allergy in first-grade relatives were the most predictable separate factors, demonstrating the key role of the perinatal period in the development of childhood asthma. Conclusion: To conclude, although previous studies mostly suggested the causal effects of modifiable behaviors or exposures on the development of childhood asthma, the risk factors in the present study were mostly genetic influences, postnatal infections or obstetrics events or their management, which were inevitable in the process of labor.

Seeking opportunity or socio-economic status? Housing and school choice in Sweden

Residential choices and school choices are intimately connected in school systems where school admission relies on proximity rules. In countries with universal school choice systems, however, it remains an open question whether families’ residential mobility is tied to the choice of their children’s school, and with what consequences. Using administrative data on all children approaching primary-school age in Sweden, we study to what extent families’ financial and socio-economic background affects mobility between neighbourhoods and the characteristics of schools chosen by moving families. Our findings show that families do utilise the housing market as an instrument for school choice over the year preceding their firstborn child starting school. However, while families who move do ‘climb the social ladder’ by moving to neighbourhoods with more households of higher socio-economic status, their chosen schools do not appear to be of higher academic quality compared to those their children would otherwise have attended.

The "First daughter" effect: Human rights advocacy and attitudes toward gender equality in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

International concern for the human rights of Afghan women has spiked since the Taliban consolidated power in Afghanistan in fall 2021. Yet little is known about how to effectively advocate for women's human rights under this new context. We present findings from a random sample of all adult Afghan internet users' attitudes toward peace, security, gender, and human rights and find significant support for women's human rights as a national priority within Afghanistan, even when controlling for other priorities and even among many men and women aligned with the Taliban. Given that men now have much more political power in Afghan society to protect women's rights, we paid particular attention to men's attitudes toward women's human rights. Our evidence from an embedded survey experiment, building on earlier literature from other countries, demonstrates that fathers of eldest daughters are particularly likely to favor prioritizing women's rights when primed to think about the gender of their eldest children. Thus, the human rights and humanitarian community should spend more time and attention engaging with this demographic, and specifically creating marketing and advocacy strategies that encourage men to think about or act on behalf of their eldest daughters.

O-275 Prenatal genetic screening to assess mtDNA disease occurrence in children

Abstract Study question Can prenatal genetic testing accurately predict mtDNA mutation load anddisease transmission to children for families affected by Leigh Syndrome? Summary answer Whole genome mtDNA sequencing for 13513G&amp;gt;A mutation in chorionic villi and amniotic fluid was similar to those measured in babies suggesting accuracy of disease prediction. What is known already Severity of mtDNA disease in children depends on heteroplasmy levels(proportion of mutant to wild-type mtDNA). There is a minimum threshold for the mutant mtDNA heteroplasmy (typically 60%) above which oxidative metabolism is impaired to cause disease. Predicting the disease based on the mutation load measured during embryonic or fetal development is critically needed. However, preimplantation genetics screening for many mtDNA mutations has limitations due to the potential increase in heteroplasmy levels after implantation. We hypothesized that prenatal screening of chorionic villi and/or amniotic fluid during the first trimester of pregnancy could provide more reliable diagnosis of disease occurrence in children. Study design, size, duration We evaluated mtDNA heteroplasmy in biopsies collected from chorionic villi and amniotic fluid at 10- and 16-weeks of gestation, respectively, for two consecutive, naturally conceived pregnancies for a carrier of 13513G&amp;gt;A mutation. Sequencing results were compared to mutations in the blood, skin, and urine of children after birth. Both children were also extensively monitored for a few years for disease occurrence. Participants/materials, setting, methods A family with maternally transmitted Leigh Syndrome including both parents and two existing children were enrolled during the initial phase. Whole mtDNA sequencing was used to confirm the maternal transmission of the mutation by analysis of blood, skin, and urine from asymptomatic parents and the older son and the severely affected younger son. Furthermore, prenatal diagnostics were performed for two consecutive pregnancies and children after birth. Main results and the role of chance The mother carried 13513G&amp;gt;A mutation in the skin (91% heteroplasmy), urine(39%), and blood (6.8%), while no mutation was detected in the father’s samples. The asymptomatic eldest child revealed a low mutation in the skin (14%), urine(23%), and blood (10%). While the younger son diagnosed with Leigh syndrome carried 56% mutation in blood, 86% in skin, and 97% in urine. Heteroplasmy ranging from 0.6% to 40% was also measured in 4 individual immature oocytes retrieved upon hormonal stimulation of the carrier. The family later naturally conceived 2 consecutive pregnancies and requested help with prenatal diagnostics. In the first pregnancy, mutation loads were 27.5% in chorionic villi and 29.5% in amniotic fluid. The family decided to keep the pregnancy which resulted in the birth of a healthy child with low mutations in blood (0.07%) and skin (14.5%). In the second pregnancy, prenatal diagnostics in CVS showed low mutation at 0.11%, resulting in the birth of an unaffected child with mutation loads of 1.4% in blood and 0% in skin. Limitations, reasons for caution Genetic counseling for mtDNA disease transmission is difficult due tocomplex inheritance of heteroplasmic variants for various pathogenicmutations. Inheritance and distribution of mtDNA mutations also influencedby individual family genetics. Therefore, prenatal diagnostic screeningshould be cautiously considered based on the specific circumstances for eachfamily. Wider implications of the findings Prenatal genetic diagnostics for families with mtDNA disease based on whole mtDNA sequencing by the qualified laboratory may accurately predict heteroplasmy levels and disease occurrence in children. However, careful analysis of family history and the likelihood of having low mutation load oocytes was critical for the success of our case. Trial registration number N/A

