Low Socioeconomic Status Girls Research Articles

Socioeconomic differences in permanent teeth mineralization of Portuguese girls and boys from Porto, Portugal.

Purpose: Socioeconomic differences in dental maturation can be used to examine the impact of environmental factors on dental maturation. The purpose of this study is to assess socioeconomic differences in dental maturation of the seven permanent mandibular teeth (I1-M2). Methods: A total of 2114 panoramic radiographs of Portuguese children, adolescents and young adults were studied. The sample was divided into a high socioeconomic status (SES) (n = 925), and a low SES group (n = 1189). Ages ranged between 5 and 26 years. Demirjian's stages were used to assess the maturation of the seven mandibular teeth on the left side. Median-age of attainment of each stage and each tooth was calculated and compared between groups using binary logistic regression. Results: Low SES girls showed a consistent advancement in dental maturation across the entire dentition. Low SES boys, however, showed more often a delayed maturation relative to their high SES counterparts, but this pattern was not consistent and a clear socioeconomic difference seems to be absent in boys. Conclusions: While this study was not able to further explore the causes of the dental advancement in girls, it is hypothesized that it might be related to a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, and possibly caries, in low SES girls, compared to the SES difference in prevalence in boys.

Association of Vitamin D Levels and Other Risk Factors with Asthma Exacerbations in Children

Background: The risk factors for asthma exacerbations are well understood. However, the effect of vitamin D levels on number of asthma exacerbations per year is not clearly studied. The objective of the study was to find out the association of serum vitamin D levels and asthma risk factors on asthma exacerbations. Methods: In this study, ninety-nine subjects from 5 to 15 years of age were recruited at an episode of acute exacerbation. It was a cross sectional study and carried out from 2012 to 2015. Pulmonary function test was done by spirometry. Asthma exacerbation was labeled when forced expiratory volume/ forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio was less than 80% (American Thoracic Society). Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines were used to classify asthma into mild, moderate and severe persistent asthma. Serum vitamin D levels were measured by chemiluminescence method. Pearson Chi-square test was applied and p value (p<0.05) was considered as statistically significant. Results: Children who had exposure to animal dander had significantly lower asthma exacerbations per year (p-value <0.046). There was no significant association between vitamin D levels and number of exacerbations per years (p-value <0.099). Asthma was prevalent in girls of low socioeconomic status (SES) compared to males. However, there was no significant association between smoke, exercise, home environment, food allergies, weather, pollen and dust with asthma exacerbations. Conclusion: Low levels of vitamin D were not associated with increased number of asthma exacerbations per year. However, children exposed to animal dander had lesser number of exacerbations per year (p-value <0.046). Keywords: Asthma; Vitamin D; Children; Exacerbations, Risk factors.

Physical activity among children and adolescents in Germany. Results of the cross-sectional KiGGS Wave 2 study and trends.

Self-reported data from wave 2 of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS Wave 2, 2014-2017) provides the basis for assessing whether the levels of physical activity of children and adolescents in Germany meet the levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Merely 22.4% of girls and 29.4% of boys in the 3-17 age group are physically active for at least 60 minutes per day and therefore meet the WHO recommendations. Prevalence of recommended levels of physical activity decreases continuously with age, both for girls and boys. In KiGGS Wave 2, girls in the 3-10 age group met the levels of physical activity recommended by the World Health Organization significantly less often than in KiGGS Wave 1. Low levels of physical activity were highest amongst adolescent age girls, as well as among boys and girls of low socioeconomic status. The results indicate a great potential to promote physical activity.

