Health Of Preschool-aged Children Research Articles

Parental Acculturation and Its Effect on Preschool-Aged Children's Health Behaviors Among Latinos in Nevada: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Latino children in the United States (US) have a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to white children. Previous studies suggest that acculturation to the US is associated with health behaviors such as diet, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity. However, the role of parental acculturation remains understudied, particularly with the use of validated measures. The objective of this study was to evaluate parental acculturation and its association with parental interpersonal factors and health behaviors in the preschool-aged child. Data were analyzed from 187 Latino parents in Nevada. Parents completed a self-reported, cross-sectional survey. Acculturation was assessed using Norris' 4-item validated acculturation measure. The average age of the preschool-aged children was 45.5 months, and their mean BMI percentile was 96.4% (SD ± 18.7). The mean parental acculturation score was 2.1 (SD ± 1.2). Children were physically active an average of 4.9 (SD ± 2.0) days per week. After controlling for covariates, the results indicated that parental acculturation was positively associated with physical activity and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. However, parental acculturation was not associated with child BMI percentile, or the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and sweet snacks. These findings can inform future research on culturally tailored intervention strategies to boost physical activity and reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake among Latino preschool-aged children.

Feasibility and potential efficacy of a family-based intervention on promoting physical activity levels and fundamental movement skills in preschoolers: A cluster randomised controlled trial.

Physical activity (PA) is crucial for preschool-aged children's health and development. However, limited evidence exists regarding the feasibility of implementing home-based interventions and how program components influence parent cognitions and practices and child PA. This study evaluated the feasibility and potential efficacy of a family-based PA intervention on objectively measured PA, fundamental movement skills (FMS), parental efficacy, support, goal setting and parent-child co-activity. Guided by social cognitive theory, an 8-week cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in Hong Kong. The trial included parental workshops, FMS training, PA homework, social media activity sharing and exercise equipment provision. Data were collected at baseline (Time 1; April 2019) and at the end of the intervention period (Time 2; approximately 2months later) from 108 parent-child pairs in five preschools. The intervention led to increased moderate-to-vigorous PA and FMS in children, along with improved parental self-efficacy, goal setting, supportiveness and co-participation. However, parental PA did not show significant changes. Parents expressed high satisfaction, supporting the need for tailoring interventions to address the unique needs and preferences of young children and their parents. Reinforcing the parental role and providing informative materials and training can promote healthy lifestyles in early childhood.

PENYULUHAN PENDAMPINGAN ORANG TUA DALAM PEMELIHARAAN KESEHATAN GIGI DAN MULUT ANAK DI KOMUNITAS SERPONG, BANTEN

An online training activity was carried out regarding the assistance of parents in maintaining the dental and oral health of pre-school age children living in the Serpong area, South Tangerang, Banten. This training was designed considering the high caries rate of Indonesian children over the last 10 years. Given the importance of developing good health behavior from an early age, the intake of non-cariogenic foods and oral hygiene maintenance habits should also be carried out as early as possible. The role of parents is vital in teaching and supervising pre-school age children’s behavior. Therefore, this training was conducted to increase parental participation in supervising children's eating patterns and cleaning the oral cavity. This should be followed by correction of diet and better oral hygiene habits to reduce children’s caries rate. Early assessments show most parents still have a wrong understanding of caries prevention in children, especially in children who still receive breast milk. The final assessment demonstrates an improved understanding in the etiology of oral diseases and parental assistance in dental and oral health maintenance in children.

ORGANIZED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTH IN PRESCHOOL AGE: A REVIEW.

The aim of this study was to investigate how organized Physical Activity (oPA) can contribute to the promotion of preschool aged children's health and specifically to health indicators such as adiposity, bone and skeletal health, cardiometabolic health, motor skill development, cognitive development, and psychosocial health. A literature search of interventions aimed at improving health in preschool age was conducted in five electronic databases. Included in the review were only studies meeting the following criteria: published or accepted for publication studies; written in English; intervention with any type of oPA; 2-6 years old participants; pre- and post-objective assessments of the intervention effects; presence of a control group. The majority of studies that met the inclusion criteria (n = 13) considered the effect of oPA on children's motor development, while limited were those which examined the rest of the health indicators--adiposity (n = 4), bone and skeletal health (n = 2), cardiometabolic health (n = 0), cognitive development (n = 2), and psychosocial health (n = 4). The information about how oPA can influence preschoolers' health status, although promising in most cases, was deficient. Questions about the kind, intensity, amount or frequency of physical activity (PA) required so as children's health to be enhanced still remain. Further research into the relationship between oPA and health in preschool age is required in order to draw conclusions enabling the development of efficient PA programmes to promote children's health.

Latino Mothers in Farmworker Families’ Beliefs About Preschool Children’s Physical Activity and Play

Document beliefs about the contribution of physical activity to preschool-aged children's health held by Latino mothers in farmworker families, and delineate their perceived barriers or constraints that impose limits on preschool-aged children's physical activity. Qualitative data obtained through semi-structured in-depth interviews (N=33) with mothers of preschool-aged children living in Latino farmworker families in North Carolina. Mothers universally agree that regular vigorous physical activity is good for preschool-aged children's health, including obesity prevention. However, excessive physical activity can produce illnesses, as well as other physical and emotional problems, and should be limited. Mothers wanted their children to engage in more sedentary forms of activity because they believed it would benefit learning. Physical and chemical hazards in rural environments, distance to parks and play spaces, and lack of familiarity and concerns about neighbors constrained children's physical activity. Although physical activity is believed to be beneficial, strong cultural beliefs and real contextual barriers undermine preschool-aged Latino farmworker children's level of physical activity.