Personality Factors as Predictors of the Level of Personality Functioning in Adolescence: Examining the Influence of Birth Order, Financial Status, and Sex

This study aimed at examining the correlation between personality factors measured by the HEXACO Model of Personality Structure - which defines the personality in terms of: Humility-Honesty H, Emotionality E, Extraversion X, Agreeableness A, Conscientiousness C, and Openness to experience O - and the level of personality functioning (LOPF). It also examines HEXACO’s predictability of LOPF in adolescence in terms of sex (male, female), birth order (eldest child, middle child, youngest child, and the only child) and financial levels (above average, on average, below average). The sample included 1450 students from both secondary schools and universities all over Lebanon. Participants responded to the HEXACO PI-R-60 scale of personality structure, and Level of Personality Functioning LOPF 2.0 that pinpoints to the degrees of dysfunctionality in both intrapersonal and interpersonal domains; participants also answered other demographic questions. Data were analyzed through SPSS 23 by calculating Pearson correlation coefficients, running ANOVA and post Hoc Hochberg GT2 and Dunett t tests to explore variance among subgroups. Independent T- tests were also utilized to determine sex differences. Multiple linear regression was utilized to determine the predictability of LOPF by HEXACO. Results show that HEXACO factors are inversely correlated to LOPF except for Emotionality; no significant differences in LOPF exist between males and females; on the financial level, differences in LOPF are found only between middle group and below average group, and in terms of birth order, between the only child and the middle child. It is also depicted that LOPF can be predicted by HEXACO factors in different ways. Implications of the study are discussed in the light of the related theories.

Mothers' and their children's emotional and behavioral symptom trajectories and subsequent maternal adjustment: Twenty-seven years of motherhood

BackgroundThis study aims to describe maternal depressive symptoms (MDS) trajectories in a longitudinal study extending from pregnancy to 27 years after the birth of the firstborn child. We also explored the associations of both MDS trajectories and child internalizing and externalizing problem trajectories with maternal adjustment (adaptive functioning, emotional and behavioral problems). MethodsThe population-based study was conducted in Tampere, Finland, and the sample comprised 356 first-time mothers. MDS were screened with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale during pregnancy, first week after delivery, 2 and 6 months postnatally, and when the child was 4–5, 8–9, 16–17, and 26–27 years of age. The internalizing and externalizing problems of the children were assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist when the child was 4–5, 8–9, and 16–17 years of age. Maternal adaptive functioning and internalizing and externalizing problems were assessed with the Adult Self Report at 26–27 years after the birth of the first child. Complete follow-up data were available for 168 mothers. ResultsWe describe a three-group trajectory model of MDS (High Stable, Low Stable, Very Low). Elevated depressive symptom patterns were associated with less optimal maternal outcomes regarding both adaptive and problem dimensions. The child's internalizing and externalizing problem trajectories were associated with maternal internalizing and externalizing problems but not with maternal adaptive functioning. LimitationsMaternal and child measures were based on maternal reports only. ConclusionsThe interconnectedness of the well-being of the mother and child should be noted in health and mental health services for adults and children.