Turkish Children's Expression of Negative Emotions: Intracultural Variations Related to Socioeconomic Status

The goal of the present study was to examine intracultural variations in Turkish children's emotion expression in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) characteristics, alone and in combination with child gender and their interaction partners. Children's expectations about outcomes from expressing and their reasons for hiding their felt emotion in situations that involved unfairness, disappointment, public failure and a mishap were also delineated. A total of 123 school‐aged Turkish children responded to hypothetical vignettes. Boys and girls from middle‐high SES families were equally likely to endorse shame expression. However, lower SES boys were more likely to endorse hiding shame than lower SES girls. Middle‐high SES children showed a tendency for expressing anger and sadness more than lower SES children. Turkish children primarily expected interpersonal support from emotion expression. Upon anger, disappointment and sadness expression, Turkish children expected instrumental support more from their parents than their peers. The intracultural differences are discussed in light of sociodemographic changes accompanied by cultural value shifts that differentially impact socialization goals and practices of families with different SES. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A longitudinal study on determinants of the intention to start smoking among Non-smoking boys and girls of high and low socioeconomic status.

BackgroundThis study identifies differences in socio-cognitive factors as they relate to the intention to smoke among boys and girls living in high socioeconomic status (HSES) and low socioeconomic status (LSES) neighborhoods.MethodsA total of 1,643 children (aged 10–12 years) completed a web-based questionnaire assessing their intention, attitude, social influences, and self-efficacy toward smoking at baseline and at one year follow-up. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the relations between intention and predictor variables (i.e. attitude, social influence, and self-efficacy). Three-way interaction terms were added to the first analysis to examine potential interactions of gender, socioeconomic status and predictor variables. A 3-way interaction effect was present, and therefore subgroup analyses for HSES and LSES boys and girls were warranted.ResultsThe results indicated that positive attitudes toward smoking were related to the intention to smoke among HSES boys, whereas HSES girls had higher intentions to smoke if they perceived fewer disadvantages of smoking (OR: 0.42; 95 % CI: 0.22–0.82). The intention to smoke among LSES boys was predicted by perceived social norms (OR: 0.49; 95 % CI: 0.25–0.93); in LSES girls, the smoking behavior of people in their environment was most strongly related to their smoking intention (OR: 5.55; 95 % CI: 2.81–10.93).ConclusionsTo prevent youth smoking, HSES boys and girls may benefit from interventions that address attitudes. Boys from an LSES neighborhood may profit from smoking prevention interventions that target social norms, while LSES girls may benefit from strategies aimed at resisting the influence of smokers in their environment.Trial registrationThe ‘Fun without Smokes’ study is approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Atrium-Orbis-Zuyd Hospital (NL32093.096.11/MEC 11-T-25) and registered in the Dutch Trial Register (NTR3116).

Association of Dietary Intake Contribution of Prospera Supplements and Socioeconomic Level in Children in San Luis Potosi, Mexico

ObjectiveTo estimate the contribution to dietary intake of Prospera (former Oportunidades) supplements in children and the association with socioeconomic status (SES).Methods: Within the study of “Impact evaluation of food assistance programs in San Luis Potosi, Mexico” we obtained information from 398 children (< 3y old) beneficiaries of Prospera. Through a food semicuantitative frequency questionnaire we estimated the percentage contribution to total dietary intake (PCDI) of energy, protein, zinc, iron, folate and vitamin B12 of Prospera distributed supplements. We studied the association of PCDI and SES with zero‐inflated negative binomial regression models adjusted by sex and age, interaction between SES and sex was tested.Results: Interaction between SES and sex was found for energy and protein intakes. Girls of low SES showed higher PCDI than boys (energy and protein p= 0.054 and 0.0456; respectively). Children of low SES had higher PCDI of zinc, iron, folate and vitamin B12 than children of high SES. [Table 1] PCDI (CI 95%) PCDI (CI 95%) Nutriment Low SES High SES Energy (Boys) 10 (8,11.9) 4 (3, 5) Energy (Girls) 13 (11, 14) 6 (3, 9.7) Protein (Boys) 15 (12,17) 5 (2,8) Protein (Girls) 17 (15, 20) 8 (4, 12) Zinc 56 (53, 58) 39 (34, 43) Iron 52 (49, 55) 35 (31, 39) Folate 27 (25, 30) 17 (15, 20) Vitamin B12 31 (28, 35) 14 (14, 21) ConclusionsThe PCDI of supplements is higher in children of low SES. It is necessary to study dietary quality in Prospera beneficiaries and asses the program target population.Supported by FOMIX SLP. Project: FMSLP‐213‐C02‐208475

"Girls on the Move" intervention protocol for increasing physical activity among low-active underserved urban girls: a group randomized trial.