Physical Activity Promotion in the Preschool Years: A Critical Period to Intervene

The primary aim of this paper is to provide a rationale for the necessity of intervening with a physical activity intervention in the preschool years and why the daycare environment is amenable to such intervention. We also review the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and obesity in the preschool population and the impact that these lifestyle behaviours and conditions have on the health of preschool aged children, as secondary objectives. Moreover we discuss implications for intervention and research using a “lessons learned” model based on our research team’s experience of conducting a randomized controlled trial aimed at increasing physical activity, reducing sedentary behaviour and improving motor skill development and body composition in preschoolers. Lastly, we make conclusions based on the literature and highlight issues and directions that need to be addressed in future research in order to maximize health promotion and chronic disease prevention in the pediatric population.

The Wellness Child Care Assessment Tool: A Measure to Assess the Quality of Written Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies

Background There is a growing interest in studying the influence of child-care center policies on the health of preschool-aged children. Objective To develop a reliable and valid instrument to quantitatively evaluate the quality of written nutrition and physical activity policies at child-care centers. Design Reliability and validation study. A 65-item measure was created to evaluate five areas of child-care center policies: nutrition education, nutrition standards for foods and beverages, promoting healthy eating in the child-care setting, physical activity, and communication and evaluation. The total scale and each subscale were scored on comprehensiveness and strength. Setting Analyses were conducted on 94 independent policies from Connecticut child-care centers participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Statistical analyses performed Intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated to measure inter-rater reliability, and Cronbach's α was used to estimate internal consistency. To test construct validity, t tests were used to assess differences in scores between Head Start and non–Head Start centers and between National Association for the Education of Young Children–accredited and nonaccredited centers. Results Inter-rater reliability was high for total comprehensiveness and strength scores (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.98 and 0.94, respectively) and subscale scores (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.84 to 0.99). Subscales were adequately internally reliable (Cronbach's α=.53 to .83). Comprehensiveness and strength scores were higher for Head Start centers than non–Head Start centers across most domains and higher for National Association for the Education of Young Children–accredited centers than nonaccredited centers across some but not all domains, providing evidence of construct validity. Conclusions This instrument provides a standardized method to analyze and compare the comprehensiveness and strength of written nutrition and physical activity policies in child-care centers.

A qualitative study exploring barriers to a model of shared care for pre-school children's oral health

To explore the oral health beliefs and practices of primary health care professionals which may act as barriers to the development of a model of shared care for the oral health of pre-school children. Qualitative focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. Four rural local government areas in Victoria, Australia, 2003. maternal and child health nurses, general medical practitioners, dental professionals and paediatricians working in the four local government areas. discipline specific focus groups and semi-structured interviews. transcription, coding, clustering and thematic analysis. Several strong themes emerged from the data. All participants agreed that dental caries is a significant health issue for young children and their families. Beliefs about the aetiology of dental caries and its prevention were variable and often simplistic focusing predominantly on diet. Dental professionals did not believe that they had a primary role in the oral health of pre-school aged children but that others particularly maternal and child health nurses did. However other health care professionals were not confident in assuming this role. This study has identified important barriers and possible strategies for the development of an integrated and shared approach to preventing dental caries in pre-school aged children. Clear and consistent oral health information and agreed roles and responsibilities need to be developed.

Barriers to shared care for pre-school oral health

Objective To explore the oral health beliefs and practices of primary health care professionals which may act as barriers to the development of a model of shared care for the oral health of pre-school children. Design Qualitative focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. Setting Four rural local government areas in Victoria, Australia, 2003. Subjects and methods Subjects: maternal and child health nurses, general medical practitioners, dental professionals and paediatricians working in the four local government areas. Data collection: discipline specific focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Data analysis: transcription, coding, clustering and thematic analysis. Results Several strong themes emerged from the data. All participants agreed that dental caries is a significant health issue for young children and their families. Beliefs about the aetiology of dental caries and its prevention were variable and often simplistic, focusing predominantly on diet. Dental professionals did not believe that they had a primary role in the oral health of pre-school aged children but that others particularly maternal and child health nurses did. However other health care professionals were not confident in assuming this role. Conclusions This study has identified important barriers and possible strategies for the development of an integrated and shared approach to preventing dental caries in pre-school aged children. Clear and consistent oral health information and agreed roles and responsibilities need to be developed.

Prevalence of pediculosis and scabies in preschool nursery children of Afyon, Turkey

Scabies and pediculosis are ubiquitous, contagious, and debilitating parasitic dermatoses. The tendency of high prevalence of pediculosis and scabies among school and preschool age children has prompted us to conduct a head louse and scabies prevalence survey among preschool nursery children in our district. A school-based, crosssectional study was performed, with 1,134 children chosen for evaluation. All cases were evaluated by physical examination and a detailed, structured questionnaire. The infestation was found in 14 (1.2%) of 1,134 children; 9 (0.8%) with pediculosis capitis and 5 (0.4%) with scabies. We found that infestations were more frequent in children with mothers whose education levels were low. This indicates the necessity of an improvement in the economic and sociocultural status of the community and the promotion of hygiene concepts and practices in order to improve health of preschool age children.