Differences in caregiver and child factors within families of autistic youth across birth order groups

BackgroundResearch has highlighted the ways that birth order relates to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence rates. However, little research has focused on how birth order relates to the wellbeing of the family once a child is diagnosed with ASD. Additionally, many family factors (such as measures of parental wellbeing) and elements of child emotional/behavioral symptoms have not yet been investigated when evaluating the potential effects of birth order. The current study aimed to investigate how family birth order may impact caregiver reporting of parental wellbeing/competency and child symptoms. MethodThree groups were created based on caregivers (N = 155) who have (1) a first-born child with ASD and then child(ren) without ASD, (2) child(ren) without ASD and then a child with ASD, and (3) an only child with ASD. Caregivers completed questionnaires measuring family resources, child symptoms, and parental factors. ResultsDespite comparable ratings on family resources and ASD severity, significant differences based on birth order emerged. Having one or multiple children without ASD before having a child with ASD may enhance feelings of satisfaction and competency as a parent. Parents with an only child with ASD also reported higher ratings of competency, had significantly less ASD knowledge, and demonstrated a significant negative correlation between efficacy and knowledge. ConclusionFamilies with an only child with ASD may require further support to augment their knowledge of ASD. Caregivers who have a first-born child with ASD may benefit from interventions focusing on their feelings of parental competency.

Maternal Perceptions and Responsiveness to Cry in Armed Conflict Zones: Links to Child Behavior Problems

Crying is a typical infant behavior that activates parental caregiving behaviors, acting as “human alarms” important for the infant’s survival. When living under war-related threat, the auditory system may be sensitized given its importance for survival, potentially impacting maternal cry processing. Children living in armed-conflict zones are at increased risk for behavior problems, which may relate to both direct exposure and indirect effects through their parents’ perceptions and behaviors. This hypothesis was examined in a sample of mothers and their first-born children (aged 10–45 months) living in the Gaza vicinity area in Israel, chronically exposed to missile alarms (high-exposure; n = 45), and a comparison group (low-exposure; n = 86). Group differences in child behavior problems and maternal perceptions of and responsiveness to cry were investigated. A moderated indirect-effect of maternal cry perceptions on child behavior problems via maternal responsiveness to cry was examined. In the high-exposure group, children had more externalizing problems and mothers rated cries as more aversive. Maternal cry perception was indirectly related to child behavior problems via responsiveness to cry only in the high-exposure group: higher perceptions of cry as aversive or the child as distressed were related to faster responding to crying, and faster cry responsiveness was linked with fewer behavior problems. Results suggest that in armed-conflict zones with auditory warning signals, the parental caring system may be easily activated by cries due to the strong association between alarms and threat. Furthermore, children may need their mothers to react faster when feeling distressed, possibly because of the surrounding threat.

Effects of teenage pregnancies on the health, nutrition, and development of first-born children: A community-based comparative study in a rural district at Bhopal

ABSTRACT Background: The global problem of teenage pregnancy affects health of the young mother as well as health of the baby to be born. Being both a medical and public health problem, teenage mothers as well as their children are considered as high-risk groups. Current research work is a community-based comparative study to understand the consequences of teenage pregnancy on the health, nutrition, and developmental milestones of the first-born children. Methods: Three parameters, namely, fetal outcome, birth weight of the baby, and child’s milestones of development, were chosen to analyze the effects of teenage pregnancy on the first-born child. Mothers in a rural district at Bhopal were interviewed and then classified into two groups based on their age – teenage and non-teenage mothers. Results: The child of teenage mothers had 16% less chances of having birth weight &gt;2.5 kg in comparison to the child of non-teenage mothers. A significant statistical difference in the fetal outcome (teenage mothers vs non-teenage mothers) was observed with a P value of 0.0008. Live births were 80.77% (63) in teenage mothers against 97.44% (76) in non-teenage mothers, whereas a low birth weight (LBW) of &lt;1.5 kg was 5.35 times more in the teenage group. Conclusion: First-born children of non-teenage mothers were found to be healthier compared to those of the teenage mothers; teenage pregnancy has adverse effects on the health, nutrition, and development of the first-born children and may lead to problems such as still births, LBW, and pre-mature child birth.