BackgroundIncreasing moderate to vigorous physical activity among urban girls of low socioeconomic status is both a challenge and a public health priority. Physical activity interventions targeting exclusively girls remain limited, and maintenance of moderate to vigorous physical activity during the post-intervention period has been difficult to maintain. The main aim of the 5-year “Girls on the Move” group randomized trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a comprehensive school-based intervention in increasing girls’ minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity and improving cardiovascular fitness, body mass index, and percent body fat immediately post-intervention (after 17 weeks) and at 9-month post-intervention follow-up (9 months after end of intervention).Methods/DesignA total of 24 urban middle schools in the Midwestern U.S. will be randomized to either receive the intervention or serve as a control (N = 1200 girls). The intervention, based on the Health Promotion Model and Self-Determination Theory, will include: (1) two face-to-face motivational, individually tailored counseling sessions with a registered nurse, one at the beginning and the other at the end of the intervention period; (2) an interactive Internet-based session during which each girl receives individually tailored motivational and feedback messages via iPad at 11 weeks (shortly after midpoint of intervention); and (3) a 90-minute after-school physical activity club. Racially diverse, low-active, 10- to 14-year-old 5th to 8th-grade girls will complete questionnaires and physical measures at baseline and post-intervention (n = 50 per school). Minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity will be assessed with accelerometers. Cardiovascular fitness will be assessed by estimating VO2 max with PACER (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run) scores. Height and weight will be assessed to calculate body mass index. Percent body fat will be estimated with a foot-to-foot bioelectric impedance scale. Linear mixed effects regression analyses will be performed to assess intervention effects.DiscussionThis multi-component approach is expected to improve girls’ moderate to vigorous physical activity and related physical outcomes.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01503333

Socioeconomic variation in the growth status of urban school children 6–13 years in Oaxaca, Mexico, in 1972 and 2000

Socioeconomic variation in the growth status of urban school children 6-13 years of age in 1972 and 2000 was compared. The children were resident in the city of Oaxaca and were students in the same primary school in each year. Socioeconomic status (SES) was based on parental occupation. Height, sitting height, estimated leg length, weight, and the body mass index in 218 boys and 191 girls in 1972 and 173 boys and 166 girls in 2000 were compared. Sex-specific MANCOVA was used to evaluate SES differences within each year, while sex- and SES-specific MANCOVA was used to evaluate differences between years. The prevalence of stunting, overweight and obesity was estimated. There were no SES differences among boys and girls in 1972 and boys in 2000; low-middle and middle SES girls were significantly taller and heavier with longer legs than low SES girls in 2000. Within each SES group, children in 2000 were significantly larger in body size and segment lengths except for sitting height in low SES children of both sexes. Estimated secular gains increased from low to low-middle to middle SES in both sexes. Inequitable gains by SES contributed to an increase in the magnitude of differences between SES groups, especially between low SES children on one hand and low-middle and middle SES children on the other hand. The prevalence of stunting declined while the prevalence of overweight and to a lesser extent in obesity increased from 1972 to 2000, more so in low-middle and middle SES than in low SES children.

Overweight and perception of overweight as predictors of smokeless tobacco use and of cigarette smoking in a cohort of Swedish adolescents

To study the association between measured or perceived overweight in adolescence and subsequent uptake of cigarette smoking and of the Swedish smokeless tobacco 'snus' (oral moist snuff). Population-based prospective cohort study with 7 years' follow-up. Self-administered questionnaires and school nurses' visits. A total of 2922 children of both sexes and mean age 11.6 years at recruitment, resident in the Stockholm region, Sweden. Tobacco use was self-reported at baseline and on six subsequent surveys. Subjects' height and weight were measured by school nurses during the first 4 years, self-reported thereafter. Overweight perception was self-reported at the age of 15 years. Overweight and perception of overweight were not associated with subsequent uptake of either smoking or snus among males. Among females, overweight at baseline was associated with uptake of smoking [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-1.63], but not of snus. A similar pattern was found with overweight status during follow-up. Among girls with low-educated parents, overweight at baseline predicted the uptake of both snus and smoking. Among 15-year-old females who never used tobacco perceived overweight was associated with subsequent uptake of smoking (adjusted HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.20-2.46), but not of snus. In Sweden, adolescent girls with actual or perceived overweight are at increased risk to start smoking, while indications that this increased risk applies to smokeless tobacco (snus) are limited to girls of low socio-economic status.

Gender, ethnicity, culture and social class influences on childhood obesity among Australian schoolchildren: implications for treatment, prevention and community education

The aim of the study was to explore the associations between obesity, weight perceptions and gender, ethnicity, culture and social class in a large national study of Australian school children. Primary and high schools (N = 47) were recruited from every state and territory of Australia and included 7889 children from government, private and Catholic schools (82% response rate) in August-November, 2006. The socioeconomic status (SES) of schools was based on a government survey of total family income. A questionnaire completed by students, measured demographic details of gender, age, weight perceptions and ethnic/cultural background. Height and weight were measured by trained research assistants. Outcome measures included body mass index (BMI), prevalence of obesity, overweight, weight perceptions. Prevalence of obesity was 6.4% of males and 5.6% of females in primary school students (P = 0.34). More high school males were obese than females (7.7% vs. 5.7%, P = 0.001). Obesity was more prevalent among students from Pacific Islander backgrounds. Adolescents who were most likely to be obese were boys and girls of low SES or Pacific Islander or Middle Eastern/Arabic background. The least likely to be obese were Anglo/Caucasian or Asian students and in particular, the girls. Obese female adolescents from Aboriginal, Middle Eastern/Arabic and Pacific Islander backgrounds were less likely than their Caucasian or Asian peers to perceive themselves as 'too fat'.Those working in clinical, community or educational settings with young people and in particular, obese young people, should be aware that obesity is likely to be more prevalent, more culturally acceptable and perhaps more desirable among children and teens from low SES communities and/or Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander backgrounds. Health and social work professionals should be careful not to exaggerate the risks of overweight or obesity or inadvertently create weight concerns among young people. The different body image perceptions identified in this study should be taken into account when planning clinical, community or preventive initiatives among children or adolescents from varying ethnic groups.

Obesity among female adolescents in Vienna, Austria--the impact of childhood weight status and ethnicity.

The objective of the study was to analyse prevalence of overweight and obesity among migrant girls in Vienna, Austria, starting at the age of 6 years up to the age of 15 years. In a longitudinal study, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among migrant girls from Turkey and former Yugoslavia was documented and compared with that among Austrian girls in Vienna. Medical investigation of medical school authority in Viennese schools. Seven hundred and ninety girls of low socio-economic status were included in the study. Anthropometric data were collected at the age of 6, 10 and 15 years. Body mass was estimated by means of the body mass index (BMI), and percentile curves were used for determining the weight status. Stature, body weight, BMI, weight status. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was significantly higher among migrant girls at all age groups. The highest percentage of overweight was found among 10-year-old girls from Yugoslavia (nearly 35%) and the lowest percentage of overweight was exhibited in 6-year-old Austrian girls (20%). Being overweight or obese at the age of 6 years increased the risk of being overweight at 10 and 15 years significantly (P < 0.001). Among migrants, this risk was significantly higher than among Austrian girls (P < 0.001). Only 64.8% of Austrian girls, who were overweight/obese at the age of 6 years, were still classified as overweight at the age of 15 years. Among migrant girls, who were overweight at the age of 6 years, 72.0% (Turkish girls) and 78.3% (Yugoslavian girls) remained overweight until the age of 15 years. Especially girls from former Yugoslavia but also Turkish girls exhibited high rates of overweight and obesity. Prevention should start as early as possible since overweight tends to persist from childhood into adolescence.

Rural urban differences in weight, body image, and dieting behavior among adolescent Egyptian schoolgirls

Overweight and obesity prevalence among adolescents is increasing worldwide and may be associated with increased risk for the development of obesity and chronic diseases in adulthood. Dissatisfaction with weight and body shapes is a contributor to the growing incidence of adolescent eating disorders. Our purpose was to compare the relationship between body weight and body image in a convenience sample of rural and urban girls. We also wanted to examine the influence of the mothers on their daughters by asking the girls how their mothers would classify their body shapes. Three hundred and forty adolescent Egyptian schoolgirls representing Cairo and surrounding rural areas were studied. The girls were from private and public schools. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Body image was determined by asking participants to indicate which of five silhouettes of a female body most closely resembled her own current body size. We also asked them to select the silhouette that closely resembled their mothers' current body size. Using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference standards, 35% of the girls were ≥85th percentile, while 13% were ≥95th percentile. Overweight was more prevalent in urban than rural girls and in those with higher socio-economic status than in lower socio-economic status girls. Girls' perceptions of how their mothers viewed their bodies differed from how the girls viewed their own bodies. From a policy point of view, these data underscore the need to consider not only the health risks associated with overweight and its distribution on the body, but also the weight and body image of the target audience in the design of clinical and public health intervention programs worldwide.

The small child: anthropometric and physical performance characteristics of short-for-age children growing in good and in poor socio-economic conditions.

To ascertain whether individuals whose short stature is caused by poor living conditions differ in their other biological characteristics from those individuals who grow short, supposedly due to their genetic endowment, under favourable environmental conditions. From the growth survey of nearly 4000 children of the 'Cape Coloured' community aged 6-18 y half of whom lived in the middle-class suburbs of Cape Town [high socio-economic status (SES)], the other half who lived in poor rural settlements (low SES), boys and girls of similarly short stature were selected. Average body height by sex and age in each selected sample was close to the 5th percentile of height distribution among all high SES individuals surveyed. Cape Town and neighbouring rural settlements in South Africa. Four thousand children of the Cape Coloured community aged 6-18 y. Among these were 109 high SES boys, 123 high SES girls, 302 low SES boys and 344 low SES girls selected for short stature study. Anthropometric measurements in public schools with appropriate permissions. Both short stature males and females from the low SES group tended to be significantly (P < 0.05) different from the high SES group of comparable stature in having lower body weights, shorter limbs, longer trunks, narrower shoulders, hips and chests, thinner skinfolds, smaller arm circumferences, and were very notably weaker and had poorer neuromuscular reaction times. Biepicondylar widths and pulse rates were little different between groups. Genetically short children do differ in various anthropometric and functional traits from those who are small from environmental causes.

Serum insulin-like growth factor I and physical performance in prepubertal Bolivian girls of a high and low socio-economic status.

The aim of the study was to determine if a decrease in serum insulin-like growth factor I (Igf-I) levels under marginal malnutrition is responsible for the lower physical performance of girls of a low socio-economic status (LSES). Girls were selected after physical examination (Tanner's stage 1) and anthropometric measurements (height, body mass or mb, body mass index or BMI = mb height2). Lean body mass mb,1 was measured after skinfold thickness determination; serum IGE-I, by radioimmunoassay; maximal O2 consumption, (VO2max), directly during incremental exercise up to exhaustion; and maximal aerobic power (Wmax), using the force-velocity test. LSES girls (n = 31) had been malnourished in the past and, currently, were suffering from marginal malnutrition: they were smaller (135.2 +/- 5.5 vs 146.1 +/- 4.3 cm), lighter (31.7 +/- 3.9 vs 37.6 +/- 5.0 kg), exhibited a lower mb,1 (24.2 +/- 2.5 vs 27.5 +/- 3.0 kg) but same BMI compared with HSES (high socio-economic status) girls (n = 32). Igf-I levels (27.7 +/- 7.9 vs 34.1 +/- 6.5 nmol.1(-1), VO2max (45.26 +/- 4.72 vs 50.74 +/- 6.02 ml. min-1.kg-1 LBM) and Wmax (6.00 +/- 1.15 vs 8.70 +/- 1.53 W.kg-1 mb,1 were lower in LSES girls. Moreover, the differences in every parameter were not the consequence of the younger age (10.8 +/- 0.9 vs 11.2 +/- 0.6 years) of the LSES girls. Our results provide evidence that the lower Wmax of undernourished prepubertal girls was partly the consequence of alterations in muscle function at the qualitative level, as a result of a decrease in Igf-I levels. Conversely, under normal nutritional conditions, anthropometric characteristics only are explicatory factors for physical performances.

Effect of anthropometric characteristics and socio-economic status on physical performances of pre-pubertal children living in Bolivia at low altitude

We have previously observed that 11-year-old children of low socio-economic status (LSES) showed a delayed physical growth of approximately 2 years and developed lower normalized short-term power output than children of high socio-economic status (HSES) of the same age. In contrast, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) per unit of fat free mass was no different in either group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anthropometric characteristics between HSES and LSES prepubertal children in aerobic and anaerobic performance. To compare children of the same body dimensions, 11-year-old boys (n = 30) and girls (n = 31) of LSES and 9-year-old boys (n = 21) and girls (n = 27) of HSES were studied. Anthropometric measurements, VO2max (direct test), maximal anaerobic power (Pmax, force-velocity test) and mean anaerobic power (P, Wingate test) were determined. In these children having the same body dimensions: mean VO2max were the same in LSES and HSES children [1.2 (SD 0.2) l.min-1]; Pmax and P were lower in LSES subjects [154.0 (SD 33.2) vs 174.6 (SD 38.4) W and 116.3 (SD 23.3) vs 128.2 (SD 28.0) W, respectively]; the linear relationships between VO2max and fat free mass were the same in LSES and HSES boys but, in the girls, the LSES group had lower values. For anaerobic performance, the relationships were significantly different: the slopes were the same but LSES values for the both sexes were lower. These results would suggest that factors other than differences in body dimensions alone were responsible for the lower performance of LSES girls and boys. Cultural factors and motor learning, structural and functional alterations of muscle induced by marginal malnutrition have been discussed.

Effect of altitude and socioeconomic status on VO2max and anaerobic power in prepubertal Bolivian girls.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of high altitude and low socioeconomic status (SES) on aerobic and anaerobic power in 11-yr-old Bolivian girls. At both high (3,600 m) and low (420 m) altitudes, low-SES groups of girls were compared to similarly aged, high-SES girls. At low altitude, low-SES girls were also compared with younger high-SES girls with the same anthropometric characteristics. Anthropometric data were similar between high-SES and low-SES girls at both altitudes, but low-SES girls showed a 9-mo growth delay. Maximal O2 uptake was significantly lower for low-SES girls at both altitudes. Values did not differ when expressed relative to body weight at high altitude for high-SES vs. low-SES girls (37.6 +/- 1.2 vs. 39.3 +/- 1.0 ml.min-1.kg body wt-1), but a difference persisted at low altitude between high- and low-SES girls (37.5 +/- 1.0 vs. 34.7 +/- 0.7 ml.min-1.kg body wt-1). Anaerobic power (Pmax, force-velocity test; Pwing, Wingate test) was reduced for low-SES girls at both altitudes, whatever the mode of expression. For a given SES, the relative anaerobic performances were lower at low altitude. At low altitude, low-SES girls developed lower anaerobic power than did younger high-SES girls with similar anthropometric characteristics. In conclusion, at both altitudes, the reduction of anaerobic performances observed in girls of low SES could not be totally explained by anthropometric factors. Structural and/or functional muscle alterations are suggested. Moreover, at low altitude, tropical and other factors may have contributed to differences in performance between low- and high-SES girls.